Debris and Meteoroid Environment Sensor (DENTS)

Description: Developing a Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL 6) prototype of the Debris and Meteoroid Environment Sensor (DENTS) for CubeSat Applications. The effort builds on a previously demonstrated TRL 5 sensor and analog front-end system and extends it to a fully integrated, system-level prototype capable of operation in a relevant environment. DENTS is intended for the characterization and monitoring of small space debris particles using a distributed platform deployed across multiple SmallSats and CubeSats. The student project will complement an ongoing effort at LASP, with support from professional engineers and access to testing facilities, including the Colorado dust accelerator facility.

The team will design, fabricate, and assemble a single sensor tile, including the PVDF detector, impact plate, and sense grid, together with the associated mechanical mounting structure. In parallel, the student will assemble and validate the analog front-end electronics, including charge-sensitive amplifiers, antenna buffering circuitry, and signal conditioning stages. Also in parallel, the team will develop a digital electronics unit that serves as the data acquisition and control system. This unit will include high-speed ADCs, FPGA-based signal processing, onboard memory, and communication interfaces. The students will implement coincident dust impact event detection algorithms, with emphasis on reliable detection of transient signals and efficient data handling consistent with instrument requirements.

A mechanical enclosure will be designed and fabricated to house the digital electronics and provide structural and electrical interfaces to the sensor tile, forming a compact, integrated detector unit. The system will undergo comprehensive functional testing, including calibration using a dust accelerator and validation of end-to-end detection performance. Environmental testing will be conducted to meet TRL-6 requirements, including thermal cycling, vacuum operation, and vibration testing consistent with protoflight-level conditions.

The project deliverables will include a validated DENTS detector unit, performance characterization of the integrated system, and environmental test reports demonstrating TRL 6 readiness.

Advisor: Zoltan Sternovsky