Tag Archives: CubeSat

Mar 20 2014

Frequencies announced for QB50 Precursor CubeSats

QB50 Precursor CubeSatThe QB50 project will be launching two precursor 2U CubeSats, QB50p1 and QB50p2, both carrying amateur radio transponder payloads.

The launch is currently planned for June 19 from the Russian ICBM base at Dombarovsky near Yasny on a Dnepr rocket manufactured in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine. The satellites will be put into a 650 km Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO).

The IARU Amateur Satellite Frequency Coordination Panel has announced coordinated frequencies for both CubeSats.

Dnepr Launch - Credit ISC Kosmotras

Dnepr Launch – Credit ISC Kosmotras

QB50p1 will have a VHF 9600 bps BPSK telemetry downlink plus a separate payload from AMSAT-NL. This will comprise of a linear U/V transponder similar to that already flying on FUNcube-1 with an output of 400 mW.
• 145.815 MHz 9600 bps BPSK telemetry beacon
• Inverting SSB/CW linear transponder 400 mW PEP
– 435.035 – 435.065 MHz Uplink LSB
– 145.935 – 145.965 MHz Downlink USB

QB50p2 will have a VHF 9600 bps BPSK telemetry downlink plus a separate RF payload from AMSAT-F which will comprise of a FM voice transponder with UHF uplink and VHF downlink. It will also transmit FX25 telemetry at 9600 bps.
• 145.880 MHz 9600 bps BPSK telemetry beacon
• 145.840 MHz 9600 bps FSK FX25

QB50 Precursor Flight https://www.qb50.eu/index.php/precursor-flight

AMSAT-UK Colloquium announcement
https://amsat-uk.org/2013/07/20/qb50-amateur-radio-transponder-payloads-to-launch-2014/

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

IARU Amateur Radio Satellite Frequency Coordination http://www.iaru.org/satellite.html

It is believed the Dnepr launch from Dombarovsky near Yasny may carry 38 satellites:
Kazakhstan MRES, DEIMOS-2, SkySat-3
Hodoyoshi-3, Hodoyoshi-4 microsatellites http://vimeo.com/82167566
BugSat-1 a 25 kg microsatellite
UniSat-6 microsatellite which will deploy the satellites: Tigrisat, AeroCube6, ANTELSAT, Lemur-1, SaudiSat-4.  Serpens was also expected to be carried but Serpens is now manifested on the SpaceX 05 Dragon flight for deployment from the ISS.
CubeSats: TabletSat-Aurora, BRITE-Toronto, BRITE- Montreal, AprizeSat- 9, AprizeSat-10, Duchifat-1, Perseus-M 1, Perseus-M 2, PACE, ANTELSAT, AeroCube 6, DTUSat-2
QuadPack-1 and QuadPack-2 quadruple (4U) CubeSat Deployment Pods will deploy these 2U CubeSats: QB50p1, QB50p2, UNSA-SAT1 (3400 MHz) and ESTELLE
11 Planet Labs Cubesats Flock-1c-1 to Flock-1c-11

Mar 20 2014

New launch dates for KickSat and its 104 Sprite satellites

SpaceX Falcon-9 CRS-3 Mission Patch

SpaceX Falcon-9 CRS-3 Mission Patch
Note the CubeSats coming out of the upper stage of the rocket on the left

Zac Manchester KD2BHC has released new launch information on the KickSat CubeSat which will carry 104 tiny Sprite satellites into a 325×315 km 51.5 degree inclination orbit. The launch will be broadcast live on NASA TV, which will also be streaming on Ustream.

The primary launch date for the SpaceX Falcon 9 CRS 3 mission from the Kennedy Space Center will be March 31 at 0250 GMT. There is also a backup date of April 4 at 0140 GMT.

