Design and Development of a PS4-OP Payload for Solar Spectral Irradiance Measurements and Technology Demonstration of Small-Satellite Subsystems

This article describes the design and development of INSPIRE-0, a payload on the spent stage of the ISROs PSLV. Recently, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) released an announcement of opportunity inviting proposals to develop payloads that can be tested on the PS4-Orbital Platform (PS4-OP). This platform is a novel idea formulated by ISRO to use the spent fourth/final stage of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), called the PS4, to conduct in-orbit scientific experiments and technology demonstration of small-satellite subsystems. INSPIRE-0 is a PS4-OP payload, jointly developed by the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at the University of Colorado Boulder, the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), and the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore. This payload has two main objectives. Firstly, the scientific objective is to characterize the solar spectrum using a novel sensor, developed by NTU, that has a wide frequency range from visible to near the infra-red region. The specific objective of the INSPIRE-0 payload is to demonstrate that accurate Solar Spectral Irradiance (SSI) continuous measurements are possible using new compact and robust disruptive technologies. A successful demonstration will pave the way for a future constellation of CubeSats that will provide a very cost-effective way to monitor the Total Solar Irradiance and SSI of the sun in the various spectral bands. Secondly, the INSPIRE-0 payload aims to flight qualify the in-house developed subsystems for the INSPIRESat-1 small satellite mission, namely, the Command and Data Handling (C&DH) Subsystem and the Electrical Power Subsystem (EPS). The article first describes the systems architecture of the payload which has a size of 15cm x 10cm x 7.5 cm, a mass of 1kg, and power consumption of 1.75 W. This is followed by the details of the science instrument and an overview of the different subsystems, namely the C&DH, the EPS, and the PS4-OP interface board. The article concludes with the details of the testing, including comprehensive performance tests and environmental tests, performed to prepare the payload for a planned launch on the PS4-OP in the third quarter of 2021

Development of a Power-Efficient, Low Cost, and Flash FPGA Based On-Board Computer for Small-Satellites

On-Board Computers (OBCs) for Small-satellite missions are typically required to be designed using industrial grade Commercial-of-the-shelf (COTS) components due to budget constraints and short mission duration. The OBC must provide a variety of interfaces due to the diverse nature of COTS subsystems having different interface definitions. Traditional OBC designs with standard microcontrollers have fixed interfaces that require modification of the motherboard circuit/layout when the external interfaces require changes. Thus, a possible solution is to have an FPGA in-addition to the micro-controller thereby providing a configurable interface capability. System-on-Chip (SoC) devices that integrate a microcontroller with FPGA fabric provide an ideal solution for reducing the development time. Additionally, the limited availability of power in small satellite missions makes it essential to use power-efficient devices. Furthermore, single event upsets (SEUs) and single event latch-up (SELs) are a major problem for OBCs designed for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) small-satellite missions. Flash memory-based FPGAs provide the benefit of low power consumption and they are more also fault-tolerant due to their intrinsic robustness against induced single event upsets compared to SRAM-based FPGAs. This article describes the OBC developed using the flash-based Microsemi SmartFusion2 SoC FPGA as its key component, for the INSPIRESat-1 and INSPIRESat-2 small-satellite missions. The OBC is designed in two form factors one with 13cm x 10cm dimensions for INSPIRESat-1 and the other with 10cm x 10cm dimensions for INSPIRESat-2. The OBC uses a COTS System-on-Module (SoM) developed by Emcraft containing the SmartFusion2 SoC, which is mounted on a custom-designed motherboard containing other peripherals including flash memory, SD Cards, and an external watchdog timer. The OBC has a total power consumption of approximately 1 W, in the final flight configuration. The article here describes the architecture of the OBC in detail, the key features of which include multiple on-board memories, a multi-level reset methodology, and reconfigurable input/output interfaces. The article concludes with the details of comprehensive performance tests conducted on the INSPIRESat-1 OBC, which has qualified TRL-8 (technology readiness level) status after completing required environmental tests such as the Thermal Vacuum Test (TVAC) and vibration test as a part of the integrated satellite. INSPIRESat-2 was launched in January 2021 and due to the successful working of the OBC in fight it has achieved TRL-9 status through this mission. The OBC developed for INSPIRESat-1 is planned to achieve TRL-9 status after its launch in the third quarter of 2021

INSPIRESat-1: A Year of On-Orbit Operations

INSPIRESat-1 (IS-1) was the first mission under the INternational Satellite Program In Research and Education (INSPIRE) program, a consortium of universities coming together to space science missions. IS-1 launched on February 14, 2022 at 00:30 UTC to a sun synchronous dawn-dusk orbit onboard the Indian Space Research Organization\u27s PSLV C52 mission. The IS-1 spacecraft was primarily developed at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at the University of Colorado with significant contributions from the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), NCU of Taiwan and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore. The IS-1 carries two scientific instruments: The Compact Ionospheric Probe (CIP) developed at National Central University (NCU) for studying Earth\u27s dynamic ionosphere and the NASA funded Dual-zone Aperture X-ray Solar Spectrometer (DAXSS) developed at LASP for studying the highly-variable solar X-ray radiation. DAXSS is a follow on from the highly successful MinXSS 1 &2 missions. First contact was established with the spacecraft 45 minutes after launch. The first science instruments were turned on by February 27th. DAXSS has now observed multiple solar flares in the current increasing phase of solar cycle 25 for a period of 16 months. In this paper we will present details on spacecraft performance in a unique dawn dusk orbit which presents thermal challenges not encountered frequently by nano-satellite platforms. We also present preliminary science results from CIP and DAXSS instruments from a year of on-orbit operations. Operations of the Spacecraft has also been unique with multiple universities commanding and downlinking science data

Potential effects of essential oils in safeguarding the health and enhancing production performance of livestock animals: The current scientific understanding

The food sector competes in a cutthroat environment, and it constantly struggles to maintain or even grow its market share. For customer confidence and consumption to remain strong, consistent animal products are needed. The qualitative attributes of the derived goods appear to be improved by the addition of bioactive substances to food, such as essential oils (EOs), and consumers are shielded from the impacts of bacterial and oxidative deterioration. Due to the current controversy surrounding synthetic chemicals and their alleged carcinogenic potential, a substantial study has been done to find effective and safe substitutes. Aromatic plants and the corresponding EOs from them are considered natural products and are typically employed in ruminant nutrition. Since dietary supplementation has been demonstrated to be an easy and practical method to successfully suppress oxidative processes or microbial deterioration at their localized sites, the addition of EOs in animal diets is now becoming a regular practice. However, there is just a little amount of evidence supporting the notion that these compounds may improve nutrient absorption and gastrointestinal health. Additionally, a variety of factors affect how well EOs works in animal diets. These variables can be, on the one hand, the erratic composition, and the many additions to the diet, and, on the other hand, erratic animal genetic elements. Maximizing the use of EOs and creating high-quality products require a deeper understanding of the composition and activity of the gastrointestinal tract microbiota. Numerous EOs contain bioactive substances with the potential to serve as multifunctional feed supplements for animals, with impacts on growth performance, the digestive system, the growth of pathogenic bacteria, and lipid oxidation, among others. To establish their regular use in animal production and to determine their precise mechanism of action, more research is required. The potential advantages of EOs for livestock health and production are highlighted in the current article

EFFECT OF CALCINATION ON THE SINTERING BEHAVIOUR OF HYDROXYAPATITE

In this study, a wet chemically produced hydroxyapatite (HA) powder was subjected to calcination at 700, 800, 900 and 1000oC. Subsequently, the sintering behaviour of these calcined powders was studied at various temperatures, ranging from 1050 to 1350oC. XRD results revealed that calcination has no effect on the phase stability of hydroxyapatite. However, the XRD peaks showed that the crystallinity of the powder increased with increasing calcination temperature. The specific surface area of powder reduced drastically from 60.74 m2 ∙g-1 to 9.45 m2 ∙g-1 with increasing calcination temperature. The SEM micrographs of calcined powder showed the coarsening of powder particles as the calcination temperature was increased. In terms of sinterability, the uncalcined HA powder sintered at 1150oC was found to possess the optimum properties with the following values being recorded: ~ 99 % relative density, Vickers hardness of 7.23 GPa and fracture toughness of 1.12 MPa∙m1/2. The present research indicated that calcination of the HA powder prior to sintering has a negligible effect on the sintering behaviour of the HA compacts and that calcination at 1000oC was found to be unfavourable to the properties of sintered HA

