1. Undergraduate Space Research Symposium University of Colorado Boulder
HASP HELIOS II 2013
Undergraduate Space Research Symposium
University of Colorado Boulder
Presenters:
Caleb Lipscomb and Jon Sobol

2. High Altitude Student Platform (HASP)
Supported by the NASA Balloon Program Office (BPO), run by LSU
Max Altitude: approx. 36km
15 to 20 hours of flight time
11 million cubic foot helium Balloon
12 Student Payloads
8 small 3 kg payloads
4 large 20 kg payload
HELIOS II, Large payload
University of Colorado Boulder

3. Current Solar Observation
Orbital Platforms
Expensive to develop and launch into space, cost limits access.
Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) – $ Million
Solar and Hemispheric Observatory (SOHO) - $1.05 Billion
Ground Based
Face interference from the atmosphere, lowering the quality of the images
High Altitude Balloons
Low Cost
Ascended above 99.5% of atmosphere
University of Colorado Boulder

4. Hydrogen-Alpha Exploration with Light Intensity Observation System (HELIOS II)
Mission Objectives:
Observe and capture images of the Sun in Hydrogen Alpha wavelength and to identify sun spots in those images.
Design and implement a system to locate the Sun in the sky and orient cameras towards the sun.
Prove the viability of high altitude balloon solar observation during a Colorado Space Grant Consortium (COSGC) sponsored HASP flight.
University of Colorado Boulder

5. Hydrogen Alpha Sun Spots 656.28 nm Mid Chromosphere of the Sun
In visible light range
Mid Chromosphere of the Sun
Average Sunspots: 10,000 km to 50,000 km in diameter
Solar Cycle max
University of Colorado Boulder

6. HELIOS II Design Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS)
Solar Wavelength Imaging System (SWIS)
Electronic Power System (EPS)
Command and Data Handling (C&DH)
Structure and Thermal
University of Colorado Boulder

7. Solar Wavelength Imaging System (SWIS)
2 cameras
Science Camera - Identify Sun Spots
ADCS Camera - Characterize performance of Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS)
Imaging Source “51”Series CCD Cameras
1600 x 1200 pixel CCD chip
Hydrogen Alpha filtration system
University of Colorado Boulder

8. Science Camera Magnification
2 Lenses
Fov:
Vertical ϕ Axis: 1.56° or 1° 33’ 30.1”
Horizontal θ Axis: 2.08° or 2° 4’ 40.1”
University of Colorado Boulder

9. ADCS Camera Magnification
1 Lens
Fov:
Vertical ϕ Axis: 15.5°
Horizontal θ Axis: 20.1°
University of Colorado Boulder

10. Filtration System 400 nm Dichroic Longpass Filter (UV filter)
Hot Mirror (IR filter)
Neutral Density Filters
Narrow Bandpass Filter (Hydrogen Alpha)
656 nm, 10 nm bandwidth
University of Colorado Boulder

11. Science Camera: Expected Results
Picture: 1600 px by 1200 px
University of Colorado Boulder

12. Sun: approx 417px in diameter 10,000 km: 3 px in diameter
1 px: approx km
University of Colorado Boulder

13. Electrical and Computing Housing
Structure Overview
Photodiodes
ADCS
SWIS
Electrical and Computing Housing
Aluminum Frame
Mounting Plate
Triangular Trusses
University of Colorado Boulder 13

14. HASP Interface
14.9
University of Colorado Boulder

15. Thermal
Motor drivers and CPU to be heat sinked to outer aluminum structure
Entire platform to be painted white
Higher emissivity
No reflective interference
Excess aluminum to be used in the electrical and computer housing structure to dissipate heat
University of Colorado Boulder

16. Electrical and Power Systems (EPS)
Power Provided by HASP Platform
EDAC 512 connector
30 Volts at 2.5 Amps
Converts HASP power to power required by payload systems
Arduino Due
Monitor current and voltage
MOSFETs
University of Colorado Boulder

17. Circuit Diagram
University of Colorado Boulder

18. Command and Data Handling (C&DH)

19. Overview Discrete Commands: Main Computer – Pandaboard
Communication between subsystems
Store images
Solid State Drive
Environmental Sensors:
Accelerometer
Pressure Sensor
Thermocouples
Signal relay: MUX
Analog to digital converter
Health and Status Downlink
Command
Action
Power ON
Activates power to HELIOS II payload
Power OFF
Terminates power to HELIOS II payload
Reset ADCS
Restarts the ADCS command algorithm, used to trouble shoot in flight ADCS issues
University of Colorado Boulder

20. Communication ADCS Digital signal to Pandaboard confirming orientation
Digital signal to ADCS to start orienting
HASP Platform
Pandaboard
Temperature sensors
Ground Station
Picture sent to Pandaboard thereby informing it to signal ADCS to start orienting
Digital signal to SWIS to take picture
SWIS
University of Colorado Boulder

21. Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS)
2 Motors
Arduino DUE
2 Photodiode Arrays
Theta (Θ) Array
Phi (Φ) Array
Theta (Θ) Array
Phi (Φ) Array
Phi Motor
Theta Motor

22. Arrays Theta (𝜃) Photo Diode Array Phi (Φ) Photo Diode Array
3D Printed at ITLL
Made out of Nylon/Acrylic Composite
Theta sensor has 14 photodiodes and Phi Sensor has 6.
Designed for modularity and ease of access
University of Colorado Boulder

23. System and Controls Overview
University of Colorado Boulder

24. ADCS Orientation Process
C&DH sends ADCS command to reorient.
ADCS collects Theta Plane photodiode readings
ADCS centers to highest intensity source
ADCS collects phi plane photodiode readings.
ADCS centers to highest intensity source on phi plane
ADCS retakes theta plane readings and reorients.
ADCS initiates Symmetry Test
ADCS sends command to C&DH that orientation has been completed.
C&DH sends command to SWIS to capture an image
University of Colorado Boulder

25. Concept of Operations Altitude Flight Timeline Day Float Night Float
Descent
Landing
Launch
Ascent
36 km
Altitude
T 0 hrs
Launch- System powered off
T 2 hrs
Float Altitude- Power on and check H+S of all systems
T 2.5 hrs
Begin Mission Operations
T 10 hrs
Power off Payload
T 20
Begin Descent
T 22 hrs
HASP Platform Lands
University of Colorado Boulder

26. System Initialization Procedures
2. EPS activates power to Pandaboard. Pandaboard reports initial health and status to ground
1. Discrete Cmd given by ground station to power on HELIOS II
3. EPS powers on ADCS, ADCS reports H+S to Pandaboard
4. Discrete command ADCS to begin operations
5. Run mission operations: track sun & capture images
University of Colorado Boulder

27. Flight and Results Current Flight date: August 26
Identify at least one sun spot
Observe same sun spot in 3 separate pictures
ADCS success:
Observe sun in 10% of Science camera images
Exact performance characterized by ADCS camera
Prove viability of high altitude balloon observatories
University of Colorado Boulder

28. Questions?
University of Colorado Boulder