Opening a Satellite

15 responses to “Opening a Satellite”

1. 

   jurvetson

   Nov 5, 2011 at 11:41 pm

   More info from Berkeley:
   You can see the A and B DC-DC converter location in the SEM.

   and from NASA Goddard:
   

   and the schematic from the designer
   

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2. 

   !MimosaMicheMichelle!

   Nov 5, 2011 at 11:51 pm

   You could have used this for the puzzle series…:-)

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3. 

   Happy Tinfoil Cat

   Nov 6, 2011 at 1:02 am

   Can you point to a readable version of the schematic? I’m curious.

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4. 

   Aris Jansons

   Nov 6, 2011 at 1:35 am

   Thank you. Some more educating information.

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5. 

   solerena

   Nov 6, 2011 at 3:56 am

   some fancy power electronics….

   Reply
6. 

   scleroplex

   Nov 6, 2011 at 12:26 pm

   really nice!

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7. 

   jurvetson

   Nov 6, 2011 at 4:50 pm

   @mimosa0 – I was thinking about that too. We’re long overdue for a good puzzle.

   @belleville – does this link let you see the full size? Now I’m curious what you notice in there…

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8. 

   obskura

   Nov 6, 2011 at 5:42 pm

   "that it’s small, quiet, and extremely efficient" …
   – I guess the second and third property have more importance than "small", and there are probably quite strict requirements in terms of g-forces and radiation hardening… For someone working with surface-mount electronics, "small" would be maybe 1-2 square centimeters… of course it all depends on the total sum of requirements 🙂 judging by the sheer complexity of the schematic, this is not just a run-of-the-mill voltage converter…

   It’s funny how one’s perception changes over time as well – I used to think that standard surface mount components with 1.27mm pin pitch are small – now I regularly work with 0.5mm pin pitch (hand soldering mostly under the microscope…), and the standard components have a bit of a "crude stone age" feel to them… (especially on the computer screen during design, as it’s zoomed in quite a bit).

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9. 

   jurvetson

   Nov 6, 2011 at 7:20 pm

   yeah, and this design is from a decade ago.

   Reply
10. 

    Happy Tinfoil Cat

    Nov 6, 2011 at 11:17 pm

    Thank you for pointing to a readable schematic. My expectation would have been a super-complex design with bleeding edge or even custom devices all assembled in a clean room by people in bunny suits. After looking at the schematic, I’d say the design was geared for simplicity, robustness and efficiency. I’ve seen far more complex power supply designs for consumer products. From the photo, I see one wire not soldered through the terminal and another with a solder blob on the PCB. Considering all the paranoia with tin whiskers, I never would have expected to see that as it could come loose and floated around until it found the absolute worst place to settle. The word "small" isn’t how I’d describe the power supply. I’ve always assumed satellites and spacecraft used the latest technologies and was extremely weight conscious. These DC-DC modules are quite large for something ~50W and the technology looks like early 80’s. You’ve pulled open the curtain exposing a peek at the Wizard. I always wonder how they cool these things without atmosphere.

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11. 

    jurvetson

    Nov 7, 2011 at 5:22 pm

    It’s a fascinating question. Sometimes Spirit and Opportunity move us much more that anyone thought possible.

    For a topical example or random things going wrong up there, the IMAGE satellite from yesterday went silent after 5.8 years of successful operations, and the NASA assessment blames a power module!

    "The most likely explanation of the failure was the result of an induced "instant trip" of the Solid Sate Power Controller (SSPC) supplying power to the transponder.

    The IMAGE mission was designed as a two-year mission but has exceeded all its scientific goals and has produced a fire hose of stunning images of the previously invisible region of space in the inner magnetosphere."

    P.S. NASA Goddard just posted an awe-inspiring short video of the latest solar flare imaging:

    

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12. 

    scleroplex

    Nov 7, 2011 at 6:18 pm

    spectacular indeed!

    Reply
13. 

    solerena

    Nov 7, 2011 at 6:24 pm

    have noticed this one on NASA this morning as well- some science fiction, very cool!

    Reply
14. 

    Josh Thompson

    Nov 12, 2011 at 5:39 pm

    @belleville "I’ve always assumed satellites and spacecraft used the latest technologies"

    I had the impression they were always a bit behind because everything has to be rad hard?

    Reply
15. 

    AЯMEN

    Feb 20, 2012 at 10:48 pm

    nice.

    Reply