Over the last month, STS1 has been hard at work on several fronts:
In the Ground Segment, we switched our “Command, Control and Communication” software from Cosmos to OpenC3 for better features and compatibility. We also set up a mock communication setup to test communication between the Ground Station and our CubeSat.
On the Mechanical side, we made some modifications to the structure of the CubeSat after a full integration test. This included moving the UCI (Umbilical Cord Interface) and RBF (Remove before Flight switch) closer to the camera and removing a structural aluminum bridge below the cameras due to mechanical interference. We also realized the need for better connectors and higher quality electronics stack rods.
The EPS sensors are now functional and available via the CubeSatBus. To address cabling issues during the integration test, we are switching to FlexPCBs to connect the SidePCBs with the EPS.
We have been working on cleaning up the PCB layout and schematic of the EDU, fixing small issues, and adding some new features. We’ve also begun preparations for the PDR (Preliminary Design Review).
In other news, we sent our CubeSat to Seibersdorf Laboratories for antenna testing. Furthermore, Seibersdorf is designing a new module for the CubeSat that will consist of a dosimeter they developed. This will be a great addition to the CubesSats capabilitites.
Finally, we’ve begun publishing our files, including code and documents, on Zenodo, as part of our commitment to open source.
Stay tuned for more updates on our journey!
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