Author Description

Want To Build Your Own Satellite And Launch It Into Space? It's Easier Than You May Think. The First In A Series Of Four Books, This Do-it-yourself Guide Shows You The Essential Steps Needed To Design A Base Picosatellite Platform-complete With A Solar-powered Computer-controlled Assembly-tough Enough To Withstand A Rocket Launch And Survive In Orbit For Three Months. Whether You Want To Conduct Scientific Experiments, Run Engineering Tests, Or Present An Orbital Art Project, You'll Select Basic Components Such As An Antenna, Radio Transmitter, Solar Cells, Battery, Power Bus, Pr Contents; Preface; Conventions Used In This Book; Using Code Examples; Safari® Books Online; How To Contact Us; Chapter 1. Overview; What Is A Picosatellite?; Where Is Orbit?; Pico-goals; Science!; Engineering!; Art Concept!; The Art Of Building; Leo Conditions And Viability; Leo Temperatures; Leo Light; Leo Magnetic Field; How I Got Started; Budgets; Chapter 2. Pcb Fab, Soldering, And Electronics; Gerber Files; Breadboarding And Prototyping; Fabricating Pcbs; My Criteria For A Good Pcb Vendor; Quality Control; Soldering; Parts Is Parts; Parts Suppliers; Rad Hard Chapter 3. Chassis, Structure, And Gross Anatomyparts Is Parts; What The Wizard Gave Us; The Electric Company; The Outer Limits; Cubesats And Tubesats; Materials; Shielding; Payload Bays; Flight Spares; Chapter 4. Power; Power In; Steady State Operations; Burst Mode; Power Architecture; Power Charging Efficiency; Power Out; Power Charging Curves; Chapter 5. Programming And Coding; Core Processor; Sensor Programming; Packet Data; Radio Transmission Programming; More On Hardware; Chapter 6. Launching And Rockets; Blowups Happen; Form Factor; Interorbital Systems Chapter 7. Milestones And Planningchecklists; Research And Design (2 Months); Setup (1 Month); Core Work (5 Months); Integration And Testing (2 Months Or More); Team Work; Final Step; Sample Case: Project Calliope Tubesat-style Picosatellite; Assembly Work; Integration Work;