May launch for KiwiSat ?

There is speculation that New Zealand's first Amateur Satellite KiwiSat may be launched as early as next May.

It had been thought that a launch wouldn't take place until June 2008, but it now appears to be on the Russian Dnepr-1 launch manifest for May 2007 along with a number of Amateur CubeSats, see
http://www.sworld.com.au/steven/space/russia-man.txt

Listed on the launch manifest along with KiwiSat are KatySat 1, KiwiSat, AtmoCube, PolySat 3/4 (CP3/4), CubeSat RAFT, Funsat, UCISat 1, CAPE 1, Libertad 1, MAST 1-3.

It is understood that KiwiSat will have both linear transponders for SSB/CW and an FM Repeater and will use the following frequencies.

Mode V TLM Beacon: Operational
Downlink 145.8500 MHz CW

Mode U/V (B) FM Voice Repeater (Also Data):
Uplink: 145.8650 MHz FM
Downlink 435.2450 MHz FM

Mode U/V (B) Linear Transponder (Inverting):
Uplink: 435.2600 - 435.2300 MHz SSB/CW
Downlink 145.8500 - 145.8800 MHz SSB/CW

Mode L/V FM Voice Repeater (Also Data):
Uplink: 1268.8650 MHz FM
Downlink 145.8650 MHz FM

Mode L/V Linear Transponder (Inverting):
Uplink: 1268.8800 - 1268.8500 MHz SSB/CW
Downlink 145.8500 - 145.8800 MHz SSB/CW

For further info on KiwiSat see http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~jpsl/Kiwisat_progress5.htm
and
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/
satInfo.php?satID=72&retURL=satellites/futures.php

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