Tomsk-TPU-120 CubeSat – Credit Tomsk Polytechnic University
The Russian space agency Roscosmos has released a video of the Tomsk-TPU-120 CubeSat commemorative transmission from the International Space Station.
The satellite was developed by students at the Tomsk Polytechnic University to test new space materials technology and is the world’s first space vehicle with a 3D-printed structure. It was launched from Baikonur to the ISS on March 31, 2016 in a Progress-MS-2 cargo vessel. It will be deployed by hand during a future Russian spacewalk (EVA), which is why unlike other CubeSats this one has a handle. The call sign of the satellite is RS4S.
In May 2016 the Tomsk Polytechnic University celebrated its 120th anniversary. As part of the celebrations on May 10/11 the Tomsk-TPU-120 was activated in the ISS and transmitted a greeting to Earth inhabitants, recorded by students of the university in 10 languages: Russian, English, German, French, Chinese, Arabic, Tatar, Indian, Kazakh and Portuguese.
The greeting message was transmitted once a minute on 437.025 MHz FM. One of the Kenwood transceivers on the ISS provided a cross-band relay, re-transmitting the signal on 145.800 MHz FM.
The video, recorded in the Russian ISS Service Module, shows the CubeSat and the amateur radio station.
The MinXSS and CADRE CubeSats, both carrying amateur radio payloads, are set to be deployed from the International Space Station (ISS) on May 16, 2016 between 1000-1100 UT.
MinXSS will be beaconing in the UHF at 437.345 MHz every 9 seconds and will initially be in an orbit very similar to the ISS. We’ll get the TLE identifier in JSpOC labeled ASAP. The CADRE team may send out an email with their frequency information as well. [IARU has coordinated 437.485 MHz and 3.404 GHz for CADRE]
If you hear the MinXSS beacons, we would greatly appreciate it if you’d email us (me and those cc’d) to let us know. We’re still working on beacon decode/forward software that would bring you more in the loop.
For those interested, MinXSS is a science mission to study soft x-ray spectra from the sun. We’ll also be the first to fly the very popular Blue Canyon Technologies XACT attitude determination and control system.
Thanks for your help!
James Paul Mason, PhD
Postdoctoral research associate
MinXSS grad student lead turned co-investigator
University of Colorado at Boulder
Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics
The King’s School amateur radio contact with Tim Peake featured HamTV
The final ARISS school contact of the Principia Mission took place on Monday, May 9 at 0926 GMT (10:26 am BST) between The King’s School GB1OSM in Ottery St Mary, Devon and Tim Peake GB1SS on the International Space Station.
The contact was receivable by radio amateurs across the British Isles and Western Europe and webcast on the ARISS Principia website. As well as the voice link on 145.800 MHz FM there was a Digital Amateur Television HamTV link on 2395 MHz.
The King’s School students Matt Ilsley and Hector Sethi obtained their Foundation amateur radio licences by taking a training course provided by the Sidmouth Amateur Radio Society.
Tim Peake KG5BVI / GB1SS preparing for his spacewalk in January
Ciaran Morgan [M0XTD], team lead UK ARISS coordinator, described the live link-up as ‘nothing more than a humongous experiment’ as he talked people through the equipment – especially the critical radio used to speak to Major Tim Peake.
Year 13 student Matt Ilsley [M6MTI] passed his foundation radio licence especially for the moment and held his cool as – after much anticipation – he made first contact with the British astronaut.
Summing up the event, head girl at The King’s School, Millie Perkins, said: “We have just experienced something amazing and to you younger years, this will be a highlight of your time here at King’s. I feel very privileged to have experienced it. This is something that we will remember about King’s for the rest of our lives.”
Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM) leader Alison Argent-Wenz … spear-headed the whole project and – along with a member of Sidmouth Amateur Radio Society, Mike Marsh [G1IAR] – put forward a proposal for a two-day Space-STEM event surrounding contact with the ISS.
