RockSat 2010 CoDR 1 WVU Sounding Rocket Student Project Conceptual Design Review West Virginia University D. Vassiliadis, Y. Gu, D. Pisano, E. Scime 10/14/2009

RockSat 2010 CoDR 2 Mission Objectives –Primary objective: education and outreach. Develop student technical skills Grow program alongside existing space-related WVU programs –Secondary objective: basic-level research. Measure 3 fundamental physical variables to characterize the atmospheric environment during flight –Neutral-species temperature –Plasma density –Magnetic field

RockSat 2010 CoDR 3 Mission Research –Brief overview of underlying science: Temperature: Atmospheric layers are heated via well- known different mechanisms: identify layer width based on observed temperature profile Plasma density: UV ionization above 100 km produces ionosphere, also subdivided in regions –Rocket apogee of km: access to ionospheric E region peak (during daytime) –Experiment measures plasma frequency (~1 MHz, simple function of density) and harmonics –Under certain conditions: high-density patches from F region (“spread-F” phenomenon) Magnetic field: strongly involved in plasma structure and dynamics. –Experiment measures power-law decrease of field magnitude with geocentric distance; –Under certain conditions: very low-frequency (VLF; Hz) waves with periods sufficiently smaller than flight duration

RockSat 2010 CoDR 4 Mission Research (cont.) –Contributions to ionospheric research Above 3 variables measured routinely by sounding rocket missions for several decades. This mission is primarily educational rather than basic- research. However, one experiment (plasma-density) is non-trivial because of limitations related to access to plasma  element of novelty in payload design.

RockSat 2010 CoDR 5 –Mission Requirements: Apogee: should be at/above E region peak (~110 km) Timing: daytime (dawn-dusk) launch is preferable (daytime decrease of E region peak height. Decrease is greatest in June due to seasonal variation). Magnetic field measurements: vehicle subsystems should be as magnetically quiet as possible Plasma density experiment has 2 options all of which are explored at present: –Radio sounding through optical port; –Mass spectrometer at atmospheric port. –Success Criteria Obtain high-quality temperature and magnetic field measurements (For sufficiently low-noise observations) identify VLF wave signatures in B- field data Obtain plasma density as function of altitude consistent with E region profile (Under high-activity conditions) high-density patches identified as spread- F. Mission Overview

RockSat 2010 CoDR 6 Mission Overview (cont.) –Benefits: To students: learning new skills and science To university programs: adding new program to array of space-related WVU programs (scientific ballooning, UAV, microgravity, etc.) To university programs: stronger connections between physics and engineering departments Eventually to research: expansion of space physics and space engineering programs

RockSat 2010 CoDR 7 Payload Design –Hardware for temperature and B-field experiments: Note: models cited are representative only. Actual models may comprise several functions on a single component, similar to an inertial sensor. Measured Variable InstrumentBrandModel TrajectoryX-Y accelerometersAnalog DevicesADXL78 (lo-res) Z accelerometerAnalog DevicesADXL103 (hi-res) TemperatureIC sensorNational Semiconductor LM50 Magnetic flux densityMicromagnetometerHoneywellHMC2003

RockSat 2010 CoDR 8 Payload Design (cont.) –Hardware for plasma-density experiment. One of 2 options will be selected subject to Wallops regulations: Radio: A low-power source emits a swept frequency signal close to plasma-frequency cutoff (1-MHz). A wideband receiver detects the reflected signal at the cutoff frequency so the ambient density can be calculated. Mass spec: A quadrupole mass spectrometer measures the near- thermal proton population. A calibrated leak valve is used for sample flow control and vacuum reservoir to maintain pressure.

RockSat 2010 CoDR9 WVU SRP Functional Block Diagram: Radio Option 2x9V Power Temp Sensor μ-Mag Wideband Receiver G-switch MOD5213 Processor Flash Memory ADC Swept-f Emitter Controller /Clock Power Control Data XY Accel Z Accel Main Board Radio Board Optical port ADCADC Legend RBF G-switch

RockSat 2010 CoDR10 WVU SRP Functional Block Diagram: Mass Spec Option 5x9V Power 2x9V Power Temp Sensor μ-Mag G-switch MOD5213 Processor Flash Memory ADC Controller Power Control Data XY Accel Z Accel Main Board Mass-Spectrometer Board Atmospheric port ADCADC Legend RBF G-switch Detector Magnet AmplifierPump

RockSat 2010 CoDR 11 RockSat Payload Canister User Guide Compliance –Payload mass and volume –Payload activation G switches (compliant with WFF “no volt” requirement) Remove-Before-Flight (RBF) strap –Rocket Interface Shorting wires: patterned after those of RockOn payload Estimated mass (kg) Estimated volume (LWH, cm 3 ) Estimated volume (canister) Radio option118 x 18 x 51/5 Mass spec option2.518 x 18 x 7¼

RockSat 2010 CoDR 12 Shared Can Logistics Plan –University payloads in canister and one-line summary of mission: WVU: Upper atmospheric physics (1/4 can) Temple U.: vibration isolation mechanism (1/2) U. Louisiana: Expanded RockOn payload with altimeter, GPS (1/2) –Plan for collaboration on interfacing WVU has initiated online discussion with TU and ULL TU has provided some initial information and will continue immediately after CoDR telecon WVU and ULL will need access to an optical port so we are discussing location and interfacing issues.

RockSat 2010 CoDR 13 Management –Organizations involved: Physics: Profs. Vassiliadis, Pisano, Scime Aerospace: Profs. Gu, Napolitano Allegany Ballistics Laboratory (ABL): external review and testing –Preliminary mass/monetary budgets Mass budget: kg (see table on p. 9) Monetary budget: $4,500.

RockSat 2010 CoDR 14 Management (cont.) –Schedule Student training F2009: Project schedule S2010: 3-credit course as part of advanced lab Testing: default: at MAE; possibly also at ABL

RockSat 2010 CoDR 15 Concluding Remarks –Issues and concerns: 1.The use of a radio pulse emitter is critical and needs to be resolved soon. The radio option will result in a compact, novel plasma- density experiment. The mass spectrometer option produces a heavier, higher-wattage, traditional payload. 2.Space allocation: currently total payload volume from 3 institutions exceeds 1 canister. If no agreement can be reached among institutions, it would be important for RockSat to resolve the situation. –In closing, the project has attracted a good number of physics, ME, and AE students for this semester and has started providing them with the skillset needed for the fundamentals of payload development. As it develops into a course in spring 2010 the project is expected to continue to provide significant research and education experience.