ThumbSat

ThumbSat is a proposed femtosatellite.[1]

ThumbSat would measure 48 mm × 48 mm × 32 mm (1.9 in × 1.9 in × 1.3 in) at most and have a mass of approximately 25 grams (0.88 oz).[2] It would be transported to space as a secondary payload on other launches.[1]

History

As of October 2015, 20 ThumbSats could be orbited as early as February 2016,[1] [3][2] it was also reported in late 2015 that launch is expected "in the next two years".[4]

Description

According to the company website, the satellite bus is 48 mm × 48 mm × 20 mm (1.89 in × 1.89 in × 0.79 in) in the "Mini" configuration, expandable from 5-millimetre (0.20 in) height up ("Mini") through "Midi" to "Maxi": 15-millimetre (0.59 in) height. The mass budget for each size is given as 4 grams (0.14 oz) ("Mini"), 15 grams (0.53 oz) ("Midi"), and 25 grams (0.88 oz) "Maxi". The system has a claimed "total energy budget" of 1.8 Wh, with transmission at 100 mW in the 400 MHz band. The camera, which is said to be able to accommodate lenses ranging in application from telescopic to microscopic, would take 2048 x 1536 pixel photos. Additionally, the satellite design specs include mention of a GPS receiver, temperature sensors, a gyroscope (presumably MEMS), a magnetometer and an accelerometer, though no parts are specified. The interface specs provide for 3.6V unregulated power, 5V regulated power, 6 analog inputs, one analog output (expandable via PWM channels), two USARTs, one I²C interface, one SPI interface, and 10 digital I/O channels.[5]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Jon Lackman (2015-10-13). "Itty-Bitty Satellites Could Carry Your Experiments to Space". Wired. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  2. 1 2 Elizabeth Howell (2015-10-26). "Tiny 'ThumbSats' Aim to Bring Space to All". Discovery News. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  3. ↑ Kelly Hodgkins (October 19, 2015). "ThumbSat microsatellites will open the door to consumer space exploration". Digital Trends. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  4. ↑ Mike Hinkle (2015-11-12). "Launch Your Imagination at the Houston Mini Maker Faire". Make (magazine). Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  5. ↑ ThumbSat. "Mission Builder | Thumbsat". www.thumbsat.com. ThumbSat Inc. Retrieved 2016-02-21.

External links

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