22/06/101 The FUNcube Project RSGB-October 2011

22/06/102 Introduction Background information about AMSAT and AMSAT-UK Brief history of “OSCAR” satellites Info on today's operational spacecraft Background of FUNcube FUNcube – what it will do Expected timelines The follow on spacecraft Some conclusions RSGB-October 2011

AMSAT–UK 500 individual members –most are active radio amateurs. One of more than 20 such groups worldwide. In Europe, AMSAT groups exist in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Denmark, Sweden, and the UK.

OSCAR Satellites Oldest - Oscar 1 - launched 1961

OSCAR Satellites Largest – Oscar 40 – launched kg to HEO on an Ariane 5

OSCAR Satellites Oldest still operational - Oscar 7 - launched 1974

OSCAR Satellites Latest –HW-1 – launched Dec Oscar 68

OSCAR Satellites Created by groups in – US, Japan, UK, Russia, China, France, Germany, Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Korea, Israel, Italy, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Mexico, Thailand, India, Netherlands, South Africa

AMSAT-UK provided an S band transmitter/transponder in June 2004 and it was launched in October 2005 – Oscar 53

We offered a 3 watt S band PA in April 2004 It was launched in June 2004 In the beginning - AO51

ARISS- Amateur Radio on the International Space Station Educational awareness and publicity by school children speaking to astronauts

Columbus L/S Band Antennas

Cubesats Standard - less than I.3 kg 100x100x100mm Double and triples also possible Standard deployment mechanisms “PODS”.

PSLV launcher. CubeSat deployers

Current cubesat statistics 40 launched already 200+ being developed Created by groups in: US, India, Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Austria, Spain, Portugal Poland, Estonia, Japan, Turkey, Mexico etc etc…...

The Amateur Satellite Service ITU regulated frequency bands: 7, 14, 21 & 28MHz 145MHz 435, 1260* & 2400MHz 3.4GHz*, 5.6GHz*, 5.8GHz*, 10GHz, 24GHz + * - with some limitations.

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22/06/1019 FUNcube – the background Given that: Cubesats are “cheap” Cubesats can be built quickly Cubesats should be “simple” So: Could we create an educational outreach mission? Could it also have a amateur transponder? Could we create a team of volunteers with the skills/passion? Could we develop the actual educational outreach? Could we fund it? RSGB-October 2011

22/06/1020 FUNcube – primary objective EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH STEM subjects – Radio – practical understanding of communication – Electronics – how radios work – Physics – Data from 40+ telemetry channels – Orbital mechanics - Doppler Materials science payload -Demonstrate loss of heat energy by radiation from two materials with differing surface finishes “Fitter Message” - Short greetings messages RSGB-October 2011

22/06/1021 FUNcube Satellite 1-Unit CubeSat COTS CubeSat structure, EPS, Solar panels, PMAS and antennas Bespoke CCT (Command, Control & Telemetry) Board Bespoke RF and HPA boards VHF telemetry downlink– 1k2 BPSK with FEC (Forward Error Correction) Materials science experiment Mode UV linear transponder (20kHz, 1W PEP) Designed for SSO at around 600km (with a >5 year mission life!) AMSAT-UK’s first spacecraft RSGB-October 2011

22/06/1022 Amateur radio operations During the night the satellite switches into amateur radio mode: The satellite receives on UHF ( MHz) and transmits on VHF ( MHz) The amateur radio transponder is used to demonstrate radio communications to schoolchildren and students of all ages Students are able to hear amateur voice signals when the satellite passes overhead RSGB-October 2011

22/06/1023 FUNcube – The “stack” RSGB-October 2011

22/06/1024 FUNcube – The “Stack” RSGB-October 2011

22/06/1025 FUNcube – Special Solar Panel RSGB-October 2011

22/06/1026 FUNcube – The “Stack” for real

22/06/1027 Previous Team Meeting – Nov 2010 RSGB-October 2011

22/06/1028 Latest Team Meeting - May 2011

22/06/1029 Latest Team Meeting – May 2011 RSGB-October 2011

FUNcube – telemetry reception RSGB-October 2011

The “Ground Segment”- the FUNcube dongle An SDR radio designed and built by Howard Long G6LVB The Pro version covers MHz 96kHz bandwidth I/Q output – works with all freeware SDR software & any OS Possibilities for remote reception networks /parallel processing Is creating a sensation! RSGB-October 2011

The “Ground Segment”- the FUNcube dongle An SDR radio designed and built by Howard Long G6LVB The Pro version covers MHz 96kHz bandwidth I/Q output – works with all freeware SDR software & any OS Possibilities for remote reception networks /parallel processing Is creating a sensation! RSGB-October 2011

The “Ground Segment”- the FUNcube dongle RSGB-October 2011

22/06/1034 Getting ready for the launch FUNcube -1 WILL be ready for launch late this year! Qualification to suit Vega, PSLV, Soyuz etc etc. Project funding: Radio Communications Foundation Launch Fund raising web/charity/finalCharityHomepage.action?charityId= web/charity/finalCharityHomepage.action?charityId= RSGB-October 2011

1st IAA Conference on University Satellite Missions & Cubesat Workshop - Rome 2011

22/06/1036 PLUS UKube-1 And now UKube-1 RSGB-October 2011

22/06/1037 PLUS UKube-1 And now UKube-1 MKARS Presentation Feb 2011

22/06/1038 FUNcube Project – Timescales Project inception – Spring 2009 “Go ahead” given – July 2009 Agreement with ISIS signed – Nov 2009 First working hardware- April 2010 First “complete prototype” - Nov 2010 End to end testing complete- March 2011 FUNcube 1 &2 “Engineering model boards”- June 2011 Thermal & vibration testing successfully completed- July 2011 Flight hardware for FUNcube-2- Sept 2011 Complete Flight ready FUNcube-1 spacecraft– Late 2011 FUNCube-1 Launch- 2 nd half 2012? FUNCube-1 Launch- 2 nd half 2012? FUNcube2 on Ukube-1 launch- 2012? FUNcube2 on Ukube-1 launch- 2012? RSGB-October 2011

22/06/1039 FUNcube – Conclusions Educational project with benefits for every generation Great example of volunteer teamwork Is actually “pushing” legislation Good publicity for amateur radio Has spawned the development of the first amateur VHF/UHF SDR radio Has created a second launch opportunity for free Is lots of FUN (and hard work) RSGB-October 2011

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22/06/1041 Thank you for your attention Any Questions? Graham Shirville: FUNcube websites: and AMSAT-UK website: – join us now! RSGB-October 2011