1. Flight Club Critical Design Review Evan Akselrad, Chris Anaya, Natalie Bixler, Melanie Dubin, Logan Finch, Ted Maritz, and Scott Williams October 14, 2008 Evan Akselrad, Chris Anaya, Natalie Bixler, Melanie Dubin, Logan Finch, Ted Maritz, and Scott Williams October 14, 2008 Fall 2008 Rev B 10-07-08

2. Mission Statement  The BalloonSat Flight Club shall ascend to an altitude of 30 kilometers –to image the curvature and surface of the earth –to measure the light intensity at different altitudes.  The BalloonSat Flight Club shall ascend to an altitude of 30 kilometers –to image the curvature and surface of the earth –to measure the light intensity at different altitudes.

3. Purpose  To deduce if commercial aviation has an impact on light intensity at levels below the flight level, including the troposphere and the surface of the earth.  To demonstrate the capacities of high altitude imaging and to qualitatively determine if other atmospheric conditions have in any way confounded our conclusions.  Hypothesis: –The research conducted on the BalloonSat will conclude that there is a correlation between commercial aviation and global warming. If there is a measurable increase in light intensity above the flight level of aviation then one can conclude that contrails reflect light thus decreasing light intensity and decreasing the effect of global warming.  To deduce if commercial aviation has an impact on light intensity at levels below the flight level, including the troposphere and the surface of the earth.  To demonstrate the capacities of high altitude imaging and to qualitatively determine if other atmospheric conditions have in any way confounded our conclusions.  Hypothesis: –The research conducted on the BalloonSat will conclude that there is a correlation between commercial aviation and global warming. If there is a measurable increase in light intensity above the flight level of aviation then one can conclude that contrails reflect light thus decreasing light intensity and decreasing the effect of global warming.

4. Mission Objectives 1.Construct a BalloonSat equipped with a digital camera for imaging and solar cells measuring light intensity as a function of altitude. 2.Photograph the curvature and surface of the earth at set time intervals throughout the flight. 3.Measure the light intensity at set time intervals throughout the flight. 4.Contact the Balloon Flight Technicians to receive altitude readings for set time intervals. 5.Contact the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to obtain information about flight traffic within the 24 hours before launch. 1.Construct a BalloonSat equipped with a digital camera for imaging and solar cells measuring light intensity as a function of altitude. 2.Photograph the curvature and surface of the earth at set time intervals throughout the flight. 3.Measure the light intensity at set time intervals throughout the flight. 4.Contact the Balloon Flight Technicians to receive altitude readings for set time intervals. 5.Contact the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to obtain information about flight traffic within the 24 hours before launch.

5. Objective Requirements 1.Flight Club shall be built by October 28, 2008 at a cost not to exceed $150 using the materials and methods detailed herein. 2.The camera shall be installed at one corner of Flight Club and shall simultaneously image the earth’s surface and curvature at intervals of 30 seconds using mirrors to split the image. 3.Four sheets of solar film on four sides of Flight Club shall be connected through a one-ohm resistor to a Lascar Voltage Data Logger, which shall measure voltage readings at set intervals. 4.The requested altitude data shall be used to correlate time readings to a given altitude. 5.The information obtained from the FAA shall be used to determine the amount of jet contrails within the area. 1.Flight Club shall be built by October 28, 2008 at a cost not to exceed $150 using the materials and methods detailed herein. 2.The camera shall be installed at one corner of Flight Club and shall simultaneously image the earth’s surface and curvature at intervals of 30 seconds using mirrors to split the image. 3.Four sheets of solar film on four sides of Flight Club shall be connected through a one-ohm resistor to a Lascar Voltage Data Logger, which shall measure voltage readings at set intervals. 4.The requested altitude data shall be used to correlate time readings to a given altitude. 5.The information obtained from the FAA shall be used to determine the amount of jet contrails within the area.

