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Snapshot
Objective: Detect changes in light pollution using on-orbit imagery
Status: Launched 2024 • On-orbit contact: 5+ days • Band: 437.4 MHz
Hardware
Structure
PROVES kit (Cal Poly Pomona Bronco Space)
Avionics/PCBS
magnetorquers for attittude; EPS with solar imput; 5 MP camera modeule; RFM98PW UHF radio
Optimizations
Raspberry Pi Pico coordinating subsystem operations; built to Exolaunch requirements
Ground Station
Custom Yagi antenna array tuned for comms with the onboard radio
Ops & Results
Maintained reliable comms for 5+ on-orbit days (top ~30% of U.S. CubeSat missions)
Executed detumble, health checks, and image capture sequences as designed
Software
Source Code
CircuitPython, adapted from the PROVES flight software
Core Functions
Hardware I/O, power management, detumbling, health/diagnostics
Imaging
captures a burst of ten photos and keeps the largest file (proxy for highest Earth detail while the satellite is rotating)
Downlink
Fault-tolerant, chunked image transfer across multiple passes (~5 min per pass)
Rationale
maximizes the chance of returning useful Earth imagery under tight bandwidth and fast roll
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