Husky Satellite Lab- Can You Build A Flight Computer? (w/ cookies)

Conditions in space are very different from the luxury we have on Earth, whether that be temperature, radiation, available power, etc. We can’t just put a MacBook CPU in a satellite– but we still need a computer that can receive, process, and send data while being hundreds of kilometers away from earth. Several issues can arise; whether it’s data connection getting cut off, not having enough space for wires, or ionizing radiation causing parts of computer memory to just… not work.

So, what does it take to build a computer that is robust enough to control a satellite and survive in space? That’s what you’ll run through in this workshop through designing a mini flight computer and learning about engineering tradeoffs behind decisions like choosing a processor, storing data, integrating with sensors, etc. Also, there’s free cookies/candy :D!

This isn’t a lecture on aerospace engineering; only surface-level technical knowledge is expected. We’ll focus more on the open-ended design problems (there’s no “right” answer!) and how space hardware looks very different than the phone you’re reading this on.  If you’ve ever wondered how satellites actually work or you’re just interested in building cool stuff, come learn what goes into designing the ‘brain’ of a spacecraft.

Learn more about the Husky Satellite Lab and our projects at https://huskysat.org. If anything on our site interests you, please apply! Or maybe get recruited here 😉