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Alan Johnston edited this page Aug 16, 2023 · 11 revisions

Welcome to the AMSAT® CubeSatSim Project Wiki, the CubeSat Simulator

The CubeSatSim is a low cost satellite emulator that runs on solar panels and batteries, transmits UHF radio telemetry, has a 3D printed frame, and can be extended by additional sensors and modules. This project is sponsored by the not-for-profit Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, AMSAT®.

This page is for the new beta v1.3 hardware.

If you have the v1.0, v1.1, or v1.2 hardware, use these instructions

IMG_3216

Here you will find documentation about this project and detailed install instructions.

The CubeSatSim has the following features:

  • Working solar panels and rechargeable batteries
  • Multi-channel voltage, current, and temperature telemetry transmitted in the Amateur Radio UHF band
  • Telemetry decoding using FoxTelem software or APRS software
  • STEM Payload board with Raspberry Pi Pico microcontroller & sensors
  • Tape measure monopole, dipole, or SMA antenna
  • Integrated Low Pass Filter
  • 3D printed frame and solar panels

If you don't have the time or money to build a CubeSatSim that transmits real telemetry, you can build a CubeSat Simulator Lite.

Here are the changes between the v1.2 and the v1.3 hardware and software:

These improvements are available to new v1.3 CubeSatSim builders or A v1.0, v1.1, or v1.2 CubeSatSims which are upgraded with a new STEM Payload board and software upgrade:

  • FM transceiver module for better frequency stability and simple command receiver to control beacon
  • Replace Pro Micro microcontroller with the more modern and cheaper Raspberry Pi Pico
  • Callsign and battery voltage text overlay on SSTV images

These improvements are available to new v1.3 CubeSatSim builders:

  • Redesigned for blue INA219 voltage and current sensors instead of more expensive purple ones
  • Battery board now has integrated voltage and current sensor and PTC fuse with better performance
  • Simpler charging circuit with no boost converter or charge controller
  • Can be modified to fly as a balloon payload with 500mW FM output for SSTV, APRS, or CW transmissions
  • Support for serial GPS module
  • Kits can be built with through hole parts. Fully assembled boards will be available in the future with SMT parts
  • Parts easier to source (e.g electronics distributors and Amazon) with easy to find solar panels. New BOM uses Octopart electronic part inventory site with one click distributor ordering
  • QwIIC connectors for easily adding sensors to the Raspberry Pi Zero or Raspberry Pico

Here are the four boards that make up the complete board stack. Left to right: Raspberry Pi Zero WH, Main Board, Battery Board, and STEM Payload Board.

IMG_3195 2

Here is the built board stack:

IMG_3216

There is a 3D printed frame, including solar panels:

IMG_3217

Here is a block diagram of the design:

Block Diagram

Parts List to build the CubeSatSim is available here http://cubesatsim.org/bom
Here is a photo of a kit of parts:

Frame Built

Here are the steps to build a CubeSatSim:

1. Build the Main board Part 1

2. Install the Software

3. Build a Ground Station

4. Continue Building the STEM Payload board Part 2

5. Build the Battery board

6. Assemble the Solar Panels and Frame

7. Build the Solar board

8. Put the Board Stack together and mount in the Frame

The BOM has a sheet "By Steps" which lists the parts needed for each step in order. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1EuUqyKnXduMlDo9ghCWJu1VY-y2_TWXYRR3S3zGaw9s/edit?usp=sharing If you have a Google account, you can make a copy of this spreadsheet ("File" then "Make a Copy") and check off each part as you install it.

Here is a set of videos showing the various steps:

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