Nanosatellite Separation Experiment Using a P-POD Deployment Mechanism

Department of Aerospace Engineering The University of Texas at Austin 210 E. 24th Street, W.R. Woolrich Laboratories 1 University Station C0600 Austin, TX, 78712-1085

Team Members: John Sangree Jillian Marsh Karl McDonald Joseph Gauthier Stephanie Jones Jeffrey Mikeska Team Contact: Team Leader, Flyer Flyer Flyer Flyer Alternate Alternate Senior, ASE Senior, ASE Soph., ASE Fresh., ASE Soph., ASE Senior, ASE jsangree@mail.utexas.edu jm44985@mail.utexas.edu karlmcdonald@mail.utexas.edu joseph.gauthier@mail.utexas.edu 2.stephanie.jones@mail.utexas.edu jeffreymikeska@yahoo.com

John Sangree jsangree@mail.utexas.edu 713-732-8251 ________________________________

Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Glenn Lightsey lightsey@mail.utexas.edu 512-471-5322

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 7. 8. 8.1 8.2 8.3. 8.4. 8.5. 8.6. 8.7. 8.8. 8.9. 8.10. 8.11. 8.12. 8.13. 8.14. 8.15. 8.16. 9. 9.1. 9.2. 9.3. 10. 11. 11.1. 11.2. 12. 12.1. PREFERRED FLIGHT WEEK ADVISOR / MENTOR REQUEST ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION TEST OBJECTIVES TEST DESCRIPTION Expected Results for Ground Based Experiments What We Expect to Learn as a Result of the Experiment How the Test Will Be Conducted Data Acquisition & Analysis Effects of Reduced Gravity on the Experiment REFERENCES SAFETY EVALUATION What We Are Bringing to Houston What We Need On the Ground What We Need In the Aircraft Flight Manifest Experimental Description / Background Structural design Electrical System Pressure / Vacuum System Laser System Crew Assistance Requirements Institutional Review Board (IRB) Hazard Analysis Tool Requirements Ground Support Requirements Hazardous Materials Procedures OUTREACH PLAN General Audiences External Outreach Plans Media Outreach APPENDIX I - OUTREACH CORRESPONDENCE APPENDIX II- ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS Institutions Letter of Endorsement Statement of Supervising Faculty FUNDING / BUDGET STATEMENT Funding Chart ii 1 1 2 3 5 7 7 7 8 11 13 14 15 15 15 15 15 15 16 18 18 18 18 18 19 20 20 20 20 23 23 26 28 30 32 32 32 33 33

12.2. Proposed Funding 13. INSTITUTIONAL ANIMAL CARE & USE COMMITTEE 14. PARENTAL CONSENT FORMS

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Nanosatellite Separation Proposal 1. PREFERRED FLIGHT WEEK The team preferences for flight dates are listed below: Choice # 1: Choice # 2: Choice # 3: April 17 - 26, 2008 June 19 - 28, 2008 July 10 -19, 2008

2. ADVISOR / MENTOR REQUEST Our team has been in contact with JSC advisor, Sara Malloy, which we request to continue.

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Nanosatellite Separation Proposal

3. ABSTRACT Nanosatellites are becoming increasingly common in the aerospace industry due to their reduced size, small mass, and economical cost. These small satellites will often operate in groups rather than as single satellites, and once they are clear of the carrier, separate from one another. One topic of immense interest is the characterization of the separation dynamics of such satellites. Our teams experiment involves testing a separation method that has never been performed before. Our proposal is to observe and characterize the separation of two satellites by ejecting a 3-unit CubeSat (picosatellite) from the Mk II Poly Picosatellite Orbital Deployer (P-POD). This separation is unique because it will occur orthogonal to the axis of motion. A larger satellite, termed the Chaser, will have a P-POD mounted to it, while a smaller satellite, termed the Target, will be initially located inside of the P-POD, and will be ejected from the Mk II. One practical use of this separation system in space would be to deploy the Target from the Chaser and then perform autonomous rendezvous by using a propulsion system on the Chaser. The objective of our experiment is to obtain data related to the dynamics of this separation, which includes rotations, accelerations, and translations of both the Target and Chaser satellites during and shortly after the separation event. This data will then be examined in order to determine the validity of this separation system. A microgravity environment is required since motion in six degrees of freedom (translation and rotation) are necessary for the experiment to most nearly approximate the conditions that the satellites will be subject to while in orbit. Our experiment will provide direct observation of the separation dynamics through the use of accelerometers, inertial measurement units, and visual representation through cameras. We will also have immediate access to the data analysis through our wireless data acquisition systems.

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Nanosatellite Separation Proposal 4. INTRODUCTION Nanosatellites are a developing technology that will play a key role in the satellite industry. They are smaller, easier to launch, and more affordable compared to traditional satellites, which usually weigh more than 100 kg. Unfortunately, many operations that will be conducted by nanosatellites require more hardware than can be easily hosted on a single nanosatellite. To realize the advantages of these small satellites, they must be able to maneuver, dock, separate, and operate autonomously. Technological hurdles include communication between multiple spacecraft and the mobility to perform rendezvous operations autonomously. Our experiment focuses on one aspect of the problem: free-fall separation dynamics and the resulting linear and angular motions of the separating satellites without the influence of gravity. Previous studies have investigated separation dynamics where the separation takes place along the direction of flight. FASTRAC is an excellent example of a mission using separation in direction of motion, which results in an evolving along-track separation of the satellites. However, nanosatellite missions will not be limited to along-track separations, especially as limited fuel reserves force mission designers to consider an out-of-plane separation. Our team will examine the effect of separation of two vehicles out-of-plane. This involves not only changes in translational motion, but also in rotational motion [1]. Data feedback from an IMU and accelerometers will be available to the flight team in real-time via Bluetooth capabilities. This will allow us to monitor the quality of the experiment as well as employ any necessary changes. We will also implement the use of a flash drive as a backup for data storage, in the event of any wireless failures. The sensor hardware will provide measurements of dynamic acceleration, position and attitude, as well as a visual representation of the trajectory of both satellites using mounted webcams. This data will be valuable to the entire small satellite community, which includes CubeSat designers all over the world. CubeSats are becoming a very popular satellite design choice for industry and student projects due to their relatively low cost and standardized features such as the P-POD separation device [2]. The data will also be useful to many members of the aerospace industry as well as the scientific research community. Separation systems similar to the one we propose to test will be necessary for a variety of nanosatellites. Our data will help engineers

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Nanosatellite Separation Proposal predict the resulting separation motion of these systems. This is crucial for the interaction of multiple nanosatellites in a system designed to accomplish a single goal. For example, Texas 2STEP, a nanosatellite project at The University of Texas as part of the University Nanosatellite Program, can use this data to access what trajectory adjustments are needed to stabilize the 2STEP satellite after separation [3]. Our experiment will propel the nanosatellite industry forward as it revolutionizes satellite design.

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Nanosatellite Separation Proposal

5. TEST OBJECTIVES The objective of this experiment is to separate two small satellites using an Mk II Poly Picosatellite Orbital Deployer (P-POD) while recording data and making observations regarding the resulting separation dynamics. The purpose of this experiment, however, is to share our separation data with the scientific community and small satellite designers, as well as to educate children, students, and the general community about space science and exploration. The University of Texas at Austin will also be able to use the data from our experiment for a University of Texas project, Texas 2-STEP, that will launch two satellites into Earths orbit in conjunction with NASA and the Air Force Research Laboratory, separate them, and guide the larger Chaser satellite back to the smaller Target satellite through GPS relative navigation and a cold-gas propulsion system. This experiment is submitted as a new Microgravity University experiment. The reader may recall an experiment performed in the spring of 2004 by a University of Texas at Austin team named Nanosatellite Separation and Initial Condition Analysis in Six Degrees of Freedom. Upon first glance, it might seem like this proposed experiment is a re-flight of the former separation experiment; however, it is actually quite different. The key differences are discussed below. The 2004 separation experiment was performed in support of the FASTRAC nanosatellite, which used a Lightband separation system designed by Planetary Systems Corporation. The two satellites separated along the same axis. Dissimilarly, our experiment uses a completely different satellite and a different separation system, consisting of a P-POD. Furthermore, the satellites will separate along axes perpendicular to each other. Although the experiments were both designed to characterize satellite separation events, the separation maneuvers and satellites are very different, as shown in Fig. 1. No re-flight of the FASTRAC separation experiment was performed or is planned to be performed because the data collected was sufficient to meet the experiment objectives [6].

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Nanosatellite Separation Proposal

In-Plane Separation (FASTRAC experiment)

Out-of-Plane Separation (This Experiment)

Figure 1. Comparison of Separation Methods

Our hypothesis is that a P-POD affixed to the Chaser satellite can be used to separate the Target satellite without creating excessive rotation or acceleration of either satellite. Excessive linear and/or angular accelerations during separation would introduce subsequent relative guidance, navigation and control problems. Referring to Fig. 2 for the experiment reference frame, we expect the P-POD/Chaser combination to accelerate in a negative x-direction and a negative ydirection if we assume the target to separate in the positive x-direction. Any movement in the zdirection should be comparatively small.

Z
Figure 2. Experiment Reference Frame

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Nanosatellite Separation Proposal 6. TEST DESCRIPTION 6.1 Expected Results for Ground Based Experiments

All mechanisms present in the experiment will be tested on the ground for system reliability, but not for comparison to flight results. The reason for this is because ground based separation experiments would be limited in their freedom of movement, while the satellites will have six degrees of freedom when in space. The ground based tests will confirm that our equipment works properly before we conduct our experiment in the microgravity environment. All experiment equipment will undergo testing. As part of testing, the experiment team will verify the functionality of the mechanical separation devices. Once these devices are confirmed as working properly, the data will then be transmitted to a laptop and analyzed in LabView. In order to have a better understanding of what might happen while aboard the C-9, we will conduct satellite separation tests with multiple suspension harnesses. These harnesses will allow the satellites to move more freely even though they will still be partially restricted in their mobility. The expected results for the ground based experiments are of two types, functionality and expected results. Concerning functionality, multiple tests will be conducted in order to ensure that the dynamics-related data is indeed being collected and processed by LabView before, during, and after the separation. The expected results tests, on the other hand, will allow us to formulate an idea of what dynamics will actually occur while onboard the aircraft, though they, again, will not be compared directly to those results from the aircraft. 6.2 What We Expect to Learn as a Result of the Experiment

