China's DSLWP-A1/A2 Moon Data Transmission

China is planning to launch the Chang’e 4 lander and rover which is slated to land on the far side of the moon in December. The lander configuration will use a relay satellite for a control and data link with Earth.

Also aboard this flight will be a pair of microsatellites, DSLWP-A1 and DSLWP-A2, which will test low-frequency radio astronomy and space-based interferometry. These two lunar orbiting satellites developed by students at the Harbin Institute of Technology will include educational and amateur radio payloads (but not a transponder).

The Amateur Radio payload on DSLWP-A1 will provide a telecommand uplink and a telemetry and digital image downlink. Radio amateurs will be able to transmit commands that allow them to send commands to take and download an image.

The IARU has coordinated downlinks on 435.425 MHz and 436.425 MHz for A1.
Downlinks have been coordinated for A2 are 435.400 MHz and 436.400 MHz using 10K0F1DCN or 10K0F1DEN (10-kHz wide FM single-channel data) 250 bps GMSK with concatenated codes or JT65B.

A1 and A2 will be deployed into a 200 × 9,000 kilometre lunar orbit. The 50 × 50 × 40 centimeter spacecrafts each weigh about 45 kilograms and are three-axis stabilized. Two linear polarization antennas are mounted along and normal to the flight direction.

The satellites will use the moon to shield them from radio emissions from Earth for the long wavelength space-based interferometry experiments.

The launch is anticipated for May or June on a CZ-4C vehicle, putting the satellites’ deployment about 6 months ahead of the launch of the Chang’e 4 lander and rover.
 

Amateur Transponder Satellites For Next NASA launch

NASA have selected GOLF-TEE and GOLF-1 as the next satellites to be added to the payload of there next launch, as part of the NASA’s CubeSat launch initiative.

Announced during the ninth round of selections for the CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI). The first two AMSAT GOLF CubeSats, GOLF-TEE and GOLF-1, were among the 21 missions recommended for selection.

AMSAT must negotiate and execute a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with NASA for each project to finalise the selection. NASA anticipates a sufficient number of launch opportunities but does not guarantee that all recommended payloads will be launched.

GOLF-TEE (Technology Evaluation Environment) will serve as a rapidly deployable Low Earth Orbit (LEO) testbed for technologies necessary for a successful CubeSat mission to a wide variety of orbits.

“The GOLF-TEE project tees off the next phase of our CubeSat program. GOLF-TEE provides AMSAT hardware and knowledge for Attitude Determination and Control (ADAC) capability and the opportunity to develop a 3U spaceframe with deployable solar panels that can be used in LEO or HEO missions, two of the major systems required in future GOLF and HEO missions. Ragnarok Industries developed the attitude control system for the Lunar Heimdallr 6U CubeSat, a NASA Cube Quest Challenge finalist.”

— AMSAT Vice-President Engineering Jerry Buxton, N0JY

GOLF-TEE and the GOLF program will provide for the development of “Five and Dime” Field-Programmable Gate Array Software Defined Radio (FPGA SDR) transponders for use on a variety of missions and orbits. The target date for launch of GOLF-TEE is 4Q 2019.

GOLF-1 will serve as a follow-on mission, also to LEO. Launch is targeted for 2020-2021.

AMSAT Story - https://www.amsat.org/golf-tee-and-golf-1-selected-for-nasas-cubesat-launch-initiative/

Argentinian Balloon Flight Completes 2nd Round World

The El PicoGlobo WSPR beacon balloon has now completed its 2nd lap around the world.

After its 2nd crossing of the Pacific Ocean, the balloon flew over Patagonia, then headed north at 12,000 metres altitude to Buenos Aires during the night of 11th February 2018.

On 12th February 2018 it flew over Uruguay then turned east out over the Atlantic Ocean to begin its 3rd circle of the Earth.

PicoGlobo transmits a WSPR beacon on 14.0956 MHz.

Flight Progress - http://lu7aa.org.ar/wspr.asp