Tag Archives: ESA

Feb 11 2012

Student Satellite Launch To Be Broadcast Live

Artists impression of Vega launch

Artists impression of Vega launch

The launch of eight student amateur radio satellites from the space center at Kourou in the Caribbean will be broadcast live on the Internet.

The launch should take place between 1000-1300 UT on Monday, February 13 and you’ll be able to watch it at http://www.videocorner.tv/

The student teams have requested reception reports. During the Launch and Early Operations Phase (LEOP) Monday, listeners are encouraged to gather at the IRC “cubesat” channel to exchange all the latest available information. Simply point your browser to http://webchat.freenode.net/ and join the #cubesat channel. In the Nickname: field enter “name_callsign” and in the Channels: field enter #cubesat

Preliminary Vega TLE’s for launch at 1000, 1100 or 1200 UT here

Assuming a 1000 UT launch the satellites should deploy their antennas and start transmitting at about 1140 UT. It looks like the first to get reception will be Central America followed quickly by a pass up the East coast of North America. The first pass for the United Kingdom should be a horizon skimmer across the NW at around 1207 UT.

Student amateur radio satellite downlink frequencies:
+ AlmaSat-1   437.465 MHz 1200 bps FSK, 2407.850 MHz
+ E-St@r        437.445 MHz 1200 bps AFSK
+ Goliat          437.485 MHz 1200 bpx AFSK
+ Masat-1      437.345 MHz 625/1250 bps GFSK, CW
+ PW-Sat       145.900 MHz 1200 bps BPSK AX25, CW
+ Robusta      437.325 MHz 1200 bps FM telemetry – one data burst of 20 secs every 1 min
+ UniCubeSat 437.305 MHz 9600 bps FSK
+ XaTcobeo     437.365 MHz FFSK with AX.25

Masat-1 telemetry decode software http://www.uk.amsat.org/4385

URLs for the student satellite websites are at http://www.uk.amsat.org/4180

Vega Elliptical Orbit Video http://www.uk.amsat.org/4119

Satscape Free Satellite Tracking Software http://www.satscape.info/home/?q=node/2 

N2YO Real Time Satellite Tracking http://www.n2yo.com/

Feb 5 2012

Hungarian Students Request Reports of Telemetry Data

Masat-1 CubeSat

Masat-1 CubeSat

Andras Gschwindt HA5WH is requesting Radio Amateurs to send reports of telemetry data from the Hungarian student satellite Masat-1 due to be launched on February 13.

Andras HA5WH, head of the student group that made the first Hungarian CubeSat, Masat-1, says:

Masat-1 is a 1U cubesat and its basic mission is a technological experiment. You can find more on our web site: http://cubesat.bme.hu/en/ 

Masat-1 is onboard the Vega rocket which we hope will launch on February 13. My students at The Technical University of  Budapest, are in need of telemetry data especially in the first one to two weeks after launch.

I would like to ask you to help us with the reception of our satellite by sending the received data back to us.

You can load the decoder software from our page but the most important would be the reception of the voltage and temperature from the CW data.

The call sign of Masat-1 is HA5MASAT and the telemetry transmission frequency is  437.345 MHz +/- 10 kHz Doppler shift. (the signal will start at 437.355 MHz and drift down to 437.335 MHz during a 10-15 minute orbital pass)

Watch the Masat-1 Eliptical Orbit video

The Masat-1 Ground Station Client Software was prepared to process the 437.345 MHz GFSK 625/1250 bps transmission received from the satellite Masat-1. The software provides the following functions:

– Audio demodulation
– Packet decoding
– Packet data visualization
– Frequency waterfall plot to aid radio tuning

Download the software and a test WAV file from http://cubesat.bme.hu/en/foldi-allomas/kliens-szoftver/

Some of the Masat-1 Team

Some of the Masat-1 Team

Further information on Masat-1 is at http://www.uk.amsat.org/4249

For frequencies and URL links of the eight student built amateur radio satellites on Vega see http://www.uk.amsat.org/4180

Feb 4 2012

Meet the teams: Robusta

Seven teams of university students were selected to fly their CubeSats on the maiden flight of ESA’s Vega launch vehicle. Here is an introduction to the French Robusta team.