Principally, we aim to acquire information that will allow us to determine whether or not a satellite separation orthogonal to a nanosatellites axis of symmetry is a viable option. Historically, the majority of satellite separations have taken place in-plane, resulting in miniscule rotation rates. As stated earlier, we are proposing to test a new approach for separation systems for nanosatellites. Texas 2-STEP is an example of the many nanosatellite projects that could benefit from this experiment. Since Texas 2-STEP plans on pioneering the use of a P-POD separation system with a nanosatellite, the results of this test will have bearing on the final

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Nanosatellite Separation Proposal satellite design. A separation such as this one will impart accelerations and rotational motion on each satellite that is not normally observed in these maneuvers. The results gathered from this test will allow us to determine these accelerations and rotations as well as the relative velocity between the Target and Chaser after separation. Although the experiment will last at most 25 seconds while aboard the C-9, the data collected can be used to determine the position of the satellites over a much longer timeframe. This information will aid the 2-STEP design team in determining the parameters necessary to complete the rendezvous. One parameter to be calculated based on experimental data is the amount of time the chaser satellite will require in order to re-stabilize and begin rendezvous operations. For the purposes of our experiment, however, the chaser will not be equipped with a control system. By studying the initial conditions following separation of the two satellites, the experiment team will be able to determine whether an out-of-plane rendezvous is a viable option for nanosatellites in general and correspondingly, refine the current design for Texas 2-STEP. 6.3 How the Test Will Be Conducted

In this experiment, a test apparatus consisting of a Target satellite attached to a Chaser satellite will float in the microgravity environment of the C-9 cabin. The experiment satellites will be designed to possess the approximate mass properties of standard satellites by placing weights in key locations inside of the satellites. During the ejection of the Target from the P-POD, the system will be subject to forces which will impart rotational and translation motion upon the satellites. The Target satellite is a standard three unit CubeSat measuring 10 cm x 10 cm x 30 cm, which will be placed inside the Mk II P-POD launcher prior to the experiment [4]. A picture of the PPOD after ejection is shown in Fig. 3. The Chaser is a hexagonal aluminum lattice structure similar to other nanosatellites used in past experiments, most notably the FASTRAC satellite (Fig. 2).

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Nanosatellite Separation Proposal

Figure 3. P-POD after ejection [5]

The Mk II P-POD will be attached to the top of the Chaser satellite, which will allow the door to swing open fully to 260 degrees. The door is opened by a Starsys Qwknut 3K. This system offers several advantages, including the elimination of pyrotechnic safety concern, a millisecond release, and the ability to test hardware multiple times prior to and during flight. Once the door is open, the launcher will eject the Target satellite with the force of one main spring supplemented by four spring plungers. Although the exit velocity of the target satellite from the Mk II depends on its mass, it is expected to be traveling at 1.6 m/s according to P-POD data sheets supplied by CalPoly [5]. Since this is too fast for our experiment, the P-POD launcher will be modified to reduce the force imparted upon the target. To prevent the satellites from separating past the approximate 60 x 60 x 60 work area allocated for the experiment while on board the C-9, the target satellite will be tethered to the chaser by a 3 Vectran cord. Vectran was chosen because it has negligible mass and ample strength. After the experiment has been performed, the CubeSat will be reinserted into the P-POD launcher and the door locking mechanism will be reset. Once the satellites are placed back in their original configuration, another trial may be performed. During the flight, multiple trials will be conducted in order to ensure the accuracy of the data.

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Nanosatellite Separation Proposal A LabVIEW software module installed on an onboard laptop computer will be used to analyze the data during the experiment. The experimental procedure will follow the form on the LabVIEW Front Panel as seen in Fig. 4. The first button on the bottom left entitled Start Data Transfer will be pushed to begin data acquisition. Once data acquisition has been verified, the target will be released using the Qwknut Release button. This button will also start the timer for the trial and add one to the trial number counter. Once separation has been completed and the necessary data collected, the flight team member will push the stop button. The timer and data acquisition will then stop, and the student flyers will be able to reset the experiment. The Reset button will be pressed to create new data file for the next trial and to reset the timer as well as the Start, Release, and Stop buttons. These buttons will also be mapped to four corresponding buttons on the laptop computers keyboard to minimize error and maximize the ease of pushing each button.

Figure 4. A Mock-up LabVIEW Front Panel

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Nanosatellite Separation Proposal 6.4 Data Acquisition & Analysis

The test apparatus will be outfitted with multiple devices to measure the separation dynamics between the Target and Chaser satellites, as gathering data is pertinent in determining the validity of this separation system. A MotionPak II inertial measurement unit (IMU), as shown in Fig. 5, will be placed inside the chaser at its geometric center to measure its dynamics upon separation. The IMU employs the use of internal gyroscopes and multiple accelerometers to measure its attitude and motion in six degrees. This device will allow us to determine the position, as well as the translational and rotational velocity and acceleration of the chaser.

