Macquarie University engineer Sana Syed is helping take Australian space technology further, leading the development of a miniature thermal infrared camera for Mission ShakthiSAT, an international space mission designed to inspire thousands of girls to explore science and engineering.

Working at Macquarie’s Australian Astronomical Optics (AAO), Syed is adapting and miniaturising MALYA, a thermal infrared camera that will form part of the mission’s satellite payload.

Thermal infrared cameras detect heat emitted by objects, allowing scientists to study temperature and thermal patterns that may not be visible to the human eye. Developing one for a satellite presents a significant engineering challenge: the technology must be precise, reliable and compact enough to operate in the demanding conditions of space.

For Syed, the project brings together two of her biggest interests: developing advanced technology and helping the next generation discover engineering.

“I've always been curious about systems that combine multiple engineering disciplines,” she says.

“At AAO, I get to design, develop, build, test and commission instruments for astronomy and space exploration with an amazing team of engineers, researchers and scientists.”

From precision engineering to space exploration

Syed joined Macquarie University as a student around four years ago and has spent the past three years working as a mechanical engineer at AAO. She holds a Master of Engineering Management from Macquarie and brings experience across several specialised areas of engineering.

Before moving to Australia, she worked on precision motion systems for robot-assisted eye surgery, cryogenic systems that operate at extremely low temperatures, and computer simulations used to assess the safety and reliability of electrical power management systems.

At AAO, she has contributed to the development of astronomical instruments for observatories in Türkiye and India, including the DIRAC infrared camera system for the East Anatolia Observatory and the High-Resolution Spectrograph System for the Devasthal Optical Telescope.

While astronomical and space instruments operate in different environments, Syed says both demand precision, careful thermal management and reliability.

One of her favourite parts of the job is testing whether instruments can withstand the conditions they will encounter in operation.

The team uses a Thermal Vacuum Chamber to expose instruments to vacuum and a range of temperatures, helping assess whether they can withstand the extreme conditions of space.

“It's exciting to see how our expertise in astronomical instrumentation translates into space technologies,” she says.

Building a space mission and opening doors for girls in STEM

Through Mission ShakthiSAT, Syed is applying that engineering expertise to a mission with an equally important educational goal.

The all-female-led initiative aims to engage 12,000 girls across 108 countries through hands-on satellite-building education, training and mentorship. Macquarie's AAO is an official payload partner, contributing the MALYA thermal infrared camera in collaboration with the University's School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences.

As part of the project, Syed travelled to India in August with MAPS postdoctoral researcher Kateryna Andrych to represent Macquarie and support engineering workshops with high school students from around the world.

The MALYA payload was showcased and integrated with the satellite's onboard computer and 12U CubeSat ahead of its planned launch from India aboard the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle.

For Syed, the experience was particularly meaningful.

“Having studied and worked in India before moving to Australia, it was especially rewarding to return and share my engineering experience with the next generation,” she says.

“It felt like coming full circle, from being a student myself to helping young women explore their own paths in engineering and other STEM professions.”

Making engineering accessible

Syed says one of the most rewarding aspects of her work at Macquarie is seeing what people with different skills and perspectives can achieve together.

“What's wonderful about working here is seeing what a truly diverse team can achieve, quietly pushing the boundaries of what's possible with state-of-the-art astronomical and space instrumentation,” she says.

She hopes the combination of hands-on engineering and international collaboration will help more young people see a future for themselves in STEM.

“I'm also passionate about making engineering and space technology more accessible for the next generation of engineers and scientists through real-world, multidisciplinary STEM experiences.”

For Syed, Mission ShakthiSAT is an opportunity to do both: help develop technology for space exploration and show young women that they can play a role in shaping its future.