{"id":19336,"date":"2019-07-28T18:32:23","date_gmt":"2019-07-28T22:32:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=19336"},"modified":"2019-07-28T18:32:23","modified_gmt":"2019-07-28T22:32:23","slug":"student-and-amateur-cubesat-news-roundup-july-28-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=19336","title":{"rendered":"Student and amateur CubeSat news roundup – July.28.2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

A sampling of recent articles, press releases, etc. related to student and amateur CubeSat<\/a> \/ SmallSat projects and programs:<\/p>\n

** Princeton Univ. TigerSat to demonstrate miniaturized cylindrical Hall thruster for cubesat<\/strong>s: Small but mighty: A mini plasma-powered satellite under construction may launch a new era in space exploration – Princeton<\/a><\/p>\n

A tiny satellite under construction at the U.S. Department of Energy\u2019s Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) could open new horizons in space exploration. Princeton University students are building the device, a cubic satellite or \u201cCubeSat,\u201d as a testbed for a miniaturized rocket thruster with unique capabilities being developed at PPPL.<\/em><\/p>\n

The CubeSat\u2019s thruster, whose development is led by PPPL physicist\u00a0Yevgeny Raitses<\/a>, holds the promise of increased flexibility for the tiny satellites, more than a thousand of which have been launched by universities, research centers and commercial interests around the world. The proposed propulsion device \u2014 powered by plasma \u2014\u00a0could raise and lower the orbits of CubeSats circling the Earth, a capability not broadly available to small spacecraft today, and would hold the potential for exploration of deep space.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cEssentially, we will be able to use these miniature thrusters for many missions,\u201d Raitses said.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Princeton<\/a>
Princeton graduate and undergraduate students gather with advisors around model of the CubeSat chassis. From left: Jacob Simmonds, Jerry Xiang, Nirbhav Chopra, Daniel Marlow, Yevgeny Raitses, Seth Freeman, Matthew Bledsoe and Daniel Piatek (Seton Hall student).\u00a0 Photo byElle Starkman, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

** Indian student group building CubeSat with hyperspectal imager<\/strong> for launch in 2021: BITS students fired up to realise their space dream – The Financial Express<\/a><\/p>\n

With some help from experts from the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), the undergraduate students are inching closer to designing their one-of-its-kind nano-sat equipped with a special camera that will help study the earth\u2019s surface for response during natural hazards and track carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Christened Team Anant, the group comprises of students from all engineering branches and batches at the Rajasthan-based institute. So far, the students have developed a prototype for their payload, built one of the antennas for their ground station and integrated it with their transceiver to track signals from the International Space Station.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cOur nano-satellite will be the first in India to use hyperspectral imager. Globally, only two other nano-satellites have used such an imager,\u201d said Kaushley Mehra, a member of the publicity group of Team Anant. The `1 crore project is being funded by BITS, Pilani, while the Isro is expected to bear the `20 lakh cost of satellite launch once an MoU is signed as part of the Union government\u2019s push to encourage research. \u201cThe cost of components and basic supplies is borne partly by the institute and by sponsors,\u201d said Mehra, adding that their team is looking for as many sponsors as possible.<\/em><\/p>\n

** College students to compete in MTT-Sat Challenge<\/a> to develop new RF and microwave technologies for CubeSats<\/strong>: IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society Seeks Student CubeSat RF Hardware Proposals – ARRL.org<\/a><\/p>\n

The IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society (MTT-S<\/strong><\/a>) has announced the\u00a0MTT-Sat Challenge<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0for groups of students developing RF hardware for CubeSat applications. The MTT-Sat Challenge is a worldwide competition for teams of undergraduate and graduate students to design and build RF hardware for small satellites. The most promising designs will undergo space environmental qualification testing and could be incorporated into an actual CubeSat.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThe main goal of the MTT-Sat Challenge is to advance space RF and microwave education, inspire students to pursue science and engineering education and careers, and prepare tomorrow\u2019s leaders with the interdisciplinary teamwork skills, which are necessary for success,\u201d the society said in announcing the competition. The MTT-Sat Challenge is intended to run over 4 academic years (starting in June 2019) and is divided into several phases spanning overall technology readiness levels. Proposals may be submitted for every single phase.<\/em><\/p>\n

