Inter-satellite links (ISLs) and networking enable satellites to communicate directly with each other in orbit, forming a mesh network in space instead of relying solely on ground stations. Think of it as giving satellites their own high-speed internet — allowing them to share data, coordinate…
Continue reading... Cost trade-offs in space computing involve balancing performance, reliability, mass, power, schedule, and risk against limited budgets. Almost every design decision becomes a compromise. Radiation-hardened parts offer excellent reliability but are much more expensive and usually deliver lower performance. Commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) parts are cheaper…
Continue reading... Reliability in space computing is about ensuring the system continues working for the entire planned mission lifetime, sometimes many years. It goes beyond basic fault tolerance to include careful part selection, derating, and lifetime prediction. Components are often “derated” — operated well below their maximum…
Continue reading... Command and Data Handling (C&DH) is often described as the central nervous system of the spacecraft. It receives commands from Earth, validates and executes them, collects telemetry from all subsystems, and manages the overall operation of the spacecraft. The C&DH system decodes incoming commands, checks…
Continue reading... Attitude control, often called ADCS, is the system that keeps the spacecraft pointed in the correct direction at all times. Without accurate pointing, solar panels cannot face the Sun efficiently, antennas miss Earth, cameras miss their targets, and the entire mission can fail. Sensors first…
Continue reading...