1. MAE 435 ThinSat Group Status Report
Wednesday, November 7, 2018

2. What is a ThinSat?
STEM education and exploration program promoting space science, engineering, research, and analysis opportunities
84 ThinSats accommodated on Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems’ Antares Rocket
ThinSats flown in Strings of 3-6 ThinSats, connected via solar panel fanfolds
ThinSats placed into ELEO for 5-14 days
Satellite completely burns up during reentry

3. Goals for ThinSat Team 3 (May-December 2018)
Rigidizing ThinSat Fanfold/configure aerodynamically
Test materials for thermal protection
Enable observation of ThinSat/payload during High Altitude Balloon Tests
Develop communications package capable of transmitting all gathered data to ground station/Space Data Dashboard

4. Current Locking/Rigidizing Mech. Design

5. Nitinol Sheets/Strips
Fan-fold panels
2 x (0.015” thick x 2” wide x 4.25” long)
Outer panels
1 x (0.015” thick x 2” wide x 4.19” long)
Center panel
Nitinol Sheets/Strips
Dimension
0.20 mm thick x mm wide x 25 mm long
Total Amount
8 strips (4 per joint)
Epoxy
MasterBond Supreme 11AOHT-LO
Used to bond each nitinol strip to stainless steel panels

6. Locking/Rigidizing Mechanism Testing
Proposed testing of locking mechanism:
Neutral buoyancy
High altitude balloon

7. Update

8. Thermal Protection Since Midterm: Scheduling issues with lab times
Objective
Develop and implement a thermal resistance system for the electronics and sensor package to extend the data collection period throughout the Thermosphere.
Since Midterm:
Scheduling issues with lab times
Thermal equipment procurement
Additional material testing

9. High Altitude Balloon ThinSat Payload Chassis
Objective:
Design chassis to test ThinSat Fanfold and system to reduce oscillations of payload due to winds during testing
Since Midterm:
Have redesigned chassis
Base of ThinSat string will now be screwed to HAB chassis
Using burnwire instead of magnets
Nichrome wire with nylon rope
Altimeter to activate accelerometer at 80,000 ft.
Accelerometer will activate relay sending charge to burnwire

10. Communications Objectives Accomplished Planned Setbacks
Develop a software package that will store and transmit sensor data with a focus on reduced power consumption
Integrate additional sensors with supporting code
Transmit data collected during low earth orbit
Accomplished
Displayed successive packeted data in hexadecimal
Tracked down and acquired thermal sensor data sheet
Planned
Reallocate packet byte budget
Integrate a minimum of one thermal sensor into
communications code
Setbacks
Serial Data output mixed between two bases

11. Preparing the Next ThinSat Team
Collaboration
Each subgroup is working with at least one ThinSat 4 member
Documenting processes, achievements, setbacks
Assuring cohesiveness and that work will continue into next semester

13. Questions?