CubeSpace CubeStar User manual

CubeStar
CubeSpace Star Camera
User Manual

Part: CubeStar
Doc: User Manual
Ver: 1.8
Page: 2
Document
CubeStar User Manual
Version
1.8
Domain
Public
Date modified
10 December 2021
Approved by
Name:
Christo Groenewald

Part: CubeStar
Doc: User Manual
Ver: 1.8
Page: 3
Document Version History
List of Figures
Figure 1 –CubeStar and supplied peripherals..............................................................................................8
Figure 2 –USB-Serial Cable Connection .........................................................................................................9
Figure 3 –Powered Up CubeSupport...............................................................................................................9
Figure 4 –Connected CubeStar....................................................................................................................... 10
Figure 5 –Device Manager................................................................................................................................ 10
Figure 6 –USB serial port settings.................................................................................................................. 11
Figure 7 –USB serial port advanced settings............................................................................................. 11
Figure 8 –Add a Connection to CubeSupport. ......................................................................................... 12
Figure 9 –New Connection in List.................................................................................................................. 12
Figure 10 –CubeStar UI...................................................................................................................................... 13
Figure 11 - CubeStar Status Panel.................................................................................................................. 14
Figure 12 - CubeStar Errors Panel................................................................................................................... 14
Figure 13 - CubeStar Power Panel.................................................................................................................. 14
Figure 14 –CubeStar Test Panel...................................................................................................................... 15
Figure 15 –CubeStar Trigger Panel ............................................................................................................... 15
Figure 16 –Setting the Image Sensor Exposure ....................................................................................... 16
Figure 17 –Capturing an Image...................................................................................................................... 16
Figure 18 –CubeStar - Images tab................................................................................................................. 16
Figure 19 –Example CubeStar Image ........................................................................................................... 17
Figure 20 –Capture Test Image Panel Command Test Pattern capture.......................................... 17
Version
Author(s)
Pages
Date
Description of change
1.1
GJR, CJG
ALL
29/11/2019
First Release
1.2
GJR
Front
02/12/2019
Add CJG as approver
1.3
GJR
24-26
25/03/2020
Add “Powering CubeStar
through ADCS“ section
1.4
GJR
17, 20
30/04/2020
Update CubeStar Programming
Header image,
Update section reference
1.5
GJR
06/09/2020
Add Health Check disclaimer
1.6
GJR
7
11/12/2020
Update Firmware Version
1.7
GJR
All
12/01/2021
Update Firmware Version,
Minor Grammar corrections
1.8
AS
All
10/12/2021
Update Firmware Version,
Added health check test
reference images

Part: CubeStar
Doc: User Manual
Ver: 1.8
Page: 4
Figure 21 –CubeStar Fixed Test Image ........................................................................................................ 18
Figure 22 –CubeStar Programming Header............................................................................................... 19
Figure 23 –Simplicity Commander Home view ........................................................................................ 20
Figure 24 –Connecting To the Development Kit...................................................................................... 21
Figure 25 –Setting Debug Mode.................................................................................................................... 21
Figure 26 –Hardware Required to Program CubeStar........................................................................... 22
Figure 27 –CubeStar Connected to programmer.................................................................................... 22
Figure 28 –Connecting to the Target ........................................................................................................... 23
Figure 29 –The Device Info Tab...................................................................................................................... 24
Figure 30 –Flashing the Hardware................................................................................................................. 24
Figure 31 –Enabling ADCS Run Mode ......................................................................................................... 25
Figure 32 –Powering On CubeStar................................................................................................................ 26
Figure 33 –Disabling ADCS Run Mode........................................................................................................ 26

Part: CubeStar
Doc: User Manual
Ver: 1.8
Page: 5
List of Tables
Table 1 –CubeStar Subject Version..................................................................................................................7
Table 2 –CubeStar Details................................................................................................................................. 28
Table 3 –CubeSupport Connects to CubeStar.......................................................................................... 28
Table 4 –Status and Power............................................................................................................................... 29
Table 5 –SRAM Test ............................................................................................................................................ 29
Table 6 –Operations............................................................................................................................................ 29
Table 7 –Image Downloaded .......................................................................................................................... 31
List of Acronyms/Abbreviations
ICD Interface Control Document
ESD Electrostatic Discharge
I2C Inter-Integrated Circuit
MCU Microcontroller Unit
MEMS Microelectromechanical System
OBC Onboard Computer
PCB Printed Circuit Board
SPI Serial Peripheral Interface
TCMD Telecommand
TLM Telemetry
UART Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter
V Volt
GND Ground
FPGA Field-Programmable Gate Array
IC Integrated Circuit
s seconds
ms milliseconds
µs microseconds
FoV Field of View
GUI Graphical User Interface

