Amateur/Student Satellite, Education, Space Radio

Student and amateur CubeSat news roundup – June.9.2020

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

** Univ. of New Hampshire students to built CubeSat to study Earth’s upper atmosphere:  UNH Space Science Center offers out of this world experience – Univ. of New Hampshire

Scientists from the University of New Hampshire’s Space Science Center will use a $4.6 million grant from NASA to create a project that will offer a diverse group of college students from across the country hands-on research experience designing and building small satellites that will be launched into outer space and collect data for one of NASA’s space missions.

The Student Collaboration Project, led by Noé Lugaz, a research associate professor of physics, aims to work in conjunction with NASA’s Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) mission and build off of the collected data to provide firsthand research experience for undergraduate and graduate students and help to diversify the field of space science.

“We’re missing out on so much potential with great people out there,” said Lugaz. “Most science projects are publicly funded, and we want to expand access to college students who are qualified and have a passion for science to get involved, no matter what their major. We are hoping to inspire them, even if it’s just for one year. We think we can really start to make a difference.”

Project coordinators will recruit the first group of students from three universities–UNH, Howard University in Washington, D.C. and Sonoma State University in California. During the five-year project, students from each university will design and build a CubeSat–a small satellite the size of a half-gallon of milk–that will have an instrument that can quantify the concentration of oxygen in the Earth’s upper atmosphere and provide scientists with clues about the effects of the solar wind. This is the region where many satellites are located and knowing more about the atmosphere’s density could help determine their orbit and lifetime.

…

The student built CubeSats will launch in 2024 separately from the main IMAP mission but at the same time in order to collect complementary data. The CubeSats will be in space for about four months and will be located much closer to the Earth than the other IMAP instruments.

** Technical Univ. of Budapest SMOG/P/ATL-1 picosats measure spectra usage globally.

The pocketqube style satellites were launched in Dec. 2019 along with four other picosats on a Rocket Lab Electron rocket and ejected into orbit via a deployer from Alba Orbital.

SMOG-P pocketqube -Technical Univ. of Budapest

See also SMOG-P (MO-105) and ATL-1 (MO-106) – CubeSat and LEO Satellites – AMSAT Deutschland e.V. Forum.

** RamSat built by Oak Ridge Tennessee middle school students to go to the ISS in the autumn:  For members: RMS satellite scheduled to launch in September – Oak Ridge Today

The small cube satellite built by Robertsville Middle School students with help from teachers, mentors, and NASA is scheduled to launch on a resupply rocket to the International Space Station in September, and it could be deployed into orbit a few hundred miles above Earth in October.

Testing of the satellite and its components, including a battery test and vibration tests, was scheduled to start this week.

** AMSAT news on student and amateur CubeSat/smallsat projects:

ANS-152 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin:

  • Temporary Rule Waivers Announced for 2020 ARRL Field Day
  • IARU-R2 Workshop Videos Available
  • Digital Mode Experiments Conducted on Linear Satellites
  • SpaceX Launches Successfully Toward ISS
  • Moonbounce Contact via FT8 Could be a First
  • Mid-Altitude Balloon Race Planned for June 1
  • ARISS News
  • Upcoming Satellite Operations
  • Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
  • Satellite Shorts From All Over

ANS-159 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin:

  • Newly Revised 2020 Digital Edition of “Getting Started with Amateur Satellites” Now Available
  • Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Team in the United States Creates a New Organization: ARISS-USA
  • AMSAT President’s Statement on Creation of ARISS-USA
  • Back Issues of The AMSAT Journal Available to AMSAT Members
  • AO-73 Now in Full-Time Transponder Mode
  • VUCC Awards-Endorsements for June 2020
  • KG5FYJ Assigned to Upcoming ISS Mission
  • A New Way to Obtain GP Data (aka TLEs)
  • Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
  • Upcoming Satellite Operations
  • Satellite Shorts from All Over

See also:

General CubeSat/SmallSat info:

RainCube: “(a) The integrated radar payload and flight avionics in the 6-U bus chassis. (b) The fully integrated RainCube satellite including the solar panels and the deployed radar antenna.” Credits: SPIE, RainCube
    • Coast Guard Auxiliary Supports Research Efforts – MarineLink – “As part of the DHS Science & Technology Polar Scout CubeSat project, the RDC constructed a satellite ground station in Fairbanks, Alaska. This labor-intensive effort required the construction of an 18-foot radome structure. The successful completion on this ground station provided a valuable resource for the Coast Guard and DHS while testing CubeSat technology in support of Arctic search and rescue.“

** Smallsat built at UNSW Canberra at the Australian Defence Force Academy to fly on next Rocket Lab Electron launch:

**  NASA STEM Stars: CubeSats

“NASA STEM Stars” is a web-chat series that connects students with subject matter experts to learn about STEM careers and ask questions about STEM topics. This week, “NASA STEM Stars” is joined by aerospace engineer Allison Evans, who specializes in CubeSats. Learn about her path to NASA and how she ended up building and testing spacecraft the size of a loaf of bread.

