Feb 19 2013

Article on LED Optical Morse Code Spacecraft ShindaiSat

Illustration of high-gain and low-gain LED illumination scenario at the ground station - Image credit Shinshu University

Illustration of high-gain and low-gain LED illumination scenario at the ground station – Image credit Shinshu University

An English language article about ShindaiSat is available at

https://directory.eoportal.org/web/eoportal/satellite-missions/s/shindaisat

ShindaiSatShindaiSat is a 20 kg spacecraft approx 300 by 300 by 350 mm which is planning to use bright LEDs for Space to Earth optical communication using Morse code. It also carries an optical lens system for receiving modulated LED light from the ground station.

There will be an AX.25 packet radio telemetry beacon and a low power CW beacon. Downlink frequencies of 437.305 and 437.485 MHz have been coordinated by the IARU Amateur Satellite Frequency Coordination Panel.

The article says “A launch of ShindaiSat as a secondary payload is manifested for mid-2014 on the primary GPM (Global Precipitation Measurement) mission of NASA and JAXA. JAXA is providing the launch on the H2A vehicle from the Tanegashima Space Center, Japan.

Orbit: Non-sun-synchronous circular orbit, altitude = 407 km, inclination = 65º.”

ShindaiSat website in Google English

Feb 19 2013

JAMSAT 2013 Symposium in Tokyo

tokyo

JAMSAT announces their 2013 Symposium to be held in Tokyo on March 9  to March 10. The Symposium will be held at the National Museum of  Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan) – 7F Conference Room CR2. All amateur radio satellite operators are welcome to attend.

The Symposium schdule will be:

March 9 • 14:30 – 17:00 Papers and Technical Presentations • 17:30 – 19:30 Dinner Party

March 10 • 10:00 – 13:00 Papers and Technical Presentations

The list of technical topics includes: • Problem of 1.2GHz Band License • Interference with QZSS Satellite • FitSAT Report • JAMSAT Activities • Progress in Transponder and 38.4Kbps Transmitter • Noise Environment at 2.4GHz Band • Progress in Nippon University Cubesat “NEXUS” • Introduction to AMSAT-NA FOX-Project • SDR and Satellite Communication

Openings remain available for the addition of last minute presentations on topics pertaining to amateur radio in space. If you are interested in making a presentation please contact madoguchi@jamsat.or.jp or ja3gep@jamsat.or.jp

Information on the Museum meeting location can be accessed on-line: http://www.miraikan.jst.go.jp/en/

ANS, Mikio Mouri, JA3GEP of JAMSAT

Via http://www.southgatearc.org/index.htm

Feb 19 2013

ARISS contact planned February 19, 2013 with school in Greece

The International Space Station

ARISS contact planned February 19, 2013 with school in Greece

An International Space Station school contact has been planned February 19 2013 with participants at 4th Dimotiko Scholeio Chaidariou, Chaidari (near Athens), Greece.             The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 14:06 UTC, which is 16:07 CEWT.

The contact will be a direct operated by J41ISS. Interested parties in Europe are invited to listen to dowlink signals on 145.800 MHz FM. The contact will be conducted in English.

The event will be webcast on several webstreaming servers: http://www.sv1eag.gr/ http://www.justin.tv/sv1eag#r=-rid-&s=em http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RFJbw5NeAc

School presentation:

Our school is located in Chaidari, a suburb in the north-west of Athens.             It was constructed in 1978, but it is now being renovated so as to be more energy efficient. It is a two-storey building with 16 classrooms, a Head office and a staff room. Continue reading →
Feb 17 2013

ShindaiSat to carry Optical LED Morse Code Beacon

ShindaiSatShindaiSat is a 20 kg spacecraft approx 300 by 300 by 350 mm which is planning to use bright LEDs for Space to Earth optical communication using Morse code.

There will be an AX.25 packet radio telemetry beacon and a low power CW beacon. Downlink frequencies of 437.305 and 437.485 MHz have been coordinated by the IARU Amateur Satellite Frequency Coordination Panel.

It is expected to launch into a 400km 65 degree orbit from Japan in 2013.

ShindaiSat website in Google English

Feb 17 2013

Astronaut / Radio Ham Chris Hadfield premieres song from space

Sheldon Cooper of Big Bang Theory wearing a 73 T-shirt - Image Warner Bros

Sheldon Cooper of Big Bang Theory wearing a 73 T-shirt – Image Warner Bros

While on-board the International Space Station (ISS) Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, KC5RNJ/VA3OOG, has been creating music in space .

He has been working with Ed Robertson who created the theme song for the popular comedy show The Big Bang Theory.

CBS News report: “We’ve been pals for a long time and it just seemed like a fun thing to do,” says Robertson of the song that is part of a planned album Chris Hadfield [VA3OOG] wants to record while in space. “Chris and his brother write songs and they’re really great, so he’s going to record a bunch of stuff up there.”

The result of the collaboration has been I.S.S. , Is Somebody Singing, which was premiered on Friday, February 8.

 

Watch the premiere of ‘I.S.S. (Is Somebody Singing)’

Watch Chris Hadfield VA3OOG – mixtape to the moon

I.S.S. (Is Somebody Singing) music score and lyrics
http://music.cbc.ca/#/Space/blogs/2013/2/Ed-Robertson-takes-us-behind-the-writing-of-ISS-Is-Somebody-Singing

Feb 16 2013

Plasma Rockets & Solar Storms

Testing Plasma Rocket ComponentsThis Cosmic Journeys video covers the work of Dr. Ben Longmier KF5KMP and his University of Michigan team in developing plasma rockets.

Dr. Ben Longmier and his team from the University of Michigan have traveled to Fairbanks, Alaska to play a small part in a much larger push to revolutionize space travel and exploration.

The team plans to use helium balloons to send components of a new type of rocket engine to an altitude of over 30 kilometers, above 99% of Earth’s atmosphere. The purpose is to test these components within the harsh environment of space. While astronauts train to live and work in zero gravity, or to move around in bulky space suits, these would-be space explorers are preparing to negotiate some of Earth’s harshest environments.

Continue reading →