Tokai University
In the spring of 1996 UAF's Student Rocket Program took its first step towards what it hopes will be a series of international collaborations. Faculty and students from Japan's Tokai University have to date, made three trips to UAF to collaborate on projects, share insights and techniques, as well as work with students to create their own student rocket program. UAF hopes to include other universities in Japan, such as Tohoku University as it develops an international student rocket program .
First visit: March 1996
Tokai's students first visited UAF in March of 1996, touring Poker Flat Research Range and discussing some of the various team projects.
Second Visit: August 1996
The purpose of the second visit, in August 1996, was to get to know the other team and to discuss areas of potential collaborations. Each Tokai member presented his/her ongoing work and UAF members presented their area of the rocket project. Topics included Eigen analysis of a satellites mast, paragliders, and coupler designs and models. During the first week Japanese students were paired with UAF members and received a more detailed briefing on each team's progress. The second week saw further discussions on areas of collaboration. These resulted in the Japanese designing, and fabricating a magnetometer, and their performing wind tunnel tests on scale models designed and built at UAF.
Third visit: March 1997
During the third visit, the Student Rocket Programs of both the University of Alaska Fairbanks and Japan's Tokai University, completed the successful integration of UAF's rocket payload and Tokai's magnetometer and sensors. The two teams completed the integration and testing during the week of March 12-17, 1997. The payload and magnetometer, designed and fabricated by UAF and Tokai respectively, will be used on ARIM1's test rocket scheduled for 1998.
Fourth visit: March 1999
Two professors and seven students visited the UAF campus during spring break. The visit consisted of presentations, tours of the rocket lab and Poker Flat Research Range, a trip to the Large Animal Research Station, and a day of skiing.
Students and professors gave presentations about what their part and project is in their respective programs. The UAF students then gave tours of the ASGP facilties and demonstrated how the facilities are utilized.
A day was spent out at Poker Flat Research Range. Tours of the facilities were accompanied by presentations on how each of the separate facilities operate.
Though not related to rockets or even engineering, a tour of the Large Animal Research Station was arranged. At the station, a brief presentation was given about the research that is conducted on muskox, caribou, and reindeer. For a little bit of fun, a day was spent skiing and snowboarding.
Dr. Hawkins visits Tokai University
During the months of July and August 1999, Dr. Hawkins visited several schools in Japan to further solidify collaborations. Dr. Hawkins visited Tokai University during the week of August 1st. The main focus of the visit was to encourage the Tokai Student Rocket Project (TSRP) to become more involved by taking on more projects. TSRP showed great interest in building and launching their own rocket out of Poker Flat Research Range
Past Collaborations
During the week of August 2nd, 1998, Dr. Toshimi Okada came to the University of Alaska Fairbanks to discuss possible future collaborations between our two schools. While Dr. Okada was here, he toured our facilities here on campus and Poker Flat Research Range where he observed a rocket launch demonstration. We hope to be able to work with Dr. Okada and Toyama Prefectural University on future projects.
Read about the wind tunnel model
Read about the work being done on the magnetometer
Read about the coupler
In order to test the recovery system that will be used in TR1, TR2, and ARIM1, we needed to get high enough in the air to release the payload and test the system. With the help of the Alaska Air National Guard, we were able to accomplish this task with drop test 1.
