SPICEsat: Rutger's First CubeSat
The STAR CubeSat team aims to send a CubeSat into space! SPICEsat, the Sloshing Platform for In-Orbit Controller Experimentation, plans to be the first CubeSat developed and launch by Rutgers students. We are currently working on a 6U CubeSat proposal for NASA, implementing controls research from Rutgers faculty member, Prof. Burlion. We are developing the skill sets and knowledge base necessary to do all of this, researching topics like orbit determination, navigation, flight software, space communications, and much more! From space electronics to flight dynamics, the CubeSat team covers a wide range of majors and areas of interest. We aim to learn how to design, analyze, and build each system from ground up. You’ll have the opportunity to work with a team on real mission concepts and develop working systems, alongside professors, industry professionals, and other students! If you're interested in space systems and learning more about how these magic boxes (satellites) operate autonomously in space, check out the CubeSat team!
TEAM LEADS
Project Manager
Sarah Terracina |
Chief Engineer
Sreeram Mandava |
Rising Chief Engineer
Francesca Fusco |
Subsystems
Electrical
The electrical subsystem team designs and develops on-board communication systems, command and data handling, power systems, and ground station capability for the satellite. By directly interfacing with flight electronics and hardware, the electrical subsystem team makes our mission a reality.
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Mechanical
The structures subsystem team deals with thermal simulations and vibration testing. The data can be used to determine any changes that need to be made, or components that should be ordered to help get better results. They also design the CubeSat model using CAD software.
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SoftwareThe software subsystem team models systems using Systems Tool Kit (STK). They model satellite lifetimes, sensor interactions, and on-orbit communication systems, as well as perform crucial mission analysis. The software subsystem team is extensively engaged in flight dynamics and structures.
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Systems Integration
software The Systems Integration subsystem can run simulations for orbit analysis and attitude dynamics to support mission designers in MATLAB and STK. We aim to create an engineering model (EM) of the satellite with a focus on functionality and interfacing using Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and other hardware. We also create test platforms for the various components of the EM (unit level, subsystem level, and eventually system level) using gnuplot, ubuntu, and Python
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