Tag Archives: AMSAT-UK

Dec 2 2011

Radio Amateurs Receive Mars Science Laboratory

Mars Science Laboratory

Mars Science Laboratory

Radio Amateurs have received signals from the NASA Mars Science Laboratory using the AMSAT-DL amateur radio facility at Bochum in Germany.

On November 26, 2011 at 15:02 UTC the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) successfully launched on an Atlas V 541 from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 41. It is carrying Curiosity, a 900 kg rover about the size of a small car.

It is expected to arrive at the “Red Planet” in August 2012 after a nine month flight.

Just over 7 hours after launch at 21:45 UTC the X-band telemetry signal from the MSL was received using the Bochum amateur radio facility. The signal, received at a distance of 112,000 km, had a spin-modulation of +/- 3.5 Hz with 2 revolutions / minute.

This is believed to be the first reception of the MSL outside the official NASA Deep Space Network (DSN) and the USN tracking station at Dongara, Australia (under contract to JPL for the MSL launch).

Bochum Amateur Radio Facility

Amateur Radio Facility at Bochum

For reception of MSL James Miller G3RUH remotely reconfigured the Bochum tracking and receiving system. The MSL X-Band telemetry signal was received automatically in Bochum, no-one had to be physically on-site. This shows how flexible and reliable the system at Bochum is, ready for the planned AMSAT-DL P5-A mission to Mars.

The 20m dish at Bochum is also used by AMSAT-DL to automatically receive real-time solar data from the NASA STEREO A / B satellites. The data is transmitted to a NOAA server in the USA via the Internet.

Congratulations to the AMSAT-DL team on a remarkable acheivement.

Control Software for the Bochum Radio Telescope by James Miller G3RUH
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/articles/g3ruh/126.html

Stereo A/B Spacecraft Telemetry Reception at Bochum by James Miller G3RUH
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/articles/g3ruh/127.html

AMSAT-DL in Google English http://tinyurl.com/AMSAT-DL

AMSAT-UK publishes a newsletter, OSCAR News, full of Amateur Satellite information. Sample issue at http://www.uk.amsat.org/on_193_final.pdf  Join online at http://alturl.com/avuca

Sep 3 2011

OSCAR-11 Report September 1, 2011

OSCAR-11 Report
September 1, 2011

Clive Wallis G3CWV says excellent signals from OSCAR-11 have been reported from stations located around the world.

clive_wallis_g3cwv

clive_wallis_g3cwv

This report covers the period from 27 April to 01 September 2011.
The satellite has continued to operate in a very predictable way since the last report, and no changes have been observed.

During this time the satellite has been heard reliably during its ten-day transmission periods. Excellent signals have been reported from stations located around the world, and good copy obtained from decoded telemetry frames.

Continue reading →

Jul 18 2011

AMSAT-UK planning ARISSat-1 activation

 

GB4FUN

GB4FUN

Members of AMSAT-UK hope to be active using GB4FUN during the ARISSat-1 tests, July 30-31, from the International Space Colloquium in Guildford.

ARISSat-1 is a new Amateur Radio satellite that will be deployed from the International Space Station (ISS) during a space walk in early August.

It is currently onboard the ISS and on the weekend of July 30-31 the satellite will be connected to external antennas of the ISS enabling Amateurs to communicate through it’s linear transponder using SSB/CW and receive it’s FM, BPSK and CW downlinks. The FM downlink will also be transmitting Slow Scan TV that can be received using the free MMSSTV software.

AMSAT-UK intend to use the GB4FUN station equipment to listen to the various ARISSat-1 signals.

In addition they will be experimenting with the use of FUNcube Dongle software defined radios to receive the ARISSat-1 signals with a variety of different antennas.

The colloquium is being held on July 30-31 at the Holiday Inn, Guildford, GU2 7XZ. It is open to all Radio Amateurs and SWL’s. Either day passes or full packages comprising overnight accommodation and meals are available. For futher information see http://www.uk.amsat.org/colloquium-2011/

 

ARRISat-1 Frequencies
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/july2011/
arissat1_deployment_1707.htm

Online Satellite Pass Predictions, select ISS
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/tools/predict/

PDF of RadCom article Getting Started on Amateur Radio Satellites
http://www.uk.amsat.org/archives/getting-started-on-
amateur-radio-satellites

AMSAT-UK publishes a colour A4 newsletter, OSCAR News, which is full of Amateur Satellite information.
Join online at http://tinyurl.com/JoinAMSAT-UK

 

Jul 11 2011

Join AMSAT-UK today.

AMSAT-UK



Membership of AMSAT-UK is open to anyone who has an interest in Amateur radio
satellites/space activities, including the ISS. You do not have to have an
amateur radio licence to join (many of our members are interested in listening
to satellites, decoding the telemetry, etc This forms an important part of our
hobby!). Nor do you have to reside in the UK. There are separate membership
rates for those living outside the UK, these separate rates go to offset the
extra postage costs involved in mailing our quarterly publication, “Oscar News”.
or visit the AMSAT-UK website at http://www.uk.amsat.org/

So Keep upto date with all the latest news and events and join today.
Best 73
AMSAT-UK