YC3BVG BLOG: amsat

Home » Posts filed under amsat

Showing posts with label amsat. Show all posts

EO-79 QB50p1 transponder activation

On December 21, 2015 at 1038 UT, the EO-79 transponder was turned on for a prolonged period.
The FUNcube transponder subsystem on QB50p1 (EO-79) had been provided by AMSAT-UK and AMSAT-NL and is a similar subsystem as on FUNcube-1, but without the telemetry downlink circuitry.
The current software running on EO-79 does experience occasional reboots. When these reboots happen, the transponder is automatically turned off and will have to be turned back on by a command station. The FUNcube team has selected a few command stations to do so, but be advised the transponder may be off.
TLEs:
AMSAT keps name: EO-79
Celestrak keps Name: QB50P1
Celestrak file: cubesat.txt
NORAD # 40025
COSPAR designator 2014-033-R
Frequencies:
*Uplink:* 435.035-435.065 MHz LSB
*Downlink:* 145.935-145.965 MHz USB
EO-79 has been set to only beacon the normal AX.25 beacon every 30 seconds instead of 10 seconds. The beacon frequency is 145.815 MHz and consists of AX.25 frames on BPSK. More details about the downlink can be found on the ISIS Ham Radio page at http://isispace.nl/HAM/qb50p.html
We kindly request you to share your experiences with the AMSAT Bulletin Board so everyone can benefit from operating tips and tricks, as well as being up-to-date on the status.
We would also welcome any observation related to the transponder behaviour when the AX.25 beacon comes on.
Just like FUNcube-1, the crystal oscillator circuits exhibit drift with temperature. This means manual tuning will probably work best.
Lastly, the commanding team will not be available over Christmas, so the current activations are planned from today until Thursday 24th and from Monday 28th until Thursday 31st
73 and have FUN
Happy Holidays
Wouter Weggelaar, PA3WEG
AMSAT-NL
AMSAT-UK

PSLV launch – Athenoxat-1

Launch on 16 Dec 2015, 12:30 UTC from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) Shriharikota
A PSLV C-29 will launch six satellites from Singapore into a 550 km circular orbit inclined at 15 degrees to the equator.
TeLEOS-1 is the primary satellite and the other five satellites Kent Ridge-1, VELOX-C1, VELOX-II, Gallassia and Athanoxat-1 are co-passenger satellites.
Athenoxat-1, a 3U Cubesat has a CW beacon transmitting on 437.485 Mhz
Athenoxat-1 seperation from PSLV at 12:51:02 UTC and would starting sending CW message 30 minutes after separation
CW message will be “ATX1” on 437.485 MHz every 1 minute and also with an indication of battery voltage.
Reception reports are welcome and could be sent to giulio.manzoni@micro-space.org

Short Recording HS90IARU on FO-29 Satellite 06 Dec 2015 0649 UTC @OI71DQ

Check this out on Chirbit

SPROUT SSTV and Digitalker active every Sunday

Slow Scan TV (SSTV) images in Scottie 1 format will be transmitted from the SPROUT satellite every Sunday (Japanese Standard Time) on 437.600 MHz FM (+/- 9 kHz Doppler shift). The Digitalker will also be active.
SPROUT, a 20 x 20 x 22 cm amateur radio nano-satellite with a mass of 7.1 kg, launched successfully with the L-band (1236.5 MHz/1257.5 MHz/1278.5 MHz) Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite ALOS-2 on May 24, 2014 at 0305 UT. SPROUT is in a 654 km, 97.9 degree inclination Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO).
SPROUT (Space Research On Unique Technology) was built by students from Nihon University and its objectives are:

SPROUT Satellite – Credit Nihon-Univ. Miyazaki Laboratory

1. Operation of satellite by radio amateurs.
A FM Digitalker will enable the satellite to speak to amateurs around the world.
The Voice Message Box will record transmissions from radio amateurs and play them back.
Pre-loaded images from the Message Gallery can be transmitted using Slow Scan TV (SSTV).
Pictures of the Earth can be transmitted by SSTV and radio amateurs can receive it using free software such as MMSSTV. As part of the Earth mapping project the team ask radio amateurs to contribute pictures they have received from the satellite for display on the SPROUT website.
The satellite also has a packet radio Digipeater and Text Message Box function.

2. Demonstration of the deployment of the combined membrane structure and verification of the design method of the structure SPROUT has a triangular membrane supported by two tubes like framework. They are folded and stored in the satellite before the launch. After the launch, the nitrogen gas is injected into the tubes in space, and they extend, so that the membrane deploys (called “combined membrane structure”).
3. Demonstration of attitude determination and control of a nanosatellite using the sun sensors, gyros, geomagnetic sensor and magnetic torquers.
Callsign: JQ1ZJQ
Size: 214x210x220 mm
Weight: 7.1 kg
Mode: 1200bps AFSK, 9600bps GMSK
CW downlink 437.525 MHz
FM packet downlink 437.525 MHz
Digipeater uplink 437.600 MHz
Digitalker downlink 437.600 MHz
SSTV downlink 437.600 MHz

SPROUT Amateur Radio SSTV Satellite

SPROUT English website http://sat.aero.cst.nihon-u.ac.jp/sprout-e/
SPROUT Japanese website http://sat.aero.cst.nihon-u.ac.jp/sprout/
Nihon-Univ. Miyazaki Laboratory on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nihon-Univ-Miyazaki-Laboratory/406566642818860
Telemetry Software http://sat.aero.cst.nihon-u.ac.jp/sprout-e/2-Software-e.html
Telemetry format http://sat.aero.cst.nihon-u.ac.jp/sprout-e/2-Formats%20of%20telemetry-e.html
SPROUT launch data page
http://sat.aero.cst.nihon-u.ac.jp/sprout-e/2-Launch%20data-e.htmlTLE’s from the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) are also available at http://celestrak.com/NORAD/elements/tle-new.txt
Free Slow Scan TV (SSTV) software MMSSTV http://hamsoft.ca/pages/mmsstv.php
The JE9PEL website has information on other satellites on this launch
http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/jaxalos2.htm
Read the Overview of the L-band SAR Onboard ALOS-2 here.

