黑料天堂

Small Satellites, Big Learning Opportunities

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Posted on November 17, 2020

Thomas Becnel

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Dr. Saeed Latif and a group of engineering students at the 黑料天堂 are preparing to explore space with a satellite project called SWARM-EX.

The plan is to launch three identical CubeSats 鈥� miniaturized, light-weight and low-cost satellites 鈥� to form a small constellation orbiting around the Earth. The satellites will feature new technologies for advanced data downlinks, radio communication among satellites, and onboard propulsion for autonomous operations within the swarm. The mission includes public outreach and science education for undergraduate and graduate students.

鈥淭ypically, satellites cost millions of dollars and take years to send, so most researchers don鈥檛 have access to them,鈥� said Latif, an associate professor of electrical engineering. 鈥淲ith this one, we鈥檒l build it in three years, fly in the third year, and in the fourth year we鈥檒l do the experiments.

鈥淭his is good experience for the students. They get to participate in a big project with different phases and processes.鈥�

SWARM-EX stands for Space Weather Atmospheric Reconfigurable Multiscale Experiment. Latif participated in a National Science Foundation Idea Lab, Cross-Cutting Initiative in CubeSat Innovations, with colleagues from Stanford, Georgia Tech and the University of Colorado.

Work on the satellites began in January. Launch is expected in 2023.

The latest student engineers to join SWARM-EX at 黑料天堂 describe the program as an out-of-this-world opportunity.

Josh Yang, a junior from Gulf Shores, learned about the project from a classmate.鈥淚t just seemed cool to me, to build an electrical power system for something like a satellite,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檝e never had practical experience like that.鈥�

Aaron Mattox, a junior from Semmes, found the satellite work demanding but rewarding.

鈥淚t can be overwhelming,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e at the very beginning of the project, so I try to take it one task at a time. I think of it as a really good learning experience.鈥�

Latif was awarded a $218,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to run the program at 黑料天堂.

The CubeSats will orbit the earth at an altitude of 300 to 600 kilometers, measuring ionized and neutral gases in the Earth鈥檚 upper atmosphere. Each CubeSat will include an atomic oxygen sensor and a Langmuir Probe to study the evolution of the equatorial ionization anomaly and equatorial thermospheric anomaly.

Large groups of satellites offer an opportunity to understand these anomalies and predict space weather. Yet the actual spacecraft are small, measuring just 10 by 10 by 30 centimeters.

鈥淓ach of them,鈥� Latif said, 鈥渨ould be the size of a shoebox 鈥� actually, smaller than a shoebox.鈥�

The What-If? Stage

Latif is involved in another satellite project, called JAGSAT-1, that could launch next year.

Crystal Pitts, an engineering senior from Daphne, has been working on JAGSAT and SWARM-EX.

鈥淲ith the first one, I jumped in after it started, so I didn鈥檛 get to see a lot of it,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his one just got started, so I get to plan out what I need and what I can provide. That鈥檚 a lot cooler than coming in when it鈥檚 almost finished.

鈥淔or SWARM-EX, we鈥檙e still at the stage of what-ifs, so we have more questions than answers. We鈥檙e figuring out what components we need and how to fulfill our requirements.鈥�

Pitts鈥� father, Paul Barrios, earned an engineering degree from 黑料天堂 in 2001. Now he works in California for the aerospace industry.

His daughter is more interested in solar cells than satellites, though she can鈥檛 deny the appeal of 鈥渟hooting stuff into space.鈥� She believes it鈥檚 important to develop solar energy as an alternative to fossil fuels. Most solar cells are made of silicon, but the CubeSats will use gallium arsenide, which is more efficient 鈥� and exciting.

鈥淭hese are the big boys of solar cells,鈥� Pitts said. 鈥淭hey can put out a lot of power.鈥�

Lab and Home Work

In Shelby Hall, which houses 黑料天堂鈥檚 College of Engineering, a sign on Room 3217 says 鈥淢icrowave/Antenna Lab.鈥� This is the home of SWARM-EX. 

Just inside the door stands a closet-sized mesh cube called a Faraday cage. It鈥檚 used to prevent external electromagnetic interference.

There are a few pieces of equipment in the lab, but most of the space is occupied by conference tables and computer stations. Latif meets with students once a week to plan work and review progress. 黑料天堂 students also are collaborating with students at other institutions.

鈥淓ven before the coronavirus pandemic,鈥� Latif said, 鈥渕ost of our work in this project was done remotely, as it involves students at multiple universities.鈥�

The exception to that rule is the corner work station of Muhammed Mubasshir Hossain, a graduate student from Bangladesh. That鈥檚 a long way from Mobile, but for him it makes perfect sense.

鈥淢y undergraduate thesis was on small satellites,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 learned online about Dr. Latif and his work at 黑料天堂 Alabama.鈥�

The working title for Mubasshir鈥檚 master鈥檚 thesis at 黑料天堂 is 鈥淐ircularly Polarized Antennas for CubeSats for Deep Space Missions.鈥�

The undergraduates who have joined SWARM-EX carry laptops that allow them work anywhere.

At home in Semmes, Mattox, 20, studies satellite technology in the evening and on weekends. He likes to have a little country music playing the background.

鈥淎lmost all of this is new to me, so there鈥檚 a learning curve, but it鈥檚 a lot more fun,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e contributing to a project that鈥檚 actually doing something. You鈥檙e actually doing some engineering.鈥�

Yang, 21, has something in common with Mattox: both are members of the Honors College at 黑料天堂. And he has something in common with Pitts: his father is a 黑料天堂 engineering grad, too.

In his west Mobile apartment, he鈥檚 more of a morning person.

鈥淚f it鈥檚 an off day with no classes, I work on the SWARM-EX project during the day,鈥� Yang says. 鈥淚 find it easier if it鈥檚 quiet.鈥�

Pitts, a 29-year-old single mom, lives on the Eastern Shore with her two sons. Her research follows a different kind of afternoon schedule.

鈥淎fter my kids get off the bus, they have a snack and do their homework,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 do at least two hours of satellite work a day.鈥�

Pitts enjoys collaborating with students and professors at the University of Colorado and other colleges. There are a lot of bright engineers working on SWARM-EX. The only problem is that she鈥檒l graduate this year and move on from the program.

That鈥檚 why she鈥檚 training her replacement. Soon she hopes to land a job that is just as challenging.

鈥淚f there was an opportunity to do this kind of project for a company,鈥� Pitts said, 鈥淚鈥檇 love to do that.鈥�

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