Open by default
Electronics, gateware and software are built with open-source EDA tools, open IP cores and open standards wherever possible.
Where Open Source
meets Space.
We are building Allnova-1, a 1U CubeSat technology demonstrator, designed with open hardware, open gateware and open-source tools from the first schematic onward.
- Spacecraft
- Allnova-1
- Form factor
- 1U CubeSat
- Mission
- Tech demonstrator
- Status
- In development
Mission
Establishing open technology in orbit
Spaceflight has long relied on closed tools and proprietary designs. We believe open hardware and open-source software are ready to fly, and that the way to prove it is to build a satellite, launch it and share what we learn along the way.
The most reliable technology is the one that can be reviewed together. That is why openness is not a side project for us, but the foundation of everything we build.
Learning by building
We take on the full mission lifecycle ourselves: design, testing, frequency coordination, launch and operations, step by step.
Transparent by design
Open designs can be reviewed, reproduced and improved by anyone. That is a sound basis for trust in hardware that cannot be repaired once in orbit.
Allnova-1
A 1U CubeSat technology demonstrator
Allnova-1 is our first spacecraft. Its purpose is to demonstrate open, commercially available technology under real orbital conditions, and to take us through every step of a space mission, from the drawing board to the ground station.
| Form factor | 1U CubeSat (CubeSat Design Specification) |
|---|---|
| Size / mass | 10 × 10 × 10 cm, ≤ 1.33 kg |
| Orbit | Low Earth Orbit |
| Platform | PC/104 board stack, LibreCube-based |
| On-board computer | AN A-1, dual FPGA with RISC-V soft-core |
| Communication | UHF (planned) |
| Status | In development |
Mission objectives
Objective 01
LibreCube in orbit
An in-orbit demonstration of the open LibreCube approach: boards to the LibreCube specification, talking SpaceCAN, designed and built with open-source tools.
Measured: SpaceCAN operation, board health, uptime
Objective 02
A European FPGA in orbit
How does a European FPGA behave in space? Upsets and reconfigurations are counted, not assumed.
Measured: upset rate, power consumption
Objective 03
Self-healing redundancy
Two independent FPGA channels watch each other. A failed channel is detected, cut off and restored by its partner, without ground contact.
Measured: failover events, recovery time
First hardware: the AN A-1 on-board computer
The heart of Allnova-1 is an FPGA-based on-board computer with two fully independent channels that supervise each other.
- Adheres to the LibreCube board specification: PC/104 form factor, 2 × 26-pin stack-through connectors
- Two Cologne Chip GateMate CCGM1A1 FPGAs with ECC RAM and automatic scrubbing support
- Each channel on its own power domain with its own watchdog, load switch, battery-backed real-time clock and temperature sensor
- Mutual supervision over SpaceCAN or a cross-link: each channel can reset and reconfigure its partner
- Per channel: separate golden and application flash (128 Mbit each)
- Redundant CAN buses with two transceivers per channel, running the SpaceCAN protocol
- Power and energy monitoring on every supply rail and at the board input: voltage, current and power, with on-chip energy accumulation
- Automotive-grade components (AEC-Q100 where available), rated for at least −40 °C to +105 °C
Open Tools
Built with open-source tools
From PCB layout to logic synthesis, simulation and on-board software, Allnova-1 is developed with open-source tools. These are some of the projects we rely on.
LibreCube
Open-source ecosystem for space systems: board specifications, modules and software.
KiCad
Schematic capture and PCB layout for all of our electronics.
FreeCAD
3D modelling of the satellite structure and mechanical parts.
Yosys
Open synthesis and place-and-route flow for our FPGA designs, plus formal verification with SymbiYosys.
NEORV32
Complete RISC-V system on chip: processor, memories and peripherals in platform-independent VHDL.
NVC
Mixed-language VHDL/Verilog simulator for verifying our gateware.
GateMate FPGA
FPGA by Cologne Chip, made in Europe and supported by an open-source toolchain.
OpenCode
Open-source AI coding agent. Agentic coding speeds up our work on gateware, software and tooling.
Embedded Rust
Our on-board software. Hardware states are types, so pin misuse fails at compile time.
The open-source ecosystem for hardware design has become remarkably strong in recent years. It also gives us something no proprietary vendor can: when a tool has a problem, we can trace it, fix it right away and share the fix, instead of hoping that a small customer gets support.
Our principle: what we take, we give back
- UseOpen standards, reference designs and the experience of communities like LibreCube.
- ImproveExtend components, designs and documentation, carefully and reproducibly.
- PublishMake our developments available under open licences.
- Give backA stronger ecosystem, which we in turn build on again.
Roadmap
From first board to first signal
Where we stand today and what comes next. We update this page as the project progresses.
-
Done
Mission concept
Mission objectives, constraints and project plan defined.
-
Done
On-board computer design
Schematic and PCB layout of the AN A-1 completed.
-
Next
Prototypes & bring-up
Manufacturing, assembly and functional testing of the first boards.
-
Planned
Communications board
Telemetry and telecommand link of the satellite, following the LibreCube communications module.
-
Planned
Power board
Solar array interface, battery charging and power distribution, following the LibreCube power module.
-
Planned
Attitude and orbit control board
Attitude and orbit determination and control (AOCS), following the LibreCube navigation module.
-
Planned
Integration & qualification
Assembly of the flight model and environmental testing.
-
Planned
Frequency coordination
Frequency filing and coordination with the national authority and the ITU.
-
Planned
Launch & operations
Rideshare launch, commissioning and in-orbit operation.
Company
About Allnova
The name says what we are about. All is a German word for space, and nova is Latin for new: Allnova stands for New Space, the movement that opened spaceflight to small, fast-moving teams. Open source is the logical next step on that path. Open designs and open tools lower the barrier to orbit even further, for us and for everyone who builds on our work.
Allnova GmbH is a privately held company based in Kaiserslautern, Germany. We work with suppliers, launch providers and research partners to bring Allnova-1 to orbit.
Allnova was founded by Dr. Matthias Alles, co-founder of Creonic GmbH and its co-CEO for more than 13 years. At Creonic, he contributed communication IP cores to many satellite missions, from CubeSats to large geostationary satellites. FPGAs have been a passion since student days, and the result is deep experience in satellite communication and in FPGA and ASIC development.