June

June kicked off a little quieter than usual as many of our members were focused on end-of-semester exams. While Cubey wasn’t too happy about the temporary silence in the lab, we reassured them that we’d be back soon—and with renewed momentum. After exams wrapped up, the team returned in full force, bringing the familiar energy and drive that defines PAST. Here's what we got up to:

LoRA Testing at CIRA

LoRA (Long Range Radio) is PAST’s backup communication module for the High-Altitude Balloon (HAB). Raphael (Avionics Lead) conducted a round of tests at Curtin Institute of Radio Astronomy (CIRA). Unfortunately, due to a pinout issue, the power amplifier didn’t function as expected. A new breakout revision is now in the works, with hopes that the next round of testing will go the distance—literally.

BOOM Board (Battery Overload and Operation Monitoring)

BOOM—our custom-designed power supply board for the HAB—is being developed to provide reliable and monitored power delivery. The system includes: 

• Mounts for four 18650 Lithium-Ion cells in a 2S2P configuration (two in series, two in parallel) 

• Protection circuits for overcurrent and overvoltage 

• Current sensors for monitoring power draw 

• Temperature sensors for thermal management 

• Subsystem-friendly connectors for integration 

The board is an essential part of the HAB power architecture, built to keep things running without the boom.

OSIRIS Testing

Felix (Marketing Lead and ADCS Member) continued testing OSIRIS, PAST’s coarse sun sensor system. Using a controlled lab setup, he examined the sensor’s angular response and stability when detecting light sources. The results were then compared against theoretical models. Early outcomes show that OSIRIS is performing as expected, lighting the way for further improvements. 

STARCOMM PULSAR Progress 

Our STARCOMM PULSAR CubeSat transceiver was tested and successfully communicated up to 500 meters. While not quite interstellar, this marks a solid milestone for the radio system’s integration into the HAB platform.

Recruit Interviews & Selection

Exams didn’t bring PAST operations to a halt—shortlisted recruits from Semester 1’s onboarding program were interviewed shortly after. The team was impressed by the creativity, problem-solving, and enthusiasm on display. After careful consideration, 22 recruits were selected to join as provisional members. We look forward to formally welcoming them into PAST at our next general meeting. 

July 

July marked a fresh chapter for PAST, as we officially welcomed 22 new provisional members to the team. The month began with our General Meeting, where the full team—new and returning—gathered to catch up on progress, plan ahead, and snap a few well-lit photos. Hosted by Indi, the meeting featured an engaging overview of recent achievements and a semester-wide team photo session, led by Felix (Marketing Lead). Following the meeting, departments held breakout discussions to bring new members up to speed on ongoing and upcoming projects. 

Projects Taking Flight

With new members onboard, several new projects have begun to gain traction. Here are a few early highlights: 

Detumbling – Aiden (ADCS)

Aiden has taken the lead on developing a Detumbling system for CubeSat stability post-deployment. Using a method known as B-dot control, this system will use magnetorquers and Earth's magnetic field to reduce spin after launch. The algorithm must remain robust against sensor noise and edge cases where spin detection is unreliable—because even satellites have bad days.

Phased Monopole Antenna Array – Rayaan (Avionics)

Thanks to a newly secured Ansys licence from a sponsor, Rayaan has begun work on the Phased Monopole Antenna Array (Quasar). Early design simulations are looking promising, laying the groundwork for an efficient, compact antenna system fit for space missions. 

Ground Station Development – Liria and Devon (Software)

New software members Liria and Devon have made headway in establishing our Ground Station capabilities. Their work includes hardware testing, radio configuration, and early-stage communication attempts with the PULSAR transceiver—setting the stage for real-time satellite communication.

Industry Engagement – Binar Shadowing

Several members also had the opportunity to shadow the team at Binar throughout the holiday period. This hands-on exposure to a professional space systems project offered valuable insights that we’ll bring back to PAST’s own CubeSat development. 

Recruitment Campaign – Semester 2

With a new semester around the corner, recruitment efforts kicked off once again. The Team Resources department organised planning sessions, while the Marketing team covered the campus in fresh posters. HR coordinated PAST’s presence at both the Science and Engineering Expo (SAE) and Guild O-Day, ensuring that curious students could learn more about our mission and get involved. 

SAE Expo and Guild O-Day

Led by Jack and supported by other members, our recruitment stalls attracted great attention—resulting in over 80 expressions of interest. From radio systems to satellites, attendees were introduced to the diverse projects and departments that make up PAST.

PIN Night – Info & Interaction

On July 30, PAST hosted its semesterly PAST Information Night (PIN). Felix opened the evening with an overview of CubeSats, PAST’s structure, and ongoing department work. Department leads spoke about their teams and shared insights into project life at PAST. This year’s info night also featured a quiz with prizes, a panel session with onboarding graduates, and hands-on demos of completed projects. Attendees left with a clearer understanding of what we do—and hopefully, the motivation to join the mission. 

Interested in joining us? Express your interest here and we will meet you during our next recruitment round https://perthaerospace.com/join