Tag Archives: Amateur Radio

Jun 18 2012

Open Source CubeSat Next Phase in DIY Space Access

Space Safety Magazine reports that in recent years it has become both easier and more conceivable for students and amateurs to run experiments in space. Non-governmental space organizations are on the rise, DIY spaceflight is all the rage, and it seems the web is full of videos filmed from atop weather balloons launching someone’s favorite figurine into the stratosphere.  A recent project even allows consumers to use purchase points from American Express towards funding student experiments aboard the International Space Station.

The magazine article focuses on NanoSatisfi who launched a Kickstarter initiative on June 15 for an open source CubeSat called ArduSat (although naming rights are available in return for a $10,000 donation).

NanoSatisfi was founded by Austrian-born Peter Platzer a former high-energy physicist (CERN), former Hedge Fund Quantitative Trader, avid HP-41 hacker and Arduino enthusiast, along with Belgian aerospace engineer Jeroen Cappaert intern at NASA Ames Research Center, Canadian aerospace engineer Joel Spark intern at EADS Astrium and Hungarian Reka Kovacs intern at NASA Ames Research Center working on alternative methods of public outreach for space science. The four founders met at the International Space University in Strasbourg and thought that they could do something to provide affordable, open-source space exploration for everyone.

Read the full Space Safety Magazine article Open Source Cubesat Next Phase in DIY Space Access

The New York Observer – Former Quantitative Trader Spurns Wall Street to Explore the Final Frontier
http://observer.com/2012/06/quantitative-trader-spurns-wall-street-in-push-to-explore-the-final-frontier/

ArduSat Arduino CubeSat Update http://www.uk.amsat.org/8284

Jun 16 2012

Hey, kids! Send your stuff into orbit

International Space Station

Wanna do some space science? You no longer have to be a professional researcher, or even a grown-up, to get your experiment into orbit.

MSNBC reports that a new program called DreamUp is offering slots on the International Space Station’s experimental racks to school groups for as little as $15,500 a pop, and you can use credit-card reward points to help cover the cost.

“We are committed to lowering the barriers for entry to space research,” Jeffrey Manber, managing director of NanoRacks, said in a news release announcing the program. “This is a double win. This first-of-its-kind student experiment donation platform will help create a world-class experience for students.”

Read the full MSNBC story at http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/15/12245222-hey-kids-send-your-stuff-into-orbit

Jun 16 2012

Spacelab – STS-50 Mission 1992 Video

Richard Richards KB5SIW Receiving SSTV on Space Shuttle STS-50

Richard Richards KB5SIW Receiving SSTV on Space Shuttle mission STS-50

The 1992 space shuttle STS-50 mission was the first time that astronauts received an amateur radio fast-scan television video. It was sent by the ham radio club station W5RRR at the Johnson Space Center (JSC).

Narrated by the Commander and crew, this video contains footage selected by the astronauts, as well as their comments on the mission. Footage includes launch, onboard crew activities, and landing.

The amateur radio aspect of the mission gets a mention at 11:32 into this video.

Watch Space Shuttle STS-50 Columbia Spacelab USML pt1-2 Post Flight Press 1992 NASA

Watch Space Shuttle STS-50 Columbia Spacelab USML pt2-2 Post Flight Press 1992 NASA

Video of Jay Leno – SAREX – Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment 1992 http://www.uk.amsat.org/?p=8172

Vintage Spacelab 2 video featuring Amateur Radio http://www.uk.amsat.org/?p=7639

Vintage Videos of STS-9 Columbia Mission and Spacelab http://www.uk.amsat.org/?p=7265

Shuttle Amateur Radio experiment (SAREX) past missions

Astronaut Radio Hams http://www.w5rrr.org/ astros.html

Jun 15 2012

ArduSat Arduino CubeSat Update

The NanoSatisfi team is building an Arduino CubeSat ArduSat. On this satellite they plan to put up to 5 Arduino’s and plug in 50+ sensors into them as well as 2 optical and 1 IR camera.

Once the satellite is on orbit they aim to give access to the general public/citizen scientists to the payload (Arduinos, sensors and camera) to upload their own scientific experiments.

The team want to capture the attention of the DIY community, hackers and makers, amateur astronomers and in general those interested in space exploration and the next frontier.

Sensor wise they have so far magnetometers, O3 sensors, GPS , gyros, plasma sensors, photometer, thermometer, pressure sensor, space radiation (bitflip) sensor, Geiger counter and 2 optical and 1 IR camera etc. The idea is that people can rent scientific packages for a week, during the week they run their experiment the team will send data constantly back to them to analyze.

Imagine general public, including teachers having access to experiment platform in space for a couple of hundreds of dollar and they analyze data and engage students, friends etc., it could revolutionize the way people see space and perceive space exploration.

The team are also looking for feedback from people interested in the project and want to hear ideas on sensors and experiments!

Watch ArduSat Kickstarter Video

Watch Sensor prototype demo

Watch The DISCOVER Space Challenge & ArduSat: Invent an experiment and run it in space!

Watch SciStarter & Science Cheerleader Join ArduSat as Community Partner

NanoSatisfi was founded by Austrian-born Peter Platzer a former high-energy physicist (CERN), former Hedge Fund Quantitative Trader, avid HP-41 hacker and Arduino enthusiast, along with Belgian aerospace engineer Jeroen Cappaert intern at NASA Ames Research Center, Canadian aerospace engineer Joel Spark intern at EADS Astrium and Hungarian Reka Kovacs intern at NASA Ames Research Center working on alternative methods of public outreach for space science. The four founders met at the International Space University in Strasbourg and thought that they could do something to provide affordable, open-source space exploration for everyone.

Check out the ArduSat Kickstarter page here:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/575960623/ardusat-your-arduino-experiment-in-space

Jun 12 2012

SimpleSat Look Down satellite tracking software now available

SimpleSat Look Down is a free easy to use software app for satellite tracking.

Written by Tom Doyle W9KE it includes a satellite look down window that displays the view from the satellite looking down at the earth as it moves along.

It uses .NET 4 and runs on Windows 8, Windows 7, Vista and XP.

Tom has released this collection of videos that explain how SimpleSat Look Down works:

Watch SimpleSat Look Down – best viewed full screen HD

Watch SimpleSat Look Down – Setup  – Best Viewed Full Screen HD

Watch SimpleSat Look Down – General Operation – Best Viewed Full Screen HD

Watch SimpleSat Look Down – Rotor Setup – best viewed full screen in HD

You can download SimpleSat Look Down from
http://www.tomdoyle.org/SimpleSatLookDown/SimpleSatLookDown.html

Jun 12 2012

F-1 CubeSat is scheduled for launch in July, 2012

Latest update on F-1 CubeSat project:

At the moment, the flight safety review is coming to an end. The FSpace team together with their partner NanoRacks LLC has satisfied the technical requirements and standards set by the launch vehicle provider.

If everything goes according to plan, the F-1 CubeSat will be delivered to Japan by the end of June. Then along with four other CubeSats (RAIKO, WE-WISH, FITSAT-1 and TechEdSat) F-1 will be loaded onboard HTV-3 “Kounotori” transfer vehicle for integration with the JAXA HII-B launch vehicle.

F-1 plans to launch to the International Space Station (ISS) on July 21 from Tanegashima, Japan, then in September the Japanese astronaut and radio amateur Akihiko Hoshide KE5DNI should deploy it into space from the ISS using the Kibo robot arm.

It carries two Yaesu VX-3R transceivers using 145.980 and 437.485 MHz.

The FSpace team are offering the public a chance to send their name/callsign and a message into space onboard the F-1 CubeSat. You will also be presented with a certificate! See this link http://fspace.edu.vn/?page_id=31

JAXA http://iss.jaxa.jp/kibo/about/jssod/ Google English http://tinyurl.com/7x79o6p

FSpace http://fspace.edu.vn/

Vietnam Student CubeSat F-1 http://www.uk.amsat.org/5025

Video of HTV-3 “Kounotori” and CubeSat Deployer http://www.uk.amsat.org/8078

F-1 CubeSat Students