Right on schedule at 0359 UTC on January 12, the solid-fueled first stage and ground-lit strap-on boosters of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) ignited and hurtled AMSAT-NA’s Fox-1D CubeSat along with 30 other satellites onboard the PSLV-C40 mission toward a sun-synchronous orbit. Less than 18 minutes later, the primary payload, a Cartosat-2 series imaging satellite for the Indian government, separated from the launcher’s fourth stage, followed by other satellites on the mission. By 27 minutes into the flight, confirmation came that all nanosatellites had been deployed. Fox-1D was in orbit!
Just before 0500 UTC, Fox-1D passed over western North America, but the onboard timer that ensures the satellite does not deploy antennas and begin transmitting until it’s clear of the launch vehicle and other satellites had not yet expired. “
“At about 0517 UTC, the satellite came to life and its antennas deployed over the North Pole,” AMSAT reported. “The AMSAT Engineering team and Amateur Radio operators worldwide were watching various WebSDRs for signs of life. Around 0525 UTC, the characteristic “Fox tail” of the Fox-1 FM transmitter was seen on multiple WebSDRs. Fox-1D was alive!” At 0528 UTC, the first frame appeared on the AMSAT telemetry server, uploaded by Anatoly Alexsandrov, UA9UIZ, and initial telemetry values confirmed that the satellite was healthy.
AMSAT-NA OSCAR Number Administrator Bill Tynan, W3XO, has designated Fox-1D as AMSAT OSCAR 92 or AO-92.
AMSAT Engineering reminds stations that the satellite will not be available for general use until the on-orbit checkouts are complete. AMSAT invites continued telemetry reports to assist the engineering team to complete commissioning.
“During commissioning, the transponder may be active at times, but please do not transmit as you may interfere with important tests that must be completed before the satellite is commissioned,” AMSAT said. “The commissioning process is expected to take up to 2 weeks.”
See the AMSAT-NA website for an update on AO-92 commissioning and payload testing. Additional updates may be posted this week.
In addition to a Fox-1 U/V FM transponder, Fox-1D will carry several university experiments, including a MEMS gyro from Pennsylvania State University-Erie, a camera from Virginia Tech, and the University of Iowa’s High Energy Radiation CubeSat Instrument (HERCI) radiation mapping experiment. Fox-1D also carries the AMSAT “L-Band Downshifter,” which gives the option of utilizing a 1.2 GHz uplink for the FM transponder. The Fox-1D downlink will be on 145.880 MHz, and uplinks will be on 435.350 and 1,267.350 MHz (67 Hz CTCSS), switchable.
The PSLV launcher also carried the French PicSat, which includes a V/U FM transponder. PicSat will perform space observations. The transponder uplink is 145.910 MHz, the downlink is 435.525 MHz. — Thanks to AMSAT News Service and Paul Stoetzer, N8HM
Source:ARRL
Antenna
Cushcraft MA-5B Yagi Antenna
Cushcraft Compact HF Multi-Band Beam Yagi Antenna10-20 MetersThe MA5B, Compact HF Multi-Band BeamSmall Footprint — Big SignalMA5B, Cushcraft’s m... Read more
AIM 4170D Antenna / Lab RF Analyzer
The AIM 4170D antenna analyzer measures the complex impedance (magnitude and phase) at each frequency of interest in the range of 0.1 to 180 MH... Read more
The Hyper EZ Hang Kit
EZ HANG’S BASIC CONSTRUCTION IS A WELDED STEEL ROD ATTACHED TO A REEL THAT IS CORROSION RESISTANT PLASTIC AND STAINLESS STEEL. THE REEL COMES WITH 300... Read more
ARRL’s Portable Antenna Classics
Portable Antenna Classics Antennas for Operating On the Go! Portable operating is gaining popularity in the Amateur Radio community. For amateurs who... Read more
Equipment
RM Italy HBF 1000 Automatic Low-Pass Filter, 1.8-55mhz, 1000W
Automatic Low-Pass Filter The HBF 1000 is a high power low pass filter, it’s designed to be used with a transceiever or amplifier to reduce the... Read more
RM Italy BLA-600 Review with Martin Lynch
The BLA 600 is a wideband compact, fully automatic 500W wideband linear amplifier for the HF bands and 6m, from 1.8 to 54 MHz. Totally ideal for runni... Read more
RIGblaster Pro
Capabilities Compatible with All Manufacturers’ Radios Can be used with almost any make or model microphone and most model radios no matter what... Read more
VHF
Zastone ZT-2R BC/SW/VHF/UHF
Zastone Newest Mini Multi-Band Two Way Radio ZT-2R+ BC/SW/VHF/UHF band and Air Band All Included ZT-2R plus Zastone ZT-2R is a Yaesu VX-... Read more
Overview of 50 MHz status in ITU Region 1 (2016)
IARU Region 1 has issued a new version of their Overview of 50 MHz Status document dated Feb 13, 2016 It shows which Region 1 countries currently have... Read more
YANTON DM-980
YANTON DM-980 Built for dual-mode (Digital+ Analog) 1000Channels Versatile Voice Call (Private call,group call, all call and emergency call) Digital e... Read more
IC-9700 Manual – Basic and Advanced Manual [ English ]
IC-9700 Manual Basic Manual http://www.icom.co.jp/world/support/download/manual/pdf/IC-9700_ENG_Basic_0.pdf Advanced Manual: http://www.icom.co.jp/wo... Read more
App - Mobile
Nifty app uses Morse code to send Apple Watch messages
Although there are ways of messaging people with the Apple Watch — either with Siri dictation, or using pre-written responses and emojis — as far as I... Read more
Free Digital Mode Android App
First Formal Release of AndFLMSG! AndFLMSG is a combination of Fldigi and Flmsg for portable devices running Android. The main objective of this devel... Read more
Free App Allows Blind Hams to Work PSK31
A free, new app — Accessible Digipan — has been released that allows blind hams to operate PSK31. The download includes the app, audio tutorials, deta... Read more
iSDR for Iphone and Ipad
iSDR is a software defined radio application compatible with the iPhone®, iPod touch® and iPad™. iSDR is designed for experimenters, shortwave... Read more