Tag Archives: satellite

Feb 25 2013

The next Amateur Radio Phase 3 satellite

The next AMSAT Phase 3 satellite - Arianespace visit in Marburg (P3-E with flight antennas, but dummy solar panels)

The next AMSAT Phase 3 satellite – Arianespace visit in Marburg (P3-E with flight antennas, but dummy solar panels)

The P3E-satellite continues the successful series of AO-10, AO-13 and AO-40. It will again support communications from continent to continent.

Amateur Radio Satellite AO-40

Amateur Radio Satellite AO-40

The downlink frequencies are in the bands at 145 and 2400 MHz, the uplinks at 435 and 1268 MHz. Thus it can be used by all radio amateurs who were previously active on the earlier Phase-3 satellites. Additionally P3E provides possibilities for experimentation using uplinks at 2.45 and 5.8 GHz as well as downlinks at 10,5, 24 and 47 GHz.

P3E http://www.p3e-satellite.org/?lang=en_EN

AMSAT-DL on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/amsat.deutschland

Feb 14 2013

Two TV CubeSats from Ecuador

NEE-02 Krysaor - Image credit EXA

NEE-02 Krysaor – Image credit EXA

Ecuador is hoping to have two CubeSats in orbit this year.

Their first CubeSat NEE-01 Pegasus will carry a 720p HD camera to send live video from space using a 0.9 watt TV transmitter in the 910 MHz (33cm) band along with a beacon that will send a Morse Code ID, a SSTV image and Ecuador’s national anthem. It was originally planned to launch on a Dnepr from Yansy but is now expected to fly on a CZ-2D rocket from the Jiuquan Space Center on April 26, 2013 at 0413 UT.

Ecuadors second CubeSat NEE-02 Krysaor carries the same payloads in the 910 MHz band as NEE-1 Pegasus but has a slightly different solar panel configuration. As yet websites such as Gunter Space Page give no indication on which rocket NEE-02 Krysaor will fly.

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Feb 13 2013

TURKSAT-3USAT to launch with V/U Linear Transponder

Preparing for TAMSAT linear transponder tests

Preparing for TAMSAT linear transponder tests

TURKSAT-3USAT is a three unit CubeSat built jointly by TURKSAT and the Istanbul Technical University (ITU).

Members of AMSAT-TR (TAMSAT), the Turkish Amateur Satellite Technologies Organisation, have designed and implemented a V/U linear transponder for the satellite to provide amateur radio SSB/CW communications. The transponder input is 145.940-145.990 MHz and the output is 435.200-435.250 MHz, there will be a CW beacon on 437.225 MHz.

TAMSAT V/U Linear Transponder Test

TAMSAT V/U Linear Transponder Test

The VHF/UHF transponder and all other subsystems, except the stabilization, are doubled for redundancy. Where possible, both COTS systems and in-house development are employed.

The power is provided using solar panels and lithium polymer batteries together with super capacitors. Satellite stabilization is accomplished using passive magnetic attitude control system with hysteresis rods. There is a camera payload to take images of the Earth.

TURKSAT-3USAT is expected to launch on April 26 at 0413 UT on a CZ-2D rocket from the Jiuquan Space Center into a 680 km Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The satellite has a de-orbiting system which will make it re-enter the atmosphere at the end of its operational life.

On February 9, 2013 TAMSAT President A. Tahir Dengiz, TA2T, and Vice-President Barış Dinc, TA7W, were at the laboratory in the Istanbul Technical University (ITU) where tests were carried out on the transponder.

TAMSAT team celebrating a successful test

TAMSAT team celebrating a successful test

Further information and pictures of the preliminary testing of the V/U transponder are at
http://www.tamsat.org.tr/tr/turksat-3usat-is-almost-ready/

Read the paper TURKSAT-3USAT: A 3U Communication CubeSat
http://www.nanosat.jp/images/3rd/pdf/%5BNSS-03-0409%5D_TURKSAT-3USAT_A_3U_COMMUNICATION.pdf

Read more on the TAMSAT website which can be seen in Google English at http://tinyurl.com/TurkeyTAMSAT

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/tamsat.amsattr

Twitter https://twitter.com/tamsat_tr

YouTube http://www.youtube.com/user/tamsatvideo

Feb 12 2013

More Cubans Active on Ham Radio Satellites

Raydel Espinet CM2ESP - 640

Raydel Espinet CM2ESP

On the AMSAT bulletin board Raydel Espinet CM2ESP reports that more Cuban radio amateurs have become active on the satellites. He writes:

As many of you should already know, now we have two new Cuban Amateur Operators on FM Satellites. Recently CO7WT and CM2XN have finally achieve their first QSO on SO-50 Satellite. This may look simple, but for a Cuban Ham this is a great success, after many weeks of antenna building, equipment adjustments and learning, this two fellow hams enjoy of the amazing opportunity of make a QSO on a FM Transponder Satellite. They know there is a lot more of operating skills to learn and they are very happy to do so.

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Feb 9 2013

Amateur Satellite Allocations on the Agenda at Vienna

IARU_LogoIn the coming months meetings will take place in both IARU Region 1 and Region 2 to discuss HF and VHF bandplans.

The IARU Region 1 2013 Interim Meeting in Vienna April 19-21 will be discussing two proposals relating to the Amateur-Satellite Service:

VIE13_C4_02 – Amendment to the 28 MHz Bandplan in relation to the Amateur Satellite Service. This proposes the removal of the downlink only restriction on the 29.300-29.510 MHz satellite segment.
http://uska.ch/fileadmin/download/iaru/interim_meetings/vienna2013/VIE13-C4-02_RSGB.pdf

VIE13_C5_03 – Increased Amateur-Satellite Service 144 MHz Usage. This proposes the introduction of a new satellite downlink band for CW/SSB transponders at 144.000-144.035 MHz.
http://uska.ch/fileadmin/download/iaru/interim_meetings/vienna2013/2013_Vienna_Documents.pdf

A report on the ARRL website has requested input for the IARU Region 2 meeting. At this time it is not known if satellite allocations will be raised at the meeting in Region 2.

UK Yahoo Reflector for discussion of C4 (HF) papers
http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/ukc4discussion/

UK Yahoo Reflector for discussion of C5 (VHF/UHF/Microwave) papers
http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/ukc5discussion/

Feb 8 2013

Video of satellite FO-29 shown at Amateur Radio Fair Nov 17-18

Amateur Radio Satellite FO-29

Amateur Radio Satellite FO-29

This HD video, made by Sylvain Draux F0FVK, features the amateur radio satellite Fuji-OSCAR-29 (JAS-2). The video was shown at the Amateur Radio Fair held in Pordenone, Italy on November 17-18, 2012.

The 50kg satellite FO-29 was launched on August 17, 1996 from the Tanegashima Space Center of NASDA, Tanegashima Island, Japan into a 1330 by 810 km orbit.

It carries a 145 to 435 MHz linear transponder for SSB and CW communications.

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