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