Photos from Cal Poly Cubesat Developers Workshop 2009

I finally got some pictures up for viewing from our Cal Poly Cubesat Workshop trip!  They were hastily gathered but due to our next trip this is it for now.

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Photos from Cal Poly Cubesat Developers Workshop 2009

Coming Soon: Bryan's Cal Poly Adventure

Aloha Friends,

We had an amazing time with Bryan at the Cubesat Developers Conference at Cal Poly last weekend.  We're still unpacking and uploading photos and trying to find time to get it all written down here while it is fresh.  Don't know how we'll find the time because Bryan is still trying to catch up on missed assignments and tests and has 2 days of SAT testing this week and then we are off to New Mexico for the next adventure (Shhh... sorry, can't talk about that until we get clearance... really!)

As soon as we can get everything organized and loaded up, we'll share about all the tremendous people Bryan met and opportunities he's been offered.  I am so proud of Bryan and I have no doubt this last weekend will be an important factor as he considers his future career path!

Aloha For Now,

Bryan's Dad

Bryan's Cubesat Presentation (Revised)

Bryan re-shot his presentation with better audio now.

Bryan's Cubesat Awards

We are so proud of Bryan!  He did very well at the Hawaii State Science and Engineering Fair, winning 7 awards!  Thanks to all of you who supported him with encouragement, prayers, cash, equipment and advice.  You share in his success!

AWARDED:
Air Force Association - 1st place (field of aerospace sciences), $250 + certificate
Armed Forces Communication/Electronics Assoc. Hawaii - 1st place, $200 + certificate
College of Engineering, UH Manoa - Junior Award, $100 + certificate
Emergency Amateur Radio Club - 1st place, $125
Engineers & Architects of Hawaii - 1st place, $75 (bond) + certificate
Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers - 1st place, $100 (+ teacher award $100)
NASA - Certificate of Outstanding Achievement (creative scientific endeavor in aerospace research) - certificate + packet of goodies

  
  

Bryan's Cubesat Presentation

Bryan gives the presentation he gave at the science fair, minus the demo and the Q&A time.

State Science Fair

On Monday I went to go set up and sign in for the 52nd Hawaii state science fair.  I went right after school set up my board and did some paper work.

 Then on Tuesday I went for the judging.  I had to leave the house at 6:00 am in order to get there on time.  My friend from Hanalani had also made it to state.  When I got there I saw my friend form 6th grade there.  He was three projects down from me.  I was judged by eleven judges.  Two were with the official science fair judges and the rest were agency and company judges.  Hanalani took a field trip to there, but had too leave soon after they arrived because they technically were not supposed to be there during judging.  I left at about 2:00 p.m.

On Wednesday was the award ceremony.  My grandparents and even Dr. Wayne Shiroma were there.  We had to sit a listen to names being called out for four hours.  I ended up winning awards from seven different agencies!  This made all of the work put into it worth it.

Coming Soon: Great News

We have great news to share but honestly we are exhausted tonight so it will have to wait.  I also want Bryan to write about it from his perspective, so hopefully this weekend we'll have a nice blog report for all of you.

Aloha for now!

Off to go to Science Fair

Bryan and Emily have left for "Judgement Day" at the Hawaii State Science Fair!  He looks sharp and is a little nervous.  I know he'll do a great job!  He has his Cubesat all charged up as well as all the little bits and gear that travel with it.  Goodluck Bryan!  

USA demonstrates ability to shoot down a satellite

Last night the U.S. shot down a defunct spy satellite with a ship-based missile.

http://www.space.com/news/080221-satshot-transparency.html

Video of that event including the "hit".

http://www.space.com/common/media/video/player.php?videoRef=080221-satellite-kill

One way to avoid the risk of being shotdown is to use many smaller networked sattellites that are cheap and easily made and launched, like Cubesats.

What will we do when space is accessible to all?

What would we do if owning and operating a satellite was as easy as owning and operating a webpage?  What is space was accessible to everyone?

My Experience at the University of Hawaii

Today I went to the UH School of Engineering.  When I got there I met with Dr. Wayne Shiroma and his team. He is the head of the CubeSat program at UH.  We were able to get a tour of their lab and be able to see what they were working on and compare it to what I have done.  

While I was there I was offered some incredible opportunities.  I won't get into details now but I have a chance to get a great head start in this industry.  One thing they made very clear is that they want me to come to UH when I graduate high-school and get involved in the CubeSat program there.  They made a very convincing case and I am giving it some serious consideration.

With all the things I heard today I am going to have a hard time sleeping.

Our Visit to the UH Hawaii Space Flight Lab

We arrive at the UH College of Engineering.

Bryan sets up his project in the electronics lab.

Bryan begins his presentation for Dr. Shiroma and his team.

Justin gives Bryan a tour of their clean room and current Cubesats.

David Beers and Dr. Wayne Shiroma have been such an encouragement to Bryan! THANK YOU!

Bryan & Scott at the District Science Fair

Bryan and his good friend Scott are both advancing to the State
Science Fair in April.

Last push before District Science Fair

 

 

New relays and an ON/OFF switch.  Bryan also demonstrates the video is working on the satellite and transmitting a signal to our TV.

Done! (Again)

Yay the cubesat is fully operational!  I ended up having to buy new relays from radio-shack and switch them out with the old ones.  The only problem is that my APRS relay is kind of sticky.  This means that I have to tell it to turn on, then flick the board repeatedly until the light goes on.  

I got the ATV and APRS both working simultaneously.  Tomorrow I go to set up my project after school.  I am just going to set up the board. Tuesday is the judging.  I am going to bring my cubesat, the laptop, and a small, unused TV that we found to demonstrate the at my ATV works to the judges. 

Small Changes for Distict

Today I added a power switch so I can turn on and off the device without having to plug and unplug the power.  I am having trouble turning on and off the APRS and ATV using the basic stamp and am hoping to figure that out tomorrow.

APRS Data

Here is a quick screen shot of how my Cubesat looks on an APRS map. Like the icon?

Cubesat awarded honorable mention!

Bryan's Cubesat project was awarded an honorable mention at the Hanalani Science Fair. All the first place finishers were recommended for entry to the District Science Fair, but the judges specifically recommended Bryan's project be included as well (the only non-1st place finisher going!).

We are also pleased that the 1st place finisher in Bryan's age group is his good friend Scott. He won 1st place for a behavioral research project about the effects of mobile phone use while driving. Bryan's brother Bradley also submitted a beautiful science fair board this year about rat intelligence (his first science fair ever!)

The District Science Fair begins on February 9th.

Congratulations Bryan!

Mission Complete!

It is done!  It's up to the Hanalani judges now to decide who goes on to the District Science Fair.  Bryan says the competition is tough this year.  Bryan has learned so much that this project is already a success.  Enjoy the photos!

 

 

Beginning the display board

 

 

Last Days of Construction