More than 100 people contributed to the creation of “Hiapo,” a small satellite equipped with sensors to measure Earth’s magnetic field. Participants included students from Â鶹´«Ã½ Island schools and the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ and faculty from the (HSTM) and UH.
After two years of work, the miniature CubeSat satellite, measuring just 4 inches on each side, was ready for launch. On September 2, Hiapo was aboard the maiden launch of the Firefly Aerospace¡¯s Alpha Launch Vehicle which took off from Vandenberg Airforce Base in California.
Unfortunately, about 2 minutes into the launch, after hitting supersonic speed, the rocket experienced an anomaly and the engine failed.
“Although Hiapo didn¡¯t make it into orbit, this one project inspired a movement here at UH to widen the pool of entry for students who want to join the field of aerospace engineering,” said Amber Imai-Hong, an avionics engineer with the at UH ²Ñā²Ô´Ç²¹¡¯²õ .
Providing real-world experiences
“Our team took this project from concept to launch and we learned so much along the way,” said Christian Wong, director of HSTM, a Hilo-based science education non-profit. “Developing a science mission, designing the spacecraft, testing and delivery, and meeting the required specifications¡ªit’s a pretty complex process. We certainly could not have done it without the guidance of our partners at the Â鶹´«Ã½ Space Flight Laboratory at UH Mānoa.”
Through the HSTM, Wong runs various rocketry and robotics programs for students in elementary through high school. Wong had an idea to provide a real-world experience for the students. He asked Imai-Hong if they could develop a satellite on a shoestring budget.
“It was very reminiscent of the early days of robotics in Â鶹´«Ã½,” said Imai-Hong. “We gathered up all sorts of old parts from the Â鶹´«Ã½ Space Flight Lab and made a design plan. It was an exciting challenge.”
Imai-Hong and Heather Bottom, an aerospace engineer from NASA JPL (Jet Propulsion Lab), provided training in design and project management as well as hands-on skills such as soldering and circuit assembly in a “clean room” provided by the UH . Additionally, the Hiapo team of students in grades 3–12 and undergraduates, staff and faculty assembled components and tested instrumentation.
“Most students had less than a year of experience with satellite design or rocketry when they started working on Hiapo,” said Imai-Hong. “This project gave many interested and enthusiastic students the knowledge and confidence to become leaders in their groups.”
“I consider this a huge accomplishment for Firefly and all members of the Hiapo team,” added Wong. “We got a lot out of the experience. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for our organization, the students who were a part of this and the community in Â鶹´«Ã½. CubeSats can be an industry here in Â鶹´«Ã½.”
This collaboration is an example of UH ²Ñā²Ô´Ç²¹¡¯²õ goal of (PDF) and (PDF), two of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.
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–By Marcie Grabowski?