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

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

Design Overview

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”

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

UV LED Test UV source (black light) removed

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

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

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.

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

Requirements Flow Down