Payload
Overview
The payload sub team builds an experiment from the ground up to launch on board of the rocket. The conditions under rocket launch are very unique; with high altitude, acceleration, and vibrational forces. This gives us a chance to do research that has never been done before!
Payload projects undergo a two year cycle. In the first year, members brainstorm their potential ideas for projects, and develop them into concrete experiments. The second year will integrate the developed experiment onto the rocket for launch.
The PA1 payload project is the current launch experiment. Members will gain experience in finalizing the research design, and doing the physical experiments necessary in the preparations for launch. The PA2 project is more research and literature oriented, where members will build on their ideas and passions to create their own experiment for the next year’s rocket. Both projects will work alongside the payload hardware, software, and structures team to bring their experiment to life.
Payloads vary greatly, and regardless of what discipline members are in they can develop an experiment to their liking. Previous payloads have been biologically oriented, testing medical screws strength under launch. Payload experiments can also be done in the physical sciences, such as testing atomic clock’s stability on a rocket. No matter what field members are in, there will be a place for them on the payload sub team.
Payload Projects
PA0: Orthopedics (C.O.R.E.) Wrap-Up - Fall 2026
The past 3 years of MRT Payload has been focused on an orthopedics experiment testing the efficacy of cancellous screw augmentation in osteoporotic bone. Following the launch of Luminor, we need to: manufacture (using power tools) our “ground” group of samples, complete mechanical testing and perform statistical analysis. Following its completion during the Fall semester, we hope to publish our results as a paper in the McGill Undergraduate Journal.
While this project is in its final stages, we encourage members of PA1/PA2 who are looking for more hands-on experience to contribute and learn something new!
PA1: Quantum Timekeeping
The PA1 project is developing the experiment for the 2027 rocket to study the performance of Chip-Scale Atomic Clocks (CSACs) under rocket launch conditions.
Atomic clocks are devices which can tell time with extreme accuracy. They do this by measuring the transition frequency of an atom from its ground state to an excited state. Due to quantum mechanics, this is a very precise number, and we can in turn get a very precise time measurement.
CSACs are devices which take the same ideas of an atomic clock and execute them on a much smaller scale. They have wide-ranging applications, from the aerospace industry to underwater research.
The goal of PA1 is to test how they perform under rocket launch conditions. We will analyze how the acceleration, vibrational forces and temperature changes affect the stability of their time measurements. We will include other types of oscillators; MAC, TCXO and MEMS, to compare its stability to that of other time measuring devices.
If you’re interested in physics, research, and/or experiments, we encourage you to apply to PA1 and you will be more than welcome to help us develop our project!
PA2: Biomedical R&D
PA2 will be our next biomedical experiment, with the 26-27 year being focused on experiment development and the following year preparing to launch. We will be researching relevant physiological systems that are impacted by spaceflight, and developing a model system for data collection. You’ll be part of a team that will concentrate on experimental design: taking new ideas and turning them into a mission for flight. This will involve design, prototyping, conducting feasibility studies, and eventually testing in real launch conditions. The Payload presents an exceptional opportunity to create a novel project from zero, and continue on the same project over a 2 year cycle. The rocket is our lab, let’s make your ideas fly!