Executive Summary
CubeSats are the result of a partnership with NASA and several
universities to launch small research satellites. The CubeSats
are small spacecraft with a size limitation of 10cm by 10cm by 10cm, and weigh
about 2.2 lbs.
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Figure 2.1 � Artist�s rendition of MSU�s SSEL Explorer-1 [Prime]
CubeSat that launched October 28th, 2011
from the Vandenberg Air Force Base. |
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Figure 2.2 � Breakaway diagram of MSU�s E1p CubeSat |
As
CubeSats grown ever more popular, those that build CubeSats want to verify the models that predict the launch
environment for CubeSats. Currently, only the main
payload on various rockets has been measured and characterized. The environment
for the CubeSats has been calculated, but not
measured.
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Power Spectral Densigy (g2/Hz) |
This project is to program and test a μProcessor that can measure the launch environment�s acceleration, vibration, and temperature using tri-axial accelerometers and thermistors read into A/D inputs and stored for later retrieval.