Countdown begins to student experiment OSCAR-QUBE’s journey to the ISS

Short for Optical Sensors centered on CARbon elements: QUantum BElgium, OSCAR-QUBE is a scientific experiment intended, developed, and operated by pupils from Hasselt University, Belgium. 

It is an formidable experiment that employs quantum technology to conduct particularly speedy and exact measurements of the Earth’s magnetic industry. The team will use the knowledge collected to generate a superior-resolution map of the magnetic industry around the globe.

The students have been functioning toward this party because 2020, when they were being approved into ESA Training Office’s Orbit Your Thesis! programme. Participating teams are presented the everyday living-altering prospect to style and establish a authentic experiment that is put onboard the ISS’s ICE Cubes facility, delivering them with an incredible educational expertise to kick-commence their long term professions in the room sector.

“The start to the ISS is amazing. You experience tremendous very pleased of what your group and oneself have attained,” reported a person OSCAR QUBE crew member when asked how they have been feeling about the start.

The OSCAR QUBE group managed to style, construct, integrate, and examination their experiment during the ongoing pandemic. One staff member remarked, “The toughest [part of the project] was the COVID-19 constraints we had to function under… It made us in some cases really feel isolated, but keeping the spirit significant it manufactured it doable.” An additional workforce member observed, “The ideal component of the challenge is my workforce. The spirit we constructed up and the way we faced difficulties all with each other was very satisfying.” Inspite of the troubles, group OSCAR-QUBE is all set to launch their experiment to the ISS.

Start may well be just about the corner, but the students’ perform is far from in excess of. OSCAR-QUBE will stay onboard the ISS for 4 months, gathering and downlinking ample knowledge to continue to keep the pupils chaotic for a very long time!

For much more OSCAR-QUBE updates be sure to check the Orbit Your Thesis! portal.