{"id":853,"date":"2025-05-19T21:46:01","date_gmt":"2025-05-19T21:46:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/science.gsfc.nasa.gov\/stella\/?page_id=853"},"modified":"2025-05-19T22:34:28","modified_gmt":"2025-05-19T22:34:28","slug":"stella-q2-technical-details","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/science.gsfc.nasa.gov\/stella\/instruments\/spectral\/stella-q2\/stella-q2-technical-details\/","title":{"rendered":"STELLA-Q2 Technical Details"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"853\" class=\"elementor elementor-853\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cee2e53 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"cee2e53\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-53b6ae4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"53b6ae4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">STELLA-Q2 Technical Details<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c8d8b58 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"c8d8b58\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f019f0a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f019f0a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>Device Specifications<\/h2><ul><li><strong>Spectral Measurement<\/strong>: 18 bands across 410-940 nm wavelength range<\/li><li><strong>Microprocessor<\/strong>: Thing Plus RP2040 by SparkFun<\/li><li><strong>Display<\/strong>: 128&#215;32 OLED display showing real-time measurement graphs<\/li><li><strong>Power Source<\/strong>: 2200mAh cylindrical rechargeable battery<\/li><li><strong>Data Storage<\/strong>: Micro SD card for measurement storage<\/li><li><strong>Clock<\/strong>: PCF8523 real-time clock module with CR1220 battery (records time in UTC)<\/li><\/ul><h2>Key Components<\/h2><ul><li>TRIAD spectral sensor with built-in illumination lamps<\/li><li>USB-C connectivity for charging and data transfer<\/li><li>Integrated button interface for measurement control<\/li><li>Battery disconnect switch for power conservation<\/li><\/ul><h2>Operation Features<\/h2><ul><li>No assembly requirements (no soldering or 3D printing needed)<\/li><li>Simple one-button measurement activation<\/li><li>Real-time graphical display of spectral data<\/li><li>Battery charges while device is powered on (indicated by amber LED)<\/li><li>Boot screen cycle displays: Universal ID\/SD card info, Battery voltage\/charge status, and Spectral graph with batch number<\/li><\/ul><h2>Software<\/h2><ul><li>Runs on CircuitPython (beginner-friendly, open-source)<\/li><li>Software is downloadable via provided link<\/li><li>Drag-and-drop programming capability<\/li><li>Data includes important metadata (time\/date stamps, batch numbers)<\/li><\/ul><h2>Field Use Best Practices<\/h2><ul><li>Hold device steady during measurements<\/li><li>Collect data in stable lighting conditions (full sun between 10am-2pm ideal)<\/li><li>Record contextual information with measurements (distance, angle, light conditions, location)<\/li><li>&#8220;Sandwich&#8221; observations between reference collections for calibration<\/li><\/ul><h2>Price Point<\/h2><ul><li>Total component cost: approximately $146 (parts list included in documentation)<\/li><\/ul><p class=\"mb-2 whitespace-pre-wrap\">This affordable, handheld scientific instrument is designed for accessibility, making it ideal for students, educators, and scientists to explore remote sensing and spectral data collection.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>STELLA-Q2 Technical Details Device Specifications Spectral Measurement: 18 bands across 410-940 nm wavelength range Microprocessor: Thing Plus RP2040 by SparkFun Display: 128&#215;32 OLED display showing&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":663,"parent":714,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-853","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.4 - 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