|
About AMSAT
the leadership, our mission,
activities and programs |
Quick Access to Project Pages: AO-51 Eagle P3E SSETI Cubesats |
AO-51 Operations 31 March - 30 April April 1 - April 30
FM Repeater, V/U Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM, NO PL Tone Downlink: 435.300 MHz FM
9k6 Digital L/U BBS and Telemetry Uplink: 1268.700 MHz FM Downlink: 435.150 MHz FM
Give the AO-16 repeater a try this week. Uplink: 145.92 MHz FM Downlink: 437.0260 MHz DSB (LSB and USB).
AMSAT at Dayton Hamvention 2008
Find out about AMSAT activities at Dayton this year. AMSAT at Dayton
AMSAT Engineering Team Rolls Out Projects for 2008
With the holiday season behind and everyone settling back into winter in the northern hemisphere, the AMSAT Engineering Team kicked off the new year with the first meeting of 2008 on Tuesday, January 8. Thirty-two radio amateurs met via a VoIP teleconference call to get down to work on AMSAT’s main missions which include the Eagle Satellite, the geosynchronous Phase IV Lite rideshare opportunity with Intelsat, and educational support for university projects.
Engineering project manager Barry Baines, WD4ASW moderated the meeting along with AMSAT’s Vice President of Engineering, Bob McGwier, N4HY. AMSAT’s volunteer engineers provided status and planning information for the projects listed below. Barry, Bob and engineering team members will provide members with detailed project information in future columns of the AMSAT Journal.
Rick Hambly, W2GPS, AMSAT President, reported that negotiations are continuing with Intelsat and are now going to focus on size, weight, and cost of the geosynchronous rideshare arrangement. Rick reminded everyone that our mission must excite potential grant funding sources via our unique emergency communication and educational capabilities. Watch the Journal for future details!
Matt Ettus, N2MJI has taken on the design of the Advanced Communication Payload. The first steps toward specification of the high speed digital channels, power requirements, uplink and downlink protocols, and class of stations supported have begun. Watch the Journal for future details!
Howard Long, G6LVB continues work on the linear transponders based on Software Defined Radio (SDR) technology. Development and testing are underway. High altitude balloon, SuitSat2 and SSETI missions are planning to utilize this transponder technology to provide early experience prior to P3E and Eagle utilization. Watch the Journal for future details!
Marc Franco, N2UO has started work on the VHF amplifier driver stage using the silicon carbide technology enabling the 86% efficiency of the main PA. Space rated components are under study. The 2 meter band HELAPS amplifier will be the initial design and possible scaling upward to the 70cm band is under consideration. Watch the Journal for future details!
Lou McFadin, W5DID leads the team developing SuitSat-2. The internal housekeeping unit (IHU) and AMSAT’s software defined transponder technology are the main items under development. Solar cells have been donated by NASA. A new antenna system on top of the helmet has been completed. Watch the Journal for future details!
Bob Davis, KF4KSS, AMSAT Lab Manager reported on several good projects that have arisen out of the cooperative efforts of AMSAT and the HAWK Institute of Space Sciences at the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore. Construction of the AMSAT lab in the 8500 square foot facility continues. The clean room and machine shop will be coming on line to begin the development of the Eagle satellite space frame. University students will utilize the facilities to develop and launch a high altitude balloon project and a university cubesat both carrying research-related and AMSAT-related payloads. Watch the Journal for future details!
If you want to help with the AMSAT Engineering Team, send an e-mail to Bob N4HY via n4hy@amsat.org.
Do you receive your own copy of The AMSAT Journal? If not, join today! It is one of your key membership benefits of AMSAT to keep you completely informed of all the latest developments and technical information.
Updated: 21 Apr, 08 |
AO-51 Mode as of 01:45 UTC
Voice Up |
Voice Dn |
Beacon |
Digital Up |
Digital Dn |
Up Baud |
Dn Baud |
145.920 FM |
435.300 FM |
435.150 FM |
1268.700 PBP |
435.150 PBP |
9600 |
9600 |
Note - Mode changes are approximate and usually occur at ~ 02:00 UTC.
