Hello From Sapphire

A view of Saskatchewan from space, courtesy Sapphire's Fotoman camera.
.S.T.A.N.F.O.R.D. .A.U.D.I.O.P.H.O.N.I.C. .P.H.O.T.O.G.R.A.P.H.I.C. .I.N.F.R.A.R.E.D. . E.X.P.E.R.I.M.E.N.T.
Sapphire has spent
1000 days in orbit!!
(and is still going!)

Click here for instructions on contacting/operating Sapphire

Click here for the latest updates

Sapphire is the first Satellite QUIck Research Testbed (SQUIRT) satellite and the second to fly.  (His sister, OPAL, is in orbit.)  As part of the Stanford Space Systems Development Laboratory (SSDL) the SQUIRT project trained graduate level students in all aspects of the design and construction of a satellite. Yes, that's right, the students designed, built, tested, and operated it - with ample and essential help from mentors and industry partners.

* Mission Statement 
* System Overview 
* System Details 
* Subsystem Details 
* Testing 
* Industry Partners
* Personnel Lists 
* Action Items 
* Meeting Minutes 
* Lessons Learned 
* Pictures 
* Publications 
* Engineering Model 
* Room 007 Details 
* Latest Updates 

 The Sapphire project was started in early April of 1994, was flight-readied in July 1998, and launched on 30 September 2001 as part of the Kodiak Star mission.  And when we're really on top of the ball, we'll list our changes and additions here.

Sapphire's primary mission is to space-qualify micromachined infrared sensors. The Principal Investigator is Professor Tom Kenny of Stanford Unviersity.  These sensors are part of a JPL program to push the development of light-weight, inexpensive sensors for spacecraft. Also on-board are a digital camera and a voice synthesizer.  Sapphire's other mission is to train USNA midshipmen in spacecraft operations.  For pre-flight integration and post-launch operations support, Sapphire is managed by Project Aria at Washington University, St. Louis.

The whole design process has been (imperfectly) documented through the World Wide Web. This will allowed for better communication within the Sapphire group, reduced the material resources required for the project, and will allow any member of the Internet community to view the design process in its entirety.

These pages have been moved to Washington University to facilitate updates and engineering support for the launch and operations campaigns.  Sapphire is now in extremely extended mission operations; almost everyone associated with the project has graduated to "real" jobs.  While these pages are sorely incomplete, they are, unfortunately, as complete as they will ever get.  We apologize in advance for the broken links and images.

 
SSDL Main Page
Project Aria Main Page

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Maintained by the Sapphire team
This Page Updated 8 July 2004
Interior pages probably updated more recently