DragonSat is based on the Qubik platform by the Libre Space Foundation, featuring a compact yet advanced design that integrates cutting-edge photonic technology. This enables precise generation, manipulation, and detection of quantum states, capturing critical data that will drive the development of secure quantum communication and computing technologies.
PocketQube: 1P Chassis Based on Qubik by the Libre Space Foundation
Payload Average Power: 1W
ADCS: Passive Bar Magnet
Mass: 250g
Payload: Quantum Light Module
Antenna: Deployable 437 MHz UHF dipole antenna
Payload Data Downlink:1.2kb/s (UHF)
The payload is capable of preparing, transmitting, and measuring quantum states with exceptional precision, ensuring reliable performance despite the challenges of microgravity and space radiation. An onboard data processing unit handles real-time analysis and secure storage of experimental results, while a robust power system—consisting of solar panels and batteries—ensures continuous operation throughout the mission.
DragonSat is a cutting-edge 1P PocketQube satellite designed for advanced space research and exploration. Based on the Qubik platform by the Libre Space Foundation, it is engineered with high-strength anodized Aluminum 6061-T6 for enhanced space durability. Weighing ≤ 250g and measuring just 50mm x 50mm x 50mm, DragonSat is built for efficiency and resilience. Featuring multi-layer insulation (MLI) and conductive paint for thermal regulation, it is fully compatible with AlbaPod and other deployers meeting PQ9 standards. Rigorously tested to withstand 14g RMS launch loads, DragonSat represents a new frontier in compact, high-performance satellite technology.
DragonSat is equipped with a highly efficient power subsystem, ensuring optimal energy management in space. Its triple-junction GaAs solar panels achieve ~30% efficiency, generating approximately 1W of power, depending on sunlight exposure. A robust Li-Po/Li-Ion battery with a 1000mAh capacity (~3.7Wh) provides reliable energy storage, while the Power Distribution Unit (PDU) delivers regulated 3.3V and 5V outputs. Integrated Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) ensures efficient power optimisation for long-term mission sustainability.
For onboard computing and data handling, DragonSat is equipped with an ARM Cortex-M4 or RISC-V-based microcontroller, operating at ~100–200 MHz and paired with 512 KB RAM and 8 MB Flash storage, with optional SD card expansion. The system runs on a Real-Time OS (RTOS) or custom firmware, supporting I²C, SPI, UART, and GPIO interfaces for seamless communication and control. To enhance mission reliability, the satellite features a watchdog timer and reset mechanisms for redundancy and fault tolerance, ensuring uninterrupted operation in the harsh conditions of space.
DragonSat’s communication subsystem ensures seamless data transmission and reception through a robust UHF (437 MHz) link. Equipped with a deployable dipole antenna, it operates at a data rate of 1.2 kbps using Gaussian Frequency Shift Keying (GFSK) modulation. The transceiver, configurable up to 100mW, provides reliable performance while optimising power consumption. To enhance signal integrity, DragonSat employs Reed-Solomon and convolutional encoding for error correction, ensuring data resilience in challenging space environments. Fully compatible with the Libre Space Network and SatNOGS, DragonSat enables global tracking and mission support through an open-access ground station network, reinforcing its role in collaborative space exploration.
DragonSat is a pioneering PocketQube satellite developed in Wales, showcasing the region’s growing expertise in space technology. This flagship mission brings together innovators, researchers, and industry leaders to push the boundaries of space-based quantum communications. Designed for cutting-edge experiments in quantum communications, DragonSat will investigate quantum entanglement and coherence in the microgravity environment of space. By leveraging this unique setting, the mission aims to advance our understanding of secure quantum networks and lay the foundation for next-generation space-based quantum technologies.
The spacecraft’s power system is designed to provide continuous power to the payload, despite the challenges of limited space and the need for long operational lifetimes. This ensures that the quantum experiments onboard DragonSat can be conducted reliably over the course of the mission, offering a cost-effective solution for space-based quantum research.
The spacecraft’s Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS) is a critical component of its design. DragonSat utilises a passive bar magnet for orientation control, which relies on the Earth's magnetic field to passively stabilise the spacecraft in orbit. This low-power, passive system is a significant advantage in terms of energy efficiency, as it eliminates the need for traditional active attitude control mechanisms, which can be energy-intensive and complex. By using a bar magnet, the spacecraft can maintain the necessary stability for the precise alignment of its payload throughout the mission. This is particularly important for the quantum experiments onboard, which require a stable platform to ensure accurate data collection and minimal interference from external forces.
This design choice not only reduces launch costs but also increases the feasibility of conducting multiple missions within tight budget constraints. Despite its small size, DragonSat incorporates all the necessary components to carry out complex quantum research, proving that size and weight constraints need not limit the scientific potential of small spacecraft.
DragonSat’s payload data downlink operates at a rate of 1.2 kb/s via UHF frequencies, providing a steady stream of data transmission from the spacecraft to ground control. While the data rate may seem low, it is optimised for the scientific data being transmitted, primarily focused on the results of quantum experiments conducted onboard. This efficient downlink system ensures that essential data, such as measurements of quantum entanglement and coherence, can be sent back to Earth in real-time or at scheduled intervals. Despite the limited data bandwidth, the system is robust enough to handle the transfer of key experimental data, making it a highly effective tool for advancing quantum research in space. The low data rate also ensures that power consumption remains minimal, contributing to the overall energy efficiency of the spacecraft.
