Team Cutthroat Critical Design Review Chris Alley Annie Frederick Josh Marshman Julie Price Lance Tokmakian Kent Welborn October 17, 2006

Mission Overview Our aim is to detect the amount of cosmic rays during the period of launch and flight. –We will be taking the data we collect, and comparing it to altitude, as well as previous experiments. –We plan to take this information and look for irregularities and possible signs of solar flares.

Design RM-60 Geiger Counter Video Camera –2GB SD Memory Card HOBO Data Logger –Temperature Probe Timing Circuit –Power Supply Picture Camera –Film Insulation Foam Core Aluminum Tape Wires/Telephone Cord Heater

The Inner Workings

Geiger Counter The Geiger counter will be on the top of the satellite facing up. –From this position we can detect cosmic rays.

Block Diagram

Budget

Mass Budget

Schedule Oct. 3- Have design completed and parts ordered Oct. 7- Design Document Revision A completed Oct. 10- Ordered parts received, begin construction Oct. 12- Complete satellite prototype Oct. 13- Drop Test (one day for adjustments) Oct. 15- Design Document Revision B completed Oct. 16- Whip Test Oct. 17- Drag Test Oct.17- Critical Design Review Presentation Oct. 18- Subsystem Test (one day for adjustments) Oct. 20- Functional Test (one day for adjustments) Oct. 22- Cooler Test (one day for adjustments) Oct. 24- Mission Sim Test Oct. 26- Continue with last minute adjustments needed Nov. 5- Design Document Revision C completed Nov. 9- Have satellite finished ready to turn in on Nov. 10 Nov. 11- Launch Day! Nov. 15- Begin work on Design Document Revision D Nov. 30- Design Document Revision D completed Dec. 5- Final Team Presentation

Test Plan Oct. 13 Drop Test: The Drop Test will be performed outside the Engineering Center. The foam core structure and simulated mass, which will consist of rocks secured inside the box, will be dropped from approximately 15 feet onto concrete and then kicked down a flight of stairs to test the structural integrity of the design. Oct. 16 Whip Test: The Whip Test will take place outside the Engineering Center. The structure will have the secured simulated mass and the flight string secured through the aperture and will be swung in a circular motion to replicate the whipping motion throughout flight, namely after burst. Oct. 17 Drag Test: The Drag Test will take place around campus with the box and mass attached to a string fastened to a bicycle. This test will simulate the landing of the satellite and therefore test its structural integrity. Oct. 18 Subsystem Test: The Subsystem Test will be performed in the Brackett Lounge. All of the electronics in the box will be turned on at this time in order to verify their individual functionality. Oct. 20 Functional Test: The Functional Test will take place in the Brackett Lounge. All of the electronics in the box will be turned on at the same time to make sure that all of the systems work together, as they will need to during flight. Oct. 22 Cooler Test: The Cooler Test will take place in the Engineering Center. The complete satellite will be placed in a cooler with dry ice. All of the components will be turned on and will have to last three hours without shutting off or malfunctioning, as will be needed during flight. Oct. 24 Mission Simulation: The Mission Simulation will be performed in the Brackett Lounge. All of the electronics will be turned on for three hours with an extra half hour allotted for extended flight. If this test succeeds, the satellite will be ready to launch.

Expected Results Photography- We expect our still camera to take pictures of the ground out of the bottom of the satellite. The pictures will be taken every two minutes and successively illustrate the ascent. Video- We expect our video camera, trained on the horizon, to capture different layers of the atmosphere and into space. The camera will run nonstop from launch until memory runs out (we believe it will last until the satellite lands). Geiger Counter- We will run our RM-60 Geiger counter on a basic stamp set on intervals. We anticipate it will collect different magnitudes of radiation proportional to altitude gain. Structure- We believe the structure of our satellite will withstand the forces of launch, balloon burst, and landing. We expect it will be scuffed and the corners dented in, but no detrimental damage is anticipated.

Team Pictures