All posts by TopSpacer

Amateur/Student Satellite, Education, Space Radio

Student and amateur CubeSat news roundup – Feb.4.2020

February 4, 2020 TopSpacer

A sampling of recent articles, press releases, etc. related to student and amateur CubeSat / SmallSat projects and programs (find previous smallsat roundups here):

MakerSat-1 components for easy assembly. Credits: and NanoSats.eu

** After ISS departure, Cygnus resupply vehicle releases 14 CubeSats including several built by university groups:

The university satellites include:

NanoRacks Cygnus deployer:
- SwampSat II (University of Florida) will deploy “a 172-square-foot (16-square meter) loop antenna after release from the NanoRacks deployer. The antenna will measure very low frequency wave propagation in the upper ionosphere.“
- Orbital Factory-2 (University of Texas, El Paso) “will perform a technological demonstration of 3D printing of conductive material. The small satellite features a 3D printing 2-DOF gantry table mechanism that will deposit conductive ink and simulate repairing of a solar cell.“
- HuskySat-1 (University of Washington) – “HuskySat-1’s goal is to test two experimental payloads, a Pulsed Plasma Thruster, and a high-frequency K-band communication system, as well as hosting an Amateur Radio Linear Transponder.”
  - HuskySat-1 with VHF/UHF Linear Transponder Set to Deploy Soon – ARRL
SEOPS Slingshot deployer:
- EdgeCube (Sonoma State University, Santa Clara University and Morehead State University) aims to monitor ecosystem change over time by observing variations “in leaf reflectance in the range 680 to 750 nm from changes in vegetation chlorophyll absorption and mesophyll scattering due to seasonal leaf phenology or stress“.
- MakerSat 1 (Northwest Nazarene University in Idaho) “designed to be quickly snap-assembled by astronauts on the space station, then loaded into its deployment slot”.
  - Satellite designed by NNU Students Set to Depart from the ISS – NNU News
  - MakerSat: A CubeSatDesigned for In-Space Assembly, B. Grim et al, 30th SmallSat Conf., Utah State Univ., 2016 (pdf)

A demo of the MakerSat 1 quick assembly:

** AMSAT news on student and amateur CubeSat/smallsat projects: ANS-033 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin

HuskySat-1 Deployed, Telemetry Beacon Active
Free Digital Copy of “Getting Started with Amateur Satellites” Now Available for New or Renewing Members
Joe Spier, K6WAO, Resigns as AMSAT President
Melissa Pore To Be Honored at Hamcation February 2020
W1ANT Pro Satellite Tracker Announced
AMSAT Argentina Drifting APRS Buoy on 145.825 MHz
VUCC Awards-Endorsements for February 2020
Upcoming Satellite Operations
Upcoming AMSAT Events
ARISS News
Satellite Shorts from All Over

General CubeSat/SmallSat info:

Resources:
- Launch options:
- SteamJet Space Systems – Water fueled thruster for satellite orbit control
  - Water-based spacecraft propulsion system gets testing program | Aerospace Testing International
- Smallsats by the Numbers – SatMagazine
- Inspiration Fuels the National Space Club – Univ. Alabama at Huntsville – “Startup funds of $1,000 were provided to each Alabama CubeSat Initiative subsystem team when it started in the 2018-2019 school year, and faculty advisors integrated design efforts into university curricula as senior design projects.”
- Twitter:
  - NANOSAT.ETH (@myfirstsatellit) / Twitter
  - Smallsats (@smallsats) / Twitter
Projects:

** Judi Sandrock – Modular Smallsat Teaching Tools with Xinabox – Cold Star Project S02E17

Xinabox co-founder Judi Sandrock from South Africa is on the Cold Star Project with host Jason Kanigan, and we’re talking about their modular smallsat teaching tools.

== Amazon Ad ==

Introduction to CubeSat Technology and Subsystem:
Orbit Design, Debris Impact, and Orbital Decay Prediction

Activism, Roundup

Space policy roundup – Feb.3.2020

February 3, 2020 TopSpacer

A sampling of links to recent space policy, politics, and government (US and international) related space news and resource items that I found of interest (find previous space policy roundups here):

Webcasts:

** Economic Impact of Spaceport America is Announced | Spaceport America

** Space Defense, Military Constellations and Knights, Bishops and Pawns | Kratos

Robert Zitz, National Security Consultant, Robert Zitz & Associates, LLC: During this episode we’ll talk about the increasingly contested space environment and the role small satellite constellations might play in the identification and mitigation of threats to our space assets with Robert Zitz, national security consultant. He has held senior executive positions in the industry as well as multiple leadership roles in Army intelligence, the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, among others.

