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AspireSpace
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The British Amateur Space / Rocket Programme
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ASPIRE II will yield between 3-6 minutes of good (low drag) micro-gravity,
which is sufficient to allow a number of payloads to take advantage
of this period.
The avionics will be housed in a modular system of boxes, housing
two circuit boards each. There will be 6 boxes The boxes slot into a
two-storey frame which takes the structural loads. This is situated
just underneath the nosecone. The top of the avionics frame supports
the payload bay, and is level with the bottom of the nosecone, ie the
payload/s occupy the space inside the hollow ogive nosecone. The
payload/s will be mounted (via a frame) onto a circular plate (around
340mm dia) on top of the avionics frame.
The boxes are 240mm tall, 45mm thick and the depth (length) is 150mm.
A number of payloads have been proposed for launch on
ASPIRE II rockets. Any interested party may propose a payload for
flight on one of the AspireSpace rockets. These are evaluated and
accepted for flights, as and when, launches become available.
AspireSpace is always keen to accept payload proposals, and advice on
payloads. To this end, a list of
proposed payloads is listed below. These proposals are offered as
possible projects for student (or other) teams, who wish to take
advantage of payload opportunities.
- 1. Spectro-Gamma
- A gamma ray spectrometer for investigation of gamma rays. The
detector uses a Thallium doped Caesium Iodide, CsI(Tl) scintillation
system, with scintillations within a small CsI crystal being detected
by photodiodes. This allows the payload to be implemented at very low
cost. The Scintillator is bonded to a photodiode using an optically
transparent adhesive. A small surface mount amplifier is connected to
the photodiode. The output signal from this payload is then fed through
the avionics and telemetry system, where it is relayed back to the
ground. The signal arriving at the ground can then be analysed on a
multichannel analyser to determine the nature of the observations
detected.
- 2. Spectro-X
- An X-ray spectrometer for investigation of Astronomical X-ray sources.
The X-ray spectrometer payload will utilise a similar low cost solid state subsystem to the gamma ray spectrometer payload,
- 3. SubOT
- This is a proposed suborbital astronomical telescope payload, using
a CCD array mounted to a small optical telescope. The telescope will
be a 6" Schmidt-Cassegrain Reflector. This type of telescope is chosen
because of its lightness and compactness. The CCD array will be spectrally sensitive to optical and near Infra-Red wavelengths. Small cold gas jets will allow rudimentary pointing of the instrument
via the rocket.
- 4. AIRCam and AVisCam
- These are the Astronomical IR Camera and Astronomical Visible
Camera. Both use 35 mm cameras, and are mounted in one payload rack.
AIRCam is loaded with IR sensitive film, and AVisCam is loaded with
visible light sensitive film. A simple electronic timer circuit is
connected to the electronic shutter release mechanisms, triggering a
number of astronomical exposures over the duration of the payload
operation phase.
- 5. The Waverider test programme
- The Waverider test programme requires
dedicated launches of ASPIRE rockets carrying
waverider test vehicles for hypersonic test
flights.
- 6. Nephelometer
- This payload is a reflight of the nephelometer payload originally
designed to fly on ASPIRE I. The design has been updated since then, to
take advantage of advances in both electronics technology and
reductions in electronics costs. The Nephelometer is used for
meteorological observations.
- 7. ASPIRESpy
- A Remote Sensing payload carrying an Earth observation payload
consisting of a CCD video camera transmitting data back to Earth,
rather than recording it onboard, and 2 wide angle lens 35 mm cameras,
one carrying film sensitive to visible wavelengths, and the other
carrying film sensitive to IR wavelengths.
- 8. MuGELOI
- Micro Gravity Effects on Lac
Operon Induction. - This is a payload experiment which investigates enzyme evolution per unit density of cell. Two
chambers in a syringe hold IPTG, the chemical which induces the Lac Operon, and Toluene to
lyse the cells and ONPG which is catabolised by the lac operon product enzyme beta-
galactosidase to a yellow product. The contents are injected into a container which holds the
bacteria and a growth medium at 37*C.
PAYLOAD BAY ELECTRICAL INTERFACES |
The control of the payload operations and sequencing will be
handled as follows: The payload will have a basic set of 8 Analogue to
Digital channels for analogue data, using a high density 15 way
canon-D plug connector (8 Analogue lines, 2 power lines, 1 ground
line). There will also be 8 digital (TTL 74HC compatible) input
channels and 8 digital output channels connected to the opto-isolated
avionics module, which will utilise a 25 way canon-D plug connector (8
digital input lines, 8 digital output lines, 4 power lines, 2 ground
lines). These will not connect to the Telemetry Proccessor, but to the
Sequence Command and Control Proccessor which controls and sequences
the onboard functions of all the payloads, and many other subsystems
in the rocket.
Access to the payload bay will be possible until the final phases
of launch. At this point, the payload bay and all other internal
fixytures will be closed off by the aeroshell, which will fit over the
payload bay. An umbilical will be connected to the rocket until
launch, so that external power can be maintained to all onboard
systems, thus conserving onboard power.
Copyright AspireSpace Rocket Programme, 1997