ARLA/CLUSTER: AMSAT procura financiamentos para lançamento de satelites

[João Costa > CT1FBF]

Satellite Seed Funding

On December 2, 2014 the AMSAT-NA Board of Directors approved
Technology Development Seed Funding

As a part of AMSAT's 'Design The Next AMSAT Satellite' challenge, the
Board of Directors approved $5000, within the 2015 engineering budget,
to be used as seed money for future satellite development. Additional
fund raising sources will also be investigated and pursued.

AMSAT President Barry Baines, WD4ASW, said, "We're prepared to return
to space starting in 2015 with a fleet of satellites that will equal,
if not exceed, the performance, and availability to the average ham,
of our previously popular AMSAT OSCAR 51. Meanwhile, we are preparing
for the future looking to potentially leverage new technologies, to
provide the best opportunities for enhancing amateur radio's presence
in space."

Director Tom Clark, K3IO, noted the need for a defined future systems
program. Tom said, "We saw a significant number of both new and old
members who want to see the development of critical system elements
for future opportunities by 2018-20. As I see it, critical 'tall
poles' in applying potential technologies require significant work to
begin now to ensure success."

AMSAT is interested in supporting technology ideas that enhance the
utility of using the CubeSat form factor to support more robust
amateur satellite capabilities. The scope of potential interest in not
limited; some examples of technology enhancement might include:

+ Microwave technology suitable for use in amateur spacecraft. This
includes the need to identify optimum frequency bands.

+ Complementary, low-cost ground systems, including an effective ~1º
antenna pointing system.

+ Define and develop optimum coding and modulation schemes for low
power microwave use.

+ Attitude determination & control systems to point the spacecraft
antennas towards the user while maximizing solar panel production.

Individuals interested in learning more about this initiative should
contact AMSAT Vice President-Engineering Jerry Buxton, N0JY (n0jy at
amsat.org).

Meanwhile, the development of AMSAT's current series of the Fox-1
cubesats continues on schedule. AMSAT Vice-President of Engineering,
Jerry Buxton, N0JY reported during the Board meeting that construction
and testing of five Fox satellites is on schedule:

+ Fox-1A will launch on a NASA ELaNa flight during the 3rd quarter of
2015 from Vandenberg AFB,

+ Fox-1B will fly with the Vanderbilt University radiation experiments
expected in 2016.

+ Fox-1C will launch on Spaceflight's maiden mission of the SHERPA
multi-cubesat deployer during the 3rd quarter of 2015. This flight was
purchased by AMSAT.

+ Fox-1D is a flight spare for Fox-1C. If not needed as a spare it
will become available to launch on any open launch slot which becomes
available and be submitted in a CSLI proposal in 2015.

+ Fox-1E is built as a flight spare for Fox-1B but has been included
in a student science proposal as part of the November, 2014 Cubesat
Launch Initiative (CSLI) for an ELaNa flight slot. If selected the
Fox-1B spare will fly as Fox-1E.

More details of the "Design The Next AMSAT Satellite" challenge can be
found on-line at:
http://www.amsat.org/?p=3395

[ANS thanks the AMSAT Board Of Directors for the above information]

AMSAT-NA http://amsat.org/