DIY Instruments for Amateur Space

Table of contents

1. Preface
   1. Why Sensors on Satellites Make Sense
   2. Conventions Used in This Book
   3. Using Code Examples
   4. Safari® Books Online
   5. How to Contact Us
   6. Acknowledgments
2. 1. Understanding Measurement
   1. Brainstorming
3. 2. Introduction to Instruments
   1. Parameterizing a Mission
   2. Mission Domains
   3. Licensing
   4. Look at Past Missions
4. 3. By Wavelength
   1. The Spectrum
   2. Gamma and X-rays
   3. Ultraviolet
   4. Violet and Blue
   5. Cyan and Green
   6. Yellow and Orange
   7. Infrared
   8. Microwave, Submillimeter, and Radio
5. 4. Fundamental Detector Types
   1. The Eternal Fight: Resolution Versus Brightness
   2. Active Detectors
   3. Tradeoffs
   4. Imaging Detectors
      1. Mapping Coverage to Pixels
   5. Sampling and Bandwidth Calculations
6. 5. Detectors and Instruments and Sensors, Oh My!
   1. Attitude
      1. Passive Attitude Control
      2. Active Attitude Control
   2. Pointing Observations
   3. Sensors
   4. Deployable Payloads
      1. Transmitter
      2. Microchip Satellites
      3. Repeaters and Reflectors
      4. Solar Sail
   5. Operational Demo
   6. Sample Names
7. 6. Colors and Brightness
   1. Brightness
8. 7. Resolution, By the Numbers
   1. Detector Bins
   2. What About Noise?
   3. At a Glance
   4. Filters
      1. Spectral Filters
      2. Image Masks
   5. Digitization
9. 8. Noise
   1. Signal-to-Noise (S/N)
   2. Types of Noise
   3. Adding Noises
10. 9. Calibration
    1. Response Function
    2. Calibration Protocols
       1. Solution!
       2. Problem
       3. Standard Candles Aren’t
       4. Remember Degradation
    3. Real Versus “Book” Voltages
11. 10. Protocols
    1. Sensor Readout Theory
    2. Wiring Sensors and Sampling
    3. Clocks and Sampling Rates
       1. Synchronous and Asynchronous
    4. I2C
       1. I2C Sequence Primer
       2. I2C Examples
    5. TTL/UART/Serial/RS232
    6. SPI
    7. Controller Area Network
    8. Musical Instrument Digital Interface
    9. About Standards
12. 11. Instrument Modes
    1. Dynamic Range
    2. Defining Multiple Instrument Modes
       1. Example Modes For a Magnetic Sensor
       2. Cadence
    3. Triggering
    4. Non-Photon Detectors (And in situ)
    5. CPUs
       1. Raspberry Pi
       2. They Fight!
    6. Communications Limits
    7. Amateur (HAM) Radio
13. 12. Off-the-Shelf Sensor Hardware
    1. Shopping
    2. Particle Damage
    3. “Project Calliope” Sample Sensor Loadout
       1. ArduSat Sample Sensor Loadout
       2. Sensor Integration
14. 13. Committing, Freezing, Moving Forward
    1. Buy Many
       1. Lego-Style Versus Custom Shop
15. A. Exercises
    1. JWST Build-a-Satellite
    2. Solve a Decadal Problem for All of Humanity
16. About the Author
17. Colophon
18. Copyright