The Search for Life
Our increasing understanding of our Solar System and beyond has lead to many questions non more interesting than 'Are we Alone'? Life as we know it is carbon based, requiring liquid water, suitable temperatures, environments with enough gravity to maintain and atmosphere and a magnetic field to protect from the solar winds of a host star. Where do we begin to look. On Earth we have discovered how life can adapt to the harshest environments - thermal vents, dry arctic deserts, sulphuric acid caves.
Increasing interest is being directed at moons rather than planets - Jupiter and Saturn play host to many interesting moons. In 2015, the Cassini probe made a close fly-by of Enceladus' south pole, flying within 48.3 km of the surface, in the process it flew through one of its famous plumes. On April 13th, 2017, NASA announced the discovery of possible hydrothermal activity on Enceladus' sub-surface ocean floor. Jupiters icy Moon Europa - is slightly smaller than Earth's moon. A unique moon it is thought to have a global ocean of water in contact with a rocky seafloor. If the ocean is proven to exist, Europa could be a promising place to look for life beyond Earth.
Increasing interest is being directed at moons rather than planets - Jupiter and Saturn play host to many interesting moons. In 2015, the Cassini probe made a close fly-by of Enceladus' south pole, flying within 48.3 km of the surface, in the process it flew through one of its famous plumes. On April 13th, 2017, NASA announced the discovery of possible hydrothermal activity on Enceladus' sub-surface ocean floor. Jupiters icy Moon Europa - is slightly smaller than Earth's moon. A unique moon it is thought to have a global ocean of water in contact with a rocky seafloor. If the ocean is proven to exist, Europa could be a promising place to look for life beyond Earth.
The goal of our mission is to gather essential data on descent through the atmosphere and evaluate the data in terms of abiotic factors which are key enablers for the existence of life, such as suitable temperature, pressure and moisture content. Terrestrial evaluation will be used as a guide for the development of a probe suitable for launch on the moons of the outer solar system.
Mission Payload
Using the accelerometer, Gyroscope and Magnetometer (IMU BNO055) we will be able to determine the speed and acceleration of our can, and also the gravitational acceleration of the certain planet/moon. We hope to use the XYZ data from this triple axis device and create a 3D visual to show the flight path and rotation during descent. Using the magnetometer we can determine direction and also magnetic field strength.
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The Photoresistor (KY-018) is there to determine light levels, possibly length of the lunar day. Positioned on the side of the can, it will aid the Gyroscope to allow us to measure angular velocity. It will do so by plotting resistance which will fluctuate depending on angle in relation towards the sun.
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KY-018 Light Dependent Resistor ------light intensity NTC Thermistor-------------------------temperature
DHT11 Humidity and Temperature-----humidity MPX411a pressure----------------------athmospheric pressure
MPX411a pressure, GPS----------------altitude GPS-------------------------------------Flight path
IMU - Accelerometer-------------------forces affecting can IMU- Gyroscope------------------------3D visualisation of Descent
IMU -Magnetometer-------------------Direction IMU - Magnetometer------------------Magnetic field Strength
DHT11 Humidity and Temperature-----humidity MPX411a pressure----------------------athmospheric pressure
MPX411a pressure, GPS----------------altitude GPS-------------------------------------Flight path
IMU - Accelerometer-------------------forces affecting can IMU- Gyroscope------------------------3D visualisation of Descent
IMU -Magnetometer-------------------Direction IMU - Magnetometer------------------Magnetic field Strength