Monthly Archives: November 2013

Amateur/Student Satellite, Space Systems

Photo: Cubsats shot into orbit from the ISS

I mentioned the other day the deployment of three small cubesat spacecraft (10 cm x 10 cm x 10cm)  from the International Space Station. They were ejected with a special device attached to the Japanese Kibo module. Below is a great photo of the deployment: Cubesats Released From Space Station – NASA

CubeSatsDeployedFromISS_Nov19_2013_iss038e003872_333x500Click for high resolution version.

See the NanoRacks website for information on how to get your cubesat into orbit via the ISS. See also the article : Right This Way to the Space Station – Air & Space Magazine.

Space Policy

Space policy roundup – Nov.24.13

Some space policy/politics related items:

Contests and Games, Software

“Putt the Planets” – space app for iOS, Android and Kindle Fire

Check out the game Putt the Planets: The way the future was supposed to be!

It is available for iOS, Android, and Kindle Fire and sells for $1.

Putt the Planets banner

PUTT THE PLANETS

Take a grand tour of our Solar System, putter in hand! Travel from planet to planet, playing a few holes of mini-golf at each stop. It’s the way the future was supposed to be!

FEATURES:

  • BREATHTAKING mini-golf courses in exotic locales throughout the Solar System: planets, moons, comets, and more. Three courses — 54 holes in all!
  • SENSATIONAL golfing challenges featuring gravity, the forces of nature, astronomical phenomena, and historic space missions.
  • SPECTACULAR 3D planetary landscapes, based on the latest scientific discoveries.
  • THRILLING journeys from one planet to the next.
  • HYPNOTIZING Space Age bossa nova music.

Amateur/Student Satellite, Space participation, Space Radio

AMSAT & ISS amateur radio news – Nov.24.13 – “A Historic Week” – 64 cubesats orbited

Go to AMSAT News for the latest headlines about developments in amateur and student satellites and for updates about amateur radio on the ISS.

ANS 328 Weekly AMSAT Bulletin – Nov.23, 2013:

* A Historic Week for CubeSat Launches

This week has seen the deployment of 64 cubesats, with 35 of the satellites operating on amateur radio frequencies, now orbiting our Earth.

Barry Baines, WD4ASW, President of AMSAT-NA and all of the editors of the AMSAT News Service wish to congratulate all of the teams that have had satellites deployed. May your birds fly high, sing loud, and live long!

I have tried to capture a majority of the events as they have occurred from the newest (at the top) to the oldest (earlier in the week at the bottom). For further information please check the team’s website or better yet, get on the air and work the birds!

* FUNcube-1 spacecraft now named AO-73
* Amateur Radio Satellites Launched Nov 21 on Dnepr
* NASA ELaNa-4 Cubesats Launched Nov 19 with ORS-3 Minotaur from Wallops, VA
* South Africa ZACube-1 Now Named TshepisoSat
* Assistance requested in receiving UNISAT-5 payloads
* Adding new satellites to SatPC32 and Gpredict
* Triton-1 Update November 23
* Delfi-n3Xt Update November 22
* FUNcube-1 (AO-73) Transponder Activation
* FUNcube-1 Transponder in Autonomous Mode
* Satellite TLE Challenge Begins
* FUNcube-1 (AO-73) Transponder Test Saturday November 23
* $50Sat Eagle2 PocketQube Operational
* BBC TV visit FUNcube station at RSGB National Radio Centre
* FUNcube-1 (AO-73): First Transponder Test
* FUNcube-1 (AO-73): First Fitter Message Uploaded
* FUNcube-1 Loud and Clear in Essex
* FUNcube-1 on BBC News
* Florida SwampSat Team Request Assistance
* FUNcube-1 Deployed
* FUNcube-1 Bletchley Park monitoring station ready for launch
* Minotaur-1 Deploys CubeSats
* Triton-1 Update
* FUNcube Dashboard – New Version v806 Released
* Help Track ISS CubeSats
* Delfi-n3Xt Update
* Help needed with the CAPE II satellite
* Dual-Band Slim Jim Antenna for Satellites
* PhoneSat 2.4
* ARISS News
* Satellite Shorts from All Over

Activism, Contests and Games, SpaceCasts

The Space Show: New time for Bill Harwood interview + Don Flournoy and Sunsat Design Competition

Time Change For Sunday, Nov. 24, 2013 Program

SPECIAL TIME: The Sunday, Nov. 24, 2013 program time has been changed to 3-4:30 PM PST, (6-7:30 PM EST, 5-6:30 PM CST): We welcome William (Bill) Harwood to the program. Bill is the CBS News space consultant who has covered America’s space program full time for more than 25 years, focusing on space shuttle operations, planetary exploration and astronomy. Based at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Harwood provides up-to-the-minute space reports for CBS News and regularly contributes to Spaceflight Now and The New York Times.

CBS News:space is written, edited and maintained by CBS News space analyst William Harwood, who has covered America’s space program full time for three decades, focusing primarily on space shuttle operations, assembly of the International Space Station and planetary exploration. Based at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Harwood provides up-to-the-minute space reports for CBS News and CNET, including detailed email updates. He also contributes to Spaceflight Now and The New York Times. Listeners can talk with Bill Harwood or the host and express their views using toll free 1 (866) 687-7223, and by sending e-mail during the show to drspace@thespaceshow.com. Please note the toll free number is only available during a live Space Show program.

===

Dr. Don Flournoy of Ohio University was on the Space Show last Friday and discussed the International SunSat Design Competition, is offering $30,000 in prizes for winning designs of space based solar power systems: Dr. Don Flournoy, Friday, 11-22-13 -Thespaceshow’s Blog.

See also the recent announcement from the National Space Society, a partner in the contest: Participate in the International SunSat Competition – NSS