An Introduction to Amateur Satellites

Lee De Forest Amateur Radio Club

An Introduction to Amateur Satellites

Lee De Forest Amateur Radio Club

AMSAT

AMSAT- North America

®

AMSAT

Presentation Outline

• An Overview of the Amateur Satellite Program

• What is an Amateur Radio Satellite?

• Satellite Tracking

•Sources of Information

AMSAT

Building Satellites ‘on the Cheap’

• AMSAT depends primarily on volunteers

•Only one full time employee (office manager)

•KISS Approach to satellite design - ’home brew’

•Parts donations from corporate sources

•Systems built in garages/basements

•Develop university relationships (Weber State)

AMSAT

International Scope

•Affiliate organizations in other countries

•Cooperation on individual projects

•An organization defines basic spacecraft and interface requirements

•Teams are formed from international ‘pools’ for various systems/subsystems

AMSAT

International Cooperation•Phase 3-D has components from 13 countries

•Russia Propellant Tanks•Japan SCOPE Cameras•UK 2m Xmtr/Aux. Batteries•Finland 10 GHz Xmtr•Czech Republic Receivers•USA Space Frame/GPS/RUDAK•Germany 70 cm Xmtr/LEILA/Project Mgr.•Canada Radiation Testing•Belgium 146/435/2400 MHz Rcvr•Hungary Battery Charger Regulators•Slovenia 21 MHz/5.7 GHz Rcvr•France 1.2 GHz Ant./Test Support-SBS•New Zealand Machine Parts

AMSAT P3D SPACECRAFT

ESA Provided1194V Adaptor

OSCAR 13

Average Man

Microsat

P3D

SBS LaunchStructure

AMSAT

Launch Opportunities• Most Satellites Ride into Orbit as an Extra Passenger on a Government/Commercial Agency’s Booster

•AMSAT has Developed Innovative Designs to make available ‘unusable’ space in launch vehicles

Example: 1990 launch of Microsats on Ariane IV

•AMSAT will Trade Knowledge, Skill, and Manufacturing Capacity for a Reduction/Waiver of Launch Costs

Example: SBS for P3-D on Ariane V

AMSAT

Launch Opportunities

• Take Advantage of Test Launches w/Inherent Uncertainties

Example: Ariane III and Ariane V

• Launch Insurance NOT Normally Purchased

• Cover Risk by duplicating components, such as Spaceframes

AMSAT

OSCAR Program Phases

• Phase I: Low Earth Orbit, short lifetime, primarily beacon-oriented satellites

•OSCARS I-III, Russian Iskra 1-2

• Phase II: Higher Orbits than Phase I (LEO), much longer lifetimes

•Analog: OSCARS 6-8,•Digital: UO-9,11

• Phase III: Highly elliptical Molniya-type orbits offering higher access time, power and more diverse communication transponders

•OSCARS 10, 13, and Phase 3-D

AMSAT

OSCAR Satellite SummarySatellite Launch Service Life

OSCAR-I 12 DEC 61 22 DaysOSCAR-II 2 JUN 62 19 DaysOSCAR-III 9 MAR 65 18 Days for TransponderOSCAR-IV 21 DEC 65 85 Days

OSCAR-5 23 JAN 70 52 DaysOSCAR-6 15 OCT 72 4.5 YearsOSCAR-7 15 NOV 74 6.6 YearsOSCAR-8 5 MAR 78 5.3 Years

UO-9 6 OCT 81 8 YearsAO-10 16 JUN 83 In ServiceUO-11 2 MAR 84 In Service

AMSAT

OSCAR Satellite SummarySatellite Launch Service Life

FO-12 12 AUG 86 5 NOV 89AO-13 15 JUN 88 5 DEC 96

UO-14 22 JAN 90 In ServiceUO-15 22 JAN 90 23 JAN 90AO-16 22 JAN 90 In ServiceDO-17 22 JAN 90 March 1998WO-18 22 JAN 90 March 1998LU-19 22 JAN 90 Semi-OperationalFO-20 7 FEB 90 In Service AO-21/RS-14 29 JAN 91 3.6 YearsUO-22 17 JUL 91 In ServiceKO-23 10 AUG 92 Semi-Operational

AMSAT

OSCAR Satellite SummarySatellite Launch Service Life

KO-25 26 SEP 93 In ServiceIO-26 26 SEP 93 Semi-OperationalAO-27 26 SEP 93 In ServicePO-28 26 SEP 93 Commercial ServiceFO-29 17 AUG 96 In ServiceMO-30 5 SEP 96 Unable to activateTO-31 10 JUL 98 In ServiceGO-32 10 JUL 98 Undergoing CheckoutSO-33 24 OCT 98 Unable to activatePO-34 30 OCT 98 Undergoing CheckoutSO-35 23 FEB 99 Limited ServiceUO-36 21 APR 99 Limited Service

AMSAT

RS Satellite Summary

Satellite Launch Service Life

Iskra-2 19 AUG 82 9 JUL 82 Iskra-3 18 NOV 82 16 DEC 82RS-9 Flight CancelledRS-10/11 23 JUN 87 May 97

RS-12/13 5 FEB 91 In ServiceRS-14/AO-21 29 JAN 91 JUN 94RS-15 26 DEC 94 In ServiceRS-16 4 MAR 97 25 OCT 99RS-17 3 NOV 97 30 DEC 97 (France)RS-18 10 NOV 98 11 DEC 98 (France)

AMSAT

What is a Satellite?Like a Repeater

• Retransmits what it “hears”• Has Optimized Receivers, Transmitters and

Antennas• Great Location!• Enables Small Stations to Communicate

Over Greater Distances

AMSAT

What is a Satellite?Unlike a Repeater

•Has a Moving Footprint!–Location Changes/Availability Varies–Frequency Alteration due to Doppler Shift

•Full Duplex–Uplink and Downlink on Different Bands

Simultaneously•Multi-mode (CW/SSB/Digital)•“World Wide” Coverage

AMSAT

Satellites Utilize “Transponders”

• Receives a SEGMENT of One Band• Retransmits EVERYTHING It Hears on

Another Band• Inverting Transponders– Lowest Incoming Frequency is

Retransmitted Over the Highest Outgoing Frequency–Inverts Signal (LSB to USB)

AMSAT

Satellite Systems• Attitude Control (RCS, Torquing Coils)• Central Computer (IHU)• Communications (Command Rcvr/Beacons/Ant)• Energy Supply (Batteries/Solar Panels/BCR)

• Engineering Telemetry (Electronic Sensors/Encoders)• Environment Control (Mechanical Design, Heat Pipes)• Guidance and Control (Sun/Earth Sensors)• Mission-Unique Equipment (Transponders/GPS/CCD)• Propulsion (Kick Motor/Arc Jet)• Structure

Most of the Satellite Development Effort Does Not Involve Amateur Radio

AMSAT

Satellite Categories• EASY Birds

•RS Satellites: RS-12/13, RS-15 (Russia)•Manned Satellites (MIR/SAREX/ISS)•Dual Use: FO-29 (Japan), AO-27 (FM), SO-35(FM)

•Digital Satellites•Primarily “Store and Forward” Bulletin Boards•Other Payloads (Cameras, Sensors, GPS)•PSK Mode (AO-16, WO-18, LU-19)•9600 DFM (UO-22, KO-23, KO-25)•1200 AFSK (UO-11, DO-17 Downlink Only)•38k4 and 78k6 DFM (TO-31, UO-36)

•DX Satellites•AO-10•Phase-3D

Old Satellite ModesMode A 2 m Up 10 m Down

Mode K 15 m Up 10 m Down

Mode KA 15+2 m Up 10 m Down

Mode T 15 m Up 2 m Down

Mode KT 15 m Up 2+10 m Down

Mode B 70 cm Up 2 m Down

Mode J 2 m Up 70 cm Down

Mode JL 23 cm Up 2 m+70cm Down

Mode L 23 cm Up 70 cm Down

Mode S 70 cm Up 13 cm Down

New Satellite Modes15 m 21 MHz Mode H10 m 29 MHz Mode T 2 m 145 MHz Mode V70 cm 435 MHz Mode U23 cm 1.2 GHz Mode L13 cm 2.4 GHz Mode S 6 cm 5.7 GHz Mode C 3 cm 10.5 GHz Mode X 1.5 cm 24.0 GHz Mode K

Old KA is new H,V/T

Old J is new V/U

LEILA

LEILA

LEILA

LEILA

145.800 - 145.990

5668.300 - 5668.800

2446.200 - 2446.700

2400.100 - 2400.600

1268.075 - 1268.575

1269.000 - 1268.500

21.210 - 21.250

24.920 - 24.960

435.300 - 435.800

RUDAK & TelemetryBeacons

24048.025-24048.750

10451.025-10451.750

2400.225 - 2400.950

435.475 - 436.200

145.805 - 145.990

P3D MATRIX PLAN

Transponder-IF-MATRIX(10.7MHz, -15dBm)

DOWNLINK

UPLINK

Command

Receiver

RUDAKReceiver

LEILA

LEILA

LEILA

LEILA

LEILA

2400.225 - 2400.950 (#2)

(#1)

Satellite Tracking

•Satellites are Moving Transponders

•Need to Predict When the Satellite Will be in View of Your Station

•Antenna Pointing/Doppler Correction

•Mutual Pass with Other Stations

Orbital Parameters

•Eccentricity-How Circular the Orbit?

•Apogee: Point Farthest to Earth

•Perigee: Point Closest to Earth

•Inclination Relative to the Equator

•Keplerian Elements “Describe” the Orbit

Low Earth Orbit vs. Molniya Elliptical Orbit

ApogeePerigee

Keplerian Data• “Keps” are the Variables Which Describe a Satellite’s Orbit

• Keps are Developed by NORAD/NASA– AMSAT Provides Reformatted Data

• Keps are Distributed Worldwide– Packet Bulletin Boards– BBS (DRIG, NASA, AMSAT BBS’s)– Web Sites (www.amsat.org)– ARRL bulletins– Automatic e-mail receipt from keps@amsat.org– Publications (AMSAT Journal, OSR)

Keplerian DataSatellite: AO-10Catalog number: 14129Epoch time: 99142.54434337Element set: 573Inclination: 27.0807 degRA of node: 28.2553 degEccentricity: 0.6021262Arg of perigee: 316.3948 degMean anomaly: 9.3938 degMean motion: 2.05867282 rev/dayDecay rate: 2.18e-06 rev/day^2Epoch rev: 11986Checksum: 311

Satellite: AO-27Catalog number: 22825Epoch time: 99146.69638352Element set: 726Inclination: 98.4585 degRA of node: 212.0142 degEccentricity: 0.0008568Arg of perigee: 329.5264 degMean anomaly: 30.5410 degMean motion: 14.27891037 rev/dayDecay rate: 1.48e-06 rev/day^2Epoch rev: 29517Checksum: 325

AO-101 14129U 83058B 99142.54434337 .00000218 00000-0 10000-3 0 57322 14129 27.0807 28.2553 6021262 316.3948 9.3938 2.05867282119868

Tracking Software•A Tracking Program Can Utilize Keplerian Data to Compute the Position and Velocity of a Satellite for Any Given Time

–Real Time Tracking to Determine the Satellite’s Current Position

•Antenna aiming for azimuth and elevation•Doppler Shift Corrections Based Upon Relative Velocity of the Satellite to the Observer

–Future Predictions of When a Ground Station will be in View of a Satellite

Tracking Devices•Various Self-Contained ‘Black Boxes’ Provide Autonomous Tracking

–Trakbox from TAPR–Sat Trak IV from Kiron (No Longer Produced)

•These Devices Operate Independently of a PC– Controls Rotor Azimuth/Elevation– Adjusts Radio for Doppler Shift

•Kansas City Tracker (Available from AMSAT)– A PC Card Interface– Works with Satellite Tracking Programs– Controls Rotor Az/El– Adjusts Radios for Doppler

Sources of Information•Books

•Periodicals

•Email

•Internet Sites

•BBS Sites

•AMSAT Area Coordinators

General Information Books

AMSAT How to Use Amateur Radio Satellites

AMSAT Working the Easy Sats

ARRL Handbook

ARRL Radio Amateur’s Satellite Handbook

ARRL Satellite Anthology

Books for Specific Satellite Types

Analog Satellites Operating Guide

AMSAT-NA Digital Satellite Guide (Includes WISP Install/Setup Instructions)

P3G to P3D

Decoding Telemetry from Amateur Satellites

AMSAT Mode S: The Book

Periodicals

•AMSAT Journal (Published Bimonthly/distributed to membership)

•OSCAR Satellite Report (Harlan Technologies published bi-weekly)

•Magazines with Satellite Columns:– QST– CQ Magazine– 73 Magazine– World Radio

E-Mail Resources from AMSAT

•AMSAT News Services (ANS)

•KEPS (Keplerian Data)

•AMSAT-BB

•SAREX

•E-Mail is Sent to Your Internet E-Mail Address– Subscribe by Sending Message to: majordomo@amsat.org

World Wide Web Resources

•http: //www.amsat.org/

•http: //www.arrl.org/

•http: //www.tapr.org/

•http: //www.grove.net/~tkelso/

•http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/EE/CSER/UOSAT

BBS Sites

•18 Telephone Sites Nationwide

•Satellite Information Available on AOL/CIS

•Coverage of Weather, non-AMSAT Satellite Activities

•May Require Pre-registration to Gain Access

•List of Sites Available from AMSAT

AMSAT Field Organization

•Area Coordinators: AMSAT’s Ambassadors

•150+ Volunteers in USA and Canada

•100% Use E-Mail

•Have Knowledge/Get Answers

•Make Local Presentations/Hamfest Presence

•Area Coordinator List Available

How Do I Get Help?

•Local Satellite Operators

•AMSAT Nets (HF and VHF)-Listing Available

•E-Mail (AMSAT-BB)

•Visit the AMSAT Booth at Hamfests & Conventions

•Contact an AMSAT Area Coordinator

•Request a Club Satellite Presentation

•Consider Joining AMSAT/ Receive the Journal

AMSAT

For More Information• AMSAT-North America

P.O. Box 27Washington, DC 20044-0027phone: (301) 589-6062e-mail: martha@amsat.org

• AMSAT Area CoordinatorDuane Naugle, KO6BT4111 Nemaha Dr.San Diego, CA 92117-4522phone: (858) 273-4088e-mail: ko6bt@amsat.org