British Interplanetary Society President to speak at AMSAT-UK Space Colloquium

Holiday Inn Guildford GU2 7XZ

Holiday Inn Guildford GU2 7XZ

The 2013 AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium will start late afternoon on Friday, July 19 and will run through until the afternoon on Sunday, July 21 at the Holiday Inn, Guildford, GU2 7XZ, UK.

It will be preceded by an exciting “Hands-on” CubeSat Workshop which will take place at the nearby University of Surrey on the Friday and this will be followed, at the hotel, by the usual Colloquium “Beginners Session” in the late afternoon.

A number of keynote presentations have already been arranged for the Colloquium. These include Alistair Scott, the President of the British Interplanetary Society. The BIS has, over many decades, developed ideas and concepts about the future of space travel and both Patrick Moore and Arthur C Clarke were members. Alistair has had many years experience working in the space industry and will be reviewing the future possibilities for ventures into space both small and large. The BIS is presently developing one of the Sprites for the Kicksat mission and Andrew Vaudin will be presenting a paper about this and also providing a demonstration.

STRaND-1 Engineering Model and Cleanroom SSC

STRaND-1 Engineering Model and Cleanroom SSC

It is anticipated that both the FUNcube-1 and FUNcube-2 missions will be launched later this year and the FUNcube team will be on hand to talk about the missions and the planned educational outreach. A full demonstration of the Engineering Model, which has been performing flawlessly for almost a year, will also be provided.

On the Sunday, the General Manager of the RSGB, Graham Coomber, G0NBI will be talking about the Society’s vision of the future of amateur radio and how amateur satellites can play a major part in helping to secure that future.

We will also have updates on a number of the other current amateur satellite projects including HAMtv from the ISS, spectrum matters, operating methods, new products etc. Additionally there will be a satellite demonstration station operating over the weekend and visits to the new technical facilities at the University are planned.

FUNcube-1 flight model - Image credit Wouter Weggelaar PA3WEG

FUNcube-1 flight model – Image credit Wouter Weggelaar PA3WEG

There are still a few slots available for additional speakers, so if you would like to make a presentation, please contact Dave Johnson G4DPZ e-mail: dave at g4dpz dot me dot uk as soon as possible.

The AMSAT-UK organising committee looks forward to welcoming both regular attendees and newcomers – you can be assured of a warm welcome and an exciting weekend.

The event is open to all, full details of the accommodation, travel and booking arrangements are at
http://amsat-uk.org/colloquium/colloquium-2013/

Details of the free “Hands On” CubeSat Workshop are at
http://amsat-uk.org/colloquium/cubesat-workshop-2013/

A Multi-purpose Portable Satellite Station

At the AMSAT-UK Colloquium 2011, Ivo Klinkert PA1IVO gave a short presentation about his experiences with his portable setup, called A Multipurpose Portable Setup.

Based on this presentation, Andreas Bilsing DL2LUX invited him to write an article about this subject for the AMSAT-DL Journal. The article, Eine tragbare Mehrzweck-Satellitenstation, was translated from English to German by Andreas and appeared in the March 2012 issue of the AMSAT-DL Journal. The English version of the article appeared later in two issues of OSCAR News of AMSAT-UK (July and September 2012). These AMSAT-UK publications are available to E-members here.

The original English text can now be read on the link below (not all pictures appeared in the article in OSCAR News). Please be informed that the status of the satellites mentioned in the article is not updated since the article was written! If you are interested in working satellites as a portable station, Google can give you more webpages about this subject, for example a similar setup of KB5WIA.

Read Ivo’s article at http://ivok.home.xs4all.nl/pa1ivo/portable_satellite_setup.html

Colloquium Pictures Wanted

Your pictures of the 2012 AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium can now be uploaded to the Photo Gallery at

http://www.uk.amsat.org/Gallery3/index.php/

Create a new album with your name or call sign and upload your pictures.

 

Videos of CubeSat / Microsat presentations given to the AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium

Holiday Inn and RSGB GB4FUN communications module

The videos of the amateur radio CubeSat and Microsat presentations given to the AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium 2012 are available to either watch online or download.

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DLR rejects amateur radio P5-/Mascot-2 project

AMSAT-DL have released a statement regarding the P5-/Mascot-2 project:

Discussions with the German Ministry of Economics and the German  space agency DLR spanned more than 5 years. Amongst others, we met with  State Secretary for Space and Aerospace Hinze, DLR chairman Prof. Wörner and the DLR  Program Board.  In 2009 AMSAT-DL,  in collaboration with the DLR Institute for Space Systems in Bremen, conducted two complex Concurrent Engineering  studies. They were jointly presented to the DLR program board in Köln-Porz in  2010.

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AMSAT-UK Colloquium – Visit to SSTL Kepler Building

SSTL-Kepler-Building

SSTL Kepler Building

The 27th AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium, is open to all. It takes place September 15-16 at the Holiday Inn, Guildford, GU2 7XZ and will provide an opportunity to visit the satellite facilities in the new Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) Kepler Building.

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Exclusive New SDR Product Launch at AMSAT-UK Colloquium

AMSAT-UK are delighted to announce that Howard Long, G6LVB, will be present at the Colloquium this year and will be launching a new “FUNcube Dongle PRO-PLUS” during his presentation. UPDATE: For a video of the presentation see http://www.uk.amsat.org/?p=10297

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Dr. Mark Hammond N8MH to speak at Space Colloquium

Dr Mark Hammond N8MH

The 27th AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium will be held on the weekend of 15-16 September at the Holiday Inn Hotel, Guildford, GU2 7XZ, England close to the University of Surrey. UPDATE: For a video of the presentation see http://www.uk.amsat.org/?p=10297

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Radio Amateur Reaches Mongolia in Fiat Panda

The Uncertainly Principle 1.1 litre Fiat Panda with AMSAT-UK Logo

Despite a small war in Tajikistan Neil Melville PA9N and Helen Woolnough, driving their 9 year old 1.1 litre Fiat Panda, have now made it to Mongolia. On Sunday, August 19 their location was given as 46.37 N, 96.25 E.

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