The Flying Laptop Satellite as a Low-Threshold Testbed for Computing in Orbit

Inhalt:
Flying Laptop (FLP) is an active satellite mission by the University of Stuttgart. For payload control and data management the satellite has a dedicated payload on-board computer (PLOC) which is based on an SRAM FPGA. The FPGA can be configured at any time with any configuration without endangering the satellite itself. This enables the Flying Laptop to be offered as a testbed for in-orbit testing of radiation mitigation designs in computing application with a low barrier for entry. This also extends to opportunities to execute educational experiments in orbit. Furthermore one of the payload subsystems consist of a software defined radio (SDR) transmitter in the 2.4 GHz amateur radio band. While currently being used for payload data downlink, it is also available as an operational testbed for experiments in space communication.