STEM was always something that i have been interested in my life and it has always propelled me to explore the unknown, i have been learning about it and conducting projects since grade 9. I even had my personal project in grade 10 revolved around me making a Bluetooth remote controllable submarine. This was the buildup of my STEM passion which led to an incredible internship opportunity – a 30-day intensive program focused on advanced satellite development. This wasn’t just any internship; it was a deep dive into the world of CubeSats, miniature satellites revolutionizing space exploration. I had done the internship from the STAR LABS in Surat.

The first week of the internship was a training program where we were taught how to use the basic design software, simulations, and even PCB and the basics of orbital mechanics. Then we moved on to the main goal of the internship. To design and develop a 1U cubesat(miniature satelite) that is able to process and transcend data. It was a journey full of learning,teamwork,creativity and essentially hardwork. We worked in a team of 6 people only. Made many mistakes and failures, took hours to resolve issues. But we managed to make a successful functioning 1U Cubesat.

Our final report documented not just the process, but also the successful execution and achievement of our project goals – it was a research paper. The resulting Cubesat showcased impressive performance in communication, thermal management, and modal frequency analysis. These insights contribute valuable knowledge to the ever-evolving field of technology, paving my way to the field of aerospace engineering which is something that i am considering to pursue.

LO1 – [Identifying Strengths and Growth Areas]

The program challenged me to identify my strengths in areas like problem-solving and teamwork, while also revealing areas where I could improve, such as software coding for specific applications. I was part of the design team(mechanical department), where i already knew how to use certain CAD software – i was already good at this. Where i could grow and i definitely worked upon throughout the program was simulation software and programming and circuit configuration fields of the electronics department.

LO2 – [Embracing Challenges and New Skills]

Stepping into this internship meant pushing myself beyond my comfort zone. It was my first time working on such an advanced project, and it required me to actively learn and apply new concepts related to satellite development. Like orbital mechanics and Kepler’s laws, they were just concepts that i was learning in school at the time, but it applying these concepts in real life was a first and a valuable experience. Even from my mentor throughout the internship an engineer and founder of the company. He provided me a lot of insights of engineering and how we should look at it as a career. Also helped me personally with external side projects. He truly believed in me and pushed me towards challenging myself even more. I managed to develop plenty of new skills, from using softwares to circuits and design. I managed to keep up with other engineering college students who were also part of the team.

LO4 – [Perseverance and Commitment]

 Thirty days seemed impossible to make this work, on top of this 2 of our team members were always absent and not communicating with us or working as the rest of the throughout the entire journey. It was a nightmare , but actually it wasn’t as we dedicated ourselves entirely to the project, including all-nighters fueled by determination and caffeine.(We didn’t sleep). We had to come early mornings and work there till night or dinner time, with breaks and fun we managed to not get bored and tired. It was incredibly fun and productive.

LO5 – [Demonstrate skills and benefits of working collaboratively]

Working in a team of six collaboration and communication was crucial. We divided the tasks into mechanical and electronics departments, fostering collaboration and leveraging each member’s unique skillset. This experience taught me the importance of clear communication, effective delegation, and celebrating individual contributions for shared success.