Tag Archives: Amateur Radio

Aug 3 2013

HamTV transmitter launched to ISS

Front panel of the HamTV transmitter

Front panel of the HamTV transmitter

On Saturday, August 3 at 1948 UT the Japanese HTV-4 cargo vessel was successfully launched to the International Space Station (ISS). On-board were the HamTV transmitter and four CubeSats carrying amateur radio payloads.

PicoDragon CubeSat - Image credit VNSC

PicoDragon CubeSat – Image credit VNSC

The CubeSats will be deployed from the ISS by the JEM Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (J-SSOD) between October 2013 and March 2014, they are:
•    PicoDragon a 1U CubeSat developed by Vietnam National Satellite Center (VNSC), University of Tokyo and IHI aerospace. 437.250 MHz CW beacon and 437.365 MHz 1200 bps AFSK AX.25 telemetry.
•    ArduSat-1 developed by NanoSatisfi. 437.325 MHz 9k6 MSK CCSDS downlink.
•    ArduSat-X developed by NanoSatisfi. 437.345 MHz 9k6 MSK CCSDS downlink .
•    TechEdSat-3 developed by interns at the NASA Ames Research Center. 437.465 MHz 1200 bps packet radio beacon transmitting 1 watt to 1/4 wave monopole. It plans to test an Iridium Satphone modem and has a deployment mechanism to de-orbit in 10 days.

They are 1U in size (10*10*10 cm) except for TechEdSat-3 which is 3U (30*10*10 cm).

The company NanoRack has announced it is sending 36 Units of CubeSats to the ISS (believed to be 26 separate CubeSats, some 2U or 3U in size). At the time of writing it is believed they will be going on a later cargo vessel.

A basic amateur radio station that should be able to receive HamTV from ISS - Image AMSAT-Italia

A basic amateur radio station that should be able to receive HamTV from ISS – Image AMSAT-Italia

The HamTV transmitter is the culmination of over ten years work to establish an amateur radio TV transmitter on the ISS. It will use patch antennas fixed on the Meteorite Debris Panels (MDP) protecting the hull of the ISS Columbus module. These antennas were installed while Columbus was being constructed. A fund-raising campaign took place during 2005-7 to raise over 65,000 Euros for the antennas. Individual radio amateurs from around the world donated generously as did several organisations such as AMSAT-UK and the RSGB.

The transmitter will be installed in the Columbus module in the coming months. It can transmit DVB-S signals on 2422.0 MHz or 2437.0 MHz at either 1.3 Msps or 2.3 Msps with 10 watts of RF output.

The main mission of HamTV is to perform contacts between the astronauts on the ISS and school students, not only by voice as now, but also by unidirectional video from the ISS to the ground.

In addition to school contacts the equipment is capable of transmitting other pre-recorded video up to 24 hours a day to allow ground stations tuning.

HamVideo is the name of the onboard DATV S-band transmitter. HamTV is the name of the complete system, comprising DATV downlink and VHF voice uplink. Kaiser Italia SRL was the prime-contractor for the design and development of the flight and ground segment http://www.kayser.it/index.php/exploration-2/ham-tv

Read the HamTV overview paper at http://tinyurl.com/HamTVoverview

HamTV Link Budget http://www.amsat.it/Amsat-Italia_HamTV.pdf

HamTV on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Hamtvproject

ARISS DATV Antennas Installed on Columbus http://www.ariss-eu.org/columbus.htm

ArduSat for UK Schools
https://amsat-uk.org/2013/04/13/ardusat-for-uk-schools/

ArduSat Arduino CubeSat Technical Details
https://amsat-uk.org/2012/06/20/ardusat-arduino-cubesat-technical-details/

Spaceflight story – Japan’s HTV-4 launches supplies and science to the ISS
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/08/japans-htv-4-launches-supplies-scienceiss/

HTV-4 launch - Image credit JAXA

Aug 2 2013

First Anniversary of Mars Rover Curiosity

In the workshop building the Rover - Image credit Beatty Robotics

In the workshop building the Rover – Image credit Beatty Robotics

The Mars rover Curiosity was launched from Cape Canaveral on November 26, 2011, at 15:02 UT aboard the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) spacecraft and successfully landed on Aeolis Palus in Gale Crater on Mars on August 6, 2012, 05:17 UT.

The Rover - Image credit Beatty Robotics

The Rover – Image credit Beatty Robotics

Venture Beat reports that two sisters, Camille and Genevieve Beatty, aged 11 and 13, have built a Mars rover in a workshop in their family’s garage. They have been invited to the New York Hall of Science to show off their rover as part of a special exhibit on astronomy. The rover will roam around a mini-Martian landscape and analyze rocks with hidden heat lamps embedded inside.

Read the Venture Beat story at http://venturebeat.com/2013/08/01/check-out-the-mars-rover-these-two-girls-built-in-their-garage/

Read the blog detailing the building of the rover at http://beatty-robotics.com/category/blog

The sisters are also interested in wireless telegraphy see http://beatty-robotics.com/lunamoth-and-julajay-work-on-wireless-telegraph

NASA officials and crew members aboard the International Space Station will observe the first anniversary of the Curiosity rover’s landing on Mars at a public event in Washington from 16:00-17:30 UT (12-1:30 p.m. EDT) Tuesday, August 6.

The event will be broadcast on NASA Television and streamed live on the agency’s website.

Media and the public are welcome to attend to hear highlights from the Mars Science Laboratory’s first year of investigations, learn about upcoming NASA robotic missions to the red planet, and speak with astronauts conducting experiments in space that will enable human exploration of Mars in the 2030s.

Those interested in attending should plan to arrive at NASA Headquarters, 300 E St. SW, by 15:30 UT (11:30 a.m. EST) Seating is limited.

Participating will be:
• Charles Bolden (formerly KE4IQB), NASA administrator
• Chris Cassidy, KF5KDR and Karen Nyberg, NASA astronauts, live from the space station
• Jim Green, director, Planetary Division, NASA’s Science Mission Directorate
• Sam Scimemi, director, NASA’s International Space Station Program
• Prasun Desai, acting director, Strategic Integration, NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate

The Mars Science Laboratory mission successfully placed the one-ton Curiosity rover on the surface of Mars on Aug. 6, 2012, UT, about 1 mile from the center of its 12-mile-long target area.

Within the first eight months of a planned 23-months primary mission, Curiosity met its major science objective of finding evidence of a past environment well-suited to support microbial life. With much more science to come, Curiosity’s wheels continue to blaze a trail for human footprints on Mars.

To follow the conversation online about Curiosity’s first year on Mars, use hashtag #1YearOnMars or follow @NASA and @MarsCuriosity on Twitter.

For NASA TV streaming video, schedule and downlink information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For more information about NASA’s exploration of Mars, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/mars

For more information about the International Space Station, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/station

NASA release Curiosity Morse code picture
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/september2012/nasa_release_curiosity_morse_code_picture.htm

437 MHz – Curiosity – Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Frequencies
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/august2012/mars_reconnaissance_orbiter_frequencies.htm

Radio Amateurs Receive Mars Science Laboratory  (MSL)
https://amsat-uk.org/2011/12/02/radio-amateurs-receive-mars-science-laboratory/

Mars Rover Curiosity - Image credit NASA

Mars Rover Curiosity – Image credit NASA

Jul 31 2013

AMSAT Wants Amateur Radio Satellites Off US Munitions List

ITARThe ARRL report that AMSAT has asked the federal government to confirm that the Amateur Satellite Service will not be subject to International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), as a result of export control reforms now underway.

The ARRL news story says:

In May the US Department of State Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) proposed changes to the US Munitions List (USML) Category XV (Spacecraft Systems and Related Articles). The changes redefine satellites that would remain under the USML. Satellites removed from USML would be transferred to the Department of Commerce Commerce Control List (CCL).

“We ask that the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls explicitly confirm that satellites, ground equipment, and associated technical data for items pertaining to the Amateur Satellite Service are not subject to the ITAR when the new Category XV provisions are implemented,” AMSAT said in comments filed earlier this month “Over the past 43+ years AMSAT has been integral to the development of Amateur Radio communications spacecraft based upon the model of an all-volunteer organization that follows ‘open source’ practices and creates spacecraft that are very low cost, which also reflects relatively low levels of sophistication compared to commercial satellites,” AMSAT said.

A related set of AMSAT comments went to the Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), which has proposed creating a separate CCL category for satellites formerly under ITAR. AMSAT asked that Amateur Satellite Service spacecraft and associated equipment be separately categorized and controlled, given the significant differences between commercial and Amateur Satellite Service spacecraft.

