In-Orbit Reprogramming for Small Satellites: A Flight Demonstration Using a Single Board Computer
The increasing demands for space assets to possess enhance safety, reliability, and reconfigurability is a prominent requirement within the domain of small satellite technology. This article details a specific mission, GRACE (GMC, Reprogramming and Communication Experiment) which has successfully demonstrated software reconfiguration capability for nano-satellites. A notable deficiency in many previous endeavors was the inability to reprogram flash-based FPGAs without the necessity of an external processor and supplementary RAM, which typically conflicts with the stringent power and mass constraints characteristic of small satellites. The GRACE mission marked a significant milestone in CubeSat technology, achieving a low-power flight demonstration of complete flash-based FPGA and ENVM reprogramming using a single SoC based Single Board Computer (SBC) in a CubeSat payload. This SBC is capable of self-reprogramming its SoC through the utilization of an innovative bootloader, achieving this process in a reduced timeframe when contrasted with numerous preceding methodologies. GRACE payload’s reprogramming functionality facilitated the execution of its flight software in two distinct SEQuence of OPerationS (SEQ-OPS). This approach effectively managed the payload’s power consumption and mitigated radio frequency interference from other payloads operating within the same RF spectrum concurrently. This demonstration not only improves the robustness and re-usability of nano-sats but also significantly reduces the cost and turnaround time associated with deploying and operating these increasingly vital space assets.