Monthly Archives: April 2012

Apr 14 2012

TechEdSat – Challenge for Space Hackers – April 21-22

The International Space Apps Challenge is a 2 day technology development event, taking place April 21-22, during which citizens from around the world will work together to solve current challenges relevant to both space exploration and social need.

TechEdSat

TechEdSat

TechEdSat is an Amateur Radio CubeSat that will be launched on July 21, 2012 from Tanegashima, Japan aboard the HTV-3 ISS resupply mission. TechEdSat will be among the first CubeSats to be deployed from the ISS, and is investigating the use of Plug and Play software/hardware and intersatellite communication via Iridium and Orbcomm networks.

For this challenge, space hackers must implement a command and control system, utilizing both the OrbComm and Iridium modems as uplink and downlink. The software should be modular to facilitate the easy implementation of future commands, and should be fault tolerant.

A ground segment of the software should include the ability for a laptop (or bonus points for an Apple or Android phone) to issue commands to the spacecraft over Iridium/Orbcomm. The spacecraft segment should be written for a Linux environment able to listen for commands, and have the ability to send arbitrary data packages back to the ground.

Bonus points for relaying data received from the spacecraft automatically to Twitter.

Space hackers will be issued interface documentation for Iridium and OrbComm modems, and engineering development hardware for testing. This software has the potential to fly on the TechEdSat mission if completed.

Source: A New Command and Control Protocol for CubeSats
http://spaceappschallenge.org/challenge/new-command-and-control-protocol-cubesats/

International Space Apps Challenge http://spaceappschallenge.org/

TechEdSat to use ‘SatPhone’ http://www.uk.amsat.org/5018

Apr 12 2012

Invader CubeSat – A Student Art Satellite

ARTSAT PROJECT-1: INVADER is an amateur radio “Art Satellite” currently being developed as a part of the “ARTSAT: Art and Satellite Project” which aims at a practical use of a satellite for art and design.

Invader is a 1U CubeSat being developed by students at Tama Art University. The students say:

We would like to contribute to the amateur radio community from the view point of the Art field using this satellite. Our satellite has 3 missions:

ARTSAT Project InvaderFirst, we install some sensors to our satellite and utilize these data for Art Work. For example, by creating the Lightning Equipment which changes color according to the satellite temperature data and distributing to people, we try to make more people get interested in satellite and amateur radio.

Second, we install a small camera (150*150pixels) for acquiring the Earth image for utilizing in Art Work.

Third, we install a Digi-Talker, which transmits voice data using FM. We plan to transmit sensor data using the Digi-Talker.

Three UHF downlinks are proposed including one CW beacon, one 1k2 AFSK data transmission and one FM Voice transmitter.

A launch is planned from Tanegashima into a 400km circular orbit with 65 deg inclination in 2014 on the same H-IIA launcher as STARS-II, TeikyouSat-3, KSAT2, OPUSAT, ITF-1.

ARTSAT Project in Google English http://tinyurl.com/ARTSAT

ARTSAT Press Release http://artsat.jp/wp-content/uploads/docs/press_release_en.pdf

Tama Art University in Google English http://tinyurl.com/TamaArtUniversity

IARU Amateur Satellite Frequency Coordination Status Pages http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru/

Apr 12 2012

Student HRBE Amateur Radio CubeSat in SatMagazine

SatMagazine April 2012

SatMagazine April 2012

The student built Hiscock Radiation Belt Explorer (HRBE) amateur radio CubeSat formerly known as Explorer-1 [PRIME] is featured on page 10 of the April issue of SatMagazine.

In the article SatMagazine says:

The Montana State University (MSU) satellite that rode into space on a NASA rocket has now gathered information longer than the historic U.S. satellite it was built to honor, said the director of MSU’s Space Science and Engineering Laboratory (SSEL).

Almost four months after the October 28 launch, and shortly after learning that NASA had selected another MSU satellite for possible launch on a NASA rocket next year, SSEL Director David Klumpar [KD7MFJ] cheered as he suddenly realized that Montana’s only satellite had collected data for 111 days as of February 15. Since then, the satellite has well surpassed the entire 111-day mission of its history-making predecessor, Explorer-1, the first successful U.S. satellite.

On the HRBE site the team say “A special thanks goes to all of the HAM operators that have been listening into beacons and sending us the data. Data Submissions from HAM Operators have comprised of almost half of the data we have collected so far and has become a vital part in monitoring the health and systems of HRBE.”

Download the April issue of SatMagazine from http://www.satmagazine.com/2012/SM_Apr2012.pdf

SatMagazine http://www.satmagazine.com/

HRBE (Explorer-1 [PRIME] ) https://ssel.montana.edu/

How to receive the 437.505 MHz LSB Amateur Radio Cubesat E-1P / HRBE http://www.uk.amsat.org/2446

Apr 11 2012

Busy weekend for Cuba’s amateur radio satellite group

Raydel Espinet CM2ESP - 640

Raydel Espinet CM2ESP

This is going to be a busy weekend for Cuba’s recently founded “Grupo de Radioaficionados para Operaciones Satelitales” (GROS). Three different activities have been scheduled so far.

