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Precision Flight Works at Purdue Fort Wayne
Purdue Fort Wayne’s Precision Flight Works prototypes a low-cost aerosol-sensing payload aboard the Dream Big satellite.
Payload Overview: Low-Cost Orbital Aerosol Monitoring
The payload from Precision Flight Works is a climate-focused satellite instrument designed to measure aerosols in Earth’s atmosphere, providing critical data to track environmental and atmospheric changes. The mission evaluates the feasibility and accuracy of low-cost spectrometric aerosol detection on small satellites, with applications in climate research, air quality monitoring, weather forecasting, and environmental assessment.
For more information, check out this article from Purdue Fort Wayne campus news: ETCS students working on satellite project to measure pollution.
High-Altitude Balloon Testing
As part of the Dream Big mission, student payloads were tested on high-altitude balloons reaching nearly 90,000 feet. These flights provided a near-space environment similar to orbit, giving teams the chance to evaluate their payloads under real conditions.
Beyond testing, the balloon launches also became an incredible outreach opportunity, sparking curiosity and inspiring younger students to explore space research and education.
Click below to see results from one of PFW’s high-altitude balloon launches!
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