Acknowledgements Steve Beyerlein- Faculty AdvisorDavid Atkinson- Faculty AdvisorGreg Swanson- Graduate AdvisorTye Ried- Graduate AdvisorJustin Schlee- Student AssociateRaj Venkatapathy- NASA ClientDavid Hash- NASA ClientJohnny Fu- NASA Client

Project ObjectivesAny spacecraft entering an atmosphere must have a thermal protection system (TPS) that is able to withstand the extreme heat developed during re-entry. The re-entry environment is extremely difficult to analyze. To better understand the conditions during re-entry, NASA Ames has a need for a wireless sensor system that can be integrated into the TPS of entry vehicles. It has not been possible to place sensors in the TPS of these vehicles due to the complications with adding extra wiring and the risk involved in adding sensors to the mission. A wireless sensor system would remove the wiring complexities and risk associated with the sensors, thereby allowing a comprehensive sensor suite to be integrated into the TPS material. The data gathered from such a system would be instrumental in developing a more accurate model of the conditions faced during re-entry. With a greater understanding of these conditions the TPS of future missions could be made safer and more efficient.

Background

X-Jet -Plasma Torch in side a vacuum chamber to simulate atmospheric entry

-Plasma torch can reach heat flux of 1000 W/cm^2

-Used for initial TPS sensor validation and testing

-X-Jet is located at NASA Ames Research Center

VASTA new test to be conducted this years will be a test drop from the student ran atmospheric balloon program VAST

Jesse Pentzer John Sochacki

Lucas Wells Brandy Holmes

Chris Johnson

•Multi-Nodal Wireless Architecture

•Multiple Sensors On Each Node

•Multiple Sensor Types on Each Node

•Integration With VAST Balloon Test

•Testing at NASA Ames X-Jet Facility

Circuit Board Packaging

Semester Schedule  2 3 4   5   6   7   8   9   10 11   12 13   14   15   16 17

 

Jan 20-Jan 26

Jan 27-Feb 2

Feb 3-Feb 9

 Feb 10-Feb 16

 Feb 17-Feb 23

 Feb 24-Mar 1

 Mar 2-Mar 8

 Mar 9-

Mar 15

 Mar 16-Mar 22

Mar 23-Mar 29

 Mar 30-Apr 5

Apr 6-Apr 12

 Apr

13-Apr 19

 Apr

20-Apr 26

 Apr

27-May 3

May 4-May 10

                                      Technical Presentation      

  Construction                         Assimilate Data          

              Test and Revise               Design Report

                             Repairs & Updates              

    

                                                     

     

 

 

Detailed Design Review  

     

 

Snap Shot Day   X-Jet    

VAST Launch    

   

Design Report

Review 

Expo (25th)

   Everythin

g Due (6th)

JohnAssemble & Test

BoardsRevise & Order Boards  

Receive & Make

Boards  Test  

Last Minutes

     

Repairs and

Updates

 

                   

LucasWork on Transmit

& Receive

Finish ADC

Finish I^2C  Finish

Transmit  

Finish Receive

 Error

Checking         

                   

BrandyModel & Design

Construction   Testing   Revise   Revise                             

JesseMachine

Shop

Assemble 1st Plug

Test

Machine & Assemble

Plug 2 Compariso

n Test  

Assemble Box WRT

PCB 

Machine &

Assemble plug 3

         

                   

ChrisSerial Port Interface

Detailed Com Scheme   Xbee 2 Xbee Com   Revise                             

Work Completed

Receiving T/C Data X-Jet Packaging Completed Pressure Data Initial Torch Testing

Two Completed and Tested Boards VAST Packaging Tested

Master - Slave Command Sending

Hyperterminal Commands

Work To Be Completed Before End of Week

Complete Assembly of PCB's Extra TPS Blocks for X-Jet Uhura Integration

Programming Uhura

Data Storage on Uhura

Receiving Board Protocol

RTD Sensor Reading

Work To Be Completed In The Next Three Weeks

Revised VAST Packaging

Uplink with VAST ARM for GPS Timestamp

Powering Receiving Board During VAST Flight

StatusThermal Model