The Journey of CalgaryToSpace

This presentation explores the journey of building FrontierSat, Calgary’s first student-led mission to send a satellite to space!
About this Event

Location: Telus Spark Infinity Dome Theatre
Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026 @ 4:30PM MDT

Registration is free! Parking is not included.

Note: Your ticket to this event does not include entry to the Telus Spark Science Centre, this is for the event in the Infinity Dome Theatre only. Ensure you bring your e-ticket, as we will be scanning them upon entry.

Presenters:

• Marian Abebe
• Amy Brunton
• Aarti Chandiramani
• Meagan Davies
• Aaryan Deshpande

This presentation explores the journey of building FrontierSat, Calgary’s first student-led mission to send a satellite to space, from an ambitious idea to a developing reality. We will discuss how the single question “Could students build something for space?” grew into a project requiring collaboration across disciplines that include engineering, science, business, marketing, and finance.

The presentation will outline the key stages of the mission, including defining a clear vision, developing a realistic project plan, securing funding, building technical knowledge, designing, testing, and refining hardware, and finally launch and operations. We will also reflect on the challenges encountered throughout the project and the lessons learned about teamwork, leadership, and perseverance in the face of technical and organizational obstacles.

The scientific motivation behind our payload will be discussed, including the development of a Mini Plasma Imager designed to study the ionosphere and STEVE (Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement), an atmospheric phenomenon recently discovered by citizen scientists. Finally, we will discuss how passion projects like this demonstrate that innovation is driven not only by technical knowledge but also by curiosity, collaboration, and the willingness to pursue ideas that initially seem beyond reach.

What started as a simple shared vision of ambitious students led to the creation, launch, and operation of FrontierSat, proving that anyone with the right motivation and support can succeed in the space industry.