University Université Montpellier 2
Endorsing professors Laurent Dusseau, Sylvie Jarrix, Jérome Boch, Jean Roch Vaillé, Gerard Gervois, Thierry Fiol, Fred Giamarchi, Julien Christine, Bernard Clotilde, Valérie Ponsa, Julien Averseng, Jean François Dubé , Jean Marc Gallière
Team Muriel Bernard, Amable Blain, Cyril Bonneau, Nabil Boureghda, Christelle Deneau, Stéphanie Dhombres, Adrien Doridan, Lucas, Pradier, Gauthier Gibert, Stéphanie Perez, Thomas Balard, Fabien Roig, Victor Gasia

 Robusta was initiated by the radiation effects group (RADIAC) at the Université Montpellier 2 (UM2) which, with 30 years of experience, is one of the world’s leading groups in its field. The CubeSat followed on from the group’s involvement in the development of a radiation effect payload on board the SACRED satellite.

Although SACRED was lost during launch in 2006, the group was aware that the different departments of UM2 possessed all of the knowledge necessary to build a small satellite. Their opportunity to become involved in a real hands-on project came in 2006, with the launch of the EXPRESSO (EXpérimentations et Projets Etudiants dans le domaine des SystèmeS Orbitaux et des ballons) student initiative by the French Space Agency, CNES.

A CubeSat team was put together by professors and students from the Montpellier Faculty of Science, the Polytech’s High School of Engineering, and the Institute of Technology at Nîmes, and ROBUSTA was one of three student projects selected under EXPRESSO. It was subsequently chosen by ESA as an educational payload on the maiden flight of the Vega launcher.

The objective of the mission is to measure the effects of exposing bipolar electronic components to prolonged low doses of ionising radiation. The Robusta payload will send back data on the degradation of key parameters of integrated circuits, which are commonly used in the aerospace industry. Each parameter will be measured every 12 hours, while measurements of the radiation dose will be received every 90 minutes, and temperature data every 6 minutes.

The data showing the performance of the electronic circuits will be sent to the ground for analysis and comparison with results obtained during ground tests developed by the UM2 radiation effects group. The monitoring of the radiation dose with the OSL radiation sensor, developed by UM2, will also provide valuable information on Earth’s radiation belts.

The experiment will provide valuable results not only for the group, but for the whole space radiation effects community. The harsh radiation environment that will be encountered during the satellite’s first months in orbit is particularly suitable for performing this kind of study.

The CubeSat experience

How did the team members deal with the experience of CubeSat selection, design, construction, testing and integration?

“During the project, older students took charge of the younger ones. Because there was a place for everyone, recruitment was possible by word of mouth.

“One of the most exciting challenges was the difficulty of having both students and professors from different sites, different schools and technical backgrounds working together on a project. It required strong project and documentation management, but, above all, a real team spirit was raised. Since we received technical and financial support from CNES, we benefited from the mentoring of CNES experts, who provided guidance at all stages of the project.”
Feb 1 2012

Vega Satellite Launch Vehicle

The Vega (Vettore Europeo di Generazione Avanzata) is a new-generation launch vehicle being developed jointly by the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and the European Space Agency (ESA) for Arianespace.

Vega is named after the second brightest star in the northern hemisphere.

The Vega is a small launcher which can place small to medium-sized satellites into the polar and low-earth orbits. The launch vehicle complements the heavy Ariane 5 and medium Soyuz rockets launched from French Guiana.

Vega development programme history

“The Vega is a small launcher which can place small to medium-sized satellites into the polar and low-earth orbits.”

The development of the Vega launcher commenced under the Vega programme in 1998. The programme is being funded by Italy (65%), France (12.43%), Spain (5%), Belgium (5.63%), the Netherlands (3.5%), Switzerland (1.34%) and Sweden (0.8%).

Vega’s main engine P80 rocket motor was successfully tested in December 2007. The test campaign of the Vega launch vehicle commenced in November 2010.

The test phase validated the operational readiness of the launch vehicle and ground station components. The assembly of the new Vega launcher was completed in February 2011.

The first launch is scheduled for February 2012 from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. ESA plans to launch its IXV (intermediate eXperimental vehicle) aboard Vega in 2014.

The marketing activities will commence after the first launch. Arianespace plans to increase the launch frequency from two to four each year.

Contractors

ASI and Avio have established a new 30-70 partnership called Elv for the programme. ESA and Elv signed the Vega development contract in February 2003.

Elv, as the prime contractor, is responsible for the management of the Vega programme. The company also coordinates the activities of the subcontractors involved. Arianespace provides support services for the qualification and combined test campaign of the rocket.

In December 2011, ESA and the Arianespace signed a contract to study the launch of Vega under the Verta (Vega Research and Technology Accompaniment) programme. The programme will test and qualify new vital technologies for future re-entry vehicles.

