AMSAT-UK

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ARTSAT2ESPATCH spacecraft becomes FO-81

Posted: 13 Dec 2014 01:39 PM PST
http://amsat-uk.org/2014/12/13/despatch-is-fo81/


ARTSAT2ESPATCH Internal Structure

OSCAR Number Administrator Bill Tynan, W3XO issued this announcement on
December 12:

Since DESPATCH appears to have met all of the requirements for an OSCAR
number, including IARU coordination, I hereby with the authority vested in
me be by the AMSAT-NA President, do confer on DESPATCH, the OSCAR number
Fuji OSCAR 81 or FO-81.
ARTSAT2 DESPATCH Deep Space Sculpture

Continuing, Bill wrote, I use the Fuji designation in recognition of the
long history of contributions the Japanese have made to Amateur Radio
satellites. I trust that Fuji OSCAR-81’s mission will be successful and
much valuable data will be collected.

Akihiro Kubota replied from Japan, It is a great honor for us to receive
the OSCAR number from AMSAT. We are very glad to hear it! FO-81 form the
name of Fuji is also special for us. DESPATCH will transmit its beacon
until this Xmas. We will keep informed of the status of the mission and
share it over the world.

AMSAT congratulates the DESPATCH and ARTSAT teams!

Source ANS

New tracking utilities for the DESAPTCH and Shinen2 spacecraft are
available at

http://ji1izr.air-nifty.com/ham_sate...ish/index.html

Polish radio amateurs two million km record
http://amsat-uk.org/2014/12/09/despatch-2m-km-record/


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CubeSat Amateur Laser Communications

Posted: 13 Dec 2014 08:31 AM PST
http://amsat-uk.org/2014/12/13/cubes...ommunications/

Block diagram of proposed Cubesat with laser communicator Credit Oleg
Nizhnik

On November 19 Oleg Nizhnik gave a presentation on CubeSat amateur laser
communication with Earth to Moon orbit data link capability.

In his paper Oleg says the available bands at 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz for
amateur satellite communication are increasingly crowded. Higher frequency
amateur bands meanwhile require uncommon microwave parts to implement
transceivers, and working with 10 GHz or above require electric power
typically not available in CubeSat. Therefore, to enable amateur Moon
exploration, amateur laser communicator built of common, low-cost parts
will help to extend amateur satellites operating range up to at least moon
orbit.

The presentation was made in the 3rd Mission Idea Contest (MIC3) held
during the 2nd UNISEC Global Meeting at Kyushu Institute of Technology,
Kitakyushu, Japan, Nov. 19, 2014.
Watch MIC3 #7 CubeSat amateur laser communication with Earth to Moon orbit
data link capability



Presentation slides
https://www.spacemic.net/pdf/mic3_fi...ur%20laser.pdf

Abstract
https://www.spacemic.net/pdf/mic3_fi...pabi lity.pdf

The videos of other presentations given at MIC3 are at

https://www.youtube.com/user/UNISECmovie/videos

Slides and abstracts are at

https://www.spacemic.net/index.html#finalpresentations

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Amateur Satellite Seed Funding

Posted: 13 Dec 2014 07:54 AM PST
http://amsat-uk.org/2014/12/13/amate...-seed-funding/


On December 2, 2014 the AMSAT-NA Board of Directors approved Technology
Development Seed Funding.

As a part of AMSATs Design The Next AMSAT Satellite challenge, the Board of
Directors approved $5000, within the 2015 engineering budget, to be used as
seed money for future satellite development. Additional fund raising
sources will also be investigated and pursued.

AMSAT President Barry Baines, WD4ASW, said, Were prepared to return to
space starting in 2015 with a fleet of satellites that will equal, if not
exceed, the performance, and availability to the average ham, of our
previously popular AMSAT OSCAR 51. Meanwhile, we are preparing for the
future looking to potentially leverage new technologies, to provide the
best opportunities for enhancing amateur radios presence in space.

Director Tom Clark, K3IO, noted the need for a defined future systems
program. Tom said, We saw a significant number of both new and old members
who want to see the development of critical system elements for future
opportunities by 2018-20. As I see it, critical tall poles in applying
potential technologies require significant work to begin now to ensure
success.

AMSAT is interested in supporting technology ideas that enhance the utility
of using the CubeSat form factor to support more robust amateur satellite
capabilities.Â* The scope of potential interest in not limited; some
examples ofÂ* technology enhancement might include:

+ Microwave technology suitable for use in amateur spacecraft. This
includes the need to identify optimum frequency bands.

+ Complementary, low-cost ground systems, including an effective ~1º
antenna pointing system.

+ Define and develop optimum coding and modulation schemes for low power
microwave use.

+ Attitude determination & control systems to point the spacecraft antennas
towards the user while maximizing solar panel production.

Individuals interested in learning more about this initiative should
contact AMSAT Vice President-Engineering Jerry Buxton, N0JY (n0jy at
amsat.org).

Meanwhile, the development of AMSATs current series of the Fox-1 cubesats
continues on schedule. AMSAT Vice-President of Engineering, Jerry Buxton,
N0JY reported during the Board meeting that construction and testing of
five Fox satellites is on schedule:

+ Fox-1A will launch on a NASA ELaNa flight during the 3rd quarter of 2015
from Vandenberg AFB,

+ Fox-1B will fly with the Vanderbilt University radiation experiments
expected in 2016.

+ Fox-1C will launch on Spaceflights maiden mission of the SHERPA
multi-cubesat deployer during the 3rd quarter of 2015. This flight was
purchased by AMSAT.

+ Fox-1D is a flight spare for Fox-1C. If not needed as a spare it will
become available to launch on any open launch slot which becomes available
and be submitted in a CSLI proposal in 2015.

+ Fox-1E is built as a flight spare for Fox-1B but has been included in a
student science proposal as part of the November, 2014 Cubesat Launch
Initiative (CSLI) for an ELaNa flight slot. If selected the Fox-1B spare
will fly as Fox-1E.

More details of the Design The Next AMSAT Satellite challenge can be found
on-line at:

http://www.amsat.org/?p=3395

[ANS thanks the AMSAT Board Of Directors for the above information]

AMSAT-NA http://amsat.org/