On December 2nd, 2024, we once again had the privilege of hosting the incredible students and educators from the BinarX Student Payload Development Program (SPDP) 2024-2026 as well as our BinarX Pilot Schools at Curtin University for their Preliminary Design Review (PDR) Presentations.
This exciting milestone marks another giant leap forward as students transition from brainstorming mission concepts to refining their designs and testing prototypes. For the first time, many teams unveiled working prototype models, offering a tangible glimpse into the payloads they are developing. We had a range of payload projects, including:
- UV sensing
- magnetometry
- GPS
- inertial measurement unit (IMU)
- infrared sensing
- reaction wheel
- cameras (ranging from looking at urban light pollution to attitude determination and aurora hunting)
- radiation sensing
- electron probe
These models will be further developed by the students, supported by members of the Binar Space Program, towards space-flight-ready designs during the 2025 school year.
PDR Day wrapped up a massive 2024 for the BinarX SPDP. We welcomed seven new WA high schools—bringing in 13 additional student payload teams—to the program. These schools join our pilot school participants, John Curtin College of the Arts (JCCA) and Joseph Banks Secondary College (JBSC), in designing, building, testing, and eventually flying their payloads aboard future Binar CubeSat missions.
Adding to the excitement, we celebrated a historic first: JCCA student Ben Hopper delivered the program’s very first space-ready payload! This achievement reflects the incredible dedication, ingenuity, and hard work of WA students and educators and marks a key milestone in our mission to empower the next generation of space sector professionals.
The PDR process provided students with a platform to showcase their technical progress, receive critical feedback, and address challenges identified during their Mission Concept Review (MCR) Day back in June 2024. They also participated in engaging Q&A sessions and shared their prototypes with members of the Binar Space Program and School of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Curtin University, as well as local space sector professionals from Fugro (who all happen to also be NASA alumni), bringing decades of experience navigating these very milestones in their incredible careers.
The insights and advice from this range of experts across research, academia and industry were invaluable in helping students refine their ideas and prepare for the challenges of the next phases of their space mission design.
Building a Collaborative Community
Following on from Mission Concept Review Day in June, we were thrilled to see the spirit of collaboration flourish even further, not just between students within their own teams, but across different schools. Students openly discussed challenges, ideas, and strategies, building a supportive network that mirrors the cooperative nature of real-world space missions.
The passion, creativity, and dedication on display was inspiring. It’s clear that these young space enthusiasts are excited for the upcoming stages of their journey. With these prototypes as a foundation and the first space-ready payload handed over, the 2025 school year promises to be one of innovation and achievement as we work together to prepare for future Binar CubeSat launches.
We’re proud to be part of a program that is not only putting space in the hands of WA students, but also creating a community of trailblazers, innovators, and lifelong learners and supporting the WA Government’s Space Strategy 2024-30 to “Make WA the Place for Space” by giving young students a direct line of sight to pathways for higher education and careers in the space sector right here in Western Australia.
Photography Credit: Ezra Alcantra
