Preparing for launch: Student-run rocketry club blazing new path at Seneca | MyNews | Seneca Students

What does it take to design, build and launch a rocket successfully?

For Saiprasad Dhodi, this fascination with rocketry inspired him to build a model rocket for the first time when he was still a high school student in India. Years later and continents away as a student at Seneca, it motivated him to found Astra Labs, a student-run Seneca Student Federation (SSF) club that focuses on model rocketry.

“Astra Labs was created because I felt there wasn’t a club at Seneca for students who are interested in rocketry or careers in the aerospace industry,” said Mr. Saiprasad. “It’s important to have a space where we can explore the various processes and apply what we have learned, because I believe the booming rocket industry in Canada will offer a lot of opportunities in the coming years.”

His feeling was quickly validated: Astra Labs now boasts more than 20 student members and in addition to gaining faculty support from Seneca HELIX and the School of Information Technology Administration & Security, it has also received funding from Seneca HELIX, the SSF and Seneca Alumni.

Mr. Saiprasad — in his final year of the Electronics Engineering Technology (EET) advanced diploma program and already secured a full-time internship at the engineering firm LAPORTE Consultants — met with his fellow club members every week over the past 12 months as they worked diligently to design and build Pioneer, their 2.5 metres-tall model rocket that’s made with fibreglass.

“From how to program and code microcontrollers, to the designing and manufacturing process of printed circuit boards, to the mechanisms behind data transmission, satellites and much more, we have all learned a lot over this past year,” explained Mr. Saiprasad. “For me, among other skills, the EET program has taught me advanced mathematics and how to debug, which have been crucial to developing the electronic components of the rocket’s payload.”

Mr. Saiprasad and a few members of Astra Labs brought Pioneer along when they represented Seneca at the recently held Launch Canada 2026, a major rocketry challenge for postsecondary students in Canada. However, their scheduled launch was called off due to unfavourable weather conditions.

Undeterred and inspired by what they witnessed, the Astra Labs team is back at work and accepting new members this Fall 2026 Term as they prepare for Launch Canada 2027.

Fun fact: Open to all current Seneca students, Astra Labs' current 20+ members come from the following programs:

• BHAD – Honours Bachelor of Health Administration
• BSD – Honours Bachelor of Technology – Software Development
• CPA – Computer Programming & Analysis
• ECT – Computer Engineering Technology
• EET – Electronics Engineering Technology
• EMA – Electromechanical Engineering Technology – Automation
• MIT – Mechanical Engineering Technology – Industrial Design