Hector Martinez CO6CBF

Hector Martinez CO6CBF

* Friday night (20:30 EDT), Hector CO6CBF will be hosting a talk about amateur radio satellite on Pico San Juan 2m repeater (145.130). The topics will include:
– The GROS presentation in the province.
– Brief history of amateur radio satellites.
– Current operational satellites.
– Future projects.
– Types of satellites and its transmissions methods.
– Amateur radio recieving stations requirements and homebrew solutions.
– Operating practices.
– Amateur Radio Satellite operations in Cuba.
– Special Guest: Arnaldo Coro, CO2KK, Cuba’s second ham in perform a satellite QSO and Cuba’s first in conduct a EME QSO.

Pavel Costa CO7WT

Pavel Costa CO7WT

* Saturday morning (10:00 EDT) at Camaguey, Pavel CO7WT will be hosting a talk at Camaguey City Amateur Radio Club. The topics will include:
– The GROS presentation in the province.
– Brief history of amateur radio satellites and its operators.
– Basics of orbital mechanics.
– Operation methods.
– Technical requirements for set up a APRS/Beacon Packet station using the ISS digipeater.
– Amateur Radio Satellite Fleet Status.
– Related examples.

* Saturday morning at Havana (10:00 EDT) in Cuba’s National Amateur Radio Federation (FRC). Raydel CM2ESP will be hosting the Official Presentation of the recently founded Group.

The topics will include:
– Origin and background of the Group.
– Working profile and prospects.
– Brief abstract about the Group’s Rules.
– Current Board of Directors.
– Schedule of future activities and meetings.
– Questions and Answers Session.

All three events are jointly coordinated between GROS’s members and each province radio club.

The events will be also be in commemoration of the first human spaceflight by Yuri Gagarin the April 12, 1961, the inaugural launch of NASA’s Space Shuttle on the same day of 1981 and the celebration of the 87th Anniversary of the founding of the International Amateur Radio Union, IARU, April 18, 1925.

Unfortunately in both Saturday’s activities we will not be able to perform a satellite demostration because ISS and AO-27 passes are too late and SO-50 is too early instead. We are right know working on more activities coordinations for the next week.

73, Raydel, CM2ESP

Yuri’s Night April 12 http://www.uk.amsat.org/6338

New Cuban Amateur Radio Satellite Group formed http://www.uk.amsat.org/5454

Apr 11 2012

Busy weekend for Cuba's amateur radio satellite group

Raydel Espinet CM2ESP - 640

Raydel Espinet CM2ESP

This is going to be a busy weekend for Cuba’s recently founded “Grupo de Radioaficionados para Operaciones Satelitales” (GROS). Three different activities have been scheduled so far.

Hector Martinez CO6CBF

Hector Martinez CO6CBF

* Friday night (20:30 EDT), Hector CO6CBF will be hosting a talk about amateur radio satellite on Pico San Juan 2m repeater (145.130). The topics will include:
– The GROS presentation in the province.
– Brief history of amateur radio satellites.
– Current operational satellites.
– Future projects.
– Types of satellites and its transmissions methods.
– Amateur radio recieving stations requirements and homebrew solutions.
– Operating practices.
– Amateur Radio Satellite operations in Cuba.
– Special Guest: Arnaldo Coro, CO2KK, Cuba’s second ham in perform a satellite QSO and Cuba’s first in conduct a EME QSO.

Pavel Costa CO7WT

Pavel Costa CO7WT

* Saturday morning (10:00 EDT) at Camaguey, Pavel CO7WT will be hosting a talk at Camaguey City Amateur Radio Club. The topics will include:
– The GROS presentation in the province.
– Brief history of amateur radio satellites and its operators.
– Basics of orbital mechanics.
– Operation methods.
– Technical requirements for set up a APRS/Beacon Packet station using the ISS digipeater.
– Amateur Radio Satellite Fleet Status.
– Related examples.

* Saturday morning at Havana (10:00 EDT) in Cuba’s National Amateur Radio Federation (FRC). Raydel CM2ESP will be hosting the Official Presentation of the recently founded Group.

The topics will include:
– Origin and background of the Group.
– Working profile and prospects.
– Brief abstract about the Group’s Rules.
– Current Board of Directors.
– Schedule of future activities and meetings.
– Questions and Answers Session.

All three events are jointly coordinated between GROS’s members and each province radio club.

The events will be also be in commemoration of the first human spaceflight by Yuri Gagarin the April 12, 1961, the inaugural launch of NASA’s Space Shuttle on the same day of 1981 and the celebration of the 87th Anniversary of the founding of the International Amateur Radio Union, IARU, April 18, 1925.

Unfortunately in both Saturday’s activities we will not be able to perform a satellite demostration because ISS and AO-27 passes are too late and SO-50 is too early instead. We are right know working on more activities coordinations for the next week.

73, Raydel, CM2ESP

Yuri’s Night April 12 http://www.uk.amsat.org/6338

New Cuban Amateur Radio Satellite Group formed http://www.uk.amsat.org/5454

Apr 11 2012

Elon Musk Profiled

“Bloomberg Risk Takers” profiles Elon Musk, the entrepreneur who helped create PayPal, built America’s first viable fully electric car company, started the USA’s biggest solar energy supplier, and through SpaceX may make commercial space travel a reality in our lifetime.

Watch Elon Musk Profiled: Bloomberg Risk Takers

SpaceX http://www.spacex.com/