Tag Archives: Amateur Radio

Apr 22 2012

16 Japanese Educational Satellites to be Launched

Kibo Robot Arm CubeSat Deployment

Kibo Robot Arm CubeSat Deployment

Sixteen educational satellites are under construction in Japan. The first should be launched in May 2012 followed by the others over the next two years.

Horyu-2 Structural Thermal Model

HORYU-2 Structural Thermal Model

The first to launch is the amateur radio satellite HORYU-2 built by students at the Kyushu Institute of Technology (KIT). The launch is on a Japanese H-IIA rocket planned for May 17 at 1639-1642 UT.

The mission aims to take pictures of the Earth using a small CMOS camera SCAMP (Surrey Camera Payload) developed by the University of Surrey, a sister university of KIT. SCAMP takes a 640×480 pixel picture in a JPEG format. From 700 km altitude, one pixel corresponds to 1.6 km.

HORYU-2 will be followed in July by the launch of the HTV3 to the International Space Station (ISS). This will deliver the JEM-Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (J-SSOD) along with the Japanese CubeSats WE-WISH, FITSAT-1 and RAIKO. These CubeSats should be deployed from the ISS in September using the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) robot arm.

Takushi Tanaka JA6AVG and FITSAT

Takushi Tanaka JA6AVG and FITSAT

FITSAT-1, also known as NIWAKA, will use a neodymium magnet for attitude control. It has multiple downlinks, CW on 437.250 MHz, AX.25 on 437.445 MHz and a 4 watt high speed data transmitter on 5840 MHz capable of sending a 640 by 480 VGA JPEG image in 6 seconds.

In addition it carries high power LEDs that will be driven with 100W pulses to produce extremely bright flashes. These, it is hoped, will be observable by the unaided eye or with small binoculars. Both the 5840 MHz and optical downlinks have a high power consumption so it may be that they are only activated over Japan.

In December TSUBAME is planned to be launched on a H-IIA. It aims to have a CW beacon on 437.250 MHz and AX.25 1200/9600bps telemetry on 437.505 MHz.

The satellite blog run by Mineo Wakita JE9PEL is a good source of information on Japanese satellites, see http://tinyurl.com/JE9PEL-Satellite-Blog

The satellite blog of Nader Omer ST2NH contains a summary of Mineo’s information which is reproduced here:

Horyu-2
http://kitsat.ele.kyutech.ac.jp/what_horyu2_2.html
437.375MHz 1200bps FSK CW
——————————————————————————-

RAIKO
http://www.astro.mech.tohoku.ac.jp/RAIKO/
2U (10 cm by 10 cm by 20 cm)
——————————————————————————-

FITSAT-1
http://www.fit.ac.jp/~tanaka/fitsat.shtml
437.250MHz CW, 437.445MHz FM, 5840.00MHz High speed data
——————————————————————————

WE WISH
http://www.meisei.co.jp/news/2011/0617_622.html
IR pictures of the earth surface with 320×256 pixels
that will be downlinked in approx 110 secs using SSTV.
437.505MHz SSTV, Telemetry, CW

http://www.meisei.co.jp/english/news/2011/0617_636.html (English Version)

—————————————————————————–

STARS-II
http://stars1.eng.kagawa-u.ac.jp/
437.245MHz CW (mother), 437.255MHz CW (daughter)
437.405MHz FM (mother), 437.425MHz FM (daughter)
—————————————————————————-

TeikyoSat
http://sites.google.com/site/spacesystemteikyo/Home/teikyo-sat
—————————————————————————-

Komolebi
http://www.nano-sat.org/shinshu/files/2010shinshu/09_okamoto.pdf
—————————————————————————-

KSAT2
http://leo.sci.kagoshima-u.ac.jp/~n-lab/KSAT-HP/Ksat2.html
—————————————————————————-

INVADER
http://artsat.jp/
—————————————————————————-

OPUSAT
http://www.sssrc.aero.osakafu-u.ac.jp/OPUSAT_home.html
—————————————————————————-

ITF-1
http://yui.kz.tsukuba.ac.jp/
Mission 1 Establish human network by amateur satellite
Mission 2 Prove the ability of the micro engineered 1/20 wavelength small antenna
Mission 3 Prove the stable operation of FRAM based microcontroller and
other microcontroller in space environment
437.425 MHz
—————————————————————————-

RISING-2
http://www.astro.mech.tohoku.ac.jp/RISING-2/
—————————————————————————-

SPROUT
http://sat.aero.cst.nihon-u.ac.jp/sprout/
—————————————————————————-

UNIFORM-1
http://www.wakayama-u.ac.jp/ifes/news/20120328.html
—————————————————————————-
SOCRATES
http://www.aes.co.jp/company/
—————————————————————————-

TSUBAME
http://lss.mes.titech.ac.jp/ssp/tsubame/
437.505MHz AX.25/SRLL, 9600bps GMSK, 1200bps AFSK
437.250MHz CW
—————————————————————————-

Apr 22 2012

ITAR – Section 1248 Report Released

ITARThe International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) inexplicably applies to amateur radio satellites. It threatens US hams with jail terms or six figure fines if they cooperate with amateurs outside the USA on satellite projects. Cooperation includes talking about or publishing on the web certain information regarding amateur radio satellite systems.

US Department of Defense (DoD) has recommended some US-built satellites and components should be transferred from the US Munitions List (USML) to the Commerce Control List (CCL), allowing greater export flexibility.

Known as the Section 1248 report after the section of the 2010 DoD authorisation bill that commissioned it, the report recommends that authority to classify communications satellites and certain remote sensing satellites, as well as many satellite components, be returned to the president.

The report says:

The review determined that the following items do not contain technologies unique to military applications or critical for maintaining a military edge:

– Communications satellites (COMSATs) that do not contain classified components;
– Remote sensing satellites with performance parameters below (worse than) thresholds identified in Appendix 1 paragraphs (a)(7)(i) – (iv); and
– Systems, subsystems, parts and components associated with these satellites and with performance – parameters below thresholds specified for items remaining on the USML.

The above items no longer meet the definition of a defense article. However, they can provide important military functionality. Although the United States and other space-faring nations have technologies and satellites far more capable than the items identified above, those dual-use technologies can be used by countries with less experience and expertise in space to generate basic, initial military communications, remote sensing assets, and satellite jamming capabilities.

The controls typically applied to dual-use items on the Commerce Control List (CCL) are sufficient to safeguard and monitor the export of the identified items.

Read the Section 1248 Space Export Control Report
http://www.defense.gov/home/features/2011/0111_nsss/docs/1248_Report_Space_Export_Control.pdf

A 2009 IARU Region 3 report highlights that ITAR requirements made AMSAT-NA direct its members to cease cooperation with AMSAT-ZL in the development of KiwiSAT http://www.iaru-r3.org/14r3c/docs/046.doc

ITAR impact on the Eagle project – try archive.org with  http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/eagle/

The 2005 amateur radio P3E IHU project killed by ITAR http://www.amsat-dl.org/p3e/bericht-ihu3-0205-e.pdf

ITAR impact on satellite launches http://www.spacequest.com/Articles/SSC03-II-1%20SpaceQuest.pdf

2011 ITAR submission by the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT)
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/images/fck_images/AMSAT%20ITAR%20Comments%20Final.pdf

2009 AMSAT files CJ requests with US State Department
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/august2009/amsat_files_cj_requests.htm

ITAR in ARRL Executive Committee Minutes http://www.uk.amsat.org/6542

Bloomberg: Satellite Export Controls Should Be Eased, U.S Says
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-04-18/satellite-export-controls-should-be-eased-u-dot-s-says

Apr 21 2012

Sponsor Plaques Fitted at National Radio Centre

Dave Johnson G4DPZ with NRC Sponsor Plaques 2560

Dave Johnson G4DPZ with NRC Sponsor Plaques

Sponsor plaques have now been fitted in the reception to the RSGB National Radio Centre at Bletchley Park.

Dave Johnson G4DPZ is one of a number of individuals and organisations who either gave freely of their time or supplied equipment to make the National Radio Centre the premier exhibition that it is.

AMSAT-UK donated the WiMo X quads for 144 and 430 MHz along with pre amps and polarisation switches for the amateur radio satellite station. They are connected to a Kenwood TS-2000 loaned by Kenwood Electronics.

A full list of NRC sponsors can be seen at http://www.nationalradiocentre.com/nrc-sponsors.php

AMSAT-UK on Amateur Radio Satellites for World Amateur Radio Day http://www.uk.amsat.org/6516

Apr 20 2012

Flabob Airport students talk to Space Station

NASA astronaut Don Pettit KD5MDT

NASA astronaut Don Pettit KD5MDT

It was 13 months of preparation for 10 minutes of conversation – but what a conversation!

On Thursday morning, a select group of students from the Flabob Airport Preparatory Academy spent about 10 minutes on an amateur radio teleconference call with the International Space Station, asking astronaut Donald Pettit KD5MDT a variety of questions about his duties and the effects of prolonged weightlessness on the human body.

Press-Enterprise report:

“My heart was just pounding,” said Brittany Cain, a 17-year-old junior at the school. “It was just amazing to be able to ask the question. But I was so nervous, I can’t remember his answer.”

The contact was made possible by Clint Bradford K6LCS an amateur radio operator and the liaison between NASA, the school and amateur radio. Bradford worked with NASA to get Thursday’s call approved.

“Our hope is that through this experience the students will keep questioning and keep looking skyward,” Bradford said. “They should never stop asking questions about space.”

Bradford also made the connection to amateur radio operator Claudio Ariotti IK1SLD who connected to the space station as it passed over Italy. The radio feed was sent to Flabob by telephone.

Read the full Press-Enterprise story at
http://www.pe.com/local-news/local-news-headlines/20120419-jurupa-valley-students-question-real-life-rocket-man.ece

Watch Flabob-ARISS – BEFORE the Contact

Watch the Press-Enterprise video of the contact

NASA sets date for Flabob Airport ARISS contact
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/april2012/nasa_sets_date_for_flabob_airport_ariss_contact.htm

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) http://ariss.rac.ca/

Apr 20 2012

Use of Amateur Satellite Frequencies by Olympic and Paralympic Games

The Olympic and Paralympic Games will be using almost half of the 430 MHz amateur radio allocation as well as segments of 2.3 GHz and 3.4 GHz during the period June 28 to September 23.

The impact on the Amateur-satellite Service 435-438 MHz allocation has been restricted to 436.25-437.25 MHz. It is understood that the equipment being used in the 430 MHz band will include handheld FM rigs at the hotels, the routes to the venues and the venues themselves.

The UK communications regulator Ofcom has provided details of the areas that need to be protected from RF within the designated frequency ranges. Ofcom say: Use of radio by Amateurs in the areas defined in Annexes A and B below could cause interference to Games applications; it is also possible that higher power transmissions from outside these areas could cause interference. Consequently, to avoid the risk of interference to Games applications, Ofcom request that Amateurs do not operate within the frequency ranges identified in the areas defined in Annexes A and B, and that Amateurs ensure that any signals that could be received in these areas are negligible.

Individual Amateurs should assess if their transmission is likely to be received in the defined areas and if in any doubt please DONT operate within the frequency ranges identified.

This indicates that the specified frequency ranges should be avoided for a considerable distance outside the designated zones. Clearly a well equipped station on a good site 75 km from the edge of a zone could still put a signal into that area.

Ofcom also say: There are a number of Amateur contests that fall within the period of the 2012 Games. We can accommodate these providing the Amateur activity is kept to the dates of 6th – 8th July, 4th – 5th August, 14th August and 11th September.

The wideband OMEGA Time Distance system will be used by the sailing vessels taking part in the events at Weymouth. When the system was first tested in August 2011 it operated across the 430 MHz band and it was noted that the repeater GB3SD suffered interference while the trials were taking place. See the South Dorset Repeater Group log at http://sites.google.com/site/southdorsethamradio/sdrginfo/sdrglog It is understood that for the Games this year OMEGA will be using a different frequency band.

Annex A: Areas in which 431-432 MHz, 432-433 MHz paired with 436.25-437.25 MHz and 438-439 MHz need to be protected for Games use.
http://licensing.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/spectrum/amateur-radio/spectrum_use/Annex_A.pdf

Annex B: Areas in which 2.39 – 2.4 GHz and 3.41 – 3.44 GHz need to be protected for Games use.
http://licensing.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/spectrum/amateur-radio/spectrum_use/Annex_B.pdf

Annex C: Details of some other changes and restrictions that will apply to repeaters and RAYNET use.
http://licensing.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/spectrum/amateur-radio/spectrum_use/Annex_C.pdf

Ofcom Statement http://licensing.ofcom.org.uk/radiocommunication-licences/amateur-radio/ar_spectrum_use/

RSGB Olympic and Paralympic Games information http://www.rsgb.org/operating/londonolympics2012/

Apr 20 2012

28th National Space Symposium April 16-19, 2012

Martin Sweeting G3YJO 2012 Image Credit SSTL

Martin Sweeting G3YJO Image Credit SSTL

Among those attending the 28th National Space Symposium in Colorado April 16-19 was Sir Martin Sweeting G3YJO.

He took part in the ‘Societal Benefits – Space Applications in Emerging Regions’ panel.

Space News reports:

Overseas markets are expanding as more nations embrace space for communications, environmental monitoring, resource management and disaster response, according to members of an April 17 panel discussing space applications in emerging nations.

Emerging programs in Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa offer opportunities to the industry but come with some challenges, not the least of which is cooperation and cultural understanding between governments. Panel members discussing the trend were Tim Deaver, vice president of market development, government solutions, at SES World Skies, David Hartshorn, secretary general of the London-based Global VSAT Forum, and Sir Martin Sweeting, founder and chairman of U.K.-based Surrey Satellite Technology.

“Space is essential to play a part fully” on the international stage, Sweeting said. While some might argue it is an extravagance in nations often burdened with dire poverty, new wisdom has taken hold that space can bolster economies and level playing fields.

Pictures and videos of the 28th National Space Symposium can be seen at http://www.nationalspacesymposium.org/

Space News report http://www.spacenews.com/satellite_telecom/120418-nations-embracing-space-apps.html