PyCubed: An Open-Source, Radiation-Tested CubeSat Platform Programmable Entirely in Python
Abstract
The hardware and software pitfalls associated with satellite development have led to a nearly 60% failure rate among first-time CubeSat builders. We believe that a high-quality, community-driven CubeSat avionics platform would dramatically improve mission success rates. PyCubed is an open-source, radiation-tested CubeSat avionics platform that integrates power, computing, communication, and attitude determination and control functionality into a single low-cost PC104-compatible module programmable entirely in Python. PyCubed addresses many hardwarerelated failure modes through component and system-level radiation testing, in-depth design and qualification documentation, and flight heritage on a successful LEO mission. The challenge of flight software development is also mitigated through the use of the Python programming language via CircuitPython. Python enables dramatically simplified CubeSat software development, allowing students and researchers to quickly and reliably integrate new sensors, control algorithms, and payload hardware into their missions. All design files, including additional design justifications and reliability documentation, are available on the project's GitHub site.
BibTeX
@conference{Holliday-2019-122098,author = {Max Holliday and Andrea Ramirez and Connor Settle and Tane Tatum and Debbie Senesky and Zac Manchester},
title = {PyCubed: An Open-Source, Radiation-Tested CubeSat Platform Programmable Entirely in Python},
booktitle = {Proceedings of 33rd Annual AIAA/USU Conference on Small Satellites},
year = {2019},
month = {August},
}