I-Corps: Rocket Launch System

I-Corps项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力将是能够以成本效益高的方式部署多颗小型卫星，这比少数大型卫星的效用更大。由于缺乏发射能力，未发射的小型卫星大量积压并迅速增加。为小型卫星的发射提供低成本和更大的能力将能够实现较大卫星无法以成本效益高的方式发挥的重要科学和通信能力。其中包括低数据速率通信、从多个点收集数据的网络星座、大型卫星的在轨检查以及大学相关研究。这将使大学能够开展更多的基于大气层的研究，而且由于低轨道卫星比大型卫星更频繁地经过特定的地理区域，它们可用于对灾害作出快速反应或及时收集与远程医疗、环境管理和资产跟踪有关的信息。这一I-Corps项目将有助于解决与气球作为发射小型卫星的平台的部署和高度控制有关的技术和后勤挑战。该体系结构分为关键子系统。最初，研究和开发的重点是发射定向和控制系统。随后，开发工作侧重于建造和测试几个可以执行亚轨道发射的子系统。这包括继续开发无线通信系统，设计和集成无线通信系统，以及能够在系留控制下进行低空测试的强大飞行系统。进行了两次成功的测试，包括系留飞行集成测试和第三次发射测试。该团队将继续解决尚未解决的技术障碍，包括火箭的安全系绳连接和处理，半可控浮力系统，快速放气方法，中央骨架结构集成和远程通信。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project will be to enable cost-effective deployment of multiple small satellites, which can provide greater utility than a small number of large satellites. Lack of launch capacity has created a substantial and rapidly growing backlog of unlaunched small satellites. Providing low cost and increased capacity for launch of miniaturized satellites will enable important scientific and communication capabilities that larger satellites are unable to cost-effectively perform. These include low data rate communications, network constellations to gather data from multiple points, in-orbit inspection of larger satellites, and university related research. This will enable more university atmospheric-based research and, since low-orbit satellites pass over a specific geographic area more frequently than large satellites, they can be used for rapid response to disasters or to gather timely information relating to telemedicine, environmental management, and asset tracking. as well as enhanced communication capability in remote regions.This I-Corps project will contribute to addressing the technical and logistical challenges associated with the deployment and altitude control of balloons as platforms for launching small satellites. The architecture is broken into key subsystems. Initially, research and development was focused on the Launch Orientation and Control System (LOC). Subsequently, development focused on building and testing several subsystems that can execute suborbital launch. This includes the continued development of the LOC System, design and integration of a wireless communication system, and a robust flight system capable of testing at low altitudes under tethered control. Two successful tests were conducted, including a tethered flight integration test and third launch test. The team will continue address technical hurdles have yet to be resolved, including safe tethering connection and handling of the rocket, a semi-controllable buoyancy system, quick deflation method, central skeletal structure integration, and remote communication.