Go Erie reports on the work of students from Penn State Behrend who have been building part of a satellite for AMSAT.
The report says:
The trio speaks the language of supercapacitors and charges cycles, and they offer informed views on how circuit boards can shed excess heat.
When David Jesberger, Kathleen Nicholas and Jacob Sherk graduated May 4 from Penn State Behrend, they left speaking the language of engineers. But they also left behind a finished senior project that could soon be headed into outer space.
Senior engineering students at Behrend pitch ideas each year for projects they would like to tackle in their final year. Nicholas said she, Jesberger and Sherk all bid for a chance to be part of a project for the Radio AmateurSatellite Corporation (AMSAT).
The super-capacitor based energy storage device developed by the students is designed to replace the silver–zinc battery on ARISSat type satellites.
Go Erie reports on the work of students from Penn State Behrend who have been building part of a satellite for AMSAT.
The report says:
The trio speaks the language of supercapacitors and charges cycles, and they offer informed views on how circuit boards can shed excess heat.
When David Jesberger, Kathleen Nicholas and Jacob Sherk graduated May 4 from Penn State Behrend, they left speaking the language of engineers. But they also left behind a finished senior project that could soon be headed into outer space.
Senior engineering students at Behrend pitch ideas each year for projects they would like to tackle in their final year. Nicholas said she, Jesberger and Sherk all bid for a chance to be part of a project for the Radio AmateurSatellite Corporation (AMSAT).
The super-capacitor based energy storage device developed by the students is designed to replace the silver–zinc battery on ARISSat type satellites.
CAMBRIDGE, ON, May 9, 2012 /CNW/ – COM DEV International Ltd. (CDV.TO), a leading manufacturer of space hardware subsystems, today announced that the AEHF-2 satellite has been successfully launched with COM DEV-built switches, filters and other microwave components on board. The satellite was launched May 4 th from Cape Canaveral, Florida, aboard an Atlas V rocket.
AEHF-2 is the second of four planned “Advanced Extremely High Frequency” satellites being built for the U.S. Air Force. AEHF is the next-generation military strategic and tactical relay system. It will provide survivable, global, secure, protected, and jam-resistant communications for high-priority military ground, sea and air assets. The AEHF constellation will also serve international partners including Canada , the Netherlands and the United Kingdom .
“AEHF is one of the most technologically advanced satellite programs in the world,” said Michael Pley, CEO of COM DEV. “It’s a great example of how space technology can be used to help ensure greater security for all of us. We are pleased to be able to contribute, with multiple COM DEV divisions providing equipment for this satellite.”
A single AEHF satellite provides greater total capacity than the entire five-satellite Milstar constellation currently on-orbit.
Lockheed Martin is the AEHF prime contractor, space and ground segments provider as well as system integrator, and Northrop Grumman is the payload provider. COM DEV has been involved in the program since 2002, and is supplying equipment for all four satellites. The program has begun advanced procurement of long-lead components for the fifth and sixth AEHF satellites.
About COM DEV
COM DEV International Ltd. (www.comdevintl.com) is a leading global provider of space hardware and services. With facilities in Canada , the United Kingdom and the United States , COM DEV manufactures advanced subsystems and microsatellites that are sold to major satellite prime contractors, government agencies and satellite operators, for use in communications, space science, remote sensing and defense applications. COM DEV’s majority-owned subsidiary, exactEarth Ltd., provides satellite data services.
This news release may contain certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from results indicated in any forward-looking statements. The Company cautions that, among other things, in view of the rapid changes in communications markets and technologies, and other risks including the cost and market acceptance of the Company’s new products, the level of individual customer procurements and competitive product offerings and pricing, and general economic circumstances, the Company’s business prospects may be materially different from forward-looking statements made by the Company.
The triangular logo and the word COM DEV are each registered trademarks and the property of COM DEV Ltd. All rights reserved.
Alexandru Csete OZ9AEC has previously written about interference from FM stations on the HO-68 linear transponder. He now reports that other satellites with linear transponders (designed for SSB/CW use only) also suffer from local FM traffic by people who haven’t got a clue that they are transmitting in the satellite uplink segment of the 2 meter band (145.8-146.0 MHz).
This recording was made on Saturday, May 5, 2012 using the AMSAT-UK FUNcube Dongle and Gqrx SDR. It shows very strong FM transmissions on the FO-29 linear transponder which could be from Spain or Portugal. The topic appears to be chocolate. Alexandru says – If you know who these people are, be sure to send them a QSL card!
The use of FM on a linear transponder satellite reduces the lifetime of both the batteries and the transponder itself.
ARTSAT PROJECT-1: INVADER is an amateur radio “Art Satellite” currently being developed as a part of the “ARTSAT: Art and Satellite Project” which aims at a practical use of a satellite for art and design. Invader is a 1U CubeSat being developed by students at Tama Art University.
ARTSAT have just released their App for the iPhone or iPod Touch (iOS 5 or greater).
Go Erie reports on the work of students from Penn State Behrend who have been building part of a satellite for AMSAT.
AMSAT-UK 
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