Saeed Almalki (left) and Mitchell Harris (right) represented Murray State University's Telecommunications Systems Management (TSM) program at the 16th annual Posters-at-the-Capitol on March 2 in Frankfort, Ky. The students displayed the CricketSatellite

MURRAY, Ky. -- Saeed Almalki and Mitchell Harris represented Murray State University's Telecommunications Systems Management (TSM) program at the 16th annual Posters-at-the-Capitol on March 2 in Frankfort, Ky. The students displayed the CricketSatellite Project, a very small satellite that measures temperature at different altitudes.

Posters-at-the-Capitol was created to engage undergraduate students in research. At the event, students display their posters to enhance the communities' understanding of the importance of undergraduate students' involvement in scholarly, research and creative work.

"Displaying our poster at the event was a humbling experience," said Harris. "We were able to share our research and explain the educational benefits students and universities gain from using the CricketSatellite."

The CricketSatellite is an inexpensive tool that provides students with hands-on learning. The satellite is composed of a single wireless module and receiving antenna to measure temperature with specific frequencies corresponding to various reading temperatures. The satellite utilizes a combination of radio scanning software, sensors and wireless transmitters attached to a helium balloon.

Last semester, Harris worked closely with Vishal Adithiya Nataraj Murugananthan, a former graduate student, to learn how to build the CricketSatellite and develop lab procedures to teach peers the following semester. Currently, Harris and Almalki, TSM undergraduates, are co-teaching a lab on assembling the satellite with Dr. Abdulrahman Yarali as the faculty mentor.

Yarali intends to continue educating students with the CricketSatellite to grow student's interest in space technology.

"This project will be upgraded to include a GPS, imagery sensor and use of QHA antenna built by our TSM students in the future," said Yarali.

The project educates students on design and assembly procedures of electrical components and payload of a satellite system. The tiny satellite provides opportunities to expand research in the TSM program. It is scheduled to launch by a helium balloon in April.

Murray State's TSM program is the award-winning Program of Distinction at Murray State University. The program was designed to focus on the information systems infrastructure in the rapidly growing telecommunications industry. The TSM program is an interdisciplinary program that provides students a solid foundation in information systems technologies and the application of those technologies in a business environment.

About Murray State University: Murray State University provides an "Opportunity Afforded" for more than 10,000 students through a high-quality education with experiential learning, academic and personal growth and the ability to secure a lifetime of success. Since 1922, the true value of higher education has been found at Murray State University, where our commitment is to afford endless opportunities for developing leaders in the community, the country and the world. The University's main campus is located in Murray, Ky. and includes five regional campuses. For more information on Murray State University, please visit murraystate.edu.