Elvis Andrés Ayala, an electronics engineer passionate about developing accessible technology for space exploration, wrote to us to share the progress of their project Trinidad, which has been made possible thanks to Raspberry Pi hardware.

Extreme conditions

Last year, Elvis had the opportunity to participate in a NASA scientific mission, EMIDSS (Experimental Module for the Iterative Design of Satellite Subsystems), during which he launched the first version of the Trinidad system: an image acquisition module based on a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W and a Raspberry Pi Camera Module 3, housed in a 3D-printed enclosure. This device was able to reach an average altitude of 42km in the stratosphere, where it successfully captured images (example below) under extreme conditions, including temperatures below -50 °C.

Sensory upgrade

This year, Elvis was able to develop Trinidad Version 2 — an improved system that integrates new sensors and enhanced capabilities. As well as capturing images, version 2 can also collect relevant environmental data from the stratosphere. This updated version is scheduled to launch, like the first, aboard a stratospheric balloon from NASA’s base in Fort Sumner, New Mexico.

Affordable aerospace systems

Elvis’ goal was to demonstrate that it’s possible to create functional, low-cost aerospace systems using commercially available components. It is his hope that systems like Trinidad can become powerful educational tools for universities and schools, opening the door to new opportunities for students and enthusiasts who dream of reaching space.

Cue more CubeSats

If you’re interested in more projects like this, we’ve featured loads of Raspberry Pi–powered CubeSat missions, including GASPACS (Get Away Special Passive Attitude Control Satellite) and its record-making orbit.