Tag Archives: CubeSat

Nov 23 2013

Triton-1 Update November 23

Triton-1 in orbit

Triton-1 in orbit

Triton-1 is a 3U cubesat from ISIS-BV (Innovative Solutions In Space BV) with a AIS (ship location service) radio science experiment which was launched on November 21. After the experiment is complete (est. 3 months), the spacecraft radios will be reconfigured to U/V FM to DSB (“AO-16 mode”) repeaters open for amateur use.

This update was issued at 08:48 on November 23, 2013.

Hi all,

New TLE’s for the DNEPR launch have been issued, we believe that
Triton-1 is object M.

2013-066M
1 39427U 13066M  13326.98436826 -.00002391  00000-0 -39688-3 0 10
2 39427  97.7901  39.5474 0120424 185.3601 174.6374 14.64539763 201

Meanwhile, Triton-1 is still in nominal mode, transmitting AX.25 BPSK on
145.822 MHz. Reception reports, especially in case the satellite is in
safe mode (transmitting the safe mode CW beacon) are welcome!

73 on behalf of the team,

Wouter Jan Ubbels PE4WJ

Triton missions http://www.isispace.nl/cms/index.php/projects/triton-missions

Dnepr Yasny launch https://amsat-uk.org/satellites/dnepr-november-2013/

Nov 23 2013

Delfi-n3Xt Update November 22

Delfi-n3Xt Satellite

Delfi-n3Xt Satellite

Delfi Nanosatellite Program Manager, Jasper Bouwmeester PC4JB, provides this update on the Delfi-n3Xt satellite which was launched November 21 and carries a 435/145 MHz linear transponder.

Dear radio amateurs,

We had a fantastic launch and early reception of Delfi-n3Xt! The good news is that Delfi-n3Xt is transmitting when in the Sun and is off in eclipse to save battery power; just as we want it to be. The signal strength is also good.

VHF Reception

We have noticed however that the DUDe telemetry client does not properly indicate the frequency offset and it is very difficult to get a lock on the signal.

Also our ICOM910 receivers have too limited bandwidth to receive a 2400 bit/s BPSK signal properly (although we had a few packets decoded with this, so it is just on the edge of what is possible). We now use only AR5000 in combination with an SDR to record a wide spectrum in IQ files. This way we can replay the files and retune the signal again and have been able to decode more packets than before. This morning at our second pass we were lucky to have a real time lock on the signal and retrieve many packets, so it is possible to have it right at once. But of course we would like to get the ‘luck-factor’ out of it.

A few people will look into the Costas PLL inside DUDe to see if we can improve its performance.  Meanwhile, you can regard Delfi-n3Xt as a real challenging game to decode packets…

S-band reception

With respect to the S-band, we have not been able to test this as all our efforts go into VHF reception. The beacon is however on (also in eclipse), transmitting packets in a duty cycle of 5%, 1 Hz at 50 kbit/s MSK. The satellite is however still tumbling, so the antenna might be pointing in arbitrary direction. Next to this, a lot of gain is needed to be able to even see something above the noise floor (we have an 38dB dish). I believe that dish antenna below 25 dB will not be able to receive the beacon (let alone decode it). If someone however has the right equipment and good see the 1 Hz beacon, e.g. in a waterfall plot, please let us know and sent us a picture!

TLEs

These are the latest TLEs we have received:
1 00371U 00371A   13325.30974640  .00000000  00000-0  10000-4 0     7
2 00371  97.7888  38.2587 0131876 190.4863 345.6615 14.61864099    08

73,

Jasper PC4JB

Telemetry reception http://www.delfispace.nl/operations/delfi-n3xt-telemetry-reception

Delfi-n3Xt http://www.delfispace.nl/operations/radio-amateurs

Dnepr Yasny launch https://amsat-uk.org/satellites/dnepr-november-2013/

Nov 23 2013

FUNcube-1 (AO-73) Transponder Activation

FUNcube-1 flight model - Image credit Wouter Weggelaar PA3WEG

FUNcube-1 flight model – Image credit Wouter Weggelaar PA3WEG

The FUNcube Team have had reports of an apparent distortion in the transmitted telemetry and difficulty in decoding around 12:00 UT today.

It is believed that this may have actually been occurring due to the natural phenomena of an active aurora rather than a problem on board the spacecraft. We understand that another spacecraft had the same issues around the same time.

The Team intend to command AO-73 back into autonomous mode during the 2035 UT pass this evening. This will mean that we should have the transponder active when in eclipse and telemetry only when in sunlight.

Everyday we learn something new!

best 73

FUNcube-1 team

Analysis of the telemetry data from FUNcube-1 (AO-73) is continuing. Thank you to all stations who have provided telemetry so far. More telemetry data is needed to enable the FUNcube team to characterise the satellite.

We would encourage stations to download the Dashboard software to receive the telemetry and upload it to the Data Warehouse.

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

First Transponder Test https://amsat-uk.org/2013/11/22/funcube-1-ao-73-transponder-tested/

FUNcube-1 Deployed !!! https://amsat-uk.org/2013/11/21/funcube-1-deployed/

BBC TV visit FUNcube station at RSGB National Radio Centre
https://amsat-uk.org/2013/11/22/bbc-visit-funcube-station-at-rsgb-national-radio-centre/

Nov 23 2013

FUNcube-1 Transponder in Autonomous Mode

FUNcube-1 flight model - Image credit Wouter Weggelaar PA3WEG

FUNcube-1 flight model – Image credit Wouter Weggelaar PA3WEG

A test of the Autonomous Mode on the FUNcube-1 (AO-73) SSB/CW linear transponder has been carried out.

It was switched into Autonomous Mode during orbit 32 at 1113 UT on Saturday, November 23. In this mode the transponder will automatically switch on when the spacecraft enters darkness, and switch off again when it enters sunlight.

During the test all radio amateurs in the footprint were encouraged to make their own tests of the transponder up/down links, and make contacts.

Among the contacts reported have been:

Alan ZL2BX: Transponder switched to eclipse mode OK about mid pass over ZL. Good signals from the transponder and had a brief contact with VK2MAL.

Malcolm VK2MAL: Good signals from AO-73 over VK tonight. Stations heard through the transponder were ZL2BX Alan and VK4CBW Wal.

If you did make a contact or test please report the details as a comment on the FUNcube website at http://funcube.org.uk/

Please note that the transponder frequencies have not yet been fully characterised.

FUNcube-1 Radio Communications Subsystem:
• 145.935 MHz BPSK Telemetry 300 mW or 30 mW when the transponder has been activated
• Inverting SSB/CW transponder 300 mW PEP
– 435.150 – 435.130 MHz Uplink LSB
– 145.950 – 145.970 MHz Downlink USB

Analysis of the telemetry data from FUNcube-1 (AO-73) is continuing. Thank you to all stations who have provided telemetry so far. More telemetry data is needed to enable the FUNcube team to characterise the satellite.

We would encourage stations to download the Dashboard software to receive the telemetry and upload it to the Data Warehouse.

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

First Transponder Test https://amsat-uk.org/2013/11/22/funcube-1-ao-73-transponder-tested/

FUNcube-1 Deployed !!! https://amsat-uk.org/2013/11/21/funcube-1-deployed/

BBC TV visit FUNcube station at RSGB National Radio Centre
https://amsat-uk.org/2013/11/22/bbc-visit-funcube-station-at-rsgb-national-radio-centre/

Nov 22 2013

FUNcube-1 (AO-73) Transponder Test Saturday November 23

FUNcube-1 flight model - Image credit Wouter Weggelaar PA3WEG

FUNcube-1 flight model – Image credit Wouter Weggelaar PA3WEG

The FUNcube Team are planning to open the SSB/CW linear transponder on the FUNcube-1 (AO-73) CubeSat for a single orbit on Saturday, November 23. The aim of this test is to establish the thermal performance of the satellite when in this mode for an extended period.

All radio amateurs who are in the footprint are welcome to make their own tests of the transponder up/down links, and make contacts. It is planned to switch on the transponder either during the orbit timed at 0937 UT (orbit 31) at the Time of Closest Approach (TCA) to Bletchley Park, or the following orbit at 1113 UT (orbit 32).

If you do make a contact or test please report the details as a comment on the FUNcube website at http://funcube.org.uk/2013/11/22/transponder-test-tomorrow-23-nov-2013/

Please note that the transponder frequencies have not yet been fully characterised.

FUNcube-1 Radio Communications Payload:
• 145.935 MHz BPSK Telemetry 300 mW or 30 mW when the transponder has been activated
• Inverting SSB/CW transponder 300 mW PEP
– 435.150 – 435.130 MHz Uplink LSB
– 145.950 – 145.970 MHz Downlink USB

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

First Transponder Test https://amsat-uk.org/2013/11/22/funcube-1-ao-73-transponder-tested/

FUNcube-1 Deployed !!! https://amsat-uk.org/2013/11/21/funcube-1-deployed/

BBC TV visit FUNcube station at RSGB National Radio Centre
https://amsat-uk.org/2013/11/22/bbc-visit-funcube-station-at-rsgb-national-radio-centre/

Nov 22 2013

BBC TV visit FUNcube station at RSGB National Radio Centre

BBC presenter John Maguire interviews Graham Shirville G3VZV at the RSGB National Radio Centre

BBC presenter John Maguire interviews Graham Shirville G3VZV at the RSGB National Radio Centre

On Friday, November 22 a film crew from the BBC Breakfast show visited the RSGB National Radio Centre (NRC) at Bletchley Park to interview the FUNcube Project team about the new educational amateur radio satellite FUNcube-1 (AO-73).

BBC film Howard Long G6LVB and Jim Heck G3WGM working FUNcube-1 (AO-73)

BBC film Howard Long G6LVB and Jim Heck G3WGM working FUNcube-1 (AO-73)

BBC presenter John Maguire interviewed Graham Shirville G3VZV at the GB3RS station in the NRC.

Other members of the FUNcube team were filmed making a SSB contact from the Bletchley Park car park using the FUNcube-1 linear transponder.

During the visit to the National Radio Centre, John Maguire asked the FUNcube Team to support a visit to a local school, Abbeys Primary School in Bletchley, to meet up with some 10-11 year old pupils and talk to them about the FUNcube project.

Ciaran Morgan M0XTD and BBC crew at Abbeys Primary School in Bletchley

Ciaran Morgan M0XTD and BBC crew at Abbeys Primary School in Bletchley

The visit was a huge success, with the school children asking lots of questions. As this was the first educational outreach opportunity after launch, the children were asked to compose a Fitter message which the FUNcube Team will upload to FUNcube-1 (AO-73) when they have decided what it should be! (Teachers’s comment “Might be their home work!”).

The FUNcube news report was broadcast on the BBC One TV Breakfast show on Monday, November 25 at 06:52 and 07:53 as well as on the BBC 24 hour News channel throughout the day. You can watch a recording at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-25084547

Watch the BBC FUNcube item at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-25084547

BBC Radio 5 Outriders Podcast, look for the “Outriders 26 Nov 13: Crypto, crosswords and tiny satellites” edition
http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/pods
Direct link to podcast http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/fivelive/pods/pods_20131126-0530a.mp3

BBC Breakfast show http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006v5tb

FUNcube-1 Deployed !!! https://amsat-uk.org/2013/11/21/funcube-1-deployed/

First Fitter Message Uploaded https://amsat-uk.org/2013/11/21/ao-73-first-fitter-message-uploaded/

First Transponder Test https://amsat-uk.org/2013/11/22/funcube-1-ao-73-transponder-tested/

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