Experiments

Cosmic radiation throughout altitude

by Jeremiah Bush

Radiation has unique properties that affect materials and biological organisms in astounding ways. Intense radiation can damage and destroy living tissue which presents a challenge to developing space ventures. Understanding and developing materials allocated to stagnating the damage caused by radiation is elemental to the success of any superatmospheric mission. Prior studies have shown the radiation in microsieverts throughout altitude, the opportunity to confirm these studies presents a challenge for us to properly conduct an experiment that concludes similar data points. As the altitude of the payload increases there will be a maximum magnitude of microsieverts at 20,000 meters, it will then linearly decrease as the altitude increases.

The space environment is detrimental to living organisms, the harsh realities such as intense radiation make it increasingly difficult to establish a foothold in space and possibly other planets. Understanding the forces that prevent us from establishing a foothold in space allows us to triumph in otherwise unsustainable conditions, radiation is one of these forces. Utilizing a Geiger counter to measure the amount of radiation at an altitude allows us to reaffirm preexisting data and test our methods in measuring these energies. Correlating this data from the Geiger counter allows us to have a baseline for future experiments that may determine the best way to stagnate the effects of radiation on space faring vehicles. There are several types of radiation harmful to our environment and living organisms. Understanding these radiations are crucial to the success of space faring missions. Large magnitudes of microsieverts would indicate an unsustainable environment for living organisms and would show the need for protection.

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Effects of ozone concentration on ultraviolet data

by Jeremiah Bush

Ultraviolet radiation is detrimental to living tissue, because of this it presents an incredible challenge for people to successfully achieve superatmospheric missions. Understanding the effect of different UV wavelengths, UVA and UVB, will allow for specialised materials to be developed. The opportunity to develop data values that correlate with that of respectable institutions will strengthen our research and experimenting skills. With our data we can further develop materials that reduce the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation. As the ozone concentration decreases throughout altitude the UV B magnitude will increase at an exponential rate and the UV A data will increase at a much lower rate.

Superatmospheric vehicles undergo numerous stressors from the outside environment, Ultraviolet radiation is one of them. Understanding the amount of UV radiation hitting superatmospheric vehicles will allow for sufficient protection to be developed and a successful mission to be completed. Understanding the Ozone concentration is vital to this mission and will allow us this very knowledge. By correlating our ozone concentration data from that of well established organizations such as NASA, we can further confirm well established numbers. The opportunity to correlate our data with preexisting known concentration is vital for us to strengthen our foundation in studying the ozone layer. Verifying the integrity of our data and correlations will allow us to further dive into the specifics of the ozone layer and present a more grander understanding to our community.

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Effects of low air pressure on marshmallows

by Marta Laatsch

This experiment was intended to measure the effects of dramatic changes in air pressure on porous, flexible substances such as marshmallows. We hypothesized that a mini marshmallow with dimensions ≈1cm*1cm*1cm at nearly 1 atm of pressure and a temperature of 35°C would increase in dimensions by ~350% when brought to 30000 m in elevation.

Typical marshmallows are made of sugar, cornstarch, modified corn syrup, gelatin, and air. In marshmallows, gelatin acts as an emulsifier, which allows the marshmallow to hold its shape. When in the stage of the marshmallow making process after the sweeteners are boiled, gelatin is added, and the mixture is strained and whipped. When whipping the mixture, it turns foamy and doubles or even triples in size due to the air added in this process. Therefore, a significant percentage of the volume of a marshmallow, ~50-65%, is air. The air is made of ~78% nitrogen and ~21% oxygen.

Air pressure is measured in atmospheres (atm). One atm is equal to the average air pressure at sea level, ~101325 Pa, or ~14.7lb/in². As elevation increases, air pressure decreases. Raider 1 measured both air pressure in Pa and elevation in meters, allowing us to measure the relationship between these two factors. When an air-filled substance previously in equilibrium with the surrounding air pressure is exposed to a lower air pressure, the substance should expand due to the increase in the relative pressure on the inside pushing out against the boundaries of the substance. The air pressure necessary to cause this change depends on the strength of the substance.

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Kelly, D. (2020). This is how marshmallows are really made, https://www.mashed.com/196091/this-is-how-marshmallows-are-really-made/

Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. Standard Atmosphere, https://www.britannica.com/science/standard-atmosphere-unit-of-measurement

Shaftel, H, Jackson, R, Callery, S, Bailey, D. (2020). 10 Interesting Things About Air, https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2491/10-interesting-things-about-air/

Davis, R E, Frey, R, Sarquis, M, Sarquis, J L. (2009). Modern Chemistry, https://1.cdn.edl.io/cOehbWFcrBk6QQdYLASFzSy2E1vlEKhLdRJV66pjO5nOgjIl.pdf

Engineering ToolBox, (2003). U.S. Standard Atmosphere, https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/standard-atmosphere-d_604.html

effects of uv radiation on film

by Marta Laatsch

This experiment was intended to measure the effects of ultraviolet (UV) light on film. Due to the materials of the canister, UV radiation would pass through the canister and affect the film, while visible light would not. This would determine the effects of radiation on the silver halide molecules present in film that allow it to take pictures, which we hypothesized to be similar to those of visible light.

When film is exposed to light, the photons in light transfer energy to silver-halide molecules. This energy causes the bonds between the silver and the halogen to break. The remaining silver forms silver ions. When film is developed properly, the opaque silver ions remain and the grains of silver-halide are washed away, forming a negative.

Starting at an elevation around 15km and dissipating at an elevation of ~35km, the ozone layer protects Earth from most harmful UV light. When vehicles are sent to elevations above the ozone layer, they are exposed to above normal levels of UV radiation.

Because UV light carries photons, much like visible light, the effects of UV light on silver-halide molecules is expected to be the same as the effects of visible light.

We obtained film. Leaving it in the original container, we attached the container to Raider II with duct tape and sent it to ~30000 m. Afterward, we developed and observed the film.

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Union University Department of Physics. (2005). The Science Guys, https://www.uu.edu/dept/physics/scienceguys/2004Apr2.cfm

Holly, M. H. (1995). The Effects of Space Radiation on Flight Film, https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/7c0d/2dadd0fdc3d985ded783da326881d63f939b.pdf

EFficacy of aluminum foil on ultraviolet penetration

by Jeremiah Bush

The types of materials used in super-atmospheric vehicles have heavy influence on how radiation is absorbed and consequently the temperature of that vehicle. The difference in temperatures between employed materials can be attributed to the reflectivity and absorption of thermal radiation. Previous research has relied on data from lab controlled environments, extensive testing in the harsh realities of the upper atmosphere presents an opportunity to confirm a known phenomenon. We use data from two ultraviolet detecting sensors, one as a control and one wrapped in aluminum foil. These data points can be correlated further with known ultraviolet A and B values to indicate whether aluminum foil serves as a good blocker of radiation. As the altitude increases throughout the ozone layer and radiation increases, the radiation received by the ultraviolet sensor wrapped in aluminum foil will be less than the control one.

Ultraviolet radiation is harmful to living organisms and creates a challenging environment to develop in. Understanding what effects ultraviolet radiation is crucial to the success of superatmospheric vehicle missions. By correlating the differences in UV index of a control sensor and one that is wrapped around in aluminum foil, a conclusion can be made on what material would be suitable for blocking ultraviolet radiation. The results of this experiment will lay the foundations for future experiments in determining the optimal material for blocking ultraviolet radiation.

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The temperature differential between polar systems on increasing altitude

by Jeremiah Bush

The environment an object resides in has a heavy influence on the temperature of that object. The difference in temperature by two polar systems, an open and closed system, can be attributed to the dynamic conditions that are external to simple solid objects. Previous research has been done to understand the environmental conditions present within our upper atmosphere and beyond and the opportunity to validate these data points with research of our own is invaluable to the development of high altitude balloons. We utilize data from several data points gathered by two temperature sensors, one that is open and subject to the harsh realities, and one that is contained in an insulated controlled container. Data points of temperature gathered between these two sensors can be correlated to ascertain with increasing altitude to ascertain the effect of a harsh environment on the temperature of uncontrolled objects.

The volatile and unstable dynamic conditions that are present in upper atmospheric and superatmospheric missions are detrimental to the vehicles we send up there and its components. Understanding precisely the effect that harsh external conditions have on the expensive and time consuming vehicles we send up there will give us invaluable knowledge on how to successfully execute missions for more expansive goals. By correlating data points between the difference in temperatures of two polar systems and increasing altitude, we can determine the effects that the environment applies on objects, and how detrimental it truly is.

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