Alinx – Empowering innovation from Earth to Space

2025-09-18

(Space Dot Team)

Background

The ALINX FPGA System-on-Module (SoM) plays a crucial role in the communication subsystem of the AcubeSAT nanosatellite. The satellite was developed by SpaceDot, a non-profit interdisciplinary student team supported by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh), dedicated to promoting open-source and open-science in aerospace research. Their core project, AcubeSAT, is a CubeSat scheduled for launch in 2026 to conduct a biological experiment. The project was selected for ESA’s “Fly Your Satellite!” program.

Challenges

In a satellite mission, the communication system is the most critical component. AcubeSAT must achieve reliable telemetry, commands, and scientific data transmission within extremely limited frequency resources, including:

1. UHF band: Narrow bandwidth with a rate of only a few kbps, used for basic telemetry.

2. S band: Rates can reach hundreds of kbps, used for downlinking scientific experiment data.

Additionally, the communication board must pass rigorous space environment tests, including:

1. Vibration testing (simulating the rocket launch environment).

2. Thermal vacuum testing (cycling from -20°C to +80°C).

Solution

The communications board integrates the Alinx AC7Z020 FPGA SoM, chosen for its unique advantages:

1. Powerful parallel processing for modulation, demodulation, and DSP tasks

2. In-orbit re-configurability, enabling mission flexibility and long-term adaptability

3. Space-grade reliability to withstand vibration and temperature extremes

4. Rich I/O interfaces for seamless integration with RF transceiver chips

Results

The Alinx SoM demonstrated excellent performance by successfully passing ESA’s qualification tests:

1. Stable operation after full 3-axis vibration testing

2. Reliable performance during thermal vacuum cycling (-20°C to +80°C)

3. Verified IQ data transfer over LVDS and real-time health monitoring via UART

Project Significance & Impact

AcubeSAT is more than just a nanosatellite—it represents a new step toward open-source space exploration:

1. Making advanced space research accessible to students and universities worldwide

2. Offering a cost-effective and scalable platform for future satellite communications

3. Inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers in aerospace technology

By enabling reliable and flexible satellite communication, the Alinx AC7Z020 SoM has played a key role in AcubeSAT’s success. This collaboration demonstrates how Alinx technology empowers innovation not only on Earth, but also in the extreme environment of space.

With ALINX’s reliable FPGA platform, more academic and research institutions can participate in cutting-edge space exploration, accelerating knowledge sharing and collaborative innovation.