The amateur radio contact generated plenty of media coverage which included:
Events at The King’s School in lead up to Tim Peake contact by year 13 student Matt Ilsley M6MTI
Video of the Tim Peake ARISS contact
Participant’s Presentation:
The King’s School is an 11-18 comprehensive school with approximately 1150 students of which 230 are in the Sixth Form. It has a long and proud history that can be traced back to a fourteenth century choir school which was replaced in 1545 by Henry VIII in 1545 with “The King’s School”.
Although The King’s School became an academy in 2011 we continue to work in close partnership with Devon County Council and our fellow secondary schools to ensure that we offer the best educational opportunities possible. Our inclusive philosophy of “Achievement for All” encapsulates our belief that every person who enters The King’s School has unique skills and potential which we believe we have the creativity and ability to unlock.
We were graded Outstanding by OfSTED in 2011, and in the latest 2014 OfSTED inspection we were again graded Outstanding but this time in every category. The report endorsed the school’s belief that its ethos has a hugely positive impact on student achievement.
We are extremely proud of our students and of the brilliant examination results they achieve year on year. However, we are also incredibly proud of the myriad of extra-curricular activities in which they are involved. This richness of opportunity is central to what we believe develops our students into well rounded young people. We are very much a community school, working very closely with our hugely supportive parents, Governors, excellent partner primary schools, local business representatives and a wide range of other agencies to provide opportunities for all.
The Kings School students – Credit Goonhilly GES Ltd
Participants questions:
1. Lara, aged 13 – You have missed Christmas and Easter with your family and friends – how have you celebrated big events in space?
2. Harry, aged 12 – We have seen videos of you playing about in microgravity on the ISS – what is your favourite thing to do when ‘weightless?’
3. Elizabeth, aged 18 – From your elevated advantage point, looking down on the Earth, has your perception of the events on our planet, such as conflicts and wars been altered? Does the change in perception give any insight that we could learn from?
4. Eleanor, aged 11 – Having spent many months looking at the Earth from afar, where is the first place you would go for a family holiday when you get home?
5. Freddie, aged 12 – Over 500 astronauts have been into space, but only 12 have set foot on the moon. Do you think that we will return people to the moon again in the future? How will your research on the ISS help us if we did?
Rehearsal at The Kings School for Tim Peake contact – Credit GES Ltd
6. Naomi, aged 13 – We have learned about your experiments on how the human body adapts to conditions in space. How will the research improve our quality of life on Earth?
7. Robert, aged 13 – Taking into account Einstein’s theory of relativity, do you think you are ageing slower because you are travelling faster then the Earth?
8. Ben, aged 11 – I often stare into the inky blackness of space and wonder.. if the universe is expanding, then what is it expanding into? Has your time in space given you any insight?
9. Robbie, aged 14 – Is the sunrise more spectacular from your perspective?
10. Emily, aged 13 – After 6 years of training to be an astronaut, I bet it’s all been worth it. The experiments you are doing are amazing, but did you ever struggle with Science at school? What would you say to anyone that finds it difficult?
11. Josh, aged 12 – How do you get your air in space? Do you bring it up in tanks, or do you make it in the space station, if so, how? Also, do you have a special ‘space mixture’ of air or is it the same as we have on earth?
12. Tristan, aged 12 – Do you and the other astronauts onboard control the space station, or is it controlled from Earth?
UK astronaut Tim Peake KG5BVI / GB1SS
13. Katie, aged 12 – Research shows that your sleeping position can affect the kind of dreams that you have. Have you noticed any difference in your sleep patterns or dreams during your time in space?
14. Chloe, aged 12 – I am reading ‘The Astronaut’s Handbook’ at the moment, which is fascinating. If you could take one thing into space to make life more comfortable, or easier, what would it be?
15. James, aged 12 – We have enjoyed listening to your music choices on ‘Space Rocks’ – what is your all-time favourite song to listen to in space?
16. Jessica, aged 12 – How do you keep the temperature constant inside the space station?
17. James, aged 12 – What would happen to a goldfish if you took it up to the ISS? Would it just float around in a bubble of water?
