1. Acknowledgements Steve Beyerlein- Faculty Advisor David Atkinson- Faculty Advisor Greg Swanson- Graduate Advisor Tye Ried- Graduate Advisor Justin Schlee- Student Associate Raj Venkatapathy- NASA Client David Hash- NASA Client Johnny Fu- NASA Client Project Objectives Any spacecraft entering an atmosphere must have a thermal protection system (TPS) that is able to withstand the extreme heat developed during re-entry. The re-entry environment is extremely difficult to analyze. To better understand the conditions during re- entry, NASA Ames has a need for a wireless sensor system that can be integrated into the TPS of entry vehicles. It has not been possible to place sensors in the TPS of these vehicles due to the complications with adding extra wiring and the risk involved in adding sensors to the mission. A wireless sensor system would remove the wiring complexities and risk associated with the sensors, thereby allowing a comprehensive sensor suite to be integrated into the TPS material. The data gathered from such a system would be instrumental in developing a more accurate model of the conditions faced during re-entry. With a greater understanding of these conditions the TPS of future missions could be made safer and more efficient. Background X-Jet -Plasma Torch in side a vacuum chamber to simulate atmospheric entry -Plasma torch can reach heat flux of 1000 W/cm^2 -Used for initial TPS sensor validation and testing -X-Jet is located at NASA Ames Research Center VAST A new test to be conducted this years will be a test drop from the student ran atmospheric balloon program VAST Jesse PentzerJohn Sochacki Lucas WellsBrandy Holmes Chris Johnson Multi-Nodal Wireless Architecture Multiple Sensors On Each Node Multiple Sensor Types on Each Node Integration With VAST Balloon Test Testing at NASA Ames X-Jet Facility Circuit Board Packaging Semester Schedule 234 5 6 7 8 9 1011 1213 14 15 1617 Jan 20- Jan 26 Jan 27- Feb 2 Feb 3-Feb 9 Feb 10- Feb 16 Feb 17- Feb 23 Feb 24- Mar 1 Mar 2- Mar 8 Mar 9- Mar 15 Mar 16- Mar 22 Mar 23- Mar 29 Mar 30-Apr 5 Apr 6- Apr 12 Apr 13-Apr 19 Apr 20-Apr 26 Apr 27-May 3 May 4- May 10 Technical Presentation Construction Assimilate Data Test and Revise Design Report Repairs & Updates Detailed Design Review Snap Shot Day X-Jet VAST Launch Design Report Revie w Expo (25th) Everythin g Due (6th) John Assemble & Test Boards Revise & Order Boards Receive & Make Boards Test Last Minutes Repairs and Updates Lucas Work on Transmit & Receive Finish ADC Finish I^2C Finish Transmit Finish Receive Error Checking Brandy Model & Design Construction Testing Revise Jesse Machine Shop Assemble 1st Plug Test Machine & Assemble Plug 2 Compariso n Test Assemble Box WRT PCB Machine & Assembl e plug 3 Chris Serial Port Interface Detailed Com Scheme Xbee 2 Xbee Com Revise Work Completed Receiving T/C Data X-Jet Packaging Completed Pressure Data Initial Torch Testing Two Completed and Tested BoardsVAST Packaging Tested Master - Slave Command Sending Hyperterminal Commands Work To Be Completed Before End of Week Complete Assembly of PCB's Extra TPS Blocks for X-Jet Uhura Integration Programming Uhura Data Storage on Uhura Receiving Board Protocol RTD Sensor Reading Work To Be Completed In The Next Three Weeks Revised VAST Packaging Uplink with VAST ARM for GPS Timestamp Powering Receiving Board During VAST Flight Status Thermal Model