Avances en el proyecto “Determinación de la forma exacta de la tierra a través de MEMS en un Nano-Satélite”

Abstract

The following document illustrates the progress that has been made in the “Design and construction of a Nano-Satellite” project. It is currently under development at ESIME U.P. Ticoman, which is part of the Instituto Polit´ecnico Nacional. The Projects main objective is to give our students an introduction into Aerospace issues. The Nano-Satellite is a small cubic shaped devise measuring ten centimeters per side, with a one kilogram total weight. Its payload is a MEMS (Micro Electro-mechanical Systems) which will act as an electronic pendulum; this, combined with the gravitational potential harmonics, will allow us to determine the Earths true shape. The mathematical foundation, satellite components, preliminary structure design, manufacturing process, results of the structural destructive tests and static Analysis through the finite element method, are shown in this presentation.