CAMSAT CAS-2 banner at the Friedrichshafen Ham Radio 2012 event
CAMSAT are building two micro-satellites CAS-2A1 and CAS-2A2 to be combined into a binary star system for amateur radio communication and education.
There will be a radio link between two satellites when the satellites are in suitable positions in their orbits, so that the amateur radio communication coverage can be extended. Both spacecraft are 25kg 270x270x250mm and are planning to launch from Taiyuan into a sun synchronous, 1000km apogee, 99.5 degree orbit.
CAMSAT CAS-2 at Friedrichshafen Ham Radio 2012 Event – Image Credit ARRL
The first CAMSAT amateur radio satellite CAS-1 (aka XW-1, HO-68) carried a linear transponder and proved very popular with radio amateurs world-wide.
Fan Shaomin BA1EO with CAS-2 A1
CAMSAT and students at the Qian Youth Space Academy have been working on the next satellite CAS-2.
The launch of CAS-2 is planned for 2014 into a 1000 km orbit with an inclination of 12 degrees. This orbit means it may not be receivable in those countries at high latitudes.
It is understood that most of the room in CAS-2 will be taken up by the primary (non-amateur) payload and it has only been possible to fit a single channel FM amateur transponder in the satellite.
The announcement of May 20 indicates that two separate CAS-2 satellite structures are being built – A1 and A2.
AMSAT-UK 
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