March 22, 20247 min read

A High-Fidelity Space Emulator Simulating LEON3 Microprocessors

Developing software modules for a high-fidelity Space Emulator system simulating LEON3 microprocessors for satellite subsystem validation.

C++
Python
Satellite Systems
ESA
TL;DR — At TERMA Group I developed software modules for a high-fidelity Space Emulator simulating LEON3 microprocessors, enabling real-time validation of satellite subsystems before launch.

The Problem

You cannot iterate on satellite hardware the way you iterate on a web app — launches are expensive and unforgiving. High-fidelity emulation is how teams validate subsystems before anything reaches orbit.

What I Built

  • Software modules for a Space Emulator that simulated LEON3 microprocessors, enabling real-time validation of satellite subsystems.
  • Efficient C++ and Python algorithms to improve emulator performance, scalability, and precision.
  • Optimized communication protocols to better reflect real satellite networking behavior.

Why It Matters

The fidelity of the emulation directly affected how much trust engineers could place in pre-launch testing. Higher fidelity meant fewer surprises in orbit.

The Impact

Working with cross-functional teams, the emulator became a dependable platform for mission-critical testing — catching issues on the ground that would have been impossible to fix in space.

The Tech Behind It

C++ · Python · LEON3 Emulation · Communication Protocols · Satellite Subsystems