Countdown begins to student experiment OSCAR-QUBE’s journey to the ISS
In just three days, student experiment OSCAR-QUBE will lift-off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre and journey to the International Space Station (ISS).
Short for Optical Sensors based on CARbon materials: QUantum BElgium, OSCAR-QUBE is a scientific experiment designed, built, and operated by students from Hasselt University, Belgium.
It is an ambitious experiment that uses quantum technology to perform extremely rapid and precise measurements of the Earth’s magnetic field. The team will use the data collected to create a high-resolution map of the magnetic field around the globe.
The students have been working towards this event since 2020, when they were accepted into ESA Education Office’s Orbit Your Thesis! programme. Participating teams are given the life-changing opportunity to design and build a real experiment that is placed onboard the ISS’s ICE Cubes facility, providing them with an incredible educational experience to kick-start their future professions in the space sector.
“The launch to the ISS is incredible. You feel super proud of what your team and yourself have achieved,” said one OSCAR QUBE team member when asked how they were feeling about the launch.
The OSCAR QUBE team managed to design, build, integrate, and test their experiment throughout the ongoing pandemic. One team member remarked, “The toughest [part of the project] was the COVID-19 restrictions we had to work under… It made us sometimes feel isolated, but keeping the spirit high it made it possible.” Another team member noted, “The best aspect of the project is my team. The spirit we built up and the way we faced challenges all together was very rewarding.” Despite the challenges, team OSCAR-QUBE is ready to launch their experiment to the ISS.
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Launch may be just around the corner, but the students’ work is far from over. OSCAR-QUBE will stay onboard the ISS for four months, collecting and downlinking enough data to keep the students busy for a long time!
For more OSCAR-QUBE updates be sure to check the Orbit Your Thesis! portal.