Letter from the Editors

Dear readers,

It is our great honour to welcome you back for the second edition of The Orbiter, published on January 23rd, 2026, by SEDS-ÉEDS Canada, a student-led, national non-profit organization that aims to propel and connect Canadian post-secondary students within the space industry.

This project was made possible by the continuous effort of past and current members of SEDS-Canada’s Communications, Graphic Design, and Writing teams, and of course, the artists and writers whose work we are proud to publish. Creating an interdisciplinary magazine dedicated to space and all that it encompasses allows us to support creators within Canada’s space industry, giving their work a virtual launching pad. The project is also a testament to just how interconnected the space industry is, as you will find a range of topics within this issue’s theme of Starry Skies. This year’s pieces examine a range of technical, artistic, and philosophical interpretations of the theme, allowing for a collage of perspectives that ultimately reflect the unity which we feel when we behold the cosmos.

In Reliability of AI in Space: Earned, Not Assumed, Naqi Khan provides a pragmatic assessment of the benefits and specific cases for the use of AI, emphasizing the importance of building reliability for autonomous spacecraft vehicles through an engineering lens. This work proves especially timely when AI is defaulted in industry for its novelty, while Khan stresses that good practice must not be neglected—as “trust has to be earned through proof, transparency, and precision”.

In When Poetry Meets the Search for Alien Life, Mya McKinnon interviews Professor Gregory Betts of Brock University unravels A Sign in Space, an art project that united thousands of citizen scientists in decoding an alien message of Betts’ creation, particularly how it affects the field of astrobiology and its deeply embedded societal and philosophical implications.

In The Satellite of Discovery, Lexis Johnson delves into the prominence of Canada’s role in the current age of lunar exploration, highlighting continuation of projects such as the Canadarm3 in development for the Artemis program. The article emphasizes the importance of Canada’s space exploration legacy as it stands to be propelled through collaboration in the Artemis II program, opening new opportunities for future generations of Canadians in the international space industry.

In Tampons in Microgravity: Inclusive Design Meets Space Research, Yosamin Esanullah and Julia Bayer-Cheung discuss the Space-MENstruator’s research project, conducted on CAN-RGX’s parabolic flight campaign. They illuminate the need to address the biological realities of life in orbit with inclusivity in mind; their research showcases how menstrual cycles experienced by space explorers remains an understudied issue that stands to benefit from more inclusive system design and solutions with the astronaut’s health and comfort in mind.

In Traveller in the Dark, Aude Benk-Fortin breath-stilling introspective piece tells of a couple’s experience as they watch the two last stars extinguish. The immersive story places the reader alongside Cepral and Matsa as they come to terms with the reality of their solitude in the Universe, as all other suns burn out.

In Ad Astra Per Aspera, Uki Lazarev’s poetry beautifully weaves the wonder of the discovery of pulsars and the interconnectedness of the cosmos and the human experience, especially when our journey through life feels isolating. Likewise in The Act of Dying, Lazarev creates a poignant lyrical poem on black holes and constellations, drawing parallels between grief and gravity’s constant pull.

In Where My Stars Wait, Zuha Ahmad crafts a stunning tribute to her younger self on a star-lit beach, exploring the connection between the past and the future and how the act of creation inspired by the night sky bridges the two. The vivid imagery and surrealistic style is reflected in writing as it is in the art by the author that served to inspire this piece.

Thank you for your continued support of The Orbiter with your readership, and for joining us once more on this starry journey.