SST students track satellites with new observatory

SINGAPORE – Students and alumni from the School of Science and Technology (SST) can now conduct space observations and track satellites from their own campus.

The school’s Space Technology Centre, which officially opened on April 20, has a 17-inch PlaneWave telescope and a Takahashi refractor in its new observatory. These instruments are used for solar, planetary and deep-sky observations, and let students explore the cosmos, including the Moon’s craters and the rings of Saturn.

The new telescope is much larger than standard handheld binoculars, which SST students use now. It has high resolution and magnification, and can gather more light because of its massive aperture.

In the Bell Radio Room, students can track satellites and communicate with other radio users around the world. It functions as an amateur radio station and is equipped with transceivers for students to send out their own messages and listen to signals coming from space.

SST is now one of only two secondary schools in Singapore to house an observatory – the other being NUS High School of Math and Science – and the only one with a dedicated amateur radio station.

Senior Minister of State for Education David Neo, who officially opened the centre, said it connects classroom knowledge with real-world application, and will nurture talent to strengthen Singapore’s position as an innovation and research hub.

Space has become an accessible frontier for nations and businesses with the rapid development of space technologies and decreased launch costs, Mr Neo said.

“Singapore is well placed to take advantage of the global momentum due to investments over the years… and our strong STEM foundations,” he added, using the acronym for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Noting that Singapore has launched and operated more than 30 satellites over the years, he also said this is why the Government has identified space technologies as an emerging technology area under its ongoing Economic Strategy Review.

The opening of SST’s Space Technology Centre comes on the heels of the National Space Agency of Singapore starting operations on April 1 to expand the space economy and develop its space capabilities.

Four specialised laboratories support the new centre: the Alpha Lab, where students experiment with cybersecurity and artificial intelligence; the Beta Lab, a “maker space” for innovation and prototyping; the Gamma Lab for applied research; and the RAE Lab for robotics and engineering.

Mr Neo said the space centre and labs form a comprehensive STEM learning ecosystem.

These facilities allow students to explore STEM concepts through experimentation, and learn how engineering and technological advances can solve real-world problems, he added.

According to SST, its students in Secondary 2 are introduced to the topic of radio transmission and reception, and in Secondary 3 and 4, refraction and reflection. During these lessons, students can visit the centre for hands-on activities.

Students in the school’s astronomy club, who are carrying out observational projects, may use the observatory, and the Bell Radio Room can be used by those who are studying for or have obtained their radio licence. They need to be accompanied by school staff when using the facilities.

The centre and the labs are available for students to use throughout the week, and will also be opened for special occasions such as eclipses and other astronomical events.

Alumnus Gavriel Chia, 17, a former president of the astronomy club, said he had been waiting for facilities like these since he was in Secondary 1, when his teachers first spoke about the possibility of an observatory on campus.

Having obtained his ham radio licences from Singapore and the US in recent years, he is “very excited” to finally move from theoretical learning to hands-on experimentation.

Previously, it was a logistical challenge for Gavriel to conduct his research, which involves monitoring radio signals from the Sun to spot sudden “spikes” in energy, which act as early warning signs to potential hazards to Earth. He had to set up temporary antennas in the school field, which were often disrupted by passing students or technical disconnections.

“With this permanent station, I have the assurance that when I am recording data for the long term, it will not be disrupted,” said Gavriel, now a student at National Junior College.

He also said he and his peers have managed to use the centre’s antennas to bounce a signal off the International Space Station, giving them a chance to see how what they learn in the classroom can be applied in real life.

“These things were not possible in the past,” Gavriel said. “Every time you come here, there is a new opportunity to do something new because there is so much available (in the centre).”