Part: CubeStar
Doc: User Manual
Ver: 1.8
Page: 6
Table of Contents
Document Version History......................................................................................................3
1. Introduction...................................................................................................................7
2. Interfacing with CubeStar ............................................................................................8
2.1 Hardware interface................................................................................................................................8
2.2 Com Port Setup................................................................................................................................... 10
2.3 CubeSupport Interface...................................................................................................................... 11
2.4 User-Interface....................................................................................................................................... 12
3. Health Check................................................................................................................14
3.1 Validating Status and Power .......................................................................................................... 14
3.2 Performing an SRAM test................................................................................................................ 15
3.3 Testing CubeStar Execution............................................................................................................ 15
3.4Download Image................................................................................................................................. 16
3.5 Capture Test Image............................................................................................................................ 17
4. Updating CubeStar......................................................................................................19
4.1 Programming Header ....................................................................................................................... 19
4.2 Simplicity Commander ..................................................................................................................... 20
4.3 Installing Simplicity Commander.................................................................................................. 20
4.4 Programmer setup ............................................................................................................................. 20
4.5 Programming CubeStar.................................................................................................................... 22
4.6 Powering CubeStar whilst connected to the ADCS ............................................................... 25
Appendix A: ............................................................................................................................27
1. Acceptance Document................................................................................................28
4.7 Tests Results ......................................................................................................................................... 28

Part: CubeStar
Doc: User Manual
Ver: 1.8
Page: 7
1. Introduction
This document will guide the user through the steps to connect CubeStar to a PC. Once a
connection is established the CubeSupport ground support software can be used to interface
with CubeStar. A Health Check can be performed to establish that CubeStar is working as
intended. The steps to perform this test are explained and an Acceptance document can be
found in the appendix of this document. This Acceptance document needs to be completed
and sent back to CubeSpace to acknowledge that the CubeStar was received in working order.
CubeSpace is continually innovating on designs and device capabilities. Since the firmware for
CubeStar is always improving, CubeSpace will release updated software from time to time. This
document explains how to flash such an update to CubeStar.
Please note that this document is distributed with copies of the CubeStar Reference Manual
and CubeStar Interface Control Document and that these documents should contain all
information regarding the lower-level software and hardware interfaces.
Table 1 –CubeStar Subject Version
Element
Version
Hardware Version
V4.2
Firmware Version
3.8
Interface Version
5
Always take the necessary precautions for ESD protection when handling
CubeStar. Always handle CubeStar in a clean area or cleanroom. Extra care
must be taken to keep the lens clean.
Before handling, please note that CubeStar is highly sensitive.
If the lens is moved or turned in the lens holder, the pre-
programmed calibration values will no longer be valid, and
CubeStar will no longer function correctly. Even a slight shift
in lens position will affect the performance of CubeStar. It is
also essential to design mounting supports for the lens in the
satellite to prevent the lens from shifting due to launch
vibrations

Part: CubeStar
Doc: User Manual
Ver: 1.8
Page: 8
2. Interfacing with CubeStar
This section describes how to interface CubeStar to a PC and how to connect the CubeSupport
ground support software to CubeStar. This section is only applicable to clients who bought
CubeStar as a standalone unit.
2.1 Hardware interface
Figure 1 shows CubeStar (1) a support PCB (2), USB Serial to UART cable (3) and CubeStar
interface harness (4). All these items are included in the delivered package along with a USB
flash drive containing all required documentation and the CubeSupport software.
Figure 1 –CubeStar and supplied peripherals
Connect the USB Serial to UART cable to the support PCB, ensuring the red wire (VCC) is
connected to the PC Pow pin on the UART header. These connections are shown in the
following Figure 2.
3.
2.
4.
1.

Part: CubeStar
Doc: User Manual
Ver: 1.8
Page: 9
Figure 2 –USB-Serial Cable Connection
Please note that the gold contacts on the UART cable header should be orientated as shown
in Figure 2.
Always ensure that the USB-Serial cable is connected in the right
orientation. Not complying with this specification can result in damaging
the CubeStar electronics.
Plug the UART cable into the PC used to interface with CubeStar. If the header has been
plugged in with the correct orientation, the 3V3 Power On LED should light up. This is shown
in Figure 3.
Figure 3 –Powered Up CubeSupport
Now, disconnect the USB to Serial cable from the USB port to ensure that the board has been
powered down. Finally, attach the CubeStar interface harness to the CubeSupport PCB and the
CubeStar star tracker, and reattach the USB to Serial cable to the Interfacing PC. The final setup
is shown in Figure 4.

Part: CubeStar
Doc: User Manual
Ver: 1.8
Page: 10
Figure 4 –Connected CubeStar
2.2 Com Port Setup
The COM port should register on the PC once the USB cable is connected to the PC and the
drivers have been installed. To check if the COM port is registered by the PC open the Device
Manager. The USB serial port connection should show up under “Ports” as shown in Figure 5.
Figure 5 –Device Manager
In this case, the UART to serial cable is registered as COM4, it might be different on other PCs.
Now the COM port connection can be setup correctly. Follow these steps: