SSETI ESEO GTO Project
Update Sep 20th, 2006
An update on the Student Space Exploration and Technology Initiative
(SSETI) European Student Earth Orbiter (ESEO) Geostationary Transfer Orbit
(GTO) satellite project.
It is still on track for a launch from Kourou in Nov 2008.
The planned AMSAT-UK 435MHz to 2.4 GHz (Mode U/S) Amateur Radio linear
transponder is still on the manifest. (We do not have any opportunity
to change from this frequency selection)
The transponder is expected to have:
· an approx 50kHz bandwidth
· 10 watts of RF output
· Selectable analogue and Digital Signal Processor/Software Defined
Transponder (DSP/SDX) signal paths
· a 400bps beacon
· linear antennas with not much more than zero gain
The satellite may not have good, long term, attitude control therefore:
· the antennas are being designed to work well even if the satellite
is tumbling
· the link budget is not as good as AO40 was nor as P3E will be
· circular polarisation of ground station antennas will be needed.
Before we operate the system as an amateur transponder, it will be used
as the initial main communications package for the reception of telecommands
to, and for the transmission of telemetry and mission data from, the satellite
- so it is quite important for the whole project.
The Preliminary Design Review will be completed during next month and
an engineering model of the satellite should be under construction early
next year. Hopefully this process will be visible using the same webcam
system that we were able to engineer during the SSETI Express construction.
The website http://www.sseti.net/
has lots of info about the SSETI programme. Click on "missions"
and ESEO for more details about their plans for their GTO satellite.
A full report on the SSETI Express launch last year, the SSETI ESEO project
with the DSP transponder, and their SSETI European Student Moon Orbiter
(ESMO) project will be provided at the upcoming AMSAT-NA Symposium.
Graham G3VZV
AMSAT-UK
produces a quarterly newsletter "Oscar News" which is full of
Amateur Satellite information.
For membership details contact the secretary Jim Heck G3WGM
Tel: +44 (0)1258 453959
E-mail: g3wgm@amsat.org
Website: http://www.uk.amsat.org/
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