Initial parameters: 50 x2U cubesats independently built by Universities Launch altitude <= 320km Near polar orbit approx 79 degrees Orbital lifetime –up to three months teams will be provided with a standard sets of sensors (payload) Subsystems not standardised 1U for the payloads & 1U for subsystems Opportunity for a unique AMSAT cubesat QB50 QB50, an international network of 50 CubeSats for multi-point, in-situ measurements in the lower thermosphere and re-entry research

Ground Station Network & Frequency Allocation Working Group (GFWG) Initial invitees: Graham Shirville – G3VZV Neil Melville - PA9NM Lars Mehnen – University of Applied Science Technikum Vienna Dietmar Kubat – DLR Germany Wouter Jan Ubbels – PE3WEG - ISIS Delft Helen Page – ESA Education Office Phil Beavis – Vega Co UK Representative from University of Vigo Spain Charles Swenson - Utah State University Logan Reps from AMSAT organisations in USA, Germany France & Japan QB50 QB50, an international network of 50 CubeSats for multi-point, in-situ measurements in the lower thermosphere and re-entry research

Communication “issues”: How much data to download Which band(s)? Telecommanding legal requirement? Telecommanding practical need? Modulation methodologies? Risk of mutual QRM Use of “spread spectrum”? Use of time division multiplexing? Could it use the whole MHz allocation? QB50 QB50, an international network of 50 CubeSats for multi-point, in-situ measurements in the lower thermosphere and re-entry research

Ground Station “issues”: How to track 50 satellites? Initial TLE uncertainties then high drag Link budgets? Use of Software Defined Radio techniques? Cost of harwdare GENSO opportunity? Use of GENSO MCC system or central data repository? Centralized test / verification / certification ? QB50 QB50, an international network of 50 CubeSats for multi-point, in-situ measurements in the lower thermosphere and re-entry research

AMSAT/IARU “issues”: Is it a reasonable use of frequencies in the amateur satellite service? Is a telecommand functionality needed? How will the cubesats be named? Frequency coordination? How to deal with ITU Notification processes? How would we use an Hamcube version? How would we build a Hamcube version? QB50 QB50, an international network of 50 CubeSats for multi-point, in-situ measurements in the lower thermosphere and re-entry research

Provisional Mission Timeline: Application for funding from the European Commission - end nd QB50 Workshop – 3 rd /4 th Feb 2011 (includes 1st GFWG meeting) Notification of funding outcome - May/June nd GFWG meeting late June 2011 : : : Launch could be 2013/2014 QB50 QB50, an international network of 50 CubeSats for multi-point, in-situ measurements in the lower thermosphere and re-entry research

Requests for support: Definition of specs for, and development of, the flight hardware and software Ditto for the ground segment Interfacing with the University teams Secretary and document management for the Working Group (pls contact QB50 QB50, an international network of 50 CubeSats for multi-point, in-situ measurements in the lower thermosphere and re-entry research