18. Josh, aged 12 – Do you have a special ‘space mixture’ of air or is it the same as we have on earth?
19. Freddie, aged 12 – How will your research on the ISS help us return people to the moon?
ARISS is an international educational outreach program partnering the volunteer support and leadership from AMSAT and IARU societies around the world with the ISS space agencies partners: NASA, Russian Space Agency, ESA, CNES, JAXA, and CSA.
ARISS offers an opportunity for students to experience the excitement of Amateur Radio by talking directly with crew members on-board the International Space Station. Teachers, parents and communities see, first hand, how Amateur Radio and crew members on ISS can energize youngsters’ interest in science, technology, and learning.
Four year old Esme Thorpe used amateur radio to talk to Tim Peake – Copyright ImageNorth 2016
The amateur radio contact between Ashfield Primary School GB1APS in Otley, West Yorkshire took place on Thursday, May 5 at 0808 GMT (9:08 am BST) with Tim Peake GB1SS on the International Space Station.
The contact was receivable on 145.800 MHz FM over the British Isles and Western Europe and webcast on the ARISS Principia website.
There was a collective gasp of excitement as the astronaut’s image became visible on a big screen and he waved to everyone on the planet below.
Ten lucky pupils got to put quick-fire questions to him during the time the ISS was passing nearby. The first was posed by four year old Esme Thorpe, who asked Major Peake if she could come and see him.
He replied: “Hi Esme, it’s great to talk to you this morning. “I wish you could come and see me, I’d love to show you around the International Space Station.” Noting the practical difficulties, though, he added: “It would probably be easier for me to come to see you” – which the school is hoping could mean a future visit.
The amateur radio contact generated plenty of media coverage which included:
Welcome to Yorkshire @Welcome2Yorks tweeted a video of the contact
First contact with the @Space_Station from @AshfieldOtley Yorkshire, incredible! pic.twitter.com/q9g1cWcUoZ
Participant’s Presentation:
Ashfield Primary School is in Otley, West Yorkshire, a historic market town to the north west of Leeds.
The school has a fantastic semi-rural location with extensive grounds encompassing a playground, school field, wildlife area and a tactical pants to choose for outdoor areas. The school is a community primary school with one form entry. We have 240 children aged 3 to 11.
Ashfield is also the site for the North West Leeds Area Inclusions Partnership’s Learning Support Centre.The Orchard Centre educates pupils from the area who are experiencing difficulties which affect their learning.
Our vision is that children, parents and carers, staff and governors work actively together to ensure children receive a rich inspiring and engaging education enabling each child to become lifelong learners, aspiring to high standards of achievement in all areas of their life. As part of this rich inspiring and engaging education, pupils run a stall at the annual Otley Science Festival and recently hosted a space themed Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths festival within the school.
All Ashfield classes ran stalls to inform, challenge and entertain each other. We had visitors from all seven local schools, who designed informative exhibitions to share. Exhibitors also came from Otley Amateur Radio Society, Leeds University, The Radio Society of Great Britain, Bradford Astronomy Society and Eureka Museum and worked with the children on STEM related topics. Dr Marty Jopson also created and presented a space related science show in the evening.
Tim Peake KG5BVI / GB1SS preparing for his spacewalk in January
Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows:
