UPR-R(river) P(rock) Conceptual Design Review

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UPR-R(river) P(rock)Conceptual Design Review
RockSat 2009...

• University of Puerto Rico
• Río Piedras Campus
• November 3, 2008
• (920 MDT)

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Team Members
Students
Faculty Support

• Fernando Batista
• Xavier Blanco
• Jonathan Camino
• Ramon Cintrón
• Giovanni Colberg
• Nelson Colon
• Yanina Colon
• Marta Esquilin
• Maria P. Matta
• Rafael Rios
• Vanessa Rivera
• Sheila Roman
• Stephanie Wolfrom

• Elizabeth Dvorsky
• Vladimir Makarov
• Geraldo Morell
• Gladys Munoz
• Jennifer Pfeiffer
• Oscar Resto

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Mission Overview

• 1) Mission objectives
• a) Brief explanation
• b) Expected findings
• c) Related research/experimentation
• 2) Design
• a) Hardware
• i) Parts
• ii) Functional block diagrams
• 3) RockSat Payload Canister User Guide Compliance
• 4) Conclusion

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Objectives

• Measurement of selected gases in near-space
  conditions.
• Microorganism survey of array in near-space
  conditions.

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Measurement of gases

• Why gases?
• Measuring gases is an important part of the
  mission since they can be the building blocks of
  polypeptides. There is also an interest in
  measuring the gases that cause the greenhouse
  effect.

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Greenhouse Effect
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Expected results

• According to the findings of the Neutral
  Composition Measurements of the Mesosphere and
  Lower Thermosphere released in 1971 and Trace
  Constituents in the Mesosphere released in 1987
  it is plausible to obtain the following gases
• - N2, O2, Ar, O, COx, O3, NOx and H2O.
• However, there are gases of undisclosed identity
  and concentration.

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Miller/ Urey

• The Miller/Urey Experiment was one of the first
  attempts at explaining where early life in this
  planet arose. It was a simple premise, to
  simulate early earth atmospheric conditions and
  observe if there was any reaction that would
  yield "organic" particles. The experiment
  consisted of adding water (vapor) (H2O), methane
  (CH4), ammonia (NH3), hydrogen (H2), and carbon
  monoxide (CO) to a sterile balloon then an
  electric discharge was applied, simulating
  lightning, passed through it and cooled. The
  results were clear, amino acids were formed with
  an approximate 10-15 yield.

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Bases of LIFE !!!!
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Finding microorganisms

• What type of microorganism?
• - Extremophiles
• a) Psychrophiles (Below freezing
  temperatures)
• b) Piezophiles (High-pressure environments
  )
• c) Radioresistant (Resistant to Ionizing
  radiation, UV)
• d) Endospore (Dormant stage)

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Why these specimens?
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Expected results

• Microorganisms or endospores which can resist
  extremely high levels of radiation. This
  includes UV (ultraviolet), X-rays and Gamma
  rays. Also capable of surviving in low pressures
  and temperatures.
• Polypeptides or amino acids could also be
  obtained because the Miller and Urey components
  could be readily available.

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Design

• Preliminary Parts
• 1) 3/8 tubing
• 2) Sequential Valves
• 3) Millipore type membrane filters
• 4) Sensory Gas Active matrix array
• 5) Discrete Semi-Conductor Sensors
• 6) Power and controls wiring
• 7) Program Logic Controller (PLC), and AVR
• 8) Gas Flow Control Diaphragms
• 9) Miscellaneous

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Related research

• Most of the studies related to atmospheric gases
  which have been collected at altitudes of 3 km
  measuring N2, O2, Ar, O, COx, CH4, H2S, SO2, O3,
  NOx, CFC, and H2O

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Supporting Analysis Research

• Identification of gases during the flight
• Semiconductor gas sensor
• Collection of aerosols
• Polymer nano-scale filter (25 to1000 nm)
• Bio-Sample Culture Collection and Survey
• Microbiology standard procedures
• Inorganic particles analysis
• Auger, XPS, SIMs and Time of Flight Mass
  Spectroscopy
• Size distribution and element characterization
• Electron Microscopy (TEM, SEM, EDS, ELLS)
• Laser spectroscopy analysis

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Functional Block Diagrams
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Collection and Detection Diagram

Atmospheric Intake
Computer Controlled Flow Valves
Microorganism and Aerosol Filters
In Flight Computer Control
Gas Canister Sampler
Multiple Semiconductor Gas Sensors
Vacuum Pump
Gases Exhaust
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Collection and Detection Sequence

In Flight Computer Control
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• RockSat Payload Canister User Guide Compliance
• Mass and Volume
• Our system will comply with mass and volume
  requirements
• Payload activation
• G-Switch activation
• Our system will not require high voltages
• Rocket Interface
• Shorting wires

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• Shared Can Logistics Plan
• We intend to use a full canister
• Our experiment will be based on finding
  microorganisms beyond the ozone layer, which
  divides the Stratosphere and the Mesosphere, the
  second aspect of our experiment is the
  measurement of gases in the atmosphere.
• By PDR know relative locations in can
• We require two atmospheric ports (upper level
  (rocket nose) in lower port in canister)

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• Management
• Leader Jonathan Camino
• Secretaries Maria P. Matta and Vanessa Rivera
• Gas Sensors Designer Rafael Rios
• Computer Programmer Nelson Colon
• Sequential Valves Fernando Batista
• Polymer Collection Filters Xavier Blanco
• Related Library Research Sheila Roman
• Preliminary Schedule We expect to have a
  prototype at the end of this semester
• We will comply with the mass and volume
• The budget will be supported by PRSGC, we are
  also requesting additional funding from state
  government and private entities.

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• Conclusions
• Issues and concerns
• Development of sequential control valves
• Development of constant flow diaphragm
• Atmospheric Ports
• We have to decide which sensor will proceed for
  the gas measurements
• Semiconductor sensors / Matrix Arrays Gas Sensors
  

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References

• Miller, Stanley L. (May 1953). "Production of
  Amino Acids Under Possible Primitive Earth
  Conditions". Science 117 528.
• Thomas, Gary E. (1987) Trace Constituents in the
  Mesosphere Physica Scrypta T18 281-288
• Philbrick,Charles R. Faucher,Gerard A.
  Wlodyka,Raymond A. (December 1971). Neutral
  Composition Measurements of the Mesosphere and
  Lower Thermosphere National Technical
  Information Service
• Nicholson, W, Munakata, N, Horneck, G, Melosh,H,
  and Setlow, P, (2000). Resistance of Bacillus
  Endospores to Extreme Terrestrial and
  Extraterrestrial Environments Microbiology and
  Molecular Biology Reviews, p. 548-572.
• Satyanarayana, T. Raghukumar, C. Shivaji, S.
  (July 2005). "Extremophilic microbes Diversity
  and perspectives". Current Science 89 (1) 7890.