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New Ham Antenna Installed on the ISS Columbus ModuleARISS US Hardware Manager Lou McFadin, W5DID says that all the teamwork and effort to expand the ARISS amateur radio station aboard the ISS were successful on November 21 when the new dual band 2m/70cm antenna was installed on the outside of ESA's Columbus module.
Lou congratulated the team, "This is an example of what can be achieved by volunteer hams working closely with a space agency. This antenna project was funded entirely by AMSAT-NA and volunteers who built the antennas for both an ESA experiment and for ARISS. I am very proud of all the teamwork and effort that has gone into this project."
The new ARISS antenna is very similar to the antennas already on the Russian service module. Now that the antennas are in place the ARISS team will be working to bring amateur radio to the Columbus module.
In conclusion Lou noted the tremendous contribution from ESA for the experiment, the launch and the EVA making this expansion of amateur radio aboard the ISS possible. Updated: 23 Nov, 09 |
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News From The AMSAT 2009 Space SymposiumHere are the top stories from AMSAT's Space Symposium
AMSAT Says "We're Going Back to Space"
The Board of Directors has adopted the Engineering Task Force recommendation that low-cost launch options be immediately pursued. The AMSAT engineering team will develop a 1U CubeSat design effective immediately. Tony Monteiro, AA2TX, Vice-President of Engineering said, "We are recommending an approach that gets AMSAT back up in space with new satellites by leveraging the skills and technology we have today."
The new AMSAT CubeSat's initial capability is planned to add to the popular low-earth orbit FM transponder fleet allowing hams to continue to use their existing handheld and portable antenna systems. This also continues the accessible entry path for new satellite operators to get started. The existing FM satellites are starting to show their age.
The flight version of ARISSat-1 has been developed to be adaptable into the CubeSat model. This will allow a modular approach to mission design using proven subsystems and components. The ARISSat-1 mission planned in 2010 will be the initial flight test of AMSAT's modular satellite.
Here are some of the highlights ...
- AMSAT will develop comparable AO-51 level of performance packaged into a 1U CubeSat. This includes a U-V transponder, V telemetry, U command receiver, IHU, power control. This can be done with our modular design.
- This will be a U/V FM Transponder, not done before in a 1U CubeSat, which can be worked with a HT and a simple antenna. CubeSat power limitations are planned to be addressed through research and development of deployable solar-cells.
- AMSAT will make our open-design satellite modules and technology available for other satellite teams to build into their missions.
- This new approach will provide a reliable radio link for future CubeSats allowing university teams to concentrate on their scientific objectives.
- The modular nature of the AMSAT CubeSat system will allow add-on missions utilizing several different types of modulation and bandwidth. These can be pursued with future low-cost CubeSat launch opportunities.
Key University Space Projects Under Development
Barry Baines, WD4ASW, AMSAT President reported at the Annual Meeting that the Board of Directors has agreed to participate in two exciting University-based cooperative programs.
- First, AMSAT is having serious discussions with the University of Florida, Gainesville to locate the AMSAT Lab on campus. This will put our lab in a state of the art engineering facility. This is also the home of the UF SwampSat CubeSat development team.
- The Board of Directors has agreed to partner with SUNY-Binghamton and the IBM Systems Engineering Integration Center to mentor senior level engineering students for the development of the NextGen CubeSat as their 'capstone' engineering project. Projects at SUNY-Binghamton are planned to initially address the development of deployable solar cells and super capacitor power systems.
Watch for evolving details of these exciting developments in the AMSAT Journal!
New drawings of ARISSat-1 View
Updated: 23 Nov, 09
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| NASA Image of the Day |
A Different View
On flight day four of the STS-129 mission, a member of the crew photographed the aft section of space shuttle Atlantis through a window from aboard the International Space Station. Reflections on the window are visible in this image. The 11-day shuttle mission continued maintenance and upgrades to the orbital outpost. Image Credit: NASA |
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