W5500-EVB-Pico Powers DLR’s Rocket Simulator

The apex MRMSS:AMulti-Role Mission Support System and Service Module Simulator for Payloads of Sounding Rockets and Other Space Applications

COMPONENTS Hardware components

WIZnet - W5500-EVB-Pico

x 1

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

🛰 W5500-EVB-Pico Powers DLR’s Rocket Simulator

— From Maker Prototype to Aerospace-Grade Mission Hardware

🚀 Overview

The Microgravity User Support Center (MUSC) of the German Aerospace Center (DLR)
has developed the apex MRMSS (Multi-Role Mission Support System) —
a portable, open, and fully functional Mission Control System used to simulate
and test payloads for sounding rockets, Moon landers, and CubeSat missions.

At the heart of the system lies the MSMS (Multiple Service Module Simulator),
a hardware-in-the-loop simulator that replicates real rocket payload interfaces,
including power, telemetry (TM), and telecommand (TC) links.

In its latest version, MSMSv3, DLR engineers selected WIZnet’s W5500-EVB-Pico
as one of the main controller boards — proving how a compact Ethernet-enabled RP2040 platform
can operate in professional aerospace environments.

Inside DLR’s apex MRMSS. The integrated MSMSv3 with W5500-EVB-Pico provides Ethernet-based control and simulation.

⚙ Role of W5500-EVB-Pico

MSMSv3 simulates the Service Module (SM) interfaces of DLR’s MAPHEUS sounding rockets
and other experimental platforms.
It provides realistic power control, signal switching, and serial (RS-422) communication to test payloads
before flight.

The W5500-EVB-Pico serves as the main MCU and communication hub.
It controls the simulator’s power stages, signal lines, and telemetry exchange through
Ethernet and USB interfaces using the SCPI (Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments) protocol.

Function	Description
Ethernet Control	Built-in W5500 TCP/IP hardware stack provides stable Ethernet communication
SCPI Interface	Enables human-readable control via LabVIEW, MATLAB, Python, or Yamcs
TM/TC Bridge	RS-422 telemetry/telecommand relayed over Ethernet-UDP
Power & Safety Management	Controls digital power supplies, manages E-Stop and overcurrent protection (0.437 ms)
AUX Node Extension	RJ45-based sensor nodes (temperature, vibration) connected via RS-422/5 V bus

Example command:

→ A single SCPI line can turn on the payload power and measure voltage simultaneously.

The Ethernet-enabled design allows seamless integration into laboratory setups
and open-source mission control frameworks, while maintaining precise timing and safety isolation.

🧩 Maker Background — From WIZnet Contest to Space Simulation

The lead developer, Nico Maas, is not only a DLR engineer but also an active WIZnet community maker.
He participated in the WIZnet Ethernet HAT Contest 2022,
where he demonstrated an Ethernet-Connected Environmental Sensor
using RP2040 + W5500 hardware — the same core technology later used in the MSMSv3 simulator.

🔗 Related projects:

WIZnet Contest 2022 submission

GitHub repository

Hackster.io project page

After the contest, Nico continued developing the apex experiment series —
transforming his maker-grade Ethernet control platform into a space-qualified simulator
used for DLR missions.

🔗 Related builds and discussions:

apex prototype

apex Mk.II Science Camera Platform

MSMSv3 – Rocket Service Module Simulator

Framework community discussion

This journey—from a community hardware contest to professional aerospace deployment—
perfectly demonstrates how open Ethernet technology can scale from Maker labs to mission-critical systems.

🌕 Real-World Applications

The MSMSv3 and MRMSS systems equipped with W5500-EVB-Pico
have been used to support several flight campaigns:

MAPHEUS-10 (2021) – DLR microgravity sounding rocket mission

Astrobotic Peregrine Moon Lander (2024) – DLR M-42 radiation detector payload simulation

Suborbital Express and CubeSat payload testing

In these missions, the W5500-EVB-Pico handled Ethernet-based control, RS-422 telemetry simulation,
and real-time safety monitoring within DLR’s portable Mission Control System.

