Digital Commons Network^™

Skyforge Core: A Triple Modular Redundant Computing Architecture For Small Satellites, Harrison Schmitt, Thomas Mcwatters, Ethan Hoyt, Josh Ellman, Sameer Sikander, Nate Westrum, Jordan Clark, Taebaeksanmaek Jung, Micah Williams, Lauren Myers, Kelden Wright, Matthew Homburg, Alex Roth, Jinran Zhang, Peter Staritz

Small Satellite Conference

As small satellite missions grow in complexity, there is increasing demand for greater onboard computational performance. Traditional radiation-hardened processors, while reliable, are expensive, slow, and suffer from long procurement timelines. In contrast, commercial off-the-shelf processors like the Raspberry Pi offer high performance at low cost but are vulnerable to radiation-induced faults such as single-event upsets. SkyForge Core is an experimental computing system that addresses this challenge by integrating three Raspberry Pi Zero W units into a triple modular redundant architecture. The system executes identical tasks on each Pi, compares outputs using majority voting, and identifies discrepancies. If a failure occurs, …

The Occultation Wave Limb Sounder, N. Jones, R. Sewell, E. Thiemann, K. Greer

Small Satellite Conference

The Occultation Wave Limb Sounder (OWLS) is a mission designed to investigate how Earth’s thermosphere responds to atmospheric gravity waves. The dissipation of gravity waves in the thermosphere has the potential to both heat and cool the atmosphere, with published simulation results reaching conflicting conclusions on whether gravity wave heating or cooling dominates. Comprised of two instruments, the Extreme Ultraviolet Occultation Photometers (EUV-OP) and Compact Spectrograph for Occultations on the Limb (CSOL), OWLS will seek to resolve this controversy. Properties of the atmosphere will be retrieved by both instruments through solar occultations. EUV-OP will retrieve thermospheric temperatures using this technique, …

Rosisat - The Radiation Orbital Shielding Investigation Satellite, Steven Insignares, Jacob Blanton, Colson Walker

Small Satellite Conference

• The Radiation Orbital Shielding Investigation Satellite (ROSISat) is an ongoing 1U CubeSat project designed to study the effectiveness of various materials as shielding against single-event upsets and effects on computer memory modules in Earth orbit.
• ROSISat is a student project managed under the Embry-Riddle Orbital Research Association (ERORA), a registered student organization at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida.
• It is one of three projects from ERORA presented at this conference, alongside tBEARR and SATLASS.
• ROSISat aims to be the first of ERORA’s projects to be launched and operational in LEO, serving to develop CubeSat flight heritage at ERAU.

The University Of South Carolina's Journey To The Launchpad, Patrick Bailey, Wout De Backer

Small Satellite Conference

A student team at the University of South Carolina is currently working to address the state’s needs for astronautics to both students and to the economy through collaborative efforts with other state institutions. This paper intends to cover the mission concept formulation, areas of beneficial technology development in space, and mission objectives that are to be accomplished for both human and technical capabilities within the state throughout the mission duration. The mission concept covers using 3D printing in space for on-orbit manufacturing capabilities, and the need for development of a computer vision algorithm and system for small space debris detection. …

Physical Implementation Of Sprint (Space-Based Prioritized Real-Time Inter-Satellite Network Technology), Maleeha Altaf, Dalia Ammar Khodja, Ryan Adams, Sreejith Vidhyadharan Nair, Ronald Fevig

Small Satellite Conference

Poster presented during the 2025 SmallSat Conference.

Cadence-Swans: Continuous Autonomous Detection Enabling Networked Collaboration Explorers Of A Space Weather Anomaly Notification System, Matthew Chang, Kelly Williams, Pragun Bethapudi, Chloe Lau, Giselle Revolorio, Ella Shepherd

Small Satellite Conference

Through the University Nanosatellite Program (UNP), the Bronco Space Lab at Cal Poly Pomona presents Continuous Autonomous Detection Enabling Networked Collaboration Explorers of a Space Weather Anomaly Notification System (CADENCE–SWANS): a pathfinder mission demonstrating autonomous space weather monitoring using a low-latency, onboard radiation notification system. The spacecraft conducts coarse energy spectroscopy in real time to detect elevated radiation levels and autonomously generate notifications, including time-stamped records of detection-to-decision latency.

CADENCE–SWANS uses a novel compact, low-SWaP-C coarse particle energy spectrograph, constructed with varied thicknesses of shielding, to estimate particle energies without requiring precise pointing or expensive particle detectors. This approach enables …

A High-Sensitivity, Low-Power Magneto-Inductive Magnetometer For Space-Based Magnetic Field Measurements And Noise Mitigation, Rowan Antonuccio, Kade Howes, Josh Taylor, Charles Swenson

Small Satellite Conference

This paper presents a discrete-component, magneto-inductive (MI) magnetometer designed for CubeSat-class spacecraft. The sensor operates using an RL relaxation oscillator with FPGA-based pulse counting, achieving picotesla-scale resolution at 1 Hz with 25 mW power consumption. To minimize electromagnetic interference and maintain orthogonality, the sensing coils are housed in a rigid, boom-mounted enclosure constructed from non-magnetic materials. This architecture enhances measurement fidelity and supports in-orbit reconfiguration, offering a low-power research platform suitable for high-resolution magnetic field sensing.

Detumbling Analysis And Attitude Stabilization Of Spicesat: A Closed-Loop Control Verification Framework, Spencer Talish, Francesca Fusco

Small Satellite Conference

This study investigates the detumbling capabilities of SPICEsat following an initial angular disturbance imparted by the deployer. SPICEsat, which stands for Sloshing Platform for In Orbit Controller Experimentation, is a 6U CubeSat developed by Rutgers University to investigate the effects of fuel sloshing on spacecraft stability and control. Top level, this research’s objective is to confirm SPICEsat's ability to reduce angular momentum, thereby achieving a stabilized post-deployment attitude. This is referred to as detumbling, or the process of reducing a satellite’s rotational rates following deployment. The system-level focus centers on assessing the control authority of the Blue Canyon Technologies (BCT) …

Developing A Model-Based Systems Engineering Methodology For Academic Cubesat Missions, Piper L. Kline

Small Satellite Conference

Cube Satellites (CubeSats) have become increasingly popular, particularly in academic settings, due to their affordability, rapid development timelines, and utility as platforms for student training and experimental payloads. Despite these advantages, CubeSat development presents several challenges, including limited resources such as personnel, funding, and time, as well as difficulties in maintaining comprehensive documentation and managing requirements. Student-led projects face additional obstacles, such as inexperienced team members and high turnover rates, which can result in inadequate passing of knowledge. Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) has emerged as a promising approach to address these challenges and improve the efficiency of CubeSat design and …

Development Of A Compact Optical Communications Terminal For The Pulse-A Cubesat, Sofia Mansilla, Seth Knights, Natalie Orrantia, Maya Mcdaniel, Daniel Lee, Oliver Shoemaker, Aidan Etterer, Aishani Mohan, Chris Wong, Juan Ignacio Prieto Asbun, Robert Pitu, Logan Hanssler, Annie Shuford, Eliana Schiller, Kira Chin, Graydon Schulze-Kalt, Danielle Zumi Riekse, Mira Singh, Alexandra Yao, Vicky Bardon Soto, Natalie Sauer, Vidya Suri, Tian Zhong

Small Satellite Conference

The Polarization-modUlated Laser Satellite Experiment (PULSE-A) at the University of Chicago aims to demonstrate the feasibility of circular polarization shift keyed (CPolSK) satellite-to-ground laser communication links. The project aims to advance high-speed optical satellite-to-ground communications as an alternative to the traditionally used radio frequencies. PULSE-A thus requires the development of a compact, low-loss optical communications terminal capable of emitting collimated and high-power circularly polarized light modulated at high frequencies. Here we present a design for an optical communications terminal capable of achieving output powers of up to 230 mW at modulation frequencies from 1 to 10 MHz with a maximum …

Development Of An Open-Source Spacecraft Bus For The Pulse-A Cubesat, Graydon Schulze-Kalt, Robert Pitu, Spencer Shelton, Catherine Todd, Zane Ebel, Ian Goldberg, Leon Gold, Henry Czarnecki, Mason Mccormack, Larry Li, Zumi Riekse, Brian Yu, Akash Piya, Vidya Suri, Dylan Hu, Colleen Kim, John Baird, Seth Knights, Logan Hanssler, Tian Zhong, Michael F. Lembeck

Small Satellite Conference

The undergraduate-led Polarization-modUlated Laser Satellite Experiment (PULSE-A) at the University of Chicago seeks to demonstrate the feasibility of circular polarization shift keyed satellite-to-ground laser communication. Free-space optical communications offer significantly improved data rates and lower power requirements than radio frequency communications for a similar form factor, which makes optical communications of particular interest for future satellite missions as on-orbit data collection rates increase. PULSE-A’s low-cost open-source bus serves as the backbone of the mission and has been designed in tandem with the Payload, with design driven by strict requirements for pointing accuracy, component alignment, power demand, and thermal stability. This …

