Lassonde Professor launches satellite research event at the Ontario Science Centre as part of an interdisciplinary project

Resident Space Objects (RSOs), such as satellites and rockets, are frequently launched into space for different missions. However, many of these objects are not removed from space after they serve their purpose, even when they become non-functional or broken. This creates an overcrowded and unsustainable environment which can interfere with space assets and activities.

To tackle this complex issue, Professor Regina Lee from the Department of Earth & Space Science Engineering at York University’s Lassonde School of Engineering, has focused her research on developing satellite technologies for space situational awareness missions. Like a security guard, these satellites are used to track and monitor the activity of other satellites that have been launched into space. This enables the identification of inactive satellites that should be removed from space, as well as active satellites that are at risk of collision with other objects. The collected information can then be communicated and used to notify scientists about the status of their satellites, encouraging their removal or other required action.

“We talk about sustainability all the time, but what about sustainability in space?” says Professor Lee. “We need to start bringing this idea to the public domain, we need to reach larger audiences.” This complex task required an interdisciplinary approach, one which is central to Lassonde and is part of what differentiates the School.

To spread awareness of this issue and make her research more accessible, Professor Lee collaborated with a fellow professor from York on a creative project that combines art with science, titled “Space Situational Awareness and Us.” Interdisciplinary approaches and collaborations like this are extremely important, helping bridge knowledge gaps and making a positive impact while addressing the world’s greatest challenges.

This project was created by principal investigator, Professor Joel Ong from the Department of Computational Arts at York University, through the New Frontiers in Research Fund. “Space Situational Awareness and Us” includes several artistic presentations and exhibitions about Professor Lee’s research regarding the environment in space, objects that orbit our planet and space surveillance using small satellites.

During March Break (March 13 – 19, 2023), one of the artistic presentations, titled “Satellites & You” was demonstrated at the Ontario Science Centre to youth and their families. This presentation was co-written and directed by Professor Lee’s students: Akash Chauhan, PhD Candidate, and Vithurshan Suthakar, MSc Candidate.

The project was proposed in 2019 during a speculative conversation between Professors Lee, Ong and their students, as well as Data Visualization artist Scott Hessels at Sensorium: Centre for Digital Art and Technology, an Organized Research Unit out of the School of Arts, Media, Performance & Design (AMPD) at York. Here, they discussed different perspectives on the visualization of satellites and space junk. “We realized that there were significant overlaps in our strategies,” says Professor Ong, “particularly in the way we were all finding creative solutions to read images, infer data and compose photographs. It made sense for us to take this further and build our skill sets through interdisciplinary experimentation.” In support of this project, the team received the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) grant in 2021.

Presentations about Professor Lee’s research were led by her graduate students who engaged with the audience using creative props, interactive demonstrations and informative videos. Youth in the audience were invited to write messages that will travel to near-space and back to earth with one of Professor Lee’s nanosatellites in an upcoming mission.

In addition to presenting her research, Professor Lee used this project to encourage youth to consider pursuing career paths in STEM. “Science is usually introduced to students when they’re older, but I think we should show younger generations what opportunities exist as early as possible,” says Professor Lee. Along with her students, Professor Lee will continue showcasing space research to k-12 classrooms, summer camps and community-based programs over the coming months.

Another goal for this project was to promote diversity in space sciences and engineering, especially among young girls. “Women are already underrepresented in engineering, but there are even fewer women in space programs,” says Professor Lee. To help inspire girls, Professor Lee ensured that most presentations of her project included at least one of her female students in a major role. “I want to promote women in space in a subtle way, it’s important for young girls to see what is possible.”

Professor Lee will be continuing her work with Professor Ong, developing creative installations that will be displayed at various exhibits, including the Macintosh gallery at Western University in London, Ontario. Ultimately, Professor Lee hopes art can help reignite conversations about satellites. “There was a time when everyone was excited about satellites being launched into space,” says Professor Lee. “I want to bring that passion back.”