Tag Archives: D-STAR

Apr 22 2016

ESA announce competition for radio hams

Soyuz VS14 mission patchThe European Space Agency (ESA) Education Office will give a prize to the first three radio amateurs to send a recorded signal from either the AAUSAT4, E-st@r-II or OUFTI-1 CubeSats which are expected to launch Monday, April 25 at 2102 UT.

The launch of the three CubeSats on a Russian Soyuz-STA Fregat-M rocket from Kourou in South America had been planned for Friday but suffered a series of postponements due to bad weather.

Watch the launch live at http://www.esa.int/Education/CubeSats_-_Fly_Your_Satellite/Watch_live_Fly_Your_Satellite!_CubeSats_and_Sentinel-1B_launch

Soon after being deployed into their final orbit, the CubeSats will begin transmitting signals to Earth that can be picked up by anyone with common amateur radio equipment. ESA challenges anyone to record the signal and send it to cubesats@esa.int, and to the CubeSat team.

For each CubeSat, the first email received for which the signal is confirmed to belong to the CubeSat will be awarded with the following prizes:
• ESA Fly Your Satellite! poster
• ESA Education goodie bag
• Scale 1:1 3D printed model of a CubeSat

Full details and frequency information are available at
http://www.esa.int/Education/CubeSats_-_Fly_Your_Satellite/Be_the_first_to_catch_a_signal_from_Fly_Your_Satellite!_from_space

D-STAR satellite to launch from Kourou
https://amsat-uk.org/2016/04/05/d-star-satellite-to-launch-from-kourou/

Apr 20 2016

OUFTI-1 Telemetry Decoder App

Jacques_Verly_ON9CWD_and_Amandine_Denis_ON4EYA_with OUFTI-1

Professor Jacques Verly ON9CWD (Montefiore Institute) and Amandine Denis ON4EYA, Head of Project OUFTI (LTAS) with the flight model (structure) of OUFTI-1 – Image credit ESA

The OUFTI-1 D-STAR CubeSat team have released the format of the CW telemetry beacon and a Decoder App. The launch, on a Russian Soyuz-STA Fregat-M from Kourou in South America, is expected to take place at 21:02:13 UT on Saturday, April 23, 2016.

OUFTI-1 is a nano-satellite entirely developed by the students of the University of Liege (ULg), Belgium, along with two other engineering schools. It is the first satellite to carry a dedicated amateur radio D-STAR transponder.

OUFTI-1 amateur radio information including Keps http://events.ulg.ac.be/oufti-1/radioamateurs/

The PDF of the article ‘D-STAR digital amateur communications in space with OUFTI-1 CubeSat’ by Jonathan Pisane ON7JPD, Amandine Denis ON4EYA and Jacques Verly ON9CWD can be downloaded from
https://amsat-uk.org/2016/04/05/d-star-satellite-to-launch-from-kourou/

IARU coordinated frequencies for all CubeSats on the Russian Soyuz launch
http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru/
OUFTI-1 – 145.950 MHz FSK AX25 and D-STAR (uplink 435.045 MHz) – CW beacon 145.980 MHz
e-st@r-II – 437.485 MHz CW and 1k2 AFSK
AAUSAT-4 – 437.425 MHz

Apr 5 2016

D-STAR satellite to launch from Kourou

The entire Fly Your Satellite 2016 delegation with CubeSats in P-Pod

The entire Fly Your Satellite 2016 delegation with CubeSats in P-POD

The ESA Education Office Fly Your Satellite! (FYS) programme is designed to train the next generation of aerospace professionals. Three chosen student teams have each developed 1U CubeSats carrying amateur radio payloads which are expected to launch at 2102 UT on Monday, April 25, 2016 on a Russian Soyuz-STA Fregat-M rocket from Kourou in South America into a 453 by 644 km 98.2 degree inclination orbit.

The satellites designed and built by the student teams, arrived in South America on Friday, March 25. Upon arrival, they were given a security escort from the airport to the Guiana Space Centre, near Kourou. The student teams arrived on March 28.

The satellites themselves are CubeSats. This class of small satellites have helped revolutionise access to space. Made of standard components, as the name suggests they come in modular dimensions of just 10x10x10cm in size.

On March 30 the students removed the so-called Remove Before Flight pins and successfully verified that the CubeSats were ready for launch. Afterwards, the lateral access ports of the P-POD were put back in place.  The next time the students will have contact with their respective CubeSats will be through the communication link after the satellites are deployed into orbit. The next activities consist in completing the application of a special thermal-optical tape on the outside of the P-POD, which will ensure the unpowered CubeSats are shielded from extreme thermal radiation during the launch phase. Finally, the planning for the next weeks will consist in integrating the P-POD with the rest of the launcher.

OUFTI-1 from the University of Liege, Belgium, will be the first satellite to carry a D-STAR Digital Voice transponder. The article ‘D-STAR digital amateur communications in space with OUFTI-1 CubeSat’ by Jonathan Pisane ON7JPD, Amandine Denis ON4EYA and Jacques Verly ON9CWD can be seen in the June 2013 Edition 202 of the AMSAT-UK publication OSCAR News.

e-st@r-II from the Polytechnic of Turin, Italy, will demonstrate an attitude control system using measurements of the Earth’s magnetic field; and AAUSAT4 from the University of Aalborg, Denmark, will operate an automated ocean vessel identification system.

ESA Press Release
http://www.esa.int/Education/CubeSats_-_Fly_Your_Satellite/Launch_campaign_started_CubeSats_arrived_at_Kourou_spaceport

Download OSCAR News OUFTI-1 D-STAR article

IARU coordinated frequencies http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru/
OUFTI-1 – 145.950 MHz FSK AX25 and D-STAR (uplink 435.045 MHz) – CW beacon 145.980 MHz
e-st@r-II – 437.485 MHz CW and 1k2 AFSK
AAUSAT-4 – 437.425 MHz

OUFTI-1 Telemetry Decoder App https://amsat-uk.org/2016/04/20/oufti-1-telemetry-decoder-app/

Aug 10 2014

D-STAR satellite repeater test 437.050 MHz

TabletSat-Aurora in Space - Credit Sputnix

TabletSat-Aurora in Space – Credit Sputnix

A test of the D-STAR Parrot Repeater on the TabletSat-Aurora satellite is expected to take place during Monday, August 11 on 437.050 MHz (+/- 10 kHz Doppler shift).

TabletSat-Aurora - Credit Sputnix

TabletSat-Aurora – Credit Sputnix

TabletSat-Aurora launched with 11 other satellites carrying amateur radio payloads from Dombarovsky near Yasny on Thursday, June 19, 2014.

The D-STAR GMSK Parrot (Store and Forward) Repeater can store up to 8 seconds of voice message and runs 0.8 watts to a whip antenna.

There are two other transceivers on the satellite, they transmit GMSK telemetry data on 435.550 MHz and 436.100 MHz. Their power can be varied by command from the ground station between 0.8 and 2.0 watts. TabletSat-Aurora is also a downlink on 8192 MHz.

Dmitry Pashkov R4UAB reports the test on his website at http://r4uab.ru/?p=7160

Description of TabletSat-Aurora in Google English http://tinyurl.com/TabletSat-Aurora-Description

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SPUTNIX.ltd/

Dnepr Launch for D-STAR Satellite https://amsat-uk.org/2014/06/18/dnepr-launch-for-d-star-satellite/

Satellite Tracking https://amsat-uk.org/beginners/satellite-tracking/

Jun 18 2014

Dnepr Launch for D-STAR Satellite

TabletSat-Aurora - Image Credit Sputnix

TabletSat-Aurora – Image Credit Sputnix

The D-STAR satellite TabletSat-Aurora is expected to launch with 11 other satellites carrying amateur radio payloads from Dombarovsky near Yasny on Thursday, June 19, 2014 at 19:11:11 UT.

TabletSat-Aurora - Image Credit Sputnix

TabletSat-Aurora – Image Credit Sputnix

It carries a D-STAR Parrot (Store and Forward) Repeater running 0.8 watts of GMSK  on 437.050 MHz (+/- 10 kHz) to a whip antenna. It can store up to 8 seconds of voice message.

There are two other transceivers on the satellite that operate on 435.550 MHz and 436.100 MHz. Their power can be varied by command from the ground station between 0.8 and 2.0 watts and it is understood they will be used for command and control and transmit GMSK telemetry data. There is also a downlink on 8192 MHz.

Dmitry Pashkov R4UAB reports the D-STAR repeater could become operational in early July. It is understood that when the D-STAR repeater is active the telemetry transmitters will be inactive.

Description of TabletSat-Aurora in Google English
http://tinyurl.com/TabletSat-Aurora-Description

A description of the satellites amateur radio capability is at
https://www.facebook.com/SPUTNIX.ltd/photos/a.336584396454237.77484.293701294075881/569763353136339/

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There are 37 satellites and a 2U Mass Dummy on the launch and it is thought a dozen of them are carrying amateur radio payloads. A list of frequencies is at http://r4uab.ru/?p=6393

For a short description of each of the satellites see http://www.zarya.info/Calendar.php#Dnepr

Article about the launch and payloads
http://www.spaceflight101.com/dnepr-launch-updates—2014-cluster-launch.html

Check for updates on the satellites on the #cubesat IRC channel throughout the evening (GMT) of Thursday, June 19. A web client is available at http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=#cubesat

Oct 22 2013

Integration of World’s First D-STAR CubeSat

Professor Jacques Verly ON9CWD (Montefiore Institute) and Amandine Denis ON4EYA, Head of Project OUFTI (LTAS) with the flight model (structure) of OUFTI-1 - Image credit ESA

Professor Jacques Verly ON9CWD (Montefiore Institute) and Amandine Denis ON4EYA, Head of Project OUFTI (LTAS) with OUFTI-1 – Image credit ESA

The OUFTI-1 team have released videos of the integration of the amateur radio D-STAR GMSK CubeSat built by students at the University of Liege.

OUFTI-1 is currently being integrated at the Liège Space Center, a research center of the University of Liège in Belgium. The flight model of OUFTI-1 should be assembled by October 25, 2013.

The team plan to use 145.950 MHz for a D-STAR and FSK AX.25 downlink and 145.980 MHz for a CW beacon. A D-STAR uplink on 435.045 MHz is proposed. A launch is planned for late 2014 on the ESA “Fly your satellite” program.

The first video shows the second day of integration. The team performs preliminary steps: preparation of wires and sensors, gluing of solar panels, preparation of the battery box etc.

Watch Integration of OUFTI-1, part 1 (CSL, October 21, 2013 AM)

The second video shows preparation of an assembly consisting of the EPS board and the chassis. They are linked by the thermal strap, which is glued and screwed on both the EPS board and the chassis.

Watch Integration of OUFTI-1, part 2 (CSL, October 22, 2013 AM)

In the third video it begins looking like a CubeSat ! Different boards are stacked (and plugged) onto the base-plate + OBC1 assembly. The OBC2 (homemade) is stacked first and then the EPS, together with the chassis.

Watch Integration of OUFTI-1 part 3 (October 22, 2013 PM)

The fourth video shows OUFTI-1 at the end of October 23, the last but one day of integration. Final steps for today: fixing the PCB with the thermal knives and the top plate. The wires of the solar panels will also be soldered.

Watch OUFTI-1: almost ready to orbit the Earth !

The fifth video shows the very last step: soldering of the wires to the solar panels. OUFTI-1 is now ready to undergo the test campaign!

Watch End of the integration of OUFTI-1 CubeSat

OUFTI-1 http://www.leodium.ulg.ac.be/cmsms/

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