Dear friends,

Today it is planned the launch of our satellite URESAT-1 (HADES-B ITU designation). The satellite has been a joint effort by AMSAT-EA, URE (the equivalent in Spain for ARRL), private companies and Universities. It flies on the SpaceX Transporter-8 mission to be launched today at 21.19 UTC from Vandenberg AFB.

URESAT-1 will not be deployed directly from the Falcon-9 as it is contained in the D-Orbit ION Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV). The Falcon-9 will deploy the OTV 1h and 20 minutes after launch and this OTV will be orbiting the Earth for several days before deploying URESAT-1 along with other satellites (initially for 1 week).

We will try to provide TLEs for it as soon as we have them.

The satellite's main mission is to act as an FM voice and FSK data repeater (like AX.25). It has a SSTV cam that alternates between a live image (without pointing) and stored images. It also has a chess game so players on Earth can play against it. Periodically the satellite transmits the state of the game, including the chess board, as well as the last movement made and who's turn (players or satellite).

Work frequencies are as follows: Uplink: 145.975 MHz/145.925 MHz (aux), Modes: FM voice without subtone, FSK 50 bps, AFSK, AX.25, APRS 1200 / 2400 bps

Downlink: 436.888 MHz, Modes: FM voice, CW, FSK 50 bps telemetry, SSTV Robot 36, voice beacon with callsign AO4URE.

Be aware that the FM transponder needs to be activated first time by telecommand.

Here you have the document describing the transmissions: https://www.amsat-ea.org/app/download/13366685/AMSAT+EA+-+URESAT-1+Transmiss...

Here you have an sample file with the audio of a telemetry file (chess board): https://www.amsat-ea.org/app/download/13398144/URESAT-1_sample_FSK_telemetry...

Here it is the Linux x86 / ARM decoder for telemetry: https://www.amsat-ea.org/app/download/13395017/URESAT-1_telemetry_decoder_Li...

If the satellite works fine we will deliver a program for Linux so players can send the chess moves to the satellite!

Fingers crossed!

73,

Felix EA4GQS - AMSAT EA President