Digital Commons Network^™

Hot & Cold: The Finch Thermal Simulator, Dana Murdoch, Dinushka Orrin Dahanaggamaarachchi, Benjamin Nero, Carrie Ann Po, David Maranto, Rosalind Liang, Cameron Rodriguez, Khang Nguyen

Small Satellite Conference

Thermal modelling is an integral part of thesatellite design process. However, detailed simulations require high-fidelity models and resources that are not readily available in the preliminary design stage. To gain insight into the on-orbit temperature ranges and heatloads that FINCH, a 3U hyperspectral imaging CubeSat, will experience, a six-node numerical model was developed in MATLAB. This model was developed as an alternative to industry modelling software during preliminary design stages. The model:

• Allows teams to conduct rapid iteration of thermal design with reduced barrier to entry.
• Provides a platform to make informed decisions early in the design cycle.
• Encourages a …

Instrumentation Design And Placement For Krups Re-Entry Capsules, Matthew P. Ruffner, Kirsten Ford, Logan Craig, Bruno Tacchi, William Smith, Savio J. Poovathingal, Alexandre Martin

Small Satellite Conference

Atmospheric re-entry flight tests are one of the best ways to evaluate the performance of new Thermal Protection System (TPS) materials. The flight proven Kentucky Re-Entry Payload System (KRUPS) project provides a low cost, quick turnaround platform for these evaluative missions.

Following the success of the first KREPE mission, the Krups Flight Computer (KFC) and the instrumentation suite were redesigned for the next mission, KREPE-2. The original suite contained only four thermocouoples. The new design contains six thermocouples, five pressure sensors, a mini-spectrometer, an IMU and an accelerometer.

Linear Model Predictive Control Of A Cubesat Servicer For On-Orbit Servicing, Mitchell Kurnell, Inna Sharf

Small Satellite Conference

On-Orbit Servicing (OOS) is a field of orbital operations concerned with the maintenance, repair, and refuelling of space assets. It is one of many proposed solutions to aid with the mitigation of the growing space debris population. In this work, we propose the use of a CubeSat servicer equipped with a 1 Degree of Freedom (DoF) robotic arm for performing Orbital Replacement Unit (ORU) installations to demonstrate its capabilities for OOS. The servicer is controlled using Model Predictive Control (MPC) which computes control inputs using a linearized form of the system dynamics while considering the strict force and torque constraints …

Secure Cloud Architecture For Protecting The Software Of Space Vehicles, Keshav Raviprakash, Cameron Bonesteel, Sydney Whilden, Deepak R. Mishra

Small Satellite Conference

As the number of space vehicles launched into outer space increases over time, the need to determine and counter possible cyber attacks from malicious agents will drastically increase. A potential solution to this problem is to create a cloud architecture that a spacecraft can use for autonomous detection or recovery from cyber attacks when out range of a ground station. For this work, the development of a new cloud architecture for space vehicles is proposed which allows users to control access to information or applications within the system while using the self-healing capabilities of containers. The cloud architecture will first …

The Performance Test Of Pnccd With Fpga-Based Operating System For A Cubesat Mission, Hsien-Chieh Shen, Takanori Sakamoto, Naoki Ogino, Makoto Arimoto, Daisuke Yonetoku, Tatsuya Sawano, Junko S. Hiraga, Yoichi Yatsu

Small Satellite Conference

On 17 August 2017, the LIGO/Virgo collaboration detected a signal of gravitational waves, named GW170817, associated with the merger of two neutron stars. This event was the first detection of the electromagnetic counterpart of gravitational wave events. In general, the error image region of the gravitational wave detectors ranges from a few square degrees to several hundred square degrees. To search for the origin of the gravitational waves or the energetic explosions such as the gamma-ray burst, X-ray observation covering a wide field of view with a good sensitivity is essential to achieve the goal. One of the good candidate …

Scintillation And Ionosphere Extended (Scion-X): A 12u Cubesat For Ionospheric And Atmospheric Science, Yu-Shun Wang, Binson S. Lee, Ruo-Yu Wang, Glenn Franco Gacal, Hsin-I Tu, Kai-Jye Hou, Wei-Yi Lin, Loren C. Chang

Small Satellite Conference

SCION-X (SCintillation and IONosphere eXtended) is a 12U CubeSat that is being designed and developed by Upper Air Dynamics Laboratory, National Central University (NCU). SCION-X is the second funded CubeSat project being developed by NCU and is the largest self-developed spacecraft to date.

