# Satellite Design Engineering with Dan Esparon

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2024-10-11
- Episode: 679
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-10-11-satellite-design-engineering-with-dan-esparon
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/679-satellite-design-engineering-with-dan-esparon/

## Summary

Dan Esparon, Electrical Engineering Manager at Inovor Technologies, explains the end-to-end design and manufacturing of CubeSat satellites in South Australia. He details the company's in-house development of critical subsystems, including custom solar panels with triple-junction cells, lithium-ion battery modules with integrated BMS, and reaction wheels for attitude control. The conversation covers the engineering trade-offs between commercial off-the-shelf components and space-qualified parts, as well as the rigorous environmental testing required for launch. Esparon also discusses the operational aspects of recent missions like Canini and Spirit, including launch logistics, radiation hardening, and the use of hyperspectral and IoT payloads.

## Chapters

- [0:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-10-11-satellite-design-engineering-with-dan-esparon#t=1) Introduction: Dan Esparon and Inovor Technologies
- [4:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-10-11-satellite-design-engineering-with-dan-esparon#t=259) CubeSat Solar Panel Design and Triple-Junction Cells
- [8:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-10-11-satellite-design-engineering-with-dan-esparon#t=483) In-House Battery Modules and Power Management
- [14:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-10-11-satellite-design-engineering-with-dan-esparon#t=889) Thermal Management and Environmental Testing
- [23:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-10-11-satellite-design-engineering-with-dan-esparon#t=1395) Reaction Wheels and Attitude Determination Control System
- [28:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-10-11-satellite-design-engineering-with-dan-esparon#t=1692) Component Selection: Commercial vs. Space-Qualified Parts
- [32:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-10-11-satellite-design-engineering-with-dan-esparon#t=1936) Communications: UHF, IoT, and Hyperspectral Payloads
- [38:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-10-11-satellite-design-engineering-with-dan-esparon#t=2331) Launch Logistics, Dispensing, and Orbital Debris

## Topics

- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Batteries & low-power design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/batteries-and-low-power)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Wireless & RF](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/wireless-and-rf)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Certification & compliance](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/certification-and-compliance)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Inovor Technologies (company)
- Lintec (company)
- Neumann Space (company)
- GOMSpace (company)
- Tyvac (company)
- Miriota (company)
- SmartSat (company)
- Southern Launch (company)
- Gilmore (company)
- Canini (product)
- Spirit (product)
- Starlink (product)
- Starship (product)
- SpaceX (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [195: A Bunch of Sputniks](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-04-12-195-a-bunch-of-sputniks) (Embedded.fm)
- [153: Space Nerf Gun](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-05-25-153-space-nerf-gun) (Embedded.fm)
- [T-26-012 : Founders From The Show Floor - CES 2026](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/tradeoffs/2026-02-04-t-26-012-founders-from-the-show-floor-ces-2026) (TRADEOFFS)
- [82. 3D Printing Space Sensors & Solar Cell Windows](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-08-09-82-3d-printing-space-sensors-solar-cell-windows) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [Ep 255: Balloon on the Moon, Nanotech Goblets, and USB All the Way](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-02-02-ep-255-balloon-on-the-moon-nanotech-goblets-and-usb-all-the-way) (Hackaday Podcast)

## Citing this page

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