Development Of Mechanical Ground Support Equipment For Small Satellite Thermal Vacuum Testing, Vincent Côté-Larouche

Small Satellite Conference

Small satellite thermal vacuum tests involve securely mounting a spacecraft in a chamber, providing a representative thermal environment in the absence of convection. This study investigates the design of mechanical ground support equipment for supporting a range of spacecraft masses, from cubesats to ESPA-Grande class satellites of up to 500 kg, inside an existing thermal vacuum chamber. A system of four pieces of equipment is proposed to facilitate thermal vacuum testing, while keeping in mind various considerations such as the laboratory cleanroom environment, available floor space, the load capacity of the chamber rails, the thermal vacuum environment and the human …

Neoseeker To Investigate Earth’S Neighbors, Ryan Holton, Harrison Auerbach, Anthony Stan, Kevin L. Simmons

Small Satellite Conference

Poster presented during the 2025 SmallSat Conference.

Spacenet Testbed – Small Satellite Constellation Network Emulation Of Real-World Scenarios, Suryansh Aryan, Jack Downs, Alexander Kedrowitsch, Josh Smith, Alexa Houck, Samantha P. Kenyon

Small Satellite Conference

Poster presented during the 2025 SmallSat Conference.

Automated Pointing Budget And Reaction Wheel Sizing Tool For Cubesat Attitude Control With Iterative Sensitivity Analysis, Logan Thompson, Matthew Devor, Michael Harrigan, Victoria Coverstone

Small Satellite Conference

Reaction wheels are a widely used solution for CubeSat attitude control, offering precise pointing capabilities without the need for a propulsion system. However, sizing reaction wheels correctly is a persistent challenge due to the difficulty of accurately defining the pointing budget, which determines the required torque and momentum storage capacity. Designers must account for mission-specific constraints, spacecraft mass properties, and environmental disturbances, all of which introduce uncertainty into the sizing process. As a result, reaction wheels are often either oversized, leading to unnecessary mass and power consumption, or undersized, risking performance failures such as saturation. To address this challenge, a …

Conceptual Design Of A Low Orbit Dust Detector Powder, Matheus De Carvalho Abelha, Felipe Oliveira Tavares, Marco Antonio Ridenti, Luís Eduardo Vergueiro Loures Da Costa

Small Satellite Conference

The Pulse Observation OWing to Dust impact ExpeRiment (POWDER) instrument is a conceptual lunar orbital dust detector designed to measure and analyze dust impacts at a lunar polar orbit. POWDER operates by detecting electric charges generated during dust collisions on a designated collector surface. This study is focused on analyzing the design feasibility for a collecting surface plate, in terms of generated voltage signal from dust impact in comparison to the base ambient noise level. The low amplitude of the voltage signal presents significant challenges, as measuring such a faint signal requires …

Cots Implementation Of Magnetorquer-Only Cubesat Spin Stabilization, Joshua Umansky-Castro, Deemo Chen, Om Deshmukh, Haonan Gong, Nicholas Natsoulas, Mason Peck, Andrew Filo, Alex Burke

Small Satellite Conference

This paper presents the implementation of CubeSat attitude control algorithms on commercial off the shelf (COTS) hardware. Cornell’s Alpha CubeSat seeks to spin-stabilize using only magnetorquer outputs and IMU inputs. Extensive software development and testing is carried out to overcome these hardware limitations. This paper shares tools, techniques, and niche considerations when bringing the control algorithm from simulation to hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) testing with embedded flight software. In-depth approaches for magnetometer filtering are discussed, along with software implementation decisions for safe mission operations.

Developing A Full System Thermal Analysis Of A Cubesat To Design A Low-Cost Battery Heater System, Owen Nesbit, Sydney Whilden, Deepak R. Mishra

Small Satellite Conference

The Mission for Education and Multimedia Engagement Satellite (MEMESat-1) is a low-budget 2U CubeSat under development by the University of Georgia Small Satellite Research Laboratory. Once launched into LEO, the CubeSat will serve as an FM repeater for the Ham Radio community and will uplink and downlink donor-submitted images.

