Croydon High School has reached a major milestone in its Mission Pegasus project, led by head of physics Arabi Karteepan, an alumna of Plashet School in Newham.
The school’s student-led Astrogazers team recently completed live flight testing of their CubeSat systems on July 1 at Cranfield Airport.
Ms Karteepan, who founded the Astrogazers Club, said: “When one of my pupils asked me, ‘can we go to space?’, naturally I said yes.
The flight test took place aboard the FAAM Airborne Laboratory aircraft and marks the culmination of a year’s work involving lab and remote testing, including work at the Surrey Space Centre and the installation of a remote sensor station on the school roof.
The team has already built a prototype satellite instrument and proved its ability to function in the vacuum of space through rigorous environmental testing.
The CubeSat successfully collected data during the flight, which will now be analysed and compared with measurements gathered by the FAAM aircraft.
The next phases of the project include building the final engineering model and securing a rocket launch partner.
Ms Karteepan said: “Part of their success is due to the fact that they operate with all the professionalism of a real space company.
“They tackle setbacks head-on through collaborative problem solving and methodical troubleshooting, ensuring nothing is left to chance.
“With critical foresight, they anticipate potential issues and embed robust preventative measures.
“This is real science, performed at the highest level.”
Annabel Davies, head of Croydon High School, said: “The dedication, talent, and sheer ambition of these girls is extraordinary.
“Mission Pegasus is more than a project — it’s a statement of what girls can achieve when they are supported to aspire without limits, and this is what we do here at Croydon High School.”
The CubeSat launch is planned for 2026–27, with Croydon High now calling on the public, industry leaders, and STEM champions to support the final phases of the mission.
Professor Cathryn Mitchell from the University of Bath, a long-term supporter of the project, said: “This flight test is a major milestone in Astrogazers’ ambition to reach space.
“What seemed incredible is now becoming a reality — Astrogazers are right on track to making Croydon High the first all-girls school to build and launch their own space instrument on a satellite.”
Ms Karteepan was awarded the Royal Astronomical Society’s Secondary and Further Education Award in 2024 for her work on the project, inspiring young women in science and engineering.