INSPIRESat-1: An Ionosphere and Solar X-ray Observing MicroSat

The International Satellite Program in Research and Education’s (INSPIRE) first satellite is an Ionosphere and Solar X-ray observing microsat slated for launch in November of 2019 onboard an ISRO Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle. The microsat has a mission specific structure fitting on a PSLV ring deployer. There are two payloads aboard with two different science objectives. The Compact Ionosphere Probe (CIP) will take in-situ measurements of ion density, composition, temperature, velocity, and electron temperature. The CIP is a smaller version of the Advanced Ionosphere Probe (AIP, both developed in Taiwan) currently operating onboard the FORMOSat-5. This instrument is capable of sampling the ionosphere at 1 and 8 Hz. The second payload is the Dual Aperture X-ray Solar spectrometer (DAXSS). DAXSS is a modified Amptek X123 that will observe Solar X-rays, specifically soft X-rays. Hot plasma in the sun’s corona is best measured in the soft X-rays. Many emission lines for important elements (Fe, Si, Mg, S, etc) are in the soft X-ray range. Soft X-rays are always present in the sun but 100 times brighter during flares, these observations will also lend to understanding the temperature difference between the sun’s corona and photosphere. The solar soft x-rays are also important for the Earth’s Ionosphere, adding to the ionosphere observations made by CIP. The DAXSS instrument has heritage from a NASA calibration rocket experiment and two cubesats, MINXSS 1 and 2. The newer model Amptek X123 has much improved energy resolution for the X-ray spectrum. The primary science objectives of the INSPIRESat-1 are twofold. First, enabling the characterization of the temporal and spatial distributions of small-scale plasma irregularities like plasma bubbles and the Midnight Temperature Maximum (MTM) in season, location, and time by CIP. Second, giving a greater understanding of why the Sun’s corona is orders of magnitude hotter than the photosphere, why there is an abundance of elements change during different solar events, and how these events (observed with greater soft x-ray fidelity) effect the earth’s ionosphere. In this paper, we present science expectations for the INSPIRESat-1 and a concept for coordinated Ionospheric measurements covering several altitudes and local times using three satellite platforms carrying the same CIP instrument (INSPIRESat-1, IDEASat/INSPIRESat-2, INSPIRESat-4, FORMOSat-5). We describe the development of DAXSS and how the dual aperture prevents the need for two X123 to get the similar data. We also highlight the unique development of the INSPIRESat-1 microsat being developed by international collaboration across three different universities

Cinnamon as a Potential Feed Additive: Beneficial Effects on Poultry Health and Production Performances – An Update

According to the Food and Agricultural Organization, global poultry output increased from approximately 115 million tons in 2016 to around 136 million tons in 2023. Poultry production has increased significantly with the dramatic uptick in meat and egg demand. Feed accounts for between 65 and 70 percent of total production costs, making it the largest chicken industry expense. This is why it's important to maximize the transformation of poultry feed into feed with a high biological value while taking as many steps as possible to protect feed quality and reduce feed costs. The use of feed additives in poultry feed has recently gained popularity and has been essential to increase feed efficiency and growth rate, which typically leads to reduced costs. The meat's texture, consistency, and nutritional content are all improved, and its shelf life is lengthened as a bonus. Feed additives are a fantastic tool for boosting a poultry farm's bottom line. For example, cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) is often used as a traditional feed supplement. Rather than antibiotics, the poultry industry could benefit from using cinnamon as a natural antibiotic replacement, which would benefit animal welfare, consumer health, and the bottom line. The performance index, feed intake, FCE performance, and weight growth of poultry can all be improved by including cinnamon in the feed at varied concentrations. The digestive health and intestinal microbial population of hens are enhanced by a diet containing bioactive components of cinnamon. Cinnamon essential oils' popularity stems from their many valuable features, such as their ability to increase gastric enzyme synthesis and other biofunctional benefits. This review focuses on the possible advantages of cinnamon as a natural feed supplement for chickens, particularly about their intestinal microbiota, blood chemistry, nutrient absorption, gene expression, and immunology

