Surviving Orbit the DIY Way

Is your picosatellite ready for launch? Can it withstand rocket thrusts and the vacuum of space? This do-it-yourself guide helps you conduct a series of hands-on tests designed to check your satellite’s readiness. Learn precisely what the craft and its electronic components must endure if they’re to function properly in Low Earth Orbit.
The perfect follow-up to DIY Satellite Platforms (our primer for designing and building a picosatellite), this book also provides an overview of what space is like and how orbits work, enabling you to set up the launch and orbit support you’ll need. * Go deep into the numbers that describe conditions your satellite will face * Learn how to mitigate the risks of radiation in the ionosphere * Pick up enough formal systems engineering to understand what the tests are all about * Build a thermal vacuum chamber for mimicking environment of space * Simulate the rocket launch by building and running a vibration shake test * Use a homebuilt centrifuge to conduct high G-force tests * Get guidelines on scheduling tests and choosing an appropriate lab or clean room