St. John’s Catholic School 8th Grader named finalist in CubeSat design competition

Brunswick, ME – St. John’s Catholic School proudly announces that 8th-grade student Joseph Stratman has been selected as a finalist in the 2025 University of Southern Maine (USM) CubeSat Design Competition. Competing as a one-person team, Joseph’s mission, OnPiste, will investigate the effects of radiation on electron ionization and the geomagnetic field’s influence on irradiance.

Joseph is one of only 12 finalists chosen from 33 middle and high school teams across Maine. As part of the competition, he will now advance to the next phase—constructing, testing, and launching his CubeSat on a high-altitude balloon in May 2025.

Beyond his CubeSat project, Joseph, along with fellow 8th graders Parker Griset and Chloe Charbonneau, has been conducting microgravity research in collaboration with Dr. Alvaro Romero-Calvo, an assistant professor in the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology. Their experiment focuses on phase separation in microgravity, a critical process for spacecraft fuel management, water purification, and life support systems. Their science teacher, Karin Paquin, will fly this experiment aboard a Zero-G Corporation microgravity flight in May.

Joseph’s partnership with Georgia Tech and his groundbreaking research have been made possible through Space for Teachers, an initiative that provides students and educators with realworld space research experiences.

His achievements reflect the dedication of organizations such as the University of Southern Maine, Space for Teachers, the ISS National Laboratory, the Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium, and the Maine Space Grant Consortium in fostering space science education. Their commitment to hands-on STEM learning allows students like Joseph to engage in real aerospace research, preparing them for future careers in space exploration. St. John’s Catholic School 37 Pleasant Street, Brunswick, ME 04011 (207) 725-5507

“We are incredibly proud of Joseph’s ambition and hard work,” said Mrs. Karin Paquin, 6th-8th grade science teacher at St. John’s Catholic School. “His accomplishments demonstrate how students, even at the middle school level, can contribute meaningfully to space science and engineering. He has taken full ownership of both his CubeSat project and the microgravity research, showing a level of dedication and problem-solving that is truly inspiring.”

Joseph will continue refining his CubeSat for the upcoming launch, representing St. John’s Catholic School as a young leader in aerospace innovation.

For more information about the USM CubeSat Design Competition, visit USM CubeSat Website.