They need more that a coordinated frequency. They need a launch vehicle. They need a track record. They need a launch site.
Googling Neptune 30, Tubesat, Spaceport Tonga and anything else on their web site reminds me of a circular reference in Excel.
Colour me suspicious.
-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of W4ART Arthur Feller Sent: August 5, 2009 8:27 PM To: Mark Spencer Cc: [email protected]; Mark Thompson Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Fwd: Launch your own satellite for only eight grand
Please, take a look the world Table of Frequency Allocations. An extract applying to the amateur-satellite service is included as an Annex in: http://www.iaru.org/satellite/sat-freq-coord.html . (The paper is worth reading, too!!)
A more complete overview of the radio regulations is available online thanks to the good folks at the International Radio Club in Geneva: 4U1ITU. See: http://life.itu.int/radioclub/rr/frr.htm .
Happy reading.
Planning and using radio frequencies to maximize use and minimize interference is a very complex subject that has been developing for more than a century. There's a lot of substance to know.
All I am suggesting is that the TubeSat folks and their prospective customers may need to do some good frequency planning before getting to deeply involved.
I hope this helps.
73, art..... W4ART Arlington VA
On 5-Aug-2009, at 8:53 PM, Mark Spencer wrote:
The PDF on their web site also mentions at 420 to 480 mhz radio option with a 500 mw output which might be somewhat more usefull (although the voltage requirements of this radio seem different than the sattelite can provide ?)
http://interorbital.com/Downloads/TubeSat%20Sales%20Brochure%20Publish %201.0.pdf
----- Original Message ---- From: W4ART Arthur Feller [email protected] To: Mark Thompson [email protected] Cc: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, August 5, 2009 4:43:56 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Fwd: Launch your own satellite for only eight grand
Hi, Mark,
The 902-928 MHz is not available for space stations in any radio service. 2400 to 2450 MHz is available to the amateur-satellite service. However, many of the example projects appear unrelated to radio or may be commercial in nature, so they may not qualify for the amateur-satellite service.
Wi-Fi equipment operates at very low power and relies upon provisions in the radio regulations allowing administrations to use frequencies for any purpose, provided they don't cause interference to stations operating in accordance with the Table of Frequency Allocations. Low power in this band fits the bill very nicely for short range use; not for space operations. Timing issues may also apply.
Some good frequency planning is in order.
73, art..... W4ART Arlington, VA
On 5-Aug-2009, at 3:52 PM, Mark Thompson wrote:
-----Original Message----- From: djmullen tds.net [email protected] To: BARS [email protected]; Joe [email protected] Sent: Tue, Aug 4, 2009 11:46 pm Subject: [BARS] $8000 to launch a satellite?
Here's an interesting article from The Register:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/08/04/tube_sat/
Launch your own satellite for only eight grand Prospective world domination candidates apply here By Bill Ray . Get more from this author Posted in Telecoms, 4th August 2009 14:59 GMT Interorbital Systems is offering your own orbiting satellite for only $8,000, including launch, though evil geniuses might balk at the expected 2-week lifespan before a fiery re-entry.
The plan is to launch 32 of the diminutive TubeSats into low earth orbit, around 310Km up, using a single Neptune 30 launcher (under development by=2 0Interorbital). The Neptune 30 will time release the TubeSats into orbits that decay within a few weeks, after which they'll burn up re-entering the Earth's atmosphere.
The cost of each one is $8,000, though you'll have to pay up front to guarantee a launch slot, and put the satellite together yourself from the supplied kit. Stil, at least Interorbital Systems accepts PayPal.
Fitting a doomsday machine into the 13.5cm long TubeSat, which is only 8.7cm wide, will challenge plans for world domination, but that will be where the "genius" comes into play.
The company suggests you might use your TubeSat for everything from "Earth-from-space video imaging" to "private e-mail" or "On-orbit advertising", though we're not sure what the audience figures would be for the latter. More realistically, buyers might like to bounce amateur radio signals off their own bird, or try experiments within orbital conditions.
The radio aboard the TubeSat will operate at 902-928MHz or 2.4-2.4835GHz, the latter being ideal for Wi-Fi, as well as covering the bands allocated for amateur satellite operations - allowing Hams to fly even if pigs can't. Full specifications are available from Interorbital (pdf).
Not that professionals will be allowed to buy TubeSats: "The listed price is not valid for military, governmental, or large corporate entities. Members of these organizations should contact Interorbital Systems if interested in purchasing a TubeSat".
Interorbital Systems has some form in space operations. It was a competitor in the X-Prize, and has entered Google's Lunar X-Prize to retrieve a bit of the moon. More practically, the company has been testing engines in the Mojave desert, but the TubeSat launches planned for next year will be the first time the company has flown a bird, even a small one. R
Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
I'm on the road again for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Please, help! Donate and follow the story on my TNT web site!!
http://pages.teamintraining.org/nca/ambbr09/afeller
CAUTION: Web site may have a photo of me in Spandex..... ;-)
Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
The new Internet ExplorerR 8 - Faster, safer, easier. Optimized for Yahoo! Get it Now for Free! at
http://downloads.yahoo.com/ca/internetexplorer/
I'm on the road again for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Please, help! Donate and follow the story on my TNT web site!!
http://pages.teamintraining.org/nca/ambbr09/afeller
CAUTION: Web site may have a photo of me in Spandex..... ;-)
_______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb