Hadfield Enterprises
The Asclepius Project
The Hadfield Enterprises Asclepius Service Satellite Team
The Asclepius service satellite team consists of 7 members assigned to separate tasks such as the ground station, the specialised robotic arm, and the service satellite itself. With chief engineer Darcy Boyd and chief designer Jonathan Mansuy leading the team, we soon found ourselves on the track to making the Asclepius a reality.
Our mission was to build a service satellite, something almost non-existent in the space community. For our satellite to be able to perform it`s task properly, careful planning must be done. Our team went through lots of research, planning, design and problems on our eight day project.
Creating the Team
Our team was created after careful arrangement of the Hadfield Enterprises. Members of the satellite crew was chosen for their knowledge and experience with satellite design. The current crew includes, in no specific order, Kirsten Myra, Katie Kaczmarski, Lincoln Ho, Jean-Paul Belanger, Samuel LeBlanc, and our chief designer and engineer as mentioned before.
Starting Our Project
To start our project, we had to collectively decide what we wanted and where we wanted to achieve as a final design. Sitting in a circle, every decision was made as a group by the popular democratic voting method. Opponents of the decision was allowed to speak out about their opinion to why they did not favour the decision. These suggestions were considered to benefit and represent the group's minds.
One of the first things the team did was to set up a schedule, or a timeline. We limited ourselves to the amount of time we had to complete our project. Our group generally followed the outline we had developed for ourselves.
The next thing we did was to research and find out as much information as we could about service satellites and their functions. Through this research, we found a lot of information that helped in the final design of the Asclepius satellite.
Design and Problems
After abundant research, our group gathered to start thinking about the design of our satellite. This was where a lot of our problems surfaced.
One of these problems was to develop a way to `dock` with another satellite in a way that will not damage our customer's satellite or our own. Magnetics, docking patches, arms, and various other techniques were discussed. I was finally decided that docking was not necessary at all; we would have our satellite go in a synchronised orbit along with the satellite being repaired.
Specialisation
After deciding on the main bulk of how the satellite would perform, our team was split into smaller groups, each with it's own significant role. One continued on with the design of the satellite, another went to create a motto and find a name for the satellite, while yet another group was to design the ground station.
The Asclepius Satellite Ground Station
The ground station for the Asclepius service satellite is an advance technological research and control facility designed for it`s designated functions and beyond. With a massive roof constructed of composites including polymers and metal alloys, the state of the art architecture of the building in no way affects the performance of the satellite dish, nor the ten personnel working busily on their given tasks.
The Control Centre
The control centre consists of the control panel for the satellite. The main control room contains one central flat screen with two smaller screens on it's border. In the front of the three screens, there would be a panel of two and three directly behind. These five personnel will be in control of the Asclepius` movements and her functions.
Observing in the rear of the control centre is the sub-control room responsible for operations within and outside the facility. This will consist of a chief engineer and a public relations agent.
The Laboratory / Parts and Assembly Area
The laboratory and the parts and assembly area will be used by the three scientists of the crew to study the satellite in space. It will also be available for rent for any scientific research group wishing to use the facility.
The laboratory will be available for study with chemistry and physics, whereas the parts and assembly area will be the testing ground for the innovations of the scientists. The parts and assembly are will also store any excess parts and also be able to build new satellite parts upon request.
Living in the Ground Station
To save fuel, time, and conserve energy, the second floor of the ground station is open for the accommodation of up to twenty-four people. The members of the crew may bring along a companion and the outstanding rooms will be rented out by others using the ground station.
For entertainment and leisure during the crew`s long duration at the station, there are rest areas such as the atrium with living house-plants and the lounge located in the building. For meals, there is a kitchen and an eating area which is in view of the main control room. In hygiene, there are washing centres with showers and a laundry room.
The Ground Station Crew
The staff of the ground station are ten highly trained personnel all educated in the local area and have had experience with another related project in their field.
The three scientists will each be respectively trained with the knowledge of all the components of the Asclepius. The chief scientist will major in both astrophysics and chemistry. The other two scientists will each have a degree of physics and chemistry.
