Sprite, launchpad and programmer shield - part of the developer kit.
Sprite, launchpad and programmer shield - part of the developer kit.
Status update
Great news – we now have our KickSat development kit, which means the BIS involvement with this exciting project moves into the next phase, as the development kit enables us to program our own code on a BIS Sprite.
As a reminder, a Sprite is a new type of spacecraft that is simply an unshielded circuit board that relies on numbers of units to achieve results more simply and more cheaply than traditional devices. Of course, the technology also creates exciting new possibilities that the BIS and others are already considering.
In addition to the developer kit a number of members also have souvenir Sprites that can be programmed for fun. Hopefully, we should be able to circulate one of these to regional events, and one will be at UKSEDS event in Bristol this weekend. Click to read more about Sprites.
KickSat and the British Interplanetary Society
As a new concept that is being realised for the first time, KickSat truly embodies the BIS strapline “From imagination to reality”. Therefore, we are planning a series of events to involve BIS members, which ultimately result in the BIS having a number of ground stations listening for our Sprites when they are in orbit – estimated to be in autumn 2013! Keep checking the website for updates.
Members can add comments and ask questions about KickSat on this page by logging in to the website (use the contact form if you cannot login, and include your membership number).
Below is a link to an interesting article written by Mason Peck in 2011.
http://spectrum.ieee.org/aerospace/satellites/exploring-space-with-chipsized-satellites/0
‘Spacecraft on a chip’ is definitely a new concept in development with Sprite being the first project to launch a prototype.
Despite current limitations, as microprocessors become ever more sophisticated sprites could eventually be programmed to interact with neighbouring sprites to form a distributed network exhibiting emergent properties ie. a collaborative swarm, as mentioned in the above article. This could open up all sorts of possibilities with regard to exploring the Solar System and beyond.
Small open source/open hardware spacecraft projects such as this are definitely the way ahead allowing individuals and organisations, such as the BIS, to directly get involved.
Hello Paul. Yes, Sprites have many potential uses and maybe more that haven’t been considered yet.
I hope to see you soon at one or more of the BIS KickSat meetings being planned, and that you will help us track our Sprites in September.
KickSat interest at the UKSEDS conference has been incredible, and also brings a touch of professionalism to the BIS stand
It definately seems to be where a lot of interest is. I even heard about some devices much lighter than KickSat Sprites called Thin-Film spacecraft!
Although Sprites already exisit and are due for launch in September 2013
Thin-Film Spacecraft/Lander/Rovers (TF-SLRs) also exist! They were developed in 2012 by the co-creator of KickSat and the first generation implemented at the Cornell Nanoscale Facility are software compatible with KickSat Sprites. The main difference between these first generation devices and KickSat Sprites is thickness and mass – microns rather than mm thick and a mass measured in mg rather than g. An announcement regarding a launch date and technical details of a second generation TF-SLR mission will be made later this year.
Lots of questions:
- where is the kit located (when not on tour) ?
- Can members go the BIS Head quarters to have a look at it ?
- Maybe even make a go at some hands-on programming ?
- Is there perhaps a downloadable Sprite simulator or emulator we can play around with ?
Good questions.
The development kit is currently in Farnborough (Hampshire). It will certainly make it’s way to the BIS HQ soon, and will be it’s home when not required elsewhere.
I will be arranging some programming sessions soon, and my preference is that as many people as possible do some hands-on programming. I also need at least one experienced Arduino programmer for the final code. I do have offers of support for coding from York, Essex and from UKSEDS. I also hope to get the souvenir boards up and running so that we can program the LEDs.
I am condensing the available technical information into a post that will be put on this website very soon – I am aiming for Saturday 9th March. This will include links to downloads of chip designs and programming tools.
After programming we need to create a network of ground stations to listen for our Sprites in September 13.
Thanks for your interest, and I hope to see you at the BIS HQ in the near future.
Andrew V.