space grant supported student space hardware programs in alabama
TRANSCRIPT
Space Grant Supported Student
Space Hardware Programs in
Alabama
OverviewAlabama Space Grant Consortium: 7 universitiesFive universities involved in SSH Programs:•Alabama A&M University - AAMU•Auburn University - AU•University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa) - UA•University of Alabama in Birmingham - UAB•University of Alabama in Huntsville* - UAH
Programs:•BalloonSat (5)•Small Satellites (2)•Rocketry (4)•“Inspiration”: Student Mission to Mars with JPL (2 students)
Workforce Development Programs supported by
ASGCBalloo
nCubeSat NanoSat Rockets
Mars JPL
AAMU 1
AU 1 1 1 1 1
UA 1 1
UAB 1
UAH 2 1 1
Auburn University Student Space Program
• Emphasis on management and systems engineering
• Program management team– Program Manager, Chief Financial Officer,
Public Relations Officer, Human Resources Officer, Webmaster
• Technical teams: ballooning and satellite teams– Manager and Systems Engineer
Management Responsibilities
• Job descriptions • Recruitment• Longitudinal
tracking• Attendance • Organize socials• Certificates• Public Relations• Information Tech.
• Manage finances• Fund raising• Website• Outreach
Program• Archives• Internships,
scholarships and coop opportunities
Technical Teams
• Manager– Planning, scheduling, implementing
plan, taking corrective action, purchasing
• Systems Engineer– Plans and guides the engineering effort– Bridges disciplines– Provides balance among conflicting
objectives
Learning Process
• Four learning modules• First two-weeks of semester: no
“tinkering”, learning process• Process:
– Set objectives, establish requirements, define work steps (WBS), critical path, Gantt chart for schedule
– Update schedule weekly– Participation of all students in process -
ownership
Systems Engineering• Each semester’s activity is a project
– Beginning and end with deliverables
• Process– Requirements
• Mission; system; subsystem; components
– Functional definition– Physical definition– Design validation
• Risk analysis• Documentation
Results
• Impressive progress made in Balloon and CubeSat programs
• Process guides work• Confidence builder• Students take ownership• Higher morale• Success
BalloonSat Programs
Launch of BAMASAT 3 from Moundville Archeological Park
Launch of AHAB-8 from Eufaula airport in Alabama on Nov. 4
AU-AHAB•Students
– Mostly freshmen and sophomore engineers
– Take PHYS 3500 for credit•Technical
– Two tracking systems– Cut-down system with
both GPS and ground triggers
– Several ground stations– Great Ham radio support
•HS Outreach– Payload box with data logger– Experiments: magnetometer,
gyros and accelerometers
BAMASA
T
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• Students design, build, & fly free-floating balloonsats to gain experience with space systems engineering.
• Outreach component• BAMASAT led to a
graduate level research program
UAHStudent BalloonSat
Projects
UAH - Senior Projects in ECE
15 Launch & Recoveries in 2002-2005 Period
1,000 ft2 of well equipped lab space Science payload box
Science experiments: Temperature, pressure, humidity, radiation, magnetic field, acceleration, trace gases, light intensity, speed of sound - Accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, Geiger counter, cut-down system, cameras, thermistors, etc.
UAH - Senior Projects in ECE
Data gathered• GPS Data• Temperature Data• Gyroscope Data• Accelerometer Data• Solar Panel Output• Power Consumption• Imagery
• Goals
–Provide a Platform for Science and Engineering Experiments–Stimulate Interest in Independent Research–Develop Hands On Laboratory Experience
• Established in 2005–15 Student Participants–Dedicated Workspace–Open to All UAH Students
• First Flight in Spring 2006• Involved in HASP in 2006• Support
–MAE and ECE Faculty–NSSTC–ASGC Sponsorship
• Future missions: guided parafoils, better imaging, new sensors, enhanced radio modes
UAH Balloon Club
Satellite Programs
AU - CubeSat• Walk level• Juniors and Seniors• Class: PHYS 3500• Use COTS• Science mission: attitude
determination using a novel UV detector
• Now: Building phase• Spring 07: integration
and testing phase• M ≤ 1-kg; size =10 cm
sides
AU - NanoSat
• Run level• Select juniors, seniors @ grad
students• Collaboration Physics, ECE, ME• Submitted proposal to AFOSR• Test reconfigurable FPGA in space:
a first• M≤30-kg; Max. linear size: 50-cm
Rocketry
First launch of the Phoenix 1 Second launch of the Phoenix 1
Students design, build, & fly high power rockets. The Phoenix 1 rocket was used to gain Level 1 NAR (National Association of Rocketry) certification. The Crimson Flame rocket is UA’s entry into the University Student Launch Initiative (USLI) competition. There are also plans to explore different types of propulsion systems for high power rockets as part of the Phoenix rocket program.
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Phoenix/Crimson Flame Rockets
Other Rocket Programs• AAMU
– Have launched to 10,000 ft
• AU– Building first rocket as part of senior
project
• UAH– Number of successful launches to 10,000
ft
AAMU Rocket launched May 22, 2006