Mach 30 #EngineerSpeak Hangout Dec 07, 2013

Discussion Topic:  Revamping Ground Sphere Schedule

Attending: J, Greg, Aaron

Start:  1605

End: 1800

Discussion:

• J - purpose of meeting is to address the development schedule for Ground Sphere (we are behind)
• J - quick review of schedule requirements

• SkyCube is scheduled for launch on Dec 15
• SkyCube deployment from ISS has not yet been scheduled, but don’t anticipate it before Jan 31
• We need to deliver to Southern Stars 15 Ground Spheres for their backers
• Agreed verbally to complete shipping the kits to backers by Feb 14

• J - so, we need to be shipping 15 kits by Feb 14
• Aaron - concerned about component availability to meet the deadline (especially the preamps)
• much discussion about the delay
• Greg - when we have two competing requirements you’re left with a decision which one needs to be waived off.  In this case specifically, we have a long lead item that may postpone the ship date because of the list of tests that need to be run specifically on the long-lead parts.  Therefore the tradeoff is to a) slip the delivery date or b) reduce the testing required.

• J- sending out “incomplete” ground stations is not an option.  Southern stars will always err on the side of slipping schedule instead of delivering a non-functional solution.
• Greg- There’s always a 3rd option of “crashing the schedule” (ie. throwing money and people at the problem).  Does Tim have anyone to help here, or can we pull others off of their current project to help here?

• Crashing the schedule

• J - prototype 1 assembly must be completed by Sun Dec 8, J and Aaron will get on a hangout at to close out this milestone @ 2200 EST
• ACTION (J) schedule the hangout
• ACTION (Aaron) Acquire Windows PC by Monday morning and Txt J and let him know the status of the action.
• ACTION (Aaron and J) After the Export Control hangout Monday night, Aaron will conduct the Ground sphere functionality check on both hardware and software.
• The above actions will close out Steps 201 and 204
• Aaron - try and work the assembly today and keep the deadline of tomorrow night
• Aaron - the anticipated delivery date of the 915 MHz tone generator is: 18 Dec 2013, which is the gating step before TR1.1.2. test part 1 and 2.

• Greg - Can the microcontroller be developed in advance (In parallel) or do we have to wait for the tone generator to arrive?
• Aaron- Oh, good idea!

• J- can Aaron reach out to another community (HAM radio?) with a source for 915 MHz?

• Aaron - I’m connected enough to know that this source is rare and probably not accessible.

• J - while we consider what to do about the delay in receiving testing hardware, let’s discuss when to schedule a meeting with at least J, Aaron, and Greg to design the test plan for the parts of TR 1.1.2 test

• ACTION (J) - port TEMP from minutes to wiki by end of Sunday Dec 8
• will do this at the next #EngineerSpeak hangout

• Formal testing (1.1.2 test parts 1-3) of Prototype v0.1 will begin NLT Sat, 21 Dec.  Aaron can use W-F (18-20) to troubleshoot the microcontroller)
• ACTION: (J) Find the SkyCube transmit power and get TLE identifier for NPS-SCAT and status of that bird from Tim.  Will do this on Sun Dec 8

• Aaron assumes 5W and no gain on the antenna

• Decision to scratch Prototype v0.3 from the schedule

• Greg- I’m ok with this because v0.3 was just adding margin in my mind.  
• Aaron - ok
• J- ok, lets do this then

• Need to plan for [Test 1.1.2 parts 1-2] completed by 21 Dec
• Lets plan for all Testing 1.1.2 complete on 28 Dec to allow for (a series of) debrief hangouts on 29 Dec.  Goal is to have all of the debrief of v0.1 (milestone 206) and design for v0.2 (Milestone 207) complete by the end of Dec 29
• Need 2 copies of prototype v0.2 meaning we cannot “scavenge” the existing components.

• Quelab (need a kit)
• Aaron (kit-->complete)

• Southern Stars will get the completed prototype v0.1 build for software development/testing
• Greg - which components of the prototype v0.1 are firmly selected and will not change in version 0.2?  In other words, what can I start purchasing in the mean time?

• J - per Aaron, SDR is determined (this is the best available commercial product for this component); the antenna components can be sourced at Home Depot and Hobby Lobby so those are readily available; the one trouble component is the preamp
• J - propose we order 30 of the preamp PCB at $1.25 or less and plan to source the components stateside; this gives us 15 for Southern Stars, 2 for 0.2 prototypes, 5 for Mach 30 demos, and 8 for slop (busted boards, or extra inventory)
• all agree