Team Urania Preliminary Design review

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Team UraniaPreliminary Design review

• Presented by
• Samantha Printy
• Inna Alfonso

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Mission Uranias Objective

• The BallonSat Urania will be launched by
  balloon in Mid-January 2010 to an altitude of
  approximately 90,000 feet to collect samples of
  the atmosphere. The experiment will be controlled
  by the instrument package carried on board the
  satellite, which will monitor the environment in
  and around the satellite during its ascent and
  descent. The recovered samples will later be
  analyzed for their chemical or biological
  properties.

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What do we hope will happen?

• The voltage of the solar cell will match the
  intensity levels recorded by the Hobo and
  increase with altitude. The second use of the
  external solar panels is to find out the amount
  of power that can be obtained in flight. This
  would provide several uses, including the ability
  to lower the weight of the satellite by the
  reduction of batteries. The dosimeter will record
  a large over all radiation exposure than the
  control meter carried by the recovery team. With
  the sampling mechanism operating correctly, a
  near-space sample will be collected in an
  agar-prepared Petri dish to be compared with the
  seal-controlled Petri, which is also carried
  onboard the BalloonSat. The data collected by the
  Hobo Data Logger will compared with past flights
  for changes in atmospheric conditions over
  different time of the year. The Parallax
  microprocessor data of altitude will be matched
  against GPS altitudes and time indexed.

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What do we expect

• The Urania team expects that the balloonSat will
  survive the flight and measure the voltage data,
  temperature data, humidity, over all radiation
  exposure and successfully capture a sample of the
  upper atmosphere and a audio recording of the
  entire flight. The intensity of the sunlight will
  increase with altitude and the voltage output of
  the solar cell will also increase. The over
  radiation exposure will be larger than at ground
  level. The temperature data will provide evidence
  of the change in atmospheric conditions between
  summer and winter.

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Why Are we doing this anyway?

• Most space probes are just a onetime event,
  collecting data and samples during the duration
  of their mission and then lost to space. The
  Urania Mission is aimed at developing a
  recyclable satellite. This will allow for an
  inexpensive exploration of near-space for science
  students at Pueblo Community College, which
  doesnt have the funds or resources to carry out
  this type of exploration. This would add an
  exciting element to the science and technology
  programs at Pueblo Community College.

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Again, why are we doing this?

• The development of an instrument package will be
  one of the major steps in the Urania Project. The
  instrumentation package will monitor the
  environment in and around the satellite during
  its flight. With this data a microprocessor can
  then control the onboard experiment package to
  collect samples of atmospheric gases or organisms
  at specific altitudes or other environmental
  conditions. The Hobo Data Logger will be used to
  collect internal and external temperatures,
  relative humidity and light intensity. This data
  will be compared with data from past flights to
  get a better understanding changing condition in
  the atmosphere. A Parallax microprocessor will be
  used along with a thermocouple and pressure
  sensor to monitor the approximate altitude in the
  first mission. This input data will then be used
  by the microprocessor to open the sampling
  chamber at a specific altitude then close the
  chamber. A simple dosimeter will be onboard the
  satellite to record over all radiation exposure
  during the flight and an onboard audio digital
  recorder will record the sounds of the satellite
  during its flight. A small solar cell will be
  mounted on the satellite next to input port for
  the intensity sensor on the Hobo Data Logger. The
  output voltage of the solar cell will be
  monitored by the Parallax microprocessor for
  maximum voltage output.

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Okay ,we will tell you why?

• The second major step in the Urania Project will
  be the construction of an inexpensive and
  lightweight sample collecting mechanism. With use
  of a small servo motor the lid of a small Petri
  dish will be opened at a high altitude and then
  closed. This action will be controlled by the
  Parallax microprocessor.
•  

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The real reason..

• We hope to provide a foundation for other
  students to build on. The biological experiment
  will give us a chance to sample the air at high
  altitudes. The solar cell will provide us with
  data to plan future missions, perhaps based on
  solar power. The dosimeter will provide us with
  data on radiation exposure.

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The benefits to N.A.S.A

• Inna and I are both Moms, we hope to inspire
  others to explore the potential of the space
  program. We have thought about many other
  experiments that are similar to ours. We may
  capture a particular particle, such as the
  research into cloud formation. Or maybe we will
  find unusual spores, from our recent shooting the
  moon mission. We really are just excited to put
  our work to the test.

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Going with the Flow

• The spacecraft shall be a BalloonSat which shall
  ascend/descend to/from 30 km over the course of a
  2.5 hour flight.
• The BalloonSat shall not exceed 2.25 kg of mass
  and shall have a tube through the center on which
  it shall be attached to the launch vehicle (high
  altitude balloon).
• The science missions of the BalloonSat shall not
  require an excess of 250 in expense for the
  first launch.
• The BalloonSat shall be launched in Mid-January,
  2008 from Windsor, Colorado.
• The BalloonSat shall collect samples from the
  atmosphere at high altitudes.

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Going with the flow

• The BalloonSat shall measure internal and
  external temperatures, atmospheric pressure,
  audio, radiation exposure, solar cell output as
  well as the internal humidity throughout the
  flight.
• The structure shall withstand all external
  conditions temperature extremes, acceleration
  forces exerted throughout the flight, forces of
  impact, and humidity.
• The structure shall remain intact through the
  course of the flight.
• The total mass of the structure combined with the
  scientific components shall not exceed 2.25
  kilogram.

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Going with the flow

• The BalloonSat shall remain in contact with the
  vehicle during ascent and the parachute during
  decent via the tube through the center of the
  structure.
• The budget for the BalloonSat shall remain under
  350 through donations from COSGC and others
• The budget shall allow for miscellaneous expenses
  during the construction and testing phases.

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Going with the flow

• The Urania BalloonSat be prepared to be
  launched at 730 a.m. from Windsor, CO.
• The solar cell shall receive light separately and
  the voltage produced shall be recorded by the
  Parallax microprocessor mounted inside the
  BalloonSat
• The dosimeter, the digital recorder and pressure
  sensor shall be mounted inside the BalloonSat.
• The HOBO data loggers will measure and record
  internal lower level temperature using the
  preloaded software on the HOBO.
• The HOBO data logger shall measure and record the
  internal upper level temperature via a sensor
  placed in the upper level of the BalloonSat.

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Going with the flow

• The HOBO data logger shall measure and record the
  internal humidity of the BalloonSat using a
  sensor inside the HOBO.
• The structure of the BalloonSat shall be composed
  entirely of foam core.
• In order to withstand extreme cold temperatures,
  the BalloonSat shall be equipped with a heater
  consisting of (3) 9V batteries, and 12 ? of
  resistance, connected in series.
• Info coming
• The mass of the structure shall not exceed 300
  grams. This shall leave 1950 grams of mass for
  the scientific equipment.
• The BalloonSat shall have a plastic tube of
  length 22 cm through the center of the structure
  holding the BalloonSat to the launch vehicle and
  parachute.

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Going with the Flow

• The cost of the BalloonSat shall be limited to
  the purchase of a digital recorder and dosimeter.
  All other equipment shall be donated by COSGC or
  others
• Miscellaneous items during the construction and
  testing phases shall include extra foam core,
  exact-o knife blades, aluminum tape, extra
  batteries and cables.
• Light from the sun shall cause a buildup of
  voltage in the solar cells, which shall be
  recorded by the Parallal microprocessor to be
  compared to the light intensity recorder by the
  Hobo Data Logger.
• The sampling mechanism shall be inside the upper
  level of the BallonSat and controlled by the
  Parallax microprocessor
• Using the HOBO software on the computer, the HOBO
  shall record internal temperature every 15
  seconds for 3 hours on November 15, 2008 from
  approximately 700 a.m. to 1000 a.m.

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Design

• Part List
•  
• Item
• Hobo Data Logger
• Parallax Microprocessor and breadboard
• Digital Audio Recorder
• Foam Board
• Aluminum Tape
• Dosimeter
• Heater (3 X 4 ohm resistors)
• Solar Cell
• Petri Dishes/Agar
• Servo Motor
• Sampler build materials/wire
• Switches
• Insulation
• Batteries (4 x 9V)
• Fasteners
• Pressure Sensor

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Design

• The basic form of the satellite will be a
  dodecahedron (12 sides). This will minimize the
  volume and increase the efficiency of the heating
  unit. The satellite will be divided into two
  levels. The upper will be open to the environment
  through small ports in the upper sides. This area
  will be for the experiment package and pressure
  sensor will be located. The lower half of the
  dodecahedron will be insulated and heated to
  protect the instrument package and because of the
  small volume will further increase the efficiency
  of our heating unit. As required, a tube will
  pass through the exact center of the dodecahedron
  which will be the satellite interface system. It
  will be locked onto the cord by two washers
  secured by paper clips.
•  
• The walls of the cube will be made of a two layer
  design. The outermost wall will be of ¼ foam
  board backed with 3/8 thick insulation foam to
  provide a tough but light weight outer shell
  resistant to impact. All the outer edges of the
  satellite will be reinforced with aluminum tape.
  The durability of the satellite is paramount to
  the missions success.
•  
• The remaining components will be packed together
  in the lower half of the satellite to minimize
  contact with the harsh environment of near-space.
  This grouping will minimize wire length between
  components and minimize the volume needed to
  heat.
•  
• The upper half of the decahedron will hold a
  pressure sensor, and temperature probe for the
  Parallax microprocessor. These two sensors and a
  timer in the software of the microprocessor will
  be used to determine the altitude of the
  satellite while in flight. This data will be used
  to operate a small servo motor that will open a
  prepared Petri dish (at a high altitude) to
  collect possible microorganism in near-space. A
  second Petri dish will also be in the upper
  chamber of the satellite but sealed and used as a
  control sample to compare with the one that was
  opened.
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• In the lower chamber of the satellite the
  Parallax microprocessor and HOBO data logger will
  be mounts along with batteries and heating unit.
  The HOBO data loggers intensity sensor will
  exposed to the outside through a small port in
  the satellite wall to register the intensity of
  the sun. This port will be will be next to a
  small solar cell mounted on the outside of the
  satellite. The voltage output of the solar cell
  will monitored by the microprocessor. The HOBO
  data logger will also record the internal and
  external temperatures and relativity humidity.
•  
• A small radiation dosimeter disk will be mounted
  in the upper chamber to monitor the overall
  exposure the satellite experiences through the
  flight. The results will determine a future
  experiment package.
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Urania

• Satellite Dimensions/Volume
•  
• Side pieces (10) Pentagon 3 inches each edge
•  
• Top and Bottom Pentagon 5 inches each edge
•  
• Chamber separation Pentagon 5 inches each edge
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• Total volume of decahedron 206.9 in3

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Urania Design
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Prototype cutout
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Prototype
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Basic Layout
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Prototype
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Money Matters

• Fiscal Budget (lt 250.00)
•  
• Total lt 2000 gm
• Parallax Microprocessor
• Donated
• 1
• 80gm
• Motor Controller
• Donated
• 1
• 15.5gm
• Hobo Data Logger
• Provide by COSGC
• 1
• 17.9gm

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Budget

• 9V Battery
• Provide by COSGC
• 3
• 135gm
• Resistors/PCB
• Provide by COSGC
• 3
• 18gm
• Temperature Probe
• Provide by COSGC
• 1
• 39gm
• Plastic Cord Tube
• Provide by COSGC
• 1
• 10gm

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Budget

• Radiation Meter
• 80.00
• 15gm
• Petri Dishes
• Donated
• 20
• 15gm
• Insulation
• Donated
• 40mg
• Servo Motor
• Donated
• 40gm
• Digital Audio Recorder
• Donated

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Budget

• Aluminum Tape
• 4.00
• 5gm
• Wood/Fasteners
• Donated
• 100gm
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•  
•  
•  
•  
• Total to date
•  
•  
•  
• 94.00

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Tests

• Test
• Purpose
• Description/Date of Test
• Test Results
• Drop Test
• Determine if structure is sound and with landing
•  
•  
• Stair Test
• Determine if structure can with stand being
  dragged several meters
•  
•  
• Whip Test
• Determine if structure can withstand the G-forces
  of being tethered at the end of the balloon cord
•  
•  
• HOBO test
• Determine the HOBO data logger is performing as
  expected.
•  

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Team Urania

• We will accomplish our goals! Our team consists
  of two Mothers, and six children! Plus a mentor
  professor how encourages us. Urania will fly and
  she will succeed. We work twice a week together,
  sometimes with children underfoot. We also work
  separately at home. We are video taping our
  experience so everyone can see exactly how we
  accomplished Urania.