Re: 9 Cubesats selected for free ESA ride to space
Of the satellites listed (according to the list posted at http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru/finished.asp), the following satellites have been coordinated with IARU for use of the amateur satellite spectrum:
* Swisscube: Space Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Laus * Goliat: University of Bucharest * UWE-2 (but not yet UWE-3): University of Wuerzburg
Unisat3 from Rome was launched with AO-51, however the UniCubesat is not listed with the IARU.
It appears that the IARU Coordination group knows nothing about the other satellites listed in the press release. But then, it also appears that the recent Russian RS-30 "Jubilee" was apparently unknown/uncoordinated.
If any of you are in contact with any of these groups, please stress to them the need for coordination with the rest of the amateur radio/amateur satellite community. Information of the coordination process, along with some recommendations (including a very useful link budget spreadsheet from Jan King W3GEY/VK4GEY) can be found at http://www.iaru.org/satellite/.
73, Tom
Hi Tom,
These cubesat projects are very very new...many have been developed only in the last 2 or 3 months and therefore it is not surprising that only one third of them have yet sent in any documentation regarding frequency co-ordination to the IARU panel.
In fact, in addition to Swisscube and Goliat, the Robusta project is shown on the co-ordination website as "in progress".
We do not know which of the others will be using frequencies in the amateur satellite service but rest assured that all the teams have already been briefed on their responsibilities in relation to their possible use of "our" service and have been offered all possible support and advice (including Jan's fb link budget spreadsheet).
May I also make a plea that the concept of "them" and "us" is seriously outdated in respect of the members of the cubesat teams. There are many examples of students who already have obtained their amateur licences and many who are currently taking the courses in their respective countries. I firmly believe that anything that enables/encourages "young" people to get their tickets is a good "thing" and that if a proportion of them end up as amateurs working in the space industry over the next decades then probably it is a very very good "thing"
Whether or not the satellites carry a transponder is another subject, but if the cubesat programme gives today's amateurs the opportunity to help create an amateur friendly space industry for the next generation then it has my support!
best 73
Graham G3VZV
----- Original Message ----- From: "Tom Clark, K3IO" k3io@verizon.net To: "AMSAT BB" amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Saturday, June 07, 2008 11:29 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: 9 Cubesats selected for free ESA ride to space
Of the satellites listed (according to the list posted at http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru/finished.asp), the following satellites have been coordinated with IARU for use of the amateur satellite spectrum:
* Swisscube: Space Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Laus * Goliat: University of Bucharest * UWE-2 (but not yet UWE-3): University of Wuerzburg
Unisat3 from Rome was launched with AO-51, however the UniCubesat is not listed with the IARU.
It appears that the IARU Coordination group knows nothing about the other satellites listed in the press release. But then, it also appears that the recent Russian RS-30 "Jubilee" was apparently unknown/uncoordinated.
If any of you are in contact with any of these groups, please stress to them the need for coordination with the rest of the amateur radio/amateur satellite community. Information of the coordination process, along with some recommendations (including a very useful link budget spreadsheet from Jan King W3GEY/VK4GEY) can be found at http://www.iaru.org/satellite/.
73, Tom _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. 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
Graham,
I agree!!
Sure they aren't HEO linear transponders (or even LEO transponders) but they all will advance the state of the satellite art and will introduce a new group of students to Amateur radio even if it's indirectly to get radio spectrum. So we will all win!
D-Star, deploying satellite panels, etc.are experiments we can learn from and apply to any future Amateur satellite. So again, we will all win!
While lack of IARU coordination by some agencies/countries is a pet peeve of mine too, I'm sure folks over there will make them very aware of the coordination process. I believe all the countries mentioned are participants in the IARU. So enough said on that subject.
The fact that ESA is providing a "free" launch opportunity to nine new satellites, be they university or whatever, is a positive step forward, and is to be highly commended. I don't believe an opportunity like that has ever been extended by any other launch agency.
As a member of AMSAT-NA, I would like to see our organization formally congratulate them on their successful selection and offer our technical support if needed/asked. If we can't build satellite hardware this year, we can at least offer consulting support and guidance to their hardware projects.
Regards...Bill - N6GHz
Graham Shirville wrote:
Hi Tom,
These cubesat projects are very very new...many have been developed only in the last 2 or 3 months and therefore it is not surprising that only one third of them have yet sent in any documentation regarding frequency co-ordination to the IARU panel.
In fact, in addition to Swisscube and Goliat, the Robusta project is shown on the co-ordination website as "in progress".
We do not know which of the others will be using frequencies in the amateur satellite service but rest assured that all the teams have already been briefed on their responsibilities in relation to their possible use of "our" service and have been offered all possible support and advice (including Jan's fb link budget spreadsheet).
May I also make a plea that the concept of "them" and "us" is seriously outdated in respect of the members of the cubesat teams. There are many examples of students who already have obtained their amateur licences and many who are currently taking the courses in their respective countries. I firmly believe that anything that enables/encourages "young" people to get their tickets is a good "thing" and that if a proportion of them end up as amateurs working in the space industry over the next decades then probably it is a very very good "thing"
Whether or not the satellites carry a transponder is another subject, but if the cubesat programme gives today's amateurs the opportunity to help create an amateur friendly space industry for the next generation then it has my support!
best 73
Graham G3VZV
----- Original Message ----- From: "Tom Clark, K3IO" k3io@verizon.net To: "AMSAT BB" amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Saturday, June 07, 2008 11:29 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: 9 Cubesats selected for free ESA ride to space
Of the satellites listed (according to the list posted at http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru/finished.asp), the following satellites have been coordinated with IARU for use of the amateur satellite spectrum:
* Swisscube: Space Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Laus * Goliat: University of Bucharest * UWE-2 (but not yet UWE-3): University of WuerzburgUnisat3 from Rome was launched with AO-51, however the UniCubesat is not listed with the IARU.
It appears that the IARU Coordination group knows nothing about the other satellites listed in the press release. But then, it also appears that the recent Russian RS-30 "Jubilee" was apparently unknown/uncoordinated.
If any of you are in contact with any of these groups, please stress to them the need for coordination with the rest of the amateur radio/amateur satellite community. Information of the coordination process, along with some recommendations (including a very useful link budget spreadsheet from Jan King W3GEY/VK4GEY) can be found at http://www.iaru.org/satellite/.
73, Tom _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. 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
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. 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
----- Original Message ----- From: "Tom Clark, K3IO" k3io@verizon.net To: "AMSAT BB" amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Sunday, June 08, 2008 12:29 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: 9 Cubesats selected for free ESA ride to space
Of the satellites listed (according to the list posted at http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru/finished.asp), the following satellites have been coordinated with IARU for use of the amateur satellite spectrum:
* Swisscube: Space Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Laus * Goliat: University of Bucharest * UWE-2 (but not yet UWE-3): University of Wuerzburg
Unisat3 from Rome was launched with AO-51, however the UniCubesat is not listed with the IARU.
It appears that the IARU Coordination group knows nothing about the other satellites listed in the press release. But then, it also appears that the recent Russian RS-30 "Jubilee" was apparently unknown/uncoordinated.
If any of you are in contact with any of these groups, please stress to them the need for coordination with the rest of the amateur radio/amateur satellite community. Information of the coordination process, along with some recommendations (including a very useful link budget spreadsheet from Jan King W3GEY/VK4GEY) can be found at http://www.iaru.org/satellite/.
73, Tom
Hi Tom, K3IO
The Satellite Frequency Coordinator for IARU Region-1-2 and 3 is Hans van de Groenendaal ZS6AKV email: satcoord@iaru.org web Page http://www.iaru.org/satellite skype: hanszs6akv1502
Hans represents the Amateur Satellite Service in all IARU conference but apparently he is very reluctant to discuss our problems on this BB
73" de
i8CVS Domenico
participants (4)
-
Bill Ress -
Graham Shirville -
i8cvs -
Tom Clark, K3IO