** Sun, 02/02/2020 – Dr. Gilbert Levin and Barry DiGregorio discussed the “Mars life searching project approved and funded by the UK but turned down by NASA, more on Viking and life on Mars possibilities”.

** January 31, 2020 Zimmerman/Batchelor podcast | Behind The Black

=== Amazon Ad ===

Alcohol in Space: Past, Present and Future

Activism, Space Policy, SpaceCasts

The Space Show this week – Feb.3.2020

February 3, 2020 TopSpacer

The guests and topics of discussion on The Space Show this week:

1. Monday, Feb. 3, 2020; 7 pm PST (9 pm CST, 10 pm EST): No special programming today.

2. Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020; 7-8:30 pm PDT (9-10:30 pm CDT, 10-11:30 pm EDT): Bob Zimmerman of Behind the Black returns for news and updates for space.

3. Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020: Pre-recorded Hotel Mars Program with John Batchelor. See Upcoming Show on The Space Show website for details.

4. Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020; 7-8:30 pm PST (9-10:30 pm CST, 10-11:30 pm EST): No special show today.

5. Friday, Feb. 7, 2020; 9:30-11 am PST (11:30 am-1 pm CST, 12:30-2 pm EST): We welcome back Dr. Paul Davies to talke about his new book, The Demon in the Machine: How Hidden Webs of Information Are Solving the Mystery of Life [Amazon commission link], plus a wide ranging discussion of cosmology and physics .

6. Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020; 12-1:30 pm PST, (3-4:30 pm EST, 2-3:30 pm CST): We welcome back Michael Listner, Atty, to discuss law as a tool of war as touched on during his last visit to The Space Show.

Some recent shows:

** Thu, 01/30/2020 – Deep Prasad discussed “quantum computers, quantum information, quantum technology, Deep’s SETI research and work based on the Tic Tac events”.

** Hotel Mars/The Space Show combo program – Wed, 01/29/2020 – John Batchelor and David Livingston spoke with Doug Messier about “Boeing problems and culture, CST 100 Starliner, Phantom Express cancellation and more”.

The Space Show is a project of the One Giant Leap Foundation.

The Space Show - David Livingston — The Space Show – David Livingston

=== Amazon Ad ===

Rise of the Space Age Millennials:
The Space Aspirations of a Rising Generation

General

Carnival of Space #648 – BrownSpaceman

February 2, 2020 TopSpacer

BrownSpaceman hosts the latest Carnival of Space.

**Betelgeuse**, a red giant. Image via Universe Today & Carnival of Space

=== Amazon Ad ===

Large and Dangerous Rocket Ships: The History of High-power Rocketrys Ascent to the Edges of Outer Space

Astronomy, Education

Videos: Night Sky for February 2020

February 1, 2020 TopSpacer

[ Update: What’s Up: February 2020 Skywatching Tips from NASA

Looking for astronomy highlights for February 2020? This month is the best time of the year to try to view Mercury, soon after sunset; Mars disappears behind the Moon on Feb. 18; and the bright red star on Orion’s shoulder, Betelgeuse, has been acting weird. (Or has it?) Additional information about topics covered in this episode of What’s Up, along with still images from the video, and the video transcript, are available at https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/whats-up….

]

Tonight’s Sky: February – Space Telescope Science Institute – YouTube

In February, the Winter Triangle is your guide to the night sky: The northern hemisphere is treated to views of the stars Procyon, Sirius, and Betelgeuse. Keep watching for the awe-inspiring space-based views of the Orion Nebula, which is sculpted by the stellar winds of central bright stars.

** What’s in the Night Sky February 2020 – Alyn Wallace

** The Virtual Planetarium: what to see in the night sky, February 2020 – BBC Sky at Night Magazine – YouTube

The Sky at Night presenters Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel reveal what they will be observing in the night sky throughout February

https://youtu.be/5j8Ovjjlt40

** Eyes on The Sky: February 2020 – Hudson Valley Community College – YouTube

Hudson Valley Community College astronomy instructor Richard Monda gives a detailed update of what will be happening in the night sky from Jan. 27, 2020 – Feb. 29, 2020 in the Northeastern US. Eyes on the Sky is a series of informational videos relating to Astronomy in the Capital Region of New York State and the Northeastern United States. The videos are hosted by Richard J. Monda, an astronomy instructor in the college’s Biology, Chemistry and Physics Department.