The Virginia Tech Optical Satellite Tracking Telescope (VTOST) aims to test the feasibility of a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) designed tracking system for Space Situational Awareness (SSA) data contribution. A novel approach is considered, combining two COTS systems, a high-powered telescope, built for astronomy purposes, and a larger field of view (FOV) camera. Using only publicly available two-line element sets (TLEs), orbital propagation accuracy degrades quickly with time from epoch and is often not accurate enough to task a high-powered, small FOV telescope. Under this experimental approach, the larger FOV camera is used to acquire and track the resident space object (RSO) and provide a real-time pointing update to allow the high-powered telescope to track the RSO and provide possible resolved imagery. VTOST is designed as a remotely taskable sensor, based on current network architecture, capable of serving as a platform for further SSA studies, including unresolved and resolved imagery analysis, network tasking, and orbit determination. Initial design considerations are based on the latest Raven class and other COTS based telescope research, including research by the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), ExoAnalytic Solutions, and other university level telescope projects. A holistic system design, including astronomy, image processing, and tracking methods, in a low-budget environment is considered. Method comparisons and results of the system design process are presented. / Master of Science

Forest fires cause a significant amount of damage and destruction each year. Optimally dispatching resources reduces the amount of damage a forest fire can cause. Models predict the fire spread to provide the data required to optimally dispatch resources. However, the models are only as accurate as the data used to build them. Satellites are one valuable tool in the collection of data for the forest fire models. Satellites provide data on the types of vegetation, the wind speed and direction, the soil moisture content, etc. The current operating paradigm is to passively collect data when possible. However, images from directly overhead provide better resolution and are easier to process. Maneuvering a constellation of satellites to fly directly over the forest fire provides higher quality data than is achieved with the current operating paradigm. Before launch, the location of the forest fire is unknown. Therefore, it is impossible to optimize the initial orbits for the satellites. Instead, the expected cost of maneuvering to observe the forest fire determines the optimal initial orbits. A two-stage stochastic programming approach is well suited for this class of problem where initial decisions are made with an uncertain future and then subsequent decisions are made once a scenario is realized. A repeat ground track orbit provides a non-maneuvering, natural solution providing a daily flyover of the forest fire. However, additional maneuvers provide a second daily flyover of the forest fire. The additional maneuvering comes at a significant cost in terms of additional fuel, but provides more data collection opportunities. After data are collected, ground stations receive the data for processing. Optimally selecting the ground station locations reduce the number of built ground stations and reduces the data fusion issues. However, the location of the forest fire alters the optimal ground station sites. A two-stage stochastic programming approach optimizes the selection of ground stations to maximize the expected amount of data downloaded from a satellite. The approaches of selecting initial orbits and ground station locations including uncertainty will provide a robust system to reduce the amount of damage caused by forest fires.

Satellites typically communicate with locations on the ground to receive commands and send data back. Establishing reliable communications generally requires dedicated ground stations, which in turn require hardware and expertise. Developers of nano-satellites, however, may not have the expertise or resources necessary for establishing a dedicated ground station. Therefore, the use of an existing communication system, such as the Satellite Personal Communication Networks (S-PCNs), is attractive. Another shortcoming of the fixed ground stations, already available, is that they are normally only able to communicate with Low Earth Orbit (LEO) nano-satellites four times per day (two10-minute windows separated by 90 minutes, followed 12 hours later by two more such 10-minute windows). This drawback is also overcome by the use of S-PCNs which provide increased access times, smaller gaps in contact between the satellites and ground stations, and easier tracking of satellite health. In this thesis, the capabilities of S-PCNs for communications with a nano-satellite are explored. Software simulation and analysis have been performed to assess system performance. Ground testing of the hardware is done to understand the use of such systems for small satellites.

This study examined the effects of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) on the proliferation and differentiation of bovine satellite cells (BSC) in vitro. Cells were treated with serum-free defined media containing varying concentrations of bFGF, IGF-I and TGF-β. On day 3 of treatment total cell nuclei and myotube nuclei were determined. bFGF stimulated BSC proliferation in a dose-dependent fashion with half-maximal stimulation observed at a concentration of 5 ng/ml (p < .05). Similar results were found for IGF-I and TGF-β in the presence of FGF, with half-maximal stimulation observed at 5 ng/ml and 1 ng/ml, respectively. With regard to differentiation, TGF-beta inhibited myotube formation at concentrations above 0.05 ng/ml. IGF-I stimulated myotube formation at concentrations as low as 10 ng/ml (p < .05). These results demonstrate that proliferation and differentiation of BSC in vitro are affected by growth factors, and consequently, similar effects may be found in vivo. This information may prove to be useful in future methods of manipulating muscle growth in vivo.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 18-21, 2004 / Town & Country Resort, San Diego, California / This paper will present the design of a network used to receive and record sensor data and provide voice communications between a flight controller and the pilot of an aircraft undergoing flight testing in remote areas. The network utilizes a completely self-contained mobile tracking subsystem to receive and relay the sensor data and cockpit voice in real-time over a geostationary satellite. In addition to the aircraft tracking and data/voice relay functions, the system also provides local data recording at the mobile station, telephone and intercom connectivity between the mobile station and the control center, and remote equipment setup via the satellite link.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 20-23, 2003 / Riviera Hotel and Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada / This paper aims to add the information access capabilities to enable user’s mobile terminals in a wireless small satellite telemetry system. The cellular phone-centric mobile network architecture provides wireless communication link; telemetry information is provided to users in a highly personalized form according to the end-user’s range. We choose a reference system-level model of network architecture and compare its performance with common small satellite telemetry network link; evaluation results derived using a known analytical model. The result of original hypotheses, network architecture’s prototype includes both analytical performance evaluation and simulation techniques, are discussed in detail.