“We ask that the Department of Commerce recognize the relative impacts of regulatory oversight on small, not-for-profit scientific and education organizations such as AMSAT and to find ways to mitigate these impacts on both AMSAT and our volunteers,” AMSAT said. AMSAT suggested creating a separate category for Amateur Satellite Service; allow a license exception for “deemed exports” for Amateur Radio satellite design and construction, to permit a “free exchange of ideas, software, etc pertaining to Amateur Radio satellite design and construction when interacting with foreign nationals who are citizens of nations listed in the License Exception Strategic Trade Authorization Country List, and focus export licensing requirements only on the export of hardware.

AMSAT President Barry Baines, WD4ASW, and AMSAT Congressional Liaison Peter Portanova, WB2OQQ, took on the task of drafting comments in response to a combined 105 pages of bureaucratese drafted by the DDTC and the BIS. Former AMSAT President Bill Tynan, W3XO crafted initial comments as a starting point.

Source ARRL http://www.arrl.org/news/amsat-wants-amateur-satellites-off-us-munitions-list

April 2012 – ITAR and Amateur Radio – Progress Report
https://amsat-uk.org/2012/04/29/itar-and-amateur-radio-progress-report/

Jul 31 2013

Radio Ham’s Leaky Spacesuit

Luca Parmitano KF5KDP on the Expedition 36 EVA, July 9, 2013- Image credit ESA

Luca Parmitano KF5KDP on the Expedition 36 EVA, July 9, 2013- Image credit ESA

In edition 683 of Jonathan’s Space Report (JSR) Jonathan McDowell provides the history of the spacesuit of radio amateur Luca Parmitano KF5KDP which developed a water leak inside the helmet during a spacewalk on July 9, 2013. The spacewalk was abandoned and he was assisted back to the International Space Station (ISS) by Chris Cassidy KF5KDR.

The suit Luca Parmitano KF5KDP used for the extravehicular activity (EVA) was EMU 3011. It had three previous station tours, here is its flight history:
Flight 1  STS-79    1996 Sep 16-1996 Sep 25  (Apt, not used)
Flight 2  STS-83    1997 Apr  4-1997 Apr  8  (Spacelab, Gernhardt, not used)
Flight 3  STS-94    1997 Jul  1-1997 Jul 17  (Spacelab, Gernhardt, not used)
Flight 4  STS-91    1998 Jun  2-1998 Jun 12  (Chang, not used)
Flight 5  STS-95    1998 Oct 29-1998 Nov  7  (Robinson, not used)
Flight 6  STS-96    1999 May 27-1999 Jun  6  (Barry, 1 EVA)
Flight 7  STS-101    2000 May 19-2000 May 29  (Horowitz, not used)
Flight 8  STS-106    2000 Sep  8-2000 Sep 20  (Backup, not used)
Flight 9  STS-97    2000 Dec  1-2000 Dec 11  (Tanner, 3 EVA)
Flight 10 STS-100    2001 Apr 19-2001 Jul 25 (ISS tour, Hadfield (2), down on 104)
Flight 11 STS-109    2002 Mar  1-2002 Mar 12  (HST, Massimino(2))
Flight 12 STS-111    2002 Jun  5-2005 Aug  9 (ISS tour, Sellers (3),Pettit(2), down on 114)
Flight 13 STS-126    2008 Nov 15-2009 Nov 27 (ISS tour, down on 129, not used)
Flight 14 STS-132    2010 May 14-present    (ISS tour; Williams (1), Hoshide (2), Parmitano(2))

EMU 3011 incorporates the PLSS 1011 backpack – this contains most of the systems and you can think of it as the core of the suit considered as its own spaceship, with the other components as a relatively inert bubble containing the human occupant. Before the EMU 3000 series nomenclature was adopted, PLSS 1011 flew multiple times:

Flight  1 STS 61-B  1985 Nov 27-1985 Dec  3  EMU 1070/PLSS 1011 (Spring, 1 EVA)
Flight  2 STS-26R    1988 Sep 29-1988 Oct  3  EMU 1090/PLSS 1011 (Lounge, not used)
Flight  3 STS-27R    1988 Dec  2-1988 Dec  6  EMU 1090/PLSS 1011 (Ross, not used)
Flight  4 STS-29R    1989 Mar 13-1989 Mar 18  EMU 1090/PLSS 1011 (Springer, not used)
Flight  5 STS-28R    1989 Aug  8-1989 Aug 13  EMU 1098/PLSS 1011 (Brown, not used)
Flight  6 STS-36    1990 Feb 28-1990 Mar  4  EMU 2008/PLSS 1011 (Thout, not used)
Flight  7 STS-41    1990 Oct  6-1990 Oct 10  EMU 2008/PLSS 1011 (Akers, not used)
Flight  8 STS-39    1991 Apr 28-1991 May  6  EMU 2008/PLSS 1011 (Harbaugh, not used)
Flight  9 STS-48    1991 Sep 12-1991 Sep 18  EMU 2008/PLSS 1011 (Buchli, not used)
Flight 10 STS-46    1992 Jul 31-1992 Aug  8  EMU 2021/PLSS 1011 (Chang, not used)
Flight 11 STS-73    1995 Oct 20-1995 Nov  5  EMU 2034/PLSS 1011 (Coleman, not used)

So, this PLSS has flown a total of 25 times in space over 28 years – although of course there’s a bit of a “grandfather’s axe” paradox involved as it’s not clear how many of the original components remain.

