UKube-1 (FUNcube-2)

UKube-1 CubeSat at Clyde Space

The UKube-1 satellite was successfully launched on Tuesday, July 8, 2014 at 1558 UT from Pad 31/6 at Baikonur in Kazakhstan. The 145.840 MHz beacon signal was received by the UKube team in Chilbolton at 19:16 UT.

UKube-1 Launch Cake

It had been expected the first signal would be received over South Africa at about 18:52 UT but no signals were heard. The UKube team at Chilbolton and radio amateurs across the British Isles and Europe anxiously awaited the satellite coming within range, when it did a strong signal was heard from the satellite. The FUNcube-2 beacon on 145.915 MHz was also activated and received well.

Practical Wireless magazine VHF columnist Tim Kirby @G4VXE was one of the radio amateurs listening, he tweeted “Pleased to receive CW from UKube-1 on the first pass over the UK”.

UKube-1 carries a set of AMSAT-UK FUNcube boards which provide an educational beacon for use by schools and a linear transponder for amateur radio communications. Presently, commissioning of the spacecraft is continuing, and there may be future occasions when the 145.915 MHz FUNcube telemetry transmitter will be activated during this period. The transponder is not expected to be available until later in the mission.

UKube-1 in flight configuration in the cleanroom at Clyde Space Ltd – Credit Steve Greenland 2M0SCG

The first to submit UKube-1 telemetry data to the FUNcube Data Warehouse were:
– DK3WN
– OO1A
– F-60429
– G0PGL
– G4GUO
– PD3T
– M0LTC
The UKube-1/FUNcube-2 Rankings can be seen at http://data.amsat-uk.org/missions

UKube-1 CubeSat installed in Deployment Pod

The UKube team has asked that all stations continue to monitor the downlinks and where possible to forward their reports as follows:
– CW beacon on 145.840 MHz to operations@funcube.org.uk and steve.greenland@clyde-space.com
– FUNcube telemetry (when activated) on 145.915 MHz – your existing dashboard will not display properly (except for the Fitter Messages!) but it WILL be forwarding it to the Warehouse correctly and the data will be very useful for the team.

Dashboard App – Telemetry Decoder http://funcube.org.uk/working-documents/funcube-telemetry-dashboard/

Data Warehouse – Telemetry Archive http://data.amsat-uk.org/missions

Steve Greenland of Clyde Space receives the AMSAT-UK FUNcube-2 boards

Steve Greenland 2M0SCG of Clyde Space receives the AMSAT-UK FUNcube-2 boards

UKube-1 Nominal Frequencies:
• 145.840 MHz Telemetry downlink
• 145.915 MHz FUNcube subsystem beacon (145.916 MHz reported)
• 400 mW inverting SSB/CW linear transponder
– 435.080-435.060 MHz Uplink **
– 145.930-145.950 MHz Downlink
(** Note: Transponder Uplink may be 14-15 kHz higher than nominal frequency so tune around)
• 2401.0 MHz S Band Downlink

It is reported the transponder uplink is desensitized when the beacon is active.

Bob Beatty WB4SON suggests these UKube-1 Doppler.SQF entries for SatPC32 tracking software:
UKUBE-1,145940,435084.6,CW,CW,REV,0,0,CW
UKUBE-1,145940,435084.3,USB,LSB,REV,0,0,Voice U/V
UKUBE-1,145915,,USB,,,,TLM

Satellite tracking https://amsat-uk.org/beginners/satellite-tracking/

Watch UKube-1 over Brazil June 19, 2016 at 14:33 UT by Fabricio Luciano PY5LF

Watch UKube-1 CubeSat payload animation

Watch the launch vehicle integration of UKube-1 and the other satellites

Watch the Soyuz roll out

Watch the launch

Dr Helen Walker gave a presentation UKube-1: technology, mission and operations at the 2015 AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium in Guildford. You can watch it at
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTDI7lbh1cWq2av8hb6EzddopHERvDH0i