New Russian Satellite in Orbit
A Russian rocket launched from Plesetsk on May 23 carried a number of payloads to orbit, including a
new Amateur Radio satellite named Yubileiny -- Russian for jubilee -- since christened Radio Sputnik 30
(RS-30). Operational details are vague at this time. Amateurs throughout the world report receiving signals
at 435.315 and 435.215 MHz; some report reception of CW telemetry while others report what appear to be
image transmissions from the satellite. RS-30 is orbiting at a maximum altitude of 1500 km, creating a
substantial communications footprint below. The satellite will broadcast audio and video about the history of
the Soviet and Russian space programs, as well as signals imitating those broadcast by Sputnik in 1957.
According to the satellite's launch team, "The motive for development of the Yubileiny small spacecraft was
the 50th anniversary of the first space satellite. With the help of that satellite, the new space systems and
equipment are expected to get flight qualification, and radio-amateurs all over the world will be able to
receive information on the history of space development and domestic cosmonautics achievements."
Satellite Shorts From All Over
- Congratulations are in order for 10 year old Piyumi, VE4WPL in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada for making her
first satellite contact on AO-51. She used an Icom IC-W32A handheld at 5 watts with an Arrow antenna to
make the contact. Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK represented AMSAT at the Yavapai Amateur Radio Club (YARC)
and Verde Valley Amateur Radio Club (VVARA) joint hamfest on Saturday, 31 May 2008. He set up an AMSAT
table at the hamfest and provided on-air demonstrations using the AO-51 satellite.
- Allen, N5AFV was also active in promoting amateur radio satellite activity on the weekend of May 31 - June 1.
On May 31 Allen operated via satellite from the second highest point in Texas at the top of Enchanted Rock.
June 1 gave Allen the opportunity to operate using the Ten Ten International club call sign, W6OI from 20th
Annual Ten Ten Hill Country Picnic. QSL information for both operations is to N5AFV with an SASE.
Martian weather data from the Canadian Space Agency's weather station aboard the Mars Phoenix lander
can be viewed on your computer using tool available from http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/
Mac OSX 10.4.3 (or higher), or Vista is required. (Via UniverseToday.com).
- Word has been received from VU2POP that AMSAT-India has completed construction of the Hamsat-2
transponder built by one of their student members. They are now working on flight plans for an orbit similar to
VO-52 and hopefully higher if possible.
[Thanks, AMSAT]
More Satellite Shorts
- Technical papers are solicited for presentation at the 27th Annual ARRL and TAPR Digital Communications
Conference to be held September 26-28, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois. The submission deadline is July 31, 2008.
Please send papers to: Maty Weinberg, ARRL, 225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111.
- Stefan, VE4NSA says his 1:1 scale model kit of the Delfi-C3 satellite is in the prototype stage. A photo of the
Project can be found at http://www.wincube.ca/Delfi.html. This model will be available as pdf files for you to
print (and cut and glue) in the next few weeks from the Delfi-C3 website. Stefan invites radio amateurs to also
see his released AO-51 scale model at http://www.msig.ca/AO-51.html.
- Yuta Araki, JQ1YGV wrote from Nihon University to inform you of the update of the analysis software for the
SEEDS cubesat. The new version of the analysis software is "Downlink Code for Distribution Ver.2.0.3" at:
http://cubesat.aero.cst.nihon-u.ac.jp/english/download_e.html.
[AMSAT]
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