AMSAT-UK hosts successful Space Colloquium

A successful 23rd AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium was held at the University of Surrey, Guildford, England this weekend.

Prof Sir Martin Sweeting, G3YJO Chairman AMSAT-UK, opened the Colloquium on Friday. This was followed by the keynote speech given by Dr Rob Gowen, Department of Space & Climate Physics (Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London and Coordinator of the UK Lunar Penetrator Consortium) on "Science Penetrators for the UK MoonLITE mission".

On Saturday the Delfi-C3 team gave a presentation on their exciting new satellite. Its SSB/CW 435/145 linear transponder was activated over the weekend is sure to prove popular with satellite enthusiasts world- wide.

Saturday's Colloquium schedule also included presentations from AMSAT-DL on both the eagerly awaited P3E High Earth Orbiting satellite and the pioneering Mars Orbiter P5A. This will be the first private venture spacecraft to travel to the Red Planet providing Radio Amateurs with some true DX signals.

A complete listing of the Colloquium Technical program can be found at: http://www.uk.amsat.org/content/view/640/213/

The IARU Satellite Forum chaired by the IARU Satellite Adviser Hans van de Groenendaal ZS6AKV also met during the Colloquium weekend. The main topic included Band planning for satellite operations on frequencies in the Amateur Service.

The Colloquium included a live webcast of the proceedings via http://www.batc.tv/. There was also a Live Chat page available to enable web viewers to post messages.