This mission will help to further understand the variation of ionospheric irregularities, remote sensing methods for PM2.5 pollution distribution, and thermospheric photochemistry while serving as a relay station for amateur radio. Furthermore, it will help increase the communication and cooperation between universities in developing spaceflight capacity.

The Design, Analysis And Testing Of Low Cost Dual Deployable Solar Panels For Small Satellite Missions, Celvi Lisy, Linda Hu, Lillian Shoemaker, Scott Palo, Whitney Lohmeyer

Small Satellite Conference

The National Science Foundation (NSF) funded university small satellite mission, Space Weather Atmospheric Reconfigurable Multiscale Experiment (SWARM-EX) is designed to address outstanding aeronomy and space weather questions while demonstrating swarm behavior in constellations of six to twelve 3U CubeSats. SWARM-EX is limited in power, which requires the use of dual-deployable solar panels in order to maximize the number of solar cells powering the small satellite. Commercial off the shelf (COTS) dual-deployable solar panel options tend to be expensive, necessitating the creation of custom-built, dual-deployable solar panels. The design of the dual-deployable solar panels is constrained in volume, manufacturability, and survivability …

Thermal Operation For The 6u Deep Space Cubesat Equuleus In The Initial Critical Phase, Kazuki Toma, Toshihiro Shibukawa, Shunhei Matsushita, Shingo Nishimoto, Hokuto Sekine, Aoma Fujimori, Isamu Moriai, Ryu Funase

Small Satellite Conference

EQUULEUS (EQUilibriUm Lunar-Earth point 6U Spacecraft) was launched to deep space by NASA's SLS (Space Launch System) on November 16, 2022. It has an engineering mission to demonstrate low-energy orbit maneuvering to EML2, a libration orbit around the second Earth-Moon Lagrange Point using the water propulsion system “AQUARIUS” (AQUA ResIstojet propUlsion System). The initial critical phase in EQUULEUS refers to a series of operational procedures associated with the first delta-V(DV1), which generated the largest thrust throughout the entire mission, taking place about 38 hours after separation for entering the transfer orbit to EML2. Thisorbit control was followed …

Visualization Of Sensor Coverage And Optimization Of Sensor Tasking For Satellite Constellations, Natasha Waldorf

Small Satellite Conference

With large constellations of satellites, it can be difficult to determine coverage capabilities as well as determine the best-suited satellites for fulfilling requests for information as quickly as possible. When expanding constellation coverage by increasing the number of sensors, incomplete awareness of current coverage may lead to money and time being spent acquiring assets providing additional coverage in areas with already sufficient coverage rather than filling in gaps. Even in areas with sufficient coverage, receiving imagery before it becomes obsolete relies on tasking the most optimal sensor for quick data turnaround. With sensors potentially having differing tasking lead times, latencies, …

Feasibility Of Long Range Wide Area Network (Lorawan) Technology For Leo Applications, Jason Combs, Jose Garcia, Benjamin Malphrus

Small Satellite Conference

Long Range (LoRa) is a widely used technology for terrestrial communications and is increasingly utilized for space related applications. On the ground, the LoRaWAN protocol allows gateways connected to the internet to serve as transceivers for any eligible end device in range of LoRa modulated signal. Certified gateways are produced by a variety of manufacturers with a range of capabilities, and publicly available networks contain thousands of gateways distributed around the world. Now, we propose to utilize the worldwide network of LoRaWAN gateways as a distributed ground station network capable of significantly reducing delays in link availability for a satellite …

Extreme Ultraviolet Reflective Grating Characterization And Simulationsfor The Aspera Smallsat Mission, Jessica S. Li, Aafaque R. Khan, Jason Corliss, Haeun Chung, Simran Agarwal, Erika Hamden, Carlos J. Vargas, Bill Verts, Hop Bailey, Trenton Brendel, Peter Behroozi, Harrison Bradley, Jacob Chambers, Tom Connors, Fernando Coronado, Ewan Douglas, Elijah Garcia, Giulia Ghidoli, Alfred Goodwin, Dave Hamara, Walter Harris, Karl Harshman, Miriam Keppler, Daewook Kim, Jasmine Martinez Castillo, Tom Mcmahon, Nicole Melso, Jamison Noenickx, Stacy Oliver, Ryan Pecha, Bashar Rizk, Cork Suave

Small Satellite Conference

The Aspera SmallSat mission is designed to detect and map the warm-hot gaseous component of the halos of nearby galaxies through long-slit spectroscopy of the ionized O VI emission line (103.2 nm) for the first time. The Aspera Rowland circle type spectrograph uses a toroidal grating coated with a multilayer film consisting of aluminum, lithium fluoride, and magnesium fluoride capping to optimize reflectivity in the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) waveband from 103 to 104nm. We discuss the grating characterization test setup at the University of Arizona (UA), which will validate the multilayer coating and grating efficiency in a UV vacuum chamber. …

Development And Characterization Of A Vectored Electrospray Thruster, Ivan Savytskyy, Manish Jugroot

Small Satellite Conference

Next-generation nanosatellite missions will require precise linear impulse and torque bits for optimized attitude and trajectory control. To address this requirement, a Vectored Electrospray Thruster (VET) that provides high-resolution multi-axis attitude actuation via thrust vector control was investigated at the Royal Military College of Canada Advanced Propulsion and Plasma Exploration Laboratory (RAPPEL). The VET employs arrays of linear porous wedge emitters and uses pulse-width modulation to produce stepped emission differentials across the nanosatellite propulsion plane. A two-emitter prototype offering single-axis attitude actuation was developed to validate the thruster concept, and a custom power processing unit and complementary diagnostics suite were …

Design Of Deployable Optical Space Arrays Based On A Thickened Origami Flasher Pattern, Jared Hunter, Clark Roubicek, Mark Stephen, Spencer Magleby, Larry Howell

Small Satellite Conference

Performance of space-based optics could be greatly enhanced by using deployable origami-based arrays, which can offer a large aperture size relative to their stowed volume when compared to traditional technology, thus improving imaging quality.

In this work, we select, develop, and adapt the origami flasher pattern to serve as the foundation for a deployable array that shows promise for meeting stringent optical requirements. We apply a novel thickness accommodation technique, improve stability by adjusting geometric characteristics of the pattern, and create an array of frames for housing optical elements in a co-planar configuration. By following the guidelines in this work, …

Early Wildfire Detection With Cubesat Images Using Single Image Super-Resolution, Jimin Choi, Jaemyung Ahn

Small Satellite Conference

Early detection of wildfires is crucial for preventing the spread of fires and protecting lives and properties. In recent years, satellite-based wildfire detection is becoming popular because of the coverage area and cost limitations of traditional detection methods such as ground-based observation and aerial surveillance. In particular, using CubeSat has the advantage of real-time monitoring and early detection of wildfires in a large area at a low cost. However, the CubeSats have limited image quality due to physical limitations such as size, weight, and power, which reduce detection performance. Therefore, this paper proposes a novel approach for early wildfire detection …

A Summary Of Neural Radiance Fields For Shadow Removal And Relighting Of Satellite Imagery, Caleb Adams, Ignacio Lopez-Francos, Ellemieke Van Kints, Aiden Hammond

Small Satellite Conference

Multi-view stereo photogrammetric techniques are conventionally utilized to generate Global Digital Elevation Models (GDEM) of planetary and lunar surfaces. However, these methods, relying on conventional feature detectors, are often subject to inaccuracies caused by changes in lighting conditions, including diffuse reflection and harsh shading. This has limited the ability of these methods to accurately reconstruct shadowed regions in orbital imagery, such as highly shaded urban areas and the permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) located on the lunar surface, which are critical targets for NASA’s Artemis program. Neural Radiance Fields (NeRFs) offer a novel solution to these limitations by breaking away from …

Automating Spacecraft Analysis: The Era Of Ontological Modeling & Simulation, Michael Halvorson, Noah Moyers, Carlos Domani, Johny Corona, Matthew Gillis, Sean Price, Aiden Raley, Andrew Crudup, Andrew Walter, Coleman Deschepper, Grant Gravitt, Jacob Wilkins, Nik Dreicer, Seth Porter, Tyler Babinec, Tyler Johnson, Nicolas Tsolas, L. Dale Thomas

Small Satellite Conference

Verification by analysis is a predicted compliance of a design to imposed requirements. The levels of performance specified by performance requirements can be related to Technical Performance Measures (TPM) in a Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) environment, but engineers performing verification by analysis are not commonly versed in professional Systems Engineering (SE) techniques or modeling languages such as SysML. As the formal application of Systems Engineering (SE) results in a diminution of time, effort, and money for large-scale projects, enabling technical engineers performing verification by analysis to contribute to MBSE improvements in the course of their daily work is financially incentivized. …

The Kihm-9: A Novel Self-Deploying Picosat Antenna Design For Reflectarray Antennas, Nathan Coleman, Mitchel Skinner, Collin Ynchausti, Spencer Magleby, Larry Howell, Akash Biswas

Small Satellite Conference

Reflectarray antennas are popular on satellites for their ability to achieve similar performance to parabolic antennas in a more compact volume. This project shows how integrating novel technologies achieves the benefits of larger antennas while maintaining the advantages of small satellites. The objective of this research is to create a reflectarray antenna for a holographic metasurface that utilizes the volume surrounding a CubeSat when stowed, incorporates a novel pin-less hinge, includes a self-deploying and stabilizing joint, and is manufactured out of space-grade materials. By using hinges embedded with membranes and magnets, issues with lubrication and outgassing may be avoided, and …

Escarabajo Japonés, Lori Spears, Diane Alston, Marion Murray, Joey Caputo, Kristopher Watson, Celina Wille

All Current Publications

El escarabajo Japonés es una plaga invasora que puede ser muy destructiva para plantas ornamentales, árboles, arbustos, césped, y algunas frutas y hortalizas. El EJ probablemente se introdujo desde Japón al este de los EE. UU. en 1916 durante envíos de plantas ornamentales. Ahora está establecido en la mayoría de los estados del este y algunos del medio oeste.

Picudos En El Césped, Desireè Wickwar, Ricardo Ramírez, Marion Murray, Celina Wille

All Current Publications

Los picudos son gorgojos, un tipo de escarabajo, del género Sphenophorus. Al menos 10 especies de picudos se reconocen como plagas del césped, y se pueden encontrar tanto en céspedes estivales como invernales en todo Estados Unidos.

Mosca Linterna Moteada, Lori R. Spears, Ann Mull, Celina Wille, Marion Murray

All Current Publications

La mosca linterna moteada es una nueva saltahojas invasiva en Norteamérica. Es originaria del norte de China y se ha extendido a otras partes de Asia, incluidos Vietnam, Japón y Corea del Sur, donde está causando daños significativos a la vid.

Reaction Time Under Limited Vision With Cognitive Challenge In Individuals With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction, Hsuan Bonny Lu

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture is a common sports injury. ACL reconstruction (ACLR) is a necessary treatment for individuals to return to competitive sports. However, a high rate of secondary injury occurs when individuals return to sport. Past research has shown that ACLR impairs physical performance, including reduction of force generate against the floor under the injured leg, changes in the gait pattern, and a loss of knee stability. While structural changes following ACL injury can leave the knee joint less stable, neurophysiological changes following ACL injury represent one potentially important mechanism underlying the performance deficits. Healthy individuals rely …

Community Space Planning And Design Guide For Enhanced Wildfire Resilience In Heber, Utah, Devin Macfarlane

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

The wildland urban interface (WUI) is the fastest growing land type in the conterminous United States. These areas are prone to catastrophic wildfire events. In response to rapid population growth, Heber City, Utah is planning a significant amount of development within the WUI. This thesis project is aimed at proactively addressing wildfire risk in the WUI of Heber through two main strategies: regional geospatial planning and public space design to create wildfire resilient communities. Researching principles of wildfire adaptive practice and planning for defensible space led to the development of a list of criteria. This list was developed in the …

Target Markets For Renaissance Ag's Pasture Box, Chanden C. Westover

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Renaissance Ag is an agricultural company that is committed to trying and increase productivity. Using the Pasture Box, they believe they can grow a feed source that uses less water and land than conventional agriculture. To better understand the benefits of their product, they have allowed Utah State University to conduct research on beef cattle by feeding their fodder. This paper will look into this research and its implications. It also explores various target markets and the benefits of targeting them.

Understanding Profitability Of Small-Scale Agriculture In Utah, Amanda Nelson

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Small-scale agriculture production has increased in Utah. Utah has lost much of its farmable land due to increased development. The increased development and influx of people has increased the demand for food supply, resulting in many beginning to producing their own food. This increase in individuals producing their own food has inherently increased the number of micro farms within Utah. This increase in the number of small-scale operations has left many wondering if these operations are both profitable and worth the effort it takes to operate them. As such, this paper will analyze the budget for three activities: (1) raising …

Are There Differences In Household Borrowing Across Religions?, Seth Dunn

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

This study explores the relationship between religion and economic behavior, specifically asking whether variations in household borrowing can be attributable to identification with different Christian religious traditions across the United States. The hypothesis of different borrowing behaviors across religions is motivated historically and theoretically. Historical data from l967 and 1971 are used in ordinary least squared and logistic regression analyses. Density of religious affiliations and relevant controls are used to predict households’ debt and attitudes towards different reasons for borrowing. Some differences across religions are found. This research contributes to a broader literature exploring the impact of religion on economic …

Navigating Cultural Identity In The Classroom, Caroline V. Phillips

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

As of 2016, ~25% of children in the United States are the children of immigrants (Nibbs & Brettell). Many of these youths struggle with the feeling that they belong neither to their parents’ cultural community nor to the locality in which they have been raised (Brockett, 2018). Furthermore, little academic research exists wherein these students share their experiences and engage in the processes of meaning making. This knowledge is essential for multicultural scholars and also for the (overwhelmingly white) population of K-6 teachers who help these youth construct personal identities. This project accomplishes the following:

1. I interview second-generation immigrants …

The Effectiveness Of Pasture, Rangeland, And Forage Insurance, Jonathon Frost

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

This thesis research tests the historical usefulness and desirability of pasture, rangeland, and forage insurance for ranchers in Utah. PRF insurance is specifically for ranchers who own livestock and rely on their livestock to graze in the fields for food consumption. If there is inadequate precipitation, there will be less grass growth for livestock which causes ranchers to purchase hay, leading to higher feed costs. It is similar to other insurance policies requiring premium and indemnity payments. By analyzing the historical payments, a decisive conclusion can be made that PRF suits both ranchers and USDA policymakers. Other studies that discussed …

Tremblings, August 2023, Western Aspen Alliance

Tremblings

What drives oystershell scale invasions?

Connor Crouch

Kristen Waring

If you work with aspen in the American West, you may have heard of the invasive insect oystershell scale (OSS; Lepidosaphes ulmi). OSS was first observed causing aspen mortality in Arizona in 2016, and occurrences have since been observed in Utah, Nevada, and Idaho. One of the first questions we hear from practitioners about OSS-infested aspen is, “what’s causing these outbreaks?” This is an interesting question because OSS has been in North America for centuries and was documented on aspen in Arizona as early as the 1990s, but elevated incidents …

Patient-Therapist Congruence On Aspects Of The Therapeutic Alliance In Psychotherapy For Medically Unexplained Symptoms, Sarah Daehler

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) are physical symptoms that cannot be explained or are not sufficiently explained by medical examination. These symptoms most typically present as pain or other discomfort, and are associated with significant psychological distress, healthcare utilization, and disability. Both psychologists and medical professionals have struggled to treat this population, and MUS patients have noted their dissatisfaction with the care they receive. The present study analyzed a sample of 174 patient-therapist dyads to explore the role of congruence, or agreement, on aspects of the therapeutic alliance in therapy for MUS as congruence research has not yet been conducted in …

Proxy Voting Coordination Mechanisms: Determining How Agents Should Coordinate In A Continuous Preference Space, Michael D. Hegerhorst

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Illness, injury, and other impediments are common occurrences of everyday life. Such impediments prevent or deter voters from participating in important parts of the voting process, especially deliberation, bargaining, and the voting itself. Without participation, the results of the vote may change. There is a need to provide a system in which voters are still able to participate in important voting processes to ensure their vote is represented. We explore ‘proxy voting,’ a system in which voters are able to select another individual, or proxy, to vote on their behalf. By choosing a good proxy, a voter can still …