JAGSAT I: A NASA USIP CubeSat to Perform Measurements Of Plasma Density Irregularities In The Ionosphere For Scintillation Studies
Abstract
We will describe JAGSAT I, a CubeSat being designed and developed at University of South Alabama for the scientific purpose of measuring plasma electron density at submeter level resolution. The science payload will be a fast Time Domain Impedance Probe (TDIP), a new instrument design. The technology objective is to develop a fully functional CubeSat specifically with power, attitude control, and telemetry specifications sufficient to support the science objective. The cubesat is being developed to operate for measurements after launch from the ISS in 2020-2021. The project is being carried out by a team of undergraduates under the close mentorship of several faculty members across the engineering and physics disciplines. One graduate student serves as mentor for the system design and integration effort. Training is hands-on at the Space Environment and Instrument Laboratory at University Of South Alabama. Here we will point out the education perspectives experienced during this project, and some of the challenges and difficulties encountered. We present some mitigation methods and design methodologies that help to maintain the motivation and continuity in this type of endeavor. University of South Alabama departments of electrical and mechanical engineering have a strong track record in using undergraduate students in research. Undergraduate education remains an extremely high priority for the university, and the USIP program in particular exposes our student body to opportunities in space research at the national level.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2019
- Bibcode:
- 2019AGUFMED24B..01S
- Keywords:
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- 0810 Post-secondary education;
- EDUCATION;
- 0820 Curriculum and laboratory design;
- EDUCATION;
- 0825 Teaching methods;
- EDUCATION;
- 0850 Geoscience education research;
- EDUCATION