The Waterloo Space Research Team (WSRT), a student design team from the University of Waterloo, saw their work soar into near-space last month during the Canadian Space Agency’s Strato-Science 2025 campaign in Timmins, Ontario.
WSRT’s experiment, Project ASTRA, was selected for the Canadian Stratospheric Balloon Experiment Design Challenge (CAN-SBX), a national competition that invites student teams to design, build and launch compact experiments on high-altitude balloons operated by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). Project ASTRA tested machine learning to filter out cosmic noise - the radiation that disrupts electronic signals - with the goal of improving data transmission for satellites and future space missions.
ASTRA’s computer reinforcement learning model and full system operated for several hours in the stratosphere despite extreme cold and low pressure. Students participated in every stage of the mission, from preliminary design reviews to tracking the high-altitude flight, to help them gain hands-on experience that mirrored professional aerospace projects. Team members included students Mysha Hamid, Asmi Gujral, Emma Pileggi, Aaryn Xie, Chelsea Dmytryk, Iman Umair-Qaiser, Elbert Chen, Jady Xu, Nikola Jokić, Megan Chang and Sameek Sharma.
“Receiving our data after the flight was such a rewarding moment as it validated the performance of our mechanical, electrical and software systems all working together,” said Hamid, a third-year systems design engineering student and WSRT’s team lead.
For the team, travelling to Timmins to witness the launch was a highlight. “Watching our experiment lift off with the CSA team was surreal,” Hamid said. “It was the kind of experience that reminded us why we put in so many long hours preparing for this mission launch."
The team also hosted workshops and astronomy tours to engage the public, efforts that earned them the Outreach Excellence Award from SEDS-Canada.
Next, WSRT members will present their space soldering research at the International Astronautical Congress in Sydney, Australia. Several students have been sponsored by the CSA to attend and represent Canada on the global stage.
Read more about Project ASTRA on the Waterloo Space Research Team website.
Members of the Waterloo Space Research Team stand with their experiment before launch at the Canadian Space Agency’s (CSA) Strato-Science campaign in Timmins, Ontario last month.
Team members preparing their experiment for launch.
Team members carrying the high-altitude balloon into position for launch.
