Inspiration
A web software manager ground station. We wanted to bridge the gap between complex aerospace hardware and modern web accessibility, making satellite telemetry and command-and-control (C2) as intuitive as managing a cloud server.
What it does
SNOC serves as a centralized, web-based dashboard for satellite ground operations. It allows operators to:
Monitor Real-time Telemetry: Visualize health data like battery voltage, thermal states, and orbital positioning.
Command Uplink: Send encrypted mission commands through a streamlined terminal interface.
Data Visualization: Transform raw hex packets into meaningful charts and 3D satellite orientation models.
Remote Management: Access the ground station from any browser, eliminating the need for localized, clunky desktop software.
How we built it
We utilized a modern full-stack architecture to ensure low latency and high reliability:
Frontend: Built with React and Tailwind CSS for a responsive, mission-critical UI.
Backend: A Node.js and Fastify server handling high-throughput data streams.
Hardware Integration: Used Python scripts and WebSockets to interface with SDR (Software Defined Radio) peripherals.
Visualization: Integrated Three.js for real-time 3D rendering of the satellite’s attitude and Chart.js for historical data analysis.
Challenges we ran into
Latency & Synchronization: Ensuring the web UI reflected real-time radio signals without significant lag was a major hurdle. We had to optimize our WebSocket implementation to handle bursts of telemetry.
Data Parsing: Designing a robust parser that could handle fragmented packets and packet loss inherent in satellite communication.
Security: Implementing strict authentication and command-signing protocols to ensure only authorized operators could uplink data.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
Seamless UI: Creating an interface that makes complex orbital mechanics and radio frequencies understandable for non-specialists.
Live Mapping: Successfully integrating a world-map tracker that predicts satellite passes with high accuracy.
Modular Design: Building a plugin system that allows SNOC to adapt to different satellite protocols (e.g., CubeSat Space Protocol) with minimal reconfiguration.
What we learned
Aerospace Protocols: Gained deep insights into how satellites communicate and the intricacies of the AX.25 protocol.
Scalability: Learned how to manage high-frequency data streams in a browser environment without crashing the main thread.
Hardware-Software Handshake: The importance of rigorous testing when bridging high-level web code with low-level radio hardware.
What's next for SNOC
AI Diagnostics: Implementing machine learning models to predict hardware failure based on telemetry trends.
Multi-Satellite Support: Expanding the dashboard to manage entire constellations simultaneously.
Mobile App: Developing a lightweight mobile version for on-the-go monitoring and emergency alerts.
Log in or sign up for Devpost to join the conversation.