Tag Archives: FUNcube

Jun 16 2014

FUNcube-3 payload launch information

QB50p1 and QB50p2 - Image Credit ISIS

QB50p1 and QB50p2 – Image Credit ISIS

The FUNcube team anticipate that the Dnepr launch of the amateur radio FUNcube-3 payload on the QB50p1 CubeSat will take place as previously stated.

This Thursday is the day!

To be precise, lift off is expected to take place from Yasny on June 19, 2014 at 19:11:11 UT and the deployment of the various payloads will take place over the Indian Ocean in a similar fashion to the launch of FUNcube-1 last November.

Dnepr Space Head Module - Image credit Gauss Team

Dnepr Space Head Module – Image credit Gauss Team

Pre-launch Keplerian elements / Two-Line Elements (TLEs) can be seen below. The details of the initial 145 MHz CW transmission format for both QB50p1, and its near twin QB50p2, is at http://www.isispace.nl/HAM/qb50p.html

QB50p1 carries an inverting linear UV transponder with 400 mW output provided by AMSAT-NL and which is similar to that on FUNcube-1.
• 145.815 MHz BPSK telemetry
• FUNcube inverting 400 mW SSB/CW transponder
– 435.035-435.065 MHz Uplink LSB
– 145.935-145.965 MHz Downlink USB

QB50p2 carries an UV FM transponder and FX25 data transmitter from AMSAT-F. It is expected that these payloads will be activated after the science missions have been completed.
• 145.880 MHz BPSK telemetry
• 145.840 MHz 9600 bps FSK FX25

AMSAT-UK will be monitoring the launch event and watching for signal reports on the #cubesat IRC channel throughout the evening. A web client is available at http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=#cubesat

QB50 precursor amateur radio operator page http://www.isispace.nl/HAM/qb50p.html

There are 37 satellites and a 2U Mass Dummy on the launch, frequencies 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

Preliminary orbital information:

Launch Time:              19:11:11 UT
Separation of Platform A: 19:27:07 UT
Separation of QB50p1:     19:32:07 UT
Separation of QB50p2:     19:32:27 UT
1st pass over Delft/VKI:  20:46:46 UT
QB50p_PRELAUNCHKEPS
1 00362U 00362A   14170.81049769  .00000000  00000-0  10000-4 0     7
2 00362  97.9897  66.2289 0012982 291.8733 244.3145 14.85013404    03

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

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

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

May 31 2014

FUNcube Satellite Update Video

Howard Long, G6LVB and member of the FUNcube Satellite Team, describes the launch and use of the FUNcube-1 satellite, and timeframes for the next three FUNcube sats.

Watch FUNcube Satellite Update by Howard G6LVB, 2014 Dayton Hamvention

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

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

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

Join AMSAT-UK https://amsat-uk.org/2014/02/13/join-amsat-uk-7/

May 25 2014

2014 FUNcube missions – May Update

UKube-1 ready for launch

UKube-1 ready for launch

The FUNcube team have received confirmation that UKube-1, which is hosting the FUNcube-2 payload, is now scheduled for a Soyuz-2-1b Fregat-M launch from Baikonur in Kazakhstan on Saturday, June 28 with the following day as a back-up.  The launch time has been quoted as 15:58:28 UT with separation some 9253 seconds later.

The team still understand that, immediately after deployment and activation, UKube-1 will commence transmitting a CW beacon and that this will be later followed by an AX25, 1200 bps BPSK beacon. Both beacons will be on 145.840 MHz. The FUNcube-2 payload, with its telemetry downlink for educational outreach, is expected to be tested later.

FUNcube-3 is the transponder only payload on the QB50 precursor CubeSat “QB50P1″. This mission is now scheduled to launch on June 19 on a Dnepr launch vehicle from Dombarovsky near Yasny. The launch time has been quoted as 19:11:11 UT but this has not yet been confirmed.  The initial beacon signals, from the main transceiver, are also expected to be AX.25, 1200 bps BPSK packets on 145.815 MHz.

Again more information will be provided as soon as it becomes available!

