FlatSat 1 is an advanced, hardware-based training platform specifically designed to be vulnerable on purpose. It serves as an educational and prototyping gateway into the world of aerospace cybersecurity and satellite systems. Built for hackers, firmware engineers, and space enthusiasts, FlatSat 1 allows users to dive deep into space-grade systems, learn complex cybersecurity concepts, exploit intentional vulnerabilities in a safe environment, and prototype their own custom payloads. What is FlatSat & What is it used for: FlatSat 1 functions as a hardware companion to specialised training, such as the PwnSat course. It bridges the gap between theoretical aerospace engineering and practical offensive/defensive cybersecurity. Users can explore and exploit firmware designed to simulate real-world satellite architectures, participate in space-themed Capture The Flag (CTF) challenges where the board acts as their own spacecraft, and safely develop telemetry, radio communication, or payload logic before launching more capital-intensive aerospace projects. Who is it for: Cybersecurity Professionals & Ethical Hackers: Looking to expand their skill set into hardware hacking, RF communication analysis, firmware reverse engineering, and satellite protocols. Aerospace & Embedded Engineers: Seeking a reliable prototyping platform to test payload logic, LoRa communications, and environmental sensor integration. Academia, Students & Space Enthusiasts: Educational institutions and hobbyists who want a hands-on, low-cost introduction to satellite operations and aerospace-grade technology. How is it used: Hardware Training & Education: Connect the FlatSat 1 board to your workstation to complete structured lessons on binary exploitation, protocol fuzzing, securecommunications, and reverse engineering. RF & Signal Testing: Safely broadcast and receive data using the onboard LoRa radios within legal ISM bands to learn signal analysis without interfering with production space infrastructure. Payload Prototyping: Utilise the high-performance microcontroller and onboard environmental/motion sensors to build and simulate custom satellite telemetry and payload behaviors. CTF & Simulation Competitions: Deploy the board as a simulated "spacecraft" in gamified cybersecurity challenges to practice real-time satellite defense and operation scenarios. Technical Specifications & Features: 1. Core Hardware Architecture Component Specification Purpose / Function Main MCU Raspberry PiRP2040 High-performance microcontroller driving core simulations, protocol processing, and satellite communication handling. RF Communication 2 x SX1262 LoRa Transceivers Enables realistic space-to-ground and inter-satellite communication simulation scenarios. Environmental Sensor BME280 Measures temperature, humidity, and pressure for realistic telemetry generation and testing. Motion Sensor LIS2DH 3-axis Accelerometer Emulates satellite attitude and movement; ideal for sensor data tampering and spoofing challenges. Ecosystem Open Hardware & Open Documentation Fully accessible schematics, source firmware, and an extensive GitHub Wiki for getting started. 2. RF & Frequency Compliance Attribute Details Safety Note Operative Frequency Bands ISM (Industrial, Scientific, and Medical) bands Typically 433 MHz or 915 MHz (region-dependent). Reserved internationally for unlicensed educational/experimental use. Restricted Bands (Not Used) ❌ X-band, ❌ Ka-band, ❌ S-band Strictly excluded to guarantee zero interference with critical ground infrastructure or commercial/military production satellites. Learning Use Cases RF Fuzzing, Protocol Analysis, Signal Auditing Enables 100% legal, rules-compliant learning of radio frequency hacking and aerospace communication systems. 3. Core Capabilities & Learning Vectors Feature Description Benefit Hands-on Hacking Explore firmware vulnerabilities built-in on purpose. Safe playground for modern cybersecurity discovery. Mission CTF Ready Gamified integration for space-themed security challenges. Turn your hardware board into a live, interactive spacecraft. Rapid Prototyping Fully customisable payload logic hooks. Test telemetry and radio logic before building expensive setups. Links: GitHub: https://github.com/ElectronicCats/FlatSat Firmware: https://github.com/Pwnsat/FlatSat_Firmware
