Value, Outreach and Ethics Discussion

            A valuable project is not only one that has been designed well, but is ethically sound, economically viable and safe.  Ethical responsibility, economic considerations and safety are very important aspects in engineering, and have been thoroughly considered in the design of this hybrid plasma probe.  The work that has been accomplished by the LionProbe team, in addition to that done by the rest of the LionSAT project, is extremely valuable in several different respects. 

            The fact that the LionProbe team’s goal is to design a plasma probe that combines the three most widely used probe setups in a way that has not been attempted before makes the work that is being done both original and important for future research.  In addition, since the probe will be used to study ram/wake and ambient plasma effects of the satellite while it is moving through the ionosphere it will improve science’s understanding of moving objects in space and can potentially affect future spacecraft designs. 

            There are not many serious ethical concerns associated with the design of the hybrid plasma probe since it is essentially a payload on a satellite and has a very small ecological footprint associated with it.  Also, since the satellite will burn up on re-entry after the six to twelve month life cycle is complete, it has very little ecological impact associated with it.

            Since an entire satellite has to be built on a limited budget, a design that is economically viable and able to be manufactured is a very important concern for the LionProbe group.  The satellite is expected to remain in space for six to twelve months; as a result, components that are able to withstand the radiation in space are required.  These components are significantly more expensive, but sacrificing the overall operability of the plasma probe, by using substandard parts, is not an option.   The probe design is definitely practical.  All of the schematics that have been created and tested have used actual components, and price lists of these components have been compiled.  The only thing that could affect the manufacturability of the design is difficulty in obtaining military specification parts. 

            Since people do not interact with the satellite on a regular basis, the concerns for safety focus on the actual launch of the satellite.  Since there is the possibility that LionSAT will be launched by shuttle, additional safety concerns have to be adhered to.  The plasma probe contains no volatile components that could ignite and cause damage to the shuttle or the satellite itself.  An additional concern for the LionSAT project is minimizing the chance of colliding with other objects in orbit.  However, the hybrid plasma probe has no effect on the orbit control of the satellite and therefore is not a concern of the LionProbe group. 

            Through efforts in educational outreach, the LionSAT project has significantly touched the community in and around the State College area.  On March 1, 2003, the LionSAT project was represented at the Penn State Engineering Open House.  At the open house, prospective Penn State students got the opportunity to learn more about significant projects and research going on at Penn State, including LionSAT.  On April 12, 2003, members from the LionSAT project introduced school children as well as adults to the project during Penn State’s Space Day.  The children had the opportunity to build their own satellites out of metal cans and pipe cleaners.  In addition, all of the various teams working on LionSAT will be represented at Penn State’s Technology Showcase on May 2, 2003.  At the showcase, members of industry, as well as other students, will have the chance to learn more about the LionSAT project and the individual design components that make it up. 

            The hybrid plasma probe that has been designed by the LionProbe team will be a valuable asset to the LionSAT project.  The design will not adversely impact the environment, it will not harm anyone, and it is economically possible.  These factors make the design ethically sound and therefore an excellent addition to the scientific community and a source of pride for all of the group members.