1. TJ Faculty Presentation 2006
Nastia would enjoy introducing
September 20th 2006

2. Conception of Excelsior
Excelsior Club was started last year
For TJ students to be able to learn about and participate in aerospace engineering
The plausibility of high school students designing and manufacturing a satellite was researched
We learned it is actually feasible!
Orbital Sciences Corp., one of the world's leading providers of small to medium class satellites, agreed to help manufacture satellite and to acquire a launch service
Michael Mensing
Last year, Jason Ethier, class of ’06, started Excelsior Club
He wanted TJ students to be able to learn about and participate in activities related to aerospace engineering
After researching the idea of high school students manufacturing a satellite he learned it was actually feasible, especially taking into account the capability of TJ students
Orbital Sciences Corp., one of the world’s leading providers of small to medium class satellites, agreed to help manufacture the satellite and to acquire a launch service
A course titled Systems Engineering began to be offered this year directly related to help build the satellite
Systems Engineering course began to be offered this year to help build a satellite
September 20th 2006

3. Objectives of TJsat Primary Objectives Secondary Objectives
Defined, created, and run by students
Provide data for TJ students to use in class or for possible Senior Tech projects
Provide data for public
Secondary Objectives
Educate TJ students / other high school and middle school students about satellites
Show capability of TJ students
Inspire other high schools around the world to tackle projects that seem unfeasible
Michael Mensing
The primary objectives for TJ’s satellite, which at least for now we will call TJsat, is that it will be defined, created, and run by tj students.
It’s purpose will provide data for TJ students, which they can use in certain classes or for possible Senior Tech projects
The data will also be available for the public
Some secondary objectives could be that TJsat will be used to educate TJ students as well as other high school and middle school students about satellites
It will also be another example of the capability and commitment of TJ students and should hopefully inspire other high school students around the world to tackle projects that seem unfeasible at first
September 20th 2006

4. TJsat Details It will be a picosatellite = less than 10 kg
Orbital is providing us with the CubeSat kit developed at Stanford University
10 cm cube with a mass of up to 1 kg
Low Earth Orbit
Orbit the Earth approximately once every 90 minutes
Launch: piggy-back on a launch vehicle as a secondary payload
The mission for it will be determined within the next 3 months
Michael Mensing
The TJsat will be a picosatellite, which means it will be less than 10 kg
Orbital Sciences is providing us with the CubeSat package that was developed at Stanford University
A CubeSat is a 10 cm by 10 cm by 10 cm cube with a mass limit of 1 kg
Our satellite will be launched into Low Earth Orbit and will piggy-back on a launch vehicle with a primary payload. So basically it will hitch a ride on a launch vehicle for a larger more expensive satellite
The mission for the TJsat has not been determined yet but we will hopefully have on within the next 3 months
September 20th 2006

5. CubeSat kit September 20th 2006 Esther
The CubeSat kit is an affordable off-the-shelf hardware and software development and deployment solution
It comes with the ready to launch CubeSat structure, some electronics, two development boards, one for testing and one for the actual flight model, some software, a plug in modem and tranceiver, and a few other things like sample code and example projects
September 20th 2006

6. CubeSat Deployed by P-POD
Poly Picosatellite Orbital Deployer
Esther
CubeSats are launched by a P-POD or Poly Picosatellite Orbital Deployer (P-POD) developed by California’s Polytechnic State University
It is the standardized CubeSat deployment system. It is capable of carrying three standard CubeSats and serves as the interface between the CubeSats and Launch Vehicle. The P-POD is an aluminum, rectangular box with a door and a spring mechanism. So basically three CubeSat’s or one large CubeSat would be slid into this box and then would be ejected by the spring mechanism once the hatch opened in space.
September 20th 2006

7. CubeSat Images September 20th 2006 Esther
These are just some images of what you can do with the CubeSat kit
(Bottom two are from Aalborg University in Denmark and the top right is from a Japanese University)
AAU: - launched in April 2003
University of Tokyo – launched in June 2003
take images of the Earth with a 1.3 megapixel digital camera
September 20th 2006

8. Systems Engineering Course
Goals of the class:
The student will show understanding of space missions, space environment, orbits, atmospheric entry, spacecraft design, spacecraft subsystems, and space operations
The student will become familiar with the Design Process and its implications within Systems Engineering
The student will be proficient in the technologies corresponding with the development of a student built satellite
The student will be able to explain the fundamentals of system engineering
Mr. Kemp is presenting this…
September 20th 2006

