Es’hail-2/P4A Designated Qatar-OSCAR 100 (QO-100)

by

On November 15, 2018, Es’hail-2/P4A was launched on a Falcon 9 launch vehicle from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 40 in Florida. Es’hail-2/P4A was developed jointly by QARS (Qatar Amateur Radio Society) and Es’hailSat (the Qatar Satellite Company), with AMSAT-DL as the technical lead, and is the first geostationary amateur radio payload. The satellite has reached its final position at 25.9 °E, and the narrow and wideband transponders were successfully tested on December 23rd. The transponders are expected to be opened for general use in February 2019.

At the request of AMSAT Deutschland e.V., QARS, and Es’hailSat, AMSAT hereby designates Es’hail-2/P4A as Qatar-OSCAR 100 (QO-100). May the
100th OSCAR satellite be the guide star to future amateur radio satellites and payloads to geostationary orbit and beyond.

73,

Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA
AMSAT VP Operations / OSCAR Number Administrator

 

NEXUS designated as Fuji-OSCAR 99

by

On January 18, 2019, NEXUS was launched on an Epsilon launch vehicle from the JAXA Uchinoura Space Center in Japan. NEXUS (NExt generation X Unique Satellite) is a satellite developed jointly by Nihon University College of Science and Technology and the Japan Amateur Satellite Association (JAMSAT).

NEXUS demonstrates several new amateur satellite communication technologies, and includes a mode V/u linear transponder.  Telemetry has been received and decoded around the world since the launch, and the transponder was successfully tested on January 26th. More information may be found at http://sat.aero.cst.nihon-u.ac.jp/nexus/E0_Top.html

At the request of the Nihon University College of Science and Technology and JAMSAT, AMSAT hereby designates NEXUS as Fuji-OSCAR 99 (FO-99). We congratulate the owners and operators of FO-99, thank them for their contribution to the amateur satellite community, and wish them continued success on this and future projects.

OrigamiSat-1 granted FO-98 OSCAR number

by

On January 18, 2019, OrigamiSat-1 was launched on an Epsilon launch vehicle from the JAXA Uchinoura Space Center in Japan. The first satellite of the ORIGAMI (ORganizatIon of research Group on Advanced deployable Membrane structures for Innovative space science) Project of the Tokyo Institute of Technology, OrigamiSat-1 includes a deployable membrane structure experiment, as well as a 5.8GHz high speed downlink experiment. Telemetry has been received and decoded around the world since the launch. More information may be found at http://www.origami.titech.ac.jp/

At the request of the Tokyo Institute of Technology, AMSAT hereby designates OrigamiSat-1 as Fuji-OSCAR 98 (FO-98). We congratulate the owners and operators of FO-98, thank them for their contribution to the amateur satellite community, and wish them continued success on this and future projects.

Courtesy of http://www.origami.titech.ac.jp/about-en

AO-85 Status Update

by

All,

As you probably know, AO-85 has had issues recently with the batteries dropping precariously low during eclipse. We think it’s likely the batteries suffered degradation due to heat during previous periods of no eclipses. This has made it difficult to keep the satellite available for use without endangering the batteries. Today the nominally 3.6v pack was down to 2.8v at the end of the eclipse. That is dangerously low.

In an effort to extend the usable life of the satellite, this evening we turned both the IHU and the transmitter off. This ceases all transmissions, including the beacons every two minutes in both sunlit and eclipsed parts of the orbit. We will periodically turn the satellite back on for an orbit or two, in order to gather telemetry. If all goes as planned, we will turn the repeater back on during the next period of no eclipses beginning around January 24th. In the meantime, it is important to leave AO-85 tracked in your FoxTelem setups, in order for us to gather telemetry and keep tabs on the situation. If you do happen to hear a Veronica beacon, or either the normal repeater or the COR/no telemetry repeater, please let the AMSAT-BB know, or send me an email or message directly.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we try to make the most of the situation. Please consider supporting the AMSAT GOLF project with your membership, and one-time or recurring donations at
https://www.amsat.org/product-category/amsat-membership/ or https://www.amsat.org/donate/.

73, Drew KO4MA
AMSAT VP Operations