The Australian continent, with the continent's southern shore near the horizon.
Image: info@prismapr.com
Altium Designer helps first Hungarian satellite launch into space on board Vega
Karlsruhe, Germany – 2 April 2012 – The Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME) has successfully sent the first Hungarian satellite, MASAT-1, into space on board the new ESA (European Space Agency) Vega launcher. The development tool Altium Designer has contributed significantly to the success of this project.
While the construction of the satellite is a pilot project that primarily serves educational purposes, the results of this technical experiment will facilitate the development of more sophisticated satellites in the future. MASAT-1 has now reached orbit on board the premiere flight of the ESA Vega launcher and is transmitting data to Earth. The satellite is equipped with a small camera from which it has been sending pictures of the Earth and outer space since 8 March to the Hungarian ground control station. So the launch of this complex project has been a complete success.
Altium Designer in satellite development
Every electronic system – whether designed for use in space or terrestrial applications – consists of sub-modules and sub-units. This also applies to the Masat-1 satellite, which comprises a power management unit, a communication subsystem, an on-board computer plus a subsystem for determining and controlling the altitude. Given the complexity of the project, close collaboration with the mechanical engineers using CATIA (Computer Aided Three-Dimensional Interactive Application, Dassault Systemes) was key. It was further necessary to keep the management of the bill of materials simple and to ensure fast and uniform generation of documentation. Straightforward directory management for SMD and TH components was another important project requirement.
Few design systems provide all the necessary functions and capabilities for such a comprehensive project. Thanks to Altium Designer version control it was possible to ensure the development of hardware and software throughout the entire design process on the basis of current data. In addition, the tool supports exporting into PDF and XLS formats, which is essential for the proper management of design projects. 3D representation plus a highly intuitive user interface have further eased development. Modifications were simple and the schematic and PCB libraries of the project could be managed consistently and uniformly.
With the transmission of the first data from space Altium Designer has met all requirements and significantly contributed to the successful completion of this collaborative project by the BME Departments of Electron Devices and Broadband Infocommunications & Electromagnetic Theory.
Altium Designer gained the appreciation not only of the students but also of the professors who supported them. As a result, the CAD toolkit has now been integrated in the curriculum of Budapest University.
ENDS
Contacts:
Frank Krämer
Altium Europe GmbH
+49 721 8244 108
Gabriele Amelunxen
PRismaPR
+49 8106 247 233
Monika Cunnington
PRismaPR (UK)
+44-1462 640 779
www.prismapr.com
About Altium
Altium Limited (ASX:ALU) creates electronics design software based on the belief that anyone who wants to create electronic products that make a difference should be able to do so. Altium’s unified electronics design environment links all aspects of electronics product design in a single application that is priced to be as affordable as possible. This helps electronics designers break down barriers to innovation, harness the latest devices and technologies, manage their projects across broad design ‘ecosystems’, and create connected, intelligent designs.
Founded in 1985, Altium has headquarters in Shanghai, and operates worldwide.
For more information, visit www.altium.com. You can also follow and engage with Altium via Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Altium, Altium Designer, AltiumLive and Morfik, and their respective logos, are trademarks or registered trademarks of Altium Limited, or its subsidiaries. All other registered or unregistered trademarks mentioned in this release are the property of their respective owners, and no trademark rights to the same are claimed.