[AMSAT-UK] FUNcube Satellite Status June 2017

[AMSAT-UK via rec.radio.info Admin]

AMSAT-UK

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FUNcube Satellite Status June 2017

Posted: 17 Jun 2017 05:28 AM PDT
https://amsat-uk.org/2017/06/17/funcube-satellite-status-june-2017/

AO-73 (FUNcube-1) Image credit Wouter Weggelaar PA3WEG

AMSAT-UK has released the FUNcube satellite status update report for June
2017.

AO-73 FUNcube-1

The transponder is normally operational only when the satellite is in
eclipse, ie the solar panels are NOT being illuminated. During weekends
(from PM Fridays UTC to PM Sundays UTC) the transponder is operational 24/7.

When the transponder is switched off, the telemetry beacon is on full
power, when the transponder is on the beacon it is on low power. During
holidays, e.g. Christmas, New Year, Easter, etc, the transponder maybe
activated for extended periods. Watch AMSAT-BB for announcements which are
usually made on Friday evenings (UTC)

The nominal transponder frequencies are:

Uplink: 435.150 435.130 MHz LSB (Inverting)

Downlink: 145.950 145.970 MHz USB

Telemetry Tx: 145.935 MHz BPSK

(The passband may be up to 15 kHz higher depending on on-board temps. Lower
temperatures give higher freqs!)

FUNcube-2 (aka FUNcube on UKube)

The FUNcube-2 sub-system continues to operate autonomously and, almost
continuously, in amateur mode. The transponder is operational and the
telemetry downlink is functioning with about 70mW output. The FUNcube-1
Dashboard does not correctly display the telemetry but it does correctly
decode the data and uploads it to the FUNcube Data Warehouse from where it
can be examined. Most of the real time data channels are operational and
these include battery voltages, temperatures and ADCS data coming via the
main On Board Computer (OBC).

The transponder is interrupted for a few seconds every 2 minutes when the
other transmitter sends its CW beacon and, occasionally, for a few seconds
when the main OBC reboots (approx seven times each orbit).

The nominal transponder frequencies are:

Uplink: 435.080 435.060 MHz LSB (Inverting)

Downlink: 145.930 145.950 MHz USB

Telemetry Tx: 145.915 MHz BPSK

(The passband may be up to 10kHz higher depending on on-board temps. Low

temperatures give higher freqs!)

EO79 FUNcube-3

Due to power budget constraints the transponder cannot be operational 24/7
and an orbit specific schedule has been developed. The transponder will
commence operation 27 minutes after the spacecraft enters sunlight and will
stay on for a period of 25 minutes. This schedule may be modified in future
months as a result of experience.

The nominal transponder frequencies are:

Uplink: 435.0723-435.0473 MHz LSB (Inverting)

Downlink: 145.946-145.971 MHz USB

Further detailed info on EO79 transponder frequencies is at:

https://amsat-uk.org/2016/11/10/eo79-funcube-3-transponder-commences-regular-operation/

EO88/Nayif-1/FUNcube-5

EO88 is presently operating in autonomous mode. The transponder is
operational when the satellite is in eclipse, i.e. the solar panels are NOT
being illuminated.

When the transponder is switched off, the telemetry beacon is on full
power, when the transponder is on the beacon it is on low power.

The transponder frequencies are:

Uplink: 435.045 – 435.015 MHz LSB (inverting)

Downlink: 145.960-145.990 MHz USB

Telemetry Tx: 145.940MHz

All FUNcube transponders are sponsored by AMSAT-UK and AMSAT-NL. We are
very grateful for the assistance given by Innovative Solution In Space Bv,
The Netherlands.

AMSAT-BB http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

FUNcube

Yahoo Group https://amsat-uk.org/funcube/yahoo-group/

Web http://www.funcube.org.uk/

Forum http://forum.funcube.org.uk/

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Amateur radio to the rescue of satellite

Posted: 16 Jun 2017 11:52 PM PDT
https://amsat-uk.org/2017/06/17/amateur-radio-to-the-rescue-of-satellite/


I-Inspire-2 is a 20 x 10 x 10cm CubeSat built by the University of Sydney
in collaboration with the Australian National University and the University
of New South Wales (Sydney)

WIA News reports:

On board the tiny spacecraft is an experiment, part of the QB50 project,
designed to “explore the lower thermosphere, for re-entry research and
in-orbit demonstration of technologies and miniaturised sensors”, as
reported in earlier editions of the WIA broadcast.

Its operational frequency was coordinated by IARU to be in the satellite
segment of the 70cm amateur band.

It was placed in orbit from the International Space Station in late May.
The deployment was successful; however there were no signs of life when the
ground stations started looking for it. The engineering group quickly
tested various scenarios on the engineering model only to come to the
conclusion that, due to the extended delay in the deployment, the
satellites battery was likely to be depleted and the satellite was trapped
in an endless loop, trying to deploy its antenna.

The engineering group suggested that the satellite is still listening
albeit with its antennas in the stowed position. This meant that the
satellite command receiver might have difficulty receiving any signals from
ground control stations. A set of commands were devised which, if received,
would instruct the satellite to wait until the battery is charged before
attempting to deploy its antenna. Both UNSW and ANU ground stations
transmitted the recovery command to the satellite; however after a week or
so of no success it was decided that more transmitter power was required to
overcome the lack of receiver sensitivity caused by the still stowed
antenna. A request for assistance was passed to EME operators around the
world and many responses were received.

The greatest hope for a successful recovery was thought to be PI 9 CAM
using high power and a 25 m dish, normally used for radio astronomy but
also EME. They were scheduled to transmit on the weekend of June 10-11.

On Sunday June 11, during the morning pass, Rob VK1KW reported a strong
signal every 30 seconds on I-Inspire-2s frequency. Dimitris VK1SV who is
part of the ANU team, verified reception from home around midnight. The
following morning Dimitris drove to the ANU ground station and was able to
send commands to the satellite for the first time since it was deployed.
Many other radio amateurs around the world also reported reception of the
beacon. The satellite had come back to life!

This is a wonderful example of successful collaboration between radio
amateurs and the academic community. If a frequency outside the radio
amateur band had been used, it is doubtful that the satellite would have
been brought back to life.

The crew of I-Inspire-2 wishes to thank all radio amateurs involved and is
looking forward to a successful collection of data for the scientific
experiment!

I-Inspire-2 official web site:
http://sydney.edu.au/inspire-cubesat/project/index.shtml

( Dimitris Tsifakis VK1SV/VK2COW )

Source WIA News http://www.wia.org.au/members/broadcast/wianews/