RockSat-C 2012

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Individual Subsystem Testing Report

Harding Flying Bison RockSat-C 2012 Rocket Team

Harding University

13 February 2012

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Team Members

Bonnie Enix, Joshua Griffith, William Waldron, Edmond Wilson, David Stair

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RockSat-C 2012

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Mission Overview – Mission Statement

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Design, build, test and fly a spectrometer that will measure transmission spectra of gases in Earth’s atmosphere at lower altitudes and the Sun’s irradiance at higher altitudes

Tabulate and interpret spectra and create a technical report summarizing the results obtained and conclusions reached

RockSat-C 2012

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Mission Overview

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Objectives

Objective 1: Modify a mini-spectrometer to operate autonomouslyinside a NASA sounding rocket

Objective 2: Integrate an embedded controller with the mini-spectrometer to measure and record atmospheric spectra capturedthrough an optical port in the side of the rocket

Objective 3: Conduct tests at Earth surface level using theintegrated mini-spectrometer system in order to assess itscapabilities and find its minimum gas detection limits

RockSat-C 2012

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Mission Overview

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Objectives

Objective 4: Successfully launch and recover the integratedsystem

Objective 5: Interpret the data and report the significance and quality of the results

Objective 6: Evaluate the mission in terms of science andengineering value added to decide whether or not to begina higher level mission

RockSat-C 2012

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Mission Overview – Expected Results

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G-Switch will function properly to turn on electronics

Batteries will be sufficient to power the payload for 20 minutes

Instrument will perform well and 100 useable spectra will be recorded, 50 in the atmosphere and 50 above the atmosphere

Concentrations of water vapor and oxygen will be measured as a function of altitude

Ozone will be measured at higher altitudes

Other pollutant gases may be detected

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Overview – Benefits from Mission Success

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A major project of our research is a spectrometer to be used on Mars.

We are designing a suite of instruments to be deployed on the surface of Mars to measure the presence of biogases that might indicate life on that planet.

The high altitude spectra obtained by our RockSat-C instrument will be similar in some ways to those expected on Mars in terms of gas density, pressure and temperature.

The robustness and space mission readiness of our instruments will be verified by their excellent condition after going through the launch process at NASA Wallops Flight Facility including the rigorous pre-flight tests, launch and recovery.

RockSat-C 2012

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Functional Block Diagram

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LensLensUV/VIS Spectrometer

UV/VIS Spectrometer

Embedded Controller with 2 GB Memory

Embedded Controller with 2 GB Memory

PDPD

G-SwitchG-SwitchPower

Distribution System

Power Distribution

System

Battery Power Supply

Battery Power Supply RBF

Fiber Optic Cable

Black lines – powerBlue lines -- signal

RockSat-C 2012

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Functional Block Diagram – Electronics

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RockSat-C 2012

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Functional Block Diagram – Power Distribution

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Embedded Controller

Embedded Controller

G-SwitchG-SwitchPower

Distribution System

Power Distribution

System

Battery Power Supply

Battery Power Supply RBF

UV/VIS Spectrometer

UV/VIS Spectrometer

RockSat-C 2012

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Functional Block Diagram – Spectrum Capture

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Embedded Controller with 2 GB CF Memory

Embedded Controller with 2 GB CF Memory

Fiber OpticCable

ADC 0 CLK 1 CLK 2

φCLK φROG

Vout

VGG

UV/VIS Spectrometer

VGG

RockSat-C 2012

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SONY ILX 511 CCD Detector and Schematic

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SONY ILX511 2048-pixel CCD Linear Image Sensor.

Detector Length 28.67 mm

RockSat-C 2012

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Functional Block Diagram – Irradiance Measure

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Embedded Controller with 2 GB Memory

Embedded Controller with 2 GB Memory

PDPD

RockSat-C 2012

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Functional Block Diagram – Irradiance Measure

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Osi Optoelectronics UDT-455 HS Hybrid Photodiode with Preamplifier

RockSat-C 2012

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Software Development

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RockSat-C 2012

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Changes from CDR

There have been no changes since CDR

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RockSat-C 2012

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Program Management and Team Updates

The team has not changed since inception

Joshua Griffith, Bonnie Enix, William Waldron, Edmond Wilson

David Stair (Not pictured)

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RockSat-C 2012

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Schedule Update

• We are slightly behind on software

• Everything else is right on schedule

• No changes planned

• Main concern is being able to win the NASA WFD Scholarships for students

• Next concern is finding time to work on project and keeping up with schoolwork

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RockSat-C 2012

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Schedule Update -- Mechanical Construction

• Both support plates have been built• Spectrometer has been mounted• Battery case has been built and mounted• Stainless steel standoffs have been built

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RockSat-C 2012

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Subsystem Update -- Status

What is complete/what has been tested?Nothing is complete; nothing has been tested

What has not yet been checked out?We plan to carry out our plate deformation tests next week

The circuit board has not been built nor tested

Software program has not been written nor tested

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RockSat-C 2012

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Plan for Subsystem Integration

• Based on where you are now, how will you ensure the subsystems will be integrated and tested for the Subsystem Integration and Testing Report?

We cannot ensure this project will be completed other

than stating that our integrity and reputation is

extremely important to us and we will, with God’s blessing, successfully finished this project to the

best of our ability.

• What are the major hurdles doing to be?

Time to work on the project between now and the first week of May is our major hurdle. After that we will be working 40 hours per week for a month before we travel to Wallops Island in June.

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Lessons Learned

• What have you learned about subsystem testing and engineering so far?

This is a very challenging and engaging activity

• What would you do differently?

Start a year earlier because of lack of experience and time

• What has worked well so far?

Our mentor has been able to educate us as we go

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RockSat-C 2012

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Conclusions

• From our perspective, the Harding RockSat-C 2012 project is moving satisfactorily towards a successful launch of our payload on June 21, 2012 at WFF

• All students will be able to spend 40 hour work weeks for a month before launch week to insure that all construction and testing has been successfully completed before traveling to WFF

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RockSat-C 2012

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Appendix

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We have been working on having our student NASA Workforce Development Fellowship Applications ready for the Arkansas Space Grant (ASGC) meeting to be held on 17 February 2012.

This meeting will decide if any or all of the three students: Bonnie Enix, Joshua Griffith and William Waldron will receive stipends and travel funds to complete this project.

We have told that ASGC will fund the RockSat-C $7K payload/participation fee requirement.

RockSat-C 2012

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THE END!

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