✨ Conclusion

WIZnet’s W5500-EVB-Pico proves that maker-friendly Ethernet hardware
can power professional aerospace-grade systems.
Within DLR’s rocket simulator, it enables high-speed, deterministic communication,
integrated SCPI control, and safe automated payload testing.

This project highlights how open hardware and Ethernet-based IoT design
can extend far beyond typical applications—
from DIY sensor nodes to spaceflight-supporting simulation systems.

Korean Ver

🛰 W5500-EVB-Pico, 독일항공우주센터(DLR)의 로켓 시뮬레이터에 탑재되다

— Maker로부터 Aerospace로 확장된 WIZnet Ethernet 기술의 여정

🚀 개요

독일항공우주센터(DLR)의 Microgravity User Support Center(MUSC)에서는
소형 로켓 및 달 탐사 임무용 페이로드 테스트를 위해
**apex MRMSS (Multi-Role Mission Support System)**를 개발했습니다.

이 시스템은 로켓의 전력·신호·통신 환경을 지상에서 완벽히 재현하는
**MSMS (Multiple Service Module Simulator)**를 포함하고 있으며,
최신 버전인 MSMSv3는 WIZnet의 W5500-EVB-Pico를 핵심 제어 보드로 사용합니다.

DLR Microgravity User Support Center의 apex MRMSS 내부. W5500-EVB-Pico가 탑재된 MSMSv3 보드가 통합되어 있다.

⚙ W5500-EVB-Pico의 역할

MSMSv3는 실제 로켓 서비스 모듈(SM)의 전기적·통신적 인터페이스를 시뮬레이션하는 장비입니다.
이 장치는 로켓 페이로드의 전원 공급, RS-422 통신, 신호 제어를 모두 가상으로 구현하여
비행 전 지상 테스트를 수행합니다.

W5500-EVB-Pico는 이 시스템의 **두뇌(MCU)**로서 아래 기능을 수행합니다.

역할	설명
Ethernet 제어	하드웨어 TCP/IP 스택(W5500)을 통해 안정적 이더넷 통신 구현
SCPI 프로토콜 지원	LabVIEW, MATLAB, Python 등 실험 장비와 실시간 명령 송수신
TM/TC 인터페이스	RS-422 기반 텔레메트리/텔레커맨드 송수신을 Ethernet-UDP로 중계
전원 및 안전 관리	전원 공급 모듈(DPS) 제어, 과전류 차단(0.437ms), E-Stop 통합
AUX 확장 노드	RJ45 기반 센서 확장 모듈 연결 — 온도/진동 데이터 실시간 전송

명령 예시

→ SCPI 명령 한 줄로 로켓 페이로드의 전원 공급 및 전압 측정을 동시에 수행할 수 있습니다.

🧩 개발자의 배경 — WIZnet Contest에서 시작된 여정

이 프로젝트의 개발자인 Nico Maas는 WIZnet 커뮤니티의 오랜 메이커이기도 합니다.
그는 WIZnet Ethernet HAT Contest 2022 참가자였으며,
당시 RP2040 + W5500을 활용한 Ethernet-Connected Environmental Sensor 프로젝트를 발표했습니다.

🔗 관련 링크

WIZnet Contest 2022 프로젝트 페이지

GitHub 저장소

Hackster.io 게시글

이후 Nico는 동일한 WIZnet 하드웨어 철학을 기반으로,
우주 실험용 로켓 시뮬레이터 apex 시리즈를 발전시켜 나갔습니다.

🔗 관련 제작 기록

apex 시리즈 소개

apex Mk.II Science Camera Platform

MSMSv3 – Rocket Service Module Simulator

Frame.Work Community Discussion

이 여정은 ‘Maker 실험 프로젝트’에서 시작해
‘항공우주급 제어 시스템’으로 진화한 대표적인 사례로 평가받습니다.