PierSight Blog

Varuna Subsystems: Electronic Power Conditioner (EPC)/ DC-DC Converter

The Electronic Power Conditioner (EPC) converts raw DC voltage to required levels for subsystems like FPGA and AFE, featuring EMI filters for interference reduction, redundant circuits for reliability, and a closed-loop control system for stability under varying loads. It includes safety mechanisms like Overpower Protection and Fuse to prevent failures.

Varuna Subsystems: Reflectarray Antenna and Feed

The feed system enhances the efficiency of a deployable reflectarray antenna by reducing spillover loss, improving taper efficiency, and ensuring phase alignment for better signal strength. Key design challenges include compact storage, deployment accuracy, material selection, thermal distortions, and mechanical complexity.

Varuna Subsystems: Solid State Power Amplifier

The Solid State Power Amplifier (SSPA) enhances reliability and longevity by operating components below maximum ratings, optimizing efficiency to reduce thermal stress, and implementing effective thermal management for heat dissipation.

Varuna Subsystems: Mechanical & Thermal

We discuss how the Mechanical and Thermal subsystems for Varuna were developed and tested for optimal function in space.

Varuna Subsystems: Reflectarray Deployable Mechanisms

Seeing Through Clouds & Darkness From Space: Synthetic Aperture Radars 101

The average cloud cover over the oceans is 60%. Another 50% of the time, it’s night. How could you monitor it 24/7? That’s where Synthetic Aperture Radars come in to play.