Aerospace · project thread
Project Minerva
Reusable software, communications, and ground-support infrastructure for rapid, repeatable high-altitude balloon research campaigns.
Problem
Student and faculty research payloads need repeatable flight-support systems without rebuilding mission-specific software and communications for every campaign.
Outcome
A reusable high-altitude balloon testbed that reduces integration time and supports reliable flight testing of research payloads.
01 · Challenge
The engineering problem
Student and faculty research payloads need repeatable flight-support systems without rebuilding mission-specific software and communications for every campaign.
02 · Contribution
My contribution
- Lead software development for reusable flight and ground infrastructure.
- Engineer LoRa telemetry and custom ground stations for real-time tracking, communications, and research data acquisition.
- Standardize ground and flight software interfaces across experimental missions.
03 · Work / process
How the system took shape
- Support campaigns from payload integration through flight operations.
- Build reusable communications and ground-support infrastructure around researchers’ payload needs.
- Reduce mission-specific development through repeatable system interfaces.
04 · Results / evidence
Results and evidence
- Provides researchers with rapid, repeatable access to high-altitude balloon flight testing.
- Improves repeatability and reliability across experimental campaigns.