Vega design

The Vega launch vehicle is designed to support various missions and payload configurations in order to meet different market requirements. It offers payload configurations from a single satellite to one primary satellite plus six micro-satellites.

“ASI and Avio have established a new 30-70 partnership called Elv for the programme. ESA and Elv signed the Vega development contract in February 2003.”

Vega can place multiple payloads into orbit which is uncommon with most small launchers. It can carry payloads of 300kg to 2,500kg based on the type and altitude of the orbit required by the customers.

The vehicle has a length of 29.9m, a diameter of 3.025m and a typical lift-off mass of 137t.

The in-orbit launch capacity of the vehicle is 1,500kg into the polar orbit at an altitude of 700km. The single body launcher is incorporated with three solid propulsion stages and an AVUM (attitude vernier upper module).

The solid propellant motors, supplied by Avio, are covered by composite casing. The motors feature carbon epoxy filament wound casing and nozzle.

The first stage is powered by the P80 solid rocket motor. The second and third stages are powered by Zefiro 23 and Zefiro 9 motors respectively. The fourth stage AVUM consists of a UDMH / NTO bipropellant main engine with re-ignition capability and cold gas attitude control system.

Vega launch facilities

The Vega will be launched from ZLV launch complex at Kourou, French Guiana. Based on the ELA-1 (Ensemble de Lancement Ariane No. 1) launch complex, the site was originally used for the Ariane 1 and Ariane 3 vehicles.

The existing facilities, such as the launch pad, mobile gantry and infrastructure, were upgraded for the launch of the Vega.

The original flame ducts of the launch pad were retained. They will transfer exhaust gases during ignition and lift-off of the Vega.

The power and environmental control connections to the launcher and its payloads are provided by a new fixed umbilical mast. Four tall towers erected around the launch table will provide protection against lightning strikes.

The renovated mobile gantry provides provides ideal working conditions to the personnel during the launch vehicle assembly and payload integration.

The operational control centre for the Vega will be within the Spaceport’s Control Centre no. 3 (CDL 3) facility, which is used for Ariane 5 missions. The centre incorporates independent operational control and monitoring systems. The Vega facility will share resources with the ongoing Ariane 5 mission as it is co-located in the CDL-3 building. Continue reading →

Jan 28 2012

Masat-1 Elliptical Orbit Video

Artists impression of Vega launch

Artists impression of Vega launch

Vega is planned to launch on February 9 from the ESA launch site at Kourou in the Caribbean. It will carry seven amateur radio CubeSats and an amateur radio Microsatellite called ALMASat.

This HD clip shows how one of those CubeSats, Masat-1 (437.345 MHz), is going to orbit around Earth. You can see the satellite establishing contact with the primary ground station at BME, joined by the radio amateurs in Europe and all over the World. The radio contact is possible only if the satellite is above the Horizon at the given location. This is symbolized with thin green lines between the satellite and the ground stations, represented by coloured dots on the Globe.

Everybody is welcome to join in recieving the satellite using the ground station software freely downloadable from the Masat-1 website!

Watch Masat-1 Elliptical Orbit and Pass over European Ground Stations

The Masat-1 Ground Station Client Software was prepared to process the 437.345 MHz GFSK 625/1250 bps transmission received from the satellite Masat-1. The software provides the following functions:

– Audio demodulation
– Packet decoding
– Packet data visualization
– Frequency waterfall plot to aid radio tuning

Download the software and a test WAV file from http://cubesat.bme.hu/en/foldi-allomas/kliens-szoftver/

Frequencies and links for the amateur radio satellites on Vega are at http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/esa9cubf.htm

IARU Amateur Satellite Frequency Coordination pages http://amsat.org.uk/iaru/

Jan 11 2012

New launch date for Vega

ESA has changed the launch date of Vega, carrying 8 amateur radio satellites, to Thursday, February 9.

Vega will launch from the ESA launch site at Kourou in the Caribbean.

It will carry 7 amateur radio Cubesats and an amateur radio Microsatellite called ALMASat.

Many rocket launch dates are subject to “slippage” and brand new launch vehicles can slip the launch date more than most. If Vega fails to meet the February 9 date then it will have a short window in which it can be launched before being delayed for many weeks due to an Arianne ATV cargo ship launch from Kourou to the International Space Station planned for March 9.

Read the BBC story at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16480111

Frequencies and links for the amateur radio satellites can be found at
http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/esa9cubf.htm