AO-85 Commissioned

AO-85 (Fox-1A) Flight Unit

AO-85 has been formally commissioned and turned over to AMSAT-NA Operations, who are now responsible for the scheduling and modes.
The following guidelines are provided for users:
Uplink power should be on the order of minimum 200 W EIRP for full quieting at lower antenna elevation angles. Your mileage may vary. With an Arrow, 5 W has been used successfully to make contacts.
Polarity is important. The satellite antennas are linear. So, if you are using linearly polarized antennas, you will need to adjust throughout the pass. Full duplex operation facilitates these adjustments while transmitting and is highly recommended.
The downlink is very strong and should be heard well with almost any antenna.
Downlink audio is 5 kHz deviation, as expected. Many will perceive that the audio is “low.” This is an effect of the filtering below 300 Hz, which provides for the DUV telemetry, coupled with any noise on the uplink signal resulting from lack of full quieting or being off frequency. That makes for less fidelity than a typical receiver in terms of audio frequencies passed.
Transmit (downlink) frequency varies with temperature. Due to the wide range of temperatures we are seeing in the eclipse cycle, the transmitter can be anywhere from around 500 Hz low at 10°C to near 2 kHz low at 40°C.
Receive frequency has been generally agreed to be about 435.170 MHz, although the AFC makes that hard to pin down and also helps with the uplinks that are off frequency.
Probably the most notable observations about AO-85 are an apparent lack of sensitivity and difficulty in turning on the repeater with the 67 Hz CTCSS when it is not yet activated, or holding it on by the presence of the CTCSS. We have determined a probable cause for the sensitivity issue and while that can’t be fixed on AO-85 we are taking steps to prevent similar issues on the rest of the Fox-1 CubeSats. The tone detection threshold along with the receive sensitivity issue makes it hard to bring up the repeater. This is being addressed by adjusting the values for a valid tone detection in the other Fox-1 CubeSats now that we have on orbit information about temperatures and power budget. Full details will be in the Nov/Dec AMSAT Journal.
It is important to remember that science is the reason behind the Fox-1 satellites. Not only does science help with the launch cost, it provides a great amount of educational value both from the science payload and in amateur radio itself. The data-under-voice (DUV) telemetry is an excellent way to provide the science without sacrificing the use of the satellite for communications, which would be the case if higher speed downlinks were needed. DUV provides constant science as long as the repeater is in use, which in turn provides more downlink data for the science – a mutually beneficial combination.
Fox-1A is AMSAT-NA’s first CubeSat. Many new techniques are incorporated and lessons will be learned, as with any new “product.” The Fox-1 Project is a series of CubeSats. A total of five will be built and flown. Launches are scheduled for three more, and a new NASA CubeSat Launch Initiative proposal will be submitted for the fifth. We will incorporate changes from what we learn in each launch, to the extent possible, in subsequent Fox-1 CubeSats.
Of the four NASA sponsored CubeSats on the ELaNa XII launch October 8, we are sad to report that ARC1 was never heard from and BisonSat was lost after a few weeks of operation. AMSAT extends our deepest sympathy to the people who worked so hard on these projects. To our members, we want to say that the Fox Team is very proud and pleased that our first CubeSat is very successful and hopefully will be for some time.
AO-85 information http://amsat-uk.org/satellites/communications/ao-85-fox-1a/

DeorbitSail update and initial camera image

DeorbitSail project team members

Chris Bridges 2E0OBC of the Surrey Space Centre provides this update on the status of the DeorbitSail Cubesat.
Dear AMSAT Community,
We would like to express our gratitude for your cooperation in the DeorbitSail project, and update you on the status of the mission.
As you know the DOS mission was launched on 10th July. After 4 months of operations, the satellite is healthy and stable, although unfortunately we have not been able to meet all of the mission objectives. Initial contact with the satellite was established relatively smoothly and we received a lot of good data, both through our own ground station but also via the network of you radio amateurs who have been very generous with your time and help.

Initial image taken by DeorbitSail

We achieved a power stable state early on, with good comms (uplink and downlink) established within the first few days. We deployed the solar panels successfully, and managed to return to a good and stable power state after deployment. The ADCS has been challenging from the start, and continues to be challenging – we have struggled to accurately determine the satellite tumble rate and get it under control (more detail on that is included below). We know that the satellite has seen some very high spin rates for various reasons, including some inherent design/magnetic characteristics which have become apparent.
Despite many attempts, we have unfortunately not been able to deploy the sail, and having recently thoroughly analysed and investigated the possible causes, mission events and ground test data and history, we are now reaching the conclusion that achieving successful sail deployment is very unlikely. Again there is more detail on that in the main body of text below.
We thank you for your patience and would like to apologise for not keeping you updated on mission progress as often as we’d hoped. The operations phase has been a learning and sometimes stressful experience for all of the team at SSC, with a lot of head scratching and sleepless nights involved.

