Photo: Blue Origin
We are currently recruiting for our next payload project which will be developed in 2020/2021. Join the CSI slack #zero-g-nextgen channel and let us know that you want to become a part of this mission!
The Zero-G Division's 2019 mission goal was to develop a scientific payload for launch on Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket. With the rocket’s altitude reaching nearly 100 kilometers, our experiment traveled beyond the Karman Line, the boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space. Our project spent around 4 minutes in this microgravity environment, providing an exciting opportunity to conduct a scientific experiment. Our team consisted of four subteams: BME, Mech-E, EE and CS. Together, we developed a flight-ready biomedical research payload.
Design and build our next payload
Secure funding to cover launch fees, development costs and on-site work
Launch our payload into outer space
Biomedical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Computer Science/Computer Engineering
Lots of enthusiasm for working on a legit space mission
designed and built a biomedical research payload in 2018/2019
sent payload into outer space in Dec ‘19 on Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket
Our payload launched today on Blue Origin’s “New Shepard” rocket. This was the first payload Columbia University (and CSI) have sent into outer space! Big thank you to all the team members who have worked hard on this mission during the last 1.5 years, and to the Mechanical Engineering Department for funding it.
-Nathalie Hager, Zero-G Research Division Lead
Spread across countries and continents, we are continuing the development of our payload during this summer. The BME subteam is finalizing the experiment setup and will be conducting tests in a laboratory on campus soon. The CS subteam is working on the on-board software, while the Mech-E and the EE subteams are both working on the manufacturing of the payload locker. We are also working on the payload documentation required by NanoRacks/Blue Origin. Space missions know no summer breaks!
-Nathalie Hager, Zero-G Research Division Lead
Since the start of our mission in Summer 2018, we’ve been working hard on the development of our payload throughout the past academic year. Our four subteams - BME, Mech-E, EE and CS - have developed the entire experiment design together from scratch. In addition, we have secured funding for the development of our payload and for the launch fees for a spot on New Shepard. We also have successfully secured a spot on the P9 flight of Blue Origin’s rocket and are looking forward to the launch!
-Nathalie Hager, Zero-G Research Division Lead
