collisional accretion experiment
project description
The Collisional Accretion Experiment (CATE) is a recipient of the NASA Undergraduate Student Instrumentation Project. The CATE team consists of undergraduate students (engineering, physics and marketing) and is mentored by two faculty advisors. CATE studies the idealized theory of the accretion of small particles. This experiment further allows us insight into the formation of planets in our Solar System in the proto-planetary disk as well as the formation of Saturn's shepherding moons. CATE has flown on a week long parabolic flight campaign in the Summer of 2014.
responsibilities
project lead & engineering lead
- Lead an interdisciplinary team of undergraduate students
- Responsible for delegation of tasks
- Present and create technical presentations to ensure readiness (PDR and CDR)
- Technical writing of the Test Experiment Data Package (TEDP)
- Development of initial experiment idea for NASA's Request for Proposal
- Worked on proposal presented to NASA RFP (CAD drawings and technical writing)
- Lead design of the experiment test chamber (ETC)
- Lead desgin of the experiment storage unit (ESU)
- Develop design of major dynamic components within ETC
- Design and development of electrical prototype of experiment mechanisms
- Develop electrical system and testing system
- Design 3D printed files for processing and printing
- Community outreach events focused on STEM
- Structural analysis for ESU and ETC in compliance with NASA parameters
- Ensure readiness of CATE for flight campaign
- Responsible for delegation of tasks
- Present and create technical presentations to ensure readiness (PDR and CDR)
- Technical writing of the Test Experiment Data Package (TEDP)
- Development of initial experiment idea for NASA's Request for Proposal
- Worked on proposal presented to NASA RFP (CAD drawings and technical writing)
- Lead design of the experiment test chamber (ETC)
- Lead desgin of the experiment storage unit (ESU)
- Develop design of major dynamic components within ETC
- Design and development of electrical prototype of experiment mechanisms
- Develop electrical system and testing system
- Design 3D printed files for processing and printing
- Community outreach events focused on STEM
- Structural analysis for ESU and ETC in compliance with NASA parameters
- Ensure readiness of CATE for flight campaign
skills utilized
- Project management skills to delegate tasks, ensure timeliness and efficiency of experiment
- Machining abilities to produce components from in-house machine shop
- Rapid prototyping abilities to produce 3D printed pieces
- Communication skills between physicists, marketing students, and engineering students
- SolidWorks skills to provide CADs and 2D drawings for machining
- Technical presentation skills for both professional engineers and high school students
- AutoCAD skills to run structural analysis on components to ensure integrity against 9Gs
- Electrical and circuitry abilities that include development of an electrical system, soldering and troubleshooting
- Machining abilities to produce components from in-house machine shop
- Rapid prototyping abilities to produce 3D printed pieces
- Communication skills between physicists, marketing students, and engineering students
- SolidWorks skills to provide CADs and 2D drawings for machining
- Technical presentation skills for both professional engineers and high school students
- AutoCAD skills to run structural analysis on components to ensure integrity against 9Gs
- Electrical and circuitry abilities that include development of an electrical system, soldering and troubleshooting
press releases
UCF Today: Students to Ride 'Vomit Comet' Courtesy of NASA
Central Florida Future: Vomit Comet Equals Opportunity of Lifetime, Job for One
NASA News: Space Technology Experiments Tested in Microgravity Flight
Click Orlando: UCF Students to ride 'Vomit Comet'
Florida Space Institute: CATE - The Collisional Accretion Experiment
Central Florida Future: Vomit Comet Equals Opportunity of Lifetime, Job for One
NASA News: Space Technology Experiments Tested in Microgravity Flight
Click Orlando: UCF Students to ride 'Vomit Comet'
Florida Space Institute: CATE - The Collisional Accretion Experiment