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Tramdang: Biology projects

2026-05-09T23:26:11Z

Biology projects

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:26, 9 May 2026
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	== Biology ==		== Biology ==
			{{nowrap\|The current Biology co-leads are {{Leadership\|Biology=true}}}}

	~~=== Enzymatic DNA Synthesis Methods ===~~		Interested in the intersection of biology and space? Then our biology team needs YOU! We've been trying to put humans and other living organisms in space for over a century, and if we want to continue this effort, then it is vital to understand the biological processes of how life can be sustained in outer space. To build our understanding, conducting cool and exciting new projects and experiments is key. Therefore, if you have any project ideas (really, any at all, and nothing is too small or too big!), contact us and we will give you a platform to work on your fun project along with other interested members.
	'~~''Lead: Gwyn Uttmark''' {{slack-user\|uttmark}}~~
	** Test commercial blocking groups for ~~compatibility with [[Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase]]~~
	** Chemically synthesize nucleotides with different reversible blocking groups
	** Characterize and ~~optimize [[Enzymatic Synthesis Methods \| enzymatic DNA synthesis]] reaction efficiency~~
	** Build and ~~run stochastic computer models of DNA synthesis~~ to ~~optimize reaction parameters~~
	** Research purification methods for synthesized DNA
	** Design and test your ~~own synthesis method!~~

	=== ~~Sequence Verification~~ ===		=== Mycorocket ===
	** ~~Execute~~ and ~~optimize any one~~ of our ~~existing verification procedures--[[Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis]]~~, ~~[[Pyrosequencing]], or [[Ligation and Sequencing]]~~		'''Lead:''' {{slack-user\|sunet-id=tramdang\|display-name=Tram Dang}}
	** ~~Adapt LCMS or MALDI-TOF procedures for detecting single-base addition or determining~~ the ~~sequence of a sample.~~		*Build a biodegradable rocket through using mycelium with us!
	** ~~Come up with new ways to verify single-base addition to a starting strand~~ of ~~DNA~~		** Plan for measurements and payload of the rocket
			** Create a mold for the rocket
			** Make mycelium substrate (our mycelium needs food too!)
			** Test substrate, ensuring that our mycelium will grow in it
			** Culture the mycelium inside mold
			** With the completion of the rocket, schedule the launch!

	=== ~~Microfluidic Device Design~~ ===		=== Astropharmacy ===
	** Design and program an [[Electrowetting on Dielectric]] microfluidic PCB		'''Lead: Alistair Peet'''
	** Simulate and test how a microfluidic system would work in microgravity
	** Port our DNA synthesis method to a solid substrate like controlled pore glass or streptavidin-biotin magnetic beads		* Design a plasmid to transform Bacilis to create a peptide drug in space!
	** Optimize an integrated microfluidic protocol for DNA synthesis and verification on the electrowetting PCB and on the [[Beckman Biomek 2000]] liquid handling robot in lab
	** Research and test other automated [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microfluidics fluid handling methods], like [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acoustic_droplet_ejection acoustic droplet ejection] or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optoelectrowetting optoelectrowetting].
	** Build a ~~system for cooling and temperature control of the device, perhaps using [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoelectric_cooling Peltiers]~~
	** Write an algorithm to ~~minimize the number of groups of compatible templates needed for the [[Enzymatic Synthesis Methods \| exonuclease method]]~~
	** Figure out how to ~~power our PCB from~~ a ~~cubesat or other launch vehicle~~
	** Build testing rigs for DNA synthesis methods that are needed for experiments in ~~lab~~

	== Policy ==		== Policy ==

Flynnd: /* Mars */

2023-01-26T05:14:34Z

Mars

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:14, 26 January 2023
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	== Mars ==		== Mars ==
	Team Leads: {{~~Slack-user~~\|~~@shreya garg~~=~~Shreya Garg\|@Kylie=Kylie Holland~~}}		Team Leads:{{Leadership \|Mars = true }}

	In the Mars team, SSI’s newest venture, we believe that humanity is destined to move beyond Earth and settle the Solar System. Our multidisciplinary work combines the fields of materials science, chemical engineering, civil engineering, economics, and anything else that helps our goals! Whether you’re majoring in one of those fields or are undeclared, all you need to be a productive member of our team is a passion for interplanetary exploration. This team is meant to be a great learning opportunity for all its members to become familiar with in situ resource utilization (ISRU) and other technologies that will build our future in space. ISRU promises to produce the resources necessary to sustain human life on other planets. The ability to make potable water, breathable air, and construction materials in situ means that the major constraint on interplanetary missions, the need to bring massive amounts of cargo, can be sidestepped. This would reduce the cost of a Mars mission by orders of magnitude and help expedite it. ISRU also provides the only way for Martian settlements to be truly self-sustaining, allowing humanity to become a multiplanetary species and kickstart a new era of history.		In the Mars team, SSI’s newest venture, we believe that humanity is destined to move beyond Earth and settle the Solar System. Our multidisciplinary work combines the fields of materials science, chemical engineering, civil engineering, economics, and anything else that helps our goals! Whether you’re majoring in one of those fields or are undeclared, all you need to be a productive member of our team is a passion for interplanetary exploration. This team is meant to be a great learning opportunity for all its members to become familiar with in situ resource utilization (ISRU) and other technologies that will build our future in space. ISRU promises to produce the resources necessary to sustain human life on other planets. The ability to make potable water, breathable air, and construction materials in situ means that the major constraint on interplanetary missions, the need to bring massive amounts of cargo, can be sidestepped. This would reduce the cost of a Mars mission by orders of magnitude and help expedite it. ISRU also provides the only way for Martian settlements to be truly self-sustaining, allowing humanity to become a multiplanetary species and kickstart a new era of history.

Jteoh2: /* Balloonerang */ fixed a typo

2021-10-03T20:46:47Z

Balloonerang: fixed a typo

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:46, 3 October 2021
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	Retrieving payloads is just as important as launching them. Balloonerang tackles the challenge of payload recovery with a single, integrated, guided recovery system, simulating when aerodynamics, mechanical, and controls work become inseparable. It is the newest and fastest growing balloons team.		Retrieving payloads is just as important as launching them. Balloonerang tackles the challenge of payload recovery with a single, integrated, guided recovery system, simulating when aerodynamics, mechanical, and controls work become inseparable. It is the newest and fastest growing balloons team.

	A Balloonerang payload is launched to near-space and then autonomously glides to land near the outskirts of inhabited areas, reducing time and cost of recovery operations. This stubby glider spends up to a week in the freezing upper atmosphere, ballasting weight, recharging batteries with onboard solar panels, keeping itself and the payload warm, and communicating important data back to Earth with its satellite radio system. When it’s time to terminate the mission, the glider severs its connection to the balloon and ~~zipps~~ back to earth at over 70mph, fighting hundred mile per hour jetstreams, stabilizing itself in high altitude turbulence, and guiding itself to a mission defined recovery site. At 400 feet above the ground, the glider deploys the parachute and descends safely to the ground. Whew! What a journey! And what an adventure for you to go on!		A Balloonerang payload is launched to near-space and then autonomously glides to land near the outskirts of inhabited areas, reducing time and cost of recovery operations. This stubby glider spends up to a week in the freezing upper atmosphere, ballasting weight, recharging batteries with onboard solar panels, keeping itself and the payload warm, and communicating important data back to Earth with its satellite radio system. When it’s time to terminate the mission, the glider severs its connection to the balloon and zips back to earth at over 70mph, fighting hundred mile per hour jetstreams, stabilizing itself in high altitude turbulence, and guiding itself to a mission defined recovery site. At 400 feet above the ground, the glider deploys the parachute and descends safely to the ground. Whew! What a journey! And what an adventure for you to go on!

	If you’re interested in CAD design, board fabrication, data visualization, aerodynamics, optimizing flight paths, or anything electronics, Balloonerang has a place for you to shine. Join this tight knit team to experience a little bit of everything: flight control algorithms, complex mechanical design, and hands-on electrical engineering experience.		If you’re interested in CAD design, board fabrication, data visualization, aerodynamics, optimizing flight paths, or anything electronics, Balloonerang has a place for you to shine. Join this tight knit team to experience a little bit of everything: flight control algorithms, complex mechanical design, and hands-on electrical engineering experience.

Pmwall at 21:44, 2 October 2021

2021-10-02T21:44:46Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:44, 2 October 2021
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	With a goal of launching a rocket to the cruising altitude of an airplane, we strive to push the boundaries of what’s possible in college rocketry. After competing and winning three awards at the Spaceport America Cup in New Mexico, we’ve set our sights on a new challenge: building SSI’s first custom propulsion system and competing in the high-altitude liquid propulsion category.		With a goal of launching a rocket to the cruising altitude of an airplane, we strive to push the boundaries of what’s possible in college rocketry. After competing and winning three awards at the Spaceport America Cup in New Mexico, we’ve set our sights on a new challenge: building SSI’s first custom propulsion system and competing in the high-altitude liquid propulsion category.

	~~====~~ Now for a balloons and rockets crossover... ~~====~~
			'''Now for a balloons and rockets crossover...'''

	=== Spaceshot ===		=== Spaceshot ===

Pmwall: updated the rockets projects

2021-10-02T21:44:01Z

updated the rockets projects

@@ Line 80: / Line 80: @@
 == Rockets ==
-=== Daedalus ===
+=== Hestia ===
-Daedalus is our suite of technology development projects. The work done here pushes forwards on our long-term plan for a space shot. Each project will involve some mechanical, electrical, programming and simulations work, so feel free to join any one of them - but each focuses on a different aspect of rocketry.
+=== Phoenix ===
-Icarus - Reefed Parachute, '''Lead: Saylor'''
+=== Olympus ===
-*Icarus is building a rocket with a reefed parachute - one which changes size during flight to adjust the rocket descent. This project will intimately involve:
+==== Now for a balloons and rockets crossover... ====
-Charybdis - Spin Stabilization '''Contact: William'''
+=== Spaceshot ===
+Spaceshot is an epic crossover between the rockets and balloons team, and it is SSI’s unconventionally awesome attempt to send a rocket all the way to space. Instead of approaching this problem the way most other schools have, the Spaceshot team is building a rocket/balloon hybrid called a rockoon. A balloon will lift a rocket to 30 km, and from there the rocket will launch all the way to space (100 km)! When we succeed, we’ll be both open-source and the cheapest way to get to space by several orders of magnitude, impacting how people reach space for years to come!
 == Satellites ==

Aabdalla at 07:49, 30 September 2021

2021-09-30T07:49:42Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:49, 30 September 2021
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	= SSI Overload =		== SSI Overload ==
	So you've joined [https://ssi-teams.slack.com/join] Slack, maybe gone to a meeting or two, but you're not sure what you can do or what there even is to do with so many teams swirling around? Well you've come to right place! Below are all the projects each team is working on, what skills they utilize or where they're especially looking for help, and who you can contact to jump in! Think of this like a jobs listing page except that the jobs are always available and you apply by poking the person of contact and saying you want the job -- and it's probably yours.		So you've joined [https://ssi-teams.slack.com/join] Slack, maybe gone to a meeting or two, but you're not sure what you can do or what there even is to do with so many teams swirling around? Well you've come to right place! Below are all the projects each team is working on, what skills they utilize or where they're especially looking for help, and who you can contact to jump in! Think of this like a jobs listing page except that the jobs are always available and you apply by poking the person of contact and saying you want the job -- and it's probably yours.

Aabdalla: uniform formatting for all teams

2021-09-30T07:49:20Z

uniform formatting for all teams

Show changes

Jhthai: added policy project stuff

2021-09-23T23:28:12Z

added policy project stuff

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:28, 23 September 2021
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	= Policy =		= Policy =
			Outer space is cold, dark, and dangerous, yet people keep risking lives and spending billions of dollars to venture into its depths. Space projects have historically been some of the most dangerous and time consuming human endeavors ever attempted. So… why do we do it?

	~~== DC Trip ==~~		SSI’s Policy Team investigates the politics of space. Whether you are an economist, philosopher, engineer, or anything else, whether you are fascinated by today’s rapidly changing space industry or wish you were around for the first moon landing, Policy Team is the place for you. Join us for our weekly general meetings to discuss the trends and issues of the space industry, or take part in one (or more!) of our subteams below! The future of space is in your hands.
	* Be a lead/co-lead for our ~~DC trip~~ in ~~partnership with Citizens for Space~~

	== ~~[[SpaceJams]]~~ ==		== UN Proposal & Citizens for Space Exploration ==
	* Be a Discussion Lead(s) for a week and ~~do a deep dive on a topic/news article~~ of ~~your choice~~		Ever dreamed of visiting the United Nations or meeting with senators in Washington DC to discuss hot topics in outer space? SSI’s Policy Team provides incredible opportunities to delve into the intriguing, controversial, and challenging world of space policy.

	== ~~Your Project Here~~ ==		Each year, Policy Team sends members to the Citizens for Space Exploration Conference in Washington, DC, where you — yes, you! — can speak directly with lawmakers and elected officials, lobbying to promote space exploration and determine the role of government in space.
	* Message {{slack-user\|rebeccawong}} and ~~let~~'s ~~chat about what you're interested~~ in ~~doing~~!
			Last year, eight students from the Policy Team worked with the nonprofit [https://www.forallmoonkind.org/ For All Moonkind] to write a proposal about the preservation of human heritage in space, and the paper is going to be published by the Astrosociology Research Institute. Normally these students would get to travel to Vienna, Austria and present their research to the UN’s Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space; although we weren’t able to last year due to COVID, we plan on going again this year!

			== Podcast ==
			Space policy is a large, complex, intergenerational conversation — and we want you to join! Our weekly space news podcast “This Week in Space” (check us out on Spotify or iTunes!) addresses what's currently going on in the space industry through discussions among team members and interviews with distinguished members of the space industry. We currently have listeners in 25 countries and are looking to keep expanding!

			== Book Club ==
			Love space related pop culture? Interested in how science fiction eventually becomes science fact? Eager to meet sci-fi authors? Just looking for a place to vibe with really cool people? Come join our book club! We read sci fi novels and discuss them at our biweekly meetings.

	= Operations =		= Operations =

Matthtan: /* Cycloon */

2021-09-19T00:53:09Z

Cycloon

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:53, 19 September 2021
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	== HABMC ==		== HABMC ==
	'''Please see the [https://ssi-wiki.stanford.edu/HABMC HABMC] page for more info.'''		'''Please see the [https://ssi-wiki.stanford.edu/HABMC HABMC] page for more info.'''

			Team Lead: {{slack-user\|sunet-id = richchen\|display-name=Richard Chen}}

	HABMC is SSI's in-house developed web-based High Altitude Balloon Mission Control (HABMC) platform. From here, we can track our balloons all over the world, streaming live telemetry data from onboard sensors and controlling the balloons altitude and trajectory by sending commands. Infinitely adaptable and expandable, HABMC allows balloons to launch a diverse set of payload types and receive data ''from'' anywhere in the world, ''to'' anywhere in the world. HABMC can be found [https://habmc.stanfordssi.org/flight here.]		HABMC is SSI's in-house developed web-based High Altitude Balloon Mission Control (HABMC) platform. From here, we can track our balloons all over the world, streaming live telemetry data from onboard sensors and controlling the balloons altitude and trajectory by sending commands. Infinitely adaptable and expandable, HABMC allows balloons to launch a diverse set of payload types and receive data ''from'' anywhere in the world, ''to'' anywhere in the world. HABMC can be found [https://habmc.stanfordssi.org/flight here.]
	== Cycloon ==		== Cycloon ==
	Team Lead:		'''Please see the [https://ssi-wiki.stanford.edu/Cycloon Cycloon] page for more info.'''

