Student and amateur CubeSat news roundup – Jan.6.2019

A sampling of recent articles, press releases, etc. about student and amateur CubeSat / SmallSat projects and programs:

** South Africa launches ZACube-2 nanosatellite – Telecompaper

The ZACube-2 weighs 4 kg and is South Africa’s second nanosatellite to be launched into space. It is three times the size of its predecessor, TshepisoSat. It is a precursor to the MDASat, a constellation of nine nanosatellites that will be developed to provide very high frequency data exchange communication systems to the maritime industry.

The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has invested ZAR 16.5 million in the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) for the project in support of Operation Phakisa. The project is managed by the DST’s South African National Space Agency (SANSA), in cooperation with the University of Montpellier, the French Embassy and the Paris Chamber of Commerce.

** MySat-1 opens up opportunities for UAE youth in space sector – GulfNews. com

Dubai: UAE students who built MySat-1, a ‘CubeSat’ launched last year to the International Space Station (ISS), are now more informed and capable to contribute to the developing space sector of the country.

The 10-centimetre cube satellite MySat-1 was developed by students of the UAE-based Khalifa University of Science and Technology and was successfully launched to space on board the Northrop Grumman Cygnus spacecraft.

MySat-1’s launch came on the heels of launch of KhalifaSat, the UAE’s first 100 per cent Emirati-made satellite launched on October 29.

** Eager for space experience? ULA invites K-12 students to submit payloads – Florida Today -This involves suborbital projects but good prep for small satellite development.

Twenty teams from kindergarten through 12th grade will be invited to design, build and launch payloads – objects, experiments and instruments – that will eventually take flight on an intern-built, 35-foot-tall Future Heavy Super Sport rocket. Next summer is the target launch window.

Teams can also compete for a chance at $5,000 for their school or organization. That competition is based on how close their payload gets to a target on the ground.

** Nepal launching own satellites by mid-May – The HimalayanTimes.com

According to Rabindra Prasad Dhakal, chief of technical department, Nepal Academy of Science and Technology, the two have been provided Rs 20 million to launch the satellites named ‘Birds 3’. The amount was released to develop three satellites simultaneously and preparations are under way for the launch by mid-May.

The satellites will take photos of various parts of the country on a daily basis and also disseminate information about possible disasters. NAST scientists and the Minister of Science and Technology are scheduled to leave for Japan before the launch of the satellites.

** PW-Sat2 deorbit sail deployment – on-board camera footage | Southgate Amateur Radio News

PW-Sat2, the second Polish student satellite, also launched on the SpaceX Falcon 9 SSO-A flight with AMSAT Fox-1Cliff, is a student project with the goal to test a new deorbit sail.

The sail was deployed on December 29, 2018. On-Board camera footage of the event can be viewed at

** AMSAT news on student and amateur CubeSat/smallsat projects: ANS-… AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin

  • Recurring Donations Feature Added to AMSAT.org
  • D-STAR ONE Launched, Telemetry Received
  • Ham Talk Live Podcast Featuring W6RO Satellite Operation
  • PW-Sat2 Deorbit Sail Deployment – On-Board Camera Footage
  • JAMSAT NEXUS V/U Mode-J CubeSat Scheduled to Launch January 17
  • Australian National Scout Jamboree – AJ2019
  • DL50AMSAT Callsign IG HamSpirit Satellite Weekend January 18-20
  • VUCC Awards-Endorsements for December 2018
  • AMSAT South Africa Dual-Band VHF/UHF Yagi
  • Upcoming Satellite Operations
  • AMSAT at Thunderbird Hamfest in Glendale AZ, 12 January 2019
  • Satellite Shorts From All Over

General CubeSat/SmallSat info:

====

Galaxy Girls: 50 Amazing Stories of Women in Space.