| |
WG3K > ANS 02.03.25 02:34l 61 Lines 3238 Bytes #999 (0) @ AMSAT
BID : ANS061.1
Read: DJ6UX
Subj: Amateur Satellites Scheduled for Launch This Week
Path: DB0FHN<DB0RKB<DK0WUE<PI8ZTM<CX2SA<N3HYM<WG3K
Sent: 250302/0106Z 14532@WG3K.#SMD.MD.USA.NOAM LinBPQ6.0.24
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a dozens of satellites on the
companyâ€Ös 13th smallsat rideshare mission to a sun-synchronous orbit. The
launch is currently scheduled for Tuesday, March 4.
Among those satellites is HADES-ICM 1.5 PocketQube satellite main mission
is to act as a FM voice repeater. It can also repeat FSK derived modes like
FT-4 and FT-8.
As there is a small empty space available, it will be used to carry an
experiment by Smart IR/Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre, GEIC
University of Manchester (UK) consisting in a very low power active
radiator to be tested on space conditions. The data for this experiment
will be transmitted in a specific data packet in the telemetry. This
experiment is the same as the one in HADES-R [*now SO-124 â€ö see ANS-054*].
This experiment will be delivered to AMSAT EA for integration and will be
operated by AMSAT-EA, being all its data public and open.
Engineering and manufacturing support for this mission is carried out with
the help of private sector companies and universities, but AMSAT-EA will be
the only operating organization.
icMercury is a company also supporting the mission. It will develop ground
tracking software for the satellite. Telemetry will send some FSK English
formatted text messages, part of a history, to be collected as a challenge.
HADES-ICM will offer licensed radio-amateur around the world the
opportunity to relay FM voice and AX.25 / APRS 300 / 1200 bps
communications. FSK derived transmissions and modes like FT-4 and FT-8 are
also supported. As an improvement from previous missions, maximum power is
now 0.25W when battery is charged (the amplifier uses battery energy),
allowing easier QSOs with handheld antennas like Arrow or Elk and less
sensitive receivers.
The satellite will also transmit telemetry with its status and CW messages.
This all will be achieved by implementing a SDR based repeater. The FM /
FSK repeater will be available all time and opened by squelch level without
the need of a subtone.
As payload, the satellite will carry an experiment by Smart IR/Graphene
Engineering Innovation Centre, GEIC University of Manchester (UK)
consisting in a very low power active radiator to be tested on space
conditions. This experiment is the same as the one in HADES-R satellite
with updates and improvements. Also, as a challenge made with icMercury,
telemetry will send FSK English formatted text messages, part of a history,
to be collected.
This satellite is based on the hardware of HADES-D (SO-121, currently being
used by hams worldwide for voice contacts) and the next to launch HADES-R.
FM satellites are very demanded and appreciated by the ham community
because they are easy to use, they donâ€Öt require of expensive transceivers
and allow continental and even transatlantic contacts in some conditions.
With this satellite we also put into use the amateur VHF and UHF satellite
sub-bands helping to secure them for the community in the future. Proposing
a UHF downlink and planning a launch on SpaceX Transporter 13 into a
500-600 km polar orbit in Feb 2025. A downlink on 436.666 MHz has been
coordinated by the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU).
[ANS thanks IARU for the above information]
Read previous mail | Read next mail
| |
