Simulating the EUSO-SPB2 balloon flight train with Lagrangian mechanics
EUSO-SPB2 is a long duration balloon experiment that will fly two optical astroparticle telescopes; a fluorescence telescope and a Cherenkov telescope. These telescopes have a 0.1\degree pointing resolution requirement. The telescope of interest is the on-board Cherenkov telescope that rotates above/below the Earth's limb to observe extensive air showers and tau neutrinos backgrounds. Rotating the Cherenkov telescope induces motion in the gondola. If motion in the gondola exceeds the 0.1\degree resolution requirement, data may be affected. This thesis analyzes and simulates this telescope induced gondola motion to determine if dampening methods are required before data collection begins. Lagrangian mechanics is used to describe the gondola and super pressure balloon flight train as a rigid double pendulum. The simulation model is additionally tested against a wood built small-scale payload with an internal rotating telescope. The small-scale internal telescope is rotated at three different speeds and the motion of the payload is measured with an inertial measurement unit. This is repeated with the payload suspended in two different configurations. With this experimental basis, the simulation model accurately scales to the measured motion of the different motors and payload suspensions used. The simulation model is then built for the EUSO-SPB2 payload and flight train. Results predicted telescope induced gondola motion of $\phi \leq 0.008\degree$. With proven confidence in the simulation model, EUSO-SPB2's on-board telescopes' data will not be affected by the Cherenkov telescope rotation.
Lagrangian, rigid body dynamics, EUSO-SPB2, super pressure balloon, MATLAB
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Colorado School of Mines. Arthur Lakes Library