 RS-39 (Chibis-M) deploys January 24
The amateur radio satellite RS-39 has CW beacons on 435.315 and 435.215 MHz that can be received directly by schools and colleges for educational outreach purposes.
It will be deployed from Progress M-13M into a 500 km orbit on January 24 at approximately 23:14 UT and the RS-39 team request reports that will be confirmed by a special QSL card.
On November 2, 2011 cargo ship “Progress M-13M”, which also delivered microsatellite “Chibis-M”, was docked with ISS. The main purpose of “Chibis-M” is the study of physical processes in the vicinity of the lightning, during which the Terrestrial Gamma Ray Flashes (TGFs) are generated. TGFs are likely produced by beams of very energetic electrons, which are accelerated in the intense electric fields generated by large thunderstorm systems.
The deployment of “Chibis-M” in a circular orbit of 500 km will take place during the final phase of “Progress M-13M” operation. According to the plan of the Russian Space Control Centre, undocking of “Progress M-13M” will occur at January 24, 01:59 msk and after two corrections it will be positioned at 500 km orbit. At January 25, 03:14 msk “Chibis-M” will separate.
Beside scientific data “Chibis-M” will transmit service telemetry (the housekeeping parameters) in the beacon format on 435.315 or 435.215 MHz CW (Doppler shift +/- 10 kHz) and has the designation of RS-39.
The telemetry of RS-39 can be easily received directly by schools and colleges for educational outreach purposes. This telemetry will give details of the spacecraft’s health – battery voltages and temperatures of critical units. In combination with orbital data such information will be useful as the curriculum for student lessons.
The team of RS-39 will very much appreciate any reception reports of “Chibis-M”. Special attention is requested for the first orbits as these are outside of control stations for “Chibis-M”. Each report will be confirmed by special QSL card.
The mail address for connection with radio amateurs around the world will be opened very soon on the CHIBIS website managed the by Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS)
http://chibis.cosmos.ru/
RS-39 Chibis-M website in Google English
http://tinyurl.com/RS-39-Chibis-M/
The format of CW telemetry data is typical for RS satellites and can be downloaded here
http://tinyurl.com/RS-39-Morse-Code-Telemetry
As well as measuring electromagnetic parameters of “space weather” in the spectrum 0.1 – 40 kHz the satellite also carries a receiver for the analysis of radio frequency signals in a frequency band of 26-48 MHz.
http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/researches/geophis/19.html
AMSAT-UK publishes a colour A4 newsletter, OSCAR News, which is full of Amateur Satellite information.
Free sample issue at http://www.uk.amsat.org/on_193_final.pdf
Join online at http://tinyurl.com/JoinAMSAT-UK
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