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The Isle of Man Government say they are “firmly ‘pro-space’ and together with a clear and simple tax regime, absence of Insurance Premium Tax and commitment to the development of space law and satellite registry, the Island offers the right environment for the space industry to flourish.” http://www.gov.im/lib/docs/iomfinance/factsheets/isleofmanspaceindustry.pdf
On Thursday, June 19, 2014 at 19:11:11 UT a Dnepr rocket was launched from Dombarovsky near Yasny in the Russian Federation, 12 of the satellites on-board carried amateur radio payloads.
In total 33 satellites were deployed from the Dnepr on June 19. One of those satellites UniSat-6 carried four smaller satellites, Tigrisat, Lemur 1, ANTELSat and AeroCube 6, which it deployed on June 20. On June 23, AeroCube 6 split into two separate satellites bringing the total of deployed satellites to 38.
Satellites launched June 19, 2012 on the Yasny Dnepr
Among the amateur radio payloads are a SSB/CW linear transponder, FM voice transponder, D-STAR Parrot Repeater, three Packet Radio Digipeaters and APRS.
In the hours immediately after launch signals were reported from POPSAT, QB50p1, QB50p2, UniSat-6, BugSat-1, NanosatC-BR1, Duchifat-1, TabletSat-Aurora and DTUsat-2.
The two QB50 precursor Cubesats on the launch carry amateur radio transponders. They were deployed at 19:32 UT and CW signals from both were received shortly after by Andre Van Deventer ZS2BK in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Brian Best ZS5SB and Leon Steenkamp ZS1HD also reported receiving signals.
The FUNcube team send their thank to the stations in South Africa who received the first signals and also to the ISIS teams both at the launch site and at their HQ in Delft. A job very well done!
QB50p1 carries the FUNcube-3 400 mW inverting linear 435/145 MHz transponder provided by AMSAT-NL with support from AMSAT-UK.
• 145.815 MHz BPSK telemetry
• Transponder
– 435.035-435.065 MHz Uplink LSB
– 145.935-145.965 MHz Downlink USB
QB50p2 carries a 435/145 MHz FM transponder and FX25 data transmitter from AMSAT-F.
• 145.880 MHz BPSK telemetry
• 145.840 MHz 9600 bps FSK FX25
It is expected that both these transponder payloads will be activated after the science missions have been completed.
Dnepr Satellite Frequencies June 19, 2014 – Credit Mike Rupprecht DK3WN
The D-STAR satellite TabletSat-Aurora is expected to launch with 11 other satellites carrying amateur radio payloads from Dombarovsky near Yasny on Thursday, June 19, 2014 at 19:11:11 UT.
TabletSat-Aurora – Image Credit Sputnix
It carries a D-STAR Parrot (Store and Forward) Repeater running 0.8 watts of GMSK on 437.050 MHz (+/- 10 kHz) to a whip antenna. It can store up to 8 seconds of voice message.
There are two other transceivers on the satellite that operate on 435.550 MHz and 436.100 MHz. Their power can be varied by command from the ground station between 0.8 and 2.0 watts and it is understood they will be used for command and control and transmit GMSK telemetry data. There is also a downlink on 8192 MHz.
Dmitry Pashkov R4UAB reports the D-STAR repeater could become operational in early July. It is understood that when the D-STAR repeater is active the telemetry transmitters will be inactive.
There are 37 satellites and a 2U Mass Dummy on the launch and it is thought a dozen of them are carrying amateur radio payloads. A list of frequencies is at http://r4uab.ru/?p=6393
QST Editor and ARRL Publications Manager Steve Ford, WB8IMY will give a presentation to the AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium at the Holiday Inn in Guildford on Saturday, July 26.
Steve will be traveling to the UK to talk about the satellite operations at the impressive ARRL Headquarters station in Newington, Connecticut.
He has written many amateur radio books including the ARRL Satellite Handbook, Get on the Air with HF Digital, VHF Digital Handbook and Remote Operating for Amateur Radio.
The FUNcube team anticipate that the Dnepr launch of the amateur radio FUNcube-3 payload on the QB50p1 CubeSat will take place as previously stated.
This Thursday is the day!
To be precise, lift off is expected to take place from Yasny on June 19, 2014 at 19:11:11 UT and the deployment of the various payloads will take place over the Indian Ocean in a similar fashion to the launch of FUNcube-1 last November.
Dnepr Space Head Module – Image credit Gauss Team
Pre-launch Keplerian elements / Two-Line Elements (TLEs) can be seen below. The details of the initial 145 MHz CW transmission format for both QB50p1, and its near twin QB50p2, is at http://www.isispace.nl/HAM/qb50p.html
QB50p1 carries an inverting linear UV transponder with 400 mW output provided by AMSAT-NL and which is similar to that on FUNcube-1.
• 145.815 MHz BPSK telemetry
• FUNcube inverting 400 mW SSB/CW transponder
– 435.035-435.065 MHz Uplink LSB
– 145.935-145.965 MHz Downlink USB
QB50p2 carries an UV FM transponder and FX25 data transmitter from AMSAT-F. It is expected that these payloads will be activated after the science missions have been completed.
• 145.880 MHz BPSK telemetry
• 145.840 MHz 9600 bps FSK FX25
Launch Time: 19:11:11 UT
Separation of Platform A: 19:27:07 UT
Separation of QB50p1: 19:32:07 UT
Separation of QB50p2: 19:32:27 UT
1st pass over Delft/VKI: 20:46:46 UT
E-members of AMSAT-UK can now download the Summer edition of OSCAR News here. In this issue is a picture of Brent Salmi KB1LQD and Bryce Salmi KB1LQC at the National Radio Centre in Bletchley Park where they met up with AMSAT-UK’s Graham Shirville G3VZV.
The paper edition should be posted to members in 2-3 weeks.
In this issue:
• Prof Colin Pillinger obituary
• AGM Calling Notice
• AO7 40th Birthday
• Astronaut Wubbo Occels remembered
• AMSAT-UK satellite Projects update
• UK CubeSat Forum report
• FUNcube-1 Lessons learnt
• DUO 817 Satellite Controller
• FUNcube-1 Activity report
• The FUNcube Dongle and SDR Software School Experiments at UCF in Cuba
• FUNcube Turnstile announcement
• Colloquium 2014 Booking Details
AMSAT-UK FUNcube Mission Patch
Membership of AMSAT-UK is open to anyone who has an interest in amateur radio satellites or space activities, including the International Space Station (ISS).
E-members of AMSAT-UK are able to download OSCAR News as a convenient PDF that can be read on laptops, tablets or smartphones anytime, anyplace, anywhere. Join as an E-member at Electronic (PDF) E-membership
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