AMSAT-UK

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An Unlikely Pair of Satellites

Posted: 30 Jan 2016 10:49 AM PST
http://amsat-uk.org/2016/01/30/an-un...of-satellites/

Students working on the AggieSat4 and Bevo-2 satellites Credit Texas A&M
University / Dexter Becklund

Dr Helen Reed KD7GPX is interviewed in a NASA story about the AggieSat4 and
Bevo-2 satellites which were deployed from the International Space Station
(ISS) on January 29, 2016.

Students from Texas A&M University and The University of Texas came
together for the LONESTAR investigation.

This collaborative effort sent a pair of satellites, AggieSat4 and Bevo-2,
to the International Space Station. The satellites were deployed from the
space station on January 29, and AggieSat4 will eject Bevo-2 as part of a
demonstration of technology with applications for future space exploration.

The two satellites will demonstrate communication protocols between them
and with ground stations, as well as systems that allow the satellites to
navigate through space and relative to each other and to orient themselves
in three dimensions. Flight demonstration of these abilities, necessary for
unmanned craft to be able to rendezvous and dock in space without direct
human intervention, will contribute to future satellite missions as well.

“The overall objective is to find ways for small spacecraft to join
together autonomously in space,� said Dr. Helen Reed, KD7GPX, professor of
aerospace engineering and director of the AggieSat Lab at Texas A&M. “We
need simple systems that will allow rendezvous and docking with little to
no help from a human, which will become especially important as we venture
farther out into space. Applications could include in-space assembly or
reconfiguration of larger structures or systems as well as servicing and
repair.�

Small satellites are less expensive to build and investigators can more
easily find space on rocket launches to send them into orbit, but it does
take creative thinking to design a functioning satellite with smaller
volume and less power. Bevo-2 is 13.3 inches long, 5.3 inches high and 5.3
inches wide, about the size of a loaf of bread. AggieSat4 measures 24 by 24
by 12 inches, slightly larger than a piece of carry-on luggage. Together
the satellites weigh 114 pounds.

Read the full story at

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/st...atellites.html
Watch The deployment of AggieSat4



The IARU has coordinated these frequencies for the amateur radio payloads:

• AggieSat4 436.250 MHz 9k6 FSK telemetry (also 153.6 kbps FSK)

• Bevo-2 437.325 MHz CW and 38k4 FSK

The AggieSat4 team request that any amateur radio enthusiasts receiving the
beacons sends any data to it would be much appreciated!

AggieSat4 information

https://twitter.com/aggiesat

https://www.facebook.com/AggieSatLab

http://aggiesatweb.tamu.edu/index.ph...ects/aggiesat4

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/v8razh1evcabt7a/jrGSjbOJb4

Bevo-2 information

https://www.facebook.com/UTSatLab

https://www.ae.utexas.edu/news/featu...-satellite-sdl

AggieSat4 reception reports http://www.dk3wn.info/p/?cat=313