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C9 Microgravity Experiments Introduction   Proposal The Tethered SATellite Testbed (TSATT) project sponsored by the Air Force is based on a tethered satellite pair. This system will separate in space, remaining connected via a deployable tether. The behavior of this tether and the two satellite end masses upon deployment is unknown. Through a C-9 microgravity project, the team hopes to gain an understanding of tether dynamics in a weightless environment. A 1:4 scale of TSATT will be used with a tether length of approximately 1.5 meters. Various initial orientations and rotations will be induced, and the resulting motions recorded and evaluated. The motions experienced on the C-9 will be representative of the possible conditions experienced by the tethered satellite pair once released into space. Data collected from this experiment will be used to validate computer models and refine predictions of tether and end mass motion. The models acquired from testing in microgravity can be applied to any tethered satellite mission being launched. Here are pictures of the flight during the summer of 2006: Outreach was conducted in the form of many student workshops run by the team members. These workshops not only promoted the research being conducted by our team, but instead exposed students to a full range of Aerospace Engineering aspects. Topics included Aerodynamics - how planes and gliders fly and a wind tunnel tour, Rocketry - where the students build and launch their own model rockets, Blimps - development of flight and flying a blimp, a final workshop in this series focused on Presentation Skills - how to make an effective presentation and how to give a good presentation in which students paired up to make and give their own presentation. For more information, please contact our office (2028 Space Research Building, 2455 Hayward St, Ann Arbor, MI 48109) at 734.936.0511, or email s3fl-info at umich dot edu

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