Here is a revised sequence of events for the mission assuming the March 31 primary launch date:
• Falcon 9 liftoff (0250 GMT)
• Falcon stage separation (0253 GMT)
• Falcon 2nd stage engine cutoff and Dragon Separation (0259 GMT)
• KickSat deployment (0353 GMT)
• KickSat radio beacon power-on (0443 GMT)
• Sprite deployment (0353 GMT on April 16)

If you’re a Radio Ham, the KickSat team would love to have you listening for KickSat’s beacon. Check out their wiki page and Google Group for more information. Once KickSat turns on its radio, you should be able to pick it up with very basic amateur radio gear. It will be transmitting telemetry packets in AX.25 format on 437.505 MHz with 1200 baud AFSK modulation. KickSat’s orbital elements will be posted on the project wiki, which will also have more information on setting up a receiving station.

KickSat 437 MHz Sprite Satellite

KickSat 437 MHz Sprite Satellite

All the Sprites satellites operate on a single frequency of 437.240 MHz and use Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA). Each transmitter runs 10 mW output of Minimum Shift Keying (MSK) modulated binary data with each data bit modulated as a 511 bit Pseudo-Random Number (PRN) sequence. The ITU emission designator is 50K0G1D. The KickSat CubeSat has two downlinks, 1200 bps FM AX.25 on 437.505 MHz and 1 watt on 2401-2436.2 MHz.

Wiki KickSat radio information https://github.com/zacinaction/kicksat/wiki/Radio-Info

KickSat Google Group https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/kicksat-gs

Mass Launch of 437 MHz Satellites https://amsat-uk.org/2014/03/03/mass-launch-of-437-mhz-satellites/

KickSat Sprite Ground Station by Andy Thomas G0SFJ
http://kicksat.wordpress.com/support/kicksat-ground-station/

British Interplanetary Society: Sprite Technical Summary
http://www.bis-space.com/2013/03/09/9301/kicksat-technical-summary

KickSat on KickStarter
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/zacinaction/kicksat-your-personal-spacecraft-in-space/

Mar 19 2014

100 CubeSat Constellation to Image the Entire Earth’s Surface Every 24 Hours

Two Planet Labs Dove CubeSats deployed from the ISS February 11, 2014

Two Planet Labs Dove CubeSats deployed from the ISS February 11, 2014

Planet Labs has announced that it has confirmed launches for more than 100 CubeSats over the next 12 months. The satellites are 3U (30x10x10 cm) in size and will launch on rockets from the USA and Russia. This constitutes the largest constellation of satellites manifested in history. These new launches will build on Planet Labs first 28 satellites, Flock 1, which were launched in January.

Close-up of Planet Labs Dove CubeSats leaving NanoRacks deployer February 11, 2014

Close-up of Planet Labs Dove CubeSats leaving NanoRacks deployer February 11, 2014

This constellation will allow Planet Labs to image the whole earth every 24 hours. “We are imaging the planet to save the planet,” said Will Marshall, cofounder of Planet Labs. “Imaging the Earth at this frequency will help us to measure things from deforestation, to improving agricultural yield, to detecting overfishing. Our mission is to create information people need to help life on the planet.”

“Getting 100 satellites on the launch manifest is a major milestone in the new space industry,” said Steve Jurvetson, Managing Director at Draper Fisher Jurvetson and board member of Planet Labs and SpaceX. “The small form factor requires less space on the rocket, allowing for more flexibility for launch configurations. And a constellation of 100 satellites is unprecedented.”

This announcement comes on the heels of a $52 million Series B round of financing for Planet Labs in December led by Yuri Milner. Previous investors in the company include Draper Fisher Jurvetson (DFJ), O’Reilly Alpha Tech Ventures (OATV), Capricorn Investment Group, Founders Fund Angel, Data Collective, First Round Capital, and Innovation Endeavors.

NASA has shared the following images of Planet Labs’ record-setting 28 satellites being deployed from the International Space station:
http://www.dropbox.com/s/cf9hd98fd881hut/Flock1Release4.jpg
http://www.dropbox.com/s/q3boh7ltvuwszs1/FloatingDoves%20SolarPanel%20NASA.jpg

Planet Labs http://www.planet.com/

Mar 18 2014

Cambridge CubeSat company wins Virgin Media Tech award

A CubeSat in SpaceThe Cambridge company 3D Cube Sat was one of the winners of the Virgin Media ‘Three New Things’ Technology Award.

The three winning businesses will each receive a package of mentoring and support, including the chance to meet with Virgin founder Richard Branson to discuss their business plans, networking opportunities and up to £25,000 worth of free business telecoms.

3D Cube Sat says it is “changing the economics of space”. CubeSat structures are the casings for tiny satellites. They currently sell for $2,500, but 3D Cube Sat has created a new space-resistant material that reduces the cost by 75%.

Virgin Media –  ‘Three New Things’ Award
http://startups.co.uk/virgin-media-announces-three-new-things-to-shape-face-of-technology/

Mar 18 2014

FUNcube-1 Continuous Transponder Test

Final gluing of FUNcube-1 bolt by Wouter Weggelaar PA3WEG – Image credit Gerard Aalbers

Final gluing of FUNcube-1 bolt by Wouter Weggelaar PA3WEG – Image credit Gerard Aalbers

On March 22, the FUNcube-1 (AO-73) CubeSat will be commanded into continuous transponder mode for one or two orbits so we can assess the effect of lower power being radiated by the sat on the battery temperature. We expect the satellite to be put into full time transponder mode (aka amateur mode) during the first morning pass on Saturday, March 22 over the UK, at approximately 0930 UT.

We are aware that the on/off timings for the transponder are not now ideal, due to seasonal changes. In the coming months the situation will get worse such that in June the transponder will only be available for very short periods in the Northern Hemisphere.

FUNcube-1 Launch Monitoring Station at the NRC Bletchley Park

FUNcube-1 Launch Monitoring Station at the NRC Bletchley Park

We are therefore planning to alter the schedule such that the transponder is on continuously at weekends after approx 1900 UT on Fridays, to Sunday evening. This will give radio amateurs a greater opportunity to use the transponder. Unfortunately there is no way of automating this schedule, so its maintenance will rely on the availability of command stations.

Before implementing this schedule, it is necessary that we characterise the effect of maintaining transponder mode for long periods of time. We expect that the space craft will be slightly colder than when transmitting at full power, as the heat generated inside the spacecraft by the PA will be less.

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

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

We are concerned that this lowering of the temperature may bring the battery temp lower than is advisable. Its specification is that it should not be charged if its temperature is below -5 degrees, or some damage might be done to the battery. Currently the minimum temperature we see that the battery reaches is approximately -2 degrees.

If you notice that the transponder is open on March 22, please feel free to use it.

Please note that we have learnt from experience that commanding the sat is not an exact science, and that not all commands sent are received by the satellite, probably due to interference. We will announce on AMSAT-BB and on the FUNcube web site the progress of our tests. We would be very grateful if as many listening stations as possible receive the telemetry (TLM) using the Dashboard software and forward it to the Data Warehouse on Saturday, March 22. Thank you.

73 Jim, G3WGM

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

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

FUNcube Forum http://forum.funcube.org.uk/

Mar 17 2014

WRAPS Antenna Rotor System Introduction

WRAPS Portable Satellite Antenna Rotator System - Copyright ARRL

WRAPS Portable Satellite Antenna Rotator System – Copyright ARRL

In the first of four videos, Mark Spencer, WA8SME, explains the operation of the amateur radio WRAPS antenna rotor system.

The WRAPS system points a lightweight antenna towards a passing amateur radio satellite (or weather or other satellite), facilitating the capture of telemetry or participation in conversations via satellite.

The remaining three WRAPS videos demonstrate the operation of WRAPS to capture telemetry from the FUNcube satellite using the SatPC32 software and the FUNcube Dashboard.

Watch WRAPS Antenna Rotor System Introduction Video 1

Watch WRAPS Setup for a Pass Video 2

WRAPS FUNCube Pass Video 3

WRAPS FUNCube Telemetry Overview Video 4

Thanks to the ARRL and WA8SME a PDF of the QST article on the WRAPS antenna rotor system can be downloaded from
https://amsat-uk.org/2013/12/12/wraps-a-portable-satellite-antenna-rotator-system/

Other satellite videos are available on the AMSAT-NA YouTube channel at
http://www.youtube.com/user/AMSATNA/videos