Senior Design Project Data Sheet

Project #

/ Project Name / Project Track / Project Family
7104 / METEOR RITSAT 1 / Aerospace / METEOR
Start Term / Team Guide / Project Sponsor / Doc. Revision
Fall ‘06 / Dr. Patru / Dr. Patru / 1.1

Senior Design Project Data Sheet

Project Description

Project Background:

The METEOR project strives to place a picosatellite into space for a nominal cost. By using common off the shelf parts and nanotechnology to save weight, the final solution should be attractive to other universities attempting zero gravity experimentation solutions.

·  Based off of the CubeSat Specifications

·  Using propulsion developed at RIT

·  Part of a family of METEOR projects

Problem Statement:

The METEOR RITSAT1 satellite’s goal is to use the picosatellite to control and measure key features of the rocket on an initially suborbital flight. Accomplishing this is a feat in and of itself. The picosatellite should ideally be able to perform in low-earth orbits. Once in orbit the picosatellite is going to need a lifespan from a couple days up to several weeks.

Objectives/Scope:

1.  The project must meet certain physical standards developed by the CubeSat design (weight and size)

2.  The picosatellite must be able to withstand the harsh environment of space. This includes both severe temperature ranges as well as forces encountered while traversing into orbit.

3.  The picosatellite must contain imaging equipment, orientation equipment and communications to transmit this data back to earth. Communications is necessary to monitor both the rocket and the picosatellite itself.

Deliverables:

·  The main deliverable for this project are two matching satellites capable of reaching suborbital flight. These two satellites must have passed the test chamber certification.

·  Full documentation of the picosatellite operation for future use.

·  Constrain to both weight requirements and size requirements set forth by our customer and the rocket team.

Expected Project Benefits:

·  The benefits from a successful flight are numerous. As this is the initial RITSAT to attempt solo flight into space, the proof of concept implications are enormous. Upon a successful flight, many additions can be made on future missions

·  Verify correct operation of the rocket during the maiden voyage. Due to the communication equipment and sensors on board, the RITSAT should provide data during the rocket flight.

Core Team Members:

·  John McIntyre

·  Derek Mantey

·  Lance Bradstreet

·  Luke Remis

·  Benjamin Grefe

·  Bill Koller

Strategy & Approach

Assumptions & Constraints:

1.  The picosatellite will assume that proper rocket flight will place the satellite into space.

2.  It is assumed that the test chamber will properly stress the satellite for conditions expected in space.

Issues & Risks:

The risks anticipated throughout this project are enormous. By using commercially available equipment from common suppliers we hope to mitigate many of these potential pitfalls. However, aerospace equipment is both expensive and difficult to find in many instances, mainly due to the extreme physical constraints that must be applied.

We are placing the success of this project into many individual components, each of which could fail and prove to be catastrophic. Additionally, due to weight constraints, many compromises must be made, some of which could potentially affect the final performance.