Avionics in the Copenhagen Suborbitals Nexø II rocket

Peter Scott (OZ2ABA) and myself gave a presentation at the 2018 AMSAT UK colloquium about the avionics in the Copenhagen Suborbitals Nexø II rocket. This included the radios and the DVB-S2 video transmitter used on the rocket. A video recording of the presentation is now available on the AMSAT UK YouTube channel, thanks to BATC.

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First on the air tests of gqrx

With both the frequency controller and FFT plot widgets in place gqrx was ready for the first on the air tests. The video below shows the first reception of the AO-27 amateur radio satellite during orbit 92436 and 92437, using the Funcube Dongle receiver that I use for portable space communication.

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Satellite receptions with the Funcube Dongle

This page collects various amateur radio satellite and cubesat receptions carried out using the Funcube Dongle. The Funcube Dongle is a small USB-flashdisk sized software defined radio receiver for 67 MHz – 1.7 GHz intended to be the ground receiver for the FUNcube satellite by AMSAT UK. It is well suited as a ground receiver … Read more

ARISSat-1: Why is it cool and why do we care?

ARISSat-1 photo 2It looks like AMSAT is going to launch a new satellite! ARISSat-1 – the successor of SuitSat-1 – is ready to be launched on Progress-41P heading to the International Space Station on Friday, January 28, 2011. It will be deployed into its own orbit during EVA 27 currently scheduled for February 16. Once in orbit, it will slowly decay and eventually burn up in the Earth’ atmosphere. SuitSat-1 decayed after 7 months in orbit and that’s also a likely life time for ARISSat-1.

So, why is ARISSat-1 cool and why should we care?

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