Team Cutthroat Critical Design Review Chris Alley Annie Frederick Josh Marshman Julie Price Lance Tokmakian Kent Welborn December 7, 2006

Mission Overview To detect the amount of cosmic rays –We took the data we collected and compared it to time. –We also compared the data to altitude to see how radiation was affected by the layers of the atmosphere

Design RM-60 Geiger Counter - Basic Stamp - Batteries Video Camera –1GB SD Memory Card HOBO Data Logger –Temperature Probe Timing Circuit –Batteries Picture Camera –Film Insulation Foam Core Aluminum Tape Wires/Telephone Cord Heater

Block Diagram

RFP Compliance 2 Cameras (1 provided still camera and 1 video camera) 1 Experiment (Geiger counter to test for radiation levels 1 Provided HOBO 1 System to keep the satellite warm (battery powered heater and foam insulation)

The Inner Workings

Geiger Counter Device: RM-60 Geiger counter Memory: BASIC stamp Power: 9 volt batteries Purpose: Detect cosmic radiation

Predicted Results Photography- Photos of ground every 3 minutes Video- 30 minutes of footage of horizon Geiger Counter- Detecting cosmic rays every 50 seconds for 10 seconds HOBO- internal and external temperature and humidity Heater- Keep satellite above 0°C Structure- Scuffed corners but overall fine

Summary of Actual Results Camera- Worked well Video Camera- Partially worked Geiger counter- Partially worked Hobo- Worked Heater- Worked well enough Structure- Withheld

Camera The camera worked well and took a picture every 3 minutes. However the paperclip fell in front of the opening upon launch.

Video Camera The video camera was only able to take 3 minutes and 42 seconds of footage, then it shut off due to a malfunction in the battery display.

Geiger Counter Raw Data  The BASIC stamp stopped logging data after 16 minutes. We took this data and compared it to the times and altitude of the balloon.

Hobo and Heater

Structure

Ready to Fly Camera, Heater and Structure are all ready to fly. Heater and Camera need new batteries. -Camera needs new film HOBO needs to be reset.

Needed help, but Now Ready to Fly Video camera –Make sure that both the batteries are fresh out of the package, because the battery indicator is not totally accurate. Geiger Counter –The program stopped recording data after 16 minutes, which shows that the program may have been corrupted. The program had to be altered.

Storage and Flight Activation Should be stored in room temperature, and with no pressure on top. HOBO needs to be reset Video Camera must be directly turned on Both switches need to be turned on

Conclusion -There was too little data collected to perform the originally desired comparisons of cosmic rays on different launches and look for abnormalities. -The overall system was successful in that no subsystem failed because of another. -We received at least partial data from each of our subsystems.

Lessons Learned Deadlines come quickly—a rushed job isn’t as good as a well thought-out and planned job We should have researched our Geiger counter more before we bought it. We should have stuck to the schedule that we gave ourselves. We should have been more willing to ask for help from outside sources.

Message to next semester The semester goes Everyone in the group must get along Order equipment early and test it early Deeply research products before ordering them Make sure that the products are compatible and that you can troubleshoot minor problems Use the resources given and use them often Don’t be afraid to ask the professor or the T.A.

Team Pictures

Sources Cited Source Cited 32_atmos.html. Aurora.32_atmos.html GES. Sun. GES wallpaper-greg-martin.php. celestia wallpaper-greg-martin.php