Dec 21 2012

UKube-1 Signs up for Launch and Completes Thermal Vacuum Testing

Clyde Space have successfully completed Thermal Vacuum Testing, where the UKube-1 Flight Model was operated in a simulated space environment (i.e. no air and at temperature extremes)

UKube-1 the UK Space Agency’s (UKSA) first satellite has ‘booked’ its journey into space on a Russian Soyuz-2 rocket. The launch from Baikonur in Kazakhstan is expected to take place in the 3rd quarter of 2013. UKube-1 has also completed Thermal Vacuum Testing to verify the spacecraft operation in a simulated space environment.

UKube-1 will carry a set of AMSAT-UK FUNcube boards to provide a 435/145 MHz linear transponder and a 145.915 MHz BPSK telemetry beacon for educational outreach.

Continue reading →

Dec 19 2012

KySat-2 CubeSat plans to fly Summer 2013

KySat-2 (K2) is a 1U CubeSat to fulfill the education and public outreach mission of the original KySat-1 CubeSat that was lost during a launch vehicle failure of ELaNa I and accompanying NASA GLORY mission.

Continue reading →

Dec 19 2012

AMSAT Receives $25,000 Matching Funds Challenge

A CubeSat in SpaceAMSAT-NA President Barry Baines, WD4ASW says that they have received a matching funds challenge! An anonymous donor will match up to $25,000.00 for Fox. Now is the time to take advantage of this opportunity to double your donation.

Barry writes, “We end 2012 with significant progress made on the development of Fox-1. A formal proposal to launch Fox-1B was submitted to the NASA ELaNA (Education Launch of Nanosatellites) program on November 19, 2012. NASA is expected to announce in late January or early February 2013 those projects that have been selected. This is our second ELaNA submission, and we believe the merits of this proposal are even stronger than our original Fox-1 proposal.”

Read the full story and details of how to donate at http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/index.php

Dec 17 2012

AMSAT Presentation at Qatar International Amateur Radio Festival

AMSAT-DL President Peter Guelzow DB2OS at the Qatar National Day Station A71QND

AMSAT-DL President Peter Guelzow DB2OS at the Qatar National Day Station A71QND

AMSAT-DL President Peter Guelzow DB2OS gave a presentation about the AMSAT P3E and P5 missions at the Qatar international amateur radio festival at the Al Rayyan Theatre in Souq Waqif.

Continue reading →

Dec 12 2012

UK Radio Amateur Receives FITSAT-1 QSL Card

FITSAT-1 QSL card GW1FKY - FrontAMSAT-UK member Ken Eaton GW1FKY reports that he has received a QSL card confirming his reception of FITSAT-1.

On December 13 at 22:10:30 GMT FITSAT-1 will be using its optical LED beacon to flash a message in Morse Code over the British Isles and Europe which, cloud permitting, should be visible using binoculars. Further information is at http://www.uk.amsat.org/?p=11815