PhoneSat The Nanosatellite

NASA’s PhoneSat project will test adding new functionality to the satellite whether spacecraft can be built using with each succeeding iteration. to launch the lowest-cost To do this, the PhoneSat design satellites ever flown in space. Each makes extensive use of commercial- PhoneSat nanosatellite is one off-the-shelf components, including unit - a satellite in a 10 cm (approx. 4 a smartphone. Smartphones offer a inches) cube or about the size of a tissue wealth of capabilities needed for satellite box - and weighs approximately three systems such as fast processors, pounds. Engineers believe PhoneSat versatile operating systems, multiple technology will enable NASA to launch miniature sensors, high-resolution multiple new satellites capable of cameras, GPS receivers, and several conducting science and exploration . missions at a small fraction of the cost of PhoneSat engineers also are changing conventional satellites. the way missions are designed by The small teams of NASA engineers prototyping and incorporating existing supporting PhoneSat at NASA’s Ames commercial technologies and hardware Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., to see what capabilities they can aim to rapidly evolve satellite architecture provide, rather than trying to custom- and incorporate the Silicon Valley design technology solutions to meet set approach of “release early, release often,” requirements.

The PhoneSat cubesat bus with a smartphone inside. Image credit: Ben Howard PhoneSat 1.0 Demonstrates low-cost, modern electronics can fly in space In 2011, NASA successfully tested a prototype smartphone satellite known as PhoneSat 1.0 in various extreme environments, including thermal-vacuum chambers, vibration and shock tables, sub-orbital rocket flights and high-altitude balloons. PhoneSat 1.0 is built around the smartphone made by HTC Corp., running Google’s Android™ operating system. The Nexus One acts as the onboard computer; sensors determine its orientation in space, and a camera is used for Earth observations. Commercial-off- the-shelf parts include an Arduino watchdog circuit that monitors the systems and reboots the phone if it stops sending signals. The PhoneSat 1.0 satellite has a led collaborative project between Ames and the basic mission goal -- to stay alive in space for a short International Space University, Strasbourg. period and send back health and picture data. Engineers kept the total hardware cost per satellite PhoneSat 2.0 to $3,500 by strictly utilizing commercial-off-the- Demonstrates complete functionality in a low-cost shelf hardware and keeping the design and mission satellite package objectives as simple as possible. PhoneSat 2.0 will build on and supplement the Two PhoneSat 1.0 and one PhoneSat 2.0 Beta capabilities of PhoneSat 1.0 by adding a two-way prototype satellites launched on April 21, 2013 aboard S-band radio to allow engineers to command the the maiden flight of the rocket developed by satellite from Earth, solar panels to enable longer- Orbital Science Corp., Dulles, VA. duration missions, a GPS, magnetorquer coils and reaction wheels to actively control the satellite For more information about PhoneSat, visit: orientation in space. PhoneSat 2.0 also will equip http://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/small_ a newer smartphone made by Samsung spacecraft/phonesat.html Electronics running Google’s Android™ operating For more information on the upcoming Antares system to provide a faster core processor, avionics and launch, visit: gyroscopes. http://www.phonesat.org The PhoneSat 2.0 bus will bring new capabilities For more information about Ames, visit: to a satellite of such small size while advancing http://www.nasa.gov/ames breakthrough technologies and decreasing costs. For more information, contact: Possible PhoneSat 2.0 mission goals include: James Cockrell • Using distributed sensors to measure space weather Project Manager phenomena NASA Ames Research Center • Qualifying new technologies and components for [email protected] space flight Bruce Yost • Tracking orbital debris and near Earth objects Small Spacecraft Technology Program Manager • Conducting low-cost Earth observations Space Technology Mission Directorate The PhoneSat project is a technology demonstration NASA Ames Research Center mission funded by NASA’s Space Technology Mission [email protected] Directorate at NASA Headquarters and the Engineering Andrew Petro Directorate at NASA Ames Research Center. The Small Spacecraft Technology Program Executive project started in summer 2009 as a student- Space Technology Mission Directorate NASA Headquarters [email protected] National Aeronautics and Space Administration Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA 94035

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