Glider Oculus

CanSat

HAXS

L.P.Glider

C-9

How to Join

University Nanosatellite Program University Nanosat Program was established in 1999 as a means to train and educate

members of the future aerospace workforce in the United States and further the research and development of small satellites. This is accomplished through a two-year, student-led

nanosatellite design and fabrication contest in which schools submit a proposal to the AFRL including a science mission relevant to the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)

and budget near $100,000. From the application pool, the top 10-12 schools are selected to participate. After the initial proposals are approved, the program has two stages: the

first is the two-year design and fabrication period that ends in a Flight Competition Review (FCR) where the top satellite is chosen based on several criteria. The second

phase is reserved for the school that produces the best nanosatellite system and consists of further testing at AFRL facilities, culminating in a launch into space.

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HuskySatMTU first took part in this program in 2003 with the start of the Nanosat-3 (NS-3) program in which we took third place with our nanosatellite system dubbed "HuskySat." Using the experienced gained during the NS-3 competition, MTU sought industry partners and applied for the competition's fifth iteration in the fall of 2006. The Aerospace team has grown since the days of Huskysat.

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HuskySat MissionThe mission was to measure L-Band radiation, to determine the amount of soil moisture content in specific regions. If you can determine soil moisture content, you can better predict what the weather in an area will be.

The secondary part of the mission was testing a memory shape alloy boom deployable boom. This can be viewed in the above display case, as the long, metallic cylinder. This was used for gravity gradient stabilization.

Arc jet thrusters were also used and testedas part of the attitude control system. An example of one operating can be seen here.

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OculusThe Oculus Project is a collaboration of MTU students and industry sponsors taking part in the University Nanosat-5 Competition, sponsored by the Air Force Research Laboratory's Space Vehicles Directorate (AFRL/VS), the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), and the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).

Composed of subteams listed below, the Oculus Project is currently the largest in the MTU Aerospace Enterprise with more than 70 members. The competition entails building a meter cube satellite in which the winner will be guaranteed a launch into space.

Power

GNC

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K-12 Outreach

The Purpose for the K12 project is to provide an outreach program that educates k-12 students. K12 is worth 5% of the final ratings when it comes to deciding what universities satellites will be launched into space. It also provide exciting educational opportunities to the local schools in the area.

The K-12 Outreach program will be working with cricket satellites, measuring instruments that can be built quickly and cheaply. These are ideal for K-12 outreach program and can educate K-12 students about space and the atmosphere around the earth.

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StructuresThe Oculus Structures team is responsible for designing, modeling, and testing the panels and boxes used for housing all components. Primary fields of our work focus on designing the isogrid panels and component boxes, finite element modeling, thermal analysis, separation system design, and antennae box deployment.

Oculus

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PowerThe Power Subsystem consists of the entire power system of the satellite, including Solar Cells, Batteries and Charge Circuitry, and Power boards.

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GNC Guidance Navigation and Control Team has one of the most complex tasks of any team in the Oculus because it requires coordination between the sensors, software, and mechanical and electrical actuators to control the satellite in space and conduct the primary mission of the satellite. Parts of the Magnetic Torquers and Reaction Wheel are displayed.

Oculus

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OBDC OBDC's task is to maintain data operations in the satellite and on the ground. This includes processing information gathered from sensors and carrying out mission tasks based on data and pre-defined requirements.

Every subsystem interacts with OBDC in one way or another. The OBDC computer activates each subsystem in the beginning phases of the mission. Based on a set of rules, it controls the satellite by operating the thrusters and reading the gyro cube/earth horizon sensors.

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Secret Government Stuff

Sorry, we may not disclose any of this information.

That is, unless you wish to join the Aerospace Enterprise.

www.aerospace.mtu.edufor more information.

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Ion Propulsion LabThe Ion Space Propulsion Laboratory (Isp Lab) at Michigan Technological University was founded in 2000 under the direction of Professor Lyon B. King, advisor to the Aerospace Enterprise. The lab was set up with the following goals:

• explore the fundamental operating processes in plasma space thrusters • develop means to improve the performance

of existing technologies • investigate innovative new devices and methods for in-space propulsion

The laboratory is capable of experimental ground-testing of full scale thrusters and components operating on traditional as well as advanced propellants.

While not directly connected to Aerospace in terms of classes, the two labs are physically directly connected. Many people in the Isp lab are former Aerospace Students

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Lunar PenetratorProducing a proof of concept for NASA, a group of students in Aerospace, developing a system to put a one meter long rod into the lunar surface, to take seismograph readings, along with soil temperature and consistency readings. This data will be transmitted to an orbiting spacecraft.

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C-9 Reduced Gravity Research

Hoe

The Zero Gravity Research team applies for the chance to perform Zero Gravity experiments in NASA's C-9 aircraft, affectionately known as the Vomit Comet. This plane flies in a parabola simulating periods of zero gravity for those inside the plane.

Experiments have ranged from boom vibration modal measurement testing, lunar dust removal from solar panels, and taylor cone formation on tungsten tips used for electron propulsion.

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CanSatThe goal of CanSat begins with a launch to 3000 feet in the payload section of a rocket. At the apogee, CanSat will be ejected, where it will deploy its main parachute. The vehicle descends to the ground, gliding towards a landing site, wirelessly transmitted by the ground station.

Reaching the landing site, CanSat detaches from its parachute so as not to obstruct the cameras’ fields of view, and then tumbles to a stop. After allowing the vehicle to come to rest, the landing mechanism deploys, bringing the CanSat into an upright position. It then remains in the field providing a full 360° view of the local environment.

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HAXS

HAXS [High-Altitude eXperimentS) is a small and new team in Aerospace, researching cost effective high-altitude payload delivery methods. They are beginning experimentation and development of hybrid rocket motors. The focus of the experimentation will be cost reduction of casing, nozzle, and propellant material and manufacturing.

The primary goal is competing in the N-Prize competition, a challenge to launch an impossibly small satellite into orbit on a ludicrously small budget, for a pitifully small cash prize.

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HAARP GliderHigh altitude autonomous research platform

An autonomous glider design that will be carried to an altitude of as much as 20,000 feet with a meteorological balloon carrying a three pound payload. At 20,000 feet it will separate and fly back to the recovery site with three-axis awareness that enable pitch, yaw, and tilt control. This data is necessary for the payload mission to determine horizontal and vertical wind velocities. The vehicle also has an electric motor capable of providing enough thrust to achieve level flight between 2,500 feet and 10,000 feet for five minutes.

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Joining Aerospace

If you are interested in joining all you have to do is sign up for our enterprise class, Section L21•Freshman 1st semester ENT1950, 2nd semester ENT1960•Sophmore 1st semester ENT2950, 2nd semester ENT2960•Junior 1st semester ENT3950, 2nd semester ENT3960•Senior 1st semester ENT4950, 2nd semester ENT4960

What majors are we looking for?

Absolutely every major, from Engineering and Communications, to Business and Computer Science.

The most common Majors are:ME, EE, and CS. When you sign up for the course you will be put on the class mailing list , from there you will be notified of our first meeting of the semester. If you sign up after the first week of class please contact the president at jmjulien@mtu.edu.

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