NASA called and Saint Louis University is going to outer space.
One of Parks College of Aviation, Engineering & Technology’s 2.2 pound, four-inch long, cube-shaped nanosatellites, called CubeSats, will be participating in NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative to fly satellites as auxiliary cargo aboard rockets planned to launch in 2011 and 2012.
NASA received 31 proposals for this initiative and the COPPER CUBE team, made up of six Parks College students, was selected as one of the top 20 recommended for participation.
“People go their entire careers without getting something of theirs launched in space and it is really exciting to start my career with a NASA launch,” COPPER CUBE team leader and senior aerospace engineering major Allison Cook said. “This is very exciting and now it is time to finish the satellite.”
Seventeen other institutions received similar recommendations for participation including Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Louisiana, Lafayette and University of New Mexico.
This is the first time that SLU has had a chance to fly equipment built at Parks College into space and interim Dean of Parks College Krishnaswamy Ravindra said he is excited for the possibilities of these projects for students.
“The work experience the students gain prepare them well to enter the industry after graduation,” Ravindra said.
Freshman aerospace engineering major Tyler Olson believes that this provides him with an edge, as he was eager to get started on a hands-on project for his major in his first year.
“Space and spaceflight have always excited me and working with something that will launch into space is something I wanted to do since I was three years old,” Olson said.
Since fall, 10 students have been working on two separate satellite projects and in November the proposals were sent to the NASA program. MR LEO, the second CubeSat being developed by Parks students, was put on the waiting list by NASA, meaning that their satellite will be launched if another school doesn’t complete their construction in time.
“We didn’t get one of the first launches but we are still moving to get our project completed by May,” senior MR LEO team leader Kerry Fessenden said. “It is really amazing that SLU got one and it feels like we won even though we aren’t on the first list.”
Cook also set the deadline for her CubeSat to be completed in t-minus 85 days or by May 6, as they need to submit their satellite through a series of tests.
Each system has to go through a number of different tests to survive the environment of space including structure, vibration and thermal and operational testing.
“We have a lot of work to do to prepare for launch, but it will be exciting work,” Cook said.
The operational goal of COPPER CUBE is to study the use of infrared technology in low Earth orbit for taking infrared images of propulsion system plumes, as well as Earth’s atmospheric and oceanic conditions. The team is looking for more students to get involved in the project, as Cook stressed the team is going to need the extra help to get the satellite ready for launch.
“This is kick-starting SLU going to space and I want to see this turn into something bigger,” Cook said. “It is one thing to sit in class and it is very easy to lose your spark, but I believe that this will bring a new spark to Parks College.”
