Tag Archives: CAMSAT

May 30 2018

Amateur radio satellites in TX Factor Show episode 21

In episode 21 of the TX Factor show Bob McCreadie G0FGX and Mike Marsh G1IAR discuss the linear (SSB/CW) amateur radio satellites and give a demonstration with the CAMSAT XW-2F satellite.

They also review the new Icom IC-7610 transceiver, and look at programming your SDR handie and running a SharkRF openSPOT digital radio IP gateway.

As always, in their free-to-enter draw, there’s a chance to win two great amateur radio-related items – a Prism dust cover for your rig, and a copy of the book “Amsats and HamSats”.

Bob and Mike discuss satellites near the start of the show and towards the end at 48:08 they give a live demonstration of the CAMSAT XW-2F SSB transponder satellite.

Watch TX Factor – Episode 21 (TXF021)

CAMSAT XW-2 Satellites https://amsat-uk.org/satellites/communications/camsat-xw-2/

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May 14 2018

CAMSAT amateur radio transponder satellites to launch this year

CAMSAT has released details of three new amateur radio satellites, CAS-5A, CAS-5B and CAS-6, that are hoped to launch in September 2018. Two of the satellites CAS-5A and CAS-6 will carry transponders.

CAS-5A a 6U CubeSat which will include the following capabilities:
• HF/HF – H/T Mode Linear Transponder
• HF/UHF – H/U Mode Linear Transponder
• HF – CW Telemetry Beacon
• VHF/UHF – V/U Mode Linear Transponder
• VHF/UHF – V/U Mode FM Transponder
• UHF – CW Telemetry Beacon
• UHF – AX.25 4.8k/9.6k Baud GMSK Telemetry.

The transponders will have 30 kHz bandwidths except the H/U one which will be 15 kHz. Planning a launch in September 2018 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center into a 539×533 km 97.5 degree orbit.
http://www.amsatuk.me.uk/iaru/formal_detail.php?serialnum=619

CAS-5B a femto-satellite architecture 90Lx80Wx50H mm with a mass of 0.5kg Proposing a UHF CW beacon and to be deployed from CAS-5A when in space.
http://www.amsatuk.me.uk/iaru/formal_detail.php?serialnum=620

CAS-6 a 50 kg micro satellite approx 490 x 499 x 430 mm. It will include:
• VHF CW Telemetry Beacon
• U/V Mode 20 kHz Linear Transponder
• AX.25 4.8k baud GMSK telemetry downlink
• Deployable Antennas
• Solar Panels, Lithium ion battery and power controller
• Integrated Housekeeping Unit
• Three-axis stabilization system
• Atmospheric Wind detector
• S-band TT&C system (non-amateur radio band)
• X-band Data link system (non-amateur radio band)

Planning a Sea Launch Pad from the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology in September 2018 into a 579 x 579 km 45 degree orbit.
http://www.amsatuk.me.uk/iaru/formal_detail.php?serialnum=622

IARU Satellite Frequency Coordination Status http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru/

Jun 15 2017

CAS-4A and CAS-4B Satellites from CAMSAT Launched

CAS-4A and CAS-4B launch on CZ-4B

CAS-4A and CAS-4B launch on CZ-4B

Two of CAMSAT’s amateur radio payloads piggybacked on the optical remote sensing micro-satellites OVS-1A and OVS-1B were launched at 0300 GMT on Thursday, June 15, 2017 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, on the CZ-4B launch vehicle. The primary payload of this launch is a hard X-ray modulation telescope satellite (HXMT).

Satellite CAS-4A/OVS-1A:
● Architecture: Micro-satellite
● Dimensions: 494Lx499Wx630H mm
● Mass: 55 kg
● Stabilization: three-axis stabilization system with its +Y surface facing the earth
● Primary Payload: optical Camera with 1.98m resolution

CAS-4A Orbit:
● Orbit type : Sun synchronization orbit
● Apogee: 524 km
● Inclination: 43°
● Period: 95.1 minutes

CAS-4A Amateur Radio Payload:
● Call sign: BJ1SK
● VHF Antenna: one 1/4λ monopole antenna with max. 0 dBi gain located at +Z side
● UHF Antenna: one 1/4λ monopole antenna with max. 0 dBi gain located at -Z side
● CW Telemetry Beacon: 145.855 MHz 17 dBm
● AX.25 4.8k Baud GMSK Telemetry: 145.835 MHz 20 dBm
● U/V Linear Transponder Downlink: 145.870 MHz 20 dBm, 20 kHz bandwidth, Inverted
● U/V Linear Transponder Uplink: 435.220 MHz

CAS-4 Satellite

CAS-4 Satellite

Satellite Name: CAS-4B/OVS-1B:
● Architecture: Micro-satellite
● Dimensions: 494Lx499Wx630H mm
● Mass: 55 kg
● Stabilization: three-axis stabilization system with its +Y surface facing the earth
● Primary Payload: optical Camera with 1.98m resolution

CAS-4B Orbit:
● Orbit type : Sun synchronization orbit
● Apogee: 524 km
● Inclination: 43°
● Period: 95.1 minutes

CAS-4B Amateur Radio Payload:
● Call sign: BJ1SL
● VHF Antenna: one 1/4λ monopole antenna with max. 0 dBi gain located at +Z side
● UHF Antenna: one 1/4λ monopole antenna with max. 0 dBi gain located at -Z side
● CW Telemetry Beacon: 145.910 MHz 17 dBm
● AX.25 4.8k Baud GMSK Telemetry: 145.890 MHz 20 dBm
● U/V Linear Transponder Downlink: 145.925 MHz 20 dBm, 20 kHz bandwidth, Inverted
● U/V Linear Transponder Uplink: 435.280 MHz

73!
Alan Kung, BA1DU

CAMSAT Press Release PDF

Keplerian Two Line Elements (TLEs) ‘Keps’ for new satellites launched in past 30 days
http://celestrak.com/NORAD/elements/tle-new.txt

CAS-4A and CAS-4B

Jul 9 2015

CAMSAT Launch Postponement

CAMSAT XW-2A formerly known as CAS-3A

CAMSAT XW-2A formerly known as CAS-3A

A launch postponement has been announced for Beijing’s new CZ-6 rocket which is planned to carry a constellation of amateur radio satellites.

Soon to be launched six CAMSAT satellites CAS-3A to F have now been named as XW-2 (Hope-2) amateur satellite system, and correspond to the XW-2A to F.

All the satellites have completed environmental testing, currently being burn-in tests, everything is underway. The satellites will be moved to the launch center in mid-August and launch date has been postponed to early September.

73!

Alan Kung, BA1DU

CAMSAT XW-2 satellites https://amsat-uk.org/satellites/communications/camsat-xw-2/

May 24 2015

Nine CAS-3 amateur radio satellites to launch in July

CAMSAT CAS-3A

CAMSAT CAS-3A

The CAMSAT orchestrated CAS-3 amateur satellite system is now nearing completion.

Nine satellites, CAS-3A – CAS3i, should be launched on July 20, 2015 from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center on the new CZ-6 launcher. It is understood the CZ-6 will be carrying a total of 20 satellites.

Six of the CAMSAT satellites, CAS-3A-CAS-3F, are equipped with substantially the same amateur radio payloads. A 20 kHz bandwidth 435/145 MHz (mode U/V) 100 mW linear transponder for SSB/CW communications, a CW telemetry beacon and an AX.25 19.2k/9.6k bps GMSK telemetry downlink.

Each set of amateur radio equipment has the same technical characteristics, but operates on different frequencies in the 435 MHz uplink band and 145 MHz downlink band. While the amateur payloads are similar the sizes of the satellites differ, one is 20 kg, three are 10 kg and two are 1 kg.

CAS-3A will be deployed into a 450 km sun-synchronous orbit while the other satellites will in a 530 km sun-synchronous orbit.

LilacSat-2, developed at the Harbin Institute of Technology, has been renamed as CAS-3H, and has had to change frequencies to avoid a clash with other CAMSAT satellites on the flight. CAS-3H carries 145 MHz APRS, a 145/435 FM transponder and a 437 MHz CW beacon.

Two others satellites on the launch also carry amateur satellite service payloads and have been named as CAS-3G which has 9k6 GMSK AX25 downlinks on 145 MHz and 437 MHz and CAS-3i which has a 9k6 FSK telemetry downlink on 437 MHz.

Further information on the CAS-3A to CAS-3F satellites can be seen at
https://amsat-uk.org/satellites/communications/camsat-cas-3-series/

CAMSAT with support from the Qian Youth Space Academy has been developing two satellites CAS-2A1 and CAS-2A2. These will not be on this launch, instead they may fly on a CZ-2 at a later date.
https://amsat-uk.org/2012/10/18/cas-2a1-and-cas-2a2-linear-transponder-amateur-radio-satellites/

CAS-2 Series IARU Satellite Frequency Coordination page
http://www.amsatuk.me.uk/iaru/formal_detail.php?serialnum=264

CAS-3 Series IARU Satellite Frequency Coordination page
http://www.amsatuk.me.uk/iaru/formal_detail.php?serialnum=458

AMSAT-UK
Web https://amsat-uk.org/
Twitter https://twitter.com/AmsatUK
Facebook https://facebook.com/AmsatUK
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Yahoo Group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FUNcube

May 22 2015

Beijing may launch amateur satellites in July

CAMSAT CAS-2 at Friedrichshafen Ham Radio 2012 Event

CAMSAT CAS-2 at Friedrichshafen Ham Radio 2012 Event

UPDATE May 24, 2015: CAS-2A1 and CAS-2A2 will not be launching in July but nine CAS-3 series satellites will be. See the latest information at https://amsat-uk.org/2015/05/24/nine-cas-3-ham-radio-satellites/

Mineo Wakita JE9PEL reports on his website that Beijing may launch satellites carrying amateur radio payloads in July 2015. It is understood the launch would be on a CZ-6 rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center.

XW-2 (CAS-2) and LilacSat-2 will be carrying amateur radio payloads but at the time of writing it is not clear if Tiantuo-3 and ZDPS-2 may also have amateur radio payloads.

Additionally it is reported elsewhere there may be up to 20 satellites on the launch.

Fan Shaomin BA1EO with CAS-2 A1

Fan Shaomin BA1EO with CAS-2 A1

CAS-2A1 satellite: 270x270x250mm
2m CW telemetry beacon 100 mW
2m AX.25 digital telemetry beacon 500 mW
2m FM voice beacon 500 mW
U/V mode Linear transponder 50 kHz 500 mW
L/S mode Linear transponder 200 kHz 320 mW
U/V mode APRS repeater

CAS-2A2 satellite:
70cm CW telemetry beacon 100 mW
70cm AX.25 digital telemetry beacon 500 mW
13cm CW telemetry beacon 200 mW
3cm CW telemetry beacon 200 mW
V/U mode Linear transponder 500 mW

LilacSat-2 – Harbin Institute of Technology
Approx. 11 kg 20x20x20 cm
Uplink: 145.825, 145.875 MHz
Downlink: 437.200 MHz beacon 437.225 MHz FM/APRS

Tiantuo-3 (TT-3) – Small satellite from China’s National University of Defense Technology

ZDPS-2 – Nano-satellite mission of the Microsat Research Center Zhejiang University

Source Mineo Wakita JE9PEL http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/lilacsat.htm

AMSAT-UK
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Yahoo Group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FUNcube