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CubeSat programme

studentman01

Hello world

I'm a new in this platorm and I need help with a special school project.

I'm doing a CubeSat and I want to do it with a rasperry pi 3. I don't have any idea about how to programme these board for my pruposes, but I think in some options:

1- To do a Python OS (but I don't have any idea if that it's posible and how I can apply that to my rasperry pi if it's posible)

2- To do a C++ OS (but I have the same problem that the prevoius option)

It's necessary to say that I want to use Rasperry pi and arduino sensors and other stuff to make my satellite work

 

What am I supposed to do? Is there any other option?

 

Thank you very much!

  • Hi Ale,

     

    You appear to be concentrating on the Single Board Computer's (SBC) Operating System (OS) - however, the Raspberry Pi (RPi) is often configured with the Raspbian OS (a tailored Debian fork of Linux). You'd use the Raspbian OS to program up executable code in whatever language you prefer using various editors and the GCC or Python compiler - popular languages currently would be Python, C or C++. You could write your code in other languages but would need the appropriate compiler program(s) installed. However the RPi would still be running the Raspbian OS....and your code would be run under the management of that OS.

     

    I think it might help if you tell us what functionality you want from your CubeSat - what sensors are you thinking of including, what are you measuring and how are you communicating to the CubeSat (control or data flow)?

     

    From their, you can purchase those sensors, and start to learn to manipulate them using Python. There are many great online tutorials for Python (and C, C++) and often libraries for all the existing/common sensor modules.

     

    PS: I had to look up what a CubeSat was - looks awesome. Do you pay someone to launch that for you?

     

    regards,

     

    Rod

  • Hi Ale,

     

    A CubeSat project sounds like fun, but are you sure an RPi is the way to go?

    I would first look at what sensors and applications you want to run and the volume and power restrictions of the CubeSat. You need to look at rechargeable batteries, solar cells and a host of other issues.

    Those requirements will then identify what type of SBC might satisfy your project.

    Most SBC's will run a variety of operating systems OS and programming languages (Python, C, C++, other) for your application.

     

    Power management will be very important to sustain your applications in space, so you need a processor that can run in various sleep modes. I would take a good look at the TI line of MSP430 and MSP432 processors.

     

    Since you are new to programming, I would also find someone who can advise you on all of these technical matters as you go.

     

    I would suggest that you post your initial design or ideas here on element14 so some of us can take a look at what you want to do so we can help guide you to a successful way to get there.

     

    If you just commit to an RPi without understanding the full nature of your needs, I suspect that it will not end well.

     

    I have over 35 years of advanced aerospace projects under my belt, so I know what you are getting into.

     

    DAB

  • in reply to DAB

    Hi DAB

     

    I’m watching sensors to sense the atmosphere composition, co2 levels, intensity of the magnetic field and amount of radiation in different areas, and also take thermal, infrared and normal photos. I don’t know other SBC that can accomplish my mission, if you could tell me about other options It would be amazing.

    I watch the MSP430 and MSP432 processors, and it seems an excellent idea. I will take care of the power management once I define all my project.

     

    I will follow your suggestion, and very soon I will post my initial design…

     

    Thank you!

  • in reply to studentman01

    Just be aware that earth bound CO2 sensors will not work in space.

    Plus they suck up a lot of power.

    You might be able to fit a small spectrometer in the cubesat, but I suspect that you will be disappointed with the results, just too little photon flow and very bad optical resolution issues.

    Low resolution IR and RGB photos would be easy, but thermal cameras are expensive and the light levels and optics are problematic at extended ranges. Just not worth doing at this level.

    Magnetic field measurements can be easily done, you could do particulate detection even at space altitudes.

    Solar UV coming towards the earth would be a good project, especially if you do a couple of different band UV sensors.

    You might want to consider electric field measurements. There is a lot of EM at the Ionosphere.

    You might want to consider a SDR receiver to see if you get any interesting signals outside the atmosphere.

    If you go with the RPi, it would easily do an SDR application.

     

    DAB