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=== SPACE Mk 1 ===
=== SPACE Mk 1 ===
[[File:space_crash.jpg | left | thumb | 300 px | <center>The unfortunate fate of SPACE Mk 1</center>]]
The initial goals for the payload were simply two pronged: to be able to modularly adapt to payload requirements, and to be thermally insulative. Finding a material that would be insulative and easy to work with was non-trivial; in the end, it was decided to pursue the route of High Density Polyurethane Foam (HDPU). This foam was known to have a thermal conductivity rating just below styrofoam, and was fully machineable to boot.
The initial goals for the payload were simply two pronged: to be able to modularly adapt to payload requirements, and to be thermally insulative. Finding a material that would be insulative and easy to work with was non-trivial; in the end, it was decided to pursue the route of High Density Polyurethane Foam (HDPU). This foam was known to have a thermal conductivity rating just below styrofoam, and was fully machineable to boot.
The principal design featured four main components - a ''chamber'', ''portals'', ''blocks'', and ''retainer plates''. The chamber was the skeleton of the payload, essentially a rectangular box out of HDPU foam panels epoxied together. The most notable aspect was the rounded square holes on each wall of the payload -- these were called ''portals''. A chamber had six portal of a pre-determined shape and size. The modular hot-swap ''blocks'' had the corresponding HDPU rounded-square panel. This HDPU block may or may not have been further machined depending on its purpose -- for example, a block meant to house a GoPro in one wall of the payload would also have a machined GoPro cavity and through-hole for the lens. However, other blocks, like the SSI logo block or note block did not require this kind of HDPU machining. The HDPU block was then epoxied to a wooden outer retention plate (initially bass wood). This outer retention plate had four 1/4" holes. When slotted into the appropriate chamber portal, the block was clamped to the payload using an internal retention plate and nylon bolts. All HDPU was also painted black for heat absorption.
The principal design featured four main components - a ''chamber'', ''portals'', ''blocks'', and ''retainer plates''. The chamber was the skeleton of the payload, essentially a rectangular box out of HDPU foam panels epoxied together. The most notable aspect was the rounded square holes on each wall of the payload -- these were called ''portals''. A chamber had six portal of a pre-determined shape and size. The modular hot-swap ''blocks'' had the corresponding HDPU rounded-square panel. This HDPU block may or may not have been further machined depending on its purpose -- for example, a block meant to house a GoPro in one wall of the payload would also have a machined GoPro cavity and through-hole for the lens. However, other blocks, like the SSI logo block or note block did not require this kind of HDPU machining. The HDPU block was then epoxied to a wooden outer retention plate (initially bass wood). This outer retention plate had four 1/4" holes. When slotted into the appropriate chamber portal, the block was clamped to the payload using an internal retention plate and nylon bolts. All HDPU was also painted black for heat absorption.
A full list of functionalities & features:
A full list of functionalities & features: