Classroom in the Sky

The North Idaho STEM Charter Academy is putting Rathdrum, Idaho on the map with their small satellite – called a CubeSat – being launched into space.

The school is participating in NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative program which was created to facilitate university, educational institutions and other organizations access to space. Research teams compete to have their satellite launched into space by NASA into low Earth orbit.

And now, the charter school in the small town of Rathdrum, is making its mark in space in the name of STEM education. Just before the school year began in September of 2015, Beth Brubaker, the school’s project specialist, traveled to a Maker Faire in New York City. Maker Faires large and small are held around the country to showcase science and design. It was there where the idea to enter the competition was born.

When she returned, Brubaker immediately began working on a proposal for the school’s ninth and tenth grade (tenth is currently the highest grade in the school) science class, students were selected for their strong work ethic. They spent the first semester working on robotics and used their lunch and free times to help write the proposal, Brubaker explained. In January, they received news that they had been selected to launch their satellite in June 2017.

“I wrote the proposal for a grant for NASA and found out in early January that we were approved,” Brubaker said. “Now we have to work out the details. We’re the only high school to our knowledge to be approved worldwide.” Local mentors Lorna Finman, of LCF Enterprises, and Brent Regan assisted as well.

The best way to describe a CubeSat is as a “microsatellite.” Its dimensions (4 in x 4 in x 4 in) are slightly larger than a shoebox, and it weighs less than three pounds. Its purpose is to transmit messages via radio signals to students around the world who are looking for it with a receiving device.

Since the exciting news in January, the class has become a team and has had to hit the ground running to work on their satellite. There has been much to learn, plan and design. First, they had to work on a Preliminary Design Review (PDR) to submit to NASA describing their design and purpose. Participants in the CubeSat program may use their satellite for educational or experimental purposes. Their satellite – The DaVinci – will focus on educational outreach by broadcasting images of Earth from space. The images will be viewed on their website for classrooms anywhere.

To accomplish the myriad of tasks for the satellite, the team nominated each other for various job roles regarding the CubeSat. Maddie Nowak, 14 and in the ninth grade, is the team’s communication leader.

“Our original plan was to have it be more educational with a LED panel for businesses and they could pay with Bitcoins, but we moved away from that because of power and space,” Maddie explained. “Now the focus is to take photographs and then change it with each person’s business name.”

They have also discussed broadcasting from the CubeSat to schools or anyone who donates. Also, donors may be able to transmit a message from the CubeSat. The two biggest donors will have their names etched onto the satellite.

“The team has ordered a ground station for a receiver, so they can track satellites beginning this summer to practice on other satellites that are already in orbit,” Brubaker explained.

Currently, they are working on financing the mission. The team is looking for business and private donors. As a thank you, donors’ company logos or names will be displayed on the photos of Earth shown on the website.

To receive transmission, schools will need a receiver which plugs into a computer, explained Jessica Millard, 15, a tenth grader, who is the project and finance leader. Her role is to raise money to sponsor the project.

In March, they pitched their first donation request to xCraft, a local drone manufacturer. “They were our first test pitch, and it turned into what to do next,” Jessica said. The team is now filming a video for a Kickstarter campaign.

The ultimate hands-on learning experience

The class is fast gaining real world experience in marketing, computer-aided design (CAD), engineering and electronic currency (Bitcoin). In addition to their three teachers, they are being guided by local experts in engineering and aeronautics. The team recently spent the day with Lorna Finman, who taught them about radio frequencies, and visited Burt Rutan for advice on design.

“It was amazing to see all of his awards and hear his story. He gave the team advice, the three C's, which are to always have Curiosity, Courage and Creativity,” Brubaker said. Other mentors include Ross Welburn, Brent Regan and Laszlo Antal.

The CubeSat project is multifaceted with decisions on how the CuebSat will work and how they will fund the purchase of its components.

“Our CubeSat is more specific to educational outreach as opposed to creating new science. It’s to promote STEM education worldwide and kids following those career paths. It’s all obstacles, and we hit them one at a time,” math and science teacher, David Moon, said.

Moon has been working with the students on payload safety. The payload is what will be carried on the satellite and the focus of the CubeSat. The design itself was completed using purchased off-the-shelf parts. There will be a camera specially designed for CubeSats, a battery plus several computer components. But the experience of learning and building the satellite and tracking it from Earth is invaluable. Moon explained how their CubeSat will work:

“A lot of CubeSats work in HAM radio frequencies. One of our mentors got a computer and hooked up an antenna and listened to a CubeSat (which) sends a radio frequency that the computer translates. Whoever controls the CubeSat, can tell its status. It might go into hibernation mode when it’s not close to the sun,” he said. The team has been working to get a frequency that they could use.

The STEM charter’s CubeSat will be in low Earth orbit at an altitude of 500 km (310.7 mi). The satellite will be spring-loaded and released from the rocket. It won’t have any propulsion, and eventually it will fall back to Earth after a few months in orbit.

“It’s been really exciting to see the kids’ excitement and stepping up – they’re doing a lot of things that adults do. They have risen to the challenge. Being a science teacher and learning all this science – I could never have imagined all the steps involved. It’s overwhelming and exciting too,” Moon said.

Brubaker echoed his sentiment: “I know at times it’s overwhelming, (but) this is why you’re doing it – it’s incredibly exciting.”

The DaVinci CubeSat is set to launch June of 2017 possibly in New Zealand, but wherever it may be, the team plans to be there to see their hard work rocket into space.

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