DSLWP Satellite Amateur Radio System

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Radio amateurs at the Harbin Institute of Technology (BY2HIT) are working on two micro satellites that are expected to be launched into a Lunar orbit in 2018

DSLWP is a lunar formation flying mission for low frequency (1-30 MHz) radio astronomy, amateur radio and education, consists of two microsatellites. As a part of the Change 4 mission, the satellites will be launched into a lunar elliptical orbit in 2018.

The amateur radio station on board DSLWP-A1 will provide telecommand uplink and telemetry / digital image downlink. An open telecommand is also designed to allow amateurs to send commands to take and download an image.

The satellites have a volume of about 50x50x40 cm3 and a mass of about 45 kg. Planning DSLWP-A1 downlinks on 435.425 MHz and 436.425 MHz and DSLWP-A2 downlinks on 435.400 MHz and 436.400 MHz.

A JT65B beacon is planned.

First CubeSat from Chile

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Last month, Chile launched their first CubeSat from a base in India.

Details

Beacon Frequency : 437.225 MHz
Mode : CW
Speed : 20 wpm
Periodicity : 60 seconds
Message : 00SUCHAI0 + TELEMETRY (variable length)

CW beacon telemetry consists of four different frames with information of main subsystems.

Telemetry

Frequency : 437.225 MHz
Mode : FM (MSK)
Baudrate : 1200 bps

The Chilean CubeSat group would appreciate any reports in the following formats

  1. If you recorded the audio file (for beacon or telemetry)
    Submit an email to spel@ing.uchile.cl with the file using the following subject format
    <Date> - <Time (UTC)> - <Callsign or Name>

    Example
    2017/06/23 - 11:58:26 - CA3SBE
    In the body of the email you can add optional information like your location (Country, City or Latitude and Longitude) and the equipment that you are using to receive the signal.
  2. If you decoded the beacon see links to send reports, Guide to decode beacon etc here http://spel.ing.uchile.cl/suchai.html
    The preliminary TLE file can be found at the following link. We will update this file as soon as the launcher provide us with new information - http://spel.ing.uchile.cl/20170619-suchai.tle

More info and videos (Spanish) - http://ea1uro.com/radio/satchile/

 

Join the New Zealand CubeSAT Race

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AMSAT_ZL has reached a staging point in the development of their satellite project, KiwiSAT.

The exciting KiwiSAT project, to create and launch a New Zealand produced satellite, started several years back.

Right when the work was well advanced but based on the USA standards and criteria. Suddenly the development was back to square one due to political changes, requiring redesign of almost everything.

The KiwiSAT Team met that challenge and has produced a fine unit ready to launch. Then came another set-back. Our critically important Leader of the KiwiSAT Engineering Team, Fred Kennedy ZL1BYP, was struck down and driven to endure many months of medical procedures. This has have left him unable to continue his important work.

AMSAT-ZL is looking both to its members and to the general New Zealand amateur radio population for a coordinator to join the team and lead the project through this final stage.

Needed is a volunteer “Orbit Insertion Team” consisting of a Launch Co-ordinator and as many assistants as he/she requires to undertake the task of securing a launch for KiwiSAT. This new team will also take over Fred Kennedy’s leadership responsibilities. In parallel, the established KiwiSAT engineering team will continue their involvement, giving support along the way.

Much of the new team’s work will be organisational rather than hands-on engineering. Involved is arranging final environmental testing of KiwiSAT, identifying and negotiating a launch, attending the launch and attending to funding for this final phase. Basic planning is complete, we need action.

Other tasks will undoubtedly crop up however it is envisaged that the current team will ensure the preparation of KiwiSAT to full flight status is completed.

KiwiSAT by AMSAT-ZL - http://www.kiwisat.org.nz/