QB50p1 and QB50p2 - Image Credit ISIS

QB50p1 and QB50p2 – Image Credit ISIS

UKube-1 communications subsystem:
• 145.840 MHz Telemetry, CW, 1k2 BPSK
• 2401.0 MHz S Band Downlink
• 437.425-437.525 MHz UKSEDS myPocketQub Downlink
• 145.915 MHz FUNcube beacon
• FUNcube 400 mW inverting SSB/CW transponder
– 435.080-435.060 MHz Uplink LSB
– 145.930-145.950 MHz Downlink USB

QB50p1 communications subsystem:
• 145.815 MHz 1200 bps BPSK telemetry
• FUNcube inverting 400 mW SSB/CW transponder
– 435.035-435.065 MHz Uplink LSB
– 145.935-145.965 MHz Downlink USB

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

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

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

May 10 2014

From Holiday Inn to Outer Space

David Bowman G0MRF giving one of his popular FUNcube satellite presentations

David Bowman G0MRF giving one of his popular FUNcube satellite presentations

On Friday, July 4, the Whitton Amateur Radio Group (WARG) will be hosting a presentation by David Bowman G0MRF on the subject of the FUNcube satellite.

David is a member of the AMSAT-UK team behind the successful development and launch of the amateur radio FUNcube-1 CubeSat which transmits telemetry for Educational outreach (STEM) and carries a 435/145MHz SSB/CW transponder. The presentation will have a live reception of the satellite as it passes over Europe.

The meeting is open to all, the doors open at 7 pm and the talk commences at 8:15 pm. Whitton Community Centre has good car parking and disabled access as well as the use of the bar. A small charge of £1.50 per person will be asked to cover room hire.

The venue is the Whitton Community Centre, Percy Road, Whitton, Middx, TW2 6JL

Directions can be found on the Whitton Amateur Radio Group site http://www.warg.info/

May 7 2014

Future FUNcube missions – 2014 launch dates

UKube-1 on display at UK Space Conference in Glasgow

UKube-1 on display at UK Space Conference in Glasgow

The FUNcube team have received confirmation that UKube-1, which is hosting the FUNcube-2 payload, remains scheduled for a Soyuz launch on June 19. The team do not, as yet, have any lift-off times or TLE’s for this launch but we will make these available as soon as possible.

It is believed that, immediately after deployment and activation, UKube-1 will commence transmitting a CW beacon and that this will be later followed by an AX25, 1k2 BPSK beacon. Both beacons will be on 145.840 MHz. The FUNcube-2 payload, with its telemetry downlink for educational outreach, is expected to be tested later.

FUNcube-3 is the transponder only payload on the QB50 precursor CubeSat “QB50P1″. This mission is currently scheduled to launch “Not earlier than the second half of June” , on a Dnepr LV from Yasny. The initial beacon signals, from the main transceiver, are also expected to be AX25, 1k2 BPSK packets on 145.815 MHz. Again more information will be provided as soon as it becomes available.

QB50p1 and QB50p2 - Image Credit ISIS

QB50p1 and QB50p2 – Image Credit ISIS

UKube-1 communications subsystem:
• 145.840 MHz Telemetry Downlink
• 2401.0 MHz S Band Downlink
• 437.425-437.525 MHz UKSEDS myPocketQub Downlink
• 145.915 MHz FUNcube beacon
• FUNcube 400 mW inverting SSB/CW transponder
– 435.080 -435.060 MHz Uplink
– 145.930 -145.950 MHz Downlink

QB50p1 communications subsystem:
• 145.815 MHz 1200 bps BPSK telemetry beacon
• FUNcube inverting 400 mW SSB/CW transponder
– 435.035 – 435.065 MHz Uplink LSB
– 145.935 – 145.965 MHz Downlink USB

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

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

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

Apr 25 2014

UK CubeSat Workshop: Student Research Pitches

FUNcube Dongle Pro+ Software Defined Radio

FUNcube Dongle Pro+ Software Defined Radio

AMSAT-UK have donated a FUNcube Dongle SDR to be awarded to the best student research pitch at the UK CubeSat workshop to be held in Harwell on May 13.

Please send your 5 minute research pitches along with the following details to send to Chris Bridges M6OBC email:  c.p.bridges@surrey.ac.uk There will be a prize for best presentations on the day! The prize includes a UK Space Agency goody-bag including a mug, t-shirt, badges, and more.  Plus a FUNcube Dongle, kindly donated from AMSAT-UK.

Please include the following to your submission:

• Presentation Title
• Author/ Supervisor
• Affiliation
• 5 Bullet Points on the Presentation Content (what, why, who cares?).

Presenters will be notified on 10th May 2014.

Source: http://www.cubesatforum.org.uk/wordpress/2014-uk-cubesat-workshop/student-research-pitches/

2014 UK CubeSat Workshop – Free Registration
http://www.cubesatforum.org.uk/wordpress/2014-uk-cubesat-workshop/

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

FUNcube Dongle Pro+ SDR Yahoo Group https://amsat-uk.org/funcube/funcube-dongle-sdr/