Embry-Riddle Students Prepare to Launch CubeSat to Study Memory Chip Decay From Space Radiation

After seven years of painstaking work, an Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University student team is finally cleared to launch its second small satellite into orbit.

The CubeSat, named EagleSat-2, will hitch a ride aboard Northrop Grumman’s NG-23 rocket mission, scheduled to lift off this month from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. 

The small satellite is designed to investigate how computer memory degrades when exposed to harsh solar radiation.

The opportunity to launch EagleSat-2 came after the successful 2017 flight of EagleSat-1, which studied satellite orbital decay and the effectiveness of supercapacitors. Building on that achievement, the Embry-Riddle student group proposed a second satellite to NASA’s highly competitive CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI) and was one of 11 university teams selected.

“I believe we are looking at a new era of CubeSat development at Embry-Riddle,” said Bruce Noble, project manager for EagleSat-2 and an aerospace engineering student.

Noble said EagleSat-2’s mission objective strikes a balance between feasibility and the ability to provide satellite researchers with the most valuable data, regardless of whether the satellite remains operational for weeks or years.

The EagleSat-2 team, which includes students Ela Ozatay, Jimi Wadnola, Bruce Noble, Gary Wiens and faculty mentor Dr. Ahmed Iyanda Sulyman, visits Voyager Technologies in Webster, Texas. (Photo: Embry-Riddle)

“The payload for EagleSat-2 was decided before I joined,” he said. “There were several options as to what the project goal should be, but memory degradation was chosen because the research could reliably be conducted over the lifespan of a CubeSat.”

The EagleSat-2 team has outfitted the CubeSat with several types of computer memory chips —FRAM, SRAM, MRAM and flash storage. Each chip has been loaded with a known set of data before launch. Once in orbit, the EagleSat-2 team will monitor for changes in the data caused by radiation.

Team member Ela Ozatay says that by comparing the received data against the original input, the team will be able to track which types of memory degrade faster and how reliably they perform in a high-radiation environment.

If successful, EagleSat-2 can contribute to vital research on developing more resilient memory chips to withstand the harsh conditions of solar decay. This knowledge is essential for designing more robust and longer-lasting space systems needed for ambitious deep-space missions.

A Difficult Journey

Low-cost satellites the size of loaves of bread, CubeSats are designed to be carried into space by fitting into standardized deployers that are mounted aboard larger rockets. To qualify for launch, each CubeSat must meet strict requirements for size, weight and safety, as well as pass rigorous inspections and vibration testing.

While designing and building its CubeSat, The EagleSat-2 team faced persistent challenges, ranging from software issues to supply chain delays.

A critical hurdle occurred shortly before the final integration deadline with the team’s launch provider, Voyager Technologies. The team discovered a short circuit between the solar panels and the CubeSat's power system. The error would have prevented the satellite from charging.

“The only way to fix the short was to take the satellite completely apart,” said Noble. “Everybody worked diligently and had EagleSat-2 ready for another inspection and vibration test in a single semester.”

The team’s perseverance paid off.

“The resilience demonstrated by the EagleSat-2 team throughout this project has been truly remarkable,” said Dr. Ahmed Iyanda Sulyman, professor and interim chair for the Computer, Electrical and Software Engineering Department, as well as faculty mentor for the team. “There were moments when it looked like the project was doomed to fail, but the team managed to turn things around for the success story that we have today.”

Preparing for Launch

EagleSat-2 is a student-built cube satellite, or CubeSat, designed to study how RAM degrades under solar radiation. (Photo: Embry-Riddle)

On March 17, the EagleSat team arrived at the Voyager Technologies facility in Webster, Texas, where they received a guided tour, an experience that Noble and his fellow EagleSat-2 teammates won’t forget.

“We got to see some of their larger projects, such as the Bishop Airlock mockup they use for training astronauts,” said Noble. “The whole process was very exciting.”

After final weight checks, fit verification and removal of pre-flight components, EagleSat-2 was secured in its deployer and readied for its eventual trip into space.

“The EagleSat-2 team did a wonderful job assembling and supporting integration of their spacecraft on the NRCSD29 mission campaign,” said Brenden Swanik, mission manager at Space Solutions, a business segment of Voyager Space. “We are looking forward to the flight!”

Once launched, the satellite will be tracked from Embry-Riddle’s ground station atop the Aerospace Experimentation and Fabrication Building (AXFAB). Monitoring EagleSat-2 is essential for downloading data and maintaining satellite longevity.

The team expects EagleSat-2 to transmit two major sets of information: general performance metrics and results from the memory degradation experiment.

“By tracking the satellite, we can determine what data we want to be sent back and observe how the satellite’s health affects the data,” said Ozatay. “It allows us to adjust operations as needed during the mission.”

‘Collaboration is Key’

Reflecting on his journey, Noble believes the most rewarding aspect of the project has been his experiences as EagleSat-2’s project manager.

“I started as a member of the structures team, then volunteered for project management, where I developed the ground station team and training,” he said. “Collaboration is key in systems engineering. Each subsystem must work together, and the project manager needs to maintain the big picture, ensuring communication between teams.”

The early success of EagleSat-2 is already shaping Embry-Riddle’s future CubeSat initiatives. Under Noble’s leadership, the program has been restructured to include a dedicated Payload Research and Development section focused on the research, design and testing of new payloads.

The team has also begun considering the development of a CubeSat twice the size of EagleSat-2.

“With renewed interest in space exploration, there’s been rapid growth in the industry — from commercial space to military involvement,” said Noble. “I hope that the success of EagleSat-2 will help bring the space industry to our campus and provide new opportunities for students.”

Posted In: Engineering | Research | Space