For additional information see AO-51 Full Schedule and News
|
ARISS-Europe Amateur Radio Antennas Reach OrbitWhen the Shuttle Atlantis launched on Thursday, February 8 the European Space Agency's Columbus module was on its way for delivery at the International Space Station. The amateur radio antennas mounted on the exterior open a new phase of amateur radio in space. While it will take several months to complete the ham shack aboard the Columbus module the first step has been taken.
Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, ARISS International Chairman, and AMSAT-NA V.P. for Human Spaceflight Programs was quite pleased at this milestone and told the team, "I would like to extend my congratulations to the ARISS-Europe team on today's successful launch of our newest on-orbit hardware delivery, the additional ARISS antennas!"
The ARISS-Europe team have been working hard and diligently for over 5 years to realize this outstanding milestone. The team faced numerous challenges, including some very severe environmental testing to get approval to fly these antenna systems.
Noting the international effort for this success, Frank continued, "I would like to thank Gaston Bertels, ON4WF for his outstanding leadership on this project and Dr. Pawel Kabacik at the Wroclaw University of Technology in Poland for his efforts in the antenna design and testing. And I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all those who contributed to this project through their volunteer efforts, financial contributions and/or in-kind contributions. YOU helped us develop, test and fly these antennas."
For more information on the ARISS antennas, see: http://www.ariss-eu.org/
ARISS Observes SuitSat-1 Anniversary
In marking the 2nd anniversary of the deployment of SuitSat-1 /Radioskaf/AO-54 from the ISS this week, Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, ARISS International Chairman, and AMSAT-NA V.P. for Human Spaceflight Programs said, "I want to take this opportunity to thank all the volunteers around the world that supported the SuitSat-1 development, deployment, public outreach and ground station reception." Frank said the SuitSat certificates have been mailed as of this past week.
2008 brings new opportunities to you, the hams interested in ARISS, which includes:
- Plans to commemorate the 25th anniversary of human spaceflight ham radio operation: the flight of Owen Garriott, W5LFL on the space shuttle Columbia, STS-9 in 1983.
- A team of dedicated amateur radio operators is working to bring SuitSat-2 to reality. At this point in time, it is not clear when it will be deployed, but we are working feverishly to have it ready for deployment before the end of the year.
- We expect to have significant ARISS crew amateur radio participation starting in the October 2008 timeframe with the launch of the Expedition 18 crew and Soyuz taxi flight.
Frank wraps up with, "I thank all of you for your interest in ARISS. This program is truly inspirational for students, the ham radio community, and the communities surrounding the schools that have been touched by the 334 (to date) school contacts conducted since December 2001."
Updated: 09 Feb, 08
|
|
|
Become a Member sign up or renew your
membership online |
|
AMSAT President's Club
Support Eagle and receive
exciting membership benefits |
|
2007 AMSAT Symposium
Join the AMSAT Community
at the 2007 AMSAT Symposium |
|
New to Satellites?
Articles geared for new
satellite users |
|
Tools
Keplerian elements, pass
predictions and software |
|
Dayton Hamvention
AMSAT at this years
Dayton Hamvention |
|
|
Satellite Information
status, frequencies
and satellite history |
|
Calendar of Events
View a list of events in your
local area |
|
AMSAT Video News
Video coverage of AMSAT
events and activities |
|
News from ANS
the latest news from ANS,
articles in the archive |
|
Get Answers
glossary, articles, FAQs
and Area Coordinators |
|
Become a Volunteer volunteer survey, and the
Volunteer Reporting System |
|
ARISS
the latest about the
International Space Station |
|
Mail Services
Information about AMSAT
mail and list services |
|
Awards and Contests
rules, applications
and winners |
|
The AMSAT Store Look cool while showing
your support for AMSAT |
NASA Image of the Day |
Spider Crater, Western Australia A giant arachnid sprawls across the arid landscape of western Australia's Kimberley Region of northern Western Australia, surprising satellite sensors and airplane passengers alike |
|
|
For the latest news visit the ANS section of AMSAT.org
|
|