Figure 5. MotionPak II Inertial Measurement Unit. [6]

Figure 6. USB Accelerometer.

For the target, the dynamics will be measured by multiple accelerometers placed inside of the satellite, an example of which is pictured in Fig.6. These devices will also allow us to determine the translational and rotational velocity and acceleration of the target.

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Nanosatellite Separation Proposal

Figure 7. AVRmini Microprocessor. [6]

An AVRmini microprocessor, seen above in Fig.7, will be incorporated into the target module to allow for the release of the P-POD hatch. The P-POD must receive a signal from the main vehicle to release the latch and allow separation. This microprocessor has been flight tested for separation application by the FASTRAC separation experiment from this university, and has been proven to be a reliable system for this application. Data collection will be facilitated by Bluetooth wireless devices, as shown in Figure 8, which will be located inside both the Chaser and Target satellites.

Figure 8. Eb506 Bluetooth chip

Data will be transmitted in real-time to a nearby laptop computer. Bluetooth was chosen over other wireless technologies for several reasons. First, there are less interference problems due to other frequencies present in the environment. Second, Bluetooth transceivers are small and lightweight, reliable, and readily available. The Bluetooth device runs on a 2.4 megahertz frequency which will be sufficient for the amount of data we plan on transferring. In case the Bluetooth connection is interrupted or fails at any time, flash memory devices aboard both satellites will store all of the data collected until the experiment is completed. Data will be directly acquired by a laptop computer aboard the aircraft. Since Bluetooth technology will be implemented to transfer the data, no data acquisition card will be required to allow for compatibility between the measuring devices and the computer. National Instruments program, LabVIEW, will be used to acquire and process all data, as well as to conduct the experiment. A front panel created in LabVIEW, as shown in Fig 4., will allow us - 12 -

Nanosatellite Separation Proposal to examine the data as it is collected and to perform the experiment actions through buttons built into the front panel. We will also include counters of the trail time and trial number purely for review of how efficient we were conducting our trials. The only human interaction with the experiment apparatus should be resetting the P-POD door and resetting the apparatus position aboard the C-9 for the next trial. There is a long heritage of using LabVIEW at The University of Texas at Austin. We have many connections with National Instruments given our close proximity to the company. Currently, many of our student projects use this program, as well as many more which have in the past, including past microgravity experiments such as FASTRAC, FLOAT, ISIS, and EGADS. There are numerous sources in the Aerospace Engineering Department who can provide us the knowledge required to build our own LabVIEW module to conduct this experiment. 6.5 Effects of Reduced Gravity on the Experiment

The goal of the experiment is to understand the separation dynamics exhibited by the satellites in an environment that is most similar to the actual environment that they will be operating in. If the experiment were performed in an environment that was subject to the effects of gravity, the amount of valid data would be very limited. In fact, this experiment is not possible in a 1-g environment because it requires rotation about all three axes and movement in six degrees of freedom. By performing this experiment, we will acquire the information required to predict the performance of the satellites in an orbital environment.

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Nanosatellite Separation Proposal 7. REFERENCES [1] Mazzoleni, AP. "Flexibility effects on non-planar spin-up dynamics of artificial-gravitygenerating tethered satellite system." Advances in astronautical sciences. 114(2003):16951712. <http://www.lib.utexas.edu> [2] Toorian, Armen, et al. "CubeSats As Responsive Satellites." Paper presented at Space 2005 in Long Beach, California, on Aug.30-31, 2005. AIAA. 29 Oct. 2007 <http://www.aiaa.org/ content.cfm?pageid=413>. [3] ARTEMIS. Aerospace Engineering Department, The University of Texas at Austin. 29 Oct. 2007 <http://artemis.ae.utexas.edu/satellite.php> [4] Barza, Radu, Yohko Aoki, and Klaus Schilling. "CubeSat UWE-1-TechnologyTests and In Orbit Results." Paper presented at 57th International Astronautical Congress, in Valencia, Spain, on Oct. 2-6, 2006. AIAA. 30 Oct. 2007 <http://www.aiaa.org/ content.cfm?pageid=406&workset=2&startrow=26&sort=score,Desc>. [5] Lan, W. Poly Picosatellite Orbital Deployer Mk III ICD. The CubeSat Program. California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA. 8 Aug. 2007. <http://www.calpoly.edu/>. 29 Oct. 2007. [6] Diaz, Orlando, Kevin Litton, and Amber Newport. Final Report: Nanosatellite Separation and Initial Condition Analysis in Six Degrees of Freedom. Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, the University of Texas at Austin. 2004. [7] "Qwknut 3K." California Polytechnical Institute, Starsys Research. 21 Oct. 2007 <http://cubesat.atl.calpoly.edu/media/Documents/Launch%20Providers/qwknut3k.pdf>. [8] Lan, Wenschel, et al. "CubeSat Development in Education and into Industry." Paper presented at Space 2006, in San Jose, California, on Sep. 19-21, 2006. AIAA. 29 Oct. 2007 <http://www.aiaa.org/content.cfm?pageid=413>.

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Nanosatellite Separation Proposal 8. SAFETY EVALUATION 8.1. What We Are Bringing to Houston

The experiment team will bring the satellite prototypes, an Mk II P-POD separation system, a computer system, and ground tools to Houston. 8.2. What We Need On the Ground

During ground operations, the team will require electrical power to charge and test equipment. 8.3. What We Need In the Aircraft

A mounting location to attach a laptop computer to the floor of the aircraft will be required. Power to all experiment and computer hardware will be supplied by battery, and thus an external power source is not required. The flight team also requires a method to secure the satellites when not performing the free-floating experiment. 8.4. Flight Manifest

The fight team will consist of the following members: John Sangree Jillian Marsh Karl McDonald Joseph Gauthier 8.5. Experimental Description / Background

Our team is researching the characterization of the separation dynamics that will result from the separation of two satellites via a Poly Picosatellite Orbital Deployer (P-POD). We seek to determine if the two satellites can successfully operate after orthogonal separation in microgravity. The means for accomplishing our objective is as follows: - 15 -

Nanosatellite Separation Proposal 8.5.1. Control Satellite Separation Ideally, the Target satellite will successfully eject out of the P-POD via spring plungers, while the Chaser satellite accelerates orthogonally, due to the momentum caused by the release of the spring plungers located in the P-POD. We plan to accomplish this separation by executing several ground tests to verify that the P-POD can successfully eject our target out of its door without any mechanical problems due to the door or spring, or any unforeseen problem.

8.5.2. Repeatable Procedure The Chaser satellite and Target satellite will be tethered to each other with a Vectran cord so that motion will be controlled after a period of motion. This will allow us to control their subsequent positions, and reload them into their initial arrangement in preparation for the successive parabolic maneuver. The Mk II P-POD we will be using is very easily reloaded so that we can repeat our experiment on every parabola. 8.6. Structural design

The experiment shall be housed in two frames. The chaser satellite will utilize the aluminum prototype frame built for the 2-STEP satellite project, as seen in Fig.9. The frame is made of 6061 Aluminimum and consists of six isogrid sidepanels between two bulkheads. The sidepanels are 0.275 inches thick, while the bulkheads have a thickness of 0.625 inches. Experiment hardware will be fastened to side panels using #8 screws, and to the bulkheads using #10 screws. The 2-STEP structure is a heritage design based on the 3 Corner Sat nanosatellite structure, and a thorough analysis has been performed to verify its strength.

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Nanosatellite Separation Proposal

Figure 9. Experiment Structure

The target satellite shall be housed within a Poly Picosatellite Orbital Deployer (P-POD) Mk II, shown in Fig.10. The P-POD is a standard deployment system for cube satellites, designed by Cal Poly and Stanford University. It is flight qualified and has been used to separate cube satellites from launch vehicles since July of 2006. The P-POD is manufactured from highstrength Aluminum 7075-T73 and is coated with Teflon-impregnated anodization.

Figure 10. Mk II P-POD

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Nanosatellite Separation Proposal 8.7. Electrical System

The electrical components used for the experiment consist primarily of sensors, data acquisition devices, and their power systems. An IMU and accelerometers will be installed on the satellites for data measurements. Each satellite will also utilize a microprocessor and wireless system to transmit data to the laptop computer data acquisition software. All satellite systems will be powered using rechargeable batteries and a voltage regulation system. Actual voltages, frequencies and electrical currents and will be decided on during the detailed design of the experiment. All values and an electrical system schematic shall be included in the TEDP. Standard 120 V power will be required during ground operations, however during flight, no power will be required since all experiment equipment will operate on batteries. 8.8. Pressure / Vacuum System

No pressure/vacuum systems will be utilized in this experiment. 8.9. Laser System

No laser systems will be utilized in this experiment. 8.10. Crew Assistance Requirements

During the experiment, both student flyers will be fully involved in the experiment, and will be unable to record imagery. We request assistance of the Flight Crew to record digital video and still images of the separation events. This data would be very useful as a comparison to sensor data. In addition, the student flyers may require assistance inserting the target satellite into the separation device during the 2-g pullout, due to the increased satellite weight. 8.11. Institutional Review Board (IRB)

Our experiment will not involve human test subjects, animal test subjects, or biological substances.

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Nanosatellite Separation Proposal 8.12. Hazard Analysis

The following hazard analysis scenarios are purely hypothetical at the time of the proposal writing. Possible scenario Repercussions Actions to prevent or alleviate One student flyer assigned to monitor the position of the satellites at all times. The satellites shall be attached by a tether to prevent them from moving too far apart. All corners and sharp edges of the satellites shall be covered by foam padding.

Free-floating Satellites escape control of student flyers and flight crew

Satellites have the potential to strike the aircraft or personnel aboard the aircraft.

Failure to re-insert the chaser satellite into the separation system.

Postpone the separation experiment until the next free-fall segment. Both student flyers will The satellites will already be monitor and control the separated when free-fall begins. satellites, attempting to insert the chaser satellite into the separation system. Electrical currents shall be minimized to meet safety and experiment requirements. Care shall be taken to ensure that all wires are insulated properly.

An electronic short occurs in the satellite circuitry.

Electric shock and/or fire.

A kill switch will also be integrated into the satellites so that the flight team may immediately turn off all electronics if they should encounter a hazardous situation.

