Tag Archives: Satellite

STARS-II Amateur Radio Satellite

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Stars II Orbit ModelThe amateur radio satellite STARS-II is being developed by students at Kagawa University and consists of Mother satellite and Daughter satellite connected by tether.

STARS stands for Space Tethered Autonomous Robotic Satellite.
The mission will include formation flight, tether deployment, attitude control and the mother and daughter satellites will take pictures of each other.

It is porposed to fly a 80mW CW beacon and a 800mW AX25 1200bps telemetry downlink. Total mass is 8 kg.

Coordinated frequencies for CW 437.245 MHz (mother) and 437.255 MHz (daughter). FM downlinks 437.405 MHz (mother) and 437.425 MHz (daughter).

Communication Link:

STARS-II Communication link

Kagawa satellite development project STARS-II webpage

Nanosail-D Sails Home – Mission Complete

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Nanosail over LeidenAfter spending more than 240 days “sailing” around the Earth, NASA’s NanoSail-D a nanosatellite that deployed NASA’s first-ever solar sail in low-Earth orbit has successfully completed its Earth orbiting mission. Launched to space Nov. 19, 2010 as a payload on NASA’s FASTSAT, a small satellite, NanoSail-D’s sail deployed on Jan. 20. The research team continues to analyze the orbital data to determine how future satellites can use this new technology.A main objective of the NanoSail-D mission was to demonstrate and test the deorbiting capabilities of a large low mass high surface area sail. “The NanoSail-D mission produced a wealth of data that will be useful in understanding how these types of passive deorbit devices react to the upper atmosphere,” said Joe Casas, FASTSAT project scientist at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

Source: Nasa Nanosail
Website: NanoSail

AO-51 not responding to commands

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AO-51 Echo LaunchNovember 29, 2011 – AO-51 not responding to commands

It is with a heavy heart I report that AO-51 has ceased transmission and is not responding to commands. The last telemetry data indicated that the third of six batteries was approaching failure to short, and observations indicate the voltage from three cells is insufficient to power the UHF transmitters. The IHU may continue to be operative. Initial tests with the S band transmitter were also not positive, although more attempts are in order. We have tried leaving the satellite in an expected state where if voltages climb high enough, the 435.150 transmitter may possibly be heard.

AO-51 AssembledThe command team will regularly attempt communications with the satellite over the coming months (and years). There is always the possibility that a cell will open and we could once again talk to our friend while illuminated. Thanks to all who helped fund, design, build, launch, command, and operate AO-51. It’s 7 year mission has been extraordinary. Please support AMSAT’s Fox-1 project, and other AMSAT projects worldwide with your time and money.

For the AO-51 Command Team,

73, Drew KO4MA
AMSAT-NA VP Operations