O/OREOS Mission: "Cost effective" CubeSat science

 

Astrobiology magazine posts a piece on the success of NASA’s O/OREOS mission that points out that serious science can be accomplished by tiny spacecraft:

‘The full success of the O/OREOS mission demonstrates convincingly that cubesats can be cost-effective platforms for performing science research and conducting technology demonstrations,’ said Mary Voytek, senior scientist of NASA’s Astrobiology Program at NASA Headquarters, in a statement from NASA. ‘The capabilities of cubesats are growing steadily, making them good candidates to operate precursor experiments for missions on larger satellites, the International Space Station, lunar surface exposure facilities, and planetary exploration.’

O/OREOS monitored the effects of the space environment on microorganism growth and metabolism in a high-inclination, low-Earth orbit.

Wayne

Image credit: NASA Ames

O/OREOS Mission: “Cost effective” CubeSat science

 

Astrobiology magazine posts a piece on the success of NASA’s O/OREOS mission that points out that serious science can be accomplished by tiny spacecraft:

‘The full success of the O/OREOS mission demonstrates convincingly that cubesats can be cost-effective platforms for performing science research and conducting technology demonstrations,’ said Mary Voytek, senior scientist of NASA’s Astrobiology Program at NASA Headquarters, in a statement from NASA. ‘The capabilities of cubesats are growing steadily, making them good candidates to operate precursor experiments for missions on larger satellites, the International Space Station, lunar surface exposure facilities, and planetary exploration.’

O/OREOS monitored the effects of the space environment on microorganism growth and metabolism in a high-inclination, low-Earth orbit.

Wayne

Image credit: NASA Ames

Masat-1 in silent mode again

Masat-1 in silent mode again

On 21 and 22 March 2012 (Wednesday, Thursday) we will switch the satellite to silent mode again as a repetition of the last silent mode data aquisition. In silent mode, all RF transmission of the satellite is turned off, the satellite is only on reception. After these experiments regular telemetry transmission will be turned on again.

UKube-1 to launch in 2013

UKube-1 Systems Engineer Steve Greenland

UKube-1 Systems Engineer Steve Greenland

The BBC report that the first satellite to be built in Scotland is due to be launched next year.

BBC News say UKube-1 is being built at the West of Scotland Science Park in Maryhill, Glasgow and is expected to enter orbit in 2013.

UKube-1 systems engineer Steve Greenland is quoted as saying:

“People often ask me what my job is and I tell them that I’m building satellites in Maryhill,” he says.

“Sometimes they don’t believe it. Sometimes they laugh at me.”

Read the full story and watch the video at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-17439236

Artists impression of UKube-1 in orbit

Artists impression of UKube-1 in orbit

UKube-1 will carry a set of AMSAT-UK FUNcube boards that will provide a 435/145 MHz linear transponder for SSB/CW amateur radio communications.

UKube-1 final design approved http://www.uk.amsat.org/2430

Bath TOPCAT Project http://www.uk.amsat.org/1612

Clyde Space http://www.clyde-space.com/

Daily Mail newspaper story http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2117610/UKube-1-satellite-First-space-cubesat-Scotland-launch-2013.html

 

BBC Interview – Elon Musk and Mars

On BBC Radio 4 Elon Musk of SpaceX speaks about his plans for flights to Mars.

As well as Mars Elon talks about the Falcon 9-Heavy vehicle. This rocket will be substantially bigger than the simple variant due to fly next month, and should be capable of putting more than 53 tonnes (117,000lb) of payload in a low-Earth orbit – more than twice that of the space shuttle.

Elon Musk believes the Falcon Heavy will be transformative because it will substantially reduce the cost of carrying a given mass into space – breaking the barrier of $1,000 per pound (0.45 kg) lifted.

Elon Musk is interviewed in the BBC Radio 4 show ‘Scotts Legacy Part 2’ which can be heard at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01dhrmj

It is understood there could be some issues with people overseas listening to or watching BBC shows. The use of a Proxy Server or software such as Expat Shield may be a way around this.

BBC News – Mars for the ‘average person’ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17439490

Spring OSCAR News

The Spring edition of the AMSAT-UK colour A4 newsletter OSCAR News is being posted to members this week.

In this issue
– Dick Daniels W4PUJ SK
– VEGA Maiden Flight Report
– My way to solve the TLE lottery by Mike DK3WN
– Your Spacecraft recording wanted, urgently
– Getting back on the Satellites by Andrew Sellers G8TZJ
– Sumbandilasat
– FUNcube satellite project update
– The Clive Wallis G3CWV Column
– A Swiss satellite to tackle space debris
– ARISSat-1/KEDR goes silent
– FUNcube satellite models part 2
– KickSat – your personal spacecraft in space!
– Shorts

You can get OSCAR News by joining AMSAT-UK online at http://tinyurl.com/JoinAMSAT-UK

AMSAT-UK is a voluntary organisation that supports the design and building of equipment for amateur sadio satellites. Its members are currently building the satellite FUNcube-1.