Tag Archives: STRaND-1

Feb 24 2013

Yahoo: World’s Smallest Space Telescopes Launching Monday

BRITE satellite at UTIAS-SFL - Image credit University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies

BRITE satellite at UTIAS-SFL – Image credit University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies

The two space telescope satellites launching with STRaND-1 on Feb. 25 at 1225 UT will also be carrying amateur radio payloads

Yahoo report that the two tiny satellites billed as the world’s smallest space telescopes will study the brightest stars in the night sky.

CanX-3a, BRITE (BRIght-star Target Explorer) and TUGSat-1 (Technische Universität Graz Satellit), BRITE–Austria are planned to launch from India with the UK smartphone satellite STRaND-1 on a PSLV-C20 rocket.

The BRITE satellites will carry a 100mW amateur radio beacon on 145.980 MHz  using 15 WPM Morse Code.

See the Yahoo article http://news.yahoo.com/worlds-smallest-space-telescopes-launching-monday-223020950.html

You can follow the launch on Twitter or watch live video at http://www.webcast.gov.in/live/ or http://ibnlive.in.com/livetv/

Information about other satellites on the same launch is here.

Feb 24 2013

STRaND-1 Ground Station Testing Video

STRaND-1 Ground Station Antennas

STRaND-1 Ground Station Antennas

The UK smartphone amateur radio satellite STRaND-1 should launch Feb. 25 at 1225 UT.

At the heart of STRaND-1 is a Google Nexus One smartphone with an Android operating system. Smartphones contain highly advanced technologies and incorporate several key features that are integral to a satellite – such as cameras, radio links, accelerometers and high performance computer processors – almost everything a spacecraft needs except the solar panels and propulsion.

Being the first smartphone satellite in orbit is just one of many ‘firsts’ that STRaND-1 is hoping to achieve. It will also fly innovative new technologies such as a ‘WARP DRiVE’ (Water Alcohol Resistojet Propulsion Deorbit Re-entry Velocity Experiment) and electric Pulsed Plasma Thrusters (PPTs); both ‘firsts’ to fly on a nanosatellite. It is also flying a 3D printed part – believed to be the first to fly in space!

A video of ground station testing has just been released.

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Feb 22 2013

Watch Live Video of UK STRaND-1 Smartphone Satellite Launch

The STRaND-1 build and test phase took just 3 months

The STRaND-1 build and test phase took just 3 months

The UK smartphone satellite STRaND-1 is expected to launch from India on Monday, Feb. 25 at 12:25 GMT. You can follow the launch on Twitter or watch live video.

STRaND-1 and other CubeSats carrying amateur radio payloads are planned to launch on the ISRO PSLV-C20 rocket into a 785 km orbit.

STRaND-1 carries an amateur radio 9600 bps AX.25 packet radio downlink on 437.568 MHz. It is hoping to be the first ever satellite to carry a smartphone into space and is also believed be the first satellite to use a part produced with a 3D Printer.

On Twitter the Surrey Space Centre @SpaceAtSurrey tweeted:

Official launch hashtag of STRaND-1 spacecraft is #S1Launch. Post launch we will be using #STRaND1 hashtag. Launch time:12.25 GMT 25th Feb 2013 #UniOfSurrey #SSTL

Launch Authorisation Board (LAB) for PSLV – C20 @STRaND mission has cleared the launch on Monday, Feb 25, 2013. @university of surrey #S1Launch

Live video launch feeds for Monday’s PSLV launch http://www.webcast.gov.in/live/ and http://ibnlive.in.com/livetv/

Launch times can and do change at the last minute so follow Twitter for the latest information.

Follow Surrey Nanosats https://twitter.com/SurreyNanosats

Read more about STRaND-1 at http://www.amsat-uk.org/?page_id=12196

STRaND-1 telemetry format http://www.amsat-uk.org/?page_id=12875

STRaND-1 videos http://www.amsat-uk.org/?page_id=12472

Other satellites on the same launch http://www.amsat-uk.org/?p=12180

STRaND-1 on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/nanosats

Provisional initial track of STRaND-1

Provisional initial track of STRaND-1

Feb 22 2013

STRaND-1 smartphone CubeSat mounted on PSLV rocket

Panoramic view of SARAL and smaller satellites including STRaND-1 attached to the PSLV C20 - Image credit ISRO

Panoramic view of SARAL and smaller satellites including STRaND-1 attached to the PSLV C20 – Image credit ISRO

The STRaND-1 build and test phase took just 3 months

The STRaND-1 build and test phase took just 3 months

The launch rehearsal of PSLV-C20 with the primary satellite SARAL and six other satellites has been completed satisfactorily at SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota. Mission Readiness Review and meeting of Launch Authorisation Board are scheduled on Feb 22, 2013.

STRaND-1 is a joint mission between Surrey Space Centre at University of Surrey and Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL). There will be an amateur radio AX.25 packet radio 9k6 bps downlink on 437.568 MHz and the launch is expected to take place on Feb 25.

STRaND-1 information and videos http://www.amsat-uk.org/?page_id=12196

STRaND-1 telemetry format http://www.amsat-uk.org/?page_id=12875

Other satellites on the same launch http://www.amsat-uk.org/?p=12180

ISRO PSLV-C20 status http://www.isro.org/pslv-c20/c20-status.aspx

Feb 8 2013

The World’s First Smartphone In Space

STRaND-1 flight ready February 2013 with Shaun Kenyon, Dr Peter Shaw, Dr Chris Bridges

STRaND-1 flight ready February 2013 with Shaun Kenyon, Dr Peter Shaw, Dr Chris Bridges

In this video Professor Sir Martin Sweeting G3YJO talks about STRaND-1 which aims to be the world’s first smartphone satellite in space.

STRaND-1 a UK mission, jointly developed by the University of Surrey’s Surrey Space Centre (SSC) and Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL), to send the world’s first smartphone satellite into orbit is due to launch on February 25.

Also appearing in the video are Shaun Kenyon and Dr. Chris Bridges both of whom have given presentations on the STRaND project to the AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium held each year in Guildford.

Continue reading →

Feb 8 2013

The World's First Smartphone In Space

STRaND-1 flight ready February 2013 with Shaun Kenyon, Dr Peter Shaw, Dr Chris Bridges

STRaND-1 flight ready February 2013 with Shaun Kenyon, Dr Peter Shaw, Dr Chris Bridges

In this video Professor Sir Martin Sweeting G3YJO talks about STRaND-1 which aims to be the world’s first smartphone satellite in space.

STRaND-1 a UK mission, jointly developed by the University of Surrey’s Surrey Space Centre (SSC) and Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL), to send the world’s first smartphone satellite into orbit is due to launch on February 25.

Also appearing in the video are Shaun Kenyon and Dr. Chris Bridges both of whom have given presentations on the STRaND project to the AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium held each year in Guildford.

 

Continue reading →