To verify that all MemeSAT-1 electrical components remain within their operational temperature limits throughout its lifetime, a system-level thermal analysis is performed using C&R Technology’s Thermal Desktop. This software allows for the satellite to be subjected to LEO temperatures and solar radiation, accurately simulating the amount …

An Open-Source, Hybrid Communication System Twin And Tool For Cubesat Applications, Julian B. Birk, Spyridon Daskalakis, Haijun Fan, George Goussetis

Small Satellite Conference

This paper presents a digital replica of a satellite communication system. To correctly depict end-to-end connectivity, a rudimentary flight software package around an imaging payload is built using NASA JPL’s F Prime framework. For radio communication, a custom implementation of the AX.25 protocol is built in Python and implemented into a GNU Radio block. In GNU Radio, an appropriate signal processing chain for up and downlink is set up. The resulting flow graph can be used fully digitally, for simulation or be connected to software defined radios for true, over-the-air communication. The Python implementation performs sufficiently well for a low …

Conceptual Design Of An Integrated Small Satellite Environmental Testing Platform: Addressing Subsystem Integration Challenges, Benjamin Ochs, Michael Harrigan, Victoria Coverstone

Small Satellite Conference

Environmental testing for small satellites often relies on separate systems to simulate space conditions, resulting in inefficiencies, increased operating costs, and challenges in accurately modeling the complex environment. This paper presents the conceptual design of an integrated testing platform that combines thermal, vacuum, solar, magnetic, navigation, and attitude control simulations into a single piece of hardware to provide reliable mission assurance. The design emphasizes the modifications required to overcome unique interactions between subsystems, enabling simultaneous, realistic environmental qualification of small satellites while reducing cost and complexity.

The fully integrated environmental testing system incorporates a thermal vacuum chamber (TVAC) with an …

Cubesat Dr3am: A 4u Demonstrative Robust 3d Additive Manufacturing System, Spencer Stowell, Casey Gooch, Taylor Anderton

Small Satellite Conference

Poster presented during the 2025 SmallSat Conference.

Development Of A Polarization-Based Optical Communications Ground Station For The Pulse-A Cubesat, Juan Ignacio Prieto Asbun, Leah Vashevko, Mason Mccormack, Rodrigo Spinola E Castro, Ashley Ashiku, Joshua Johnson, Elizabeth Rosario, Kevin Zamudio, Sasha Malysheva, Nusret Efe Ucer, Qihong Wu, Sofia Mansilla, Seth Knights, Logan Hanssler, Mohammad Hassan, Sofia Cavallione, Nguyen Do, Tian Zhong

Small Satellite Conference

The Polarization-modUlated Laser Satellite Experiment (PULSE-A) is the University of Chicago’s student-led mission to demonstrate an optical downlink at a data rate of 1 to 10 Mbps using circular polarization shift keying (CPolSK). PULSE-A comprises a 3U CubeSat bus carrying a < 1.5U optical transmission terminal and a dual optical-RF ground station. The ground station (GS) system consists of the optical ground station (OGS) and the RF ground station (RFGS). The RFGS is responsible for standard communications and control tasks, while the experimental OGS receives the optical transmission from the satellite’s payload.

To perform satellite-to-ground optical communications, the OGS needs to track, receive, and decode the transmitted signal while providing its own beacon, which allows the satellite to track the OGS. These requirements are accomplished by four assemblies within the OGS: tracking, polarization state preparation, signal decoding, and beacon. The tracking assembly collects, condenses, and collimates incoming laser light from the …

Development Of A Scalable Electrical And Mechanical Backplane For The Guaranisat-2 Cubesat Mission, Edgar Elias Ramirez Sosa

Small Satellite Conference

This paper presents the design, development, and validation of a custom backplane interface board for GuaraniSat-2, Paraguay's second nanosatellite. GuaraniSat-2 is a 3U CubeSat developed through a collaborative effort led by the Paraguayan Space Agency (AEP) and SpaceLab, with the active participation of stakeholders such as the Polytechnic and Engineering Faculties of the National University of Asunción (UNA), Catholic University of Asunción (UCA), the LIESE lab at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and Astradyne, an Italian startup spun off from the Polytechnic University of Bari (Politecnico di Bari). The backplane board functions as …

Development Of Itasat-2 Cubesat's Primary Structure With Ait-Oriented Design Now, Denis Guilgim Vieira, Lídia Shibuya Sato, Renan Guilherme Soares Meneses, Felipe Oliveira Tavares, Uziel Parada Nunes, Pedro Henrique Dos Santos Alves, Douglas Luan Cardoso Arena, Isabela Dos Santos Pereira, Luis Eduardo V. Loures Da Costa

Small Satellite Conference

The ITASAT2 mission is a key advancement in CubeSat technology, building upon the progressive development of small satellite missions at the Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica (ITA). As a continuation of the ITASAT and SPORT missions, ITASAT2 consists of three 16U CubeSats in a formation flight, designed to investigate critical space weather phenomena and perform technological demonstration of geolocation and formation flight. In addition to its scientific contributions and technological demonstration, the mission incorporates technological advancements to improve CubeSat design and integration processes. The ITASAT2 project is part of the progressive evolution of CubeSat missions at ITA, simultaneously addressing space weather …

