The SAIT Supernovas are an innovative team of engineering students from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT). They are passionate about space engineering and have secured a spot in the Canadian Reduced Gravity Experiment Challenge (CAN-RGX) competition. As the first non-university team to participate in this prestigious competition, they aim to design and build an electrically powered drone using ionic propulsion and mechanical gyroscopic stability for controlled maneuverability in space-like conditions. The team represents SAIT's dedication to pushing the boundaries of innovation and excellence in the field of space technology. 

CAN-RGX stands as Canada’s premier microgravity research competition for post-secondary students, hosted by Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS) and operating in partnership with the National Research Council (NRC) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). Since its inception in 2016, this annual challenge empowers students to conceive, design, and execute scientific experiments aboard the NRC Falcon 20, purposefully adapted for reduced gravity flights.

Commencing in September 2023, the seventh edition of CAN-RGX invites teams from any Canadian university or college to submit proposals for experiments. A panel selects teams to fully develop, construct, and conduct their experiments, affording selected members the unique opportunity to fly aboard the Falcon 20 and experience microgravity through consecutive parabolic flights.

The sponsorship of CAN-RGX plays a pivotal role in nurturing student-led advancements in space exploration and development. Sponsors not only bolster the growth of STEM skills among students but also offer unparalleled opportunities for participants to conduct groundbreaking research in a microgravity environment, fostering innovation and learning beyond Earth's confines.

At SAIT Supernovas, our mission is to inspire and fuel students to innovation by actively participating in the renowned Canadian Reduced Gravity Experiment Challenge (CAN-RGX). As the inaugural non-university team granted entry into this esteemed competition, our objective is to conceptualize and build an electrically powered drone. This cutting-edge drone will employ ionic propulsion and mechanical gyroscopic stability to ensure precise maneuverability in the unique conditions of zero gravity.

Our vision entails the creation of an unmanned, electrically powered glide-body craft that leverages ionic thrust for both propulsion and control in microgravity environments. Additionally, we plan to incorporate a mechanical gyroscope to provide stabilization by establishing an inertial reference. We will be testing our creation in microgravity onboard the national research council's falcon 20 plane, during the last week of July at the Montreal Saint-Hubert Longueuil Airport in Quebec.