Zenith Fellow Mentee, Class of 2025
University of British Columbia - Bachelor of Applied Science - Mechanical Engineering
Mentor: Sarah McKenzie-Picot

Saurav is a student at the University of British Columbia pursuing an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering.

He had always been fascinated by rockets, astronauts, and everything beyond our world. His first experience with space-related problem-solving came at the International Space Settlement Design Competition (ISSDC) at Kennedy Space Center. Collaborating with students from around the world who shared his passion for the space industry was an unforgettable experience. If his interest wasn’t already set in stone, being immersed in space architecture and tackling ambitious design challenges as an 11th grader solidified his decision to pursue an engineering degree in university.

In university, Saurav found himself joining UBC Orbit – a student satellite team working on ALEASAT, a 1U CubeSat with an Earth-observation camera payload. With a mission to provide the amateur radio community with a disaster relief training via on-demand satellite imagery, Saurav began applying himself to the Structure team in order to do his part in advancing this mission.

In 2023, Saurav stepped into the Structure Subsystem Lead role as he helped organize and lead a vibrational test campaign of ALEASAT at the ESA Galaxia facility in Redu, Belgium. This was followed by presenting ALEASAT’s structural design under the scrutiny of ESA engineers and experts at the Fly Your Satellite! 4 Workshop at ESA ESTEC in Noordwijk, Netherlands. This experience was monumental in helping Saurav connect with CubeSat teams from across the world and reaffirming the value in connecting with likeminded individuals in the global aerospace industry. His contributions have helped designate ALEASAT as the first Canadian CubeSat to be accepted into the FYS program! As ALEASAT continues to improve and build upon these experiences, increase testing culture, and advance the satellite’s design, Saurav provides his technical and organizational skills to lead the team towards their goal of a launch with the alongside the mentorship of the European Space Agency.

Saurav continues to expand his skillset through internships, unique design challenges, and collaborations with his peers. He spends his time hanging out with friends, playing sports, working on projects in the UBC Orbit design studio, or unwinding to the timeless classics of the Minecraft soundtrack. He is honored to be part of such a passionate group of young professionals and is excited to meet, learn from, and connect with others in the Zenith Program.