DeorbitSail

Here is some more detailed information regarding what progress and achievements have been made during the operations to date.
• After the launch on the 10th of July, and the first week in orbit, with a power safe and healthy satellite, the operation passed from the LEOP phase to the ADCS Commissioning phase. This second phase was estimated to last between three and four weeks; this proved to be optimistic.
• Although the spin up of the S/C was much higher than expected and saturated the sensors, the SU simulations and the available data suggested a large Z-spin rate on DOS which was confirmed by the B-field and MEMS magnetometry measurements. To induce a bigger difference in the Moments of Inertia (MoI) of the two non-longitudinal axes, the decision was taken to deploy the solar panels. This operation was performed the 10th of August.
• More than a month after the launch the satellite was really healthy, power safe and with great comms through newly developed software defined radio and database backend operations. Although the stabilization wasn’t achieved even with the solar panel deployment, at one month from the launch the team decide to proceed with the sail deployment.
• This decision was agreed with DLR that confirmed that tumbling rates were no issue for the sail deployment, because the Moments of Inertia increase rapidly slowing down the tumble rate. DLR has performed a deployment test on Gossamer while tumbling before coming to this opinion.
• On the 15th of August, the first attempt for sail deployment was performed, the command was sent and the acknowledgement from the S/C was received, but no current was drawn from the boom deployer motor. Multiple experiments were performed to try and determine the cause of sail deployment failure.
• At this point, after a thorough investigation, the most plausible hypothesis and justification seems to be a physical disconnection of the motor cables. (Note that after the vibration test, it wasn’t possible to physically inspect the connection due to the design itself of the S/C)
Our simulations showed that with the actual configuration (deployed solar panels, undeployed sail) the decay time should be 20 years circa.
The aim now is to exercise and exploit the parts of the satellite that are working, and gain more confidence and experience with the SU ADCS system, the ISIS TRXUV and solar panels, and the SSC SDR groundstation and database tools to explore better the interaction of the panel circuitry with the attitude stabilisation. That will allow us to improve our performances in the next missions.
From here, the team have worked hard to take images of the Earth and via SU’s CubeSense camera – which we are delighted to show you today. This would not be possible without the dedication from the SSC team here and, of course, the amateur telemetry you kindly send us. We are going to continue imaging and testing at higher resolutions too so watch this space.
We thank you for all the support.
Chiara Massimiani, DOS Project manager & Prof Guglielmo Aglietti SSC Director and DOS PI
DeorbitSail http://amsat-uk.org/satellites/telemetry/deorbitsail/
Surrey Space Centre http://www.surrey.ac.uk/ssc/research/space_vehicle_control/deorbitsail/

EO-79 QB50P1 CubeSat Update

Wouter Weggelaar PA3WEG has provided this update on the status and plans for QB50p1 – EO-79.
Earlier testing campaigns indicate that the AMSAT-UK/AMSAT-NL transponder on board of this spacecraft is in good health. We have activated the transponder on various occasions for testing purposes.
At the moment we believe the power system is capable of sustaining transponder operations indefinitely. ISIS (the satellite designer and operator) still needs to write and apply a software patch that would keep the transponder running. The current logic in the satellite will switch off the transponder if a reset occurs of the On Board Computer or power system.
Efforts are being made to allow usage of the transponder in the mean time and also allow select command stations to take the satellite out of safe mode if it does reset. ISIS will continue to monitor all telemetry and the satellites health.

QB50p1 EO-79 FUNcube-3 Transponder – Credit Mike Rupprecht DK3WN

The precursor satellites have gathered valuable data about the sensor payloads, and the lessons learnt are being implemented in the flight units for the QB50 main mission.
We will still have to wait until procedures are in place and the activation is cleared by the operator and owners of the satellite, but we are nearly ready for the activation of another transponder!
Transponder activations will be announced on the AMSAT Bulletin Board.
On behalf of AMSAT-NL and the ISIS operations team I would like to thank the community for supporting our mission and thank you for your patience.
73s,
Wouter Weggelaar PA3WEG
AMSAT-NL
EO-79 (FUNcube-3) Transponder Test May 4
http://amsat-uk.org/2015/05/03/eo-79-transponder-may-4/

