Spring Break
A&M, UT satellites to launch
By: Julie Rambin
Issue date: 6/11/09 Section: News
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AggieSAT2, a satellite designed and built by Texas A&M students, and BEVO-1, a satellite designed and built by University of Texas students, are slated to launch this Saturday on Space Shuttle Endeavor.
"AggieSAT2 is a small class of satellite called a picosatellite," said NASA project manager David Kanipe. "In this case, AggieSAT2 is a five-inch cube and weighs about 3.5 kg."
The satellites each contain a Global Positioning System unit designed by NASA, Kanipe said.
"The satellites are designed a little differently, but they both have a GPS inside," said John Graves, AggieSAT lab manager and aerospace engineering graduate student. "This particular unit was built in-house by NASA."
On this mission, the satellites will collect flight data on a GPS receiver, then downlink and analyze this data over the course of at least two orbits, Kanipe said.
"The ultimate project goal for these small satellites from A&M and UT, is for them to successfully demonstrate what is called Autonomous Rendezvous and Docking (AR&D) in low earth orbit (LEO)," Kanipe said. "If you've seen the Space Shuttle dock with the International Space Station on TV, then you've seen a rendezvous and docking. An autonomous rendezvous and docking is simply the capability to perform the same function without the benefit of human intervention."
Autonomous Rendezvous and Docking is considered one of the most complex phases of flight, Kanipe said.
"At first blush [ARD] may seem like a lot to lay on a couple of universities," Kanipe said. "I have found, however, that if students get engaged in a real-world problem where they can apply their academic skills, they bring a lot of enthusiasm and creativity to the table."
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