An economical on-board computer for low-earth-orbit satellites

An on-board computer (OBC) is the brain of any satellite. This sophisticated piece of equipment monitors and controls each and every function of the satellite. It is generally a very expensive device, with cost amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars. The problem we address is to conceive and design an economical and general-purpose OBC, based on the Intel 80386 microprocessor technology, for use in general-purpose low-earth-orbit micro-satellites. The hardware and software design of the OBC is based on a philosophy of general-purpose and flexible design architecture. The idea is that the design could be used in, or adapted to, a variety of small low-earth-orbit satellites with minimal modifications. Accordingly, a complete architecture of the OBC has been researched and developed. The requirements for the on-board and ground station software are also explored, and guidelines for possible implementations are provided.