UAE Students Launch Stratospheric CubeSat in Russia: A New Milestone in Space Education

UAE Students Launch Stratospheric CubeSat in Russia: A New Milestone in Space Education

In a groundbreaking achievement for both science education and the UAE’s innovation vision, six high school students from the Lab of Future (LOF) successfully designed, built, and launched a CubeSat into the stratosphere during an international space tournament in Moscow, Russia. The student-led satellite mission, named Orbita, reached an altitude of 21 kilometers and carried nine advanced experiments that collected crucial atmospheric and environmental data related to climate change, radiation resistance, and space technology development.

This was no classroom simulation. The students Avani Gupta, Aditya Kashyap, Mohamed Jefran, Shreya Muzumdar, Ishitha Justina Riyad, and Madhav Soni, from various Dubai schools engineered the mission from the ground up. Their CubeSat featured a full-spectrum pollutant detection system, a microplastics collection module, and a material-testing payload designed to assess the durability of Kapton, carbon fiber, and aluminum polyimide under extreme UV exposure. The mission confirmed the presence of microplastics in the upper atmosphere, mapped harmful greenhouse gases, and demonstrated the resilience of Kapton delivering real research-grade insights.

Lab of Future, founded in the UAE by the ChandraMari Group of Companies and led by Muralikumar, Sureshbabu, and CEO Arpit Dugar, is redefining STEM education. With a vision to bridge classroom learning and industrial application, LOF brings STREAMER (Science, Technology, Research, Engineering, Arts, Maths, Entrepreneurship, Resilience) education into the heart of schools through immersive programmes, internships, and real-world missions. The organization operates a high-tech lab in Dubai and collaborates with global agencies like NASA, ESA, ISRO, and ROSCOSMOS, while partnering locally with top UAE schools and universities.

The Orbita CubeSat launch exemplifies LOF’s belief that the best way to teach the future is to build it. “We don’t just teach science we launch it,” says Dugar. “When students engineer and innovate under real conditions, they develop critical thinking, collaboration, and leadership skills that no textbook can offer.” LOF’s structured learning pathway starts from age six and progresses through five levels from foundational knowledge to global research allowing young minds to grow into confident innovators and future industry leaders.

Beyond Orbita, LOF students represent the UAE at major global platforms such as the NASA Space Apps Challenge, ESA CanSat competitions, and the International Space Settlement Design Contest. They also participate in hackathons, robotics challenges, and space research internships, contributing to cutting-edge projects like microgravity experiments and orbital payload systems. These opportunities help students build competitive portfolios, IEEE reports, and even prepare for university-level research.

LOF's impact extends beyond elite competitions. Through its STREAMER Labs installed in schools across the UAE and India, thousands of students engage with space robotics, AI, drones, cybersecurity, and digital fabrication all within their regular learning environments. The organization also hosts international events such as World Space Week, family science festivals, and its flagship Zero Gravity Workshop a six-day immersive programme that brings global students to Dubai for hands-on space tech training.

All of this aligns closely with the UAE National Space Strategy 2030, which focuses on empowering youth, fostering innovation, and building a thriving space economy. The success of the CubeSat mission underscores the UAE’s growing role as a hub for space education and research. By turning students into scientists, and classrooms into launchpads, LOF is making the UAE’s vision of becoming a global leader in future industries a living reality.

As the CubeSat carried scientific data back to Earth, it also delivered a clear message: the UAE's next generation is not waiting for the future they're already building it. With registrations now open, Lab of Future continues to invite curious young minds to join its mission to explore, innovate, and lead the next frontier.