SumbandilaSat 'to launch in March'

The South African Mail & Guardian reports that South Africa's second satellite which carries an Amateur Radio payload is scheduled to be launched on March 25, 2009.

The news report can be seen at
http://www.mg.co.za/article/2008-11-25-sa-to-launch-r25m-satellite-weather-permitting

Further information on the launch is available on the Southern Africa AMSAT website at http://www.amsatsa.org.za/

The SA AMSAT website is currently quoting a launch in the December to March timeframe from the Russian Baikonur Cosmodrome.

The Amateur Radio payload consists of:
- a V/U voice FM transponder with an uplink in the 2 metre band and a downlink in the 70cm band.
- a parrot repeater (voice digipeater)
- voice beacon

The website says Sumbandila is expected to be followed by two or more satellite projects and with more time available a more sophisticated amateur payload is envisaged.

In addition to the Amateur Radio payload the satellite also contains a number of experiments such as a Very Low Frequency (VLF) radio experiment by the University of KwaZulu-Natal and an architectural radiation experiment for commercial off the shelf devices (ARECOTS) by Stellenbosch university.

University of KwaZulu-Natal - A satellite borne VLF radio receiver
http://www.ukzn.ac.za/department/members/members.asp?
dept=physicsdund&id=64860

Sunspace
http://www.sunspace.co.za/

SumbandilaSat South Africa's Second Satellite
http://www.amsatsa.org.za/SZASAT.htm

IARU Amateur Satellite Frequency Coordination page
http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru/finished_detail.asp?serial=88