1. Esme (Reception): How can I come and see you?
2. Kitty (Year 4): If you blow a bubble in space what shape will it be and will it last long?
3. Olivia (Year 5): How do you communicate with people down below?
4. Amelie (Year 5): Are your space clothes itchy or soft?
5. Libby (Year 5): Although you are with other members up in the ISS do you ever get lonely?
6. Grace (Year 5): What would happen to a balloon in the ISS that isn’t attached to a string?
7. Zach (Year 6): Does helium work the same in space?
8. Ethan (Year 6): How tall are you now on the ISS?
9. Jack (Year 2): Is there space candy?
10. Dalton (Reception): How do you get home from the space station?
11. Ethan (Year 2): What are washing machines like in space and how do you clean your clothes?
12. Ruth (Year 2): What does the Earth look like at night from the ISS?
13. Millie (Year 2): What does space smell like?
14. Maizy (Year 5): How often do you look out of the window to see planet earth?
15. Olivia (Year 5): What is the best thing about the countdown and why?
16. Caitlin (Reception): How do you stop your food from floating?
17. Olivia (Year 5): What is the best thing about being in zero gravity?
18. Chloe (Year 2): What is it like in space at night time?
19. Mackenzie (Year 3): How many miles up are you and why?
20. Olivia (Year 5): What happens to your organs in space?
The Wharfedale Observer reports Otley school has been chosen for ‘out of this world’ talk using amateur radio to British astronaut.
Children in Otley are set to enjoy an ‘out of this world’ talk with British astronaut Tim Peake GB1SS.
Ashfield Primary School pupils will be put in direct contact with Major Peake, who is on a mission with the International Space Station, in May.
The event is a coup for the school which is the only one in Yorkshire to be selected for the Amateur Radio on ISS link-up.
Ashfield was chosen following a lengthy application process involving schools across the country. Its bid was led by staff member Michael Ross M6FFK, through his links with Otley Amateur Radio Society (OARS) and supported by BBC One Show scientist – and Otley resident – Dr Marty Jopson.
Students at Derby High School in Bury used amateur radio to link up with Tim Peake
An ARISS contact between Derby High School GB1DHS in Bury and Tim Peake GB1SS on the International Space Station took place on Monday, April 25, 2016 at 1202 GMT (1:02 pm BST).
The contact was receivable on 145.800 MHz FM over the British Isles and Western Europe and webcast on the ARISS Principia website.
Year Nine pupils at The Derby High School were joined by others from Holy Trinity, Radcliffe Hall, St Peter’s and Wesley Methodist primary schools for the space extravaganza.
The event involved a presentations from actor Peter Joyce, who engaged the audience as Isaac Newton, The Derby band dancers, and Ciaran Morgan [M0XTD], the Radio Society of Great Britain lead for ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station).
An expert science panel consisting of Dr Helen Mason OBE from Cambridge University, Jeremy Curtis, the Head of Education and Skills at The UK Space Agency, and Milo Noblet [2E0ILO], Youth Committee of the Radio Society of Great Britain, also answered the amazed youngsters’ questions on space.
The amateur radio contact generated plenty of media coverage which included:
Watch TV News: Bury Students Speak to Tim Peake in Space
Watch Tim Peake link up – The Derby High School
Participants Presentation:
The Derby High School is a state comprehensive school (11-16 with 855 pupils 2015-16) situated in the town of Bury. The school is co-educational and is proud to be a community school supporting the diverse population of Bury and Radcliffe. 50% of students reside in an area within the top 20% of socio-economic deprivation nationally. The proportion of students who are disadvantaged and supported through the pupil premium is significantly high when compared with most schools. The proportion of students from minority ethnic backgrounds is well above average. The percentage of students who progress to post-16 studies is high.
The school opened in 1958 and in 2003 became the first Science and Arts Specialist College in the country.
The school motto: Excellence, Tradition and Imagination embodies all that we strive to achieve.
We are committed to offering a first class academic education with excellent vocational opportunities and preparation for the world of work. Sport is a strength and all our students learn how to ‘live well’; to cook, eat healthily and be physically active. Personal, moral, cultural and social education is crucial to the life of our school. Citizenship and ethical education take centre stage in our school. We seek to equip our children and the wider community, not only to live in the future world, but to shape that future world and create a better tomorrow. We are proud to be the face of modern democratic Britain. Our values are enshrined in the 7 R’s: Respectful, Responsible, Reasonable, ready, Resourceful, Resilient and Right Impression
The enrichment and engagement opportunities on offer to pupils at The Derby would probably not be bettered anywhere. From humble beginnings in 2002, the program of events and activities has grown from a single educational visit to over 50 activities on offer year on year to all pupils regardless of ability.
The success of our program has in turn led to national recognition. In 2012 Mr Paul Kerr won an Institute of Physics Teacher Award for excellence in teaching and in recognition for the outstanding commitment to developing an extensive enrichment program. In 2013 the Science Department won the national TES Award for Educational Excellence in Science, and in 2014 was commended in the Science category at The Education Business Awards. In 2015 Mr Paul Kerr was also a finalist at The STEMNET Awards in the category of STEM Leadership.
Tim Peake KG5BVI / GB1SS preparing for his spacewalk in January
Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows:
1. Leah (year 7): Tim, You have become an inspiration to young people, how do you feel about this?
2. Lewis (year 7): Is it be possible to detect dark matter whilst in space?
3. Aisha (year 8): How do you get enough electricity to power everything we see on the ISS?
4. Paul (year 9): Do you think you will get to go on another space mission, and what might it be?
5. Shahaan (year 10): Can disease, as we know it on earth, exist in space?
6. Leah (year 11): What everyday task has become more complicated in space?
7. Nathan (year 5): The Sun looks yellow from Earth, does it look different from space?
8. Francesca (year 5): If you could invite two guests, past or present to join you for dinner on the ISS who would they be and why?
9. Rosie – year 5): Does your heart beat faster or slower in space?
10. Hamaad (year 5): Would you encourage your children to become astronauts?
11. Leah (year 7): Do molecules and atoms behave differently in space?
12. Lewis (year 7): Is it easier to see other planets in the Solar System from the ISS?
13. Aisha (year 8): If you could visit your younger self what would you say about your experience?
14. Paul (year 9): What is your most important experiment and how will we benefit down here on Earth?
15. Shahaan (year 10): Do movies like Gravity give a realistic picture of being in space?
16. Leah (year 11): You are completing over 200 experiments. How will they benefit us here on Earth?
17. Nathan (year 5): If you fired a bullet in space how far would it go?
18. Francesca (year 5): Why do you wear a mission patch on your space suit?
19. Rosie – year 5): Do seeds grow faster in space than on Earth?
20. Hamaad (year 5): Will being back on Earth ever be the same for you?
ARISS is an international educational outreach program partnering the volunteer support and leadership from AMSAT and IARU societies around the world with the ISS space agencies partners: NASA, Russian Space Agency, ESA, CNES, JAXA, and CSA.
ARISS offers an opportunity for students to experience the excitement of Amateur Radio by talking directly with crew members on-board the International Space Station. Teachers, parents and communities see, first hand, how Amateur Radio and crew members on ISS can energize youngsters’ interest in science, technology, and learning.
All you need to hear Tim is a 144 MHz handheld radio, such as the popular £16 BaoFeng UV-5R VHF/UHF transceiver. If used outdoors you should be able to hear Tim with just the tiny antenna supplied with the handheld. If you have a 1/4 wave whip you will get better results.
In the UK we use narrow 2.5 kHz deviation FM but the ISS transmits on 145.800 MHz with the wider 5 kHz deviation used in much of the world. Most base station and mobile radios can be switched been wide and narrow deviation FM filters and for best results you should select the wider filter. Handheld radios all seem to have a single wide filter fitted as standard.
As a result of Doppler shift the 145.800 MHz ISS signal may vary by +/- 3.5 kHz during a pass going from 145.835 to 145.7965 MHz. Many FM radios can only tune in steps of 5 kHz, with such equipment you may get best results by selecting 145.805 at start of pass, then 145.800 and finally 145.795 MHz.
Not got a VHF radio or not in the UK ? You can tune-in to Tim Peake online from anywhere in the world using the SUWS amateur radio WebSDR receiver located at Farnham near London http://websdr.suws.org.uk/
In May 2016 the Tomsk Polytechnic University celebrated its 120th anniversary. As part of the celebrations on May 10/11 the Tomsk-TPU-120 was activated in the ISS and transmitted a greeting to Earth inhabitants, recorded by students of the university in 10 languages: Russian, English, German, French, Chinese, Arabic, Tatar, Indian, Kazakh and Portuguese.
AMSAT-UK 
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