Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?
Undergraduate
Project Type
group
Campus
Daytona Beach
Authors' Class Standing
Megan Soll, Senior Johnathon Bizzano, Senior Harley Goulet, Senior Ethan Fajardo, Senior
Lead Presenter's Name
Megan Soll
Lead Presenter's College
DB College of Arts and Sciences
Faculty Mentor Name
Aroh Barjatya
Abstract
Understanding plasma dynamics in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) is critical for atmospheric studies and space mission planning. Retarding Potential Analyzers (RPAs) provide valuable plasma diagnostics by measuring ion energy distributions, offering broader plasma state characterization compared to Langmuir probes, albeit with some trade-offs in precision. This senior design project aims to develop a cost-effective RPA (CERPA) that is rapidly producible and multi platform optimized for CubeSats, sounding rockets, and laboratory plasma chambers. This effort builds on the existing Mid-Area RPA from Plasma Controls, with a focus on developing a new electrical system and miniaturizing the sensor body to meet spaceflight constraints while ensuring accurate ion measurements. The new electronics will first be validated using the current Mid-Area RPA in a plasma chamber before full integration into the redesigned sensor. Measurement comparisons will assess accuracy and mission readiness. The final instrument will measure ion temperatures from 400 K to 2000 K and densities from 2E8 m⁻³ to 2E12 m⁻³ while adhering to CubeSat constraints (< 1 kg mass, < 1 W power, < 1 U volume). Designed for academic research, CERPA will support future missions by the Space and Atmospheric Instrumentation Laboratory (SAIL), enhancing plasma diagnostics across diverse mission platforms.
Did this research project receive funding support (Spark, SURF, Research Abroad, Student Internal Grants, Collaborative, Climbing, or Ignite Grants) from the Office of Undergraduate Research?
No
CERPA: A cost-effective retarding potential analyzer for CubeSat and sounding rocket platforms
Understanding plasma dynamics in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) is critical for atmospheric studies and space mission planning. Retarding Potential Analyzers (RPAs) provide valuable plasma diagnostics by measuring ion energy distributions, offering broader plasma state characterization compared to Langmuir probes, albeit with some trade-offs in precision. This senior design project aims to develop a cost-effective RPA (CERPA) that is rapidly producible and multi platform optimized for CubeSats, sounding rockets, and laboratory plasma chambers. This effort builds on the existing Mid-Area RPA from Plasma Controls, with a focus on developing a new electrical system and miniaturizing the sensor body to meet spaceflight constraints while ensuring accurate ion measurements. The new electronics will first be validated using the current Mid-Area RPA in a plasma chamber before full integration into the redesigned sensor. Measurement comparisons will assess accuracy and mission readiness. The final instrument will measure ion temperatures from 400 K to 2000 K and densities from 2E8 m⁻³ to 2E12 m⁻³ while adhering to CubeSat constraints (< 1 kg mass, < 1 W power, < 1 U volume). Designed for academic research, CERPA will support future missions by the Space and Atmospheric Instrumentation Laboratory (SAIL), enhancing plasma diagnostics across diverse mission platforms.