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Nanosatellite Separation Proposal 8.13. Tool Requirements

At the proposal stage of the design process, our team plans to use the following tools on the ground: Tool Computer Digital Camera Power adaptor Torque wrench Multimeter The following tools will be used during flight: Tool Computer Digital Camera Digital Video Camera Quantity 1 2 1 Quantity 1 2 1 2 1

A comprehensive tool list will be included in the TEDP once the proposal has been accepted. 8.14. Ground Support Requirements

The experiment team requests that 120 V AC power be provided by the Reduced Gravity Office during ground operations. 8.15. Hazardous Materials

Our team will not be using any hazardous materials in the experiment. 8.16. Procedures

While at Ellington Field, the team will perform the following operations during specified program phases. 8.16.1. Ground Operations

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Nanosatellite Separation Proposal The satellites and other experiment hardware shall be assembled before arrival to Ellington Field. Ground operations to set up the experiment shall consist of placing the satellites and laptop in the testing area and attaching power connections. Testing shall be performed to verify that all systems are performing nominally including the separation system, data acquisition system, sensors, wireless communication system, and cameras. As part of testing, visible wire connections and insulation will be inspected. Experiment simulations will be performed with the satellites already separated and placed on roller carts. The team will attempt to make the test as similar to actual flight conditions as possible. The separation mechanism will be actuated wirelessly, the satellites will be maneuvered, and sensor data shall be collected using the data acquisition software. The team will then troubleshoot any anomalies found. Finally, the team will perform safety checks and fully charge all experiment batteries. 8.16.2. Pre-Flight Before flight, the satellites shall be loaded into the C-9 aircraft. They will be secured to the floor of the aircraft using straps. The team will also rigidly attach the laptop computer to the floor of the aircraft. The experiment team requests that the flight crew assist us in performing the preflight procedures. 8.16.3. In-Flight Prior to the first parabola, the experiment team flyers will power on both satellites and the laptop, and detach the satellite pair from the floor of the aircraft. One team member, Flyer 1, will handle the satellite pair while the other, Flyer 2, initiates data acquisition and separation using the laptop computer. When free-fall begins, Flyer 1 will release the satellite pair so that they will not hit the sides of the cabin. Flyer 2 will then begin data acquisition and send the separation signal. After the satellites have separated, Flyer 1 will monitor the satellites positions, while Flyer 2 monitors incoming data. When the free-fall period nears its termination, Flyer 2 shall end data acquisition, while Flyer 1 regains control of the satellites and positions them on the floor of the aircraft. In the time between the free-fall, the two team members will insert the target satellite into the PPOD, possibly with the help of a flight crew member. Next, the separation system, data

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Nanosatellite Separation Proposal acquisition system, and sensors will be reset or initialized in preparation for the next segment of weightlessness. 8.16.4. Post-Flight After the reduced gravity parabolas have been completed, all electronic equipment will be powered off and stowed in the same fashion as it was prior to free-fall. Once the aircraft has landed, the satellites and experiment equipment shall be transferred to the aircraft hanger, and the data will be analyzed in preparation for the next flight.

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Nanosatellite Separation Proposal 9. OUTREACH PLAN Our team seeks to make our experiment relevant not only to the aerospace industry, but to a vast array of audiences as well. Besides sharing our data with other research groups, our goal is to reach out to other people, especially those who are not scientists or engineers, to raise interest and support in science and engineering. To accomplish this, we plan to make many visits to various audiences to present our experiment, answer questions, and explain the relevance of this experiment not only to the scientific community, but to them as well. 9.1. General Audiences

To reach as many people as possible, our team plans to present at many different events to a variety of individuals. We plan to coordinate with organizations at The University of Texas to reach current and prospective students. We also plan to go out to schools to reach students who are just discovering their interests. Additionally, we plan to go to museums and publish in local media to raise interest and support in the general public for aerospace research at The University of Texas. 9.1.1. The University Of Texas at Austin Outreach Plans As part of our outreach, we plan to coordinate with many different organizations at The University of Texas to raise awareness of aerospace research with both engineering and nonengineering students and interest prospective students in science and engineering. These outreach events divide into two categories: events specifically related to the Cockrell School of Engineering and events held throughout the entire university. 9.1.2. Engineering Specific Events There are many opportunities around campus to reach not only current engineering students, but potential engineering students as well. Our team has already presented our experiment to three Austin High School students. These students chose to visit UT for their career day on October 30, 2007. Two of our team members explained our project and answered questions, as pictured in Fig. 11. This presentation was valuable because we were able to interact one-on-one with the students.