Working in the sub-control area, there will be two engineers. The chief engineer will major in engineering and physics. He/she will also have to be a qualified leader as he will be in charge of the missions in the control centre. The second engineer will have a degree in engineering as well. On top of that, he/she will also have knowledge and experience with satellite communication and telecommunication to facilitate an easier flow of information between the ground station and the Artemis space station.
The panel of five in the mail control room will all be technicians. The first two in the front will be in charge of the movement of the satellite. Both people will have between them, degrees in physics, meteorology, and astronomy. One will be in control of the satellite's major movements such as transferring her orbit and the other will be in charge of minor movements such as a rendezvous with the Artemis space station.
The three technicians sitting behind the first two technicians are the final three people on the team of ten. In the center is the technician in control of the robotic arm located aboard Asclepius. This technician will have a major in robotics and hydraulics in space. Surrounding this technician are the two technicians in charge of the satellite's six cameras. One will be in control of the main camera of the arm and two other cameras. The other will be in control of the remaining three cameras. Both of these technicians will have degrees in computer technology and communication technology.
Name and Motto
The name of the Asclepius was picked due to the fact that Asclepius is the Greek god of healing. This directly relates to the function and missions that the satellite is designed for, fixing up damaged satellites.
The motto of the Asclepius, "Fixing what man cannot" was chosen because of it's appeal and the aims of the satellite. Other suggestions that were considered includes "If you can`t fix it, we can!" and "We can fix anything."
Construction of the Asclepius
The main material used in the construction of the Asclepius was high grade aluminium. This metal was chosen for it's lightness and it's low cost. Consideration was also put into using titanium but the alloy did not suit our design and it put a lot more mass into the satellite.
All the six cameras aboard the Asclepius has ultra-violet, x-ray, and heat protective lenses. This helps to bring a more precise and clearer picture back to the ground station during the satellite's missions.
The mass of our satellite, ten tonnes, was found through our research with the materials we decided to use for the assembly of the craft. We compared the masses of different material in relation to the amount of material we used in our design.
Multi-layered insulation is used to keep the temperature of the satellite constant through the extreme temperature differences in space.
There is a gyro package to help stabilise the satellite when it is attached to other satellites, this is also three axis stability.
Outside of the rocket engine there are phase change devices.
The fuel lines are high grade and have valves to open and close the tanks.
We decided on having a grinder, a welder, and two hands because this would allow the Asclepius to do tasks with more ease.
The design was picked from a selection of designs. The chosen satellite design caters to our needs best. The cylindrical shape is good because we put solar panels on the frame and is easy to pack.
The two fuel tanks were chosen so they can be detachable for fuel and packing as well.
The satellite dish was used because it is move-able and can receive information for everyone.
The Hybrid H-500 engine was chosen for it's lack of pollution and because it is environmentally friendly.
The attachment cone was chosen so that the satellite can attach to anything without damaging it and can still see everything.
The locking mechanism is a push-ball system which is inexpensive and easy.
Power System
The batteries are Nickel Hydrogen (NiH2) because they have a long life and can be recharged.
The Asclepius also has silicon solar panels wrapped around the exterior of the main body of the craft. A radiator is used to keep these panels cool.
Navigating the Satellite
The process in which the Asclepius changes orbit is by shooting a computer controlled rocket bust to shoot it and the thrusters assist her back in correct alignment by the release of oxygen. The Asclepius is able to do both the direct transfer and the Homhann`s transfer.
The satellite will have 12 thrusters with 120° of motion.
Commercial Profit and Missions
The estimated cost of the satellite construction and launch will be $1.8 Billion. This low price is due to the fact that we will have a free launch for our satellite.
In order to earn money for this project, we will connect, restart, and repair any of the current satellites in the low earth orbit to the geo stationary orbits. This includes SARSAT, RADARSAT I, RADARSAT II, the Anik series, and the Ers-1. From this we would make 10% of the original cost of the satellite for major jobs, and 2-5 % for minor sized missions. The Asclepius will be able to get to the other satellites, replace broken parts, push it into proper orbit, fix outer panels, and be able to inspect another satellite. Any satellites that cannot be repaired by the Asclepius will be brought beck to the Artemis space station for repair.