Upcoming CubeSat launch opportunities

The past year has seen a shortage of launches for Amateur Radio CubeSats. 
Abe Bonnema
from ISIS provides details of upcoming launch opportunities.

Cubesat

Cubesat

Many of you are looking for launch opportunities for your CubeSats (or nanosats), but launches for CubeSats have been quite scarce over the past year, unfortunately. As many of you know, we – ISIS / ISILaunch Services – have been working towards creating more regular, affordable access to space for CubeSats and nanosats for a few years already.

Recently, we have teamed with Spaceflight Services from the United States to create a global launch services offering, combining US and non-US opportunities and customers, and we have a cooperation with CalPoly on a particular launch opportunity for several CubeSats. These efforts are now starting to bear fruit; with the very recent and upcoming signing of a number of agreements (more details soon), a significant number of launch opportunities is now available.

Since these opportunities can contain a limited number of CubeSats, a timely, proper coordination of allocation, interfaces, frequencies and other aspects is required. We would therefore like to call for your interest for the following launch opportunities;

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AMSAT Colloquium

AMSAT Colloquium 2011

AMSAT Colloquium

AMSAT Colloquium

AMSAT Colloquium, Holiday Inn 29-30 July. We understand that the hotel is getting booked up already for the Sat night. To avoid disappointment, we strongly urge you to book your place asap. Speak to Rachael Cross on +44 (0) 1483 784418. More deails, incl prices, at http://www.uk.amsat.org/colloquium-2011

It’s time to get ready for ARISSat-1

It’s time to get ready for ARISSat-1

A few weeks remain before the planned July deployment of ARISSat-1 from the ISS.

ARISSat-1

ARISSat-1

Here are some reminders to help you get your station ready for ARISSat-1 operation.

145.950 MHz FM Downlink:
FM transmissions will cycle between a voice ID as RS01S, select telemetry values, 24 international greeting messages in 15 languages and SSTV images. One of the messages will be a conversation between Yuri Gagarin and ground control. See the next news item for pointers to get your station ready to receive the SSTV images.

435 MHz – 145 MHz Linear Transponder:
The linear transponder will operate in Mode U/V (70 cm Up, 2m Down).
It is an 16 KHz wide inverting passband and the convention will be to TX LSB on the 435 MHz uplink and RX USB on the 145 MHz downlink. This mode is designed to work with low power transmitters and omni antenna.

145.919 MHz/145.939 MHz CW Beacon:
The CW transmissions will be callsign ID RS01S, select telemetry, and callsigns of people actively involved with the ARISS program.

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It's time to get ready for ARISSat-1

It’s time to get ready for ARISSat-1

A few weeks remain before the planned July deployment of ARISSat-1 from the ISS.

ARISSat-1

ARISSat-1

Here are some reminders to help you get your station ready for ARISSat-1 operation.

145.950 MHz FM Downlink:
FM transmissions will cycle between a voice ID as RS01S, select telemetry values, 24 international greeting messages in 15 languages and SSTV images. One of the messages will be a conversation between Yuri Gagarin and ground control. See the next news item for pointers to get your station ready to receive the SSTV images.

435 MHz – 145 MHz Linear Transponder:
The linear transponder will operate in Mode U/V (70 cm Up, 2m Down).
It is an 16 KHz wide inverting passband and the convention will be to TX LSB on the 435 MHz uplink and RX USB on the 145 MHz downlink. This mode is designed to work with low power transmitters and omni antenna.

145.919 MHz/145.939 MHz CW Beacon:
The CW transmissions will be callsign ID RS01S, select telemetry, and callsigns of people actively involved with the ARISS program.

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AMSAT-UK at the UK Space Conference July 4/5th 2011

UK Space Conference 2011AMSAT-UK will have a presence at the first ever UK Space Conference taking place at the Univeristy of Warwick on July 4/5th. This is being organised by the UK Space Agency which was formally commenced in April this year.

We have been sponsored by a member to have a small stand “booth” in the exhibtion area and will be amongst  some very illustrious company.

We will be displaying FUNcube models and demonstrating the educational outreach possibilities that we will have with the telemetry and Fitter message download systems when matched with a simple groundstation – the FUNcube dongle.

We will also  be presenting short papers in the educational and cubesat streams during the event.

– see this link for details of the event.

Satellite Presentation – Pasadena CA

AMSAT area coordinator Clint Bradford, K6LCS, will be presenting his ‘Working Amateur Satellites With Your HT’session at the June 28, 2011 meeting of the Pasadena (CA) Radio Club. ALL are welcome to attend.

Clint Bradford K6LCS

Clint Bradford K6LCS

“The Pasadena club just celebrated their 50th anniversary,” Clint reports. “Not only as a club, but also 50 years of being an ARRL affiliate club. Why they are asking me back to speak during this momentous year is beyond me … ”

Tuesday, June 28, 2011 – 7:00PM
Kaiser Permanente – Walnut Center
393 E Walnut Street, Pasadena CA 91101

Attendees should download Clint’s four-page tutorial and radio programming data from …
http://www.work-sat.com

… and Clint welcomes pre-presentation questions. Call him at 909-1241-7666, or send email to …
clint@clintbradford.com