SPROUT microsatellite to launch 0305UTC May 24th with SSTV and digitalker

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SPROUT is a 7.1 kg microsatellite set to launch on the JAXA ALOS-2 mission on May 24th at 0305 UTC from Tanegashima Space Center, Japan to a 654km sun synchronous orbit. Watch the launch live at http://global.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/alos2/index.html

This satellite is a project of Nihon University and will include some interesting amateur radio payloads and experiments, including CW telemetry, an FM digipeater, digitalker and message box, and live and preloaded SSTV pictures! Nihon University enjoyed previous success with SEEDS-II, aka CO-66.

Courtesy Nihon-Univ. Miyazaki Laboratory Facebook Page
Courtesy Nihon-Univ. Miyazaki Laboratory Facebook Page

SPROUT will operate CW and 1200 bps AFSK or 9600 GMSK mission telemetry on 437.525 MHz. Digitalker and SSTV downlink will be on 437.600 MHz FM.

Telemetry software can be found at http://sat.aero.cst.nihon-u.ac.jp/sprout-e/2-Software-e.html

JE9PEL has posted preliminary Keplerian elements at http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/jaxalos2.htm

SPROUT
1 00000U 14001A   14144.15426352  .00000000  00000-0  00000-0 0    10
2 00000 097.8740 241.6133 0035980 058.6810 194.6458 14.85960816    15

SPROUT information can be found at http://sat.aero.cst.nihon-u.ac.jp/sprout-e/

Nihon University Miyazaki Laboratory page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nihon-Univ-Miyazaki-Laboratory/406566642818860

 

Fox-1 launch update

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The following is excerpted from the Apogee View column of AMSAT President Barry Baines, WD4ASW, as published in the latest AMSAT Journal:

Grace L-55 will launch on a similar Atlas V
Grace L-55 will launch on a similar Atlas V

The launch of Grace/L55 from Vandenberg AFB is slipping from December 2014 into Summer 2015 due to governmental priorities. Fox-1 is currently manifested on that launch as part of the ELaNa-12 group of satellites. Instead of launching our vehicle in December, another launch vehicle with payload is taking precedence, forcing a reschedule of ELaNa-12. Currently, we are now scheduled to fly on 1 AUG 2015 rather than December 2014.

This delay is mixed news for AMSAT. While we are disappointed that this will mean that Fox-1 will not fly in 2014, it also means that we have more time to complete and test the spacecraft prior to delivery to SRI. In the overall scheme of things, it allows AMSAT to have greater confidence in the delivery of a thoroughly tested spacecraft by taking more time to allow for unforeseen contingencies and to do the ground testing.

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