Italy-OSCAR-26
Satellite Summary
Name: Italy-OSCAR-26 aka ITAMSAT
NASA Catalog Number: 22826
Callsign: ITMSAT
Launched: September 26, 1993
Launch vehicle: Ariane 4
Launch location: Kourou, French Guiana
Weight: 11.2 kg.
Orbit: Polar LEO (Low Earth Orbit), 823 x 799 km
Inclination: 98.6 degrees
Size: 150 x 150 x 150 mm
Period: 100 Minutes
Digital Transponder - Mode JD
- Uplinks: 1200 bps Manchester
- 145.875 MHz
- 145.900 MHz
- 145.925 MHz
- 145.950 MHz
- Downlinks: 1200 bps BPSK
- 437.822 MHz (Secondary - Presently in use)
- 435.867 MHz (Primary - Degraded from failure to balanced modulator)
Features:
Description
ITAMSAT was one of three amateur satellites that was launched together on a Arianne V59 rocket from French Guiana at approximately 0147 UTC, 26 September 1993. It was later designated Italy-OSCAR-26 once in orbit. The other two amateur spacecraft were KITSAT-OSCAR-25
(KO-25) and AMRAD-OSCAR-27
(AO-27) (aka Eyesat-A).
IO-26 was built by AMSAT-ITALY. Its mission is to store and forward amateur radio messages like AO-16, LO-19, UO-22, KO-23 and KO-25. IO-26's operation is identical to AO-16 and LO-19.
The ITAMSAT Command Team can be contacted via internet: Alberto Zagni, I2KBD, i2kbd@amsat.org or Luca Bertagnolio, IK2OVV, ik2ovv@amsat.org or on Compuserve HAMNET.
ITAMSAT IO-26 Home Page
As with any major undertaking, there are many people involved in building a satellite. ITAMSAT is a labor of love: the love of amateur radio as a hobby and the love of research and exploration. Read here as I2KBD thanks the IO-26 team.
References
- John Hansen, "New Satellites in Orbit,"The AMSAT Journal, Vol. 16, No. 5, Sep/Oct 1993, p. 1.
- Steve Ford, "Two More PACSATS!,"QST, Oct 1993, p. 98.
- Mike Crisler, PACSAT Beginner's Guide, AMSAT
Last update May 31, 2003 - N7HPR