High-altitude balloon mission with photonic payload
Aster in Space is a dynamic student team comprised of 30 talented individuals from the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), The Netherlands. Eindhoven, renowned for its expertise and growth in the semiconductor industry, collaborates closely with leading companies such as Philips and ASML. The mission of Aster is to bridge the gap between the space industry and the university, offering students the opportunity to engage with cutting-edge photonic technology and advance space innovation.
Toward the end of 2023, the Aster team recognized the need to
gain practical experience as a precursor to their ambitious CubeSat project. To
achieve this, we embarked on developing a system analogous to a CubeSat but
with more relaxed requirements and constraints. This system will be tested in a
high-altitude balloon (HAB) mission. High-altitude balloon flights, while
simpler than satellite missions, still present significant challenges /p>
provide a valuable learning experience for the team.
Currently, Aster is engaged in three active projects:
· Developing /p>
launching its own CubeSat.
· Developing /p>
operating its ground station.
· (Future project)
Launching a radiation measurement setup on an orbital flight.
· (This project)
Developing and flying a prototype setup in a HAB mission.
Despite being the first space-related student team in Eindhoven and facing a steep learning curve in space engineering, Aster has made significant strides. The team has established connections with external experts such as the Netherlands Aerospace Centre (Nederlands Lucht- en Ruimtevaartcentrum, NLR) and the European Space Agency (ESA). Additionally, experienced members have been brought on board to bolster the team’s capabilities.
The HAB project serves as a crucial stepping stone towards the
CubeSat project. The team can gain rapid and valuable feedback by prototyping
and testing CubeSat components in a HAB mission, accelerating our learning
process and enhancing their readiness for more complex space missions.
The high-altitude balloon mission capsule will be equipped with
several key components, with specific selections to be finalized later this
month. These components include:
- DC-DC Power converters for the on-board systems
- MPPT Controller for the solar panels
- Battery management system
- On board micro-controller for satellite control
- Accelerometer / GPS / other sensing devices
- LoRA module for telecommunications
- Side PCBs which make up the sides of the satellites and contain the solar panel mounts
The primary objective of the payload is to measure GPS location, acceleration in three degrees of freedom, and temperature. This data will be crucial for assessing the performance of the components and systems designed for the CubeSat project.
By partnering with PCBWay, Aster in Space can ensure that their mission components are manufactured to the highest standards, accelerating our progress towards their ultimate goal of launching a CubeSat.
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