Payload Projects
PA1: Orthopedics Experiment 2026
PA1 is the payload project focused on experimental design & application. It is a great project for students interested in researching topics in biomedical engineering while gaining some hands-on experience!
Long-duration spaceflight leads to significant bone density loss, placing astronauts at heightened risk for several types of fractures. Cannulated screw fixation is widely used to stabilize the epiphysis of the femur following leg injuries, but reduced bone density increases the likelihood of screw loosening. We have been conducting an experiment to investigate the effect of different bone cements, including the novel bioadhesive Tetranite, on the screw purchase by testing the pull-out strength of orthopedic screws in low-density bone to assess their potential in preventing screw micromotion during rocket flight.
PA2: Quantum Timekeeping
PA2 payload project is developing the experiment for the 2027 MRT rocket to study the performance of Chip-Scale Atomic Clocks (CSACs) under rocket launch conditions.
Atomic clocks are devices which can tell time with extreme accuracy. They do this by measuring the transition frequency of an atom from its ground state to an excited state. Due to quantum mechanics, this is a very precise number, and we can in turn get a very precise time measurement.
CSACs are new technology which take the same ideas of an atomic clock and execute them on a much smaller scale. They have wide-ranging applications, from the aerospace industry to underwater research.
The goal of PA2 is to test how they perform under rocket launch conditions. We will analyze how the acceleration, vibrational forces and temperature changes affect the instability of their time measurements. We will include various other types of clocks, such as quartz oscillators, to compare its stability to that of other time measuring devices.
If you’re interested in physics, research, or designing an experiment, we encourage you to apply to PA2 and you will be more than welcome to help us develop our project!
PA3: Sporealis (Spore Formation)
PA3 is a biological payload project focused on testing how rocket launch affects live organisms. It is a great option for students interested in biology, engineering, and space exploration.
There is a research gap in understanding how space-launch conditions such as high acceleration, vibration, and gravitational forces affect both humans and other organisms. We will investigate how bacteria and eukaryotic model systems change under these conditions by testing spore growth and cell behaviour post-flight under stresses rarely experienced by life on Earth. These results will contribute to understanding how space travel impacts living systems and how to ensure planetary protection and contamination control when considering future long-duration space missions and exploration beyond Earth.
This year we will be researching and developing the experimental design. Students from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply and will have the opportunity to contribute to both the biological research and the payload design process.