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STELLA-RS

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Operation
Color Look Up Table

STELLA-1.2 Remote Sensing (RS) Plugin is the flagship sensor module, adding 18-channel spectral sensing (410-940 nm), thermal infrared temperature measurement, plus temperature, humidity, and pressure sensors for comprehensive Earth observation education. This plugin enables vegetation health monitoring (NDVI), surface temperature mapping—complementing satellite observations by providing ground-based measurement comparisons to help understand what satellites observe from space. By providing spectral bands that align with operational NASA missions, the RS plugin breaks down barriers that make remote sensing seem inaccessible, transforming abstract satellite measurements into tangible, hands-on science. STELLA compliments and serves as an educational bridge, creating mission-literate students and professionals who understand and can work with NASA’s Earth observation data. The new RS module offers superior reliability through soldered connections instead of connector-only assembly, significantly reducing field failures and improving long-term measurement stability.

Important for beta users: The official STELLA-1.2 requires new housing and is not compatible with beta sensor modules. A conversion video guides beta testers through rewiring for the new platform. 

STELLA-1.2 Highlights

Elisa Mae with STELLA backdrop

From Orbit to Earth: Agricultural Workforce Development using Real-Time Spectrometry

•
January 17, 2026

At Garden City Community College in Kansas, Assistant Professor Elisa Mai integrated STELLA spectrometers into …

Garden City Community College (GCCC) students gather data in an irrigated Kansas corn field. Photo courtesy of GCCC.

Garden City Community College Completes Pilot Course with NASA Acres

•
December 15, 2025

Garden City Community College (GCCC) in Garden City, Kansas has successfully concluded the first offering …

Dr. Petya Campbell taking notes during a STELLA field test

Petya in the Field

•
October 15, 2025

Watch Dr. Petya Campbell, a NASA Goddard research scientist with over 20 years of field …

Download STELLA-RS Module Files
Download STELLA-RS Module Files

STELLA-RS Module Build Steps

Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) Parts

LineDescriptionQuantity eachManufacturer/ VendorManufacturer PNUnit Price
1Triad 18 channel vis and nir spectrometer1SparkFunSEN--1505070
2Remote surface temperature thermometer1DigikeyMLX90614ESF-BCC-000-SP-ND27
3Permaproto board, half size1Adafruit16095
40.1uF capacitor1DigikeyC315C104M5U5TA73030
5Ultrasonic Rangefinder1Adafruit17228.5
6Humidity Sensor1Adafruit59899
710kΩ resistor1Adafruit27840.1
820kΩ resistor1DigikeyCFS1/4CT52R203J0.1
9magnet connector pair, RA, 4 positions (pins)1Adafruit53587
10magnet connector pair, RA, 3 positions (pins)1Adafruit53606
Total153

