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Completed TRL 3 (started at 2, targeting 3)
This project seeks to measure miniscule displacements of stiff booms on sounding rockets flown in the upper atmosphere with two simultaneous techniques: strain gauges directly “printed” on long stiff booms in several locations and small, inexpensive laser devices.
The displacements will reveal small variations of the position of sensors at the end of stiff booms to provide information related to the atmospheric density and winds---important measurements for scientific and space weather applications. Furthermore, innovative “additive” manufacturing of structural monitoring sensors (e.g., strain gauges) reduces mass and volume for numerous space applications with the ability to print fine features on non-planar surfaces.
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