Tag Archives: Space

Apr 25 2012

ISS: successful contact with Balaklava school

We are pleased to announce very successful contact of Balaklava school
(Sevastopol, Crimea, Ukraine) with International Space Station.
More than 100 children came to take part of the evening event on April
11, 2012 in Balaklava – very unique place with interesting history as well
as known as a place where Russian cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov was born.
17 questions were asked and after the radio contact was finished we continued
communication via phone in combination with video stream available on http://spacestationlive.jsc.nasa.gov/timeline/index.html
Anton came to the place where web camera is located so we were able
not only to speak but also to see what he was doing on board of the station.
During the conversation Daniel Burbank joined giving greetings to all participants
on the ground.
Anton has answered 5 more questions and shown how Orlan space suit glovers
works, how to drink water in the space. Under storm of applause Anton presented
Balaklava’s school pennon which he has on board.
Space station

Space station

Event was organized by Ukrainian radio-amateurs Andrey Begunov – UT9UF and
Oleg Dmitrenko UR4UKV with support of Sevastopol’s radio-amateurs, space enthusiast
Vladimir Kovgan and Anton’s first teacher Irina Bogdanova.
Andrey
UT9UF
Apr 24 2012

Innovative nanosat will test space software

Designing Ops-Sat at ESA's Concurrent Design Facility

Designing Ops-Sat at ESA's Concurrent Design Facility

A new ESA nanosat aiming for a 2015 launch plans to provide a platform to test software in space.

Space software rarely runs the latest operating systems, languages or interfaces. It is selected for its proven, rock-solid reliability rather than its use of the latest and newest programming technologies. For example ESA is still using the Packet Utilisation Standard to control their satellites, which was defined in 1994.

There are many reasons why satellites continue to use decades-old, tried-and-trusted software based on older technical standards. It’s not because satellite designers and builders aren’t innovative. On the contrary, some of the best ideas in software development come from the space industry.

“However, with mission-critical software, there’s a lot of risk-aversion, which is very understandable,” says Mario Merri, Head of the Mission Data Systems Division at ESOC.

“No one wants to use new and possibly problematic software on a multi-million-euro mission in space.”

Traditionally, one of the major barriers to providing updated software for use in space has been the lack of opportunities to test new tools, systems and procedures.

It’s difficult and expensive to replicate in-orbit conditions using an Earth-bound simulator, yet this is precisely the tough standard that new space software must meet.

That’s where an innovative nanosatellite design developed at ESA promises to help satellite designers, ground engineers and spacecraft and component manufacturers. Dubbed Ops-Sat, for Operations Satellite, it is specifically designed to allow controlled testing and validation of critical onboard and ground software.

The design calls for a CubeSat configuration, measuring just 30x10x10 cm and costing far less than a traditional scientific or Earth observation satellite.

“The secret behind the Ops-Sat design is that the satellite is easily recoverable from the effects of ‘buggy’ software and we use commercial, off-the-shelf processors to provide increased computing power compared to normal spacecraft,” says Dave.

“We can completely replace the entire onboard software suite with new and fresh code more or less daily, allowing developers to troubleshoot their products in a real but safe environment.”

Ops-Sat has generated considerable interest from European industry, which sees the possibilities for demonstrating new concepts, ideas and products that presently have difficulty breaking into mainstream spacecraft design.

This could accelerate innovation and lower costs in the field of satellite control.

Source ESA

Apr 23 2012

Missions of KSAT2

 

1. Study on Forcast of Localied Downpour and TornadoIn-orbit experiments of an original observation method of atmospheric water vapor.
2. Take Earth Live Images from Space
Ku-band high-speed data transmission, one shot / a few seconds.
3. Basic Experiments for LEO Positioning Satellites
Frequency and phase synchronization between a ground-base system and a satellite.
4. Orbit Determination Experiments with Radio Interferometer
Essential item for nano-satellite orbiting at very low earth orbit.
5. Satellite Tracking Experiment at Very Low Earth Orbi Evaluation of Earth’s atmosphere to the satellite.
6. Verification of Pantograph-type Extending Boom in Space
The boom was originally designed and is fit for compact satellites.
7. Messages of Encouragement from Space to Japan. Hand-lettered messages and heart warming pictures, especially from children responsible for the future.

Communication

Dual uplink, Dual downlink and a beacon signal.

– Frequency and Transmissio Rate –
Frequency Band Moduration Method Transmission Rate Purpose
Uplink UHF Band F2D 1 kbps  Commands
S Band G2D 1 kbps  Command (Backup)
Downlink S Band G1D 200 ksps  HK Data
Ku Band G1D 1 Mbps or Carrier  Image and Beacon

  # Coding by viterbi algorithm is applied to S-band downlink data. 

Main body of the satellite has a shape of 10 cm Cube, and its mass will be 1.5 kg. An expanding boom for attitude control and two solar paddles are attached to the main body.

Apr 20 2012

Rubber Chicken Flies into Solar Radiation Storm

NASA report that last month, when the sun unleashed the most intense radiation storm since 2003, peppering satellites with charged particles and igniting strong auroras around both poles, a group of high school students in Bishop, California, knew just what to do.

They launched a rubber chicken with a pair of badges to register radiation levels attached to her knitted spacesuit.

Watch NASA Camilla SDO – Chaos at 119,000 feet (March 10, 2012)

Read the full NASA story at http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/19apr_camilla/

Camilla on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/NASA.Camilla.SDO

Apr 20 2012

Flabob Airport students talk to Space Station

NASA astronaut Don Pettit KD5MDT

NASA astronaut Don Pettit KD5MDT

It was 13 months of preparation for 10 minutes of conversation – but what a conversation!

On Thursday morning, a select group of students from the Flabob Airport Preparatory Academy spent about 10 minutes on an amateur radio teleconference call with the International Space Station, asking astronaut Donald Pettit KD5MDT a variety of questions about his duties and the effects of prolonged weightlessness on the human body.

Press-Enterprise report:

“My heart was just pounding,” said Brittany Cain, a 17-year-old junior at the school. “It was just amazing to be able to ask the question. But I was so nervous, I can’t remember his answer.”

The contact was made possible by Clint Bradford K6LCS an amateur radio operator and the liaison between NASA, the school and amateur radio. Bradford worked with NASA to get Thursday’s call approved.

“Our hope is that through this experience the students will keep questioning and keep looking skyward,” Bradford said. “They should never stop asking questions about space.”

Bradford also made the connection to amateur radio operator Claudio Ariotti IK1SLD who connected to the space station as it passed over Italy. The radio feed was sent to Flabob by telephone.

Read the full Press-Enterprise story at
http://www.pe.com/local-news/local-news-headlines/20120419-jurupa-valley-students-question-real-life-rocket-man.ece

Watch Flabob-ARISS – BEFORE the Contact

Watch the Press-Enterprise video of the contact

NASA sets date for Flabob Airport ARISS contact
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/april2012/nasa_sets_date_for_flabob_airport_ariss_contact.htm

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) http://ariss.rac.ca/

Apr 20 2012

28th National Space Symposium April 16-19, 2012

Martin Sweeting G3YJO 2012 Image Credit SSTL

Martin Sweeting G3YJO Image Credit SSTL

Among those attending the 28th National Space Symposium in Colorado April 16-19 was Sir Martin Sweeting G3YJO.

He took part in the ‘Societal Benefits – Space Applications in Emerging Regions’ panel.

Space News reports:

Overseas markets are expanding as more nations embrace space for communications, environmental monitoring, resource management and disaster response, according to members of an April 17 panel discussing space applications in emerging nations.

Emerging programs in Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa offer opportunities to the industry but come with some challenges, not the least of which is cooperation and cultural understanding between governments. Panel members discussing the trend were Tim Deaver, vice president of market development, government solutions, at SES World Skies, David Hartshorn, secretary general of the London-based Global VSAT Forum, and Sir Martin Sweeting, founder and chairman of U.K.-based Surrey Satellite Technology.

“Space is essential to play a part fully” on the international stage, Sweeting said. While some might argue it is an extravagance in nations often burdened with dire poverty, new wisdom has taken hold that space can bolster economies and level playing fields.

Pictures and videos of the 28th National Space Symposium can be seen at http://www.nationalspacesymposium.org/

Space News report http://www.spacenews.com/satellite_telecom/120418-nations-embracing-space-apps.html