Space

High-bandwidth, radiation-tolerant ethernet switches designed for CubeSats, SmallSats, and LEO constellations. Enabling the shift from legacy avionics to high-speed IP architectures.

The Shift to "New Space" Ethernet

The "New Space" revolution demands higher bandwidth at lower costs. Traditional space networking standards (Spacewire, MIL-STD-1553) are too slow and expensive for modern data-intensive missions.

The BotBlox Advantage:

  • Launch Cost Reduction: In orbit, weight is money. BotBlox modules offer Gigabit switching at a fraction of the mass of traditional PC/104 or VPX space hardware.

  • COTS Philosophy: We utilize high-reliability Industrial and Automotive grade silicon, perfect for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) missions with shorter lifecycles (1-5 years) where $50k RadHard components are overkill.

  • Standard Protocols: By using standard Ethernet (IEEE 802.3), you simplify software development, allowing your team to use standard Linux networking stacks on orbit.

Engineered for the Vacuum

1. Thermal Management (Conduction Cooling)

There is no air in space to drive convection cooling. Electronics must shed heat through conduction to the chassis.

  • Design: BotBlox modules are designed with optimized copper pours to facilitate heat transfer via thermal pads to your satellite’s structure.

  • Efficiency: Ultra-low power consumption (<1.5W) minimizes the thermal load on your radiator budget.

2. Launch Survival (Vibration & Shock)

The most dangerous part of a satellite's life is the first 8 minutes on the rocket.

  • Locking Interconnects: We utilize Molex PicoClasp and JST-GH connectors, which provide positive locking retention to withstand the high-frequency vibration of launch vehicles (Falcon 9, Electron, etc.).

  • Solid State: No moving parts or electrolytic capacitors that can fail in vacuum or under stress.

3. Materials & Outgassing

  • Cleanliness: Our boards are manufactured in ISO-certified facilities.

  • Conformal Coating: We offer optional conformal coating services to mitigate tin whisker growth and protect against condensation during ground handling.

Application Architectures

CubeSat Bus (1U - 12U)

The Internal Backbone. Replace complex point-to-point wiring with a central ethernet switch. Connect the On-Board Computer (OBC), Software Defined Radio (SDR), and Attitude Control System (ADCS) on a single IP network.

Optical Inter-Satellite Links

Constellation Data Routing. LEO constellations require massive throughput to route data between satellites via laser links. BotBlox Gigabit switches manage the data traffic between the optical terminals and the satellite bus.

Planetary Rovers (Prototyping)

Robotics on the Edge. From University Lunar Rover competitions to commercial moon lander payloads, BotBlox provides the rugged networking required for surface mobility in harsh terrain.

Heritage & Quality

BotBlox modules are currently being integrated into university CubeSat missions and commercial LEO payloads.

  • Traceability: Full lot traceability available for critical components.

  • Testing: We can support specific screening requests (Thermal cycling, Burn-in) for flight units upon request.

See our Technical Blog Post on Radiation Testing for more details.