Sun Spectro Sat (SSS) Critical Design Review Dr. Matt Semak Motoaki Honda Maurice Woods III Sara Gray 25 June 2010

Sun Spectro Sat (sss) 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 As it records its spectroscopy data during the duration of the flight, the SSS hopes to determine which frequencies are absorbed by the atmosphere, and to what degree the absorption is occurring as a function of altitude. This concept will be proven by finding missing spectral bands (colors) and showing what gases block those colors. By using this method, it is possible to analyze the atmosphere at different altitudes.

Expected Results SSS is expected to show that certain frequencies of the sun's ambient light are absorbed by gasses that exist in the Earth's atmosphere. As the payload gains altitude, the concentration and composition of these gasses should change, and the amount of absorption should change.

Expected Results SSS is expected to show that the observable spectrum of the sun is more complete in in the high atmosphere than it is on the Earth's surface. 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.

Benefits 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. Having a better understanding of the composition of our atmosphere provides great opportunities for scientists (such as meteorologists) to conduct atmospheric research

Benefits Data obtained by the SSS flight can be compared to similar research conducted in the past to see how the atmosphere has changed NASA may also be interested in this project, as a similar probe could be launched to extraterrestrial planets and conduct research on the make-up of a martian atmosphere. This would be in their best interest, since SSS is small and light.

Optical Schematic

Subsystems Concave Parabolic reflector and Convex mirror Spectrometer Video camera o Powered by its own battery o Store data in an SD card Heater o powered by independent battery system

Subsystem Parabolic reflector and Convex mirror Take Reflects sunlight in to the spectrometer system o Parabolic reflector (12" diameter) o Convex mirror (2" diameter)

Subsystem Spectrometer Has up to one nano meter precision Shows Displays the sun's visible spectrum, complete with Fraunhofer lines Spectrum of interest ranges from 390nm to 660nm

Subsystem Video camera High resolution video camera Requires at least 2 hours of video data capacity Video camera requires heater to function properly Powered by independent battery system Heater

Parts List PartsCompanyModel Project STAR SpectrometerWard's Natural Science25 V 5005 Stick on Convex MirrorDrill Spot12004 Parabolic MirrorEdmund's Scientific's Scientifics

Testing June 30- o test parabolic mirror, convex mirror, and spectrometer after receiving parts o find best geometrical design July 5- o test system with camera  find best way to focus spectrum  ex. lenses, mirror July 12- o Start assembly of payload

Management Head Adviser Dr. Matt Semak Project Adviser Motoaki Honda Maurice Woods III Project Manager Sara Gray

Conclusions Currently, the SSS is still in it's preliminary design stage, due to a delayed start in UNC's involvement in the Summer DemoSAT launch. However, what has been accomplished has yielded promising expectations for a successful payload design. Construction and further design revisions are occurring on a regular basis, as UNC expects achieve an "on-schedule" status within the next week