The International Space Station (ISS) needs your help. (via NASA)
‘Houston, we have a problem.’ No, it’s not Apollo 13 that NASA’s having a problem with but rather the ISS (International Space Station). Actually, they’re having some issues with solar collectors and they need some software coders to help them out in the form of a challenge with the winner gaining a $10,000 prize as well as collectible stickers that have been in space. Those interested in winning the prizes will have to find a way for the ISS to collect as much solar power as the lab transverses over the most difficult orbital paths where light collection is most difficult. The ISS’s solar collectors, or SAWs (Solar Array Wings), are situated in two groups with four SAWs each that are positioned on either side of the station. Each of the SAW groups rotate independently from one another using a SARJ (Solar Alpha Rotary Joint) while each SAW can be manipulated using their respective BGAs (Beta Gimbal Assemblies). The contestant’s job is to determine the best solar collection position during a 92-minute orbit by specifying the most efficient angular position and velocity relative to the sun using the array’s 10 (total) SAW joints. The rules state that contestants can even adjust the ISS’s spatial orientation by a small amount (not too much or we’ll lose the station completely) in order to gain the most power generation.
Solar array rotation on the Longeron. To prevent damage, NASA turns to the people. (via NASA)
Positioning the solar arrays is an incredibly difficult task (so don’t think it’s an easy 10 G’s to win) as each panel array is connected to what’s known as a ‘longeron’ (stringer or stiffener). These are extremely fragile and are susceptible to temperature differentials in both sunlight and shadow. If their situated in a shadow for a certain amount of time they will cool and eventually shrink and if some are situated in both sun and shadow, the longeron’s will eventually weaken and break (say goodbye to the $30 grand and hello to a law-suit!). Each contestant looking to take on the challenge will be provided a Beta Angle (orbital parameter) that will help in calculating the position/motion of the sun relative to the ISS, which can be done off-line as the Beta Angle will be known to all. In addition, code will be available to calculate power generation in a specific orientation of the panels, which can be tested in an off-line tester/visualizer program. Contestants must make sure that their results can be repeated for each orbit of the ISS with respect to maximum power generation without catastrophic failure (or failure of any kind). There are constraints in relation to the amount of power generated including maintaining some amount off minimum power for each SAW during orbit, the sequence of panel position must be cyclic, or repeatable, during each orbit and the amount of time the longerons can be positioned in shadow is time restrictive (we don’t want to break the ISS) among other test limitations (see http://www.topcoder.com/iss/challenge-details/ for more details). Registration for the contest opened on the 16th of this month (January) and the first milestone of the challenge has been completed with second ready to begin on the 30th (second heat). The contest closes on the 6th of February so those looking to score some cash should register and compete ASAP!
Cabe