deljr15

Currently those of us that are doing any work toward the project are self funding. We can take the sat thru the manufacturing stages with minimal cost. The current big $ items are solar panels, rad hard CPU, and Launch. After we have a sat in hand waiting on those 3 items we will go for some kind of fundraising project.

I setup a google apps for work account, so we can have @mossat.org email. It seems that I accidentally turned off the redirect from mossat.org to fourms.mossat.org Fixed now.

In this picture the Z axis will be the up/down axis. The solar panels will be mounted to the top. The satellite will spin about this axis. The rotation of the satellite will create the artificial gravity. Here is a view with a mock up sample container. Also note the frame in the photo came from cubesatshop.com - not advertising just giving credit where credit is due.

Mostly we are waiting on the consumption rates of the moss. So we can back figure the required initial atmosphere mass. As to the dishes. We will be designing a custom sample container that is air tight.

Mission Update. Moss: We are lining up moss experiments. The goal of these experiments is to gather the required data to design the test chamber that will be used in flight. Optics: Lens design coming along nicely. Other systems: On hold pending test chamber. Thanks to everyone for your continued support.

In an effort to get more organized it was decided to move discussion over to our own forums the link is here.

That link is http://forums.mossat.org

This is true. However I was envisioning a ratcheting system with only 1 way rotation. This could be used to very simply control position repeatability. What I wonder is can we gather that data thru some means that don't require a sensor in the capsule.

Well I don't know if this is applicable but I have an unlimited webspace server I am willing to donate to the cause. Also we should pick up a domain mossat.org is not taken

Don't beat yourself up. They dont need to look professional as long as they get the point across. Also I don't see anything wrong with your drawing. I agree on the threads. Also welding the lids in some way will be advantageous. If we go with sample containers then we can just prepare another batch and swap them out. No need to open and reuse.

The problem becomes seal length. one big ring with a removable top (at least one side needs to open) will have approx ~500mm of total seal length. One small breach anywhere along that will result in mission failure. Using capsules like the one below will give ~25mm seal length each. This will result in more total seal length 25*27=675 however if one seal leaks we only loose one sample. Rev A of the sample Another idea for holding them Another note with this arrangement from the top of a sample container to the far corner of the cube should be acceptable for camera distance. We may need to have the camera slightly offset to view in (not sure if this will be a problem)

The only problem I see with doing away with sample containers is sealing the larger container.

Well here is a drawing for a sample container. Mazon Del can you give your input. If this container is along the lines of what your thinking I will revamp my design at lunch.

So tomorrow morning I will draw up a petri dish with a OD of 1.5cm and a inside space 5mm tall Well I can answer myself on this one... that would put the camera underneath the sample. So I need to think about getting that camera inside.

So what kind of capsule are we talking about? Petri dish test tube smaller sphere

How about a lens fixed to the camera? I don't see mirrors working in a low budget sat. The alignment is too mission critical and far too easy to get knocked out. Also having vision tunnels in the sat will waist far too much space. I can't seem to find the quote where someone mentioned putting the camera inside the ring. On that topic whats wrong with one of the corners looking in? (Other then DOF issues MBobrik brought up)

On the topic of balance we will need to have all the parts to even begin to attempt. I agree that we will probably need more mass behind it. Thanks Yes there is 29 day trial is available on their website. Also they have a free program called "eDrawing Viewer" that can open and play with solid files. I'm not sure what you mean by dead center. It is currently dead center about the axis of rotation.

If we are going to put capsules inside of a ring like that it will in effect create the same wasted space of my design. On the topic of capsules. If you can give me some basic shape/dimensions. I will revamp that sketch. If the acrylic can withstand atmospheric pressure that may be a better option. Edit:If the acrylic can withstand atmospheric pressure without being too heavy. That may be a better option. Also got to think about mounting and a drive system.

That was in Solidworks. Mon-Fri I can work at lunch and or stay late. One of these days ill get it set up at home. Edit: There is more I want to respond to but it will have to wait until tonight when I get home

I took some time at lunch today to sketch up the indexer mechanism. Here are some photos. More shots with it placed in the "CubeSat Shop" frame The hole indexer has a estimated mass of 14g without samples. The main body is 6061 (aluminum) with brass bushings and a 1045 (steel) sleeve to be hardened. I still need to add the mount and drive. Another note the sample "Bubbles" are there for concept. We also will need some grommets on the holes. When we have a decided sample container I will update. Second Edit: The "Bubbles" are 3cm in dia Edit: As usual all files are available on my server. Message for login

As for modeling of the cube I have a full Solidworks Professional seat that includes simulation. I am willing to make models for our components. Example item available from CubeSat Shop. I see some problems with this design and some nice bits. The launcher interface would be nice to copy. The pads coming off the bottom and top have me puzzled. Maybe to separate the various cubes. I need to find the standards for cubesat frames to know for sure. After posting I found this link: http://2.cubesat.org/images/developers/cds_rev13_final.pdf I will be reading thru this for a bit. I have an idea in my head for the experiment indexing mechanism that I want to get drawn up. It has been a busy week at work. Anyway my services are available. And if we go the Solidworks option. Their may only be a small handful of us that can edit, but anyone can download the eDrawing Viewer from Solidworks and view measure and spin any Solidworks model

I am looking for the upper limit we are willing to budget to the experiment indexing mechanism.

So I have been kicking around some ideas for the sample indexing mechanism. Instead of going at this totally blind. I want to get some feedback on mass limitations. Obviously we want it to be as light as possible, but what is the upper limit?

I completely agree. I have a file server dedicated to this project. Message me for login info. I have some frames uploaded to it at the moment. I will admit to slacking on the generating of other models, but with everything still up in the air. Many of the items listed in the doc (cameras at least) are not feasible. As we come to more of a agreement on things I will start adding more. The rotating mechanism for the samples will be something I will start to take a look at. Will post some ideas when done.

Also a few pages back K^2 mentioned bearing lubrication problems. This is simply avoidable by using brass bushings. Brass being self lubricating makes it a excellent fit for this use and is found in many things you use in your daily life.