Experience of Youth Space Center

of N.E.Bauman Moscow State Technical University

V.I.Mayorova

N.E.Bauman MSTU

2-nd Baumanskaya St., 5, Moscow, 105005, Russia

Modern labor market has increasing requirements towards the quality of university education. This is caused by technological progress in the industry, world globalization and cooperation, and increase of share of information technologies in final products and in the technological processes of its design and assembly.

Currently Russia experiences decline of interest towards aerospace disciplines. More popular are economics, legal, management, IT areas. Students don't see new ambitious and popular projects in aerospace. Ties between industry and academia are weak. Students have less opportunity to receive practical experience during their time in universities.

One way to attract interest towards aerospace and to increase quality of education is by participation of students in real-life projects, which have practical application and include full life-cycle from development to creation, testing, launch, operation, scientific experiments, and utilization of spacecraft - all in cooperation with domestic and international partners.

Modern information technologies, miniaturization and commercial availability of components, access to affordable communication channels makes implementation of such projects possible even by a single university.

Cost of such project may be decreased by launching it into orbit as a side load. Highly-qualified experts from the aerospace industry may be involved in such projects in order to transfer experience from one generation to the next. Internet technologies and distant education may be used in this project as well.

Several countries have started to use microsatellite projects for educational purposes. Leading universities have their own microsatellite laboratories - Stanford University in US, University of Surrey in UK, University "La Sapienza" in Italy, University of Toronto in Canada, Aalborg University in Denmark and others. The leading country by the number of launched micro- and nano-satellites is the Unites States. Surrey Satellite Technology center in UK is also well known in the world by their satellite projects, which include development of microsatellites for developing countries and training of local personnel.

Space technologies were first used for educational purposes at the very beginning of space exploration. First educational radio amateur satellite, 4 ½ kg "OSCAR-1", was launched in United States in December 1961 as a side load to "Discovery-36" satellite.

First Soviet educational radio amateur satellites "RS-1" and "RS -2" were launched in 1978 as side load to "Cosmos-1045" satellite. Students from Moscow Energy Institute and Moscow Aviation Institute participated in their design.

Educational value of these spacecraft was in participation of students in design and operation of the satellites. Students also studied the radio wave propagation, experimented with existing radio hardware, and were establishing contracts with other radio amateurs in the world.

Students from Moscow Aviation Institute participated in design of "Iskra" series of radio-amateur satellites. First satellite of the series was launched in 1981.

"Pion" satellites were built with participation of students from Samara State Aerospace University. First satellite was launched in 1989. "Pion" passive probes were used to investigate density of upper atmosphere.

Recently, the following educational microsatellited were launched in Russia: "Kolibri" and "Mozhaets"launched in 2002, "Mozhaets-4" launched in 2003 and "Tatyana" launched in 2005.

The new approach to use of satellites in education was utilized in these projects: main goal now is to use on-board systems for scientific experiments in fundamental scientific disciplines. Space knowledge required for its design and use. Because of that even a small spacecraft can be used as hardware is different from many other technological areas by high concentration of scientific a flying scientific laboratory.

One example of such approach was "Spacecraft BAUMANETS" project, which was carried out by Bauman Moscow State Technical University (BMSTU) using production resources of one of the oldest aerospace enterprises in Russia - "Mashinostroenie Production Association". First time in Russia the project of such magnitude was completely implemented by students, who were working together with experts from aerospace industry.

Goal of the project was the development and creation of microsatellite with mass of 85.5 kg, and payload of scientific experiments.

Educational goals of the "Baumanets" satellite project were related to training students in full life cycle of the creation and use of actual space hardware - development, building, testing, launch, operation and scientific experiments on board.

Goals of "Baumanets" scientific-educational program were:

-         training of high-quality professionals for aerospace industry;

-         conducting scientific experiments in space in fundamental and applied areas and use of the results of such experiments for practical technical solutions;

-         increase of interest among students towards scientific research, improvement of quality of education in fundamental disciplines, giving students practical experience in design, building, testing and operation of real spacecraft.

Tasks of "Baumanets" scientific-educational program were:

-         development of the scientific foundation for the system of human-resources supply forљ aerospace industry;

-         organization of predictive training for scientific and engineering personnel which will work in the areas of space exploration;

-         scientific and methodological support for training of aerospace personnel;

-         use of domestic and international data bases, establishing free access to them for students, faculty, and research personnel of universities participating in educational process and scientific research;

-         use of Earth remote sensing data in educational process.

Youth Space Center of Bauman University began developing "Baumanets" satellite at the end of 2003. Development and launch of this satellite was dedicated to 175th anniversary of the University. Financing of the project was made by Russian Space Agency. This satellite project was different from previous educational satellite projects in Russia because of much wider participation of students at all stages of the satellite development:

concept development; design; building; components' testing; final assembly; pre-flight testing; launch; satellite control; on-board experiments.

Major part of design and development was made by students. The satellite was created in cooperation with a number of other companies. Production Association was main integrator of the project where the satellite bus was assembled and integrated with other on-board systems. Satellite was tested there and prepared for launch. Service systems were built or purchased at several Russian companies. The satellite was designed with life span 1.5 years. Some equipment for on-board experiments were purchased from suppliers and others were built at the University by students.

"Baumanets" was of cubic shape with 700 mm side. Solar panels were covering 4 sides of the satellite. The satellite had 3-axis attitude control system, including gravity boom, electro-magnetic coils, flywheel. All systems and payloads were attached to the panels of the satellite bus.

"Mission Control Center" - which was created at the University - is intended to give students experience in control of real spacecraft on orbit. "Earth Remote Sen-sing Data Processing Center" will to teach students how to work with space images. "Advance Satellite Technologies" laboratory will continue design and development of next generation of "Baumanets" satellites, and will give students practical design experience.

