Monthly Archives: September 2013
Aalto-1 photos

I have been visiting finnish Aalto-1 satellite project a couple of times. I am building half of one of their experiments - motor control board for electric plasma brake. Took bunch of cool pictures of their technology. Enjoy.

Mock-up satellite for exhibitions. Really good for overview.

Mock-up satellite for exhibitions. Really good for overview.

LM75 temperature sensor on the outside of the satellite.

LM75 temperature sensor on the outside of the satellite.

Solar cells are soldered to the PCB, it gave some trouble in thermal vacuum tests.

Solar cells are soldered to the PCB, it gave some trouble in thermal vacuum tests.

Prototype of Aalto-1 on board computer. Two cold redundant AT91RM9200 ARM processors running linux. And small MSP420 FRAM microcontroller that switches between them.

Prototype of Aalto-1 on board computer. Two cold redundant AT91RM9200 ARM processors running linux. And small MSP420 FRAM microcontroller that switches between them.

Bottom of on-board computer. Battery for real time clock and some memory.

Bottom of on-board computer. Battery for real time clock and some memory.

S-band downlink and GPS system. On the bottom there are: S-band tranciever, distributed element filters, power ampliffier and some more filters. On the top there is GPS module with antenna connector.

S-band downlink and GPS system. On the bottom there are: S-band tranciever, distributed element filters, power ampliffier and some more filters. On the top there is GPS module with antenna connector.

Local flatsat, really useful for satellite testing if it works.

Local flatsat, really useful for satellite testing if it works.

Open antenna setup. It consists of two 70cm dipole antennas. Elements are connected with UMC connectors and antenna block with MCX.

Open antenna setup. It consists of two 70cm dipole antennas. Elements are connected with UMC connectors and antenna block with MCX.

Antenna relase mechanism. Resistors for burning the wire and switches to detect the release.

Antenna relase mechanism. Resistors for burning the wire and switches to detect the release.

What I want to find from every lab: bunch of multimeters on a stack of documentation.

What I want to find from every lab: bunch of multimeters on a stack of documentation.

Prototype electrical power system for next satellite. Looks like classical EagleCAD work.

Prototype electrical power system for next satellite. Looks like classical EagleCAD work.

Another power system prototype.

Another power system prototype.

The side of the satellite. Solar cells, connecting PCB and strong machined side panel.

The side of the satellite. Solar cells, connecting PCB and strong machined side panel.

Posted on 2013-09-27, 22:50 By
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New lab
Old lab in my room.

Old lab in my room.

My old lab was in the corner of my dorm room and as projects proceeded I needed a bigger lab. So, I got one. I teamed up with couple of my friends and we got 80m2 of space in nearly industrial building. It is nice to have room big enough to have 7m Yagi antenna indoors. In the same room there is EDM OÜ making small CNC machines and soon, couple of more startups.

New lab area, with more room.

New lab area, with more room.

Mechanics room with some machines and antenna.

Mechanics room with some machines and antenna.