# 153: Space Nerf Gun

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2016-05-25
- Length: 1h 02m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-05-25-153-space-nerf-gun
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/embedded-ep153mp3

## Summary

Patrick Yeon, an electrical engineer at Planet Labs, explains the company's strategy of building a constellation of shoebox-sized 'Dove' satellites to image the Earth daily at 3-meter resolution. He details how they use drag from the upper atmosphere, controlled by satellite orientation, to adjust orbital spacing without propellant, and why they rely on industrial-grade off-the-shelf components rather than expensive space-hardened hardware. Yeon also discusses the company's 'agile aerospace' philosophy, the regulatory challenges of ITAR, and their open data initiatives like Open California.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-05-25-153-space-nerf-gun#t=6) Introduction and Planet Labs Overview
- [5:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-05-25-153-space-nerf-gun#t=308) Satellite Design and Drag-Based Orbit Control
- [16:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-05-25-153-space-nerf-gun#t=982) Hardware Choices and Industrial Grade Components
- [21:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-05-25-153-space-nerf-gun#t=1295) ITAR Regulations and Export Controls
- [25:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-05-25-153-space-nerf-gun#t=1522) Space Debris Tracking and Collision Avoidance
- [39:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-05-25-153-space-nerf-gun#t=2343) Open Data and Open Source Radio
- [32:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-05-25-153-space-nerf-gun#t=1947) Earth Observation Applications and Imaging
- [54:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-05-25-153-space-nerf-gun#t=3268) Manufacturing, Culture, and Art

## Topics

- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Planet Labs (company)
- Dove (product)
- Open California (product)
- SpaceX (company)
- Orbital (company)
- JSPOC (company)
- NASA (company)
- ITAR (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Planet: Will Marshall and Robbie Schingler](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-12-13-planet-will-marshall-and-robbie-schingler) (How I Built This)
- [Satellites and EVs with Joris Aerts](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-11-23-satellites-and-evs-with-joris-aerts) (The Amp Hour)
- [An Interview with Maarten Engelen](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-01-28-an-interview-with-maarten-engelen) (The Amp Hour)
- [From Closed to Open Source: Revolutionizing the Satellite Industry with Ian Itz, Director of IoT at Iridium](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-02-29-from-closed-to-open-source-revolutionizing-the-satellite-industry-with-ian-itz-d) (Over the Air)
- [Satellite Iot: Space-Based Connectivity Solutions With Oli Potter](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-10-24-satellite-iot-space-based-connectivity-solutions-with-oli-potter) (Over the Air)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-05-25-153-space-nerf-gun. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Embedded.fm.