Tag Archives: CubeSat

Aug 4 2015

Frequencies Announced for Nayif-1 CubeSat

Deputy project manager of Nayif-1 Fatma Lootah

Deputy project manager of Nayif-1 Fatma Lootah

Nayif-1 is an educational single CubeSat project with the goal of providing an actual space project for Emirati University students. Additionally it is intended to enthuse and educate young people about radio, space physics and electronics.

The 1U CubeSat is a collaboration between the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center and the American University of Sharjah both in the United Arab Emirates.

Nayif-1 - Credit Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre

Nayif-1 – Credit Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre

The spacecraft will only require simple ground station antennas and an SDR dongle receiver. This will make it uncomplicated for schools and colleges to use with their students.

It is anticipated Nayif-1 will be launched into an elliptical, sun synchronous, Low Earth Orbit (LEO) about 400 by 750 km. In such an orbit the satellite passes over the Emirates at least twice a day. This would allow the morning passes to be used for educational purposes and the evening passes for Amateur Radio communications.

The student team will develop and operate a special ground station for this spacecraft. They will also be developing a unique “Dashboard” to display the received telemetry data and greetings messages in Arabic.

Nayif-1 will incorporate a novel autonomous attitude determination and control system. This will be the first flight of this system. Additionally it will carry a UHF to VHF linear transponder that will have up to 0.5 watt output and which can be used by Radio Amateurs worldwide for SSB and CW communications.

A launch is planned for late 2015 on a SpaceX Falcoln 9.

IARU coordinated frequencies for NAYIF-1:
• 145.940 MHz 1200 bps BPSK FUNcube beacon
• 500 mW inverting SSB/CW linear transponder
– 435.045-435.015 MHz Uplink
– 145.960-145.990 MHz Downlink

Follow Nayif-1 on Twitter https://twitter.com/Nayifone

Nayif-1 https://amsat-uk.org/satellites/communications/nayif-1/

Jul 30 2015

HD videos of AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium

Dr Chris Bridges 2E0OBC of the Surrey Space Centre - Credit DK3WN

Dr Chris Bridges 2E0OBC of the Surrey Space Centre – Credit DK3WN

High-definition videos of presentations given at the AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium 2015 are now available on YouTube.

The colloquium took place July 25-26 in Guildford and attracted attendees from Europe, the USA, Middle East and Japan.

Thanks to the cooperation between the British Amateur Television Club (BATC) and AMSAT-UK, over 6 hours of presentations from the 2015 Colloquium are now available to view on the AMSAT-UK YouTube account.

Videos from the 2014 Colloquium are also available on the site.

See the AMSAT-UK YouTube Playlists
https://www.youtube.com/user/AMSATUK/playlists

YouTube https://youtube.com/AmsatUK

BATC http://batc.org.uk/

Jul 29 2015

FUNcube Certificate of Achievement and QSL Card

FUNcube Certificate of Achievement

FUNcube Certificate of Achievement

As announced at the AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium 2015, a ‘Certificate of Achievement’ and/or an amateur radio style ‘QSL’ card are now available online. Only those who have successfully received telemetry from FUNcube-1 and uploaded it to the Data Warehouse are able to download these documents.

AO-73 (FUNcube-1) - Image credit Wouter Weggelaar PA3WEG

FUNcube-1 (AO-73) – Credit Wouter Weggelaar PA3WEG

The Certificate of Achievement is aimed at educational establishments such as schools, and the QSL card at radio amateurs who would like confirmation of their report. However, station operators are welcome to download both if they wish.

Each is personalised with the callsign/name which has been previously registered with the Warehouse, and the date and time of the first packet to be uploaded by the requesting station is also added.

Download your Certificate or QSL card from http://amsatuk.me.uk/on/funcube_qsl.php

FUNcube-1 (AO-73) Telemetry:
• Dashboard App http://funcube.org.uk/working-documents/funcube-telemetry-dashboard/
• Data Warehouse Archive http://warehouse.funcube.org.uk/
• Whole orbit data http://warehouse.funcube.org.uk/wod.html?satelliteId=2

BBC News video about FUNcube-1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-25084547

FUNcube website http://www.FUNcube.org.uk/

FUNcube Yahoo Group https://amsat-uk.org/funcube/yahoo-group/

Jul 28 2015

Dr Helen Walker – UKube-1 presentation video

Dr Helen Walker at the AMSAT-UK Space Colloquium - Credit DK3WN

Dr Helen Walker at the AMSAT-UK Space Colloquium – Credit DK3WN

AMSAT-UK was privileged to have a presentation about the UKube-1 spacecraft by Dr Helen Walker of RAL Space at the International Space Colloquium held in Guildford, July 24-26.

Helen is an astronomer, working in the Satellite Operations Group at STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. She has around thirty years experience of working with astronomical satellites, both as researcher and planning specialist.

For five years she helped ESA plan science observations on the Mars Express satellite since then has worked with the four Cluster satellites. She is Test Team Leader for the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) which will fly on the James Webb Space Telescope.

Her research interests focus on planets, and the material around stars which might form planets.

Helen is Mission Manager for the UKube-1 CubeSat which was launched on Tuesday, July 8, 2014 at 1558 UT from Pad 31/6 at Baikonur in Kazakhstan. It carries a 145.840 MHz beacon and a set of AMSAT-UK FUNcube boards which provide an educational beacon on 145.915 MHz for use by schools and a 435/145 MHz linear transponder for amateur radio SSB/CW communications.

Watch UKube-1: technology, mission and operations – Dr Helen Walker

The presentation slides are available here

UKube-1 https://amsat-uk.org/satellites/communications/ukube-1/

Dr Helen Walker on Twitter @SheAstronomer

She is an astronomer http://www.sheisanastronomer.org/index.php/profiles/europe/helenwalker

Dr Helen Walker was kept busy answering questions after her presentation

Dr Helen Walker was kept busy answering questions after her presentation

Jul 27 2015

New UK CubeSat Regulations Proposed

AO-73 (FUNcube-1) - Image credit Wouter Weggelaar PA3WEG

AO-73 (FUNcube-1) – Image credit Wouter Weggelaar PA3WEG

The UK Space Agency has conducted a review to evaluate how its regulatory approach might be tailored for CubeSat systems, they require responses to the proposals by September 1.

The UK’s Outer Space Act 1986 places a significant burden on small educational satellites such as CubeSats and other formats with the builders facing charges of up to £65,000 each year for insurance. These charges stop educational organisations building and launching CubeSats putting the UK at a significant disadvantage.

The UK Space Agency says:

Recognising the common aspects of such missions, there is an opportunity for the UK Space Agency to exploit a range of pre-determined technical assessments and associated likely regulatory outcomes for a range of likely CubeSat systems, presented in the form of a traffic light system.

The outcome of the internal review conducted by the UK Space Agency is a series of recommendations. The UK Space Agency invites responses from the space community on these proposals.

Comments on the recommendations and associated observations/suggestions relating to the regulation of CubeSats should be sent to Ryan King (ryan.king@ukspaceagency.bis.gsi.gov.uk) by September 1, 2015.

Submissions will be duly considered by the UK Space Agency and reflected accordingly in future implementation plans to address the regulation of CubeSats.

The two documents can be downloaded from
https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-a-license-under-the-outer-space-act-1986#cubesat-regulation

It is suggested those in the UK with an interest in small satellites, be it CubeSat, PocketQube or the other formats, provide feedback to Ryan King to help ensure the future regulatory environment does not place any undue restrictions on small satellite developers.

See the UK CubeSat Forum at http://www.cubesatforum.org.uk/

Jul 21 2015

Special Colloquium Price for Getting Started with Amateur Satellites

Getting Started With Amateur Satellites 2015 coverA special full colour edition of the book Getting Started with Amateur Satellites 2015 will be available for just £15 at the AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium, Guildford, July 24-26. The price after the event will be higher.

This definitive reference is written for the new satellite operator by Gould Smith, WA4SXM, but includes discussions for the experienced operator who wishes to review the features of amateur satellite communications. The new operator will be introduced to the basic concepts and terminology unique to this mode. Additionally, there are many practical tips and tricks to ensure making contacts, and to sound like an experienced satellite operator in the process.

Newly revised in May 2015 with new information on, AO-73, UKube-1, the upcoming Fox-1A, Fox-1B, Fox-1C, Fox-1D, and Fox-1E, plus many other updates of general interest. It also include information on several satellites of interest to hams expected to be launched in the coming year.

AMSAT-UK thanks AMSAT-NA for permission to print the book in the UK.

International Space Colloquium Holiday Inn, Guildford – Speakers for Saturday, July 25
https://amsat-uk.org/2015/07/16/colloquium-speakers-saturday/