Tag Archives: Plasma

Mar 10 2018

HuskySat-1 145/435 MHz Linear Transponder CubeSat also has 24 GHz Downlink

HuskySat-1

HuskySat-1

A 3U Cube Satellite, dubbed the HuskySat-1, is being developed by an interdisciplinary team at the University of Washington and will be launched into Low Earth Orbit to become the first amateur satellite from Washington state.

HuskySat-1 CubeSat

HuskySat-1 CubeSat

This CubeSat will demonstrate the capabilities of new technologies being developed at the University of Washington and expand the capabilities of CubeSats as a whole. In particular, a high-thrust pulsed plasma thruster (PPT), and high-gain communications system will form the core technology suite on board the satellite.

The majority of the HuskySat-1 is being developed at the University of Washington. The satellite is broken up into different subsystems. Each component is designed to be modular so that they can be most easily developed independently from each other and reused for future missions.

The Pulsed Plasma thruster will use tungsten electrodes and a sulfur propellant.

HuskySat-1 will carry a 30 kHz wide 145 to 435 MHz linear transponder for amateur radio SSB/CW communications along with 1k2 BPSK telemetry. The satellite will also transmit BPSK telemetry at 1 Mbps in the 24 GHz band.

The launch is planned for late 2018 with the ELaNA XXIV mission into a high inclination Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

HuskySat-1 https://sites.google.com/uw.edu/huskysatellitelab/huskysat-1

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

HuskySat-1 Propulsion

HuskySat-1 Propulsion

Feb 16 2013

Plasma Rockets & Solar Storms

Testing Plasma Rocket ComponentsThis Cosmic Journeys video covers the work of Dr. Ben Longmier KF5KMP and his University of Michigan team in developing plasma rockets.

Dr. Ben Longmier and his team from the University of Michigan have traveled to Fairbanks, Alaska to play a small part in a much larger push to revolutionize space travel and exploration.

The team plans to use helium balloons to send components of a new type of rocket engine to an altitude of over 30 kilometers, above 99% of Earth’s atmosphere. The purpose is to test these components within the harsh environment of space. While astronauts train to live and work in zero gravity, or to move around in bulky space suits, these would-be space explorers are preparing to negotiate some of Earth’s harshest environments.

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