KiwiSat taking shape

In a gesture of support for KiwiSAT, the Auckland VHF Group (NZART Branch 66) have donated $1000 for the purchase of the special Aluminium blocks from which the very structure of KiwiSAT will be milled.

For maximum stability, light weight and overall integrity, the frame of our satellite will be milled from solid blocks of Aluminium.

Over the next few weeks KiwiSAT will finally start to take shape. There is much work to be done but we are now making "solid" progress.

Mike Jack of Stanier Engineering, a small specialist precision engineering company based in Auckland, is now milling the main frame from those solid blocks (above).

The first tray is to hand and looking great. Strength and precision are two major factors as this first plate, the foundation stone for the final structure, will carry the whole load at launch.

We are most grateful to Mike for the use of his costly machinery and for donating his very valuable time to this project.

Many more details and video of the milling process are available on the KiwiSat web site
http://kiwisat.org/index.html

Source: AMSAT-ZL