Re: [amsat-bb] Small Satellite Tracker Project?

[rwmcgwier@xxxxxxxxxxx]

I just don't understand this at all.  If the beam-pencil is narrow enough AND 
STABLE ENOUGH to allow you to use it pinpoint your satellite location,  which century will I have to wait for until my satellite flies through the beam?
If the beam is steerable, we will have to have a classified connection to
radar control center to be allow to get the current pointing vector.

What am I missing?

Bob
N4HY
> AMSAT Project Opportunity:
> 
> Tracking the position of tiny Amateur satellites (cubesats) 
> down to a few seconds in their orbit can be easily done
> using the technique we propose on our RAFT cubesat.
> 
> Using a simple direct-conversion receiver at 216.98 MHz
> (the frequency of the 80 megawatt ERP Naval Space Radar), 
> an audio-ping will be heard whenever the satellite flies through 
> the very narrow 0.2 degree fan beam over Texas.  The ping
> lasts on the order of a second, but it nails your position quite 
> accurately.  You command it on for a few seconds in your 
> satellites downlink whenever you want to find your satellite 
> over the southern USA.
> 
> We think we can build these things about the size of a book
> of paper matches.  Just a 216.98 MHz local oscillator and
> an NE602 mixer should do it?
> 
> Does anyone want to help us develop this device for our 
> RAFT satellite to fly next year?  This will also possibly help
> other Amateur Projects as well.  A good volunteer project...
> 
> See the project http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/raft.html
> 
> Remember, the NSSS Radar fence is 80 Mwatts, so 
> this thing does not need to be sensitive... nor have its
> own antenna even...  Thus it will fit nicely on just about any
> amateur satellite if you are worried about losing it...
> 
> de WB4APR, Bob
> 
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