Hands-On Activity on Space Systems at Sapienza - University Of Rome

摘要

Designing, realizing and testing real space projects plays a fundamental role in the training of young aerospace engineers. Sapienza Space Systems and Space Surveillance Laboratory (S5Lab) of Sapienza - University of Rome carries out several training activities, seizing the opportunities in order to provide the students a real hands-on education. The main research activities focus on satellite systems, including on-board systems and sub-systems design, testing and development, and space surveillance systems, including optical observation systems design, development and related operations, data analysis, orbiting objects orbital determination and active debris removal systems. Space Systems Laboratory course is held during the third year of the Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace Engineering at Sapienza - University of Rome by using the S5Lab facilities since February 2015. In particular, between February and May 2015, three student teams designed and developed three different projects: a thermal regulation system for the low-vacuum chamber, a real-time detection system to recognize the position of a quadcopter and evaluate the optimal trajectory for the prefixed mission and finally a custom control system for the optical observation of satellites through telescope. In the framework of the second semester of the 2015-16 a.y., the activity of the Space Systems Laboratory was focused on the design, the development and the testing of three CanSat, a prototype of small satellite payload, integrated within the volume and shape of a soft drink can. In this paper, a brief overview, more technical details and results of the above mentioned activities will be described, analyzing the methodology used to reach project objectives and the skills acquired throughout the whole design process. The educational value of "hands-on" activity in the space field will be discussed and more details about the student feedbacks will be given.