 |
About AMSAT
the leadership, our mission,
activities and programs |
| Quick Access to Project Pages: AO-51 Eagle P3E Namaste (Ground station) |
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 |
|
ARISSat-1 Development Team Meets in PhoenixMany of the ARISSat team met in Phoenix over the weekend of October 23-25 to work on software integration, to assemble the spaceframe and to make final measurements for the new cables. The team put in long hours at the Microchip facility where a number of new milestones were met.
- The satellite was commanded via a radio.
- New PSU (power supply unit) board was tested in the system.
- New ICU (Interconnect board) was tested in the system.
- New MPPT (Max Power Point Tracker) boards were tested with solar panels.
- New solar panel test structure was built and used to test the power system.
- The new 1k BPSK error correcting data was transmitted and received.
- New telemetry data was transmitted.
- Received data from the Russian experiment simulator and transmitted it.
- Basic spaceframe was constructed.
- The US made Ag-Zn battery was assembled and activated and will be available for testing.
The team is working hard to get the satellite completely operational by early Dec 2009, when in-depth system testing will begin. A NASA Safety Briefing for ARISSat-1 was held on Thursday 22 Oct 2009. The team was well prepared and only have a few items to provide additional descriptions for at the next safety review in December 2009.Updated: 09 Nov, 09
|
|
|
Become a Member
sign up or renew your
membership online |
 |
AMSAT President's Club
Support Eagle and receive
exciting membership benefits |
 |
2009 AMSAT Symposium
Join the AMSAT Community
at the 2009 AMSAT Symposium |
|
New to Satellites?
Articles geared for new
satellite users |
|
Tools
Keplerian elements, pass
predictions and software |
|
|
Dayton Hamvention
AMSAT at this years
Dayton Hamvention |
 |
 |
Satellite Information
status, frequencies
and satellite history |
 |
Calendar of Events
View a list of events in your
local area |
 |
AMSAT Video News
Video coverage of AMSAT
events and activities |
 |
News from ANS
the latest news from ANS,
articles in the archive |
 |
Get Answers
glossary, articles, FAQs
and Area Coordinators |
 |
Become a Volunteer
volunteer survey, and the
Volunteer Reporting System |
 |
ARISS
the latest about the
International Space Station |
 |
Mail Services
Information about AMSAT
mail and list services |
 |
Awards and Contests
rules, applications
and winners |
 |
The AMSAT Store
Look cool while showing
your support for AMSAT |
| NASA Image of the Day |
Robert Satcher's Self-Portrait
Astronaut Robert Satcher uses a digital still camera to expose take a self-portrait during the STS-129 mission's first spacewalk. During the six-hour, 37-minute spacewalk, Satcher and astronaut Mike Foreman installed a spare S-band antenna structural assembly to the Z1 segment of the station's truss, or backbone. Satcher and Foreman also installed a set of cables for a future space-to-ground antenna on the Destiny laboratory and replaced a handrail on the Unity node with a new bracket used to route an ammonia cable that will be needed for the Tranquility node when it is delivered next year. The two spacewalkers also repositioned a cable connector on Unity, checked S0 truss cable connections and lubricated latching snares on the Kibo robotic arm and the station's mobile base system. Image Credit: NASA |
|
|
|
For the latest news visit the ANS section of AMSAT.org
|
