October 17, 2024
Arc Detection on SpaceX Starlink Satellites
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM PDT
Speaker: Nick
Christensen
Register at: https://
events.vtools.ieee.org/m/439711
A unique
electrical hardware configuration was included onboard
21 SpaceX Starlink satellites to enable the direct
detection of electrical arc discharge events resulting
from spacecraft charging phenomena. Given the relatively
high number of independent satellites equipped with arc
detection circuits, arc discharge events were observed
with high spatial resolution between +/- 43°N latitude
at altitudes ranging from 330 to 390 kilometers over the
course of one year, from May 2023 to May 2024. Using the
observed rate of arc discharge events as a proxy for
local plasma parameters, a map of the Appleton Anomaly
was generated. The arc detection circuit functionality
was validated through on-orbit testing and ground
testing. Ground tests were conducted a plasma source and
representative spacecraft hardware within a high-vacuum
facility. On-orbit experiments validated the correlation
between arc discharge events and spacecraft charging
phenomena - a plasma contactor was used to measure
neutralization current from the spacecraft to its
surrounding ambient plasma environment, and satellite
orientation studies were conducted to examine the impact
of the spacecraft’s ion wake on arc rate. The results of
the on-orbit and ground tests support a hypothesis that
the frequency of arc discharge events is directly
related to the local plasma density. A proxy map of
plasma density was generated, which shows strong
agreement with the International Reference Ionosphere
model (IRI-2016) and the World Magnetic Model (WMM).
About
the speaker: Nick
Christensen is an environmental electromagnetic
effects engineer at SpaceX specializing in space
plasma interactions. He completed his
undergraduate studies in physics and mathematics
at the University of Wisconsin - Madison before
moving on the the University of Southern
California to complete his master's degree in
astronautical engineering.
Presented by: IEEE Buenaventura
Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society(AESS)
November 1, 2024
CLASTECH 2024
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM PDT
Speakers:
Dr. Christophe Granet, Mr. Thomas Musselman,
Prof. Stefano Maci, Dr.
Conner Ballew
Register at: https://
events.vtools.ieee.org/m/429808
CLASTECH will be
at the Eravant Facility this year. We will have a
4 speakers on Microwave and Antenna topics. There
will be a box lunch from Panera Bread.
Space is limited - no onsite registration
Preliminary List of Talks:
1- Dr. Christophe Granet, Lyrebird Antenna Research,
"R&D Activities in Reflector and Feed Systems at
Lyrebird Antenna Research"
2- Mr. Thomas Musselman, Boeing Satellite Systems Chief
Engineer, Retired, “Multipactor and Ionization
Breakdown: Lessons Learned in the Application of High
Power RF Systems in Space”
3- Prof. Stefano Maci, IEEE AP-S President 2023,
Dept. of Information Engineering and Mathematics,
University of Siena, Italy, "Metasurface Antennas in
Space Applications"
4- Dr. Conner Ballew, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL),
“Photonic Inverse-Design for Compact, Low-Loss THz Space
Instrumentation "
Here is a link about Eravant https://www.eravant.com/
Presented by: IEEE
Coastal Los Angeles Microwave Theory and Technology
Society
November 21,
2024
Detecting quasars
from the early Universe
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM PDT
Speaker:
Dominika Durovcikova
Register at: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/439714
Quasars are
supermassive black holes that are accreting matter at
very high rates and thus growing rapidly. As such black
holes grow, the infalling matter releases an
extraordinary amount of radiation, which makes quasars
visible even at extremely large distances - the most
distant (i.e. the highest-redshift) quasar we know of
lies more than 13 billion light years away! This talk
will provide an overview of the science done with these
distant quasars, with a particular focus on the
technical advancements that have enabled the detection
of their light, emanating right from the beginning of
the Universe.
About
the speaker: Dominika Durovcikova is a
5th year PhD candidate at the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology. Her main research interests are supermassive
black holes in the early Universe as well as their
environments, for the study of which she uses both
ground-based and space-based telescopes, like the
Magellan telescopes in Chile and the James Webb Space
Telescope. In the past, she has also worked on precision
quantum measurements in the context of quantum gravity.
Presented by: IEEE Buenaventura
Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society(AESS)
Volunteers
Needed: FIRST Lego League Robotics Tournament
Once again IEEE
Buenaventura Section is supporting middle school
robotics by sponsoring the annual FIRST Lego League
Robotics Tournament. The tournament will be on Saturday,
November 2, at the Ventura County Office of
Education Conference Center in Camarillo. Teams of young
robot enthusiasts that will compete for a chance to go
to the regional tournament. The IEEE has been generous
in its support over many years both financially and in
providing volunteers. It is a lot of fun and you will be
greatly impressed with what these young people
accomplish and their enthusiasm.
If you are available to volunteer
from 8 AM to 4 PM we can definitely use you in a variety
of rolls from assisting judges, monitoring the games,
and other jobs. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.
Planning for the event
has already started. Please E-mail Deron Johnson
and the planning team at fll-2024@ieee-
bv.org to volunteer or ask questions. Feel
free to pass this on to anyone you think might enjoy
volunteering!
Presented by:
For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and
Technology (FIRST), and IEEE Buenaventura Section
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