ITS Helps Student-Made Satellite Prepare for Space

Students in Upstate New York are getting the opportunity to explore space like never before.

In a partnership with educational nonprofit Teachers in Space, Inc., engineers at Innovative Test Solutions (ITS) helped students from the Gloversville Enlarged School District’s High-Altitude Achievement Club prepare their educational satellite to launch into space.

On Thursday, October 28, 2021, not only did ITS engineers test the student-made satellite’s durability, but they also invited the entire club to witness the experiment be performed.

“The whole idea of it is to be able to show (students) the testing behind the satellite and what they’ll actually see when it’s in service,” said ITS Director of Operations Lou Fiorini.

“We want to do whatever we can for the schools to spark that enthusiasm for STEM education and engineering.”

The educational satellite, known as the Serenity Orbital CubeSat — or “Serenity” for short — underwent several aerospace industry tests at the ITS laboratory to see if it could endure the extreme conditions of take-off.

How ITS Ensured Serenity Could Withstand Take-Off

As the name implies, Serenity is a 3u CubeSat — a miniature educational satellite that’s primarily used as a teaching tool. Teachers In Space provides CubeSat kits to schools and student-run organizations across the nation.

To ensure the trip goes smoothly, the engineers at ITS used their state-of-the-art machinery to test its aerodynamism and charted the results with a computer.

The team at ITS placed the satellite on a G-Force simulator to see if it could hold up the against the intense gravitational pulls it would experience when fastened to an accelerating rocket.

Strapped to a platform connected to several spinning axels, students watched as the test shook Serenity with such force that it appeared to be vibrating.

Aside from exposing the students to the satellite testing, the engineers gave the middle and high schoolers an exclusive tour of the laboratory.

Since ITS is an engineering firm specializing in material and component testing for a variety of specimens and industries, offering its knowledge to a group of young STEM enthusiasts was a teaching opportunity that couldn’t be passed up.

According to ITS General Manager Kevin McEvoy, the experience served as a preview of what students can expect from a career in engineering.

“This experience teaches you how things break, which is an important component to engineering,” explained McEvoy. “It’s necessary for understanding the science behind materials and properties.”

Mission of the High-Altitude Achievement Club

The High-Altitude Achievement Club plans to use Serenity to test whether the piezoelectric — or electricity-generating compound — they created can protect both organic and inorganic matter from cosmic radiation in the air.

This is the type of air a person can be exposed to while flying in an airplane.

By placing a Geiger counter or radiation measurer that’s covered in the compound next to a regular Geiger counter inside Serenity, students hope to see if it can mitigate or shield against radioactivity.

The data sensors within Serenity are intended to record the satellite’s findings and send the information back to Earth in real-time utilizing HAM radio signals.

This experiment could potentially help the commercial flight and aviation industries as well. Should the students’ compound prove successful, it could be used to coat aircrafts and even spacesuits.

Sharing in the students’ satellite testing experience at ITS was New York State Senator Jim Tedisco.

To recognize the club for its scientific ambitions and progress, Senator Tedisco awarded each member a State Certificate of Merit.

For the Gloversville Enlarged School District and surrounding community that’s supported the club’s endeavors, this honor speaks to the students’ academic achievement and dedication.

Laboratory Services Offered at ITS

With the experience and equipment to test the limits of a variety of materials, mechanical components, and specimens, engineers at ITS can ensure a specific product, material, or piece of equipment meets industry standards.

Lab testing services at ITS cover a wide range of industries, including construction, energy, transportation, and healthcare.

To learn more about how ITS can help develop your product or innovation through mechanical, aerospace, or material testing, contact the team at ITS.