Satbayev University students represented Kazakhstan at the international final of ActInSpace 2026 in France

Bordeaux, France, hosted the second stage of the international space innovation competition ActInSpace 2026, including the international semi-finals and finals, where winners of local and national rounds from different countries competed.

Satbayev University was represented at the international venue by SUniverse, a team of five third-year undergraduate students. The team had previously passed the national stage in Kazakhstan and earned the opportunity to present its project at the final stage of one of the most recognized international competitions in the field of space technologies.

During the competition, the students presented a project focused on the use of artificial intelligence for satellite telemetry analysis. Their solution is designed to automate data processing, detect anomalies, and predict the condition of satellite systems. This approach is especially relevant for modern small spacecraft, where timely interpretation of telemetry directly affects mission reliability and operational stability.

The SUniverse project addresses a key challenge in the aerospace sector: large volumes of telemetry data still require time-consuming manual analysis, increasing operator workload and making early fault detection more difficult. The AI-based model proposed by the students enables a shift from manual processing toward a smarter and more predictive workflow.

According to the preliminary research results underlying the project, the model demonstrates strong performance, with AUC of approximately 0.96, R² of approximately 0.94, and up to 18% improvement in energy efficiency through intelligent analysis and forecasting. These figures highlight the potential of the solution for further development and future application in university-led and research-oriented space projects.

Although the team did not win the international final, participation in ActInSpace 2026 became an important milestone for Satbayev University students and a valuable experience of working in a global innovation environment. Reaching the international stage confirmed the competitiveness of student engineering projects and the strong potential of the university’s young researchers.

ActInSpace is an international competition involving major players in the space sector and aimed at fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and interest in space technologies. In 2026, the international competition took place in Bordeaux and brought together teams selected in their respective countries.

The participation of SUniverse in the final of ActInSpace 2026 reflects Satbayev University’s commitment to advancing engineering education, supporting student-driven scientific and technological initiatives, and engaging young people in solving current challenges of the space industry.