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AMSAT FOX. Tony Monteiro, AA2TX VP, Engineering. AMSAT Forum Dayton Hamvention 2011. Background. AMSAT-Echo (AO-51) is the most popular ham satellite Can be worked with simple equipment 6 years old Experiencing battery issues. Background (cont). Need succession plan for “ easysat ” mode
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AMSAT FOX Tony Monteiro, AA2TX VP, Engineering AMSAT Forum Dayton Hamvention 2011
Background • AMSAT-Echo (AO-51) is the most popular ham satellite • Can be worked with simple equipment • 6 years old • Experiencing battery issues
Background (cont) • Need succession plan for “easysat” mode • Launch costs have gone up dramatically • MicroSats like AO-51 were once the low-cost path to orbit – not any more!
Opportunistic Launch Strategy • Unique/special circumstances (AO-40) • Rideshare opportunities (RS-10/11) • ARISS Program (ARISSat-1) • ISS orbit only • CubeSat Launches
CubeSat • Small satellite specification developed by Stanford and Cal-Poly universities • Standard satellite dimensions allows for pooled launches via P-POD deployer • “Mass production” lowers costs and increases launch opportunities
CubeSat Challenges • Very small size (1U) • 10 cm cube (4” x 4” x 4”) • 1/16 volume of AO-51 • Weight limit • 1.33 kg (3 lbs) • Limited area for solar panels • 1/6 surface area of AO-51 • Limited space for antennas
Technical Approach • Use “cell phone” electronics for small size and low power • Use deployable solar panels to generate more power • Use deployable antennas
Target Specifications • 600 – 800 km polar orbit • Mode U/V (70 cm up, 2m down) • FM Analog Transponder • Software Defined Transponder (SDX) • Science experiment
Special Design Features • Can tolerate battery failure (open or short) • Will run on solar power only • Can tolerate IHU processor failure • FM analog transponder only
System Diagram Solar Cells PSU Battery I/Q Rx Sensors IHU FM Rx Tx Experiment
CubeSat Advantages • Large and growing technical community • Boeing • Positions AMSAT to work with universities • SUNY Next Gen projects • Affordable and available launch opportunities • Regularly scheduled launches • Relatively low-cost launches • NASA Launch Initiative (subsidized or free)
University Research • Stacked Cubes - 3U (12” x 12” x 4”) • Inflatable antennas • Active attitude control (including 3-axis) • Solar panel deployment schemes • Micro propulsion for on-orbit maneuvers
Status • Project Started - Oct 2010 • System Requirements Spec - Jan 2011 • Concept Review – April 2011 • SUNY student projects completed – May 2011 • Model in AMSAT booth
Thank you AMSAT FOX Tony Monteiro, AA2TX AA2TX@amsat.org AMSAT Forum Dayton Hamvention 2011