Session
Technical Session VIIIB: Cubesat Missions
Abstract
Washington University's Project Aria is currently involved in the CubeSat program. Project Aria is a student-led engineering education, research, and K-12 outreach program. The project’s CubeSat goal is the development of a spherical imaging spacecraft, the "Palantir", ready for launch in late 2002. Recently, the Palantir team was offered the opportunity to fly a small payload on a global circumnavigation balloon flight in mid-2001. The payload would collect atmospheric data such as temperature, pressure, and humidity. The student team decided to use this opportunity to explore various technologies they plan for Palantir. This resulting in a fast, challenging engineering project that developed the skills needed for a successful picosatellite project. The technologies to be explored include a self-contained power system with solar cells, on-board computers, on-board cameras, various sensors, satellite communications, and mission operations. One specific test involves mounting temperature sensors throughout the probe. The students will then compare actual thermal reading to predicted thermal readings. Other specific tests will involve the use of several different types of solar cells to judge performance. Finally, students will remotely operate the payload as they would the satellite to explore operating concepts and tools. This balloon opportunity allows students the chance to explore various technologies and operating concepts needed for a successful satellite program without the high cost of a launch. This paper briefly describes the Palantir CubeSat program, the Palantir Technology Demonstration balloon program, and the results of the flight. Particular attention is paid to goals of the balloon flight and a review of the successes and failures. Lessons learned from the test flight can be applied to other universities seeking to develop CubeSats and other project-based programs.
Getting Started: Using a Global Circumnavigation Balloon Flight to Explore Picosatellite (CubeSat) Technology
Washington University's Project Aria is currently involved in the CubeSat program. Project Aria is a student-led engineering education, research, and K-12 outreach program. The project’s CubeSat goal is the development of a spherical imaging spacecraft, the "Palantir", ready for launch in late 2002. Recently, the Palantir team was offered the opportunity to fly a small payload on a global circumnavigation balloon flight in mid-2001. The payload would collect atmospheric data such as temperature, pressure, and humidity. The student team decided to use this opportunity to explore various technologies they plan for Palantir. This resulting in a fast, challenging engineering project that developed the skills needed for a successful picosatellite project. The technologies to be explored include a self-contained power system with solar cells, on-board computers, on-board cameras, various sensors, satellite communications, and mission operations. One specific test involves mounting temperature sensors throughout the probe. The students will then compare actual thermal reading to predicted thermal readings. Other specific tests will involve the use of several different types of solar cells to judge performance. Finally, students will remotely operate the payload as they would the satellite to explore operating concepts and tools. This balloon opportunity allows students the chance to explore various technologies and operating concepts needed for a successful satellite program without the high cost of a launch. This paper briefly describes the Palantir CubeSat program, the Palantir Technology Demonstration balloon program, and the results of the flight. Particular attention is paid to goals of the balloon flight and a review of the successes and failures. Lessons learned from the test flight can be applied to other universities seeking to develop CubeSats and other project-based programs.
