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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: 21 Oct, 09 |
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AMSAT-NA Leadership for 2009-2010The AMSAT Board of Directors elected the following Senior Officers at their meeting October 8, 2009 in Baltimore, Maryland:
President, Barry Baines, WD4ASW
Secretary, Alan Biddle, WA4SCA
Treasurer, Gunther Meisse, W8GSM
Manager, Martha Saragovitz
Vice President of Engineering, Tony Monteiro, AA2TX
Vice President of Operations, Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA
Vice President of User Services, Gould Smith, WA4SXM
These posts remain open at this time:
Executive Vice President
Vice President Human Spaceflight
Vice President Marketing
The Board of Directors includes:
| For Terms Expiring in 2010 |
For Terms Expiring in 2011 |
| Tom Clark, K3IO |
Barry Baines, WD4ASW |
| Gould Smith, WA4SXM |
Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA |
| Lou McFadin, W5DID |
Bill Ress, N6GHZ |
| Tony Monteiro, AA2TX (Alternate) |
Alan Biddle, WA4SCA |
Updated: 13 Oct, 09
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| NASA Image of the Day |
Test Stand A-2 Peering Out from the Fog
At Stennis Space Center, three large engine test stands were built the early 1960s to test the first and second stages of the Apollo Saturn V rocket that carried Americans to the moon. Since 1975, the test stands have supported testing of the Space Shuttle main engines. The last planned test was conducted in July of 2009. In this photo, the A-2 Test Stand peered out from a thick blanket of fog during the early morning hours of Oct. 28, 2009. This photo was taken from the top of the B Test Stand. The A-1 and A-2 test stands are transitioning to support J-2X engine testing for the Constellation Program, while the B-1/B-2 test stand will support stage testing. For the first time since the 1960s, a new test stand, called A-3, is under construction with a scheduled completion date of 2011. The A-3 test stand will be 300 feet tall and will enable engineers to conduct simulated high-altitude testing up to 100,000 feet. Photo Credit: NASA/SSC/Allen Forsman, Pratt and Whitney Rocketdyne |
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