Amateur Satellites Lost

What was to have been the largest ever launch of Amateur Satellites has ended in failure.

There were 14 Amateur satellites onboard the DNEPR-1LV rocket which was launched on Wednesday evening.

Tragically it seems all of them have been lost due to a failure in the second stage of the rocket. It is rumoured that two of the other satellites on the launch may also have contained payloads operating on Amateur frequencies.

Emily Clarke N1DID who attended the launch party at Cal Poly reports that the Cal Poly group has already committed to continue to build more CubeSats and there will be a another launch of Amateur CubeSats later this year

For a video of the launch see
http://polysat.calpoly.edu/DNEPR-BelkA.wmv

For additional news see
http://www.cubesat.calpoly.edu/

The tragic loss of so many Amateur satellites is sure to be a talking point at the AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium to be held this weekend July 28-30th at the University of Surrey in Guildford, England. The event is open to all Amateurs and SWL's.

For the full programme see
http://www.uk.amsat.org/Colloquium/programme/

Also see

The Case for a Global NEO Mitigation Strategy
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/june2006/neo_mitigation_strategy.htm

Satellite Beginners Workshop
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/june2006/
satellite_beginners_workshop.htm

Live Demonstration of Reception of Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/july2006/mro_reception_demo.htm

For further information on the Colloquium contact the AMSAT-UK secretary Jim Heck G3WGM
Tel: +44 (0)1258 453959
Email: g3wgm@amsat.org

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