Tag Archives: UK Space Agency

Feb 6 2013

UKube-1 to launch in June 2013

 

Artists impression of UKube-1 in orbit

Artists impression of UKube-1 in orbit – Credit Clyde Space

The Herald newspaper reports that the CubeSat UKube-1 will be launched in June, 2013.

The spacecraft is being built for the UK Space Agency (UKSA) by Clyde Space and the launch will take place from Baikonur in Kazakhstan on a Soyuz-2 along with TechDemoSat-1.

The newspaper reports that Clyde Space has announced plans for a base in the United States.

UKube-1 will carry a set of AMSAT-UK FUNcube boards to provide an amateur radio 435/145 MHz linear transponder and a 1200 bps BPSK beacon for educational outreach.

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Feb 1 2013

UKube-1 CubeSat payload animation

Artists impression of UKube-1 in orbit

Artists impression of UKube-1 in orbit – Credit Clyde Space

This video shows the UK Space Agency’s first CubeSat UKube-1 which is being built by Clyde Space. It is slated to launch in the 3rd quarter of 2013 on a Soyuz-2 along with TechDemoSat-1.

UKube-1 will carry a set of AMSAT-UK FUNcube boards to provide an amateur radio 435/145 MHz linear transponder and a 1200 bps BPSK beacon for educational outreach.

On Saturday, January 26, UKube-1 was at Selex Edinburgh  for vibration testing. This test was to simulate the vibration seen during launch to verify the build quality. In the space game this is called giving the spacecraft a ‘shake’.

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Jan 29 2013

UKube-1 in The Herald newspaper

Artists impression of UKube-1 in orbit

Artists impression of UKube-1 in orbit – Credit Clyde Space

The UK Space Agency’s first Cube UKube-1, which is being built by Clyde Space, featured in The Herald on Monday, January 28.

UKube-1 will carry a set of AMSAT-UK FUNcube boards to provide an amateur radio 435/145 MHz linear transponder and a 1200 bps BPSK beacon for educational outreach.

Read the article at
http://www.heraldscotland.com/business/people/we-dont-encourage-entrepreneurship-here-the-attitude-is-get-a-good-job.19985957

Note in the article the orbit is quoted as being 3700 miles (5920 km) it is understood the correct altitude is between 600 and 800 km.

Watch the UKube-1 CubeSat payload animation at http://www.uk.amsat.org/?p=12334

Watch other UK Space Agency videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/spacegovuk

Jan 22 2013

AMSAT-UK Attend UK Space Agency CubeSat Conference

Graham Shirville G3VZV on the AMSAT-UK Stand at the UKSA CubeSat Community Workshop

Graham Shirville G3VZV on the AMSAT-UK Stand at the UKSA CubeSat Community Workshop

AMSAT-UK attended the CubeSat Community Conference organized by the UK Space Agency (UKSA) which was held at the Open University.

Workshop sessions included:

• Update on UKube-1

• Plans for UKube-2

• Fostering a stronger and wider UK CubeSat Community
Identifying potential user groups who would benefit from using cubesat data (e.g. commercial applications such as utilities companies, telecoms, and government departments etc), and how to engage with them more effectively [note that the National Space Conference in July 2013 in Glasgow could consider hosting a session to facilitate this process]

• Overcoming Obstacles
Common obstacles associated with launching cubesats and how to clarify/streamline them: availability, cost, export controls, applicability of the Outer Space Act, licences, radio frequency allocation, issue of cubesats as space debris

• Developing Education/Outreach Benefits for the UK with the UKube X Program
STEM outreach and school education benefits and how to take this forward with a UKube X programme, including options for Harwell/other involvement to underpin academic/amateur missions with strong research/outreach/education benefits

• Accelerating Disruptive Technologies
Identifying key technology developments with implications for economic growth and possible sources of external co-funding. Defining a UKube x roadmap to tie in with the NSTP roadmaps. Possibilities for synergies and collaborations with international partners

Jan 8 2013

UKube-1 CubeSat Featured in SatMagazine

SatMagazine January 2013The January issue of the free publication SatMagazine features an article on the UK Space Agency’s first satellite UKube-1. It will carry an amateur radio subsystem and a launch on a Soyuz rocket is planned for the 3rd quarter of 2013.

The article on page 6 includes a picture of Steve Greenland of Clyde Space taking delivery of a set of AMSAT-UK FUNcube boards which will provide a 435/145 MHz linear transponder and a 145.915 MHz BPSK telemetry beacon for educational outreach.

Starting on page 24 is an article ‘Truly Educational Experiences… With Nanosats’ covering the University Nanosat program.

Download the January 2013 SatMagazine from http://www.satmagazine.com/2013/SM_Jan2013.pdf

Ukube-1 – Milton Keynes Cubesat Community Workshop January 22 http://www.uk.amsat.org/?p=11782

Clyde Space http://www.clyde-space.com/

Dec 21 2012

UKube-1 Signs up for Launch and Completes Thermal Vacuum Testing

Clyde Space have successfully completed Thermal Vacuum Testing, where the UKube-1 Flight Model was operated in a simulated space environment (i.e. no air and at temperature extremes)

UKube-1 the UK Space Agency’s (UKSA) first satellite has ‘booked’ its journey into space on a Russian Soyuz-2 rocket. The launch from Baikonur in Kazakhstan is expected to take place in the 3rd quarter of 2013. UKube-1 has also completed Thermal Vacuum Testing to verify the spacecraft operation in a simulated space environment.

UKube-1 will carry a set of AMSAT-UK FUNcube boards to provide a 435/145 MHz linear transponder and a 145.915 MHz BPSK telemetry beacon for educational outreach.

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Dec 8 2012

Government delays response to Reform of the Outer Space Act 1986 consultation

A statement on the UK Space Agency (UKSA) site says:

Due to the range of views received during the Reform of the Outer Space Act 1986 consultation the Government response has been delayed.

We hope to be in a position to publish it during the first half of 2013.

Further details will be posted in due course.

The Outer Space Act covers all UK satellites irrespective of size, from tiny low cost educational CubeSats up to large commercial £500 million satellites.

The key aspects of the consultation are the proposals to waive the capped liability and insurance requirement for in-orbit operation of any satellite that meets the criteria of a CubeSat and to remove the requirement for unlimited indemnity from satellite operators.

The existing Outer Space Act imposes heavy additional costs (>£50,000 per annum) on those wishing to launch small educational CubeSats. The additional costs act as a major deterrent and to-date no such UK CubeSat has been launched.

Reform of the Outer Space Act 1986: Consultation http://www.uk.amsat.org/?p=8783

Dec 7 2012

Pictures released of UKube-1 CubeSat

Clyde Space have released pictures showing the progress of UKube-1 as they prepare the satellite for a Soyuz launch planned for March 2013.

UKube-1 is the UK Space Agency’s first CubeSat and plans to carry an amateur radio 435/145 MHz linear transponder developed by AMSAT-UK.

Last year as part of the UKube-1 project and a student project at Cornell, the deployable solar panels were on a zero-G flight.

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Dec 7 2012

Cubesat Community Workshop

The UK Space Agency will be running a Cubesat Community Workshop in January. Registration for the workshop is now open. This is a free event and is open to all, hosted by the Open University, Milton Keynes, on 22 January 2013. Please note that space is limited and places will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis.

The event will be an opportunity for the UK Space Agency to provide the cubesat community with an update on its pilot cubesat mission UKube-1, due for launch in early 2013, and to discuss the overall philosophy and timing for the proposed UKube-2 programme. Attendees will have the opportunity to provide input on the future direction of a proposed rolling national programme of cubesat missions.

Parallel breakout sessions will be held as detailed in the downloadable programme. These themes have been selected in response to the common issues raised by members of the community. The findings from each session will feed into a concluding discussion in which follow up actions will be identified.

To confirm attendance, please email ryan.king@ukspaceagency.bis.gsi.gov.uk indicating which breakout session you would prefer to attend, by the 21st December. One of the stated aims of the workshop is to encourage more potential cubesat users to engage with the programme, therefore please share the news.

Download the proposed programme. (PDF, 17 Kb)

Sep 26 2012

UKube-1 Amateur Radio CubeSat books a ride on Soyuz-2

Artist’s Impression of UKube-1 in space – Credit Clyde Space

UKube-1 – the UK Space Agency’s first CubeSat mission – has ‘booked’ its journey into space on a Russian Soyuz-2 rocket. The launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrone in Kazakhstan is expected to take place in March 2013.

UKube-1 carries an amateur radio 435/145 MHz linear transponder built by members of AMSAT-UK.

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