CHAOS Astrium (Bristol SEDS)
Contact(s): Richard Painter, Jim Sadler, Alex Dawn
Contact Email(s): rp7772@bristol.ac.uk, Jim.Sadler@bristol.ac.uk or ad0283@bristol.ac.uk
Website: http://bristolchaos.co.uk/UKSEDS/chaos-astrium.php
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/106213179447442/
Description:
CHAOs Astrium is a branch of the University of Bristol CHAOS Physics Society. We provide students with a community giving advice and help on setting up interesting space projects and offer support in finding like minded people to discuss and work on projects of mutual interest.
Students will also gain experience in working together to a common goal in a research environment and help them learn to organise themselves effectively and gain vital research skills.
Some projects that we would like to suggest to get the ball rolling are model rocketry, photographing the edge of space using weather balloons, and the EuSEC space elevator competition.
Students are free to suggest any project that they wish and we will help them to find interested people and give information on how to start and progress with a project, where to find resources, and places to look to for potential sponsorship.
Active Projects:
High altitude ballooning MARK 2 – This project is a continuation of last year’s experiments. The main aims for this year are to refine the payload electronics, tracking capabilities, sensor array, and improve the recovery system to enhance the functionality of the system. It is also planned to launch a set of as yet undecided experiments aboard the balloons. There has even been talk of recreating Cecil Powell’s famous particle physics experiment at the edge of space!
Project Manager – Ian Griffiths, ian.griffiths@hotmail.com
PoleCATS Proposal – We are assisting with the PoleCATS REXUS proposal, alongside members from various SEDS branches. CHAOS Astrium is assisting with the Science project team, foucussing on:
1) Electron Density: Electron density and energy distribution expected throughout the REXUS launch, between 50km - ~100km above Kiruna, especially among electrons with energies of around 5 keV. Contingency planning for any of possible scenario – day/night/auroral arc etc. Analysis of the changing environment and using Paschen’s law to decide what voltages it’s safe to use in CATS at different altitudes. Mean-free-paths of electrons, and other atmospheric particles.
2) Cosmic Rays: Cosmic ray density, energy, and incidence. Cosmic Ray abundance at ~68deg N between 50-100km, and whether the CCD could be additionally used for CR detection. Shielding required for detection of secondary particles.
3) Thermal Modelling: Thermodynamics of the whole instrument. Decide at which point to turn the CCD on from a temperature point of view. Prevention of CCD from overheating or from condensation sticking to it. Types of feasible cooling systems.
4) CAD design: Assisting with CAD modelling of experimental setup within the REXUS launcher.
Read more about the PoleCATS proposal here: http://rexuspolecats.com/
Project Manager – Kian Momtahan, momtahk@gmail.com
PicoSat Design - This project can be seen as a precursor for a possible future construction project. Inspired by the “KickSat” Sprite pico satellites this project involves the design of a solar powered satellite that like the sprite fits onto a single printed circuit board. This project will help students gain experience in project design and space craft systems engineering. The project starts from a blank design board and it will be up to the students to decide what functionality is needed and on how to link each section of the satellite together.
Read more about the “KickSat” Sprite PicoSat project here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/251588730/kicksat-your-personal-spacecraft-in-space
Project Manager – Oliver Ford, oliverford92@gmail.com
Rocketry – We occasionally go to a launch site in north Devon to launch rockets.
Contact – Jim.Sadler@bristol.ac.uk
Past Projects:
HAB MARK 1 (a.k.a DUST)
The University of Bristol’s very own UKSEDS branch, CHAOS Astrium, launched it’s maiden project last week to collect Upper tropospheric dust particles, via High Altitude weather balloon as well testing the standard atmosphere model and taking some tourist snaps. Using an old goods box salvaged from a local Chinese take away, a spare digital camera, a couple of hand warmers, a free MBed from the nice people at MBed, lots of gaffa tape, a man named Steve and generous funding from the Aerosol society and the Royal Meteorological society, not to mention NEXUS we were able to send our payload to 20,000 feet. Construction, coding and testing completed by within 2 months and was successfully launched from EARS near Cambridge on August the 13th. Despite fears it would end up in the North sea the payload was successfully recovered in a field south of Norwich having travelled 60 miles with all the important scientific equipment. Dramatic photos, vital data and the ice nucleation particles from the upper atmosphere were recovered. The successful team helped themselves to cake as a reward!
SEM anaylsis confirmed that Silica particles were detected between 9,000 ft and 11,000 ft, with Temperature data corresponding very convincingly to the Standard Atmospheric Model.
For more information, see the DUST Reports and News Articles below:
DUST HAB Reports:
DUST HAB News Articles:
http://ukseds.org/chaos_dust_report/
http://www.iopblog.org/bristol-balloon-launch/
Project manager – Hannah Price
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