University of 撸sir视频ʻi at Mānoa under撸sir视频uate 撸sir视频 who have been developing a satellite to launch into space in 2024 earned a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel to Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire () In Switzerland for its RD51 Detector School November 27–December 1.
The RD51 Detector School is an intensive one week lecture and laboratory course. The school is primarily for PhD 撸sir视频, making it an incredible accomplishment to have three 撸sir视频 Mānoa under撸sir视频uate 撸sir视频 accepted.
“This is an extraordinary success for the under撸sir视频uate 撸sir视频, and for the (EPET) program, which has enabled all of this through its student-centered approach to high-quality under撸sir视频uate research and through its support to assist 撸sir视频 being successful in their learning and research efforts,” said Peter Englert, a professor in the (HIGP).
HIGP developed the EPET certificate to provide under撸sir视频uate 撸sir视频 with an opportunity to design research projects and build payloads for Earth, Moon and Sun observing satellites with the goal of producing, launching and operating their satellites.
Current EPET 撸sir视频 Sapphira Akins, Howin Ma and Chris Freitas applied to participate in the RD51 Detector School. Akins and Ma were accepted for in-person participation in Switzerland, and Freitas was accepted for participation in the online part of the school. All three 撸sir视频 are part of the CubeSat Relativistic Electron and Proton Energy Separator (CREPES) project.
“I feel very grateful to be able to study in a community such as the one at CERN!” said Akins. “Programs like these help me to push myself academically. I hope to gain a deeper understanding of micro patterned gaseous detectors, and ways in which we can implement them in space.”
“I believe that the insights and experiences I gain from being a part of such a prestigious institution will serve as a powerful source of motivation, inspiring me to set and achieve even higher standards for myself,” said Ma. “I also love traveling, and experiencing other cultures so I’m excited for my time in Switzerland.”
Mentorship from a leading expert
In spring 2023, to learn more about gas electron multiplier (GEM) detectors and their potential application to space research, EPET turned to Fabio Sauli of CERN. Sauli is the world’s leading expert on GEM and micro-pattern gaseous detectors. Sauli provided four Zoom lectures to the CREPES group with extensive discussion sessions, which provided the background knowledge in advancing the CREPES project.
The RD51 Detector School will provide Akins and Ma with additional skills that are important in the final design and assembly of the CREPES flight detector, which will be built in 2024. The learning modules of the school include gas detector physics and technologies, GEM foil manufacturing techniques, detector read out techniques, modeling and simulations. Akins and Ma will bring back advanced knowledge to help contribute to the success of the CREPES mission plan.
“In particular, we are working on a project here at 撸sir视频 that is attempting to put a gas electron multiplier in space, a detector that doesn’t appear to have any flight heritage,” said Akins. “Being able to receive valuable hands-on experience with this detector, and many similar, will be significant when it comes to understanding how to properly integrate it into a satellite.”
In November, the CREPES group will prepare a proposal to the CubeSat Launch Initiative to obtain support for the launch of their GEM detector mission into space at the end of 2024 or early 2025. Writing such a proposal is a significant task for a student research group.
supported the CERN opportunity through providing travel resources for the student’s participation. Students have been supported by internships, internships and conference travel grants.