The Joint Committee on Technology convened at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 8 in M-451. The focus of the meeting was an informational presentation by the engineers and coordinators behind STF-1, the first spacecraft completely manufactured in West Virginia.
STF-1, or “Simulation-to-Flight 1”, is a variation of satellite known as a “CubeSat”. These miniature satellites are designed to be low-cost and high-efficiency, which allowed the spacecraft to be completed in just a minimal four years.
STF-1 was funded entirely by NASA and their Independent Verification and Validation Program. Work on the project was facilitated by Lead Engineer Matt D. Grubb of Reliable Systems, Inc. and Systems Engineer Scott A. Zemerick of TMC2. Justin D. Morris served as the Principal Investigator of STF-1. A unique trait of the spacecraft is that the three primary engineers are WVU alumni. Additionally, WVU’s science and engineering faculty and interns played a central role in integrating the hardware and software utilized in STF-1.
Unique features of the CubeSat include a GPS receiver that gives details of the satellite’s location in orbit, a specialized array of LED lights that are immune to the effects of the space environment, and a radio on board that communicates at 460 megahertz. Additionally, the STF-1 is one of the first CubeSats that utilizes more than one IMU, or inertial measurement unit, which measures orbital movement. The STF-1 features 32 IMU’s, yet the entire spacecraft is no larger than a loaf of bread.
“This is very innovative technology, and it was primarily built all here in this state,” said Grubb, lead engineer. “This is a milestone to get excited about.”
Along with being built in the state of West Virginia, the STF-1 team was also adamant about promoting it within the state too. Promotional campaigns aimed towards students such as a logo design contest and a contest for building a Lego model of STF-1 helped to promote enthusiasm within the state of West Virginia. The West Virginia State Grant Consortium coordinated this state-wide communication outreach, which led up to the exciting launch of STF-1 on December 16, 2018 in New Zealand.
The West Virginia-born spacecraft is still in orbit, and will continue to be there for observation and radio communication indefinitely.
The engineers say they are “ready and willing” to build another, and are ready to work with more West Virginia-based organizations for funding and cooperation.
