The $50SAT (Eagle2)2 is a spacecraft launched last November and measures a mere 5x5x7.5 cm and weighs only 210 grams. This withing the PocketQube™ (PQ) class satellite standard of 5cm x cm x 15cm and weighing less than half a kilogram: $50SAT designated Morehead-OSCAR-76 – AMSAT-UK
The spacecraft is still operational and its ground track can be viewed at EAGLE 2 (13066W) – Satview.org.
$50SAT may be the smallest operational satellite in Earth orbit and cost less than $250 in parts to build, most of this being the cost of the TASC triple junction solar cells. $50SAT was built with standard off the shelf commercial components, no special radiation hardened parts were used.
The primary purpose of $50SAT was to create a cost effective platform for engineering and science students to use for developing real world skills. The PocketQube form factor has no precision mechanical parts and can be built from locally obtained sheet metal.
$50SAT is comprised of two 40mm square circuit boards. The first is the processor/radio board with the PICAXE 40X2 processor, the Hope RFM22B transceiver module and devices for measuring temperature some protection devices.
The second board is the solar power control and monitor board. This board contains the maximum power point controllers as well as current monitors for the battery and summed solar power. The battery is a common 3.7V lithium ion camera battery.
$50SAT was n a collaborative education project between Professor Bob Twiggs, Morehead State University and 3 radio amateurs, Howie DeFelice, AB2S, Michael Kirkhart, KD8QBA, and Stuart Robinson, GW7HPW.
A discussion group for the project is at $50SAT – Yahoo Groups.
Comparison of the $50SAT and a Yaesu handheld transceiver. (Hi-res image)
