The team’s core invention was the Tropos - a can-sized satellite for lower atmosphere data retrieval - alongside coherent data-analysis software. The SatX team spent four months designing, programming, modeling, and testing the Tropos before its first official testing at Borrehaugene in Horten at which it was launched at 1000 meters (approximately 3280 feet) as shown in the picture to the left (descending towards the ground during testing).
The Tropos consisted of a self-developed development board powered by a teensy 3.5 controller, a GPS module, a camera, radio sender and receiver, in addition to various sensors retrieving data such as temperature, humidity, UV-radiation, etc. When in air, the Tropos would retrieve, store and send the data retrieved from the sensors and GPS module, in addition to camera footage to the ground station. The ground station was developed using the same development board as inside Tropos together with a radio sender and receiver. Specialized software software was developed to visualize the retrieved data when Tropos was in the air.