Svalbard QO-100 Satellite DXpedition

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The very first Svalbard QO-100 Satellite DX-Pedition will take place 22-24 April 2022 from Kapp Linné – Isfjord Radio at 78° North.

They will operate two QO-100 satellite stations under the callsigns JW0W and JW100QO, while JW0X will be used by another team for contacts on shortwave.

With QO-100 only 3° above the horizon, Kap Linné was the only suitable place in the area with Svalbard at the edge of the satellite footprint. Looking for a suitable location to stay and getting there, is one of the biggest challenges and cost drivers for the team.

More information - https://amsat-dl.org/en/svalbard-qo-100-satellite-dx-pedition/

CAMSAT XW-3 (CAS-9) is Designated Hope-OSCAR-113 (HO-113)

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CAMSAT XW-3 (CAS-9) is Designated Hope-OSCAR-113 (HO-113)

At the request of the Chinese Amateur Satellite Group (CAMSAT), AMSAT Vice President of Operations Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, has announced the designation of the new Chinese XW-3 (CAS-9) satellite as Hope-OSCAR-113 (HO-113).

Developed by CAMSAT, in cooperation with the Chinese government’s aerospace and education departments, XW-3 was launched on 26th December 2021 at 0311 UTC on a CZ-4C Y39 vehicle from China’s Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center.

CAMSAT completed the design and manufacture of the amateur radio payload and manages the satellite’s in-orbit operation. Alan Kung, BA1DU, of CAMSAT announced the successful launch, and reports of telemetry and contacts soon followed. XW-3 has a linear transponder and a camera that can take photos of Earth.

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World’s Smallest Moon Lander will Put Ham Radio Transmitter on the Moon

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World’s Smallest Moon Lander will Put Ham Radio Transmitter on the Moon

Japan’s OMOTENASHI, the world’s smallest moon lander, will have an X-band and UHF communication system, although it will not carry an amateur band transponder. OMOTENASHI is a 6U CubeSat set for launch via a NASA SLS rocket as early as February 2022. It will have a mission period of from 4 to 5 days. The name is an acronym for Outstanding Moon Exploration Technologies demonstrated by Nano Semi-Hard Impactor. Wataru Torii of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Ham Radio Club, JQ1ZVI, said radio amateurs can play a role in gathering data from the spacecraft.

The spacecraft is made up of two separable components, both having independent communication systems — an orbiting module and a surface probe. The orbiting module will take the surface probe to the moon. It will transmit beacon or digital telemetry data on UHF (437.31 MHz). The surface probe — the moon lander — will transmit digital telemetry or three-axis acceleration analog-wave with FM modulation on UHF (437.41 MHz). Transmitter power will be 1 W in both cases.

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