9. Systems Engineering cont.
Timeline
Year 1: Base station construction, STK training, HAM training, Design Review
Year 2: Construction of the prototype and software development
Year 3: Final build and Launch!
…As well as this
September 20th 2006

10. Orbital Sciences Corp.
Leading Developer and Manufacturer of Small Rockets and Space Systems
Focused on Growing Market Niches Not Well Served By Larger Companies
Distinctive Strength in Providing High Reliability at Affordable Prices
Over 750 Satellites and Rockets Built or On Contract for Customers
533 Systems Developed, Built and Delivered From 1982 to 2005
221 Systems Under Contract for Deliveries From 2006 to 2011
Headquartered in Dulles, VA
Largest satellite manufacturing facility east of the Mississippi
Carlos is presenting this
September 20th 2006

11. Orbital & TJSat Orbital will be a major sponsor of TJSat
Approved by our CEO
Visibility throughout the company
Supply hardware and facilities
Orbital will procure the CubeSat kit
TJ will have full access to our environmental test facilities
Provide mentorship to students
Over 30 engineers have volunteered as potential mentors
Help to acquire a launch service
Carlos is presenting this also
September 20th 2006

12. Excelsior Club Projects
TJsat:
This year: keep club members not enrolled in Systems Engineering up to date on everything we learn in the class so that they can enroll next year without being behind
The following years: be an extension of the class
Participate in CanSat: University level non-orbiting satellite building competition
Communicate with satellites
Build and launch model rockets
Invite Orbital Engineers to lecture on Aerospace Engineering concepts
Host Aerospace Conference at TJ for high school students in surrounding counties
Nastia would enjoy presenting this
Since a primary objective of TJsat is for TJ students to build and run it, we felt that the opportunity to work on this endeavor should be open to any TJ student, not just the students currently enrolled in the Systems Engineering class
So this year Excelsior club will be actively recruiting any students that are interested and have valuable experience, for example in coding or electronics, that could contribute a great deal to TJsat
Any member of Excelsior club that will help in building Tjsat, and is not currently enrolled in the Systems Engineering class will be kept up to date in Excelsior club on everything pertaining to the class so that next year they can enroll in the course and not be behind
The following years when we actually start to build the satellite Excelsior club will essentially be an extension of the class where time can be spent building the satellite
Excelsior club members will also be participating in the Annual CanSat competition, which is a University level satellite building competition, where last year teams make a can sized satellite that will be sent up in a small rocket into the lower atmosphere and on the way down the satellite will deploy a parachute and take GPS and temperature readings on the way down to the ground
Any students interested can also communicate with satellites using the base station we plan to build, and can build and launch model rockets
We will periodically invite Orbital Sciences Engineers to come lecture on aerospace engineering concepts. We did this a few times last year and it was very successful. The lectures will be open to everyone in the school not just Excelsior members
And last but definitely not least, we will be hosting an Aerospace Conference here at TJ which you will hear about from Esther
September 20th 2006

13. Aerospace Conference
Goal: Bring FCPS students and faculty together to discuss and learn about Aerospace
Tentative dates
February 2007 (first annual conference) + Satellite2007
October 2007 (second annual conference) + NCSSSMST Conf
Method: Presentations, seminars, workshops, showcases
Speakers:
Former/present high school students  Aerospace Science Exhibit
Orbital Sciences Engineers
Satellite 2007 Conference
Other Aerospace Companies
September 20th 2006

14. Advertising Help We need help from YOU! Science and Tech teachers:
Please advertise Excelsior Club within your classes
We have a handout you can hang in your class room
There will be a short (1 page) application for prospective students with a teacher’s signature as a recommendation for that student
Excelsior Club interest meetings will be held for about the next 2 weeks and that’s where applications are handed out
Counselor’s: Please only allow Excelsior Club members to sign up for Systems Engineering next year
Nastia would also enjoy presenting this
So, mostly everyone at this presentation was invited for a reason
We need help from you!
Teachers, would you please advertise Excelsior Club within your classes, especially to students you believe can contribute and would be interested in helping the TJsat project as well as participate in other aspects of Excelsior
We are asking students to fill out a short application and part of that is a science or tech teacher’s signature as a recommendation for that student
And counselors, please only allow Excelsior Club members to sign up for Systems Engineering next year
September 20th 2006

15. Visit our website at activities.tjhsst.edu/excelsior
Q & A
THANK YOU FOR COMING!
Visit our website at activities.tjhsst.edu/excelsior
September 20th 2006