Welcome from the Small Satellite Design Club
The UF Small Satellite Design Club (SSDC) is a student led organization dedicated to the design, fabrication, testing, and flight of small satellite technology. The inaugural UF CubeSat mission has been nicknamed SwampSat. The SwampSat mission shall demonstrate rapid retargeting and precision pointing (R2P2) maneuvers using miniaturized control moment gyroscopes (CMGs) developed at the University of Florida (UF). Successful completion of the SwampSat mission will raise the technology readiness level (TRL) of the UF CMGs which are known as IMPACT for integrated miniature pyramidal arrangement of CMGs for high torque. SwampSat technology shall complement the establishment of the Advanced Space Technologies Research and Engineering Center (ASTREC). ASTREC is a NSF I/UCRC (Industry/University Cooperative Research Center) in which more details can be found here.
Our aim is to obtain hands on experience as well as develop an experience base among undergraduate and graduate engineering students here at the University of Florida. We seek valuable relationships with other universities, government agencies, and industry related to the small satellite effort. We currently have some exciting projects underway which provide opportunities for exposing students to the satellite community. We encourage students and enthusiasts of all disciplines and years to participate in the research, design, fabrication, integration, testing & evaluation, and operation of small satellite technologies.
The Florida University Nano-Satellite design competition (FUNSAT) was established in 2005 by the Florida Space Grant Consortium (FSGC). FUNSAT is an annual competition for Florida-based universities. A conceptual design report is due at the end of the Fall term and (if selected as finalist) a detailed design report and presentation is due at the end of the Spring term. More information and deadlines can be located here.
SSDC meetings are held regularly, typically in the office - New Engineering Building Room 187 . Please check back with us frequently.
If you would like to contribute to our projects financially or lend support in the form of materials or equipment please contact our president or visit our NEW Sponsorship page.
UP COMING EVENTS
8/9/10 - 8/12/10 - AIAA Small Satellite Conference in Logan, Utah
NEWS
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5/12/10 - Shawn Allgeier presents at CASI 2010 Conference in Canada
5/10/10 - Congrats to Dr. Fred Leve for defending his dissertation
5/7/10 - UF FUNSAT VI Team wins 1K award as finalist (presenters:Joe Antoon, Sheldon Clark, Genevieve Dartigue, Neeraj Kohli, and Mark Werremeyer)
4/22/10 - Announcement of Online Journal of Small Satellites at the 7th Annual CubeSat Developers Workshop click here for website
4/21/10 - 4/24/10 - Sharan Asundi, Dante Buckley, and Tzu Yu Lin present SwampSat poster at the 7th Annual CubeSat Developers Workshop
4/15/10 - Dante Buckley and Tzu Yu Lin participate in the 21st Century NASA Space Conference at the Kennedy Space Center
4/14/10 - SwampSat Critical Design Review
4/12/10 - Congrats to Josue Munoz as being a recipient of a SMART scholarship
4/9/10 - William Young earns Runner-up Award in the Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering (MAE) Undergraduate Research Symposium for his Pico-Satellite Structure
3/3/10 - Neeraj Kohli and Kunal Patankar selected as finalist for 2010 NASA/NIA RASC-AL Forum
3/3/10 - Florida Space Day
2/18/10 - SwampSat represented at Statewide Space Industry Summit in Orlando, Florida
2/15/10-2/16/10 - Engineering and Science Fair (SSDC exhibit) in Reitz Union Ballroom
2/19/10 - Small Satellite Seminar (S-cubed) Series #2 featuring Florida Space Grant Consortium Director (Dr. Jaydeep Mukherjee) and Gator Amateur Radio Club's faculty advisor (Dr. Jay Garlitz - AA4FL) (see flyer)
1/6/09 - FUNSAT V team selected as finalists. 4/22/09 - SwampSat poster is presented at the 6th Annual CubeSat Developers Workshop 4/25/09 - UF's SwampSat performs fit check at Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo 5/09/09 - Gators win Back 2 Back FUNSAT Championships - Congrats to the UF FUNSAT V team 9/18/09 - UF FUNSAT VI team submits Letter of Intent - Please contact Mark
9/25/09 - Starry Night was an astronomical event with almost 3000 public attendees! (Mark your calendars for Friday 11/12/10 for next year)
10/16/09 -SSDC and GARC build floats and march in homecoming parade with Girls Place
11/12/09 - Small Satellite Seminar (S-cubed) Series #1 Flyer
11/13/09 - 11/14/09 - STARS Workshop hosted by Dept of Astronomy
Directions - Come visit us!
Local hotel information
From Campus
- We are located in New Engineering Building, room 185. New Engineering building is located on Center Drive. Enter campus from S.W. 13th Street (US-441) on Museum Road. Continue through the intersection of Museum Road and Center Drive and turn right into the visitor center. Parking is available in the garage on both an hourly and daily basis. Walk from the garage to the intersection of Museum Road and Center Drive. Cross the intersection at the light and continue down the hill. New Engineering building will be on your right. Campus Map
(Approximately 30 minutes from campus)- Upon leaving the Gainesville Airport, make a right turn onto 39th Avenue (SR 222), heading west. At US 441 (N.W. 13th Street) make a left turn, heading south. Continue South on 13th Street for several miles. As you approach University Avenue, you will see the Holiday Inn on your left, and directly ahead you will see Bryan Hall just off to your right. Come down to the first right turn after University Avenue and enter the parking lot at S.W. 2nd Avenue.
(Approximately 2.5 hours from UF)
- Follow the directional signs to the Florida Turnpike and ride it until it merges with I-75. Take I-75 to exit 387, Newberry Road. When you get off of the ramp go east for five miles; eventually Newberry Road becomes University Avenue (Note: You should pass the Oaks Mall on your right shortly after traveling on Newberry road.) Continue traveling East on University Ave. At the intersection of University Avenue and 13th Street take a right. Enter the parking lot at S.W. 2nd Avenue.
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(Easy way - Approximately 2.5 hours from UF)
Take I-95 South, toward Jacksonville, to I-295. Exit onto I-10 (Note: If you miss the I-295 exit, follow I-95 to where it intersects with I-10). Take I-10 West (towards Tallahassee) to I-75. Take I-75 to exit 387, Newberry Road. When you get off of the ramp go east for five miles; eventually Newberry Road becomes University Avenue (Note: You should pass the Oaks Mall on your right shortly after traveling on Newberry road.) Continue traveling East on University Ave. At the intersection of University Avenue and 13th Street take a right. Enter the parking lot at S.W. 2nd Avenue. -
(Short way - Approximately 2 hours from UF)
Take I-10 only as far as US 301 (it will be one of the early exits) at Baldwin. Head south on 301 to Waldo. CAUTION: Beware of speed traps along 301, especially in Lawtey, Starke, Hampton, and Waldo. At Waldo, take a right onto SR 24 to Gainesville (has big sign for Gainesville). Follow SR 24 to 39th Avenue/SR 222, just past the airport. Turn right (West) onto 39 Avenue heading west. At 13th Street make a left turn heading south until you arrive at S.W. 2nd Avenue and make a right into the parking lot (See - Once on Campus). Or keep straight ahead one more block to the Holiday Inn, which will be on your right.
- Take I-75 north to exit 387, Newberry Road. When you get off of the ramp go east for five miles; eventually Newberry Road becomes University Avenue (Note: You should pass the Oaks Mall on your right shortly after traveling on Newberry road.) Continue traveling East on University Ave. At the intersection of University Avenue and 13th Street take a right. Enter the parking lot at S.W. 2nd Avenue.
- Take I-75 south to exit 387, Newberry Road. When you get off of the ramp go east for five miles; eventually Newberry Road becomes University Avenue (Note: You should pass the Oaks Mall on your right shortly after traveling on Newberry road.) Continue traveling East on University Ave. At the intersection of University Avenue and 13th Street take a right. Enter the parking lot at S.W. 2nd Avenue.