** Hiber smallsat constellation will provide IoT services for a diversity applications such as assisting beekeepers:

** 1st “Make Space Boring” virtual conference – Jason Kanigan – Lowering the 40%+ Smallsat Failure Rate – Cold Star Technologies – YouTube

Jason Kanigan of Cold Star Tech speaks at the first “Make Space Boring” virtual conference. His topic is lowering the awful 40%+ partial plus full mission failure rate of small satellites.

** Building small satellite/cubesat missions in Indian universities

What goes into building a cubesat program at a university? What are the difference between university teams trying to build satellites in India against US? How can we improve the overall ecosystems in academia to build more student missions in India? Here are some great insights from Sharan. NewSpace India Episode 25 June 5, 2020

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Orbit Design, Debris Impact, and Orbital Decay Prediction

Activism, Space Policy, SpaceCasts

The Space Show this week – June.8.2020

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

1. Monday, June 8, 2020; 7 pm PDT (9 pm CDT, 10 pm EDT: No special programming.

2. Tuesday, June 9, 2020; 7 pm PDT (9 pm CDT, 10 pm EDT): We welcome back Dr. Eligar Sadeh, to report on a special Astropolitics Institute Workshop.

3. Wednesday, June 10, 2020: Hotel Mars TBA pre-recorded. See upcoming show menu on the home page for program details.

4. Thursday, June 11, 2020; 7-8:30 pm PDT (9-10:30 pm CDT, 10-11:30 pm EDT): We welcome back Dr. Namrata Goswami on national security space, SpaceX, China, space policy, The Space Force and more.

5. Friday, June 12, 2020; 9:30-11 am PDT (11:30 am-1 pm CDT, 12:30-2 pm EDT): We welcome back Robert Jacobson for his new book, “Space Is Open For Business: The Industry That Can Transform Humanity“.

6. Sunday, June 14, 2020; 12-1:30 pm PDT (3-4:30 pm EDT, 2-3:30 pm CDT): Welcome space research scientist Adam Hibberd from the UK. He will discuss the paper, Project Lyra: Catching1I/‘Oumuamua–Mission Opportunities After 2024 (pdf).

Some recent shows:

** Sunday – June 7, 2020 – In this Open Lines program, Dr. David Livingston led a discussion on a wide range of topics.

** Friday – June 5, 2020 – Jaume Sanpera, CEO of Sateliot,  discussed “5G technology, the Internet of Things, satellite communications and more”.

** Tuesday – June 2, 2020 – Dr. Dana Andrews discussed “his new book, Chasing The Dream, aerospace history, technology with X planes, the shuttle, aluminum versus titanium, management decision making at NASA, initial shuttle performance specs, claims and dreams plus more with Musk, SpaceX and the new commercial space industry”.

** See also:
* The Space Show Archives
* The Space Show Newsletter
* The Space Show Shop

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

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

 

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Activism, Roundup

Space policy roundup – Jun.7.2020

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):

International space

Webcasts:

** Michael Listner – Realpolitik and Space Law – Cold Star Project S02E41

Founder & Principal at Space Law & Policy Solutions Michael Listner is on the Cold Star Project. He’s also author and editor of The Precis, a space law quarterly briefing letter. Our subject of discussion is Realpolitik and space law, and I ask Michael about:

– where he finds himself most often with another interpretation, either conceptually or with the letter of the law, with other space lawyers
– what clients are seeking when they approach his firm
– what he believes is at issue regarding the White House’s April 6th Executive Order regarding space resources–Michael called it “posturing for the space resources food fight and a pushback against the [Hauge] Building Blocks”
– the standout issues of space law from his perspective, with regard to commercial operations
– whether international safeguards exist or not to avoid war, as nation states move to use space resources and occupy space locations
– who are some key people Michael follows in the space field.

Space Law & Policy Solutions website: https://www.spacelawsolutions.com/

** The Space Show – Tues. 06/02/2020 – Dr. Dana Andrews discussed “his new book, Chasing The Dream, aerospace history, technology with X planes, the shuttle, aluminum versus titanium, management decision making at NASA, initial shuttle performance specs, claims and dreams plus more with Musk, SpaceX and the new commercial space industry”.

** Space Café WebTalk Recap: Dr. Raji Rajagopalan On Indian Space Security And The Future Of Indian Space – SpaceWatch.Global

In this week’s Space Cafe Web Talk Dr. Raji Rajagopalan discussed how India’s approach to outer space has changed over the last decade and how it is now driven increasingly by national security concerns.

Dr. Rajagopalan also addressed a range of other significant topics, including India’s controversial ASAT test, her thoughts on space collaboration with other nations, and the growth of private space industry in India, including ISRO’s support of it.

** E18 – Slash the Trash – Incentivizing Deorbit (with Becca Reesman, Mick Gleason, and Dan Oltrogge) – CSPS (Center for Space Policy and Strategy) at The Aerospace Corp

** Webinar | Nurturing National Security Space Technologies – Space Force thinking about NASA-style partnerships with private companies – SpaceNews.com

SpaceNews talked with the colonel leading AFRL’s effort to keep the U.S. military “one step ahead in space” by fostering key enabling technologies.  The Air Force Research Laboratory’s Space Vehicles Directorate in New Mexico is one of 23 space-related organizations set to transfer to the U.S. Space Force under plans unveiled last month.

As the Department of the Air Force’s “Center of Excellence” for space technology R&D, the Space Vehicles Directorate develops, demonstrates and transitions critical technologies for the entire gamut of military space missions, including communications; positioning, navigation and timing, missile warning, space situational awareness, and defensive space control.  Col. Eric Felt, the Air Force officer who leads the Space Vehicles Directorate and its team of 1,000 military, civilian, and on-site contractors, will talk with SpaceNews Staff Writer Sandra Erwin and Editor-in-Chief Brian Berger about the R&D investments the directorate is making to help the U.S. military maintain a technological advantage in the space domain.

** Webinar Replay | Defending the high ground (and rescuing astronauts) – SpaceNews.com

With the successful launch and docking of NASA and SpaceX’s historic Demo-2 mission, SpaceNews talks with the Space Force brass supporting this and future commercial crew missions. Maj. Gen. John Shaw and Brig. Gen. Doug Schiess join SpaceNews Staff Writer Sandra Erwin and Editor-in-Chief Brian Berger for a broad-based discussion on Space Force operations, including the U.S. military’s role in rescuing astronauts. Shaw and Schiess were joined by the 45th Operations Group’s Detachment 3 commander, Lt. Col. Michael Thompson, to talk about how the military revived and trained for the astronaut-rescue role it has performed since the Apollo era.

** June 5, 2020 Zimmerman/Batchelor podcast | Behind The Black

** June 2, 2020 Zimmerman/Batchelor podcast | Behind The Black

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In Space Infrastructure, Living in Space, Space Systems

Videos: “Space to Ground” ISS report – June.5.2020

Here is the latest episode in NASA’s Space to Ground weekly report on activities related to the International Space Station:

** NASA Astronauts Ring the Opening Bell for Nasdaq – NASA

A historic bell ringing, 250 miles above Earth. Today we recognized the achievements of our #LaunchAmerica mission with NASA Astronauts Chris Cassidy, Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley who rung the captain’s bell onboard the International Space Station to open the day’s trading on June 2. Behnken and Hurley arrived at the station on May 31, a day after becoming the first NASA astronauts to launch on a commercial rocket. The launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft marked the return of human launches from U.S. soil to the space station for the first time since the retirement of the space shuttle program in 2011.

** From Space to Earth: NASA and SpaceX Honor Graduates of The Class of 2020 – NASA

When NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley launched to the space station aboard SpaceX’s Dragon Endeavor spacecraft, the world was watching. They also took 90,000 people along for the ride in a mosaic of Earth that include photos of Class of 2020 graduates In this video, the crew members talk to Benji Reed, the SpaceX Director of Crew Mission Management, before displaying the graduation mosaic to honor those who graduated this spring during the coronavirus pandemic. Learn more about the mission by visiting https://www.nasa.gov/launchamerica/

** A view of the ISS that seems more 3-dimensional than other videos of the station:

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Space business, Space participation, The Moon

“Space for Humanity” reserves payload space on Xplore’s first Moon mission

Xplore is a company founded to provide low cost access to the inner solar system for missions ranging from government sponsored scientific studies to commercial endeavors. They also want to invite public participation such as program to send names to the Moon:

Xplore will fly your name on our first mission to orbit the Moon, expected 2022. Add your name to the list and you can come along on our Moon Xpedition™.

