1. AMATEUR RADIO SATELLITES
for
ROCKWELL COLLINS AMATEUR RADIO CLUB By
Keith Pugh, W5IU
AMSAT Area Coordinator
28 August 2008

2. BRIEF HISTORY SPUTNIK – 4 OCT. 1957 OSCAR-1 – 12 DEC. 1961
OSCAR III – First Transponder!
AO-07 – 1974 to 1981
First RS
AO-10 – First High Alt. Sat (HEO) – 1983 to 1997
W5LFL – First Ham in Space
U0-11 – Digital Com. Exp. – 1984 to 2008
AO-13 – Second HEO to 1996

3. BRIEF HISTORY (cont.) MICROSATS – 1990 to Present
Amateur Radio on MIR – 1988 to 1996
Development of AO-40 – 1990 to 2001
Amateur Radio on ISS (ARISS) – 1998 to Present
AO-40 – Third HEO – 2000 to 2004
AO-07 – Resurrection! – 2002 to Present
CubeSats to Present
AO-51 – Present
VO-52 – 2005 – Present
DO-64 – Delfi C3 – Present

4. HEO vs. LEO High Earth Orbit (HEO) Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
Modified Molynia or Highly Elliptical Orbit
8 to 12 Hours per Day Contact Time
Low Doppler Rate
Equipment Investment – Relatively High
Geosynchronous – Continuous Coverage – Limited Area
Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
Low Circular Orbit
10 to 20 Minutes per Pass
4 to 6 Passes per Day (at our Latitude)
High Doppler Rate
Equipment Investment – Relatively Low
Easy Sats!

5. Satellite Orbits Most Other Amateur Satellites AO-40 LEO and Molniya
used for Amateur
Satellites
Apogee
Geosynchronous
Polar LEO
GPS
Perigee
Most Other Amateur Satellites

6. OPERATIONAL SATELLITES
Fully Operational
AO-07
AO-51
VO-52
GO-32
SO-50
ISS
AO-27
FO-29
DO-64
Several CubeSats
Partially Operational
LO-19
AO-16
IO-26
RS-15
RS-30
All LEOs

7. AMSAT’s MISSION STATEMENT 2004
AMSAT is a non-profit volunteer organization which designs, builds and operates experimental satellites and promotes space education. We work in partnership with government, industry, educational institutions and fellow amateur radio societies. We encourage technical and scientific innovation, and promote the training and development of skilled satellite and ground system designers and operators.
Our Vision is to deploy high earth orbit satellite systems that offer daily coverage by 2009 and continuous coverage by AMSAT will continue active participation in human space missions and support a stream of LEO satellites developed in cooperation with the educational community and other amateur satellite groups

8. FULFILLING OUR VISION HEO Development Stream of LEOs
Phase IIIE
Eagle
Geosynchronous Opportunity
Stream of LEOs
CubeSats
SuitSats
Human Space Missions
ARISS

9. HEO Development Phase IIIE
AMSAT-DL Project Supported by AMSAT-NA, AMSAT-UK, and Others
AO-10 and AO-13 Space Frame
Takes Advantage of Prior System Development and Qualification
Test Bed for German Phase 5A (MARS Orbiter) Program
Mechanically Complete
Awaiting Completion of IHU (Integrated Housekeeping Computer)
AMSAT-NA Development
ITAR Problems

10. HEO Development (cont.)
Phase IIIE (cont.)
Running out of Funds for Continuation of Marburg Laboratory
Must Complete “Bird” and Store until Launch
Still Looking for Affordable Launch Opportunity
Coupling with Phase 5A May Help but No Decision Yet from German Government Agency
AMSAT-NA Working in Conjunction with Other HEO Projects
Current Estimates for Launch are at Least an Order of Magnitude too High for the Combined AMSATs of the World
Complete AMSAT-DL Pitch available on AMSAT-UK Web, see:

11. P3-E from AMSAT-DL

12. HEO Development (cont.)
Project Eagle
Next Generation High Earth Orbit Satellite
Intended Orbit: High Eccentricity GTO
May become a GEO Rideshare Payload
Capabilities
U/V and L/S Software Defined Transponders
S2/C Advanced Communications Payload (ACP)
Robust Support for Emergency Communications
Digital Voice, SMS-Like Text, and Data Communications

13. HEO Development (cont.)
Project Eagle (cont.)
U/V Linear Software Defined Transponder (SDX).
Usable over 75% of the Orbit by an AO-13 or AO-40 Class Ground Station.
L/S1 Linear Software Defined Transponders (SDX).
Needs an AO-40 Capable Ground Station.
A Low Rate Text Message System, like SMS.
Operates on U/V-bands
Usable over 75% of the Orbit by a Small Ground Terminal.