"Small Satellites Design" course will be developed and included in academic curriculum of several departments of the University to give students theoretical knowledge. Several laboratory courses will be developed, which will use real-life data from on-orbit satellites to solidify theoretical knowledge of students in the fields of trajectory ballistics, radio-location and others.

Experience in cooperative relationships with space organizations in Russia and abroad will be valuable for future professionals who will be working in multi-national space projects.

Educational experiments on board of "Baumanets" satellite were including:

-          analyzing information from Earth remote sensing camera;

-          using retro-reflectors for definition of orbit parameters;

-          measuring attenuation of signal from satellite at various angles;

-          experimenting with data transfer using "GlobalStar" network;

-          developing and testing of on-board computer.

Remote sensing camera on board "Baumanets" satellite was developed to students' specifications by "Lepton" company. The camera was able to produce images of Earth surface in visible and infra-red wavelength with 50-meters resolution. Images from the satellite were planned for use in ecological monitoring; oil companies to monitor condition of pipelines; detection of forest fires.

Russia's Center for Earth Monitoring at Russian Space Agency - head organization in Russia for collecting and distribution of Earth images data - has expressed interest in getting access to information from the satellite. Information from the satellite was to be received using ground antennas produced by ScanEx company.

Experiments using laser retro-reflectors was developed in cooperation with Research Institute of Precise Electronics. These experiments were to allow to define satellite's orbit parameters with high accuracy; test on-board control systems; research Earth's gravitational field. Wide network of laser location stations was to allow any interested party to use Baumanets unit of retro-reflectors for their experiments.

The goal of experiment was to measure and analyze attenuation of the data signal going from the satellite through Earth atmosphere, when satellite was low above the horizon. The experiment was part of the program of developing future high-speed communication systems for transferring data between spacecraft and ground stations. All equipment for this experiment was developed and built by Bauman University students. Bauman University radio telescopes were planned to be used as ground stations for receiving data in this experiment.

Major goals of "Globalstar" experiment were:

-              confirm the possibility to receive telemetry and scientific data from satellites using "GlobalStar" network of satellites and ground stations;

-              study the possibility to control spacecraft by sending control signal using "GlobalStar" network;

-              study the possibility to define satellite's position using "Globalstar" network and to define zones of stable connection with satellites within "Globalstar" network.

Bauman university team was to be the second team in Russia to control the spacecraft through "Globalstar" network.

Main control computer of "Baumanets" satellite was developed and built by NILAKT ROSTO company. The goal of the experiment on board "Baumanets" was to test alternative on-board computer, which was built by students from Aalborg university in Denmark to specifications of our students. Bauman University students wrote control software and developed experiments to be used to test this computer.

During the flight it was planned to test how space radiation influenced the processor and memory modules of the computer which would allow us to develop solutions for protection of electronic components from radiation. The computer should be taking the responsibility for attitude control of the satellite.

A course of lectures on Design and Development of Small Satellites is being developed now based on the experience with design, building, and testing of Baumanets satellite. This course will be read in our University as well as in other technical universities of Russia. This course will be tied to other disciplines taught to our students, such as aerodynamics, theoretical mechanics, structural analysis, movement dynamics, heat transfer, structural strength and dynamics and others.

Implementation of Baumanets program was conducted in cooperation with leaders in microsatellite design - University "La Sapienza" in Italy and Aalborg University in Denmark. This is an example of international cooperation, which Bauman University is planning to promote in the future in order to bring international standards of education into our educational process. The goals of such international cooperation are:

-         promotion of high standards of Russian system of higher education, in particular the methods of education at Bauman University;

-         creation of inter-university groups for development and operation of space hardware and exchange of remote sensing data;

-         development and implementation of educational programs for under-graduate, graduate and post-graduate students;

-         integration of achievements of international universities with those of Russia's;

-         giving Russian students experience of activity within international creative groups;

-         participation of Russian students in activities of Space Generation Foundation, International Astronautical Federation, other international scientific conferences;

-         utilizing the results of educational program in implementing the elements of United Nationsљ program for this decade, adopted at UniSpace III conference held in Vienna, Austria in 1999:

-         organizing seminars and conferences on Earth remote sensing;

-         providing access to Earth remote sensing data via Internet;

-         creation of international system of aerospace student exchange;

-         development of programs of distant education.

Launch of Baumanets satellite was realized on July 26th, 2006. However, because of the malfunction of Dnepr launcher, Baumanets satellite was lost together with 17 other satellites.

Between 2003 and 2006 over 100 students have participated in the project. 25 course works and 20 reports at conferences were delivered by students. 20 articles were printed. After participation in Baumanets project over 20 students found work in leading Russia's and international aerospace companies after graduation from Bauman University.

"Baumanets" satellite project is an example of practical realization of the concept of continuous aerospace education, which includes interaction between a technical university and an enterprise of aerospace industry. Such cooperation leads to creation of new ideas. Students are able to use their creative thinking, without the conservative limitation to technical solutions. From another hand, they are supported by experience of industry professionals and its production capabilities. This allowed to create a modern and prospective spacecraft. Student microsatellite projects worked out by world leading technical universities are proving to be one of the most effective ways of training of high-quality personnel for aerospace and related fields. This will be one of the fastest-developing areas in aerospace education in the future.

 

Vera Ivanovna Mayorova, Associate Professor (N.E.Bauman MSTU); Head of MSTU Youth Space Center; full member of K.E.Tsiolkovskiy Academy of Cosmonautics; Co-chairperson of Space Education section of International Astronautics Congress.

Scientific and professional interests: rocket engineering devices tryout technology; educational microsatellites design, educational programs for post-graduate students, students of universities and schools, which involve elements of real scientific, research and development work in the area of space engineering.