Jonathan’s Space Report (JSR): http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html

In this video NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy KF5KDR shows where water leaked

NASA press release http://www.nasa.gov/content/tuesday-spacewalk-ended-early/

NBC news report http://www.nbcnews.com/video/nbc-news/52492923

Jul 28 2013

JAXA Plan CubeSat Deployment from ISS

Kibo Robot Arm CubeSat Deployment

Kibo Robot Arm CubeSat Deployment

Masa JN1GKZ reports on four CubeSats that are being sent to the International Space Station on August 4, 2013.

The Japanese space agency JAXA has announced that four CubeSats will be deployed from the ISS by the JEM Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (J-SSOD).

The four CubeSats are:
• PicoDragon a 1U CubeSat developed by Vietnam National Satellite Center(VNSC), University of Tokyo, IHI aerospace. CW beacon on 437.250 MHz and 1k2 AFSK AX.25 telemetry on 437.365 MHz
• ArduSat-1 and ArduSat-X 1U CubeSats developed by Nanorack, NanoSatisfi. ArduSat-1 437.325 MHz 9k6 MSK CCSDS downlink. ArduSat-X 437.345MHz 9k6 MSK CCSDS downlink.
• TechEdSat-3 a 3U CubeSat developed by NASA Ames Research Center

All the satellites should be sent to the ISS by the HTV-4 launcher on August 4, 2013.

The four CubeSats are expected to be deployed from the ISS sometime between October 2013 and March 2014.

It is believed that the company Nanorack will be deploying a number of CubeSats from the ISS this year, they may also be going to the ISS on HTV-4. Aviation Week say Nanorack expects to launch as many as 38 of the units on the first mission. Since CubeSats can be 1U, 2U or 3U in size it’s likely that the number of CubeSats will be less than 38. A figure of 26 CubeSats has been quoted on the IARU amateur satellite frequency coordination page but it is unclear how many of those will be carrying amateur radio payloads.

It is understood Nanorack charge $85,000 per 1U CubeSat for its ISS deployment service, see the Nanorack article at
http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=%2Farticle-xml%2FAW_07_22_2013_p28-597963.xml

Also on the HTV-4 launch in August will be the HamVideo transmitter, part of the 2.4 GHz HamTV system. This will be installed in the ISS Columbus module.
https://amsat-uk.org/2013/05/12/hamtv-from-the-iss/

NASA Interns build a CubeSat
https://amsat-uk.org/2013/07/25/interns-build-a-cubesat/

Jul 28 2013

RIT AMSAT Fox-2 Maximum Power Point Tracker Time-Lapse and Final Presentation

AMSAT FOXA time-lapse video of the first of two Maximum Power Point Tracker channels being populated by the Rochester Institute of Technology senior design ground P13271.

The prototype maximum power point tracker used to optimize the power output of the solar panels on the amateur radio Fox-2 satellite was developed in this senior design project.

This time-lapse only shows one side being brought up for the first time, including initial testing and represents 13,739 images taken every 5 seconds by a GoPro HD Hero resulting in a 2.5 minute video showing 19 hours of work by P13271 team-members.

Watch the Time-Lapse video

Rochester Institute of Technology Multidisciplinary Senior Design program team P13271 consisting of electrical engineering students Bryce Salmi (KB1LQC), Brenton Salmi (KB1LQD), Ian MacKenzie (KB3OCF), and Dan Corriero conduct the final project review at the conclusion of Spring Quarter 2013. P13271 designed and built a 7 Watt Maximum Power Point Tracker prototype intended for use on the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT) Fox-2 satellite, a 3U CubeSat.

Watch P13271 AMSAT Fox-2 MPPT RIT Senior Design Final Presentation

Fox-2 MPPT Team Selected In TI Design Contest
https://amsat-uk.org/2013/06/16/fox-2-mppt-team-selected-in-ti-design-contest/