[amsat-bb] New Satellites

[Emily Clarke <w0eec@xxxxxxxxx>]

I have been ( in the normal course of volunteering to maintain the 
AMSAT website ) researching many amateur satellite programs.  Most 
are Cubesat programmes and I want share some information.

First, I'd like to applaud the many academic teams building and 
launching Cubesats.  These programs provide valuable training and 
inspiration to everyone who endeavours to launch a satellite in the 
amateur satellite program.  Unfortunately I cannot list them all here 
as at last count there are 23 waiting launch and many others under 
construction. Most are listed on the AMSAT website and if your team 
isn't listed let me know about it!

[On a personal note]

I also want to share some additional projects that are up and 
coming.  These include:
   ALMASAT - a project of the University of Bologna
   BLUESAT - a project of the University of New South Wales
   ZASAT - a joint project of AMSAT Southern Africa and the 
University of Stellenbosch- the folks to brought you SunSat
   KiwiSAT - a project of AMSAT-ZL

I hope everyone will take the time to research these projects and 
learn how they support Amateur Radio and the Amateur Satellite 
Service. P3E and Eagle need your support, but please consider 
learning about these other fine projects and lending support to them 
if you can.  My personal remarks follow.

I would encourage fans of SSB/CW satellites to take note of 
KiwiSat.  KiwiSat is being built by a small group of ham radio 
operators in New Zealand, building the type of satellite I hear 
everyone pine over - a linear transponder.  If you like AO-7, FO-29 
or VO-52, KiwiSat needs your support.

ZASAT will probably bring as much excitement to amateur radio as 
SunSat did - which was a lot!  I wasn't around for SunSat so using a 
Parrot repeater is going to be very exciting for me and many new 
hams.  The "user oriented" access by CTCSS proposed by the ZASAT team 
is very exciting!

ALMASat is an excellent satellite from the University of Bologna and 
is doing some very interesting experiments.  Many of these are 
similar to what we have come to expect in an amateur satellite, but 
many others are unique and important to our mission.  They have some 
very exciting stabilization techniques, and are also experimenting 
with a re-entry concept.  ALMASat is a;ready complete and waiting for 
a launch date (as are many projects) but look forward to some 
exciting times when this satellite gets launched.  I am sure the team 
would welcome your support.

BLUESAT is based on the original AMSAT Microsat platform but with 
improvements.  If you liked AO-16, you will love BLUESAT.

I encourage everyone to research these exciting projects on their 
own, and contribute to the projects you feel support your vision of 
what the amateur satellite programme should be.  I will - I hope you will too.

[end of personal remarks.]

Congratulations to the teams who are working hard to launch amateur 
satellites. Thank you for continuing the spirit of the amateur 
satellite programme.

Sincerely,

Emily (N1DID)

PS - Remarks are my own, not as a representative of the AMSAT Board 
of Directors.

---------------------------------
N1DID formerly W0EEC - CM87tm

Donate to AMSAT at http://www.amsat-na.com/donation.php
Support Project OSCAR - http://www.projectoscar.net
Personal Website - http://www.PlanetEmily.com
----
Sent via amsat-bb@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Not an AMSAT member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe amsat-bb" to Majordomo@amsat.org