Integration, Launch, and First Results from IDEASSat/INSPIRESat-2 - A 3U CubeSat for Ionospheric Physics and Multi-National Capacity Building

The Ionospheric Dynamics and Attitude Subsystem Satellite (IDEASSat) is a 3U CubeSat carrying a Compact Ionospheric Probe (CIP) to detect ionospheric irregularities that can impact the usability and accuracy of global satellite navigation systems (GNSS), as well as satellite and terrestrial over the horizon communications. The spacecraft was developed by National Central University (NCU) in Taiwan, with additional development and operational support from partners in the International Satellite Program in Science and Education (INSPIRE) consortium. The spacecraft system needed to accommodate these mission objectives required three axis attitude control, dual band communications capable of supporting both tracking, telemetry and command (TT&C) and science data downlink, as well as flight software and ground systems capable of supporting the autonomous operation and short contact times inherent to a low Earth orbit mission developed on a limited university budget with funding agency-imposed constraints. As the first spacecraft developed at NCU, lessons learned during the development, integration, and operation of IDEASSat have proven to be crucial to the objective of developing a sustainable small satellite program. IDEASSat was launched successfully on January 24, 2021 aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 Transporter 1 flight. and successfully began operations, demonstrating power, thermal, and structural margins, as well as validation of uplink and downlink communications functionality, and autonomous operation. A serious anomaly occurred after 22 days on orbit when communication with the spacecraft were abruptly lost. Communication was re-established after 1.5 months for sufficient time to downlink stored flight data, which allowed the cause of the blackout to be identified to a high level of confidence and precision. In this paper, we will report on experiences and anomalies encountered during the final flight model integration and delivery, commissioning, and operations. The agile support from the international amateur radio community and INSPIRE partners were extremely helpful in this process, especially during the initial commissioning phase following launch. It is hoped that the lessons learned reported here will be helpful for other university teams working to develop spaceflight capacity

Major Advances in Monkeypox Vaccine Research and Development – An Update

Monkeypox (MPX) is a zoonotic disease that is endemic to the western and central regions of Africa and it is caused by monkeypox virus (MPXV), which is classified as a member of the Poxviridae family, specifically the Chordopoxvirinae subfamily, and the Orthopoxvirus genus. The current multiregional outbreak of MPX, which started in May of 2022, has since swiftly spread across the globe and thus has been declared a global public health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO). Protective immunity against MPXV can be achieved by administering a smallpox vaccination, as the two viruses share antigenic properties. Although smallpox was declared eradicated in 1980, the vaccine campaign was halted the following year, leaving the population with significantly less immunity than it had before. The potential for human-to-human transmission of MPXV has grown as a result. Due to the lack of a particular treatment for MPX infection, anti-viral medications initially designed for the smallpox virus are being employed. However, the prognosis for MPX may vary depending on factors like immunization history, pre-existing illnesses, and comorbidities, even though the majority of persons who develop MPX have a mild, self-limiting illness. Vaccines and antiviral drugs are being researched as potential responses to the latest 2022 MPX epidemic. The first-generation smallpox vaccinations maintained in national stockpiles of several countries are not recommended due to not meeting the current safety and manufacturing criteria, as stated by the WHO. Newer, safer (second- and third-generation) smallpox vaccines, such as JYNNEOSTM, which has been licensed for the prevention of MPX, are indicated as potentially useful in the interim guideline. Studies on vaccines and antiviral drugs are still being investigated as possible remedies to the recent MPX outbreak. This mini-review article serves as a retrospective look at the evolution of smallpox vaccines from their inception in the 1700s to the current trends up to the end of year 2022, specifically for developing monkeypox vaccines