Yearly Archives: 2011

Dec 18 2011

Three Radio Amateurs to launch to ISS

NASA astronaut Don Pettit KD5MDT

NASA astronaut Don Pettit KD5MDT

On Wednesday, December 21, three radio amateurs will fly to the International Space Station (ISS) for a 6 month stay.

NASA astronaut Don Pettit KD5MDT, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko RN3DX and Dutch astronaut Andre Kuipers, PI9ISS continue preparations for their planned Soyuz launch to the ISS on on December 21 at 0816 EST (1316 GMT).

The SpaceFlightNow web site posted a photo album of the ISS Expedition 30 crew this week during inspections and fit checks in the seats: http://spaceflightnow.com/station/exp30/111209fitcheck/

The European Space Agency has released a video of Andre Kuipers’ mission which can be viewed at:
http://spaceflightnow.com/station/exp30/kuipers.html

The Soyuz TMA-03M spacecraft will be encapsulated in the aerodynamic shroud and then mated to its rocket booster next week in preparation for rollout to the launch pad on December 19. After launch the Soyuz will fly a two-day trek to rendezvous with the station for a planned automated docking December 23 at 1020 EST (1520 GMT).

These three hams are headed for a half-year mission aboard the ISS as members of Expeditions 30 and 31.

Source ANS

Watch the launch and docking live on NASA TV
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/december2011/nasa_tv_to_cover_launch_of_ham_radio_trio.htm

Dec 17 2011

From OSCAR 1 to Mars and Beyond

A video of the presentation about Amateur Radio Space Communications given by Mario Lorenz DL5MLO to hackers at the Chaos Communication Camp 2011 is now available.

The talk  was titled ‘From OSCAR 1 to Mars and beyond – Amateur Space Exploration – The last 50 years, now, and the future’ and the YouTube description reads:

Radio amateurs have been building and operating satellites for almost fifty years now, and we are aiming for more. In this talk, I’ll present who AMSAT is, what we have achieved in the last fifty years, and what we are working on now.

Back in the 1960’s, radio amateurs seized the opportunity of launching a satellite into space. It would not be the only one; we are approaching OSCAR 70 now. Building satellites has always been challenging and involves using technology in creative ways. I’ll cover some of the more fascinating cases, including some lessons learned during the process. In addition to the satellites in earth orbit, we are also aiming for Mars, and I’ll show what are doing to get there.

Watch From OSCAR 1 to Mars and beyond – CCCamp 2011

Hackers Plan Space Satellites http://www.uk.amsat.org/3172 

London Hackspace Project: Hoxton Space Centre http://wiki.london.hackspace.org.uk/view/Project:Hoxton_Space_Centre

London Hackspace work on HackSat1 http://www.uk.amsat.org/2482

The DIY Magic of Amateur Radio video http://www.uk.amsat.org/3158

Dec 17 2011

AMSAT-India Linear Transponder

AMSAT-India 435-145 MHz Linear Transponder

AMSAT-India 435/145 MHz Linear Transponder

At Hamfest India (HFI) 2011, held in Kochi Dec 10-11, a presentation was given on a new Indian linear transponder and a CubeSat communications system.

This was the largest gathering of radio amateurs in India so far. Radio Amateurs and SWLs from all over the country and invited guests from other countries enjoyed the two-day event.

AMSAT-India gave several presentations at the event, among them was one by Ganesan Namachivayam KJ6LRR in which he described a satellite 435/145 MHz linear transponder with a bandwidth of 50 kHz and capable of 1-3 watts PEP output. AMSAT-India plan to develop a smaller linear transponder for CubeSats.

AMSAT-India CubeSat

AMSAT-India CubeSat

Ganesan also described a CubeSat communications system comprising a 435 MHz half-duplex narrow‐band FM transceiver supporting a data rate of 1200-9600 bps. The transmitter produces 1 watt output and can also operate as a Morse Code beacon.

Other presentations included:

  • Real Time Tracking by Mani VU2WMY
  • Working with LEO Sats by Dr. Raveendranath VU2RVJ
  • Telemetry Decoding by Nitin VU3TYG

The slides from the AMSAT-India presentations are at
http://amsatindia.org/presentations/HFI-2011/AI-HFI2011.pdf

Hamfest India (HFI) 2011 http://www.hamfestindia2011.com/

AMSAT India http://www.amsatindia.org/

Dec 17 2011

Announcement of Opportunity: CubeSat Mission Concept Studies

Artists impression of UKube-1 in orbit

Artists impression of UKube-1 in orbit

The UK Space Agency is inviting proposals to develop CubeSat preparatory studies for future mission concepts e.g. UKube-2.

The core of the UK Space Agency strategy is to lead and sustain the growth of the UK Space Sector. In support of this the National Space Technology Programme (NSTP) promotes the development of new commercial and scientific applications by offering grant funding for truly novel concepts to be fully explored.

CubeSats offer huge potential to accelerate technology development of sensors and instruments in a package for deployment in space. New technology concepts for space missions can be demonstrated on CubeSat payloads, delivering a test bed at low cost and significantly reduced timescales. The CubeSat is a relatively new concept, which is maturing rapidly, in which the UK has existing leading capability.

This NSTP programme is to facilitate the acceleration of space technologies up the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) curve but can also attract new players into the space sector by offering a low cost route to getting flight heritage. To follow, the NSTP Pathfinder studies programme is to be released in early 2012 and will be specifically to develop technology concepts.

The UK Space Agency is currently funding a pilot programme, called Ukube1, to demonstrate the capabilities of a CubeSats with a launch towards the end of 2012. If successful, this pilot project could pave the way for a national programme starting in the third quarter of 2012, offering launch opportunities every 12-18 months. The aims of a national programme will also encompass the delivery of educational opportunities and science applications as well as testing new technologies.

Proposals are invited to develop CubeSat preparatory studies for future mission concepts e.g. UKube-2. The concept can address a scientific theme or be of an in-orbit technology demonstration nature (e.g. formation flying), providing a real impact to the UK. All UK based communities (academic, industrial and other) are invited to submit proposals. Applications can be made individually or in partnership with other organisations, however industry and academia will be funded under the rules stipulated in the scope of funding presented below.

Funding is available up to £35K per proposal; the size of award will depend on the requirements of the proposed project and the applicants’ case for support. Proposals should not exceed a grant value of £35K. Funding will be awarded in 2012 and the project cannot exceed 3 months duration. Due to the short nature of these studies and the amount of funding available, we intend funding successful applicants at the onset of the project. It is anticipated the scheme will fund a minimum of 7 proposals; the facility to fund more will depend on the size of awards and will be assessed on a competitive basis as detailed below.

The deadline for submission of proposals is 1st February 2012, 12pm.

Further information at
http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/bispartners/ukspaceagency/docs/space%20science/cubesats/cubesat-ao-dec-11.pdf 

UK launches National Space Academy http://www.uk.amsat.org/2011/12/16/uk-launches-national-space-academy/

Download a free copy of the AMSAT-UK newsletter OSCAR News here

Dec 16 2011

Amateur Radio Satellites Approach Launch

Amateur radio CubeSats and ALMASat-1 being prepared for launch

The integration of Vega’s first, second and third stages is now complete at ESA’s Spaceport at Kourou in the Caribbean. ESA say the new rocket is moving full speed ahead towards its maiden flight at the end of January.

Vega will carry seven amateur radio satellites, ALMASat-1 and six Cubesats. The primary payload is LARES (Laser Relativity Satellite), a passive satellite with laser mirrors for the study of the Earth gravitational field and general relativity measurements (Lense-Thirring effect).

By the end of December, the six CubeSats, ALMASat-1 and LARES will be ready and enclosed in the fairing, well in time for the launch.

PW-Sat to launch in January

Vega to Launch Amateur Radio Satellites

Vega moves closer to its first liftoff 

OSCAR News is published quarterly by AMSAT-UK. Download a free sample issue here join here

Dec 16 2011

UK launches National Space Academy

Space is about to touch down in even more classrooms and colleges across the UK, with the launch of the National Space Academy – a network of outstanding teachers and space scientists that will use the inspirational context of space to teach STEM subjects – and geography – to our students and their teachers.

Led by the National Space Centre on behalf of the UK Space Agency, the Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC), the UK Space Education Office (ESERO-UK), and theEuropean Space Agency, the academy will be launched in February 2012 and will be supported by a range of universities, colleges and sponsors.

The National Space Academy’s network of teachers will work with scientists from theUniversity of Leicester, the University of Nottingham and the STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Harwell, Oxfordshire. They will deliver student masterclasses, teacher CPD (continued professional development) courses, careers events and a bespoke space engineering course at Loughborough College. The first group of 12 teachers will be spread across England.

Inmarsat, VEGA Space, Astrium GEO Information Services, Rolls Royce, Logica, the Garfield Weston Foundation and the Ogden Trust have all committed funds to the National Space Academy.

The National Space Academy will work with existing initiatives such as ESERO-UK, thenetwork of Science Learning Centres, STFC’s Leading Space Education Project, the Institute of Physics, and the network of Science and Discovery Centres to improve the attainment of students in secondary schools and colleges.

Minister for Universities and Science David Willetts said:

Space captures the imagination of people of all ages, and the National Space Academy will use the UK’s world-class expertise in space research and technology to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers

“Space captures the imagination of people of all ages, and the National Space Academy will use the UK’s world-class expertise in space research and technology to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. This will also equip them with the skills and knowledge needed to boost both our leading research base and our economy.”

Professor Sir Martin Sweeting G3YJO, Chairman of the National Space Centre’s Board of Trustees, says:

“The National Space Centre is indebted to its partners and sponsors for their drive and enthusiasm in getting the National Space Academy up and running. The three year pilot programme that was run in association with the East Midlands Development Agency was a great success and showed that students respond very positively to the subject of space as a context for their learning. We have evidence of improved attainment in exam results and teacher effectiveness, and a greater likelihood of students choosing science and engineering-related subject at the next stage in their education”.
Credit: UK Space Agency