ARLA/CLUSTER: Um novo FUNcube transponder!

[João Costa > CT1FBF]

Another FUNcube transponder!

AMSAT-NL has announced that an initial series of tests of the FUNcube
transponder payload aboard the QB50p1 CubeSat have been successfully
completed

QB50p1 is one of two QB50 precursor spacecraft that were launched from
Yasny in Russia in June 2014.

The primary science payloads are still being extensively tested but it
has now been possible to undertake a short test of the transponder
payload as well. The transponder is intended as a long term secondary
mission following the initial technology demonstration and de-risking
phase.

After spending ten months in space, the transponder was commanded on
for short periods during each of the three morning passes over Europe
on Monday 27th April 2015. A number of FUNcube team members in the
Netherlands and in the UK were standing by to run through a predefined
test plan.

The transponder has a similar performance to that of FUNcube-1 but the
passband is nominally 5 kHz wider by design.

It is not yet known when this transponder may be available for regular
usage but AMSAT-NL is delighted to be able to report that the hardware
is functioning and is very grateful to the QB50 project, the Von
Karman Institute and ISIS B.V. for their ongoing support.

More information about the QB50 project can be found athttps://www.qb50.eu/

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