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Advancing Extraterrestrial Exploration Through Automated Ground Vehicles
Get PDFThe project focuses on the development and fabrication of two multi-terrain rovers with autonomous tracking, navigation, and recovery capabilities. Driven by mission requirements for autonomous terrain maneuverability and flexible payload hosting, this team proposes a design that addresses the diverse needs of extraterrestrial exploration. The project features: a rocker-bogie chassis, with six-wheel drive capabilities, that will be providing the necessary stability and mobility across challenging terrains. A mounting place with universal spacing allows for the attachment of multiple payload types, ensuring adaptability for various scientific missions. The integration of micro controllers facilitates communication between the rovers and operators. Two distinct rovers are proposed for this initiative, each equipped with autonomous tracking and navigation systems. The primary rover assumes the role of a leader, taking charge of tracking and independent navigation, while the secondary rover, known as the ”mule”, follows the primary directly. Beyond their immediate objectives, the project envisions future applications for these autonomous rovers, thus a modular design shall be implemented for applications including tracking and communication, the integration of soil sampling analysis devices, and additional scientific payloads
Microgravity Experiment to Measure the Speed of Sound Inside Simulated Asteroid Regolith in the ISS Environment
Get PDFIn impact threat assessments of planetary defense options, the aim is to understand how seismic waves travel through the debris, either modifying its shape or its surface. Seismic disturbances can destabilize loose material resting on the slope, causing downward flows. With the Microgravity Experiment for Asteroid Regolith Sound Velocity (MESSAR), it is proposed to measure the sound velocity within the simulated asteroid regolith in the microgravity environment of the International Space Station (ISS). The payload contains several granular samples of simulated asteroid regolith that will be used to measure the influence of grain size and confining pressure on the wave travel speed
Development of an On-Orbit Alignment Calibration Methodology for Optical Payloads
Get PDFGeolocating maritime targets from space is challenging due to the lack of references in the images. To solve this, geolocation is accomplished using on-orbit measured attitude and orbital position data. Attitude data is collected in the form of a star tracker quaternion solution and position data is collected from a GPS receiver
Achieving Low-Cost, High-Reliability Payload Services Through a Collegiate Approach Using Standardized Satellite Bus Architectures
Get PDFThe space community is rapidly expanding, especially in the Small Sat sector. The incremental implementation of more compact technology and the decline of launch costs lowers the barrier to entry into space, allowing for new actors to expand into the market. Two important players in this incremental process are collegiate satellite programs and commercial satellite-as-a-service (SataaS) providers. Collegiate satellite programs have previously occupied the low-cost, low-reliability market. These are often in a one-time collaboration with a professor or company, always resulting in the design of a unique bus derived by mission-specific stakeholder needs. In contrast with university programs, current commercial SataaS providers occupy the medium/high-cost, high-reliability market. This reliability is accomplished by developing standardized satellite bus systems and implementing recurrent engineering. It would be highly desirable for a player to create a low-cost solution without sacrificing the high reliability that common industry entities provide. Such a solution would tremendously increase access to space for actors within industry, academia, and government.
This paper introduces the concept of a collegiate SataaS program, wherein student satellite teams develop a standardized bus to host a variety of customer payloads across separate missions. The paper features this type of program’s life cycle, benefits, and trade-offs, as well as an example in Purdue Space Program’s Boiler Bus program. These collegiate SataaS programs create and exclusively occupy a low-cost, semi-high-reliability market space by combining the inherent low cost of collegiate programs with the high reliability and quick development times brought about by standardization seen in industry. If widely adapted, this type of program could have substantial benefits for the space industry, lowering the barrier to entry for new players and allowing for further proliferation of scientific and industry driven progress
High Pressure Failure of AS5202 Port K-Port Seals
Get PDFThis study explores the hydrostatic behavior and burst pressure behavior of k-port seals (MC252 style, AS5202 fitting), aiming to enhance the understanding of its structural integrity under various conditions. We investigate how factors such as seal size and installation torque influence the seals’ performance. The research involves hydrostatic pressure behavior and burst tests on solution and aged A-286 stainless steel PTFE-coated k-port seals. Additionally, finite element analysis (FEA) was employed to simulate and predict the seals’ performance under different installation forces/torques. All sizes reached an initial burst pressure well above documented guidance for use. It was also observed that the high torque condition -04 seals and all -16 seals exhibited secondary sealing. No liquid leakage was observed at 8,500 or 22,700 psi hold pressures for either size or installation torque. FEA simulations suggested there was a minimum torque needed for high performance sealing and maximum burst pressure, matching physical testing relationships. The predicted burst pressures were often not indicative of those found during physical testing. The predicted pressures were found to mostly be higher than physical testing, most likely due to coefficient of friction estimates. These estimates were found to be within 10-20% of physical testing
Standardized Star Tracker Characterization Test Bench - Evaluation Results Using the ASTRO CL as an Example
Get PDFStar sensors are crucial for satellite navigation, providing precise attitude determination necessary for mission success. ASTRO CL is a new-generation star tracker developed by Jena-Optronik, designed to be smaller and more cost-effective for satellite constellation markets
Launch & Early Operations Phase (LEOP) Iridium EyeStar-S4 24-7 Link With Mosaic-X5 GPS and Launch Results
Get PDFSatellite Mission Success is best achieved during the Launch Early Operations Phase (LEOP) when a satellite first becomes alive as radio data (TT&C) appears on the ground station within seconds. Using the Iridium global network, no matter where a tumbling satellite is in orbit, TT&C data is available anywhere-anytime. Diagnostic data, GPS, spin rates, live ADCS, temperatures, voltages, electrical power systems, primary processor, deployments, and payload monitors like plasma density or integral particle fluxes can all be tracked during the turn-on process with the option of disabling or adjusting command parameters to the unexpected. Several EyeStar-S4 flight NSL/Iridium transceivers can be linked to each bus subsystem or payload for quick-look data using the S4 microcontroller for a direct link to the ground. Although each S4 data rate is low (up to 100 bytes/s in some cases) the selected compressed data from each parallel S4 link can provide a wealth of information and science data with the TM frame formatter. After the LEOP phase of a few days, the S4 link can be optimized for sending back prompt, quick look, diagnostic, and scientific data for mission duration.
Flight results are shown of the S4 Iridium link from the NSL S4-CROSSOVER Sat (Astra launch, March 8, 2022) and the NSL TROOP-3 Sat (SpaceX launch, May 25, 2022). Each was in ~525 km polar orbit and tumbling at 40 and 8 RPM, respectively. Both the satellites sent first light packets of data soon after first transmitter turn-on to the NSL console via Iridium. Both rad tolerant satellites were operating for close two years before being decommissioned in early 2024.
NSL delivered the TROOP-F2 satellite (6U) for a SpaceX launch in June 2024. The satellite includes 1) three NSL-Iridium S4 transceivers with different antennas and pointing, 2) several Space Weather NSL-SWAP-E Lite sensors (Low Energy particle detector, Medium Energy Particle spectrometers, a total integral dose particle detector and a Plasma Probe), 3) several NSL Bus systems (new Mosaic-X5 GPS, new ADCS, EPS, rad hard solar cells, 900 MHz link for Sat-Sat or Sat-Ground transceiver, processors) and 4) a primary rendezvous experiment payload. In addition, 5) NSL has added two more GPS antennas to test the differential GPS capability (high-position accuracy and attitude determination required for science, rendezvous, and lower cross section for orbital debris mitigation).
The 6U SWAP-E (Space Weather Array Prompt Experiment) four-satellite constellation and the 6U RAPSat three-satellite mission are scheduled for late 2024 launch (they have 22 Flight S4 transceivers). To date NSL has 100% success of all flight EyeStar- early S3\u27s and current S4\u27s in orbit and the time ordered database on the NSL secured console is ideal for analyses and constellations.
Automation is everywhere in the S4 Iridium link from robotic assembly to smart algorithms. The web console is accessible from desktop or mobile to check incoming packets, send uplink commands, or receive SMS notifications. A Web API allows programmatic access
Short-Term Rentals: How are They Impacting the Bear Lake Community?
Get PDFBear Lake is a popular recreation and tourist destination split between the borders of Northeastern Utah and Southeastern Idaho. Bear Lake\u27s beaches, watersports, and other outdoor recreation opportunities have attracted tourists for decades. Communities around Bear Lake include Garden City and Laketown, Utah, as well as Paris, Montpelier, Fish Haven, St. Charles, and Bennington, Idaho. Additionally, Bear Lake lies in close proximity to larger metropolitan areas along the Wasatch Front of Utah, such as Salt Lake City and Logan
Bear Lake Project Overview
Get PDFBear Lake is a popular recreation and tourist destination split between the borders of northeastern Utah and southeastern Idaho. Bear Lake\u27s beaches, watersports, and other outdoor recreation opportunities have attracted tourists for decades. Communities around Bear Lake include Garden City and Laketown, Utah, as well as Paris, Montpelier, Fish Haven, St. Charles, and Bennington, Idaho. Additionally, Bear Lake lies in close proximity to larger metropolitan areas along the Wasatch Front of Utah, such as Salt Lake City and Logan