Author Archives: PE0SAT

VO-52 Activation ON Hold

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On HoldUnfortunately, we are sorry to inform that the ‘Expert Committee’ overseeing the VO-52 (HAMSAT) performance has advised to extend the ‘Observation Period’ by an other week.

Hence, the decision to switch on the transponder # 2 is now put ‘ON HOLD’ till further notice. In-convenience caused to the users is regretted.

This latest decision is just only a postponement and nothing to worry about the health of the spacecraft. We re-assure you all that VO-52 is very strong and in a ‘Perfect Health’ condition.

[PE0SAT Thanks VU2WMY for the above information]

VO-52 Switched On 08-03-2012 13:51 UTC

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PE1RAHAfter the ‘In-Orbit Maintenance Operations’ the decision to turn ‘ON’  the payload transponder was taken and accordingly; The Transponder No 2 i.e. The Dutch Transponder made by William Leijenaar PE1RAH would be switched ‘ON’ at 13:51 UT on 08.03.2012 during orbit # 37006 over India.

A ‘Critical Comparative Signal Report’ between the Indian and Dutch transponder would be of great help for further evaluations and necessary actions for the maintenance the transponder in good and healthy condition for better services and also, the inputs would be very valuable to the respective transponder designers.

We all hope, Williams PE1RAH would be very happy with our decision and behalf of every one here in India involved with project, wish Williams and his transponder all the very best and good luck.

During the pass of 19:45:00 it should be possible to work VO-52 above Europe. Lets give it a try and send a report to ISRO and use the website http://oscar.dcarr.org/

Track VO52 08-03-2012

[PE0SAT Thanks VU3TYG, VU2WMY and ISRO for the above information]

 

VO-52 in Excellent Health

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Hello All,

HAMSAT WallpaperAll that I can share at this moment is ‘HAMSAT VO-52’ is in ‘Excellent Health’ after recovery operations. Right now, it is under observation. However, decision about switching ‘ON’ the transponder is pending clearance. Decision expected in other couple of days. The user community will be informed well in advance about the transponder switching.

Mani, VU2WMY
Secretary & Station-In-Charge
Upagrah Amateur Radio Club VU2URC
ISRO Satellite Centre

[PE0SAT Thanks amsat-bb and VU2WMY for the above information]

COMPASS-1 End of mission

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Dear supporters and friends of our COMPASS-1 mission,

First, let me thank you very much for your support in trying to save the life of our COMPASS-1 satellite during the last days, but also during the last years of “routine” operations. It seems that our mission now comes to an end. The projected lifetime of COMPASS-1 was half a year. The tiny guy has outperformed this value by Compass-1a factor of more than seven. April 28th would have been it’s 4th birthday and if it was a human, it would now be about 500 years old (Cubesat-years are short). So, if you have more important things to do (and I guess so), we can not expect you to continue your efforts in saving its live. With your support, you have made things possible that we would never have been able to achieve with our own resources and I appreciate your support very much. So, COMPASS-1, rest in peace. (Nevertheless, if you still want to try to awake it from the dead, feel free to do so.)

I hope that we will soon be able to build and launch COMPASS-2 and that you will be
still available, all over the world, as a ground station to command and fly our new
bird. We will keep you informed.

Cheers and thanks for all,

Prof. Dr. Bernd Dachwald
Faculty of Aerospace Engineering FH Aachen
University of Applied Sciences

[PE0SAT Thanks DK3WN for the Above information]

CubeSat to use propulsion

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SatMagazine March 2012The March issue of SatMagazine features a 4 page article by Randa Relich Milliron, CEO and Co-Founder of Interorbital Systems.

Interorbital Systems plans to launch a number of amateur radio CubeSats along with dozens of TubeSats on it’s Neptune 9 rocket.

Among the CubeSats to be launch by Interorbital Systems is Euroluna’s Romit1 which aims to be the first CubeSat to use propulsion to significantly raise its orbit, from 310 to 700 km.

The Interorbital Systems article appears on page 90 and is followed on page 94 by an article on the Space Foundation which aims to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in schools.

Download your free copy of the March SatMagazine http://www.satmagazine.com/2012/SM_Mar2012.pdf

[PE0SAT Thanks Amsat-UK and M5AKA for the above information]

HAMSAT VO-52 Recovery Operations

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VU2WMY/Mani

With regrets, we confirm the non-availability of the transponder on HAMSAT VO-52 since 28th February 2012. This is the first ever interruption in the services of HAMSAT since May 5th 2005.

The following question came from ISRO:

If possible, try to find out who has last operated HAMSAT payload transponder on 28th and at what time.

OZ1MY/Ib answered the following:

In my record I heard and briefly used the transponder on the pass with AOS here in Copenhagen, Denmark at 0826 UTC on the 28th, February. On the next pass with AOS at 1003 UTC it was not on.

VO-52 PreFlightVO-52 Telemetry:

There where some questions about how to find out what the state is of VO-52. When looking in to that, I found out that Telemetry and Groundstation command is done outsite the amateur frequency. TM is done on 137MHz en TC on 149MHz. The exact frequency is only know by ISRO as confirmed by PE1RAH in a conversation between him and SV1BSX.

HAMSAT telemetry: Posted by William, 25 May’05 Hi, The HAMSAT gives only telemetry to the ISRO groundstation on none ham frequencies. ISRO use it to check the status and to switch on/off the transponders and change attitude when needed. The telemetry will only be activated by ISRO groundstation and is not for public use. The frequencies are secret and only for ISRO. 73 pe1rah William.

[PE0SAT Thanks AMSAT-BB, PE1RAH and SV1BSX for the above information]