Accession Number:

ADA581274

Title:

SpaceBuoy: A University Nanosat Space Weather Mission

Descriptive Note:

Final rept. 15 Jan 2009-14 May 2011

Corporate Author:

MONTANA STATE UNIV BOZEMAN DEPT OF PHYSICS

Personal Author(s):

Report Date:

2012-03-26

Pagination or Media Count:

8.0

Abstract:

Montana State University students, faculty mentors, and collaborators, designed a microsatellite under the AFOSRAFRLAIAA University Nanosatellite Program VI. Major motivation for the project was to promote the educational development of students as engineers and scientists in space hardware and space systems engineering. Approximately 50 students participated in the project. The satellite will accomplish substantive scientific, engineering, and technological objectives including the demonstration of a novel payload consisting of two instruments designed by our NRL and AFRL collaborators demonstration of near-real-time data delivery to users of the GAIM model for ionospheric forecasting and further application of consumer and COTS devices in the space environment. During the grant period the SpaceBuoy satellite moved through initial design, design freeze, engineering design, prototyping, subsystem testing, and well into hardware fabrication. Strict adherence to proper design methodologies was enforced internal and external design reviews took place and a configuration management system, previously developed in our Montana Space Grant sponsored Explorer-1 PRIME program, was improved using a local Wikimedia electronic system, ensuring adequate documentation of the design and tracking of changes following subsystem design freeze. This final report updates progress subsequent to the prior progress report incorporated as an appendix.

Subject Categories:

  • Unmanned Spacecraft

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE