Skip to main content

Basic Cubesat components

 

Example Integration of a CubeSat with GNSS capabilities

An example integration of these building blocks could look like this:

  1. Structure and Deployment: A 1U, 2U, or 3U CubeSat frame with deployable solar panels and antennas.
  2. Power: Solar panels connected to a power distribution unit that charges the battery pack.
  3. Command & Data Handling: A central command and control unit managing the CubeSat’s operations and interfacing with the GNSS receiver.
  4. Communication: A transceiver connected to a deployable antenna for ground communication.
  5. GNSS: A GNSS receiver module connected to a GNSS antenna mounted on the CubeSat frame.
  6. ADCS: Sensors and actuators integrated with the OBC for attitude determination and control.
  7. Thermal Control: Coatings and heaters ensure components stay within operational temperatures.
  8. Software: Embedded flight software on the OBC handling mission operations and GNSS data processing.
  9. Payload: GNSS receiver providing real-time position and timing data for navigation and experiments.
Top View:





Side View:



Command & Data Handling


Command and data handling should be selected to comply with the form factor expected. 
For example, a 1U form factor CubeSat is a small satellite with dimensions of 10 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm and a mass of up to 1.33 kg. It's the basic building block of the CubeSat standard, and its small size and standardized form make it popular for educational, research, and technology demonstration missions. Here's a breakdown of the key components and subsystems for a 1U CubeSat, especially one incorporating GNSS capabilities.

The other factor is the computation power and the power rating. It is a tradeoff between speed and power usage. FPGAs are usually a good choice, especially when equipped with a System on Chip (SoC).

<To be completed>


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Real-Time OS/Frameworks for High-Reliability Applications

Real-Time OS/Frameworks for High-Reliability Applications Real-Time OS/Frameworks for High-Reliability Applications RTEMS (Real-Time Executive for Multiprocessor Systems) Description: A free real-time operating system (RTOS) for embedded systems. Use Cases: Aerospace, military, industrial control systems, and other high-reliability applications. NASA Core Flight System (cFS) Description: A portable, platform-independent framework for developing flight software applications. Use Cases: NASA spacecraft and missions, supporting modularity and reusability in software development. VxWorks Description: A real-time operating system developed by Wind River Systems. Use Cases: Aerospace, defence, automotive, medical devices, and industrial equipment for real-time performance and reliability. FreeRTOS Description: An open-source real-time operating system kernel for embedded devices. Use Cases: Wi
Post a Comment
Read more

Spectrolab's High-Efficiency Solar Cells and CICs

Spectrolab's High-Efficiency Solar Cells and CICs Advancing Space Missions with Spectrolab's High-Efficiency Solar Cells and CICs As space exploration pushes the boundaries of human achievement, the need for reliable, high-performance solar power solutions is paramount. Spectrolab, a leader in the field of photovoltaic technology, offers a range of GaInP/GaAs/Ge lattice-matched triple-junction (3J) solar cells. These cells are not only designed to meet but exceed the rigorous demands of various space missions, from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to deep space missions. Below, we explore the advanced technical features and performance metrics of Spectrolab’s solar cells and Cell-Interconnect-Coverglass (CIC) assemblies. Overview of Spectrolab’s Solar Cell Technologies Spectrolab’s portfolio includes a variety of solar cells tailored for specific mission profiles, each offering distinct benefits in t
Post a Comment
Read more

Installing and Setting Up ChibiOS

Installing and Setting Up ChibiOS Installing and Setting Up ChibiOS ChibiOS is a compact, fast, and reliable real-time operating system (RTOS) designed for embedded systems. It is particularly well-suited for microcontrollers, including those based on ARM Cortex-M architectures such as the Cortex-M0. This guide will walk you through the steps to install and set up ChibiOS for development. Step 1: Download ChibiOS To get started, you need to download the ChibiOS source code. You can download it from the ChibiOS official website or the ChibiOS GitHub repository . You can either clone the repository using Git or download the source as a ZIP file. git clone https://github.com/ChibiOS/ChibiOS.git Step 2: Set Up the Development Environment To develop with ChibiOS, you need to set up a suitable development environment. Here's how to do it: 1. Install a Toolcha
Post a Comment
Read more