The Astro Clean Innovating the A3PK

Hosting an initiative company called ‘Astro Clean’, Apoorva and Aditi from Grade 8 have got a passion for online astrophysics and chat groups, taking their passion into products. As a result, the satellite A3PK is the first cheap yet effective product aimed at solving the looming threat of space junk. The team has been mentored by TISB’s Physics Teacher, Mr Manjot. This has meant the team being guided with technical aspects and feedback of products, and allowed them to submit a convincing proposal. We managed to get in touch with Apoorva and Aditi to find out more about their initiative. 

Apoorva and Aditi are part of a five-member team, who also includes Aarush, Keilah and Peggie. The team has decided to turn their passion into products and participated in the ‘Conrad Innovation Challenge’ during November 2021 and January 2022. “It is an entrepreneurship competition where students between the age of 13-18, form teams of 2-5 students”, explains Apoorva and Aditi, who have been part of the competition creating products or services to address problems in one of four categories: Aerospace and Aviation, Cyber-Technology and Security, Energy and Environment, and Health and Nutrition. “We participated in the Aerospace and Aviation category because we wanted to be able to apply our knowledge of astrophysics and economics to develop a product that solves a real-life problem.” 

The name of their product is satellite ‘A3PK’, which attempts to solve increasingly concerning problem of space junk by utilising electromagnets to create a magnetic field and attract small debris of maximum 10cm, while converting space debris into fuel for the spaceship, as such efficiently destroying space junk. The product uses chemistry concepts, like electrolysis and decomposition to effectively convert aluminium-based space junk into hydrogen for fuel cells which convert it into energy allowing the product to remain in orbit for an indefinite amount of time while destroying space junk. “We brainstormed various ways to solve this increasing concern of space junk, and wanted to eradicate small space debris which is difficult to eradicate due its small size”, explains Apoorva and Aditi. “Once we made it connect with recycling aluminium cans on earth to space junk mainly made of aluminium, we were able to research and ideate on this further, allowing us to develop our final product.” 

The team was given the title of Conrad Innovators for making it to the second round. They were in the top 40 teams worldwide out of 950 teams in the aerospace and aviation category. For round 2, they needed to submit a proposal containing their business description, funding sources, cost and a technical concept report about the product. “We also submitted a CAD model of our product along with an 8-minute-long pitch video”, explains Apoorva and Aditi, and share their YouTube video.