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ARIZONA SPACE GRANT
CONSORTIUM SYMPOSIUM
19 APRIL, 2008
Pima Community College ASCEND Team
NW Campus
Pima Community College ASCEND Team
• Daniel Jerrim Instrumentation• Roscoe Vertein Design/Construction• Dr. Denise Meeks Faculty/Mentor• Mike Sampogna Faculty/Mentor
Roscoe Denise Daniel MikeRoscoe Denise Daniel MikeRoscoe Denise Daniel MikeRoscoe Denise Daniel MikeRoscoe Denise Daniel Mike
Background
• Roscoe Vertein– Military weather– Mechanical aptitude– Love of physics
• Daniel Jerrim– Obsession with technology– Basic computer knowledge– Passion for building/creating
Motivation…?
INESCAPABLESCIENTIFIC CURIOSITY
NASA sponsored, ANSR affiliatedAnd of course, the educational benefits
The “Why?”
• Astronomy students
• Volunteer
• Outside normal workload
• Principle to practical
• Building the “Toolbox” of knowledge
• Needed another notch on the… pocket protector
In the Beginning…
• Submitted grant proposal for ANSR/ASCEND project
• Smartest, cutest, most capable and imaginative students both from Astronomy 101 & 102
• Our team was formed, 2 instructors and 2 students
The Plan
• Received basic module design
• Parts ordered
• Duties divided according to expertise
K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid)
B Battery
TC Timing Circuit
DC Digital Camera
HTR Heater
H HOBO
S Sensor
The Breakdown
Electronics
Fabrication
Bringing It Together
• Last minute changes– New logger
• Malfunction with pressure logger interface– Overnight new pressure logger
– New support/load bearing center pole• PVC tubing and cement untested at low pressure
and temperature– Used lamp rod, washers, and nuts
Preflight Orientation
• Arrival
• Observations– Networking with veteran teams – Examining their projects/experiments
• The ASCEND rookies– Plenty of motivation– Lack of experience– The devil is in the details
The Night Before Launch
• Discussing the future of our participation– Preplanning our next payload– Here and now!
• Burning the 3 a.m. oil– Removed panels for final setup– Tested all equipment operation– Checked and rechecked wiring– Set and reset programs
The Breakdown
Last Minute Preparations
• Final convoy arrangements
• Forecasting balloon course
• Real-time payload tracking
• Coordinating communications and route
Preparing for Launch
• Initializing payload – Fresh battery installation
• Digital camera• Timing circuit• Heater
– Final configuration of loggers– Final testing of camera
• Aluminum tape seal of load • Flipping of outer switches
Final Touches
Power Switches
Aluminum Sealing
Filling of Balloon
• Balloon filled with helium
• Approximately 20% more than total combined weight of payloads
• Four-person balloon-stabilizing team
• Watch out for bursts of wind
WINDY DAY!!!!
Send Off
• Payloads separated along cord
• Aligned for launch
The Chase
• From Gila Bend to Black Mt.• Tracked by GPS
Payload at 62,000 ft
The Route
The Recovery
• GPS set to 32.8103,-111.3240
• 20 minutes by foot
• Just east from Newman Peak
Temp, °C 30.2° to -22.1°DewPt, °C 8.9° to -49.3°RH, % 35.0° to 5.1°
Recovered Data
What We Learned
• Fabrication materials• Construction methods• Equipment reliability and functionality• Attention to detail• New questions to ask• Identified unpredicted power anomalies• Education
– Temperature variation– Pressure changes with altitude
Next Time…
• Research– New equipment– Sensor capabilities– Data acquisition techniques
• More time to work
• Know who to contact for help
• More Testing
Future Project Plans
• Solar power• Single mother board• GPS• Radio Transmitter• Multiple cameras• Video• Pressure
• Altitude• Temp.
- Inside payload
- Outside• Humidity• Accelerometer• EM radiation
Special Thanks
• Jack Crabtree • ANSR• Susan Brew• Arizona Space Grant Consortium• NASA • ASCEND participants • Northwest Campus administration • Everyone at the launch and recovery• Mike Sampogna • Denise Meeks
Questions?