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Nanosatellite Separation Proposal

Figure 11. Outreach event with Austin High School students

Our team has already planned many other outreach events to reach potential engineering students. We have already contacted the Society of Women Engineers to become involved in Encounter with Engineering on February 9, 2008, which we plan to register for at the end of the semester. We have also contacted the Women in Engineering Program at UT, which plans Girl Day on February 23, 2008. They are very interested in having us present at Girl Day, and we plan to register for that event in November. We will also contact the Student Engineering Council about presenting at National Engineers Day at the Mall. Additionally, we will contact societies such as AIAA to see if we can present our experiment at the end of their meetings. Also, we will contact the Physics department to see if we can present at the end of Physics classes to not only get current students interested in science , but to also show these students how the concepts they learn in class can be used in real life. Our team plans to make our presentations informative and exciting. To accomplish this, we plan to include a hands-on activity in our presentations, demonstrating Newtons First and Third Laws of Motion. For Newtons First Law, we will use objects on an air table, shown in Fig. 12, to show that an object without external net force has constant motion. For the third law we plan to let the students collide objects on the air table to demonstrate reaction forces. We then will explain how all these laws, especially Newtons Third Law, relate to our experiment. We will also have a PowerPoint presentation describing our experiment, and photos of the experiments development. - 24 -

Nanosatellite Separation Proposal

Figure 12. Air Table to Demonstrate Newtons Laws of Motion

Objective: These presentations will enable us to reach students already interested in science and engineering. Not only will we be able to inform students about the objectives and goals of our particular experiment, but we will be able to raise interest specifically in Aerospace Engineering and microgravity experiments as well, increasing the possibility of other students developing microgravity projects. 9.1.3. Campus Wide Outreach There are many opportunities around campus to reach students of all majors. As part of this, we plan to contact the College of Natural Sciences to become involved in Science Day. We also plan to participate in Explore UT (a campus-wide open house on March 1, 2008), and will register for this event through the Women in Engineering Program. We plan to publish our experiment progress in the Vector and the Daily Texan, UTs student newspapers (for more information see media outreach). For these presentations, we will set up a booth with information about the experiment as well as photos demonstrating our experiments progress. As with the engineering activities, we plan to include the hands-on demonstrations illustrating Newtons Laws of Motion. For Newtons First Law, we will use objects on an air table to show that an object without external net force has - 25 -

Nanosatellite Separation Proposal constant motion. For Newtons Third Law we plan to let the students collide objects on the air table to demonstrate reaction forces. We then will explain how all of these laws, especially Newtons Third Law, relate to our experiment. In addition, at least three team members will be available to answer questions. Objective: These presentations will raise interest and support for current aerospace research as well as microgravity experiment opportunities at UT. These presentations will educate fellow students and help gather support from the university administration. 9.2. External Outreach Plans

Our team plans to extend the influence of this experiment beyond the walls of The University of Texas. One of the ways we intend to accomplish this is by visiting local schools and museums. Through these activities, we will reach a much larger and more general audience in Austin and make more of an impact with our experiment. 9.2.1. School Visits As an integral part of our outreach, we plan to visit many schools to get younger students interested not only in engineering, but in math and science as well. We plan to contact schools such as Pflugerville ISD, Maplewood Elementary, and the Math Science Academies to plan trips. Our team hopes to visit most of the schools in the local area, and we plan to work through SEEK (Student Engineers Educating Kids) to visit middle schools in the local area. While we plan to contact many additional schools, these schools have already expressed interest in the past in similar presentations. We plan to contact the schools to see if we can set up a booth at their science fairs with displays and an interactive activity. We also plan to contact the regional science fair to see if we can present there, too. If this is not possible, we will contact the local science teachers to see if any of them will allow us to present our experiment in their class. Although we hope to reach a variety of students, we plan to focus on physics classes and science fairs so that we will be able to explain more details about our project as well as reach these students as they begin to think about their future careers. For these presentations, our emphasis will be on informing the students about our experiment, and raising their interest in science and engineering. These presentations will be geared more

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Nanosatellite Separation Proposal towards exciting the students through entertainment. To accomplish this, we will get the students engaged in activities illustrating Newtons Laws of Motion. Volunteers will demonstrate Newtons First and Third Laws with objects on the air table. For school visits, we will also illustrate Newtons Second Law by asking for volunteers and showing how it is more difficult to move a team member holding textbooks in a chair than just a team member in a chair. We will then explain how all these laws relate to our experiment. We will also have a PowerPoint presentation describing our experiment and photos of the experiments development, and will conclude with a question and answer session where the students can ask us not only about our experiment, but also about college, science, and engineering in general. Objective: Our main objective is to get younger students interested in science and engineering, and demonstrate the aspects of science and engineering that they might not have seen in class. We hope to fight against the stereotypes of engineers and scientists as nerds by showing students how fun science and engineering can be. 9.2.2. Museums To reach a more general audience besides grade students, we will present at museums as well, including The Austin Childrens Museum and The Texas Memorial Museum. We will contact these museums to see if we can set up a booth about our experiment. For these presentations, we plan to set up a booth that we will run throughout the day. This booth will contain information about the experiment as well as photos demonstrating our experiments progress. At least three team members will be available to answer questions as well as help with the demonstrations. We will include the hands-on demonstrations with the air tables illustrating Newtons First and Third Laws of Motion. Museum visitors will be able to perform collisions themselves as we explain these laws and how they affect our experiment. We will also run a continuous PowerPoint presentation on a laptop. Objective: These presentations will allow us to reach a much wider audience, since people of all types and ages visit museums. Besides raising interest in science and engineering, we hope to raise interest and support for aerospace research as well as for The University of Texas.