** Great Lunar Expedition for Everyone (GLEE)<\/a> to send tiny student-made “LunaSats” to the surface of the Moon<\/strong>: Students to send hundreds of leaf-sized spacecraft to the moon | CU Boulder Today | University of Colorado Boulder<\/a><\/p>\n

… students from Colorado and across the world will continue that legacy of exploration via the Great Lunar Expedition for Everyone<\/a>\u00a0(GLEE), a space mission led by NASA\u2019s New York and\u00a0Colorado Space Grant Consortium<\/a>. Inspired by the Apollo moon landings, the project will send 500 spacecraft small enough to fit in the palm of your hand to the moon by 2023.<\/em><\/p>\n

These \u201cLunaSats,\u201d each of which will cost less than $200, will collect valuable data on conditions at the lunar surface. They\u2019ll be designed and built by students, said Chris Koehler, director of the Colorado Space Grant Consortium, which is based at CU\u00a0Boulder.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cAs we all celebrate the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11, let us tell the world we are going to the moon with a new mission conducted by students from countries across the globe, and we will be there by 2023,\u201d Koehler said.<\/em><\/p>\n

** University students build Sudanese CubeSats<\/strong>: Inside Sudan\u2019s National Space Programme – Space in Africa<\/a><\/p>\n

Future University<\/a>\u00a0(formerly known as Computer Man College), which is the first specialised Information and communications technology university in Sudan, offers undergraduate and graduate programmes in space science and engineering, run by the Faculty of Telecommunications and Space Technology. The University hosts Sudan\u2019s first Space Technology Centre, which was established in 2000. The Centre recently started a CubeSat project, following years of research and development in remote sensing and space physics.<\/em><\/p>\n

The University of Khartoum(UofK)<\/a> runs what is arguably Sudan\u2019s most advanced satellite programme. The University\u2019s satellite programme began in October 2010 with a CubeSat project at the Electrical and Electronics Department. In 2014, the University established a specialised Space Research Centre to coordinate all space-related activities across various departments of the University. So far, the University has designed and fabricated two CubeSat prototypes \u2013 KN-Sat1 and UOKSat-2 \u2013 and has successfully installed an operational ground station to track satellites and analyse geospatial data.<\/em><\/p>\n

** AMSAT<\/strong><\/a> news<\/strong> on student and amateur CubeSat\/smallsat projects: ANS-209 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin <\/a><\/p>\n

    \n
  • CAS-7B Launched and Operational<\/li>\n
  • Upcoming ARISS SSTV Events<\/li>\n
  • AMSAT-Chile developing CESAR-1 FM \/ digital satellites<\/li>\n
  • FO-99 Transponder Activated over North America, Other Activations Scheduled<\/li>\n
  • LO-94 Lunar Impact Expected on July 31st<\/li>\n
  • Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for July 26, 2019<\/li>\n
  • How to Support AMSAT<\/li>\n
  • Upcoming Satellite Operations<\/li>\n
  • Satellite Shorts from All Over<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    See also AMSAT President Asks Members to Help Keep Amateur Radio in Space – ARRL.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    General CubeSat\/SmallSat info<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Projects:\n
        \n
      • LibertyQube-1<\/a> – PocketQube developed by Libertylife LLC of Japan.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
        \n

        Today we announce the 1st PocketQube manifested on Alba Cluster 3, LibertyQube-1 a 1p from Liberty Life LLC in Japan. LibertyQube-1 becomes the first ever Asian PocketQube to be manifested and we are excited to be their launch partner! https:\/\/t.co\/qZni2Hrf3A<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/ylAeOoOVVl<\/a><\/p>\n

        \u2014 Alba Orbital (@AlbaOrbital) July 24, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n