Weekly Reports from Student High Altitude Launch and Payload Teams

Week 2: 11-15, 2007

This week we continued the feasibility analysis on all three sub-projects including the sun-tracking device, the photovoltaic cells, and the UV sensors.  Each of these sub-projects still fits within the scope of weight limits and budget limits, so research continued on the projects.  Jon and Eric were able to determine which camera they would like to use for the sun-tracking device and also began researching microprocessors to run the systems.  Also Jon and Eric began looking at data acquisition systems for each of the systems, including the UV sensors and solar cell systems.
 
Caitlin and Chelsey continued to research the solar cells and decided to go with the Powerfilm series, which are relatively inexpensive and very flexible and lightweight.  They purchased forty of the solar cells this week and plan to use just over thirty on the scientific payload, using the remaining solar cells as a ground control.  Caitlin and Chelsey also worked to determine which pre-flight, ground experiments could be done to test efficiency and power output of the solar cells under different color wavelengths and intensities.

Kenion and Roderick continued the feasibility analysis of using one or two UV sensors on the scientific payload.  They were able to narrow down the sensors to a few, and even were able to consider recalibrating a UV sensor we already have.  Kenion and Roderick also began looking at filters for the sensors that allow or block certain wavelengths of light to pass through.

Also this week, we discussed incorporating each of these subassembly designs together into our single payload, and came up with several design ideas for the structure of our payload.  A final design is not yet determined, but by developing the single project systems, we were able to narrow down the design ideas by another feasibility analysis.  Some thoughts considered included the mass moment of inertia needed (for the “stationary part”) to allow the camera system to rotate, the structure holding the solar cells to the payload, and battery placement, along with the wiring, including a possible rotary coupling.  Groups also began purchasing materials for their systems keeping in mind the weight and monetary budgets.

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