Extremely Low-Cost Optical Receiver For Extremely Low Resource Optical Identifiers, Ashin Alex, Joseph Ashby, Kevin Walker, Brennan Chai, Catherine Qualtrough, John E. Cater, Nicholas J. Rattenbury

Small Satellite Conference

Space object identification (SOI) is essential for space traffic management, situational awareness, and mission operations. The Extremely Low Resource Optical Identifier (ELROI), developed by Los Alamos National Laboratory, provides a persistent and interference-free identification method for small satellites through a self-powered optical beacon. ELROI transmits a unique identification code via low-power laser pulses, enabling ground stations to identify spaceborne assets without relying on traditional radio beacons. However, the efficacy of the ELROI system relies on the widespread availability of highly sensitive and cost-effective ground-based optical receivers. To address this need, we are developing a low-cost optical receiver capable of detecting …

In-Orbit Reprogramming Of Satellite’S Fpgas, John Cone

Small Satellite Conference

This document discusses the development of a system to reprogram an FPGA that is located on a satellite in orbit. The new image for the FPGA will be telemetered to the satellite and passed as command data to the subsystem containing the FPGA. The method for reprogramming is robust, verifies that the FPGA image was not corrupted during transmission, and does not rely on the current image or functionality of the FPGA.

Small satellites use Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) to interface with the satellite computer and other instruments such as cameras and sensors. These FPGAs are traditionally programmed on …

Robot Swarm: A Test Platform For Spacecraft Formations, Colbren Fujimoto, Scott Ginoza, Yosef Ben Gershom

Small Satellite Conference

Satellite swarms are transforming space exploration by enabling cost-effective missions and distributed onboard intelligence. Precise formation control is critical for optimized data collection, collaborative sensing, and collision avoidance. NASA’s Starling mission demonstrates how scalable, autonomous swarms enable satellites to operate as a coordinated network in low Earth orbit [1]. This research project offers a practical, cost-effective platform for testing agile swarm formation control using physical robots, enabling testing and validation of formation control algorithms and evaluating their effectiveness. This project tests Interstel’s iCOSMOS-Swarm, a software platform designed for autonomous coordination of unmanned vehicle swarms. The formation includes four robots to …

Simulation-Based Evaluation Of Dual-Mode Propulsion Strategies For Small Satellite Collision Avoidance, Michael Harrigan, Charles Cundiff, Joshua L. Rovey, Victoria Coverstone

Small Satellite Conference

As Low Earth Orbit (LEO) becomes increasingly congested, small satellite missions face growing challenges in executing effective collision avoidance maneuvers under limited time and propellant constraints. Dual-mode propulsion systems, combining high-thrust chemical and high-specific impulse electric modes, offer a promising approach to balance rapid response with propellant conservation. This paper evaluates how such systems can be applied to reduce the Probability of Collision (PC) within constrained maneuver windows using sequential chemical-electric burns.

A FreeFlyer-based simulation framework models dual-mode collision avoidance maneuvers across synthetic LEO scenarios. For each case, user-defined mission parameters, such as lead time, PC threshold, and orbital altitude, …

An Inexpensive, Open, And Extensible Hardware-In-The-Loop Cubesat Test And Simulation Infrastructure, Andrew Greenberg, Glenn Lebrasseur, Max Eltzroth, Rose Edington, Anna Meneely, Maxwell Millar

Small Satellite Conference

We have developed an inexpensive, open source, and extensible hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test and simulation system to allow even small CubeSat teams to dramatically improve their testing infrastructure to increase reliability during flight.

Enhancements And Improvements Of The Radiation Probe - Compact Radiation Probe (Crp), Yihsuan Chou, Loren Chang, Yichung Chiu, Tzuwei Hung, Sinyu Tsui

Small Satellite Conference

As space missions venture beyond Earth's magnetic field, spacecraft face elevated risks from solar energetic particles (SEPs) and galactic cosmic rays (GCRs). Taiwan's first lunar payload—the Deep Space Radiation Probe (DSRP)—was developed to measure radiation dose, dose rate, and SEU rates during Earth–Moon transit. However, flight data revealed limitations in SEU detection and system operation. To address these issues and support CubeSat-class missions, the Compact Radiation Probe (CRP) was developed for the upcoming COSPAR-1 mission.