Help AMSAT to Fly Fox-1: Solar Panel Campaign Begins
As AMSAT embarks on the Fox-1 Project, here is an opportunity to literally put your callsign on the Fox hardware. AMSAT is looking for major donations to help underwrite the cost of solar cells/panels, one of the more significant expenses of the project. These solar cells are needed for the flight unit as well as for the flight spare. As Fox-1 will have solar cells on all six sides of the spacecraft and given the relatively small surface area available on each side (at most 4" by 4" per side), AMSAT will invest in high efficiency solar cells to gain as much power as possible to operate the spacecraft.
To protect the installed solar panels prior to launch, a lexan cover for each side will be fabricated and mounted to protect the cells. Prior to placement of the flight spacecraft into the P-Pod that will house the cubesats on the launch vehicle, the lexan covers will be removed.
"Friends of Fox" are encouraged to consider several levels of funding support:
Donate $1,000 to support purchase of one panel that will cover one side of the spacecraft.
Donate $6,500 to support the purchase of six sets of solar panels to cover the entire spacecraft.
Donors who contribute at these levels will have their callsign etched on the lexan cover protecting solar panels of the flight unit and the flight spare. Following the launch of Fox-1, donors will receive the lexan solar panel cover with their callsign for 'their' solar panel mounted on a plaque commemorating their contribution to the Fox-1 project and highlighting the purpose of the lexan cover. A letter of authenticity will be provided attesting to the use of the lexan cover to help protect the solar panels.
Other potential donor levels are also available:
Donate $500 for one solar cell (two cells make up a 'panel' on one side of the spacecraft).
Donate $250 for one-half of a solar cell (one-quarter of the solar panel for one side of the spacecraft.
Donors contributing at these levels will receive a letter affirming their contribution, including specifying which side of the spacecraft 'their' cells are located.
If you're interested in supporting AMSAT's need to purchase solar cells, please return the Fox-1 fundraising form sent to members. We expect significant interest so make your donation NOW to take full advantage of this donation opportunity. Several opportunities to make your donation to keep amateur radio in space include:
Return the form sent with the letter to reply with your donation for the Fox-1 Project.
All donations over $40 will receive a Fox pin.
Donations of $120 or more qualify you for AMSAT President's Club
Call Martha at the AMSAT Office +1-888-FB AMSAT (1-888-322-6728)
Fox-1 is designed for longer operational life with these features:
Fox-1 is designed to operate in sunlight without batteries once the battery system fails. This applies lessons learned from AO-51 and ARISSat-1 operations.
In case of IHU failure Fox-1 will continue to operate its FM repeater in a basic, 'zombie sat' mode, so that the repeater remains on-the-air.
Fox-1 is designed as the immediate replacement for AO-51. Its U/V (Mode B) transponder will make it even easier to work with modest equipment.
From the ground user's perspective, the same FM amateur radio equipment used for AO-51 may be used for Fox-1.
Extending the design, Fox-2 will benefit from the development work of Fox-1 by adding more sophisticated power management and Software Defined Transponder (SDX) communications systems.
AMSAT Submits Proposal for NASA ELaNa CubeSat Launch Initiative for Fox-1
On November 15, AMSAT submitted a proposal to NASA for their CubeSat Launch Initiative, also known as the "Educational Launch of NanoSat" (ELaNa) program. NASA selects projects that they deem to have merit in support of their strategic and educational goals. Projects that are selected will be able to enter into a collaboration agreement where NASA will cover the integration and launch costs of the satellite.
AMSAT, working with ARRL, highlighted the educational merit of the project including the incorporation of Fox-1 into the ARRL Teacher Institute seminars. ARRL also provided a letter of support for the project that was a key component of our proposal.
The Clay Center for Science and Technology at the Dexter and Southfield schools in Brookline, MA, also provided a letter of support that was an important part of our proposal. The Clay Center noted that they use AMSAT satellites such as ARISSat-1 in their educational activities for K-12 students and that they look forward to making use of Fox-1.
The completed proposal, at 159 total pages, required a significant effort that was all done by volunteers. NASA will select from all of the submissions and announce the winning projects by January 30, 2012. ARISSat-1/KEDR Goes Silent, Re-enters atmosphere on January 4, 2012, read more ... Read the latest news of AO-51 End of Mission on the AO-51 Control Team page. An article written by Andreas Bilsing, DL2LUX, "OSCAR-1 Launched 50 Years Ago", first published in the German magazine Funkamateur, has been translated into English and posted on the ARRL Space Communication page. Celebrating 50th Anniversary of OSCAR 1 Launch: A copy of the OSCAR 1 slides used at AMSAT's display during Space Day at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. can be downloaded here. (pdf ~5MB) A copy of the annual President's Report from the 2011 AMSAT Symposium and General Meeting is available here.
Updated: 24 Jan, 12
SKN On OSCAR 2012 Best Fist Winners
Many thanks to all who participated in AMSAT's Straight Key Night on OSCAR 2012, held in memory of Don Brown, W1JSM. Activity was down this year, owing largely to there being only two satellites available for use: AMSAT-OSCAR 7 -- which remained in Mode A throughout the event -- and VUSAT-OSCAR 52.
Eight participants each received at least one Best Fist nomination: AA5PK, N4ZQ, N6EV, WA6ARA, WB2SIH, WB4LHD, WB8TGY, and WC7V.
Congratulations to 2012's Best Fist winners, and we'll see you in 2013!
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As AMSAT embarks on the Fox-1 Project, here is an opportunity to literally put your callsign on the Fox hardware. AMSAT is looking for major donations to help underwrite the cost of solar cells/panels, one of the more significant expenses of the project. These solar cells are needed for the flight unit as well as for the flight spare. As Fox-1 will have solar cells on all six sides of the spacecraft and given the relatively small surface area available on each side (at most 4" by 4" per side), AMSAT will invest in high efficiency solar cells to gain as much power as possible to operate the spacecraft..jpg)
On November 15, AMSAT submitted a proposal to NASA for their CubeSat Launch Initiative, also known as the "Educational Launch of NanoSat" (ELaNa) program. NASA selects projects that they deem to have merit in support of their strategic and educational goals. Projects that are selected will be able to enter into a collaboration agreement where NASA will cover the integration and launch costs of the satellite..jpg){kind=small}
Many thanks to all who participated in AMSAT's Straight Key Night on OSCAR 2012, held in memory of Don Brown, W1JSM. Activity was down this year, owing largely to there being only two satellites available for use: AMSAT-OSCAR 7 -- which remained in Mode A throughout the event -- and VUSAT-OSCAR 52.
