OPS-SAT PRETTY Payloads
SEPP
The SEPP (Satellite Experimental Processing Platform) provides on-board processing independent from the main OBC, and is the core device for experimental interaction with payload devices.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Flexible Integration: Supports a range of payload subsystems, allowing for easy integration into different missions with minimal customization. These subsystems are accessible through different communication interfaces.
- Linux-Based Platform: The critical SEPP operating system software is based on the standard Linux kernel concepts. Offering a flexible runtime environment for various mission applications.
- Support for FPGA Technology: Extends the platform’s interface capabilities, offering additional flexibility for future missions and payload integration.
ADCS
The OPS-SAT PRETTY spacecraft hosts a capable platform Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS) with a variety of sensors and actuators. Please get in contact with the OPS-SAT Space Lab Team for possible experimenter’s use.
Actuators
- Magnetorquers in each axis.
- Wheel drive electronics with 4 reaction wheels.
Sensors
- Low and high precision magnetometers. The latter one allows measurements with low noise, high resolution, a large dynamic range, and high sampling rates.
- Gyroscopes.
- High-stability and high-precision Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) with 6 degrees of freedom with triple gyroscopes and tri-axis accelerometer.
- Photodiodes on each face.
- Fine Sun Sensor (FSS).
- Temperature sensors.
- GNSS receiver.
SDR
The SDR (Software Defined Radio) payload is directly connected to the SEPP. It uses the AD9361 transceiver IC from Analog Devices. The AD9361 provides two wideband RF receivers with a continuous coverage of the 70 MHz to 6 GHz frequency range, and a programmable RF modulation bandwidth of up to 56 MHz. The SDR system onboard PRETTY is able to effectivly record frequencies from around 400MHz to 1.8GHz.
The two transceiver channels are complemented with high-gain low noise amplifiers, and two independent patch antennas, both tuned to a frequency of 1.2 GHz. For passive reflectometry applications the system allows the reception of direct and reflected GNSS signals.
GNSS Receiver
The GNSS receiver is capable of tracking GPS and GALILEO constellations in the L1 band and distributes its navigation and timing information on-board. A direct UART and PPS connection is available from the SEPP.
