Orbital launches Cygnus resupply to ISS on Antares rocket, carries new amateur radio satellites

Several new amateur radio satellites were sent to the ISS on the first Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) Cygnus mission from Wallops Island at 18:07UTC January 9th, 2014.

These satellites will be deployed from ISS over the coming weeks, using the NanoRacks CubeSat Deployer from the airlock on the Kibo module of the station. Check back for the deployment announcement.

Perhaps of most interest to radio amateurs are Lithuania’s first satellites, LituanicaSAT-1 and LitSat-1.

LituanicaSAT-1 carries an FM repeater with a 145.950 MHz uplink and 435.180 MHz downlink, a 9600 baud AX25 packet system with a 145.850 MHz uplink and 437.550 MHz downlink, and a CW beacon on 437.275 MHz. Detailed information may be found at http://www.kosmonautai.lt/en/satellite/

LitSat-1 carries a linear transponder of unknown bandwidth and with a reported uplink of 435.180 MHz and downlink of 145.950 MHz, a AX25 packet system with a 437.550 MHz uplink and 145.850 MHz downlink. Limited additional information can be found http://www.amsatuk.me.uk/iaru/finished_detail.php?serialnum=300 and http://www.space-lt.eu/journeyof-thefirstlithuanian-satellites74326-1-541.html#apacia .

UAPSAT is Peru’s third satellite, and will transmit AX25 packet telemetry and an audio message on 145.980 MHz. It is unclear whether there will be a two-way capability. Additional information via Google Translate at http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://www.uapsat.info/&prev=/search%3Fq%3Duapsat%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26hs%3DGt9%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official