Feb 23 2014

Delfi-n3Xt Update: Some Bad News

Delfi-n3Xt Satellite

Delfi-n3Xt Satellite

Delfi Nanosatellite Program Manager, Jasper Bouwmeester PC4JB, has announced the results of the testing carried out on the Delfi-n3Xt CubeSat 435/145 MHz linear transponder.

Dear radio amateurs,

Unfortunately, we have not heard anything from Delfi-n3Xt since Thursday 20/02 after our transponder test. During the transponder test we could hear our side beacon at 145.870 MHz and we were still able to switch back to normal transmission an back to transponder again (and also received the beacon the second time). Nothing seemed to be wrong, except for the transponder itself not properly working. The satellite was supposed to return to nominal operations in the next orbit.

We think that a hardware failure occurred either at the second half of the transponder orbit or during the mode switch. Since Friday we have made many attempts to revive the satellite. Since we have an independent radio, there was (and still is some) hope to get the satellite back in transmission. There are however a few points were common mode failures could occur: the phasing circuitry which connects both transmitters and an I2C buffer at the main bus side. We do however still have some hope that only one radio has failed and that we might still be able to command the satellite to use the other. Since all trivial command schemes did not work, next week we will only focus on a specific test to turn the transmitter on for a brief moment. During the weekend we saw some narrow band signal at 10 kHz below 145.870 MHz (+/- Doppler), which might potentially be related to the local oscillator. If we can reconstruct this a few times and clearly correlate this to Delfi-n3Xt (we do have a lot of intermitting noises sources in the neighbourhood) we at least know the OBC and one radio is still working and we can commence to next steps.

We appreciate everyone’s help to listen to Delfi-n3Xt to see if there is still some signal left. I think the best changes (besides Delft passes in which we try to command) are when the satellite comes just out of eclipse and is supposed to startup one of the transmitters. Please note that it has become very crowded with CubeSats lately, so any signals which are off in frequency (except for the -10 kHz tone), have a very different bandwidth and/or Doppler shift are very likely to be other satellites in the neighbourhood. Today we had for instance Delfi-C3 almost perfectly aligned sending at the same frequency. Delfi-n3Xt will only transmit at about 145.870 MHz.

If the situation changes, I will provide you with an update.

Best regards,

Jasper, PC4JB

IARU coordinated Delfi-n3Xt frequencies
• 145.870 MHz Telemetry
• 145.930 MHz Telemetry
• 2405.00 MHz High speed data
• Inverting SSB/CW transponder
– 435.530-435.570 MHz uplink LSB
– 145.880-145.920 MHz downlink USB

Telemetry reception http://www.delfispace.nl/operations/delfi-n3xt-telemetry-reception

Delfi-n3Xt http://www.delfispace.nl/operations/radio-amateurs

Dnepr Yasny launch https://amsat-uk.org/satellites/dnepr-november-2013/

Results of first Delfi-n3Xt transponder test
https://amsat-uk.org/2014/02/20/results-of-first-delfi-n3xt-transponder-test/

Delfi-n3Xt transponder to be tested
https://amsat-uk.org/2014/02/17/delfi-n3xt-transponder-to-be-tested/

Feb 23 2014

Brazilian CubeSat NanosatC-Br 1

NanosatC-Br 1 Engineering Model - Image CRS/CCR/INPE-MCT, UFSM

NanosatC-Br 1 Engineering Model – Image CRS/CCR/INPE-MCT, UFSM

NanosatC-Br 1 is planned to launch on a Dnepr rocket from Dombarovsky near Yasny in May/June 2014.

The 1U CubeSat carries an ISIS U/V transceiver with 1200 bps FM AX.25 UHF command uplink and a 9600 bps BPSK downlink on 145.865 MHz.

NanosatC-Br 1 is the first Brazilian CubeSat project, developed at the Southern Regional Space Research Center (CRS/CCR/INPE-MCT) in collaboration with the Space Science Laboratory of the Federal University of Santa Maria (LACESM/CT – UFSM).

The payload instruments of the NanosatC-Br 1 consists of:
• A magnetometer to measure the intensity of the Earth Magnetic Field at the South Atlantic Magnetic Anomaly (SAMA) region and on the Brazilian sector of the Ionosphere Equatorial Electrojet (EEJ)
• A particle precipitation chip dosimeter

In 2011 Pirajá PS8RF reported on the AMSAT Bulletin Board that the project is receiving support from the Amateur Radio Association Santamariense (ASRA) and the call sign of the control station will be PY3EB.

