AE Brown Bag Seminar

Friday, March 20

11:00 a.m. - 1:20 p.m.

Guggenheim 442

Morgan Gregg

Aadhavan Magesh

Luke Smith

Pritham Sathish

Kevin Gao

Morgan Gregg

Title:

Integrating Mission Operations and Spacecraft Hardware Development in CubeSat Missions

Abstract:

Student-led spacecraft missions require strong coordination between mission operations and hardware development, particularly in college labs with higher turnover where institutional knowledge can be lost. This presentation highlights work conducted in the Space System Design Lab across two CubeSat missions: VISORS and GPDM. Early contributions focused on mission operations development for VISORS, including creation of the mission operations science interface, procedures, and portions of the mission operations plan. Work on GPDM expanded this role to include both operations development and spacecraft integration activities such as flight and test harnessing fabrication. The presentation discusses how involving spacecraft operators in hardware integration improves system understanding, strengthens operational readiness, and helps maintain continuity within student-led missions. 

Faculty Advisor:

Prof. Glenn Lightsey

Aadhavan Magesh

Title:

Learning and Using MBSE and SysML for the Modeling of a Lunar Base

Abstract:

This presentation explores the use of Model Based Systems Engineering and SysML in modeling and managing a lunar base environment. It goes over the capabilities useful for modeling such a project and describes an overview of a lunar base concept. The lunar base involves a lander, communication, exploration, power, and habitat systems to ensure life sustainability for a lunar mission. The exploration subsystem is specifically explored with the integration of autonomous rovers to the lunar module. These digital engineering methods can be used to help visualize a project like a lunar base a streamlines a path for projects to develop.

Faculty Advisor:

Prof. Selcuk Cimtalay

Luke Smith

Title:

A Progression of Computational Aeroacoustic Noise Modeling Over Aircraft Components

Abstract:

Aircraft noise remains an important criterion within certification standards and a key factor in the competitiveness in the aircraft manufacturing industry. Deriving new methods to identify the effects of noise, both externally and internally on aircraft structures, continues to be an important field of study. This work examines predictions of acoustic effects on aircraft, posited by aerodynamic flows, through a computational implementation of a series of acoustic perturbation equations. By numerically computing solutions to these equations to model acoustic wave propagation, the effects of perturbations on realistic engineering geometries can be analyzed. Validation of these methods using simple bodies with known effects enable a high level of fidelity for the perturbation solvers, which permits exploration into more sophisticated and holistic aircraft configurations at minimizing runtimes.

Faculty Advisor:

Prof. Beckett Zhou

Pritham Sathish

Title:

Abstract:

Manufacturing and testing are critical phases in a spacecraft’s lifecycle, especially during design, integration, and qualification. Spacecraft component design, technical drawing development for outsourced manufacturing, and auxiliary hardware design all contribute to mission readiness. Technical drawings are essential to aerospace manufacturing, where critical features often require precision to within thousandths of an inch. Geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T), tolerance stack-up analysis, and proper datum selection help ensure components are functional, manufacturable, and cost-effective. In addition to flight hardware, support equipment and testing structures are necessary for spacecraft qualification through activities such as Test Readiness Reviews (TRR), thermal vacuum testing, and flatsat avionics testing. This work highlights the development of drawings and support structures for the Green Propulsion Dual-Mode CubeSat.

Faculty Advisor:

Prof. Glenn Lightsey

Kevin Gao

Title:

Differential Mobility Analysis for Particulate Emissions Sampling

Abstract:

Emissions sampling is a significant research field in combustion research. The current project I am supporting has begun implementing an emissions sampling system to test both exhaust gas composition and particulate concentration. Most of the work covered in this presentation is focused on the particulate sampling system, from the sampling probe to dilution and measurement of particulate matter using a Differential Mobility Analyzer (DMA).

Faculty Advisor:

Prof. Adam Steinberg