Can life exist on the edge of space? This is just one of the
questions that a group of students from Cranfield University hope
to answer with assistance from sponsors Alpha Micro Components.
Team CASS-E (Cranfield University Astrobiological Stratospheric
Sampling Experiment) have designed a biological data collecting
instrument which will be sent into the stratosphere as part of the
BEXUS (Balloon-borne Experiments for University Students) programme
in 2010.), the independent franchised distributor of electronic
components.
Under the supervision of Professor David Cullen, Team CASS-E
consists of three PhD students from Cranfield Health, 1 PhD student
from the School of Engineering and three Masters students from the
School of Engineering's Space Research Centre. The team's focus
will be on how planetary protection and contamination control
procedures, such as those for space missions including the proposed
exploratory trips to Mars, can be used to ensure that any microbial
life that is detected is truly stratospheric.
Therefore, it is vital to the success of the experiment that the
instrument remains sterile until it has reached the stratosphere.
To help ensure this, Alpha Micro has supplied a number of devices
from its franchised lines which will provide an accurate altitude
reading. These components also have the robustness required to work
in the extreme environment of space, where the temperatures reach
minus 90oc with an atmospheric pressure that is 100 times less than
on the ground. Included among these are the u-blox AMY-5 GPS
module, the Lantronix UDS1100 network device server and the Taoglas
AA105 antenna.
Each of these modules will be embedded and integrated within the
instrument and will communicate the altitude back to the team's
ground station. The u-blox AMY-5 GPS module and Taoglas AA105
antenna were specified because they have the strength and
sensitivity to provide accurate altitude readings of up to 50
kilometres while withstanding the harsh temperatures of near space.
To ensure that this information is securely communicated to the
ground station, the Lantronix UDS1100 Ethernet to serial converter
will act as a conduit between the balloon and the ground station.
The balloon only transmits an Ethernet signal which further
necessitated the UDS1100 converter.
The experiment itself will last two to five hours so once the
u-blox module picks up the GPS signal via the Taoglas antenna and
confirms the necessary altitude with the electronics board, the
Lantronix device server will translate this information to the
ground station. Once it's been confirmed that the balloon has
reached the stratosphere, the instrument's bio-barriers, which
protect the sterile area where the sample collecting filters are
located, will be breached and the experiment will begin by allowing
two pumps to pump air through the collection filters to potentially
collect evidence of life.
CASS-E team leader Clara Juanes-Vallejo commented: "Our aim
is to design, assemble and fly an instrument that is capable of
collecting microorganisms in the Earth's stratosphere where the
balloon will float. To meet our goal of determining whether or not
life can exist in near space, our instrument must be sterile when
it enters the stratosphere. The GPS devices provided by Alpha Micro
are vital for accurate altitude measurement readings so that we
know that the balloon has travelled 20 kilometres above the Earth's
surface. For our experiment to be a success, any data we collect
must have come from the stratosphere."
The BEXUS Stratospheric Balloon, which will carry the CASS-E
instrument, is part of the Rexus/Bexus programme, a joint
initiative between the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the
Swedish National Space Board (SNSB). The BEXUS Balloon is nearly
100 metres long and will carry up to 20 experiments. Through
collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA), the Swedish
share of the payload has been made available to student teams from
across Europe, including Team CASS-E from Cranfield University. The
balloon is scheduled to be launched in early October 2010 from the
Esrange Space Center in northern Sweden.
The instrument will collect air from the stratosphere 21 miles
above the Earth to determine whether microorganisms are able to
survive at this altitude. These atmospheric conditions are similar
to that found on the surface of Mars and the results of this
experiment will help determining whether or not the planet can
support life. For the project to succeed, it is vital that the box
is completely sterile when it leaves the atmosphere so that any
life that is detected is truly stratospheric and not
Earth-based.
Alpha Micro worked with the CASS-E team to ensure that it had
the software solutions required for the development of the
project's ground station and embedded control board. Miss
Juanes-Vallejo added: "Having initially approached Alpha Micro
about the u-blox AMY-5, we soon realised that they also had a
number of other solutions that would help to ensure the success of
our project. It was of great benefit to both the CASS-E team and
the experiment that we were able to work with a distributor like
Alpha Micro that not only had the leading products we required but
also the design expertise to guide us through each of the
component's capabilities.
Christos Papakyriacou, Managing Director of Alpha Micro
Components, said: "Everyone at Alpha Micro has really enjoyed
working with the CASS-E team, who have demonstrated a contagious
enthusiasm throughout this experiment. Being able to step out of
our normal working routine and support such a driven group of
students has been a pleasure. It is an honour for Alpha Micro to
have been given the opportunity to work with such dedicated
students to help them meet their ambitious goals."
"This project is at the cutting edge of science and Alpha
Micro is delighted to be able to support this unique experiment.
The fact that a number of our components from market leaders
u-blox, Lantronix and Taoglas will be used to determine whether
life can exist in space is a wonderful bonus."
The REXUS/BEXUS programme is realised under a bilateral Agency
Agreement between the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the Swedish
National Space Board (SNSB). The Swedish share of the payload has
been made available to students from other European countries
through a collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA).
EuroLaunch, a collaboration between the Esrange Space Center of
the Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) and the Mobile Rocket Base
(MORABA) of DLR, is responsible for the campaign management and
operations of the launch vehicles. Experts from ESA, SSC and DLR
provide technical support to the student teams throughout the
project. REXUS and BEXUS are launched from Esrange Space Center in
northern Sweden. For more information visit http://www.rexusbexus.net
Alpha Micro is fully committed to supporting the engineers of
tomorrow. Its design-based approach to distribution includes a team
of in-house engineers. Their in-depth product knowledge adds real
value to the solutions they provide customers by ensuring their
designs meet the exact specifications of the varied and demanding
projects.