Que ce soit pour des satellites en orbite autour de la terre ou des sondes spatiales explorant le système solaire, l'évolution des technologies de propulsion et de communication amène à une catégorie de véhicules spatiaux dont les appendices (panneaux solaires, antennes...) sont de plus en plus grands et flexibles. Responsable de vibrations structurales, cette flexibilité requiert des lois de commande d'attitude particulières. De plus, elle accroît considérablement la difficulté de modélisation et d'évaluation des paramètres physiques. Ce sujet de recherche s'inscrit dans le projet LABSAT, un satellite de laboratoire conçu à l'Université de Sherbrooke, dont les panneaux solaires sont flexibles et orientables. Par conséquent, ils sont responsables de variations significatives de la dynamique de rotation du satellite. L'analyse de la problématique a mis en évidence trois objectifs principaux: (1) réalisation d'un simulateur haute-fidélité non linéaire de la dynamique d'attitude sur lequel s'appuie (2) le développement d'un modèle linéaire variant en fonction de l'angle [delta] des panneaux solaires servant de support à (3) la conception d'une loi de commande robuste atténuant les vibrations structurales et s'adaptant à l'angle [delta]. Parallèlement à l'accomplissement de ces étapes, ce projet a donné lieu à plusieurs contributions dont les plus importantes sont: (1) la généralisation de l'approche pseudoflexible en considérant n éléments rigides pour la modélisation de panneaux flexibles, (2) la conception d'une démarche d'identification originale, applicable pour des modèles à paramètres variables marginalement stable et (3) une première application de la ([mu]-Mu)-itération auto-séquencée pour la commande d'attitude de satellite flexible. L'enchaînement séquentiel des différentes étapes rend la démarche globale particulièrement difficile et explique l'attention particulière dont elle fait l'objet. Après une étude critique de l'état de l'art, la première partie de ce mémoire analyse en profondeur la théorie des méthodes retenues et documente le développement d'outils théoriques et/ou pratiques comblant les lacunes subsistantes. Dans une seconde partie, l'application de la solution technique au cas simple d'un satellite rigide à paramètre variable permet de valider la démarche avant de la mettre en oeuvre pour LABSAT.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 25-28, 1999 / Riviera Hotel and Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada / The coverage characteristics of the GLONASS constellation is analyzed. The almanac data of GLONASS navigation message are used in the computation according to the operation of the satellites. The ground traces of the GLONASS satellites are plotted. And the probability of visible satellite number is calculated under different latitude conditions. The results are analyzed to give descriptions of the GLONASS constellation. And they are compared with those of GPS's. The conclusion is verified that GLONASS constellation provides better coverage at high latitude.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / November 04-07, 1991 / Riviera Hotel and Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada / A Remote Telemetry Station (RTS) was developed to support Boeing’s requirement to relocate its flight test telemetry range away from Seattle, Wa. As requirements to relocate the test range were investigated high level requirements were documented and various approaches were evaluated. The end result of the analysis and requirements definition was the procurement of the Remote Telemetry Station (RTS). The RTS is capable of supporting many sites, tracking and receiving up to 1024 Kbits/sec of telemetry data, providing fully redundant two-way radio communication in the UHF and VHF bands, linking all the data back to Seattle and appearing transparent to the users. The RTS was designed and developed by a Boeing/Veda Incorporated team. The end result of this joint design and development effort is a system that meets all Boeing requirements in a highly integrated, extremely efficient, and very flexible package providing for growth through the year 2000.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 28-31, 1996 / Town and Country Hotel and Convention Center, San Diego, California / The Integrated Monitoring, Analysis, and Control COTS System (IMACCS), a system providing real time satellite command and telemetry support, orbit and attitude determination, events prediction, and data trending, was implemented in 90 days at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in 1995. This paper describes upgrades made to the original commercial, off-the-shelf (COTS)-based prototype. These upgrades include automation capability and spacecraft Integration and Testing (I&T) capability. A further extension to the prototype is the establishment of a direct RF interface to a spacecraft. As with the original prototype, all of these enhancements required lower staffing levels and reduced schedules compared to custom system development approaches. The team's approach to system development, including taking advantage of COTS and legacy software, is also described.