			Team Lead: {{slack-user\|sunet-id = hagop\|display-name=Hagop Chinchinian}}

	Balloons launched by SSI from California have flown over three continents and two oceans. What better way to leverage these high-precision, long-endurance flight capabilities than to fly into and collect data from hurricanes, nature’s most awe-inspiring and destructive storms?		Balloons launched by SSI from California have flown over three continents and two oceans. What better way to leverage these high-precision, long-endurance flight capabilities than to fly into and collect data from hurricanes, nature’s most awe-inspiring and destructive storms?
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	== Balloonerang ==		== Balloonerang ==
			'''Please see the [https://ssi-wiki.stanford.edu/Balloonerang Balloonerang] page for more info.'''

			Team Lead: {{slack-user\|sunet-id = rsanda\|display-name=Rohan Sanda}}

	Retrieving payloads is just as important as launching them. Balloonerang tackles the challenge of payload recovery with a single, integrated, guided recovery system, simulating when aerodynamics, mechanical, and controls work become inseparable. It is the newest and fastest growing balloons team.		Retrieving payloads is just as important as launching them. Balloonerang tackles the challenge of payload recovery with a single, integrated, guided recovery system, simulating when aerodynamics, mechanical, and controls work become inseparable. It is the newest and fastest growing balloons team.

Jteoh2: Balloons projects (updated)

2021-09-19T00:40:12Z

Balloons projects (updated)

@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 HABMC is SSI's in-house developed web-based High Altitude Balloon Mission Control (HABMC) platform.  From here, we can track our balloons all over the world, streaming live telemetry data from onboard sensors and controlling the balloons altitude and trajectory by sending commands.  Infinitely adaptable and expandable, HABMC allows balloons to launch a diverse set of payload types and receive data ''from'' anywhere in the world, ''to'' anywhere in the world.  HABMC can be found [https://habmc.stanfordssi.org/flight here.]
-== ValBal ==
+== Cycloon ==
-'''Note: the below project is no longer active in SSI. Please see the [[Balloons]] page for an updated list of projects.'''
+Team Lead:
-ValBal (Valve and Ballast), is a world record-breaking high-altitude balloon payload that autonomously maintains a set altitude for days of flight by venting helium gas and dropping ballast. If you are interested in MechE, EE, CS, Physics, or even MatSci or ChemE, there's a place for you on the ValBal team!
+If you’re interested in CAD design, board fabrication, data visualization, aerodynamics, optimizing flight paths, or anything electronics, Balloonerang has a place for you to shine. Join this tight knit team to experience a little bit of everything: flight control algorithms, complex mechanical design, and hands-on electrical engineering experience.
 *MechE -- '''Lead: Paige Brown'''
 ValBal's current design is a 3 part 3D printed nylon structure that uses motors to vent helium gas directly from the balloon neck, cut down the payload in the event of an emergency, and turn a wheel to dispense bb pellets as ballast from a lower compartment. The structure supports, at its heart, the avionics, which powers and control the motors and sensors. Contact {{slack-user|paigebrown}} if you're interested in:
-**Computer Aided Design (CAD) in SolidWorks
+*Computer Aided Design (CAD) in SolidWorks
-**3D printing
+*3D printing
-**Messing with dry ice
+*Messing with dry ice
-**Laser cutting
+*Laser cutting
-**Random jank manufacturing tricks
+*Random jank manufacturing tricks
-**and everything else that goes into making ValBal mechanics run smoothly
+*and everything else that goes into making ValBal mechanics run smoothly
 *EE -- '''Lead: Aria Tedjarati'''
@@ Line 57: / Line 70: @@
 *MatSci/ChemE -- '''Lead: Paige Brown'''
 ValBal has a '''fatal problem''': latex balloons are quickly weakened by UV radiation and ozone at high altitudes, leading to mission ending failure in just a few days. If this sounds like an interesting problem to you, and you want to be an integral part of helping us circumnavigate the world someday, come help us figure out how to strengthen or alter the latex balloon with s c i e n c e. Contact {{slack-user|paigebrown}} if you're interested!
 = Rockets =