14. HEO Development (cont.)
Project Eagle (cont.)
Advanced Communications Payload (ACP).
Uses Advanced Signal Processing and RF Techniques.
Voice Comm using a Single 60cm Dish.
High Rate Data Comm, such as Streaming Video, using a 2m Dish.
AMSAT will make available an Affordable Ground Segment for the ACP System.
Known as Namaste
Currently on Hold
Mechanical Design well underway

15. HEO Development (cont.)
Geosynchronous Opportunity
Integrate Project Eagle Payloads into Commercial Geosynchronous Space Frame
Share Real Estate
Share Environmental Control
Share Power System
Share Cost – Expensive
Potential for Fund Raising based on Emergency Communications Asset and Educational Value
Second Round of Communications with Potential Satellite Provider Underway
Would Require Three “Birds” for Worldwide Coverage

16. Stream of LEOs CubeSats - Many SuitSats University Efforts - Worldwide
AMSAT Mentoring
Educational Funding
Need More Focus to Benefit Amateur Radio – Like Delfi C3
SuitSats
SuitSat 1 – History
Hand Launched from ISS
Had RF Problem
Achieved Most Goals
Re Entered Atmosphere in About Six Months
Best Amateur Radio Publicity Ever!

17. Stream of LEOs (cont.) SuitSats (cont.) KiwiSat SumbandilaSat
SuitSat 2 – In Development Now!
New Power Source – Should Last for Life of Satellite
Software Defined Transponder Capability
Scientific Experiments
Easy to Hear
Launch in 2009
KiwiSat
New Zealand’s First Satellite
Proceeding to Plan
SumbandilaSat
AMSAT-SA’s (South Africa’s) Next Satellite

18. Human Space Missions
ARISS - Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (See Separate Presentation)
Educational Outreach – School Contacts – Proud History
International Cooperation – Development & Operations
Still Developing New Capabilities
S and L Band Antennas for Columbia Module – In Place
Radios for Columbia Module – In Development
General Contacts with Astronauts – Depends on Astronaut
Repeater Capability
Must Develop Autonomous Capabilities – Workload Relief
SuitSats are By Products
Everyone Should Try to Witness an ARISS Contact In Person to Get the Full Impact!

19. THE NEW AMSAT Most of these Realities are not Really New,
There is no more Free Launch
Volunteers require Different Management Techniques
Hams are Cheap
AMSAT Members are Getting Older
“Techies” have different goals than “Operators”
Seldom are Critics Contributors
Don’t be Part of the Problem, be Part of the Solution
Most of these Realities are not Really New,
but must be Re-Visited Periodically

20. Support AMSAT with your
THE NEW AMSAT (cont.)
AMSAT Leadership Meeting – 8-10 Aug 2008
Attended by Officers, Current BOD, and New BOD
Addressed Near Term Goals
Re-Visited AMSAT’s Vision in light of Current Realities
AMSAT BOD Meeting – Oct 2008
Open Meeting – Attend and Hear for Yourself
Precedes AMSAT Space Symposium
AMSAT Space Symposium and General Meeting
Atlanta, GA, Oct 2008
Papers, Fun, Prizes, and Social Event
Register Now
Support AMSAT with your
Time, Talent, and Money

21. World Wide Web Resources
Links Available to Related Web Sites

22. How can you participate?
Personal and Club Donations to the EAGLE Project and EAGLE Launch Fund are Encouraged
Support AMSAT-DL’s P3-E Project
Join the Fun on the “Birds”!
Join AMSAT today

23. Questions?