University of Northern Colorado DemoSat V:  Sun Specto Sat Motoaki Honda (UNC) Maurice Woods III (UNC) Sara Gray (MCHS) Montezuma- Cortez High School University of Northern Colorado July 8, 2006

Mission Statement & Goals: The Sun Spectro Sat (SSS) is a high altitude spectrometer that measures how the spectrum of ambient sunlight varies at different altitudes as the payload ascends into the Earth's atmosphere By using data from the SSS of the suns spectrum, analyze the atmosphere at different altitudes and determine where certain gases exist in the atmosphere.

Benefits to NASA: The information found by the SSS payload will be shared on the FSI website and presented to a large group of people. With the information found the project will show what elements are in the atmosphere and at what elevation those elements can be found. Data obtained by the SSS flight can be compared to similar research conducted in the past to see how the atmosphere has changed  

Benefits to NASA: Having a better understanding of the composition of our atmosphere provides great opportunities for scientists (such as meteorologists) to conduct atmospheric research NASA may also be interested in this project,  as a similar probe could be launched to extraterrestrial planets to conduct research on the make-up of a martian atmosphere. The SSS design is ideal, since it is small and light.

Design: Operation flow chart

Design: Spectral Curve Sun

Design: Basic payload design

Design: Fundamental Block Diagram Data Power

Design: Parabolic Reflector System Spectroscope Camera

Design: Total Mass (close estimate): 1440g Budget: $250 Three students involved Maurice Woods Motoaki Honda Sara Gray Project Start Date: June 16th, 2010

Expected Results: SSS is expected to show that certain frequencies of the sun's ambient light are absorbed by gases that exist in the Earth's atmosphere. As the payload gains altitude, the concentration and composition of these gases should change, and the amount of absorption should change. SSS is expected to show that the observable spectrum of the sun is more complete  in  the high atmosphere than it is on the Earth's surface.

Expected Results: The film will show the Fraunhofer lines as shown below. The Fraunhofer lines can be used to determine the chemical make-up of the atmosphere.

Level of Readiness: All subsystems have been constructed and are ready for integration into the box Testing will be conducted soon after payload integration (Reduced Resolution Images retrieved from JVC GC-FM1)

University of Northern Colorado DemoSat V: Questions? Montezuma- Cortez High School University of Northern Colorado