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Nanosatellite Separation Proposal 9.3. Media Outreach

Our team wants to reach more people than is possible with the aforementioned visits. We plan to use local news media to raise interest and support of our experiment to the general public as well as keep them updated with the progress of our experiment. We will use various types of media from local newspapers and news shows to the internet to accomplish this. 9.3.1. News Publications To reach an even more general audience, we plan to contact several local media outlets such as the Vector (UTs engineering newsletter), the Daily Texan (UTs student newspaper), the Austin-American Statesman, and local news networks to see if they will report on our experiment. We plan to provide reports before and after we perform our experiment so that the public has increased interest about aerospace research, as well as access to our results. Objective: These publications will likely reach the largest number of people in Austin to inform them about our experiment. They will not only raise awareness about Aerospace research, but also would be an example of the projects conducted at The University of Texas and how UT is contributing to the scientific community. It is hoped that our efforts will increase appreciation for the university as well as increase also public support and funding for more equipment and research. 9.3.2. Team Website The Nanosatellite Separation Experiment Using a P-POD Deployment Mechanism team has a webpage at: http://txseparation.ae.utexas.edu We will regularly update the status of our experiment on this webpage, including photos and progress reports. This will allow the general public to follow our journey as we build and execute this experiment, allowing them to be involved with the experiment and also gain insight into the scientific process. Objective: The purpose of the webpage is to publish the journey we take conducting our experiment to a large public audience. This publication will have a global reach, since people

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Nanosatellite Separation Proposal anywhere can follow the experiment and view the outcome. This will be the most easily accessible means for people to become interested and support our experiment. We hope our experiment can inspire the public to continue to support other scientific endeavors in the future.

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Nanosatellite Separation Proposal 10. APPENDIX I OUTREACH CORRESPONDENCE Date: From: To: Subject: Thu, 11 Oct 2007 12:29:02 -0500 Judy <hey_jude@mail.utexas.edu> "2.stephanie.jones@mail.utexas.edu" <2.stephanie.jones@mail.utexas.edu> Re: Encounter w/ Engineering

Stephanie, I would love to incorporate your group into EWE. I won't actually start recruiting volunteers until the end of the semester. I just need the names and e-mails of everyone who wants to participate so I can e-mail everyone the information they need once the time comes. I was wondering what it was you wanted to do. Did you want to actually use your experiment as one of the activities, or were you wanting to be involved as a group leader or activity leader? If you can incorporate your experiment, that would be great. I'm always in need of activity ideas. Could you let me know what major that would pertain to? Thanks, Judy Chang

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Nanosatellite Separation Proposal

Date: From: To: Cc: Subject:

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 07:52:56 -0500 Tricia Berry <tsberry@mail.utexas.edu> 2.stephanie.jones@mail.utexas.edu Tricia Berry <tsberry@mail.utexas.edu> RE: Aerospace outreach

Stephanie, Are you kidding?! I NEVER pass up volunteers for Girl Day and Explore UT. I'd love to have you involved in both!!! I'll be sending info out about Explore UT this week so watch your email. Girl Day requests will come later in November. Mark your calendars for Feb. 23rd from 1 - 5:30 (event time 2 - 5) and March 1 from 10-5 (event time 11 - 4:40). THANKS for reaching out to me! Glad to have you on board! Tricia Berry, Director Women in Engineering Program The University of Texas at Austin Email: tsberry@mail.utexas.edu Phone: 512-471-5650 Fax: 512-232-1885 Address: 1 University Station C2100, ECJ 2.108, Austin, TX 78712 Web: www.engr.utexas.edu/wep

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Nanosatellite Separation Proposal 11. 11.1. APPENDIX II- ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS Institutions Letter of Endorsement

This is included in the Appendix of the hard copy of the proposal. 11.2. Statement of Supervising Faculty

This is also included in the Appendix of the hard copy of the proposal.

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Nanosatellite Separation Proposal 12. 12.1. FUNDING / BUDGET STATEMENT Funding Chart

The following is an estimation of the cost of our experiment and the expenses accrued during the experiment flight week:

Experiment Equipment
Frame and Body
Aluminum Frame P-Pod Subsystem Boxes $0.00 (in-department) $0.00 (borrowed from Cal Poly University) $100.00

Electrical Equipment
Batteries Wiring Voltage Regulators $50.00 $30.00 $20.00

Equipment
Inertial Measurement Unit Accelerometers (6) AVRmini Bluetooth unit Flash Memory Laptop Computer Wireless Webcam $0.00 (in-department) $450.00 $0.00 (in-department) $50.00 $20.00 $0.00 (in-department) $200.00

Miscellaneous
Van Rental Gas Lodging Food Flight Medical Exams TOTAL: $650.00 $200.00 $2,000.00 $600.00 $300.00 $4670.00

12.2.

Proposed Funding

The team has obtained funding from several sources. The Texas Space Grant Consortium has pledged $2,000 toward the project, and the team is expected to be awarded a $1,000 undergraduate research grant. The Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics will cover the balance of expenditures.

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Nanosatellite Separation Proposal 13. INSTITUTIONAL ANIMAL CARE & USE COMMITTEE

Animal care and use is not applicable to our experiment. 14. PARENTAL CONSENT FORMS

Since all of our team members are above the age of 18, this section is not applicable to our proposal.

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