The overall goal was to prove that Powder Metallurgy (PM) manufacturing techniques and components could be used to create the bus structure and satisfy NASA's safety requirements. This project is a continuation of a previous project in which preliminary designs and analyses were conducted. The results of the previous project provide preliminary data that PM components will meet NASA's safety requirements and that it is reasonable to use PM to manufacture a low cost, lightweight nanosat bus structure. To continue moving toward the ultimate goal, our objectives were (1) to modify the existing design to create a more efficient and practical structure, (2) to machine and build the bus structure with both wrought and powder metal components, and (3) to analyze the nanosatellite bus structure though finite element analysis and destructive testing. The project is ongoing, but a bus structure has been constructed, and the design has gone through several revisions. The FEA will be completed in spring 2005 and a separate MQP report (written by Dale Ames) will be submitted at the end of C-Term 2005.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Moller, Christopher Marcus
• Ames, Dale D.

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 05C002M

Advisor

• Looft, Fred J.

Year

• 2005

Sponsor

• NASA

Date created

• 2005-01-01

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Manufacturing Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright