Tag Archives: LituanicaSat-1

Mar 14 2014

LituanicaSAT-1 CubeSat Update

LituanicaSAT-1 Camera and FM Voice Transponder

LituanicaSAT-1 Camera and FM Voice Transponder

Laurynas Maciulis LY1LM provides this update on the Lithuanian CubeSat LituanicaSAT-1 which was deployed from the International Space Station (ISS) on February 28, 2014.

LituanicaSAT-1

LituanicaSAT-1

Thanks to numerous beacon reports from W7KKE and DK3WN we established that periodic brown outs of our satellite that started to appear early last week are most probably caused by EPS falling to critical mode after battery voltage falls down to 6.5 V. This is most probably associated to some technical problem of solar panels, consequently generating less power than we planned. The satellite returns to safe mode when battery charges again to 7.2 V. This is indicated by appearance of the strong FM beacon signal at 437.275 MHz.

We are trying to turn off the beacon temporarily to charge battery to nominal level and resume nominal operations. During today’s 05:00 UTC pass over Lithuania we seem to have succeeded in switching off the beacon so You might not hear it for some time. If everything goes according to plan, system should resume to nominal mode when 7.4 V battery voltage is reached. You will notice that when You can hear periodic 9k6 FSK packets at 437.550 MHz.

LituanicaSAT-1 Stack

LituanicaSAT-1 Stack

Your further reports will be very appreciated.

We still have strong hopes to turn on the FM transponder when things get better, for all you guys to try it.

73!
Laurynas Maciulis LY1LM
LituanicaSAT-1 systems engineer

The tiny satellite is just 10x10x10 cm with a mass of 1.090 kg yet it has a VGA camera and a 145/435 MHz FM voice transponder, designed and built by Lithuanian radio amateurs.

The prototype of the FM repeater has been operating in the home of its designer Žilvinas Batisa LY3H in Elektrėnai, Lithuania. Further information at
http://ly3h.epalete.com/?p=303

The communications payload comprises:
• FM Morse Code Beacon 437.275 MHz LY5N
• FM Voice Repeater 145.950 MHz uplink (PL 67 Hz CTCSS) 435.180 MHz downlink
• AX.25 Packet Radio 145.850 MHz uplink 437.550 MHz downlink 9600 baud FSK, FM

Links
• Submit reports at http://www.kosmonautai.lt/en/data-submission/
• Web Google English http://tinyurl.com/KosmonautaiLituanicaSAT-1
• Wiki Google English http://tinyurl.com/WikiLituanicaSAT-1
• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Lituanicasat1

Mar 8 2014

Satellite TLE Object ID’s

TLEsNico Janssen PA0DLO reports the process of producing Object ID’s for newly launched satellites has changed recently.

Writing on the AMSAT Bulletin Board (AMSAT-BB) he says:

It seems that the Joint Space Operations Center (JSpOC) has changed some of their policies lately. After the launch of multiple small satellites late last year it took a long time to get them all identified. Apparently they don’t want to leave all the TBAs in their database for a long time, so now they use a different approach: they randomly assign the names of all satellites of a launch to the observed objects and then wait for reactions from the users of the satellites to see if the assignments are correct.

This is how e.g. the Cubesats, that recently were launched from the ISS, got ‘identified’ only a few days after their launch. So of course now we find that some identifications are wrong.

Doppler measurements clearly show that the following IDs are correct:
Object 39568, 1998-067EM, is LitSat 1
Object 39569, 1998-067EN, is LituanicaSat 1.

I am trying to get these corrected.

In the past the policy was to assign the ‘A’ object to the main payload of a launch. Secundary payloads, like Cubesats, would then get ‘B’, ‘C’, etc. So if the main payload initially was linked to the wrong TLE set, this required some swapping of TLE sets some time after the launch. Now they have decided to prevent this confusion by simply leaving the main payload assigned to another object than ‘A’ if required. Therefore the GPM satellite now is assigned to 2014-009C and this will not change anymore.

Satellite TLE Lottery Begins https://amsat-uk.org/2014/03/01/satellite-tle-lottery-begins/

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

Feb 27 2014

LituanicaSAT-1 Lithuanian CubeSat

LituanicaSAT-1 Camera and FM Voice Transponder

LituanicaSAT-1 Camera and FM Voice Transponder

The amateur radio CubeSat LituanicaSAT-1, call sign LY5N, was developed by students and young engineers from Vilnius University in Lithuania and should be deployed from the International Space Station (ISS) on Friday, February 28 at 0730 UT and streamed live at http://m.ustream.tv/channel/live-iss-stream

The team ask radio amateurs and SWL’s to listen for the FM Morse code beacon on 437.275 MHz after deployment and submit reports (see Tracking below). They say there will be Mission emblem stickers with signed QSL cards and for the first 10 registered reports, LituanicaSAT-1 branded note books!

LituanicaSAT-1

LituanicaSAT-1

The tiny satellite is just 10x10x10 cm with a mass of 1.090 kg yet it has a VGA camera and a 145/435 MHz FM voice transponder, designed and built by Lithuanian radio amateurs.

The prototype of the FM repeater has been operating in the home of its designer Žilvinas Batisa LY3H in Elektrėnai, Lithuania. Further information at http://ly3h.epalete.com/?p=303

The communications payload comprises:
• FM Morse Code Beacon 437.275 MHz LY5N
• FM Voice Repeater 145.950 MHz uplink (PL 67 Hz CTCSS) 435.180 MHz downlink
• AX.25 Packet Radio 145.850 MHz uplink 437.550 MHz downlink 9600 baud FSK, FM

LituanicaSAT-1 uses passive magnetic attitude control system consisting of permanent magnets that create a control torque and soft magnets that provide dampening torque using hysteresis effect. Following attitude sensors are implemented for attitude determination:
• PS-MPU-6000A MEMS motion sensor
• PS-MPU-9150A MEMS motion sensor
• L3GD20 MEMS three-axis digital output gyroscope
• HMC5883L three axes digital magnetometer

LituanicaSAT-1 Stack

LituanicaSAT-1 Stack

There are two computers in LituanicaSAT-1: the flight computer based on ARM Cortex-M4F microcontroller and secondary (back-up) computer based on Arduino ATMega 2560 microcontroller. These two computers and their periphery are laid out on different sides of one shared PCB. The flight computer is the central control unit of the satellite responsible for maintaining the normal operating mode of the satellite, monitoring and control of energy resources, control of attitude determination sub-system and performance of telecommands received from the satellite ground station in Lithuania.

The LituanicaSAT-1 team developed the secondary flight computer based on the open source hardware and software project named Arduino. This computer will ensure limited, however safe functionality of the satellite in case of failure of the main onboard computer and will also take and record the first pictures made by Lithuanians from space as well as control the radio beacon of the satellite.

There are 4 monopole antennas on LituanicaSAT-1: three UHF antennas and one VHF antenna. Each antenna is made of approx. 0.2 mm thick and 5 mm wide spring steel measurement tape. In deployed configuration, all UHF antennas are pointed towards the Z+ body axis direction and VHF antenna is pointed toward –Z body axis.

Tracking
In the days after deployment LituanicaSAT-1 will be very close to the International Space Station (ISS). To determine when you’ll be able to hear the 437.275 MHz FM Morse code beacon look at the position of the ISS on either the ISS Fan Club website at http://issfanclub.com/ or the N2YO satellite tracking site at http://n2yo.com/  (tick the Draw footprint box).

Due to Doppler shift the beacon may appear to be +/- 10 kHz of the nominal frequency. Submit reception reports including small audio file or any other data online at http://www.kosmonautai.lt/en/data-submission/

Links
• Web Google English http://tinyurl.com/KosmonautaiLituanicaSAT-1
• Wiki Google English http://tinyurl.com/WikiLituanicaSAT-1
• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Lituanicasat1

Watch Jeffrey Manber of Nanoracks – LituanicaSAT-1 interview

The LituanicaSAT-1 mission is specially dedicated to honor the 80th Anniversary of the flight across the Atlantic by Lithuanian-American pilots Steponas Darius and Stasys Girėnas. Therefore the satellite bears the name of the original aircraft used during this historic flight – “Lituanica”.

On July 15, 1933, Steponas Darius and Stasys Girėnas took off from Floyd Bennett Field in New York in their airplane Lituanica and flew across the Atlantic Ocean, covering a distance of 6,411 kilometers without landing, in 37 hours and 11 minutes. Tragically they crashed by the village of Kuhdamm, near Soldin, Germany just 650 km from their destination of Kaunas in Lithuania.

Lituanica above New York in 1933

Lituanica above New York in 1933

Jan 12 2014

President Congratulates Amateur Radio CubeSat Builders

Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite with CubeSat

Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite with CubeSat

Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite congratulated the builders of the first Lithuanian satellites LitSat-1 and LituanicaSat-1 which were launched to the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday, January 9, 2014.

The Google English translation of her words read:

“This is a historic moment for Lithuania – to raise the first Lithuanian space satellites LitSat-1 and LituanicaSat-1! Congratulations to all the young scientists and Lithuanians. We have become a space-faring nations. This is an important step in the development of new technology and introduction to space exploration”

The President wished the young satellites developers every  success and exciting new discoveries.

Vytenis Buzas LY1ZY and Laurynas Mačiulis LY1LM with LituanicaSAT-1

Vytenis Buzas LY1ZY and Laurynas Mačiulis LY1LM with LituanicaSAT-1

The Kaunas University of Technology developed LituanicaSAT-1 while the Lithuanian Space Federation developed LitSat-1. The CubeSats are expected to be deployed from the ISS later this year. The IARU coordinated frequencies are listed as:

LituanicaSAT-1
• FM Transponder Uplink 145.950 MHz Downlink 435.180 MHz
• AX25 Uplink 145.850 MHz AX25 Downlink 437.550 MHz
• CW Beacon 437.275 MHz
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Lituanicasat1

LitSat-1
• SSB Transponder Uplink 435.180 MHz Downlink 145.950 MHz
• AX25 Uplink 437.550 MHz Downlink 145.850 MHz
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/palydovas

Press Release: http://www.president.lt/lt/spaudos_centras_392/pranesimai_spaudai/lietuva_tampa_kosmine_valstybe.html

Dec 28 2013

Lithuanian CubeSats launch next month

LY2013SAT QSL card received by Andy Thomas G0SFJ

LY2013SAT QSL card received by Andy Thomas G0SFJ

To celebrate the upcoming launch of LituanicaSAT-1 the special event station LY2013SAT operated by Vilmantas Morkunas LY3BY has been on the air. Andy Thomas G0SFJ was one of the those who worked it and he was rewarded with a QSL card showing LituanicaSAT-1 in space.

Kibo Robot Arm CubeSat Deployment

Kibo Robot Arm CubeSat Deployment

Two Lithuanian amateur radio satellites will be among the 32 CubeSats to be sent by Nanoracks LLC to the International Space Station (ISS) on the SpaceX CRS-3 mission in January, 2014.

They will be deployed from the ISS by the JEM Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (J-SSOD) of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

The Kaunas University of Technology developed LituanicaSAT-1 and the Lithuanian Space Federation developed LitSat-1. It is understood that both will carry amateur radio transponders.

The satellites were built in 2013 which was the 80th anniversary of the historic flight by Lithuanian pilots Steponas Darius and Stasys Girėnas in the airplane Lituanica. On July 15, 1933, they took off from Floyd Bennett Field in New York and flew across the Atlantic Ocean, covering a distance of 6,411 kilometers without landing, in 37 hours and 11 minutes. Tragically they crashed by the village of Kuhdamm, near Soldin, Germany just 650 km from their destination of Kaunas in Lithuania.

The IARU coordinated frequencies for the two CubeSats are:

LituanicaSAT-1
• FM Transponder Uplink 145.950 MHz Downlink 435.180 MHz
• AX25 Uplink 145.850 MHz AX25 Downlink 437.550 MHz
• CW Beacon 437.275 MHz
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Lituanicasat1

LitSat-1
• SSB Transponder Uplink 435.180 MHz Downlink 145.950 MHz
• AX25 Uplink 437.550 MHz Downlink 145.850 MHz
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/palydovas

Google English article on the two Lithuanian CubeSats http://tinyurl.com/LithuanianCubeSats

1933 Lituanica flight http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithuanica

Jun 26 2013

Two Lithuanian Amateur Radio CubeSats Plan 2013 Launch To ISS

Kibo Robot Arm CubeSat Deployment

Kibo Robot Arm CubeSat Deployment

It is hoped that two Lithuanian satellites will be among the CubeSats sent by Nanoracks LLC to the International Space Station (ISS) on the SpaceX CRS-3 mission in November, 2013. They will be deployed from the ISS by the JEM Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (J-SSOD) of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

The Kaunas University of Technology is developing LituanicaSAT-1 while the Lithuanian Space Federation is working on LitSat-1.

Vytenis Buzas and Laurynas Mačiulis with LituanicaSAT-1

Vytenis Buzas and Laurynas Mačiulis with LituanicaSAT-1

2013 is the 80th anniversary of the historic flight by Lithuanian pilots Steponas Darius and Stasys Girėnas in the airplane Lituanica. On July 15, 1933, they took off from Floyd Bennett Field in New York and flew across the Atlantic Ocean, covering a distance of 6,411 kilometers without landing, in 37 hours and 11 minutes. Tragically they crashed by the village of Kuhdamm, near Soldin, Germany just 650 km from their destination of Kaunas in Lithuania.

LituanicaSAT-1 plans to carry a VGA camera, GPS receiver, 9k6 AX25 FSK telemetry beacon and a 150 mW V/U FM voice transponder. Links:
• Google English web http://tinyurl.com/KosmonautaiLituanicaSAT-1
• Google English Wiki http://tinyurl.com/WikiLituanicaSAT-1
• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Lituanicasat1

LituanicaSAT-1

LituanicaSAT-1

LitSat-1 is understood to be planning a U/V linear transponder for SSB/CW communications. Links:
• Lithuanian Space Association in Google English  http://tinyurl.com/LithuanianSpaceAssociation
• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/palydovas
• Google English article http://tinyurl.com/LitSat-1-Article

The IARU coordinated frequencies for the two CubeSats are:

LitSat-1
• SSB Transponder Uplink 435.180 MHz Downlink 145.950 MHz
• AX25 Uplink 437.550 MHz Downlink 145.850 MHz

LituanicaSat-1
• FM Transponder Uplink 145.950 MHz Downlink 435.180 MHz
• AX25 Uplink 145.850 MHz AX25 Downlink 437.550 MHz
• CW Beacon 437.275 MHz

Google English article on the two Lithuanian CubeSats http://tinyurl.com/LithuanianCubeSats

1933 Lituanica flight http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithuanica