Role
Design Engineer
Industry
Craft Tools · Creative Technology
Duration
4 months
CoyoteSat
A student-built CubeSat mission focused on studying cosmic radiation in low-Earth orbit
Role
Lead Structural Engineer
Industry
Aerospace
Duration
2.5 years
Project Mission
Creating hands-on aerospace experience for college students in NYC by designing and manufacturing a cube satellite (CubeSat) that detects gamma rays in low-Earth orbit using a modified version of the Cosmic Watch Muon Detector. This will allow us to further understand the effects of cosmic radiation on small spacecraft, and how we can develop lighter and resistant materials for in-space usage.
Design & Testing Process
Our primary challenge was balancing structural integrity with budget constraints and strict guidelines. CubeSat development can cost $3,500-$50,000. To optimize resources, we used affordable, durable materials, that perform well in the space environment, such as aluminum 6061 and machined as many parts as we could using CNC machines and water jets in NYU’s MakerSpace.
We iterated on numerous 3D-modeled designs, prototyped, performed finite element analysis, handled sub-system integration, conducted multiple rounds of vibration and thermal tests, and manufactured the final version of the CoyoteSat.