3D Parts

STELLA Remote Sensing module 3D parts
LineDescriptionQuantity
1Thermal spacer1
2RS Upper Housing1
3RS Lower Housing1
4magnet coupler alignment
fixture for main body w pins		1
Open STELLA-1.2 RS Module Build Video
STELLA-RS module highlighting thermal tab position
STELLA-RS module highlighting thermal tab position
STELLA-RS module highlighting triad spectrometer position
STELLA-RS module highlighting triad spectrometer position
STELLA-RS module wiring
STELLA-RS module wiring oblique view
STELLA-RS module render w no wiring
STELLA-RS module render w no wiring
LineDescriptionFunctionMC pinFront/ RearLocation 1Location 2color/ noteNotes
1print thermal spacer
2cut tracesbus traces
Rear
30 AB, BC, CD
29 AB, BC, CD
cut traces with a sharp knife, remove segmenttest continuity
3cut tracesanalog traces
Rear
30 Hi, iJ
29 Hi, iJ
cut traces with a sharp knife, remove segmenttest continuity
4magnet coupler 4 pos4 pin, pin faceFrontA30, B30,C30, D30[x]use alignment fixture
5magnet coupler 3 pos3 pin, pin faceFrontH30, i30, J30[x]use alignment fixture
6header pins6 pinsFrontG1-G6
7header pins6 pinsFrontC1-C6
8header pins6 pinsFrontG11, D11Remove 4 middle pins with pliers
9header pins6 pinsFrontG26, D26Remove 4 middle pins with pliers
10install capacitor0.1uF capacitor (not polarized)Fronti5,i6Leave enough length to lay it flat
11install resistor10kΩ resistor (not polarized)FrontE28F28
12install resistor20kΩ resistor (not polarized)FrontE27J28
13bus coupler wiresI2C_SCLFrontJ8SCL (-) above J8
i2c Serial Clock
Make sure wires lay single beneath headers, test with chip breakouts to see if they lay flat
14bus coupler wiresI2C_SDAFrontJ7SDA (+) above J7
i2c Serial Data
16boost 5V powerFrontJ29, J30J5
5V
17bus coupler wiresGNDFrontB29, B30GND (-) below A29
GND
18Analog inputsAnalog input 0A0Fronti29, i30i28
Analog input 0
19Analog inputsAnalog input 0A0FrontJ2B28
Analog input 0
20bus coupler wires3VFrontA29, A303V (+) below A30
+3.3V
21bus coupler wiresI2C_SCLFrontC29, C30SCL (-) above J30
i2c Serial Clock
22bus coupler wiresI2C_SDAFrontE30SDA (+) above J30
i2c Serial Data
23bus coupler wiresGNDFrontA27GND (-) below A27
GND
24bus coupler wiresGNDFrontA5GND (-) below A5
GND
25bus coupler wiresGNDFrontA8GND (-) below A8
GND
34bus coupler wiresGNDFrontA11GND (-) below A11
GND
26bus coupler wires3VFrontA63V (+) below A6
+3.3V
27bus coupler wires3VFrontA73V (+) below A7
+3.3V
28bus coupler wiresI2C_SCLFrontE4SCL (-) above J2
i2c Serial Clock
29bus coupler wiresI2C_SDAFrontE3SDA (+) above J1
i2c Serial Data
30 install triadput triad on header pinsFrontG11, D11G26, D26Triad sensorsTriad sensor should have one sensor side towards magnetic couplers
31ThermalthermalFrontE7, E8, F7, F8use printed spacerUse spacer, themal tab facing towards magnetic couplers
15bus coupler wiresGNDFrontJ6GND (-) below A9
GND
Leave slack for thermal sensor
32Install Ultrasonic Rangefinderput rangefinder on header pinsFrontG1-G6install sensor towards J
33Install Humidity Sensorput humidity sensor on header pinsFrontC1-C6instal sensor towards A
34bus coupler wiresGNDFrontGND on triadGND (-) below A13
GND
install on triad sensor itself
35bus coupler wires3VFront3v3 on triad3V (+) below A9
+3.3V
install on triad sensor itself
36bus coupler wiresI2C_SCLFrontSCL on triadSCL (-) above J10
i2c Serial Clock
install on triad sensor itself
37bus coupler wiresI2C_SDAFrontSDA on triadSDA (+) above J9
i2c Serial Data
install on triad sensor itself

STELLA-RS Module Operation

Diagram of how to attach and detach STELLA-1.2 Remote Sensing (RS) module
Push in module clip on both sides to attach and detach module which will make a connection via the magnetic connectors. The STELLA-RS sensor module features an 18-band spectral sensor, ultrasonic rangefinder, broad band thermal and air temp/humidity sensors.
STELLA-1.2 Light page - shows spectral graph of measurements in real-time from spectral sensor
Y-Axis Options: • Counts • Normal Counts (normalized) • Irradiance (W/cm²) Spectral Plot • Bar colors match wavelength bands • NIR bands shown in black • Bar widths proportional to bandwidth • Educational: shows measured regions Spectrum Selection • Visible only • NIR only • VIS + NIR (default) • UV options if sensor attached Standoff: Shows distance 0.3-2.5m Scale: • Linear or Log X-Axis: • 400-1000nm range Live/Hold: Update or freeze plot X-Axis Unit Selection: • Wavelength nm (default) • Energy eV (electron Volts) • Frequency THz (Terahertz) • Wavenumber / cm
STELLA-1.2 Exposure page - Set the Gain and integration time manually or choose auto to get the maximum dynamic range. Turn on the onboard lamps and adjust intensity.
Gain:Like camera aperture,controls signal amplification.Click value to select.ExposureSensor and Sensor TypeIntegration Time:Inverse of shutter speed.Duration sensor collectsphotons.Onboard Lamps:UV, VIS, NIR options. Clickto select type and adjustpower.Exposure OutputDisplay:• Shows lower/upper countsacross channels• Dynamic range:markers at 50%& 90% (optimal)Scale toggle:Linear vs log.
STELLA-1.2 sample data diagram
STELLA-1.2 sample data diagram - Instrument ID: Unique ID derived from microprocessor Measurement Number: Instrument ID-Time UTC-sessionsession number session number = measurement for the day Timestamp: Time in UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) Decimal Hour: hours, minutes and seconds can be handled as a unified value STELLA RS 18-bands: this will repeat for each measurement, each are considered a sensor - Sensor rows: - GPS Sensor: (example) divides the parameter units and values into understandable measurements Batch Number: all measurements within continuous measurement collections and individual burst measurement Burst Counter: number of measurements taken per recording Wavelength in nanometers Integration time in milliseconds: the duration the detector collects photons to generate a single spectrum, acting similar to a camera’s shutter speed Gain: the amplification factor applied to a detected signal (light intensity) by the detector’s electronics, increasing its sensitivity to faint light Raw Counts: direct, unprocessed signals (photons, ions, or electrons) detected by an instrument, representing the raw data output before normalization Normal Count per Second: the duration the detector collects photons to generate a single spectrum, acting similar to a camera’s shutter speed Irradiance Watts per Meter Squared: (spectral measurements) quantifies the solar power incident on a surface per unit area

Color Lookup Table

NASA STELLA-Q2 / RS Module Color Lookup Table
AS7265x BandsCategoryExampleHTML valueTricolor values…f = c / λ E = h * fEnergy (J) / (e*V/J) = 
Energy in e*V
Band
DesignationBand middle
wavelength ( λ )
ColorColorColorColorBand middle
Frequency ( f )Energy per photonEnergy per photon
ChannelnanometersHTML NameSwatchHexadecimalR, G, BTHzJoules per photonelectron*Volts per photon
1410Blueviolet


#7e00db126, 0, 2197314.84E-193.0
2435Blue


#2300ff35, 0, 2556894.57E-192.9
3460Royalblue


#007bff0, 123, 2556524.32E-192.7
4485Darkturquoise


#00eaff0, 234, 2556184.10E-192.6
5510Lime


#00ff000, 255, 05883.89E-192.4
6535Chartreuse


#70ff00112, 255, 05603.71E-192.3
7560Greenyellow


#c3ff00195, 255, 05353.55E-192.2
8585Yellow


#ffef00255, 239, 05123.40E-192.1
9610Orange


#ff9b00255, 155, 04913.26E-192.0
10645Red


#fe0000254, 0, 04653.08E-191.9
11680Red


#df0000223, 0, 04412.92E-191.8
12705Red


#c90000201, 0, 04252.82E-191.8
13730Firebrick


#b10000177, 0, 04112.72E-191.7
14760Darkred


#940000148, 0, 03942.61E-191.6
15810Near Infrared


#0000000, 0, 03702.45E-191.5
16860Near Infrared


#0000000, 0, 03492.31E-191.4
17900Near Infrared


#0000000, 0, 03332.21E-191.4
18940Near Infrared


#0000000, 0, 03192.11E-191.3
Constants and metric prefix notation
ParameterAbbreviationUnitsScientific notationDecimal
Speed of lightcm/s3.000E+08299,792,458
Planck’s constanthkg*m^2/s = J/Hz6.626E-346.62607E-34
Joules per electron*VoltJ/eVJ/eV1.602E-191.60218E-19
one-trillionth, pico-p1.0E-120.000000000001
one-billionth, nano-n1.0E-090.000000001
one-millionth, micro-µ1.0E-060.000001
one-thousandth, millim1.0E-030.001
[units]11
thousand, kilok1E+031,000
million, MegaM1E+061,000,000
billion, GigaG1E+091,000,000,000
quadrillion, TeraT1E+121,000,000,000,000