UNSA-SAT1 – The first 3.4 GHz CubeSat

Typical QB50 CubeSatUNSA-SAT1 hopes to be the first CubeSat to make use of the 3400 MHz ITU Amateur-Satellite Service allocation.

Built by students at the Instituto Astronómico y Aeroespacial Pedro Paulet in Peru, UNSA-SAT1 is a 2U spacecraft (20x10x10cm) which will be part of the QB50 constellation of 50 CubeSats.

The aims of this CubeSat include: upper atmosphere science; radio communication experiments; technology demonstrator; education, training and outreach.

The team are proposing a 435 MHz transceiver using BPSK and additional transmitters on 2.4 GHz,and 5.8 GHz. They also also hope to have a 230 kbps BPSK downlink on 3.4 GHz – this will only operate in Region 2 when the spacecraft is overhead the groundstation in Peru.

The ITU Amateur-Satellite allocation at 3400-3410 MHz is available in ITU Regions 2 and 3 but not currently in Region 1 (Europe/Africa) although it is believed Denmark and Norway have allocated the band to the Amateur-Satellite Service.

QB50: Amateur Radio transponder payloads to launch 2014
https://amsat-uk.org/2013/07/20/qb50-amateur-radio-transponder-payloads-to-launch-2014/

IARU Amateur Satellite Frequency Coordination Pages http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru