Abstract
Technology developed with the purpose of addressing mankind’s failures and shortcomings is becoming increasingly necessary as a result of deteriorating initiatives to globally cooperate in the realms of science and engineering. My capstone project aims to address the concerning concentration of untracked space debris that currently orbits Earth. To tackle this issue, my team is developing and prototyping a debris tracking sensor that will be optimized to detect debris smaller than ten centimeters in diameter, which is currently untracked. Matters such as excessive space debris accumulation occur as a result of technological nationalism and the hesitancy to cooperate in global engineering feats, evident in not only the satellite industry but many others as well. I explored these industries and demonstrated how technological nationalism, or techno-nationalism, is affecting them, as well as posed humanitarian issues that nations are not collaborating to solve on a global scale. The formation of such large debris fields occur as a result of nations not utilizing global technological networks that inform one another of information such as satellite orbital trajectories, thus leading to collisions and impacts with existing spacecraft. This results from national security concerns regarding cooperation in the realm of satellite technology, considering it consists of sensitive information for all nations involved.
Considering this was the first year of this specific capstone design, my team focused on the initial conceptualization of a potential solution for detecting untracked space debris. Through extensive research, the minimum viable product for an eventual mainstream solution was to develop a debris-tracking sensor that could be integrated into a 3U CubeSat, which is a type of nano-satellite that NASA provides experimental launch opportunities for. In the first semester, the team focused on the design of both the CubeSat and the individual payload, however in the second semester, we shifted our focus towards the debris-tracking sensor only. In conceptually designing this product, we assessed the mission objectives to track small-scale debris and the various constraints faced to formulate subsystem-level requirements for the sensor This allowed us to develop simulations and prototype technology that would demonstrate a proof of concept of the sensor.
Prototyping this device introduced many new constraints and obstacles throughout the process, specifically in the realm of radio frequency (RF). Testing RF technology in a non-optimal environment posed multiple issues, including interference and noise from other frequency-producing devices. We began prototyping with the use of a large, four-component software-defined radio, which led to inconclusive results due to those specific RF obstacles. Following this, we used an off-the-shelf radar to at least collect some meaningful data that could prove the feasibility of our design, which was partially successful. We were able to produce results that indicated the presence of specific-sized, static debris particles using the new radar, indicating that an application was made through conceptual research and design. This achievement led us to our conclusion that the debris-tracking sensor increased in NASA’s Technology Readiness Level (a way of categorizing the progress of technology upon its creation) from a Level 1 to a Level 2.
My research paper aims to address the concern regarding how nationalistic behaviors are developing alongside technological innovation, as well as how the globalization of technology is dwindling over time due to the impacts of these demeanors. The significance of this festering issue is portrayed by the socio-economic impacts on citizens worldwide. The avoidance of technological globalization prevents the sharing of modern solutions to humanitarian issues, thus regressing innovation in many nations. In order to convey the impacts of technological nationalism, I analyzed specific industries and certain humanitarian issues that are affected by this socio-technical framework.
Industries affected by technological nationalism include telecommunications, satellite reconnaissance, and artificial intelligence, where national security is fueling skepticism of global cooperation in these realms. In terms of humanitarian issues, this framework is severely impacting the global sustainable energy transition and the inability of foreign nationals to pursue scientific opportunities outside of their homeland. These effects have an ominous nature as they hint at anti-globalist rhetorics, which would be detrimental to the progression of humanity.
Notes
School of Engineering and Applied Science
Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering
Technical Advisor: Ryan Bartlett
STS Advisor: Pedro Augusto Francisco
Technical Team Members: Frances Bailey, Alexander Bellissimo, William DelGiudice, Owen Martin, Kenji McCartney, Drew Mouritzen, Swar Shah, Justin Yankow