Further information at https://directory.eoportal.org/web/eoportal/satellite-missions/n/nanosatc-br1

Brazil National Institute for Space Research http://www.inpe.br/ingles/

Blog Brazilian Space https://www.facebook.com/pages/Blog-Brazilian-Space/310127009112859

Some of the other satellites on the same launch are:
Deimos 2, KazEOSat 1, SkySat 3, AprizeSat 9, AprizeSat 10, UniSat 6, BRITE-Toronto, BRITE-Montreal, Hodoyoshi 3, Hodoyoshi 4, BugSat 2, BugSat 3, SaudiSat 4, UNSA-SAT 1, ESTELLE, Tigrisat, AeroCube 6, ANTELSAT, Lemur 1, SERPENS

Feb 23 2014

Launch of Japanese amateur radio satellites

ARTSAT students at the Tama Art University

ARTSAT students at the Tama Art University

The ARTSAT INVADER CubeSat, callsign JQ1ZKK, and six other amateur radio satellites were on the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 23 (H-IIA F23) along with the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) core observatory satellite.

The launch took place from the Yoshinobu Launch Complex at the Tanegashima Space Center on Thursday, February 27, 2014 at 1837 UT.

The satellites will be placed into a 407 km orbit with an inclination of 65 degrees. A launch countdown clock and the Preliminary Keplerian Two Line Elements (TLEs) ‘Keps’ for INVADER are at http://artsat.jp/en/

JAXA H-IIA F23 Launch Frequency Chart by Mike Rupprecht DK3WN

JAXA H-IIA F23 Launch Frequency Chart by Mike Rupprecht DK3WN

JAXA H-IIA F23 Launch February 27, 2014 at1837 UT Credit NASA/Bill Ingalls

JAXA H-IIA F23 Launch February 27, 2014 at1837 UT Credit NASA/Bill Ingalls

Downlink frequencies in MHz all +/- 10 kHz Doppler shift:
STARS-II (Mother)  – 437.405 FM AX.25 1200 bps, 437.245 CW
STARS-II (Daughter) – 437.425 FM AX.25 1200 bps, 437.255 CW
ShindaiSat – 437.525 FM AX.25 1200 bps, 437.305  CW (LED beacon)
TeikyoSat-3 – 437.450 FM AX.25 1200 bps, 437.450 CW (Slime Mold from Space)
OPUSAT – 437.150 FM AX.25 1200 bps, GMSK 9600 bps
ARTSAT1-INVADER – 437.200 FM Digitalker and AX.25 1200 bps,  437.325 CW
ITF-1 – 437.525 FM Morse code

Also on the same flight is:
KSAT2 S-band 200 kbps G1D telemetry, Ku-band, 1 Mbps G1D Image or beacon carrier. UHF 1 kbps is being used for the command uplink. It will send Messages of Encouragement from Space to Japan – Hand-written messages and heart warming pictures, especially from children responsible for the future.

Watch ARTSAT1:INVADER

STARS-II
http://stars1.eng.kagawa-u.ac.jp/english/top.html

STARS-II Telemetry format
http://stars1.eng.kagawa-u.ac.jp/english/STARS-II_telemetry_format.html

ARTSAT INVADER

ARTSAT INVADER

INVADER
http://artsat.jp/en/invader/

ARTSAT1-INVADER_CW_FORMAT_revTT4.xls
http://artsat.jp/invader/cw-format/

TeikyoSat-3 Telemetry Format
http://club.uccl.teikyo-u.ac.jp/~space_system_society/teikyosat-3.html

OPUSAT Telemetry Format (under construction)
http://www.sssrc.aero.osakafu-u.ac.jp/projects/OPUSAT/receive.html

ShindaiSat Telemetry Format (under construction)
http://www.shinshu-u.ac.jp/faculty/engineering/chair/elec006/project_shiyou_communication.html

ITF-1 How to receive
http://yui.kz.tsukuba.ac.jp/?page_id=1006

Amateur satellite frequency list by Mineo Wakita JE9PEL
http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/satslist.htm

AMSAT Bulletin Board (AMSAT-BB) http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/tools/maillist/

ARTSAT INVADER Team Members

ARTSAT INVADER Team Members

Feb 21 2014

Amateur radio CubeSats prepared for deployment

Koichi Wakata KC5ZTA installing CubeSat deployers on the Multipurpose Experiment Platform inside the Kibo laboratory of the ISS

Koichi Wakata KC5ZTA installing CubeSat deployers on the Multipurpose Experiment Platform inside the Kibo laboratory of the ISS

NASA reports that on Thursday, February 20, 2014, International Space Station (ISS) astronaut Koichi Wakata KC5ZTA worked in the Japanese Kibo laboratory to prepare the second batch of NanoRacks CubeSats for their deployment beginning next Tuesday.

He opened the inner hatch to the airlock and replaced the empty deployers on the Multipurpose Experiment Platform with loaded deployers. The platform and its deployers will be passed outside through the airlock to the Exposed Facility where Kibo’s robotic arm can grapple the platform and position the nanosatellites for launch. NanoRacks provides customers with CubeSat deployment services through a Space Act Agreement with NASA.

The deployment of the 12 commercial Planet Labs CubeSats is expected to take place at 1700 UT on Tuesday, February 25. The four amateur radio CubeSats LituanicaSat-1, LitSat-1, ArduSat-2, UAPSat-1 along with the 915 MHz SkyCube are expected to be deployed on Friday, February 28 at 07:30 UT.

Another amateur radio CubeSat the Peruvian Chasqui-1 was sent to the ISS on February 5, 2014. It is understood that Chasqui 1 is scheduled to be hand-deployed during a future Russian Extravehicular Activity (EVA).

CubeSats deployments are streamed live at http://m.ustream.tv/channel/live-iss-stream

For frequencies of the amateur radio CubeSats and pictures of previous deployments see
https://amsat-uk.org/2014/02/20/iss-cubesat-deployments-to-resume-february-25/

Feb 21 2014

$50SAT PocketQube Amateur Radio Challenge

Yaesu handheld and $50SAT 1.5U PocketQube

Yaesu handheld and $50SAT 1.5U PocketQube

The $50sat PocketQube satellite team, AB2S, KD8QBA and GW7HPW, are celebrating 90 days in orbit by proposing a technical challenge to all interested radio amateurs.

$50sat is capable of responding to uplink command packets. There are three open packets:

• Test packet – $50SAT responds by sending the RSSI of the received packet in slow FM Morse.

• Request data packet – the normal data packet is sent.

• Request RTTY – The RTTY is sent.

In addition all received packets result in two copies of the ack packet being sent, that contains the RSSI of the received packet.

All the required information to accomplish this is available on the Dropbox location available through the $50sat web page. See the document $50SAT – Eagle2 – Communications – Release Version V1_1.pdf

Anyone that can demonstrate a successful command uplink by submitting a recording of the response packet along with the date, time and location of of the contact will receive a Certificate of Technical Accomplishment signed by all three builders of $50sat.  Submissions can be made to the $50sat email address; 50dollarsat at yahoo.com

This is a significant challenge because there is no magic black box that you can buy to do this.

$50SAT Boards

$50SAT Boards

After 90 days of operation, the Kodak KLIC-7002 camera battery that powers the satellite has fallen off about 100mV, but operations still seem normal.

We have also programmed a special 5th Morse beacon to thank our launch sponsor and mentor Prof. Bob Twiggs. Please give a listen for  the message TNX KE6QMD on the FM Morse beacon.

QSL cards are still available to anyone that posts telemetry, either hand copied CW or RTTY captures, to the 50dollarsat yahoo group.

73 and good luck to all from the $50sat team

$50SAT is one of the smallest amateur radio satellites ever launched at 5x5x7.5 cm and weighs only 210 grams. Transmitter power is just 100 mW on 437.505 MHz (+/-9 kHz Doppler shift) FM CW/RTTY. It uses the low cost Hope RFM22B single chip radio and PICaxe 40X2 processor.

$50SAT has been a collaborative education project between Professor Bob Twiggs, KE6QMD, Morehead State University and three other radio amateurs, Howie DeFelice, AB2S, Michael Kirkhart, KD8QBA, and Stuart Robinson, GW7HPW.

Further information in the $50SAT Dropbox https://www.dropbox.com/sh/l3919wtfiywk2gf/-HxyXNsIr8

$50SAT – Eagle2 – Communications – Release Version V1_1.pdf
http://tinyurl.com/50DollarSatCommunicationsV1-1

Hope RFM22B single chip radio http://www.hoperf.com/rf/fsk_module/RFM22B.htm

There is a discussion group for $50SAT http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/50dollarsat/

50DollarSat http://www.50dollarsat.info/

Feb 20 2014

Results of first Delfi-n3Xt transponder test

Delfi-n3Xt Satellite

Delfi-n3Xt Satellite

Delfi Nanosatellite Program Manager, Jasper Bouwmeester PC4JB, has announced results of the first test of the Delfi-n3Xt CubeSat 435/145 MHz linear transponder that were carried out on February 20.

Dear all,

Today we did a first transponder test. We could hear the beacon, but unfortunately did not hear anything back from our calls. Also we were missing the noise floor of the transponder band. Our hypothesis is that our adjustable LO (Si570) which is mixed with the IF band could not be programmed correctly and hence the pass-band goes outside our filtered band (which is a good thing, because we do not want to transmit on illegal frequencies). This LO is adjustable by I2C communication and should be programmed each time at power up (so each time the transponder mode is activated. We will do two attempts more on Friday, February 20 at the morning ground passes and even if that doesn’t help we will keep on trying with different settings. If the situation changes I will update you again.

Best regards,

Jasper, PC4JB

IARU coordinated Delfi-n3Xt frequencies
• 145.870 MHz Telemetry
• 145.930 MHz Telemetry
• 2405.00 MHz High speed data
• Inverting SSB/CW transponder
– 435.530-435.570 MHz uplink LSB
– 145.880-145.920 MHz downlink USB

Telemetry reception http://www.delfispace.nl/operations/delfi-n3xt-telemetry-reception

Delfi-n3Xt http://www.delfispace.nl/operations/radio-amateurs

Dnepr Yasny launch https://amsat-uk.org/satellites/dnepr-november-2013/