ARLA/CLUSTER: Africa do Sul adia lançamento Satélite com transponder e digitalker para 2m/70cm.

[João Gonçalves Costa]

STOP PRESS : LAUNCH AS BEEN DELAYED
Due to high winds at the launch site and some telemetry issues on the rocket  the launch has been delayed for 24 hours and will now take place on 16 September at around 15:45 UTC.
[http://www.sunspace.co.za/images/sumbandilaBlack.JPG][http://www.space.gov.za/pics/pathfinder.jpg][http://www.amsatsa.org.za/Baikonur%20-%20Hendrik%20Burger%20web.jpg]


The launch of SumbandilaSat is on track for 15 September 2009. In an interview with SA AMSAT Johan Erasmus, SunSpace systems engineer, speaking from the launch site in Kazakhstan, said that the satellite had travelled well and that all systems performed according to specification during the testing phase after the satellite was unpacked at the clean room at the Baikonur launch facility in Kazakhstan. He said that the amateur payload performed well. The beacon, parrot repeater and transponder were tested from a distance and RF levels measured. "We were delighted with the results."

The butane propulsion system tank was filled and the batteries charged. On Wednesday 2 September SumbandilaSat was integrated with the launch platform. The main payload, a Russian governmental satellite has arrived in Baikonur for integrating. The launch platform is expected to be transported to the actual launch facility and integrated with the rocket during the coming week. "All looks good for a 15 September launch", Johan Erasmus said.

Listen to the interview on www.amsatsa.org.za<http://www.amsatsa.org.za/>


SumbandilaSat was designed and completed in record time. The project was awarded to SunSpace in conjunction with the University of Stellenbosch by the South African Department of Science and Technology.

The main payload a Multi-spectral imager which has a 6.25m Ground Sampling Distance (GSD) with 6 spectral bands and is supported by an on-board storage of 6 Gigabyte, with a redundant 18 Gigabyte spare.

Sumbandilasat is the first satellite in the SunSpace 2nd generation Small Satellite Technology Product Family. It is suitable for satellites from 80kg to more than 400kg for high performance earth observation, space science and LEO communication payloads.

Experimental payloads

The satellite also includes a number of experimental payloads including:

* SA AMSAT - 2m/70cm amateur radio transponder and digitalker. This payload will find not only use by the amateur radio fraternity but also has a large educational aspect of bringing space science into the class room.

* Stellenbosch University
* Architectural radiation experiment for commercial off the shelf devices (ARECOTS)
* Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
* A forced vibrating string experiment
* University of KwaZulu-Natal
* Very low frequency (VLF) radio experiment

The satellite was designed for the Shtil launch vehicle from a sub-marine. The demanding vibration envelope makes it suitable for launch as a piggyback on PSLV, Ariane 5 or DNEPR

Major benefit for South Africa

For the Department of Science and Technology (DST) the mission of the project was the development and growth of people and institutions, providing satellite data for applications addressing the needs of society and understanding the modalities of a small satellite programme in order to inform the space policy process in South Africa.

[http://www.sunspace.co.za/images/SumbandilaImage.gif]


Typical image that will
be available from
SumbandilaSat




Educational Challenge

Projects like SumbandilaSat have already important spin-offs with several educational opportunities at various levels from learners at school to Post Graduate students at University including satellite engineers at Stellenbosch University.

In order to train new satellite engineers, SunSpace designed a Satellite Development Toolkit providing three main areas of training. Engineers are exposed to hands-on system level building of complete satellites in their own laboratory. The training is intertwined with a specific satellite mission that includes in-orbit commissioning and operational training. The third component is specialised satellite engineering training including detail design of components and sub systems.

A steady stream of 12 students, 10 Master Degree students and 2 PhD students plus a post doctorate position is fully funded. In addition 9 internships are receiving their training on the Satellite Development Toolkit for the building of a satellite knowledge base and capacity in industry.

SumbandilaSat derived its name from the
Venda word which freely translated means
Pathfinder

Fonte: SumbandilaSat Home Page e SOUTHERN AFRICAN AMATEUR RADIO SATELLITE ASSOCIATION (SA AMSAT)

OUTHERN AFRICAN AMATEUR RADIO
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