I am a senior Honours Mechanical Engineering student at McGill University, conducting experiments on imploding detonations and investigating the structural stability of interstellar lightsails, with broader interests in space engineering, astronomy, and scientific communication. Despite spending countless hours in the lab designing, duct taping, building, and testing the implosion of cylindrical shells, I do occasionally venture outside to touch grass, stargaze at the four stars visible in Montreal, travel, cook, read, paint, and, depending on the state of my twice-torn ACL, play volleyball!

I am a senior Honours Mechanical Engineering student at McGill, experimentally investigating laser-thermal propulsion for rapid transits within the solar system. My interests lie at the intersection of advanced space propulsion and plasma physics, with a desire to pursue graduate research in the numerical modeling of laser plasmas. Previously the Propulsion Lead of the McGill Rocket Team, I now occupy my free time by geeking out over cool fixed gear bikes and enjoying the great outdoors.

Currently studying Physics at McGill, I’ve long been fascinated by spaceflight and drawn to embedded systems and RF applications. Through project ALTAIR, I've had the opportunity to design and build custom instrumentation in a physics research context, combined with the adventure of launching (and recovering) stratospheric balloon payloads. As Avionics Lead on the McGill Rocket Team, I'm usually either staring at a circuit board or tinkering with antennas while attempting to contact the ISS.

As an Honours undergraduate student in Mechanical Engineering, I'm currently investigating the loads on the plasma magnet antenna to inform its design. I've been interested in spaceflight and deep space exploration for as long as I can remember, and I love a good mix of fundamental research and design work. Outside of STEM-related fields, I have a great interest for cinema, literature, and culture at large.

I’m a graduate researcher working on the design of the Plasma Magnet and my work includes producing a general design solution for future spacecraft to be able to use this technology. I’ve always been fascinated by space and the challenge of reaching beyond our world to explore the stars. Playing Kerbal Space Program was what first sparked that passion, and it’s only grown stronger since. I have a strong focus in CFD, which I developed through my Honors Thesis, a NASA internship, and my current Masters at McGill. I love exploring ideas that blend creativity, physics, and design. Outside of research, I enjoy making my own video games, climbing, and building and flying remote control airplanes.

I am a senior Honours Mechanical Engineering student fascinated by interstellar space and interested in astrodynamics and spacecraft GNC. I am working on project ALTAIR and building an attitude determination and control system for our high-altitude balloon payload. In my free time I enjoy running and working out.

A recent McGill Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering Graduate, I love getting my hands dirty with cutting edge spaceflight projects, both in the academic and private sector. I bring a strong understanding of mechanical design to the delivery of the Plasma Magnet project. Outside of the lab, I can be found skiing, rock climbing, hiking, and of course, nerding out on rockets.

I am a senior Mechanical Engineering student at McGill, working on the Plasma Magnet CubeSat project. With a passion for spaceflight and spacecraft engineering, I am specifically interested in mechanical design and controls. When not working at the lab, I can be found rock climbing, snowboarding, or playing lacrosse.

Currently a senior Honours undergraduate student in Mechanical Engineering, my interests span the fields of astrophysics and traditional engineering. My current research investigates laser-thermal propulsion for rapid intra-solar-system transit, bridging advanced propulsion concepts with practical engineering design. If I’m not in the lab, you can find me across the hallway building sounding rockets as a part of the McGill Rocket Team, or enjoying a good book!

The long-lost child of Thomas Shelby now turned into a McGill graduate student, when he isn’t playing the odd tune or telling fortunes you can find him lost in thought exploring some ghastly rabbit hole while staring at the moon, the heavens, or both. His interests lie in theoretical and numerical work with emphasis on first principles, although he won’t shy away from a generous amount of elbow grease in the lab if called upon. He also enjoys petting lightsails whenever he meets one.

Zhuo Fan's research interests revolved around the physics of laser-thermal propulsion: as part of the research group, he developed 1- and 2-D steady-state models for the temperature profile of an LTP thrust chamber, and collaborated closely with Emmanuel to develop a spacecraft and Mars mission concept based on this propulsion system. Zhuo Fan then pursued a Master's degree at the University of Toronto, studying healthcare applications for microrobotics. He now works for Animo Tech as a Junior Mechanical Engineer.

Caileigh is an Honours Mechanical Engineering student at McGill University. While part of the research group, she helped develop the high altitude balloon system as a testing bed for radiative cooling experiments.

Gabriel completed his Bachelor's in Aerospace Engineering at Polytechnique Montréal, with extensive experience with student researched and developed hybrid rocket engines, having been Propulsion Lead, then Team Lead of the Oronos rocket team. He also conducted a research campaign at a martian/lunar analog base in the arctic, where he launched tethered balloons and drones for mapping and exploration operations. During his Master's at McGill University, he worked on the design and validation of a laser-thermal thruster experimental facility.

During his studies at McGill in the Mechanical Engineering department, Emmanuel joined the Interstellar Flight research group to design a mission and spacecraft around the laser-thermal propulsion concept. He completed a Master's degree in spaceflight at the Delft University of Technology, while still being involved in laser-thermal propulsion research, notably by collaborating with the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory to refine our group's laser-sustained plasma model and by building a laser-thermal thruster experimental facility at McGill.

Abdul completed his bachelors in Mechanical Engineering from McGill in Fall 2019 where he helped design and build the original Interstellar Shock Tube under the supervision of Dr. Higgins. He then moved to Auburn, Alabama to complete his Master's degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Auburn University, with a focus on Advanced Manufacturing. At Auburn, he was a Research Assistant at the Interdisciplinary Center for Advanced Manufacturing Systems (ICAMS) and restored a ’66 Mustang as a personal project on the side. He now works at Lucid Motors in Newark, California as a Powertrain Advanced Manufacturing Engineer where he helps design and build the fastest and longest-range drive units for arguably the hottest luxury electric cars on the planet.

John was an M.Sc. Student in Mechanical Engineering at McGill University working on the acoustic interaction via impulsive loading in a piston-driver system for magnetized target fusion. In addition to his main research project, John's undergraduate honours thesis involved investigating the plausibility of laser-ablation of interplanetary media during the acceleration phase of laser-driven interstellar travel.

In the past, Gur has interned at CRIM and Expedia, working on artificial intelligence and web development, respectively. He has also participated in robotics for several years. Using this experience, Gur worked on web design, radiation cooling experiments, and quadrupole ion traps.

Hansen joined the research group at its inception, studying interstellar lightsail dynamics as part of his undergraduate honours thesis in mechanical engineering. Using the shock tube developed by Abdul and his team, Hansen specifically investigated the effects of an uneven laser-pressure field on the stability of potential lightsail materials. He has worked as a software developer for Shopify, and is now building StarVaders.

Jana was an undergraduate Mechanical Engineering student at McGill University, working on harnessing in-space energy sources to achieve interstellar flight, mainly through numerical simulations. She is currently researching fluid-structure interactions on soft corals at Polytechnique Montréal by conducting experimental campaigns and in-situ observations.

Sebastian was an Honours Mechanical Engineering student at McGill University. His work involved the design of interplanetary missions, astrodynamic calculations, and finite element simulations to assess the feasibility of ultra-fast aerocapture maneuvers at Mars, focused on laser-thermal rockets for fast transit within the solar system. Sebastian's undergraduate thesis and main research project involved an experimental study on the symmetric convergence of detonation waves. He is currently pursuing a PhD at MIT.

"Professional Balloon Boy"
Previous Honours Mechanical Engineering student at McGill University. Arnab's research work involved using high altitude balloons for radiative cooling experiments in the stratosphere.