Individual Subsystem Testing Report

1. Individual Subsystem Testing Report Team Members Justin Yorick Ben Provence Mike Spencer Student Advisor Marc Gramlich Faculty advisor Dimitris Vassiliadis WVU Rocketeers West Virginia University 2/14/2012

2. Mission Overview • The mission seeks to measure several variables of the upper atmospheric environment and record the dynamics of a contained plasma in a microgravity setting.

3. Functional Block Diagrams GHGE DPE Power Data PSS FD RPE CRE

4. FBD: Cosmic Ray Experiment Geiger Tube (1) Geiger Tube (2) Geiger Tube (3) Geiger Tube (4) Legend Data/ Control Geiger Counter Power Flash Memory Micro Controller Power Board CRE

5. FBD: Flight Dynamics Board FD Inertial Motion Sensor Magnetometer Z axis Breakout Board Power Board Netburner Flash Memory Thermistor Gyroscope Legend Data Commands/ Control Other Experiments Power

6. FBD: Greenhouse Gas Experiment High Pressure Manifold Low Pressure Manifold Static Atmospheric Outlet Pneumatic Cylinder Experimental Volume Optical Encoder Pressure and Temperature Sensors H2O Vapor (Humidity) Sensors NDIR CO2 Sensor Data/ Control Dynamic Atmospheric Inlet Linear Actuator and Solenoid Controllers Power Micro Controller Solenoid Controlled Airflow PSS Flash Memory Unvalved Airflow GHGE 6

7. FBD: Plasma Experiment 555 Circuit Primary Step up transformer Secondary Step up transformers PSS DIAC switch Specimen Control Volume Power Data Camera FD

8. Changes from CDR • The design of the DPE has been modified. The experiment now seeks to measure plasma convection under microgravity conditions. • The other subsystems remain largely unchanged from the CDR.

9. Program Management and Team Updates • Mike Spencer has joined the team. • The team organizational structure remains largely unchanged since last semester.

10. Schedule Update • As of this point, the CRE and FD are have corrected design and are in the component ordering phase. • The GHGE has been modeled and simulated . The required parts have arrived and construction will begin pending machining of the brackets. • With the addition of Mike Spencer to the team, and resolution of conflicts with WFF, parts are ready to be ordered for this system. • The DPE will be constructed from an off the shelf plasma globe. Construction will begin once a product of proper size and power output is chosen (~ 1 week)

11. Subsystem Overview • Flight Dynamics Subsystem: Marc Gramlich • Cosmic Ray Experiment: Marc Gramlich • Greenhouse Gas Experiment: Ben Provence • Dusty Plasma Experiment: Justin Yorick • Radio Plasma Experiment: Justin Yorick

12. Dusty Plasma Subsystem Update • Status • The DPE will use an off the shelf system to generate the plasma streamers in this experiment. • Designs and fabrication techniques for a custom made glass control volume have been discussed with technicians in the WVU Chemistry Department.

13. Radio Plasma Experiment Update • As discussed in previous communications, the RPE design has been finalized and cleared with WFF. • Ground testing will be limited to measurement of transmission output since we cannot reproduce the ionospheric plasma in the lab

14. Flight Dynamics Subsystem Update • Status • The PCB’s for this subsystem have been fully revised and are ready for ordering • PCBs below, schematics on next few slides 14

15. Flight Dynamics Sensor Circuits Schematic 15

16. Power Circuits Schematic 16

17. Greenhouse Gas Subsystem Update • Status • Mechanical elements have been modeled further in Creo Elements • Pneumatic plumbing has been designed using manufacturer CAD files of actual components to ensure proper fit • Simulation confirms design choices for components that will be produced by the WVU Physics dept. machine shop. • Control system development is underway • Software FBD complete • Microcontroller programming cannot be completed until physical prototype is constructed 17

18. Greenhouse Gas Subsystem Update • All critical hardware has been tested (static analysis) to ensure that deformations are within an acceptable range and that maximum stresses do not exceed material yield strength. • Analyses of the two most critical of these components, the lower main bracket, and the CV door are highlighted on the next two slides 18

19. Greenhouse Gas Subsystem Update 19

20. Greenhouse Gas Subsystem Update 20

21. Greenhouse Gas Subsystem Update • Deformations in areas of concern were small: on the order of 10^-5 inches • Maximum stress predicted is 5.18 KSI, while the yield strength of 6061-T6, the alloy chosen for the custom parts is about 35 KSI 21

22. Greenhouse Gas Subsystem Update • Although brackets are presently still in the machine shop, we have test-fitted some components of the linear actuator. 22

23. Greenhouse Gas Subsystem Update • Subsystem expected to be completed around the first week of May. 23

24. Lessons Learned • Subsystem testing is a verification of design. Since the team spent extra time on simulation and calculation of key parameters, it seems less time will have to be spent on making corrections later on. • At this point, it seems like making critical design choices earlier could have led to faster completion times, but not necessarily better results. • Extensive simulation enables the team to be more confident in the final design, minimizing valuable time spent on design revisions closer to launch the date.

25. Conclusions • At this point, construction of the subsystem mechanical components needs to be finalized. • After completion of mechanical elements, software components can be tested to ensure proper individual system operation. • Pending successful completion of this stage, the payload will be ready for total system testing.