Satellite

	This rendering shows most of the LEGO components of the Satellite. A motor, in the front, through a worm and wheel, rotates the solar panels as required. It also rotates the fibre-optic illuminator. Perched on top of that is part of the transmitter-receiver assembly.
The transmitter is the smallest Mag Lite (takes 1 AAA battery) mounted below a standard LEGO photo-electric detector. There are three non-LEGO components: the mirror, the Mag Lite and two elastic bands.
	The entire assembly can be seen on the left, with the fibre-optic strands installed. They are supposed to represent the jet exhaust.

Here's how it works: You turn on the Mag Lite and adjust it to a small spot. You place it on a table or a low shelf a distance of one or two long-wire lengths from the RCX and the Dish. You aim it in the general direction of the Dish. Both the Dish and Satellite are connected to the RCX.

You start the program. The Dish elevates and begins to search, rotating about 270 degrees in azimuth and reducing its elevation angle in tiny increments. You can see the flashlight spot, reflected by the curved mirror, painting the walls of the room as it approaches the Satellite. The audience grows silent as tension builds.

Uplink is achieved when the reflected spot hits the photo-electric detector just above it. There is a handshake as follows: The Satellite does a corrective burn and rotates its solar collectors. The Dish locks on (stops in both directions) and sends the following message (in musical notes):

"Twinkle Twinkle little star

How I wonder what you are...

Up above the world so high

Like a diamond in the sky

Twinkle Twinkle little star

How I wonder what you are!"

For after all... It's a toy!

To have a peek at the software, go here.