Yearly Archives: 2011

Jul 25 2011

FUNcube Videos Released

AMSAT-UK have released a number of videos showing the Assembly, Integration and Verification (AIV) testing of the FUNcube satellite at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratories:

Wouter PA3WEG removes the stack from the Thermo Vac chamber after nearly 5 hot/cold cycles over a period of two and a half days in the chamber. The GOOD news is that the stack was still working after these tests!

FUNcube AIV Testing from Jim Heck on Vimeo.

Graham G3VZV and Wouter PA3WEG return to the lab with the stack after removal from the Thermo Vac chamber. They both make comments on how the test have gone so far.

FUNcube AIV Testing from Jim Heck on Vimeo.

Applying ‘Space Glue’ to the screws holding the side panels in place, ready for Vibration Testing on July 25.

FUNcube AIV Testing from Jim Heck on Vimeo.

Further FUNcube videos can be seen at
http://vimeo.com/user3575668

FUNcube Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FUNcube/

There will be talks on the FUNcube satellite and FUNcube dongle SDR at the AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium to be held July 30-31 at the Holiday Inn, Guildford, GU2 7XZ, England. The event is open to all.

Either day passes or full packages comprising overnight accommodation and meals are available. For futher information see http://www.uk.amsat.org/colloquium-2011/

Live webstream at http://www.batc.tv/ch_live.php?ch=3
The Colloquium schedule, times in BST (GMT+1), is at http://tinyurl.com/2011ColloquiumSchedule
The Spring issue of the AMSAT-UK newsletter OSCAR News can be downloaded free at http://www.uk.amsat.org/on_193_final.pdf
Join AMSAT-UK at http://tinyurl.com/JoinAMSAT-UK/

Jul 24 2011

Israeli CubeSat InKlajn-1

Shamai Opfer 4Z1WS will be giving a talk on Israel’s new 3U CubeSat InKlajn-1 to the AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium in Guildford next weekend.

The triple CubeSat aims to educate a new generation of Radio Amateurs, enabling students to take a part in a real space mission. (e.g. developing an attitude control algorithm and demonstrating it in space).

It is planned to provide telemetry using 1200bps BPSK and 1200bps AFSK with an option of 400bps BPSK and 1200bps MSK . Downlink frequencies of 145.815 and 145.950MHz have been coordinated by the IARU Satellite Frequency Coordination panel.

Ejection test of the Nano Satellite Inklajn-1, of the Israeli Nanosatellite Association (INSA). Feb 2011

Israeli Nano-Satellite Association (INSA) http://www.insasite.com/

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

The AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium will be held July 30-31 at the Holiday Inn, Guildford, GU2 7XZ. It is open to all. Either day passes or full packages comprising overnight accommodation and meals are available. For futher information see http://www.uk.amsat.org/colloquium-2011/

Colloquium schedule, times in BST (GMT+1): http://tinyurl.com/2011ColloquiumSchedule

Webstreamed live at http://www.batc.tv/ch_live.php?ch=3

Jul 21 2011

FUNcube Environmental Testing at RAL

Duncan makes a few last minute software changes, while Graham rests his hand on the oven door
Wouter PA3WEG (right) working in the RAL cleanroom
before placing FUNcube into the vacuum chamber

During the week starting 18 July, members of AMSAT-UK performed temperature testing and thermo vacuum testing of the FUNcube satellite. The facilities to do this were very kindly offered by the Assembly, Integration and Verification (AIV) facility at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratories, at Harwell, near Oxford. AMSAT-UK are extremely grateful to them for helping and advising us. The boards we tested were our ‘Engineering Models’ (EMs) which are just about identical to those that will fly. Below are some pictures of the facilities, and the team.

In summary (as at Wed 20 July) we have determined that the stack operates down to a temp of minus 10 degs C and up to +60 degs C and survived storage at -30 and +70. These results were obtained by the use of a temperature controlled oven in air. On Tuesday evening we transferred the stack to a thermo vacuum chamber, and are continuing testing.

AMSAT-UK is aiming to complete the thermo vacuum testing by Friday morning, leaving the rest of Friday to apply glue to the structure, and mount it in its ‘POD’ ready for vibration testing on Monday.

FUNcube EM in air oven at RAL July 2011
FUNcube EM in air oven at RAL July 2011

The temperature is measured by the means of thermocouples which are mounted in different places on the ‘stack’, one on the PA final amplifier device, one on the microprocessor of the CCT Board, one on the RF board near the rx local oscillator, and the fourth one on the structure. When in the air oven the readings from the thermocouples are noted down manually. In the thermo vacuum chamber these reading are logged automatically once per minute.