6. Parts  Foam Core- The foam core, which is black and 1/4 inch in thickness, will serve as the lightweight outer layer of the balloon satellite. This will be made up of six pieces laid out in a cross shape, each with the dimensions 16 by 16 centimeters. The cross shape will fold up to form a cube, held together by hot glue and aluminum tape. The foam core will house all the components for the mission and protect them from shock forces during the flight.  Insulation- The insulation is a thick, and dense foam, that after installed will help keep the balloon satellite at a temperature above 0 ｰ C for the entirety of the flight.  Hobo Data Logger- The Hobo Data logger is a 2 channel data collection and processing system, that will allow the team to perform the science mission during the flight. We will use one of the channels, one for the external temperature probe and we will be using the internal temperature monitoring system.  Lascar Voltage Data Logger- By applying the equation V=IR Flight Club will use a 1 ohm resistor to make Voltage (V) equal to current (I) in the system. This will allow us to use the voltage meter to measure the amps in the system to determine the power pulled off our solar film.  Foam Core- The foam core, which is black and 1/4 inch in thickness, will serve as the lightweight outer layer of the balloon satellite. This will be made up of six pieces laid out in a cross shape, each with the dimensions 16 by 16 centimeters. The cross shape will fold up to form a cube, held together by hot glue and aluminum tape. The foam core will house all the components for the mission and protect them from shock forces during the flight.  Insulation- The insulation is a thick, and dense foam, that after installed will help keep the balloon satellite at a temperature above 0 ｰ C for the entirety of the flight.  Hobo Data Logger- The Hobo Data logger is a 2 channel data collection and processing system, that will allow the team to perform the science mission during the flight. We will use one of the channels, one for the external temperature probe and we will be using the internal temperature monitoring system.  Lascar Voltage Data Logger- By applying the equation V=IR Flight Club will use a 1 ohm resistor to make Voltage (V) equal to current (I) in the system. This will allow us to use the voltage meter to measure the amps in the system to determine the power pulled off our solar film.

7.  External Temperature Probe- Is a cable that will be used to take temperature readings of the external temperatures during the flight. This will be attached to the Hobo Data Logger in order to store the recorded information.  Canon Digital Camera- The camera will be used to image the curvature of the earth, during the flight and if possible the team will use the camera to look down at the earth and outside the box. This will enable our team to see what is going on around our balloon satellite the time of our science readings.  Mirrors- In order to image both the curvature of the earth and the earth below the balloon satellite, Flight Club shall make use of two mirrors so that the camera will be able to take a single shot of two different locations. We still need to get these.  Heating System- The heating system will serve to keep the payload of the satellite at a temperature of the satellite above 0 ｰ C, so that all the electronic components of the system will function throughout the flight  Batteries- The Batteries will serve as a method to power the heating system in Flight Club; we will use 3 9v batteries and two lithium batteries (for the camera).  Solar Film- The solar film is a sheet of solar cells that attaches to the four sides of Flight Club and shall be used to detect the light intensity. They shall be connected in series and in a circuit with both a 1-ohm resistor and the Lascar Voltage Data Logger.  External Temperature Probe- Is a cable that will be used to take temperature readings of the external temperatures during the flight. This will be attached to the Hobo Data Logger in order to store the recorded information.  Canon Digital Camera- The camera will be used to image the curvature of the earth, during the flight and if possible the team will use the camera to look down at the earth and outside the box. This will enable our team to see what is going on around our balloon satellite the time of our science readings.  Mirrors- In order to image both the curvature of the earth and the earth below the balloon satellite, Flight Club shall make use of two mirrors so that the camera will be able to take a single shot of two different locations. We still need to get these.  Heating System- The heating system will serve to keep the payload of the satellite at a temperature of the satellite above 0 ｰ C, so that all the electronic components of the system will function throughout the flight  Batteries- The Batteries will serve as a method to power the heating system in Flight Club; we will use 3 9v batteries and two lithium batteries (for the camera).  Solar Film- The solar film is a sheet of solar cells that attaches to the four sides of Flight Club and shall be used to detect the light intensity. They shall be connected in series and in a circuit with both a 1-ohm resistor and the Lascar Voltage Data Logger.

8. Drawings

9. Functional Block Diagram Battery Camera Memory Card Battery Switch 1 Heating Circuit Battery 2-channel Hobo Data Logger 2-channel Hobo Data Logger Internal Temperature Probe External Temperature Probe Solar Film 1 Ohm Resistor Voltage Meter Battery Switch 2

10. Money Budget ObjectsUnit PriceNumber of UnitsOverall Price Foam CoreProvided1n/a Hobo H08-004-02Provided1n/a Canon A570ISProvided1n/a Heating SystemProvided1n/a 9V BatteriesProvided4n/a Solar Film8.5434 UPS Shipping for Solar Film8.6218.61 Voltage Data Logger721 Extra Voltage Logger Battery121 UPS Shipping for Data Logger11.991 Paper ClipsProvided2n/a Total138.6

11. Mass Budget

12. Schedule

13. Testing 1.Cold test – To ensure that the heater will keep the internal temperature above zero degrees Celsius the fully operating BalloonSat will be placed in a cooler of dry ice as the output of HOBO data logger’s internal temperature probe is observed. Planned for 10/24/08 2.Drop test – The BalloonSat completed this test on 10/10/08 by being dropped off of the balcony next to the ITLL center while being filled with rocks (the mass of the box and rocks without aluminum tape was 928.1g. This mass was overestimated as to be certain that the BalloonSat will survive even with a mass above its projected weight budget.) No major structural damage was observed. 1.Cold test – To ensure that the heater will keep the internal temperature above zero degrees Celsius the fully operating BalloonSat will be placed in a cooler of dry ice as the output of HOBO data logger’s internal temperature probe is observed. Planned for 10/24/08 2.Drop test – The BalloonSat completed this test on 10/10/08 by being dropped off of the balcony next to the ITLL center while being filled with rocks (the mass of the box and rocks without aluminum tape was 928.1g. This mass was overestimated as to be certain that the BalloonSat will survive even with a mass above its projected weight budget.) No major structural damage was observed.

14. Testing 3. Whip test –This test will be executed by swinging the completed structure around while tied to the rope running through the structure, to ensure that the structure does not fall apart. In addition, the BalloonSat will have a simulated mass by adding rocks to the inside to approximate the projected mass of the final BalloonSat. Planned for 10/18/08 4.Stair test – test completed on of 10/10/08 by being kicked down a flight of stairs in the DLC. The BalloonSat was filled with the same amount of rocks as in the Drop test (making the total mass 928.1g), and no major structural damage was observed. 5.Mission Simulation –consisting of moving the BalloonSat into dark and light areas in order to make sure that the solar film works correctly. We will ensure that the camera’s firmware works correctly and that it will automatically take pictures every 30 seconds after powered on, and that mirrors that split the image of the camera work correctly. Planned for 10/24/08 3. Whip test –This test will be executed by swinging the completed structure around while tied to the rope running through the structure, to ensure that the structure does not fall apart. In addition, the BalloonSat will have a simulated mass by adding rocks to the inside to approximate the projected mass of the final BalloonSat. Planned for 10/18/08 4.Stair test – test completed on of 10/10/08 by being kicked down a flight of stairs in the DLC. The BalloonSat was filled with the same amount of rocks as in the Drop test (making the total mass 928.1g), and no major structural damage was observed. 5.Mission Simulation –consisting of moving the BalloonSat into dark and light areas in order to make sure that the solar film works correctly. We will ensure that the camera’s firmware works correctly and that it will automatically take pictures every 30 seconds after powered on, and that mirrors that split the image of the camera work correctly. Planned for 10/24/08

15. Detail on Expected Results We shall gather data to measure light intensity as a function of altitude, which we expect to show a measurable increase in the light intensity above the flight of aviation. If this occurs, we shall conclude that commercial aviation has an effect on the amount of light that passes through Earth’s atmosphere. This effect will be due to the light reflected by the contrails of commercial aviation.

16. Biggest Worries… –Time… oh gosh time!!! –Getting the solar film and voltage data logger to properly work together. –Time… oh gosh time!!! –Getting the solar film and voltage data logger to properly work together.