SOURCE :http://amsat-uk.org/

AO-85 Testing November 8 and 9

Summary of AO-85 testing:
Please do not try to uplink to AO-85 during the following times (all of
which occur while AO-85 is over North America) even though the
transponder will be active and you may hear activity.
Sunday November 8, 15:35 through 15:55 UTC
Sunday November 8, 17:15 through 17:35 UTC
Monday November 9, 00:05 through 00:25 UTC
Monday November 9, 01:45 through 02:10 UTC
All dates and times are UTC, all passes are Sunday local time in North
America. Stations in North, Central, and northern South America are
asked to comply.
You are encouraged to copy telemetry with FoxTelem during these times to
forward to the server to help us analyze the test results.
Details of this AO-85 testing:
Sunday, November 8 and into early Monday, November 9 (UTC) the Fox-1
Engineering Team will be testing the COR (carrier operated relay) mode
of AO-85.
COR is the backup to the IHU failing, if IHU fails AO-85 should continue
operating as a simple COR repeater with no CTCSS necessary as long as
there is power.
In COR mode no telemetry or voice ID is present because those are
generated by the IHU.
Orbit 443 ascending, at approximately 15:35 UTC over North America we
will test a telemetry high/low reset command. Following the command
look for Ground Resets = 2 in the Computer window of FoxTelem. Once
that is confirmed, we will command the IHU OFF on the same pass. Please
keep the uplink clear in order to help us test and monitor the telemetry.
Orbit 444 ascending, at approximately 17:15 UTC over North America AMSAT
command and engineering stations will test the COR mode on the air to
observe performance.
Please keep the uplink clear so that we may test without interference,
to expedite the testing and allow for good measurements. We may command
IHU ON during the pass in order to observe battery voltage in the
telemetry. Please have FoxTelem running even if there is no telemetry
seen, it may turn on at any time during this pass.
Orbit 448 descending, at approximately 00:05 UTC Monday over North
America we will command AO-85 IHU ON. Please keep the uplink clear in
order to help us test and monitor the telemetry after the IHU is turned on.
Orbit 449 descending, at approximately 01:45 UTC Monday over North
America if we were unable to command IHU ON on orbit 448, we will
attempt to command again. Please keep the uplink clear in order to help
us test and monitor the telemetry after the IHU is turned on.
During the testing stations outside North, Central and northern South
America are invited to use the COR repeater mode and share your
assessment of AO-85 receive sensitivity and audio on amsat-bb.
Stations in North, Central, and northern South America may use the COR
repeater on orbits 445 through 447 and are also invited to share your
assessment of AO-85 receive sensitivity and audio on amsat-bb.
Please share this widely to help reach everyone who may be operating AO-85.
Thank you for your support.

SOURCE : http://www.amsat.org/?p=4705

JE9PEL QB50 CubeSat Spreadsheet

Planet Lab Dove CubeSats leaving the Nanoracks Deployer on February 11, 2014

Planet Lab Dove CubeSats leaving the ISS Nanoracks Deployer on February 11, 2014

The QB50 constellation of fifty CubeSats should be shipped to the International Space Station (ISS) in July 2016 for subsequent deployment.

QB50p1 and QB50p2 Precursor 2U CubeSats – Image Credit ISIS

The CubeSats are planned to be deployed from the ISS using the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) and the Nanoracks CubeSat Deployers.
Eight NanoRacks deployers are installed on the Multi-Purpose Experiment Platform (MPEP). Each deployer has a capacity of 6U and so can hold up to six 1U, three 2U or two 3U CubeSats. They are carried by Japanese Experiment Module-Remote Manipulator System (JEM-RMS).
Mineo Wakita JE9PEL has made available a spreadsheet showing the 50 satellites and their frequencies. A copy can be downloaded from JE9PEL QB50 CubeSat Frequencies 2015-11-06 or check the JE9PEL site for the latest version.
QB50 project https://www.qb50.eu/
QB50 CubeSats to be deployed from ISS
http://amsat-uk.org/2015/09/08/qb50-cubesats-to-be-deployed-from-iss/
Launch of QB50 precursor CubeSats QB50p1 (EO-79) and QB50p2 (EO-80)
http://amsat-uk.org/2014/06/19/successful-launch-of-amateur-radio-satellite-payloads/
January 2014 original QB50 CubeSat launch contract signed
http://amsat-uk.org/2014/01/28/qb50-cubesat-launch-contract-signed/
Mineo Wakita JE9PEL satellite frequency list http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/satslist.htm