The company today announced the first customer to place a payload on their Moon mission:

Xplore To Host Space for Humanity Payload on its First Moon Mission
Xplore Reserves Private Payload for Non-profit Organization, Space for Humanity

Xplore Inc., a commercial space company providing Space as a ServiceTM today announced that space industry leader Dylan Taylor plans to reserve payload space on Xplore’s first mission beyond Earth orbit. The payload will be hosted onboard the XcraftTM, Xplore’s highly capable, multi-mission spacecraft designed to perform frequent, low-cost missions in the inner solar system.

The Xplore Xcraft™ will be a standardized vehicle for deep space exploration. Credits: Xplore

The diverse payload reservations Xplore is attracting now includes private citizens. Dylan Taylor is a successful founder, philanthropist, prominent space investor and also the CEO of Voyager Space Holdings, a multi-national space holding firm that acquires and integrates leading space exploration enterprises globally. He is also the first private citizen to manufacture an item in space when a gravity meter he co-designed and commissioned was printed on the International Space Station in 2017. Dylan has commissioned the Xplore payload for the benefit of Space for Humanity, a non-profit organization dedicated to democratizing space and supporting the education and future spaceflight for citizen astronauts.

Mr. Taylor said,

“My decision to choose Xplore as our payload hosting provider was a simple one – Xplore is opening up new markets for commercial space, and I fully support their business model and experienced team. Their next-generation ESPA-class Xcraft and payload hosting services gives the flexibility needed to design the optimum payload and send it to space with Xplore.” He added, “Space as a Service™ is more than a tagline – they are ushering in a new way of doing business that meets my organizations’ needs and supports a wide range of customers.”

Xplore Founder Lisa Rich, said,

“Xplore is honored to have Space for Humanity as one of the forward-thinking commercial customers on our first mission. We are pleased to serve a non-profit and appreciate Space for Humanity’s confidence in Xplore and our team. We have simplified the complexity behind sending payloads to space so that anyone with a purpose can fly their payload.” She added, “In the same way that we allow scientists to focus on the science, not the spacecraft, Xplore gives Space for Humanity the freedom to focus on the purpose of their payload and how they plan to support it via meaningful engagement and outreach programs that benefit their organization’s mission.”

Dylan Taylor said,

“With Xplore, our mission does not need a design team or spacecraft to achieve our goals. We can engage Xplore to send our payload to space – which allows us to stay 100% focused on our core activities.” He added: “Xplore can take us to our desired destinations beyond Earth orbit – something few companies can do. Further, we will benefit from the creative input they provide as well as the flexibility of the missions they can perform.”

Xplore’s spacecraft, Xcraft™, is a highly-capable ESPA-class spacecraft that can carry 30kg – 70kg of payload in 50U volume and provides customers with the opportunity to fly scheduled or custom orbital missions. The company works with commercial customers, non-profits, sponsors, and organizations seeking to send their brands, instruments and other materials to space. While most customers desire to fly instruments to gather valuable science data, an increasing number of customers seek to use the significance of a space mission to send creative payloads and magnify the human impact of their message.

Xplore Xcraft in orbit around the Moon. Credits: Xplore

Lisa Rich said,

“The value of sending a payload beyond Earth orbit — and having Space for Humanity become one of the first private customers to do so, is exemplary. Citizens identify with the import of these human achievements and want to participate. We want to provide customers as well as the public with the ability to take part in our great space future.”

Xplore launched its public outreach website, Xplore Space, for this very purpose. Their site, https://www.xplorespace.com/ gives citizens and space enthusiasts alike the ability to send their name on Xplore’s first mission to the Moon, for free. Names of citizens will be saved on Xplore’s data storage system and placed inside of the Xplore Xcraft. While Xplore performs science missions for space agencies and researchers, citizens will become voyagers alongside scientific instruments making new discoveries. Millions of people will join Xplore on its missions, participating in the exploration of space.

Lisa Rich said,

“We believe that space is for everyone and that all should have access to it. Xplore is on a mission to accelerate scientific knowledge to benefit humanity — and for our part, we will start by expanding the human footprint by giving citizens the ability to send their name to the Moon so they are represented on our journey.”

About Xplore: Xplore is a Seattle-based company offering Space as a Service™. Xplore provides hosted payloads, communication relay services and exclusive datasets to its customers via the Xcraft™, the company’s multi-mission spacecraft. Xplore’s mission is to expand robotic exploration via commercial missions at and beyond Earth, to the Moon, Mars, Venus, Lagrange points and near-Earth asteroids for national space agencies, national security agencies, sovereign space agencies and universities. Visit: https://www.xplore.com

To Send Your Name to the Moon, visit: https://www.xplorespace.com/

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