v1.3.2 0. Home

Welcome to the AMSAT® CubeSatSim Project Wiki, the CubeSat Simulator

The CubeSatSim is a low cost satellite emulator that runs on solar panels and batteries, transmits UHF radio telemetry, has a 3D printed frame, and can be extended by additional sensors and modules. This project is sponsored by the not-for-profit Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, AMSAT®.

This page is for the new Beta v1.3 hardware.

The beta Bill of Materials (BOM) is here:

https://cubesatsim.org/bom-beta.

NOTE: If you use the Octopart links in the BOM, the Digikey parts will have the step and identifier information printed on them.

The beta hardware files are here:

https://cubesatsim.org/hardware-beta

Information about the latest beta software release is here:

https://github.com/alanbjohnston/CubeSatSim/releases

If you have the v1.0, v1.1, or v1.2 hardware, use these instructions

Here you will find documentation about this project and detailed install instructions.

The CubeSatSim has the following features:

• Working solar panels and rechargeable batteries
• Multi-channel voltage, current, and temperature telemetry transmitted in the Amateur Radio UHF band
• Telemetry decoding using FoxTelem software or APRS software
• STEM Payload board with Raspberry Pi Pico microcontroller & sensors
• Tape measure monopole, dipole, or SMA antenna
• Integrated Low Pass Filter
• 3D printed frame and solar panels

Here are the changes between the v1.2 and the Beta v1.3 hardware and software.

• New FM transceiver module for better frequency stability and simple command and control receiver to change telemetry mode
• More modern and cheaper Raspberry Pi Pico micro controller on STEM Payload board
• Easily connect additional sensors for the Pico using the Qwiic connector system https://www.sparkfun.com/qwiic
• SSTV camera images now display callsign and battery status overlay
• Can be modified to fly as a balloon payload with 500mW FM output for SSTV, APRS, or CW transmissions with software support on Pico for a serial GPS module
• Lower parts cost and easier to source. All parts can now be sourced from electronics distributors and Amazon including easy to find solar panels. New BOM uses Octopart electronic part inventory site with one click distributor ordering
• Redesigned for blue INA219 voltage and current sensors instead of more expensive purple ones
• Battery board now has integrated voltage and current sensor and stronger holder with better performance
• Simpler electrical power system with no boost converter or charge control circuit
• Kits can be built with through hole parts except for a few SMT parts. Fully assembled boards will be available in the future using SMT parts
• Easily connect additional sensors for the Raspberry Pi Zero the Qwiic connector system

Here are the four boards that make up the complete board stack. Left to right: Raspberry Pi Zero WH with Pi Camera, Battery Board, STEM Payload Board with FM module, and Solar Board.

Here is the built board stack:

There is a 3D printed frame:

Here is a block diagram of the design:

Parts List Bill of Materials (BOM) to build the CubeSatSim is available here. Make a copy of this spreadsheet: https://CubeSatSim.org/bom-beta

Here is a photo of a kit of parts. Boxed in red are the parts from Digikey, yellow parts from Amazon, blue parts from AMSAT, green parts from various places (use rpilocator.com to find in stock Pi Zero WH), and pink is the 3D parts you print yourself:

There are videos showing most of the steps here: https://CubeSatSim.org/build-videos-beta

Here are the steps to build a CubeSatSim:

1. Build the STEM Payload Board Part 1

2. Install the Software

3. Build a Ground Station

4. Continue Building the STEM Payload board Part 2

5. Build the Battery board

6. Build the Solar board

7. Assemble the Solar Panels and Frame

8. Put the Board Stack together and mount in the Frame

9. Final Testing