Sparrow is a ready-made small satellite from Blackwing Space, built so a customer can plug in their own payload.
blackwing-sparrow Sparrow is a small satellite that Blackwing Space sells online, off the shelf, at published prices. A team builds one payload module and plugs it into the platform, which supplies the power and the flight computer. There are two sizes. The 1U is 113.5 by 100 by 100 millimetres, and the 1U XL is 170 millimetres long.
The frame is 6061 aluminium with a hard anodised finish. The flight computer, called Rook, is a four-layer circuit board that grew out of an open-source CubeSat computer named PyCubed. Blackwing publishes the payload connection in detail, with a 3D model for checking fit before anything is built.
A ready-made 1U to 1.5U XL nanosatellite platform for teams that want to fly a payload without building the satellite around it. The payload plugs into the platform through a single connector with documented power rails, so a team can design and test its own module against the published interface. Useful for universities, startups and research groups proving new hardware in orbit.
Each size has a 6061 aluminium frame, supplied with fasteners and assembly instructions. Optional side panels arrive blank, ready for the customer to modify. The frame has built-in mounting and electrical connections for deployment switches, solar arrays, a de-orbiting device, antennas and radiators.
The standard payload module is a two-piece housing machined from 6061 aluminium, a cover and an enclosure, both anodised black. It includes an interface board called Dodo and a 40-pin Samtec connector. Blackwing's catalogue has a module built around a Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5, which relies on the chassis to shed its heat.
Rook is the platform's flight computer, combining data handling and power control on one four-layer board of FR-4, a glass-epoxy laminate. Its processor runs CircuitPython or embedded C. A persistent memory chip called MRAM keeps logs and safe-mode flags, and two watchdogs, one inside the processor and one outside it, handle recovery.
A charge controller takes power from the solar panels or a USB-C cable and charges the battery. Six ideal-diode controllers isolate the solar inputs, so a shaded panel cannot feed current backwards. The battery is a Puffin Pack of lithium-ion 18650 cells.
There are two radios: Warbler for UHF and Hummingbird for LoRa. Solar panels can be fixed to the body or carried on one or two deployable wings. The larger 1U XL can also take an Iridium backup link, three-axis pointing control and a passive drag sail for the FCC's five-year lifetime rule.
The frame in both sizes, and the cover and enclosure of the standard payload module.
The four-layer Rook circuit board.
The 18650 cells in the Puffin Pack battery.
Blackwing's draft specification names PEEK, a plastic, as an alternative to aluminium for the frame.
The same draft names a carbon composite shell in place of the hard anodised finish.
The draft specification describes triple-junction gallium arsenide cells for fixed or deployable solar arrays.
Blackwing says Sparrow complies with the CubeSat Design Specification and the PC/104 board format. It names four compatible dispensers, from SEOPS, Maverick Space Systems, Exolaunch and Spacemind. Sparrow's first flight was Baby Bird, the company's first orbital mission. It launched from Vandenberg on SpaceX's Transporter-18 rideshare, a shared launch, with a Manifest Space optical beacon, a Celestis memorial payload and Melagen Labs' radiation-shielding material on board.
First Sparrow flight; Baby Bird is the company's inaugural orbital mission
Planned, not flown: targeting Q3 2027 on a Sparrow 2U and the CM5 module
Primary technology demonstration on Baby Bird
Secondary payload on Baby Bird (the 25th Celestis flight)
Secondary payload on Baby Bird
Compatible deployer: 1U to 12U, tab and rail, up to 96U per port, flown on SpaceX Falcon 9 rideshare
Compatible deployer: ruggedized 6U (or 2x3U) dispenser with NASA Ames NLAS heritage
Compatible deployer: 6U to 16U, expands CubeSat Design Specification limits (+30% mass, +400% protrusion volume)
Compatible deployer: SMPOD family, 3U/12U/16U, redundant NEA actuation; named on the home page as SMPOD12
SpaceX
Baby Bird (Sparrow 1U) launched on the Transporter-18 rideshare; the release is dateline October 2, 2026 and the page header says September 02, 2026
The Rook avionics board used on every platform evolved from the PyCubed architecture
Interface standard; the draft specification page claims compliance
Board form factor named in the draft specification page
NASA CubeSat Launch Initiative
Reference for the CubeSat Design Specification and dispensers; the guide does not name this product
Manifested and integrated Baby Bird; the release does not name the deployer used
Blackwing Space
Aluminium alloy 6061. Here: Sparrow 1U Chassis; Sparrow 1U XL Chassis and more. There: Kestrel 3U XL Chassis; Structure (all platforms table).
Lithium-ion 18650 cells, two in series. Here: Puffin battery pack (Puffin Pack); Draft power module cells (Li-ion or LiFePO4). There: Puffin battery pack (Puffin Pack); Draft power module cells (Li-ion or LiFePO4).
Carbon fibre. Here: Structure option: carbon composite shell finish. There: Structure option: carbon composite shell finish.
FR-4 glass-fibre epoxy laminate. Here: Rook printed circuit board. There: Rook printed circuit board.
Gallium arsenide. Here: Draft solar panel cells (triple-junction GaAs). There: Draft solar panel cells (triple-junction GaAs).
Polyetheretherketone. Here: Structure option: PEEK frame. There: Structure option: PEEK frame.
Blackwing Space
Aluminium alloy 6061. Here: Sparrow 1U Chassis; Sparrow 1U XL Chassis and more. There: Osprey 6U XL Chassis; Structure (all platforms table).
Lithium-ion 18650 cells, two in series. Here: Puffin battery pack (Puffin Pack); Draft power module cells (Li-ion or LiFePO4). There: Puffin battery pack (Puffin Pack); Draft power module cells (Li-ion or LiFePO4).
Carbon fibre. Here: Structure option: carbon composite shell finish. There: Structure option: carbon composite shell finish.
FR-4 glass-fibre epoxy laminate. Here: Rook printed circuit board. There: Rook printed circuit board.
Gallium arsenide. Here: Draft solar panel cells (triple-junction GaAs). There: Draft solar panel cells (triple-junction GaAs).
Polyetheretherketone. Here: Structure option: PEEK frame. There: Structure option: PEEK frame.
ESA
Lithium-ion 18650 cells, two in series. Here: Puffin battery pack (Puffin Pack); Draft power module cells (Li-ion or LiFePO4). There: Battery.
Carbon fibre. Here: Structure option: carbon composite shell finish. There: Platform structure supplier (eoPortal).
Gallium arsenide. Here: Draft solar panel cells (triple-junction GaAs). There: Solar cells.
ESA
Lithium-ion 18650 cells, two in series. Here: Puffin battery pack (Puffin Pack); Draft power module cells (Li-ion or LiFePO4). There: Battery.
Carbon fibre. Here: Structure option: carbon composite shell finish. There: Outer panels (3).
Gallium arsenide. Here: Draft solar panel cells (triple-junction GaAs). There: Photovoltaic array.
PSAS / Oregon State
Aluminium alloy 6061. Here: Sparrow 1U Chassis; Sparrow 1U XL Chassis and more. There: 1U +X frame; Card wedge (card clamp) and more.
Lithium-ion 18650 cells, two in series. Here: Puffin battery pack (Puffin Pack); Draft power module cells (Li-ion or LiFePO4). There: 18650 cell (Tenergy, 4 per card); Battery cell model (README).
Gallium arsenide. Here: Draft solar panel cells (triple-junction GaAs). There: Solar cell (SpectraLabs XTE-SF, 2 per module); Solar cell technology.
AlbertaSat
Aluminium alloy 6061. Here: Sparrow 1U Chassis; Sparrow 1U XL Chassis and more. There: Rails; Rails (material statement) and more.
Gallium arsenide. Here: Draft solar panel cells (triple-junction GaAs). There: Solar cell type (paper).
Polyetheretherketone. Here: Structure option: PEEK frame. There: Deployment-mechanism parts.
Blackwing doesn't say what the side panels or fasteners are made of, or which kind of anodising the frame gets. It hasn't named the makers of the solar cells or the battery cells. Its own pages disagree on the payload volume and on how much current each power line can carry.
What is written above is built from these numbers and quotes. Each row links to the page it was taken from. Get all of it as JSON, or ask our MCP server.
| What | Value |
|---|---|
| Form factor | 1U / 1.5U XL |
| Payload mass | 0.5 kg (1U) / 1 kg (1U XL) |
| Payload volume | 0.3U (developer page and interface section also say 0.5U) |
| Payload volume (developer page interface section) | 0.5U |
| Orbit average power | 1-10 W, depending on solar panel configuration |
| Payload logic level | 3.3 V |
| VBATT rail range (developer page headline) | 5-8.4 V |
| VBATT rail (interface guide) | 7.0-8.4 V, nominally 7.2-7.4 V, unregulated |
| Power rails (developer page) | 3V3 at 3 A, 5V at 2 A, VBATT unregulated at 2 A |
| Power rails (interface guide v0.3) | 3V3 1 A, 5V 1 A, VBATT 5 A (conflicts with developer page) |
| I2C | up to 400 kHz Fast Mode, 3.3 V |
| Digital interfaces | I2C, SPI (dedicated chip select), UART (optional flow control), GPIO; all 3.3 V |
| Payload connector | Samtec SFM-120-01-L-D (payload) / TFM-120-31-L-D (platform), 40 pin, 1.27 mm pitch |
| Compatible deployers | SEOPS Equalizer Flex, Maverick Space NLAS, Exolaunch EXOpod Nova, SPACEMIND SMPOD12 |
| Sparrow 1U structure mass | 186 g (+210 g with blank side panels) |
| Sparrow 1U XL structure mass | 230 g (+290 g with blank side panels) |
| Sparrow 1U dimensions (chassis page) | 113.5 x 100 x 100 mm (page text says Standard 6U, a typo) |
| Sparrow 1U XL dimensions (chassis page) | 170 x 100 x 100 mm |
| Sparrow 1U payload limit (chassis page) | 600 g |
| Sparrow 1U XL payload limit (chassis page) | 950 g |
| Platform mass (1U, 1U XL) | 2 kg and 3 kg |
| Orbit-average power (1U, 1U XL) | 0 to 5 W and 1 to 10 W |
| Battery capacity (1U, 1U XL) | 75 W-h each (one Puffin Pack) |
| Draft structure mass range (1U to 6U) | 0.15 kg (1U) to 0.80 kg (6U) including fasteners, draft |
| First flight | Baby Bird on Transporter-18, announced October 2026 |
| Rook board size | approximately 90.2 x 95.9 mm |
| CDS Rev 14.1: rail minimum width | 8.5 mm, measured from the rail edge to the first protrusion |
| CDS Rev 14.1: rail surface roughness | less than 1.6 micrometres (a 'should') |
| CDS Rev 14.1: rail edge radius | at least 1 mm (a 'should') |
| CDS Rev 14.1: rail end contact area | 6.5 mm x 6.5 mm minimum on the +/- Z face |
| CDS Rev 14.1: protrusion limit | 6.5 mm normal to the surface from the plane of the rail |
| CDS Rev 14.1: rail contact with dispenser | at least 75% of the rail |
| CDS Rev 14.1: structure material | aluminium alloy; 7075, 6061, 6082, 5005 and/or 5052 typical |
| CDS Rev 14.1: rail surface finish | hard anodized wherever it touches the dispenser rails |
| CDS Rev 14.1: maximum mass per size | 1U 2.00 kg, 1.5U 3.00 kg, 2U 4.00 kg, 3U 6.00 kg, 6U 12.00 kg, 12U 24.00 kg |
| CDS Rev 14.1: separation spring guideline | max force below 6.7 N (1.5 lbf), stroke above 2.5 mm |
| CDS Rev 14.1: deployment switch | at least one, actuated while the CubeSat is in the dispenser |
| CDS Rev 14.1: outgassing | TML at most 1.0 % and CVCM at most 0.1 % |
| CDS Rev 14.1: remove-before-flight pin | required; protrudes no more than 6.5 mm from the rail surface when fully inserted |
Each material named in the sources: where it is used here, which other products use it, and its key numbers when its material page exists.
Used in 6 partsSparrow 1U Chassis · Sparrow 1U XL Chassis · Structure (all platforms table) · +3 more
Used in 2 partsPuffin battery pack (Puffin Pack) · Draft power module cells (Li-ion or LiFePO4)
Used in 1 partStructure option: carbon composite shell finish
Used in 1 partRook printed circuit board
Used in 1 partDraft solar panel cells (triple-junction GaAs)
Used in 1 partStructure option: PEEK frame
The chassis SKUs, the two payload-module housings and the module assembly drawing each state a material and finish, and the connector is named by Samtec part number, but there is no full platform parts list. Components, suppliers and links were added from public sources. A material is left blank where no source states it.
| Part | Material | Finish and standard | Made by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sparrow 1U Chassis“Aluminum 6061 T6 or T651 Hard anodized (Anodized + Flight)” | Aluminum 6061 T6 or T651aluminium-6061 | Hard anodized (Anodized + Flight); anodize type/class not stated | SKU SPARROW-1U-CHASSIS |
| Sparrow 1U Chassis optional side panels“Optional side panels ready to be modified to end user needs” | not stated | — | — |
| Sparrow 1U Chassis assembly fasteners“Guided assembly instructions and fasteners provided” | not stated | — | — |
| Sparrow 1U XL Chassis“Aluminum 6061 T6 or T651 Hard anodized (Anodized + Flight)” | Aluminum 6061 T6 or T651aluminium-6061 | Hard anodized (Anodized + Flight); anodize type/class not stated | SKU SPARROW-1U-XL-CHASSI |
| Sparrow 1U XL Chassis optional side panels“Optional side panels ready to be modified to end user needs” | not stated | — | — |
| Sparrow 1U XL Chassis assembly fasteners“Guided assembly instructions and fasteners provided” | not stated | — | — |
| Structure (all platforms table)“Structure Material Al 6061-T6” | Al 6061-T6aluminium-6061 | — | — |
| Chassis interface provisions (1U and 1U XL)Mounting and electrical interfaces built into the chassis for deployment switches, solar arrays, de-orbiting device, HF antennas and radiators“Includes interfaces for deployment switches, solar arrays, de-orbiting device, HF antennas, radiators and more” | Not said | — | — |
| Tuna can antenna volume (1U and 1U XL)Chassis is prepared for the CubeSat -Z face extra-volume antenna“Tuna can antenna ready” | Not said | — | — |
| Blank side panels (1U)Optional panels bolted to the chassis; sold blank to be modified by the user“186g structure (+210g with blank side panels)” | Not said | — | — |
| Blank side panels (1U XL)Optional panels bolted to the chassis; sold blank to be modified by the user“230g structure (+290g with blank side panels)” | Not said | — | — |
| Part | Material | Finish and standard | Made by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payload Module Top (cover)“MATERIAL: AL 6061 T6 | ANODIZE PER MIL-PRF-8625, TYPE II, CLASS 2, COLOR: BLACK | SEAL PER MIL-PRF-8625 WITH DI WATER ONLY” | AL 6061 T6aluminium-6061 | ANODIZE PER MIL-PRF-8625, TYPE II, CLASS 2, COLOR: BLACK; SEAL PER MIL-PRF-8625 WITH DI WATER ONLY; mask all threaded holes prior to anodize · MIL-PRF-8625 Type II Class 2 (black) | Drawing 'PAYLOAD MODULE TOP' (Payload_Module_Top_Drawing.pdf), 4x 3.40 thru holes |
| Payload Module Bottom (enclosure)“MATERIAL: AL 6061 T6 | ANODIZE PER MIL-PRF-8625, TYPE II, CLASS 2, COLOR: BLACK | SEAL PER MIL-PRF-8625 WITH DI WATER ONLY” | AL 6061 T6aluminium-6061 | ANODIZE PER MIL-PRF-8625, TYPE II, CLASS 2, COLOR: BLACK; SEAL PER MIL-PRF-8625 WITH DI WATER ONLY; mask all threaded holes prior to anodize · MIL-PRF-8625 Type II Class 2 (black) | Drawing 'PAYLOAD MODULE BOTTOM' (Payload_Module_Bot_Drawing.pdf), 12x M3x0.5-6H thru holes |
| Payload module assembly (standard module, drawing title block)“MATERIAL: AL 6061 T6” | AL 6061 T6aluminium-6061 | — | Drawing ASSY_PAYLOAD_MODULE_DRAWING_rev2.PDF; STEP ASSY_PAYLOAD_MODULE_06012026.STEP |
| Countersunk screws, 4 off, M3x12“4X COUNTERSUNK M3X12 SCREWS” | not stated | — | — |