All the telemetry sent by the stack is being logged, via a FUNcube dongle, so in this way we will be able to calibrate some of FUNcube’s temperature sensors.

Duncan makes a few last minute software changes, while Graham rests his hand on the oven door
Duncan Hills makes a few last minute software changes, with Graham Shirville G3VZV by oven
For more information on FUNcube see http://www.FUNcube.org.uk/
Join the FUNcube Yahoo Group at http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/FUNcube/
Jul 20 2011

Responses to DCMS spectrum release plan

A joint response from the RSGB, UK Microwave Group, AMSAT-UK and BATC is among the 31 responses to the DCMS consultation on releasing public sector spectrum.

The Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) consultation sought opinion on the release of 500MHz of public sector spectrum by 2020.

The Amateur and Amateur Satellite services share spectrum with the public services.

BAE Systems expressed serious concerns regarding the proposed release of spectrum at 2300-2400MHz and the UK Space Agency highlighted the risks to the space sector, especially in the area of remote sensing and satellite navigation.

NATS pointed out that access to interference free radio spectrum is essential for the safe and efficient operation of aircraft and challenged the assertion that there is significant surplus spectrum that can be released ‘to more productive private sector use’.

Read the responses at
http://www.culture.gov.uk/consultations/8297.aspx

The joint RSGB, UK Microwave Group, AMSAT-UK and BATC response is at
http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/consultation_responses/
Spectrum2011_Radio-Society-of-Great-Britain.pdf

Releasing public sector spectrum document
http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/publications/Spectrum_Release.pdf

Southgate May 2011 – First step to Communications Bill
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/may2011/communications_bill.htm

UK Microwave Group: http://www.microwavers.org/

AMSAT-UK: http://www.uk.amsat.org/

British Amateur Television Club (BATC): http:/www.batc.org.uk/

Radio Society of Great Britain: http://www.rsgb.org/

Jul 18 2011

AMSAT-UK planning ARISSat-1 activation

 

GB4FUN

GB4FUN

Members of AMSAT-UK hope to be active using GB4FUN during the ARISSat-1 tests, July 30-31, from the International Space Colloquium in Guildford.

ARISSat-1 is a new Amateur Radio satellite that will be deployed from the International Space Station (ISS) during a space walk in early August.

It is currently onboard the ISS and on the weekend of July 30-31 the satellite will be connected to external antennas of the ISS enabling Amateurs to communicate through it’s linear transponder using SSB/CW and receive it’s FM, BPSK and CW downlinks. The FM downlink will also be transmitting Slow Scan TV that can be received using the free MMSSTV software.

AMSAT-UK intend to use the GB4FUN station equipment to listen to the various ARISSat-1 signals.

In addition they will be experimenting with the use of FUNcube Dongle software defined radios to receive the ARISSat-1 signals with a variety of different antennas.

The colloquium is being held on July 30-31 at the Holiday Inn, Guildford, GU2 7XZ. It is open to all Radio Amateurs and SWL’s. Either day passes or full packages comprising overnight accommodation and meals are available. For futher information see http://www.uk.amsat.org/colloquium-2011/

 

ARRISat-1 Frequencies
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/july2011/
arissat1_deployment_1707.htm

Online Satellite Pass Predictions, select ISS
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/tools/predict/

PDF of RadCom article Getting Started on Amateur Radio Satellites
http://www.uk.amsat.org/archives/getting-started-on-
amateur-radio-satellites

AMSAT-UK publishes a colour A4 newsletter, OSCAR News, which is full of Amateur Satellite information.
Join online at http://tinyurl.com/JoinAMSAT-UK

 

Jul 17 2011

ARISSat-1/KEDR activation planned

ARISSat-1/KEDR Project Manager Gould Smith, WA4SXM said this week the latest status, discussed during the International ARISS teleconference Sergey Samburov, RV3DR announced the ARISSat battery will be charged late July and a test of the system will be conducted on the ISS from 1915 UTC 30 July to about 1200-1400 UTC 31 July.

During the test ARISSat-1 will be in LOW power mode, this means that it will transmit about 40 seconds and then shut down for 2 minutes and then transmit for 40 seconds, etc.
The standard ARISSat-1/KEDR 2m downlink band plan should be
transmitted. Additionally, the FM signal also downlinked on 437.55 MHz.

As to the date of deployment, Gould summarized,
“The deployment date for ARISSat is still subject to change. As of July 14 we are looking at a 3 Aug 2011 date for EVA 29 and the ARISSat-1/KEDR deployment. The ARISSat/KEDR deployment is the first task of the EVA, so it will occur fairly soon after the EVA begins. We will let everyone know more as we know more.”

Continue reading →