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The idea for GALAXIA was born out of Gharagozli’s time in the H���� Space Systems Lab—a design lab he started as a second-year student. Gharagozli considers his experiences in the lab an essential part of not only GALAXIA, but his engineering education as well.

“The Space Systems Lab gave me the opportunity to learn how to put the theory into practice and that it’s

not always a seamless experience,” says Gharagozli.

“It gave me the space to fail and the tenacity to keep trying, and I think that helped make me a more well-rounded engineer.”

Gharagozli and his lab mates partnered with faculty to participate in the Canadian Space Agency’s Canadian CubeSat Project. Together, they designed and built the LORIS satellite, which became the first spacecraft built in Atlantic Canada to be launched into orbit.

“As students, we didn’t just build a satellite, we also made history in our region and our country,” says Gharagozli. “It made me realize that Nova Scotia has the potential to be a hub for the space industry.”

In 2020, when he started his Masters, Gharagozli joined the Young Innovators Program through the Emera ideaHub. The mentorship he received through the program helped him successfully pitch his company and secure the initial funding to make GALAXIA a reality.

Since launching, Gharagozli continues to partner with Dal and has hired several engineering graduates at GALAXIA. “Dal has one of the strongest engineering programs in Atlantic Canada,” says Gharagozli. “It prepares students like me to solve real-world challenges and contribute to economic growth in our region and beyond.”