What is the McMaster Interdisciplinary Satellite Team (MIST)?
The McMaster Interdisciplinary Satellite Team is a group of McMaster University students that is currently designing, fabricating, and planning to launch a small satellite (CubeSat) into low earth orbit in order to study the effects of ionizing radiation on the human body. A project of this magnitude offers a brand new learning opportunity as this newly developed project will give students an opportunity to enhance their academic experiences through experiential learning. The students on this team are actively participating in every step of the process, from designing, modelling and launching, and this will truly be an enriching educational experience. MIST will provide students with an enhanced learning opportunity and a unique skillset that will supplement the academic fundamentals provided through their education at McMaster University.
What is the motivation behind the NEUDOSE mission?
Recent advancements in space technology have resulted in space exploration becoming a rapidly growing field, and the desire for human space exploration is drastically increasing. Previous manned missions include flights to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), such as to the International Space Station (ISS), however upcoming flights are planned to go beyond LEO, such as to asteroids and eventually Mars. A major consideration in such missions is that the space environment is significantly different from that of Earth, especially with respect to the radiation environment. This drastic difference results in concerns regarding radiation dose.
Space radiation is distinct from naturally occurring forms of radiation on Earth, and significant health risks are associated with long term exposure including cancer, cataracts, central nervous system damage, acute radiation sickness, and hereditary effects. Consequently, the fulfillment of the intended exploration goals of each mission must be carefully managed without exceeding an acceptable level of risk from exposure to space radiation. Therefore, there exists a need for radiation detection systems that are able to classify and characterize the radiological hazards present.
The NEUtron DOSimetry & Exploration (NEUDOSE) mission aims to further our understanding of long-term exposure to space radiation by investigating how charged and neutral particles contribute to the human equivalent dose during LEO missions. This project aims to:
Develop a Charged & Neutral Particle Tissue Equivalent Proportional Counter (CNP-TEPC) that allows for the discrimination of dose from charged and neutral particles (images to the right).
Map the contribution to in vivo doses from charged and neutral particles in LEO.
Provide hands-on training for McMaster University Undergraduate students in small satellite design platforms.
Provide opportunities for McMaster University students to gain valuable and employable skills in project design as well as mission management and implementation.
Sub-Teams
Our team consists of many sub-teams which specialize in different facets of science, engineering, and project management.
Click the team name to reveal more information about their function.
> CDH
> Orbital
> Operations
> Communications
> Mechanical
> Mission Operations and Control
> EPS (Electrical Power System)
> Payload
McMaster NEUDOSE
1280 Main St. W.
Hamilton, ON
L8S 4L8
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@mcmastersatellite on Instagram
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