Building Dreams in Talented Adolescents and

Fostering Collaboration for Space Silk Road

Belt and Road Teenager

Space Maker Camp
(2021)

Title: Engineering Notes Regarding：

CUBESAT For Detecting Variation in Temperature and Motion on Mars

Author: Syed Qasim Ahmed Bokhari

Country/Region: Pakistan
October 2021
 CONTENTS

1. Functional Description........................................................................1

2. Design Drawing....................................................................................1

3. Structural Design.................................................................................2

4. Materials Used....................................................................................3

5. Building Processes...............................................................................4

6. Key Technologies.................................................................................4

7. Summary.............................................................................................4
1. Functional Description
We have been building a model CubeSat that will travel to Mars and

collect data on the climate. We have programmed and wired an Arduino,

designed and built a CubeSat, and used the principles of circular and

gravitational motion. Our class goal is to learn how to design, build and

program a model of a Mars Orbiter, that will collect data & inform us on

specific aspects of the planet. Following are its function:

 The CubeSat’s, programmed using Arduino to measure the climate

specifically the temperature of Mars atmosphere. This will allow us to

analysis the temperatures to see if its suitable for human life in the

future.

 This function is carried out using the thermistor on the CubeSat

surface as the surface of CubeSat is conductive from the outside the

thermistor will pick the temperature readings from it and change the

color of LEDs. The data of the temperature variation is then

transmitted in the form of graph wirelessly or using the output port.

 It is programed using an ultrasonic sensor so that collisions from

debris can be lowered and variation in motion could be detected

1
2. Design Drawing
The functions for the labeled components are following:

 The ultrasonic sensor detects motion of the surroundings

 The thermistor picks temperature variations

 The graphs and values are stored in the IC which can be taken out

wirelessly or by the data output

 Breadboard is used to make the circuit

 The three LEDs show different colors upon temperature variations.

Under normal conditions the amber led lights. When temperature

increases the green led lights. When temperature increases or

decreases to a warning level the red led lights and the data graph

is automatically transmitted.

 Arduino UNO is the main IC onto which each component is being

controlled.

2
Ultrasonic Sensor

Thermistor

Data output

3 LEDs

3
 Breadboard

3 LEDs

Ultrasonic Sensor

Arduino UNO

4
3. Structural Design

5
 Thermistor
Sensor

TOP

UNOs
BreadBoard

Battery

6
7
4. Materials Used

SN Item QTY Use Note

As IC
1 Arduino UNO 2 NA
To show temperature
2 LEDs 3 variation
NA
To detect temperature
3 Thermistor 1 NA

4 4.7K resistors 3 NA

5 1M Resistor 1 NA
To make circuit
6 Breadboard 1 NA
For structure
7 Ply Wood 5 NA
For structure
8 X-ray Sheet 1 NA
For motion detection
9 Ultrasonic Sensor 1 NA

10 Battery 9V 1 As fuel NA

5. Building Processes
 Following are the steps in which the model is made:

 The first step was to build the structure of the CubeSat. We used

pieces of ply wood. 10 x 10cm sized 5 pieces of plywood were cut

and painted black.

8
 After that we following designs were cut on the wood pieces for

ventilation of internal electronic components and for the LEDs and

the sensors accordingly.

 The cutouts were then covered using x-ray sheet to protect the

internal components.

 The surface was made conductive by wrapping it with aluminum

foil

 Then we made the circuit regarding temperature sensor and

motion detection. Following circuits were made:

9
  After That we assembled and tested the system. The following

graph is the example of the result. And the result of the motion

detector are also shown below

6. Key Technologies
This model is made by using Arduino UNO IDE.

7. Summary
CubeSats provide a cost effective platform for science investigations, new

10
technology demonstrations and advanced mission concepts using

constellations. The standard CubeSat size uses a "one unit" or "1U"

measuring of 10x10x10 cm.

We have built a model CubeSat that will travel to Mars and collect data

on the climate. We have programmed and wired an Arduino, designed

and built a CubeSat. Our class goal is to learn how to design, build and

program a model of a Mars Orbiter, that will collect data & inform us on

specific aspects of the planet.

Some of the criteria we were faced with are: the CubeSat with Arduino to

weigh less than 1.3Kg, have a 10X10X10 cm CubeSat, protect Arduino,

sturdy structure, collect data. The constraints we were faced with were

cost, supplies, size & weight and unpredictability of the Arduino

collecting data.

11
My group, the CubeSat’s, programmed by Arduino to measure the

climate specifically the temperature of Mars atmosphere. This will allow

us to analysis the temperatures to see if its suitable for human life in the

future.

Physics applied & used:

Circular motion and gravitational forces

Issues/problems encountered and troubleshooting:

Finding the right code and wiring for the Arduino

Adjusting code to make sure the color displayed the right temperature

12