Amateur Radio CubeSat to raise its orbit

Low cost launches into an orbit above 1200km can be hard to find so a new Amateur Radio satellite aims to try a different approach, using gas propulsion to raise the apogee from 450km to 1500km.

From the IARU Amateur Satellite Frequency Coordination pages at http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru/
formal_detail.asp?serial=168

POPACS-RR a 2U cubesat will use self-contained, warm gas, propulsion system to adjust satellite’s initial circular orbit of 450 km to eccentric orbit with apogee of 1500 km and perigee of 450 km.

Demonstrate use of 3D printing (a.k.a. rapid prototyping) for manufacturing small satellites. Measure flux of energetic particles in lower Van Allen Belt. Test radiation-hardened electronic components and high performance solar cells in high radiation environment over a period of five years. Test radiation hardened components for a Plug and Play satellite.

Proposing a UHF downlink of 9k6 GMSK AX25 packet and also an S Band downlink of BPSK at 9k6 or 38k4.

Planning a launch on the first flight of SpaceX Falcon 1E not earlier than May 2011 with a 45 deg inclination. Will apply for a FCC part 5 Experimental licence for this project.

IARU Amateur Satellite Frequency Coordination pages
http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru/

Watch the presentation on Medium Earth Orbits that David Bowman G0MRF gave to the 2009 AMSAT-UK Colloquium by selecting "2009 AMSAT M.E.O" in the video Archive at
http://www.batc.tv/

Download the MEO video at
http://www.batc.tv/vod/AMSAT-UK_MEO.flv

David Bowman G0MRF - Medium Earth Orbit page
http://g0mrf.com/MEOSAT.htm

AMSAT-UK publish a colour A4 newsletter, OSCAR News, that is full of Amateur Satellite information.
Join online at https://secure.amsat.org.uk/subs_form/