Source : http://amsat-uk.org/

LAPAN-A2/ORARI now is INDONESIA OSCAR-86 or IO-86

LAPAN-A2/ORARI now is INDONESIA OSCAR-86 Congrat all from W3XO AMSAT-NA has received information from YE0EEE of the successful launch, September 28, 2015 of an Indonesian Amateur Radio satellite, Lapan ORARI ( LAPAN-A2). According to the information I have, this satellite meets all of the requirements to receive an OSCAR number, including IARU coordination. Accordingly, by the authority vested in me by the AMSAT-NA President, I hereby confer on this spacecraft the designation Indonesia OSCAR- 86. or IO-86. Dirgan, YE0EEE, and all who had a part in the design, construction, test and launch of IO-86 are to be congratulated. May this Amateur Radio spacecraft have a long and useful life serving the amateurs of the world. William (Bill) Tynan, W3XO AMSAT-NA OSCAR Number Administrator

AMSAT-NA VP-Engineering on NASA TV Wednesday

AMSAT-NA VP-Engineering Jerry Buxton, N0JY will be on the panel at a NASA prelaunch briefing on Wednesday, October 7 at 1800 UT. The briefing will be shown live on NASA TV.
The amateur radio FM transponder CubeSat, AMSAT Fox-1A, will be among 13 CubeSats flying as secondary payloads on the NROL-55 mission which should launch on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket on Thursday, October 8, from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
NASA will be holding two briefings about the launch. The first on Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 1700 UT (1pm EDT) will highlight the growing importance of CubeSats in exploration and technology development. The second at 1800 UT (2pm EDT) will discuss five of the CubeSats.

Fox-1A Flight Unit

Jerry Buxton, N0JY will on the panel in the 1800 UT briefing to talk about the Fox mission and science, and answer questions.
Fox-1A is a 1-Unit CubeSat carrying an FM repeater that will allow simple ground stations using an HT and an “Arrow” or “Elk” type antenna to make contacts using the satellite.
Data Under Voice (DUV) is used to send 200 bps FSK telemetry data at the same time as FM audio. This is achieved by making use of sub-audible frequencies below 200 Hz.
Information on the free Fox telemetry decoder software is at
http://amsat-uk.org/2015/09/23/fox-telemetry-decoder-software/
Read the Fox Operating Guide at
http://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/FoxOperatingGuide_May2015_Hi.pdf

BisonSat CubeSat

Among the other CubeSats carrying amateur radio payloads is BisonSat, the first satellite developed by Native American tribal college students. Using BisonSat’s 100-meter resolution camera the Salish Kootenai College students hope to acquire images of the Flathead Indian Reservation. Dr. Tom Olson will be on the panel to discuss BisonSat.
BisonSat (Nʷist Q́ʷiq́ʷay in the Salish language)
Beacon 437.375 MHz
http://cubesat.skc.edu/
https://www.facebook.com/Bisonsat
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeGvRhzRu2o
Colleges run by Native American tribes are graduating more students in STEM fields
http://scitation.aip.org/content/aip/magazine/physicstoday/news/10.1063/PT.4.2484
Watch NASA TV at http://www.nasa.gov/nasatv
NASA Sets Coverage Schedule for CubeSat Launch Events
http://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-sets-coverage-schedule-for-cubesat-launch-events

ESA invites radio amateurs to listen for AAUSAT-5 CubeSat

AAUSat-5 and Deployer – Credit ESA

The AAUSAT-5 amateur radio CubeSat built by students at the University of Aalborg, Denmark is planned to be released from the International Space Station sometime in the week of October 5.
The European Space Agency (ESA) is inviting radio amateurs to listen out for the signals from the satellite. The first to send in a recorded signal from AAUSAT-5 will receive a prize from ESA’s Education Office.
Launched on August 19, 2015 to the ISS, the Danish student CubeSat is now waiting for its deployment from the Japanese Kibo module’s airlock. An astronaut will manipulate the Kibo robotic arm to lift AAUSAT-5 from the airlock and place it in orbit.
Once deployed from the ISS the CubeSat will begin transmitting signals to Earth that can be picked up by anyone with common amateur radio equipment. ESA challenges anyone to record the signal and send it to ESA (cubesats@esa.int) and Aalborg University (studentspace@space.aau.dk).
The satellite will transmit on 437.425 MHz using CW and GMSK. The 30 WPM CW beacon will transmit every 3 minutes and the 9600 bps GMSK every 30 seconds.
The first correct email received will win the following prizes:
• ESA/AAUSAT5 poster with signatures of the team members
• ESA Education goodie bag
• Scale 1:1 3D printed model of the AAUSAT-5 satellite
Read the ESA article at
http://www.esa.int/Education/CubeSats_-_Fly_Your_Satellite/Be_the_first_to_catch_the_signals_from_a_new_Satellite_in_orbit
AAUSAT-5 amateur radio information http://www.space.aau.dk/aausat5/index.php?n=Main.HamInfo
ESA AAUSAT-5 Twitter hashtag #AAUSAT5 https://twitter.com/ESA__Education
Danish CubeSats head for ISS http://amsat-uk.org/2015/08/19/danish-cubesats-head-for-iss/

Radio Amateur-deputy sheriff shot and killed in Florida

The ARRL reports an Okaloosa County, Florida, deputy sheriff, William J. 'Bill' Myers, KK4KF, died of gunshot wounds after serving a domestic violence restraining order at an attorney’s office in Shalimar, where he lived

NorthEscambia.com reported on September 23, “Deputy Myers was walking outside when he was shot multiple times in the back, including a gunshot wound to the rear of his head.” An Associated Press account said the shooter, identified as Joel Dixon Smith, 33, was supposed to be turning over any firearms in his possession, but apparently shot Myers with “a concealed weapon.”

A ham since 1986, Myers was a US Air Force retiree and former air traffic controller. He enjoyed operating CW and was a member of the FISTS CW Club and in recent years often ran QRP. One of his sons is also a ham

Read the full ARRL story at
http://www.arrl.org/news/radio-amateur-deputy-sheriff-shot-and-killed-in-florida

North Escambia story
http://www.northescambia.com/2015/09/okaloosa-county-deputy-dies-after-being-shot-suspect-dead

Fox-1C and Fox-1D FM transponder CubeSats will fly on SHERPA

SHERPA in Orbit – Credit Spaceflight Inc

In response to a breaking opportunity, AMSAT and Spaceflight, Inc. have arranged for Fox-1D to accompany Fox-1C on the maiden flight of the SHERPA system on a SpaceX Falcon 9.

As a Fox-1 series, Fox-1D is identical to Fox-1C, but with different frequencies and carrying the University of Iowa HERCI (High Energy Radiation CubeSat Instrument) radiation mapping experiment as a hosted payload. Fox-1D will provide additional selectable U/V or L/V repeater capabilities once in orbit, and will be capable of downlinking Earth images from the Virginia Tech camera experiment.
Launch is currently planned for the first quarter of 2016. Additional donor support is needed to offset the costs associated with the launch of Fox-1D in addition to Fox-1C. Please visit http://www.amsat.org/ to donate support this launch, and help keep amateur radio in space.
Fox-1C has been renamed Fox-1Cliff in honor of Cliff Buttschardt, K7RR, who was a benefactor and long time supporter
for AMSAT as well as an adviser/mentor for students building CubeSats at Cal Poly.
Meet the Fox Project http://www.amsat.org/?page_id=1113
Fox-1C Update Video http://amsat-uk.org/2015/06/07/fox-1c-update-video/
US launch schedule discussion forum
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=q67qup1a0d3e7vloo0p9isl1u6&topic=8184.960

YC3BVG BLOG