PnPSat-1 initiated in 2004 (also known as Plug-and-Play Satellite[1]) is an experimental satellite built by the United States Air Force Research Laboratory. The spacecraft was the first choice for the third flight of the Falcon 1 rocket in August 2008, but was not selected because it was not completed at that time.[2]
 PnPSat computer model | |
| Mission type | Technology |
|---|---|
| Operator | AFRL |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Manufacturer | SpaceWorks Inc |
Mission description
editThe primary mission is to demonstrate concepts of plug-and-play spacecraft development by successfully constructing and launching a spacecraft based on several technologies developed for that purpose.[3]
Spacecraft design
editThe design of the spacecraft centers on the idea of "smart" structural panels which are sealed aluminum panels which contain the necessary power and data electronics and harnessing.[3] Components mounted on these panels are limited to devices which are too large to be contained inside a panel and payload devices.
The key to the design is AFRL's Space Plug-and-play Avionics (SPA) protocols and the Satellite Data Model (SDM) flight software. The SPA family of protocols provides the standardized communications interface between the flight computer system of the spacecraft and the various avionics and sensors.[4] The SDM software performs the plug-and-play function for software and interfaces with the avionics and sensors using the SPA network.[5]
References
edit- ^ Fronterhouse, Don; Lyke, Jim. "Plug-and-Play Satellite: Demonstrating the Vision" (PDF). International Spacewire Conference 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-10-04. Retrieved 2008-07-12.
- ^ Singer, Jeremy (2008-05-29). "SpaceDev Satellite Chosen to Ride SpaceX's Third Falcon 1 Rocket". Space.com. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
- ^ a b Fronterhouse, Don; et al. (2007-05-07). "Plug-and-play Satellite (PnPSat)". Proceedings of the AIAA Infotech@Aerospace 2007 Conference. AIAA.
- ^ Lyke, Jim; et al. (2005-04-25). "Space Plug-and-Play Avionics" (PDF). Proceedings of the 3rd AIAA Responsive Space Conference. AIAA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-05-16. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
- ^ Cannon, Scott (2007-05-07). "Responsive Space Plug & Play with the Satellite Data Model". Proceedings of the AIAA Infotech@Aerospace 2007 Conference. AIAA.
External links
edit
 | This article about one or more spacecraft of the United States is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |