Project:HackSat One
HackSat1 is a [1] sprite and is due to launch some time in early 2013. The dev kit is due May 2012. Speak to Flux if you're interested in getting involved.
First Steps
- Get some MSP430 experience. Several people in the space have mentioned having boards.
- We have at least 3 MSP430 devkits in the space, The toolchain is a bit icky tho, but I think we have enough incentive to fix that now.
- Run some MSP430 workshops
- Get MSP430 book (already bought - should be in the space shortly)
The Hardware
We don't get to design the hardware on this mission, just program it.
- controller: TI CC430, MSP430 core with a radio: http://www.ti.com/product/cc430f6137
- sensors: temperature + one other TBC (KickSat are taking suggestions)
- radio: we can transmit what and when we like (subject to solar power) but data rate is only a few bits per second
"For sensors, basically they have to be packaged in a tiny SMT chip and not use too much power (no more than a few mW). We don't have a list yet, but one example of something that would work is this magnetometer: http://dlnmh9ip6v2uc.cloudfront.net/datasheets/Sensors/Magneto/HMC5883L-FDS.pdf"
The Orbit
"While we don't know the orbit, we're aiming for a circular low altitude LEO - around 300 km. altitude. That would mean a roughly 90 minute orbit with several daylight passes per day (usually 3 or 4 over any given location). Each pass would be somewhere around 5 minutes long."
Payload
See the payload page for ideas.
Ground Station
See Hoxton Space Centre.
Resources
- MSP430 on TI site.
- MSP430 dev kit (Farnell)
- MSP430 getting started workshop