South African amateur radio club to celebrate launch of Sputnik 1

South Africa's Boland Amateur Radio Club will celebrate the launch of the world first satellite, Sputnik 1, with a special event station operating from the satellite ground control centre of the University of Stellenbosch over the weekend of 6 and 7 October.

Sputnik was the world's first satellite launched by the Russians 50 years ago on 4 October 1957. South Africa's first satellite SunSat OSCAR 35 was launched on 23 February 1999, a few months over 42 years later.

Both events were however significant. Sputnik 1 showed the world that the science fiction writings of several authors were not so much fiction and SUNSAT showed what determination can achieve.

The station will be active on HF and VHF and use the callsign ZS50SPUT.

A commemorative QSL card will be mailed to all stations that send a confirmation to P O Box 273, Strand 7140.
Please enclose a DL size stamped self addressed envelope.

Members of the Boland Amateur Radio Club will be operating the special event station throughout October

The South African Radio League