Duchifat-1 is an experimental and educational spacecraft developed and built by young Israeli students at the Space Laboratory of the Herzliya Science Centre (HSC).

As well as APRS on 145.825 MHz it also carries a UHF/VHF 1200 bps BPSK transceiver that can provide a FM to DSB transponder.

The project is directed by Dr Ana Heller with support from the Herzliya city municipality and the Israeli Amateur Radio Club.

The main mission of the satellite is to transmit real-time information via radio amateur packets from a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) using the Automatic Position Reporting System (APRS) protocol. Duchifat-1 will allow remote traveler’s to access the satellite for worldwide position/status reporting and messaging even in the case of using simple handheld or mobile radios with Omni-directional whip antennas.

Distant travelers, boats at sea, and stations in many parts of the world are presently unable to use the APRS system when on distant trips. Duchifat-1 satellite will augment the existing worldwide terrestrial Amateur Radio APRS by joining a number of Leo’s satellites and the International Space Station (ISS) currently capable of relaying APRS data.

Real-time reporting of station position for mobiles is facilitated using the Global Positioning System (GPS). APRS can be very useful to SAR (Search and Rescue) and CAP (Civil Air Patrol) missions. Duchifat-1 satellite will transmit a wide variety of data including short text messages and telemetry data. The reports will be combined with a computer and mapping software to display the transmitted data superimposed on maps at a HSC Ground Station.

Further information at http://www.madaim.org.il/hsl/php/index-en.php

IARU Amateur Satellite Frequency Coordination Panel status page http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru