Team Mate Launch Readiness Review

1. Team MateLaunch Readiness Review Jason Schelz, Will Hakes, Emma Mossinger, Ethan Long, Brendon Barela, Amelia Weller 11/02/10

2. Mission Overview • The sun releases elevated levels of magnetism and radiation during cycles of increased activity, erupting solar storms into space • Sun spots send charged particles into space in the form of a solar wind, and some of these charged particles encounter Earth and Earth’s atmosphere • The hypothesis of this team is that the Earth’s atmosphere experiences increased amounts of ultraviolet radiation due directly to the solar flares and other solar activities • The radiation could interfere with artificial satellites’ ability to send and receive data

3. Design Overview

4. Tests • Cold Test • The original cold test consisted of several suspending the balloon-sat within a cooler filled with several pounds of dry ice • A new test in which dry ice is placed inside a freezer with the balloon-sat has been planned for 11/2/10 or 11/3/10 • Camera • The camera was tested for two hours; however one hour into the testing the camera shut down because the batteries had died • The autostart program on the camera had malfunctioned because the camera switch was set to “play” rather than “record”

5. Tests • Hobo • The hobo was breathed upon (to change humidity) and held by the hand (to change heat) • After all of these tests, it was plugged into a computer in order to confirm the acquisition of data. • LEDs • The LED’s attached to the bread board under a UV black light for approximately ten minutes, then placed inside of a drawer • The test results showed that the LED’s and the Arduino program can measure UV radiation • When tested during the mission simulation test, the LED’s in the balloon-sat displayed no readings • A re-soldering of the shield remedied the issue

6. UV LED Test UV source (black light) removed

7. Structure Tests • Swing Test • The prototype was loaded with approximately 760g of rocks to simulate the stresses of swinging during flight • The prototype was swung violently at arm’s length for by three team members • The structure showed no signs of damage, and none of the rocks had moved inside • Stair Test • The prototype was bowled and kicked down three flights of stairs in order to simulate being dragged across the ground upon landing • Two corners had dented after the first test and no further damage was caused to the structure in the two following tests

8. Structure Tests • Drop Test • The drop test was performed from approximately nine meters three times. • The first drop thoroughly dented a corner, the second drop broke a seam, the third put a crack in the foam core approximately eight centimeters in length, and the straws faired incredibly well

9. Expected Results • The data should reveal an increase in the level of radiation in the atmosphere • Resulting from the upward trend in the solar cycle • Voltage data from the LEDs should display a gradually increase in amount of activity with increased altitude until drastic fluctuations occur in and around the ozone layer.

10. Biggest Worries • Failing to keep the temperature above -10 degrees Celsius • Heater melting internal components of the Balloon Sat • LED wiring failing

11. Requirements Flow Down