| Standard DODO interface PCB“STANDARD DODO INTERFACE PCB” | not stated | — | Outline: Dodo_PCB_Outline_Zones.DXF |
| Avionic interface connector“SFM-120-01-L-D AVIONIC INTERFACE CONNECTOR” | not stated (Samtec part; connector hardware reference only) | — | Samtec SFM-120-01-L-D (40 pin, 1.27 mm pitch) |
| Payload-side connector“Payload Connector Samtec SFM-120-01-L-D Platform Connector Samtec TFM-120-31-L-D” | not stated (Samtec part; connector hardware reference only) | — | Samtec SFM-120-01-L-D (payload) / TFM-120-31-L-D (platform), per interface guide |
| Part | Material | Finish and standard | Made by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rook onboard computer (one per platform)Flight computer, command and data handling and electrical power system on one four-layer board; the platform's OBC“Rook is Blackwing Space’s integrated flight avionics board” | Not said | — | Supplier: Blackwing Space |
| Rook printed circuit boardCarries all Rook electronics“Four-layer FR-4” | FR-4 (glass-epoxy laminate; grade not stated)fr-4 | — | — |
| Flight processor, Microchip ATSAMD51J20A32-bit Arm Cortex-M4F running CircuitPython or embedded C“Microchip ATSAMD51J20A, 32-bit Arm Cortex-M4F, up to 120 MHz” | Not said | — | Supplier: Microchip |
| Persistent memory, Everspin MR25H40 MRAMStores logs, event counters, calibration data and safe-mode flags“Everspin MR25H40 MRAM, 4 Mbit (512 KB)” | Not said | — | Supplier: Everspin |
| QSPI NOR flash, Winbond W25Q128Holds software, libraries, telemetry buffers and over-the-air images“Winbond W25Q128 NOR flash, 128 Mbit (16 MB)” | Not said | — | Supplier: Winbond |
| microSD card interfaceRemovable bulk storage for mission or payload data“Removable storage - microSD interface” | Not said | — | — |
| Inertial sensor, BNO086Nine-axis IMU with onboard sensor fusion“BNO086 nine-axis IMU with onboard sensor fusion” | Not said | — | — |
| Watchdogs (SAMD51 internal and MAX706 external)Watchdog recovery of the flight computer“SAMD51 internal watchdog and MAX706 external watchdog” | Not said | — | — |
| Bootloader ROOKBOOTRuns first after every reset from a protected flash region; MRAM holds a backup image“ROOKBOOT, in the protected 16 KB BOOTPROT region, with MRAM backup image” | Not said | — | — |
| Flight software environmentCircuitPython 10 or embedded C on the Rook board“CircuitPython 10 or embedded C” | Not said | — | — |
| GPIO expander, MCP2301716-bit I2C expander for burn-wire relays, payload power switching, RBF sensing and charger interrupts“MCP23017 16-bit I2C GPIO expander - burn-wire relays, payload power switching, RBF sensing, charger interrupts” | Not said | — | — |
| I2C hot-swap buffers, TCA4307 (x4)Hot-swap and stuck-bus recovery on the I2C buses“Four TCA4307 I2C hot-swap and stuck-bus-recovery buffers” | Not said | — | — |
| Burn-wire driversRelease deployables; hardware relay inhibit“High-current burn-wire drivers with hardware relay inhibit” | Not said | — | — |
| Radio interface connector (20-pin Samtec) and SMP RF connectionPower, SPI, reset, programming and control to the radio, plus a separate RF cable connection“20-pin Samtec connector - power, SPI, reset, programming, control; separate SMP RF connection” | Not said | — | Supplier: Samtec |
| GNSS footprint, Orion B16-S L1/L5 (provision only)Footprint and SMP antenna connection for a GNSS receiver; not populated in the current bill of materials“Orion B16-S L1/L5 footprint provision and SMP antenna connection - NOT populated in the current BOM” | Not said | — | — |
| Part | Material | Finish and standard | Made by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charge controller, TI BQ25798 buck-boostDual-input (solar and USB-C) battery charger, software-programmable up to 5 A“TI BQ25798 buck-boost charger” | Not said | — | Supplier: Texas Instruments |
| Solar-input ideal-diode controllers, LTC4412 (x6)Isolate the solar inputs from each other so shaded panels cannot backfeed“Six LTC4412 ideal-diode PowerPath controllers” | Not said | — | — |
| eFuse, TPS259470 (with fuses, TVS, zener clamps, battery protection FETs)Layered electrical protection“TPS259470 eFuse, physical fuses, TVS protection, zener clamps, and battery protection FETs” | Not said | — | — |
| Low-noise regulator, LT3045Supplies the RF and GNSS circuits“LT3045-regulated RF/GNSS supply” | Not said | — | — |
| Radio power-amplifier supply (switched 11 V boost)Powers the radio power amplifier“Switched 11 V boost supply” | Not said | — | — |
| Power monitor, ADM1176Voltage and current monitoring“ADM1176 voltage and current monitor” | Not said | — | — |
| Regulated rails (3.3 V and two 5 V)Rails offered to the platform and payload“3.3 V and two 5 V rails” | Not said | — | — |
| Puffin battery pack (Puffin Pack)Rechargeable battery pack; platform carries one Puffin Pack (75 W-h)“75 W-h (1x Puffin Pack)” | Lithium-ion 18650 cells, two in serieslithium-ion-cell | — | — |
| Part | Material | Finish and standard | Made by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warbler UHF radioOpenLST-derived UHF radio on the Rook radio interface“Warbler UHF radio - OpenLST-derived, on the dedicated 20-pin Rook radio interface” | Not said | — | — |
| Hummingbird LoRa radioLoRa radio for packet, telemetry, ground-station and RF-link development; stated as available Q3 2026“Hummingbird LoRa radio - packet, telemetry, ground-station, and RF-link development. (Available Q3 2026)” | Not said | — | — |
| Part | Material | Finish and standard | Made by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deployable solar panel wings (1 or 2 panels)Optional deployable arrays to raise orbit-average power; body-mounted panels are the alternative“Deployable Solar Panels (1 Panel)” | Not said | — | — |
| Iridium transceiver (offered on Sparrow 1U XL, not on the 1U)Global backup communications band“Iridium Transceiver — $5,000 $5,000 $5,000” | Not said | — | — |
| 3-axis coarse ADCS (Sparrow 1U XL and larger)Attitude control option, better than 10 degrees“ADCS (3-Axis Coarse)” | Not said | — | — |
| Passive drag sail (Sparrow 1U XL and larger)Deorbit device for the FCC 5-year lifetime rule“Passive Drag Sail (Deorbit)” | Not said | — | — |
| Part | Material | Finish and standard | Made by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rook 1.2 Lite avionics boardNon-flight development configuration of Rook 1.2 that omits selected flight-specific hardware“Rook 1.2 Lite - non-flight development configuration of the Rook 1.2 avionics platform” | Not said | — | Supplier: Blackwing Space |
| Dodo Lite payload development boardPayload-side board with breakout access to Sparrow power, data, GPIO and test interfaces“Dodo Lite - payload-side development board providing convenient breakout access to Sparrow power, data, GPIO, and test interfaces” | Not said | — | Supplier: Blackwing Space |
| 40-pin interconnectConnects the Rook and payload-side boards using the Sparrow electrical interface“40-pin interconnect - connects the Rook and payload-side interfaces using the Sparrow electrical interface” | Not said | — | — |
| Bench standsFixtures for stable benchtop development and testing“Bench stands - 3D-printed fixtures for stable benchtop development and testing” | Not said | — | — |
| Part | Material | Finish and standard | Made by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5 payload module (Broadcom BCM2712)Edge-compute payload for Sparrow; the Sparrow chassis is its primary heat path“CM5 SoC: Broadcom BCM2712, quad-core Arm Cortex-A76 @ 2.4 GHz, ARMv8 64-bit” | Not said | — | — |
| CM5 module local interfaces (USB 2.0 host, 10/100 Ethernet, 2x CSI, PCIe M.2 Key M 2242)Local payload interfaces on the CM5 module besides the single Sparrow 40-pin connector“PCIe: 1× PCIe Gen 2 ×1 via M.2 Key M 2242 for NVMe storage or compatible peripherals” | Not said | — | — |
| Part | Material | Finish and standard | Made by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structure option: PEEK frameAlternative to aluminium in the draft structure specification (page marked draft, subject to change)“Material: Aluminum 6061-T6 or PEEK” | PEEKpeek | — | — |
| Structure option: carbon composite shell finishAlternative to hard anodizing in the draft structure specification“Finish: Hard-anodized or carbon composite shell” | Carbon composite (resin not stated)carbon-fibre | — | — |
| Draft solar panel cells (triple-junction GaAs)Draft specification for fixed or deployable arrays“Triple-junction GaAs cells > 29 % efficiency” | Gallium arsenide (triple-junction cells)gallium-arsenide | — | — |
| Draft power module cells (Li-ion or LiFePO4)Draft specification for battery packs sized 1U to 6U“Configurations: 1U–6U with Li-ion or LiFePO₄ packs” | Lithium-ion or lithium iron phosphate cells (draft)lithium-ion-cell | — | — |
| Draft antennas (deployable spring or hinge type)UHF (LoRa), S-band, Iridium and GNSS L1/E1 options with integrated ground plane“Deployable spring or hinge type; integrated ground plane” | Not said | — | — |
| Draft software-defined radioUHF (LoRa), S-band or Iridium options; firmware reprogrammable on orbit“Software-Defined Radio (SDR) firmware reprogrammable on-orbit” | Not said | — | — |
Connector side is contradictory: the interface guide (v0.3) says payload connector SFM-120-01-L-D and platform connector TFM-120-31-L-D, while the developer page says SFM-120-01-L-D is platform side and TFM-120-31-L-D payload side. The assembly drawing calls SFM-120-01-L-D the avionic interface connector. Not published: chassis anodize standard and class (shop pages say only 'hard anodized'; the payload housings are Type II Class 2, which is a conventional rather than hard anodize), fastener material and count for the chassis, side-panel material, the 'Anodized + Flight' vs 'Non-Flight' difference, PCB laminate, the STEP file carries no material data in its header, solar panels, battery (Puffin Pack), Rook OBC, antenna and radiator materials. Chassis pages say 'Aluminum 6061 T6 or T651' without stating which. The principles page mentions PEEK, ULTEM and carbon-fibre additive manufacturing as aspirations, not as parts. More detail: Blackwing publishes no bill of materials. Not stated anywhere read: chassis fastener count and material, side-panel material, anodize type, solar cell and panel supplier, Puffin Pack cell count and supplier beyond the Rook page line, radio and antenna parts, ADCS and propulsion suppliers, thermal coatings, adhesives. The Specifications page is marked draft and lists a PEEK and carbon composite option that the shop pages do not. The Sparrow pages disagree on payload volume (0.3U vs 0.5U) and rail currents. The chassis page for the 1U gives 'Standard 6U' with 1U dimensions. Baby Bird deployer model is not named; the press release has a dateline of October 2, 2026 but a page date of September 02, 2026. The FAQ section of the developer page contains unrelated NuSCIS text and was not used. More detail: Blackwing publishes no bill of materials. Not stated anywhere read: chassis fastener count and material, side-panel material, anodize type, solar cell and panel supplier, Puffin Pack cell count and supplier beyond the Rook page line, radio and antenna parts, ADCS and propulsion suppliers, thermal coatings, adhesives. The Specifications page is marked draft and lists a PEEK and carbon composite option that the shop pages do not. The Sparrow pages disagree on payload volume (0.3U vs 0.5U) and rail currents. The chassis page for the 1U gives 'Standard 6U' with 1U dimensions. Baby Bird deployer model is not named; the press release has a dateline of October 2, 2026 but a page date of September 02, 2026. The FAQ section of the developer page contains unrelated NuSCIS text and was not used.
Collected from public pages and documents, checked 4 Nov 2026.
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