Undergraduate Satellite and Rocket Design, Fabrication and Launch Program at the US Air Force Academy

摘要

The Space Systems Research Center at the United States Air Force Academy is building a cadre of space professionals 'one cadet at a time.' Its motto and aim is for cadets to 'Learn Space by Doing Space.' Cadets majoring in astronautical engineering and space operations study either the design, fabrication, testing, and launching of a sounding rocket (the FalconLAUNCH program), or the design, fabrication, testing, launching and operation of a satellite in space (the FalconSAT program). This year's FalconLAUNCH is scheduled to go to 20,000 meters. The goal of next year's launch, from San Nicolas Island, California, is to carry a 5-kg payload to 100,000 meters. The FalconSAT program has already built a 19.5-kg satellite FalconSAT-2, ready for launch on the next Space Shuttle. The cadets are currently working on FalconSAT- 3, a 50-kg satellite due for launch in 2006 on an Atlas V. Both missions have payloads approved by the Department of Defense Space Experiments Review Board to conduct space-weather experiments and Air Force Research Laboratory avionics and propulsion experiments. This paper details the development, challenges and advantages of conducting an undergraduate space program performing world class research.