joelspark

The current plan is to use one made by SSBV: http://cubesatshop.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&#...

Our engineering partner, GOMSpace, is also almost finished developing their own CubeSat GPS, and have expressed interest in flying that on the satellite, so we may switch over to that one.

Cheers, Joel

The commercial GPS sensor is more for testing on the receiver properties, it won't give location data. Location data will come from a space-rated GPS we have in the bus.

As long as you're below the GPS constellation (at around 26000 km: http://www.navipedia.net/index.php/GPS_Space_Segment), and you use a GPS that doesn't have the altitude restriction, you can use it for orbit location determination.

Cheers, Joel

The images from anywhere in orbit won't be in real-time - users will pick a spot in the upcoming orbit where they want the picture to be taken (and frame it using a 3D model with a simulated image of what you'll be able to see in that place in orbit), and if they see something they like, they add that image to the capture queue. Once the satellite gets there, it will snap the picture and download it next time it gets in range of a ground station.

If you'd like, maybe I can put the link budget calculations on the Kickstarter?

Cheers, Joel

The reason we wanted to have the code itself in space is because there ARE things people can control on the sat (supervised by us): you can control the cameras, command the attitude control, and activate the antenna. We also thought it would be more rewarding for students who want to use the satellite to gain real experience in coding on real hardware.

The you're right about the commercial GPS, it wont return location data above a certain altitude. We want to use the commercial GPS for other experiments (it will still have some functions that work). We've also included a second space-rated GPS in the bus itself for the location data.

To help us bring down the integration/testing time, we've teamed up with the manufacturer of the components of the satellite, they will be using their facilities and engineers to make sure we deliver by 2013 launch date.

Let me know if there is anything I can address about the design!

Cheers, Joel