2. 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.
Huskysat
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3. HuskySat
MTU 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.
Mission
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4. HuskySat Mission
The 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 tested
as part of the attitude control system. An
example of one operating can be seen here.
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5. Oculus
The 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.
GNC
Home Power OBDC
6. 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.
Home Oculus
7. Structures
The 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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8. Power
The Power Subsystem consists of the entire power
system of the satellite, including Solar Cells,
Batteries and Charge Circuitry, and Power boards.
Oculus
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9. 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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10. 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.
Oculus
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11. 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.edu
for more information.
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12. Ion Propulsion Lab
The 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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13. Lunar Penetrator
Producing 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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14. C-9 Reduced Gravity Research
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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Hoe
15. CanSat
The 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
Home in the field providing a full 360° view of
the local environment.
16. 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.
Home 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.
17. HAARP Glider
High 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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18. 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.
Home www.aerospace.mtu.edu
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