Small sattelites could be future of space technology
Since the days of Sputnik, small satellites have played an important role in space research.
Utah State University has been involved in small satellite research through the Space Dynamics Lab (SDL) and engineering departments. USU’s new small satellite research center is officially called the Center for Advanced Satellite Manufacturing.
A $25,000 grant was awarded from the state to the university, which will allow USU to increase active research that could greatly influence missions and research within the Department of Defense and NASA, said Pat Patterson, chairman of the small satellite conference and manager of the technology development branch at SDL.
The grant, although smaller than expected – due to legislative cuts, will be used to build on the existing research programs at USU, said Todd Mosher, mechanical and aerospace engineering professor. The grant came from part of the state’s Center of Excellence program with the purpose of universities developing new jobs in the state using the research done.
“The money will be used for marketing and business case studies,” Mosher said. “It will really help us see where our entry in the small satellite market stands.”
If a spacecraft or satellite malfunctions or fails to work properly, Patterson said, millions of dollars may be lost. Small satellites may prevent the loss of such resources, Patterson said.
“You could build more for the same amount of money, send them up for missions and see which ones work,” Patterson said.
For years, USU has hosted the annual AIAA/USU Small Satellite conference. This year scientists and engineers from all over the world came to discuss the operation of small satellites as a possible solution.
“Are small satellites always going to be rinky-dinky or will they do real missions for the National Defense and NASA?” Patterson said in relation to the purpose of the conference.
Around 800 people attended the conference from 26 different countries. Students also presented projects and papers.
Joel Quincieu, a graduate student in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, was awarded second place for his technical paper detailing the structure he has designed for a small satellite. Quinceiu received $7,500 in scholarship money.
Presently, Quincieu, along with 20-30 other students, are working on projects that could be used by the Air Force and NASA. Thirteen universities are in the running for the chance to fly one of their satellites. The satellite built by USU students will be finished by the end of the year, Quinceiu said, and will be judged in January.
“I think we have a pretty good shot,” Mosher said, “There’s a really big push on campus and at the Space Dynamics Lab to get something in orbit.”
Quincieu said he is grateful for the opportunities he has at USU due to the small satellite research, ranging from satellite structure design to building the hardware used in the satellites computer.
“You can’t learn that from a book,” Quincieu said. “You really learn by building more than just learning theory. There’s no substitute for something like that.”
Both Mosher and Patterson said USU is a great place to be for space research because of the Space Dynamics Lab and yearly satellite conference.
“In the whole world there are hardly any universities that do what we do,” Patterson said.
“USU is a great place for aerospace,” Mosher said.
Utah State has been involved in space research for more than five decades and specifically with small satellite research for the past two.
-hilalways@hotmail.com