U of C students used LED lights to send an image into space (Photo Provided)
“Mo shuile togam suas” translates to “I will lift up mine eyes.” These words, ingrained into the backbone and logo of the University of Calgary since 1966, inspired 400 students to look up towards the sky and shine some light into an astronaut’s journey.
Robert Thirsk, a U of C alumnus, is the first Canadian to participate in a long-term mission to space.
On May 27, 2009, Thirsk, and two other crewmates, launched towards the International Space Station (ISS), committing to a six-month mission. Drinking coffee from a bag and squeezing macaroni and cheese into his mouth for dinner are a few of the challenges he faces millions of miles from home.
In a recent interview Thirsk expressed his loneliness and longing for his family. Upon hearing this, the faculty and the student body at the U of C felt they needed to show their support and encouragement for the former university student.
A plan was put together to send a message that could be seen by Thirsk from space. LED light panels were provided by Osram Opto Semiconductors. These were said to have high enough light density to be seen from space.
“Initially it was just meant to call upon engineering students,” said Kasmira Pawa, president of the Engineering Students’ Society at U of C. “But the message got around by word of mouth to all the other students from different faculties who wanted to hop on board.”
On the day of the event students arrived hours early to rehearse for the message. Thirsk was informed beforehand about the nature of the event and the time it would take place.
“He was given all of our numbers and called me during the rehearsal from the space station, and told me that he was waiting with his camera and was really excited. That felt pretty cool,” Pawa said.
At precisely 8:34 p.m. (MST), the ISS made its way through space as the students sent out their message. The message, at first, spelled out the word “dream” in Morse code and then in letters. Finally, the students took positions to form an eye that winked.
Even though Thirsk was unable to read the message due to cloudiness, the essence of the message still made its way to him.
“We just wanted to let him know that we can see him, and that he is remembered through this mission,” said Pawa.