The last storm, has blown my Maspro VHF antenna from the mast. I hope that there is a way to repair the damage.
FO-29 Recovered
The FO-29 Command Team reports from Japan that they have recovered the satellite after it had experienced a shutdown due to longer eclipse periods causing an undervoltage condition.
Ground station operators have placed FO-29 in a temporary, but stable configuration for further testing and recovery operations. They will test FO-29 while it is over Japan between December 23-25.
If no problems occur the Command Team will announce an operating schedule for the satellite for the remainder of 2011 and into the early part of 2012. Please standby for further news and announcements.
[PE0SAT thanks Mineo Wakita, JE9PEL for the above information]
PCSat-1 recovery
NAV OSCAR 44 – PCSat (Recovery)
Starting Monday Morning (Dec 26, 2011), I will be trying to recover PCSAT. We need everyone to not use it until we give up. Just one single packet from a user during a pass will easily kill that pass’s chance of recovery. We only get one single packet chance per pass for recovery. Only when the call PCSAT-1 is readable in the beacon, the digipeater is active. So everyone, turn off those automatic beacons via PCSAT until further notice.
Thanks
Bob, WB4APR
Student CubeSats Ready For Flight
The first student built amateur radio CubeSats to be sponsored by ESA’s Education Office have passed their Final Acceptance Review and have been declared ready for launch on board the maiden flight of Vega, the new ESA launcher.
The launch window for this historic lift-off opens on 26 January and ends in the first week of February 2012.
The seven university-built picosatellites, each weighing only 1 kilogram, were integrated with the devices that will carry them during launch – the P-PODs, or Poly-Picosatellite Orbital Deployers – between late October and mid November. Before they could be cleared for launch, they had to pass a detailed technical examination known as the Final Acceptance Review.
The single-unit CubeSats, whose development represented a highly valuable, if not unique hands-on learning experience for the university students that were involved – were developed by teams from 6 different European countries:
- Xatcobeo (a collaboration of the University of Vigo and INTA, Spain)
- Robusta (University of Montpellier 2, France)
- E-St@r (Politecnico di Torino, Italy)
- Goliat (University of Bucharest, Romania)
- PW-Sat (Warsaw University of Technology, Poland)
- MaSat-1 (Budapest University of Technology & Economics, Hungary)
- UniCubeSat GG (Universitá di Roma ‘La Sapienza’, Italy)
- As well as the CubeSats Vega will also carry the Amateur Radio microsatellite ALMASat-1
Frequencies and links for the satellites can be found in the following article from JE9PEL.
Read the article of the full ESA story.
FO-29 maybe resuming operations
JJ1ZUU tweet indicates FO-29 may resume operations soon, probably scheduled. Details will follow and the schedule propably be announced.The FO-29 Blog is on-line at: http://blog.goo.ne.jp/fo-29
An english translation of the blog can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/FO29Blog
André Kuipers ready for takeoff
The dutch astronaut André Kuipers is ready for takeoff.
Another two days and then for the second time Andre Kuipers will leaves to the International Space Station. A historic journey, because Kuipers will break various records. Thus he becomes the first Dutch astronaut in space for a long time, which is nearly six months. He is also the first Dutch astronaut who is launched for a second time. Other Dutch astronauts – Dr. Ockels and Louis van den Berg were “only” launched once.
As it looks now, the launch is on. The rocket is already on the launch pad and the sky over Baikonur space base is crystal clear. “Although it is very cold, so spectators should properly protect” warns Kuipers on his blog
In recent days there were many preparations for the voyage. Andre Kuipers and his colleagues had to inspect the Soyuzcapsule for the second time. This capsule brings Kuipers to the ISS. “We are very pleased. In a few days, this is will be our living room, bedroom, dining room, bathroom and attic for two days. Actually, it is also the hall – with the door – to our realhome for half year: the International Space Station. ”
The launch of André Kuipers can be seen live next Wednesday 21-dec-2011 on dutch television channel: Netherland 1 (13:20 pm to 14:45 o’clock CEST). You can follow Andre on any of his social media (Twitter or Facebook).
During his stay in the International Space Station, radio amateurs will have the opportunity to make a voice contact. Andre will be using the call PI9ISS and will use the following frequencies:
Downlink
145.800 MHz (FM)
Uplink
145.200 MHz (FM)
Homepage and other references: