AMSAT OSCAR-E (“Echo”): AMSAT OSCAR-E (“Echo”) AMSAT OSCAR-51 (AO-51) Satellite
Commissioning, Launch and Operating
Presented by
Richard M. Hambly, W2GPS Columbia Amateur Radio Association
Tuesday, August 24, 2004
Columbia, MD
AMSAT AO-51 Presentation: AMSAT AO-51 Presentation Technical Overview
Integration and Launch Campaign
Operating AO-51
What’s Nest? Eagle! When in doubt see AMSAT’s new Web site at
www.amsat.org
AO-E Technical Overview: AO-E Technical Overview
AMSAT OSCAR-E (“Echo”) Communications Block Diagram: AMSAT OSCAR-E (“Echo”) Communications Block Diagram 2 Modulators Multi-Band Multi-Mode Rx VHF Rx UHF Tx 6 Demodulators Switching Matrix
AO-E RF Subsystems Receivers: AO-E RF Subsystems Receivers 4 miniature VHF FM receivers
<40 mW each
<40 gm each
Each receiver has 2-channel capability
Sensitivity is -121dbm for 12db SINAD VHF PreAmp/Filters Interface Board Four VHF Receivers 4-Way Power Splitter
AO-E RF Subsystems Transmitters: AO-E RF Subsystems Transmitters Two UHF FM transmitters that can be operated simultaneously.
1-6 watts out.
Frequency agile in 2.5KHz steps, tunable over about 20 MHz. UHF Hybrid Combiner Transmitters
AO-E RF Subsystems Multi-band Receiver: AO-E RF Subsystems Multi-band Receiver All-mode, 10m, 2m, 70cm and 23cm.
Performance limited by broadband antenna. Multi Mode Receiver
is under the
UHF Hybrid Combiner
AO-E RF Subsystems 2.4 GHz S-Band Transmitter: AO-E RF Subsystems 2.4 GHz S-Band Transmitter Exciter & interface board.
Chuck Schultz KE4NNF
Exciter draws 38.3 mA
+5.0 dBm output.
AMSAT OSCAR-E (“Echo”) Mode L/S Hardware Update: AMSAT OSCAR-E (“Echo”) Mode L/S Hardware Update Chuck Schultz KE4NNF designed the exciter and Harold Sanderson KT4XK designed the power amplifier. Lou McFadin W5DID mounted wired the modules. Photo by Stan Wood WA4NFY. Dual band antenna 1268.700 MHz up 2401.200 MHz down designed by Stan Wood WA4NFY.
AO-E Integrated Flight Computer (IFC): AO-E Integrated Flight Computer (IFC) Flight proven, low-power < 300 mW,
6 Rx and 6 Tx SCC (data) channels
1 MB EDAC, 16 MB RAM,16MB flash
6 demodulators
2 modulators
AO-E Spacecraft Flight Software: AO-E Spacecraft Flight Software Spacecraft Operating System (SCOS)
Thanks to Harold Price NK6K.
Boot Loader
Bob Diersing N5AHD
Command And Telemetry Program
Ground station Windows based
Boot Loader Prototype
Ground station Windows based Jim White WD0E’s Integration Lab Housekeeping task
AO-E Power Generation: AO-E Power Generation Six high efficiency Solar Panels
Triple junction MCORE GaAs cells (~27%).
~20W when not in eclipse (12-14W per side). Mark Kanawati N4TPY carrying $20,000 worth of solar cells and sooo casually spreading glue all over
AO-E Power Distribution Battery Control Regulator (BCR): Autonomous, fail-safe.
50KHz 89% efficiency.
Keeps the spacecraft alive at all costs.
Charges the battery using only solar power, so will charge a dead battery. AO-E Power Distribution Battery Control Regulator (BCR) Prevents the battery from overcharging or depleting.
Provides the necessary voltages and telemetry.
AO-E Power Distribution Batteries: AO-E Power Distribution Batteries Matched set of six NiCd cells
4.4 Ah each, nominal 8 VDC.
AO-E Attitude Control (Experimental): AO-E Attitude Control (Experimental) Strength and polarity can be adjusted
It's possible to turn the satellite upside down. Active magnetic attitude control.
Semi-permanent magnetic rods
AMSAT OSCAR-E (“Echo”) Integration: AMSAT OSCAR-E (“Echo”) Integration Integration began December 8, 2003
Jim White WD0E and Mike Kingery KE4AZN arrived at SpaceQuest in Fairfax VA.
Details in Jan/Feb AMSAT Journal. Project Manager Dick Daniels W4PUJ watching over Integration Team Leader Jim White WD0E at SpaceQuest on 18-Dec-03.
Echo Launch Campaign June 2004: Echo Launch Campaign June 2004 Chuck Green, N0ADI with Echo
enroute to Baikonur Echo (left) with UniSat-3 mounted
on their dispenser plate. Photo source: http://bach.as.arizona.edu/gallery/chuck
On Time Launch 6/29/2004 0630 UTC: On Time Launch 6/29/2004 0630 UTC Dnepr LV (SS-18) launch from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, 29 JUN 04 Echo (in the foreground) mounted on
the launch platform next to UniSat-3.
Echo Launch 6/29/2004 0630 UTC: Echo Launch 6/29/2004 0630 UTC
Echo Launch 6/29/2004 0630 UTC: Echo Launch 6/29/2004 0630 UTC
AMSAT OSCAR-E (“Echo”) Volunteers: AMSAT OSCAR-E (“Echo”) Volunteers Jim White WD0E for his technical contributions, leadership skills and for the many hundreds of hours he has invested.
Mike Kingery KE4AZN for on-site support of integration testing, including the loan of his satellite station, and for developing command and telemetry ground station software.
The SpaceQuest team, especially Mark Kanawati N4TPY and Dr. Dino Lorenzini KC4YMG who are also AMSAT members and volunteers.
Harold Price NK6K, for his donation of the Spacecraft Operating System (SCOS) kernel and file system and for his on-site integration support.
Bob Diersing N5AHD, for his timely work on the boot loader.
Skip Hansen WB6YMH, for his efforts on the ground station software.
Chuck Schultz KE4NNF, Harold Sanderson KT4XK, Lou McFadin W5DID and Stan Wood WA4NFY for their work on the S-band transmitter and L/S band antenna system.
The AMSAT project management team for their help and assistance, especially Rick Hambly W2GPS and Dick Daniels W4PUJ.
David Bern W2LNX, for his assistance with the ground station hardware. Special recognition is due to the following for their contributions and support during the integration phase of the Echo project:
Echo is now AO-51 But what is AO-51?: Echo is now AO-51 But what is AO-51? UO-22 + UO-14 + MORE POWER
Microsat Power Comparison: Microsat Power Comparison
AO-51 Operations: AO-51 Operations
AO-51 Passes: AO-51 Passes
AO-51 Standard Operation: AO-51 Standard Operation Analog - Voice
Downlink 435.300 MHz FM
Uplink 145.920 MHz FM w/ 67 Hz PL Tone
TX power is 0.5-1 Watt, but may be as high as 6 Watts.
Digital – 9600 bps, AX.25, PACSAT Protocol
Downlink 435.150 MHz FM
Uplink 145.860 MHz FM
Telemetry in the digital stream
AO-51 Operations: AO-51 Operations FM voice repeater mode
67 Hz tone needed to turn on the downlink transmitter and gate the audio path. Challenges:
If a signal without tone captures the receiver, no audio will get through the decoder chip and the satellite will transmit a signal without modulation.
Multiple uplink signals can mix and cause no clear PL tone to be present at the decoder. During this time, no audio is repeated by the satellite.
AO-51 Analog Operating Techniques Before the Pass: AO-51 Analog Operating Techniques Before the Pass Printout the tracking data for the pass
Sat tracking available online at:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/tools/predict/
Use a compass to determine landmarks for where the satellite will rise and set
Account for Doppler Shift
Have your radio batteries charged
Check your watch against WWV
AO-51 Analog Operating Techniques During the Pass: AO-51 Analog Operating Techniques During the Pass ID grid square
Listen for the satellite downlink-Do not transmit in the ‘blind’
Keep your SQUELCH OFF-listen for quieting
If using an HT with whip antenna, do not keep it vertical--Tilt the HT to the same amount as the satellite elevation
Use headphones
Know which passes are good for your location/pick your passes
AO-51 Analog Operating Techniques During the Pass: AO-51 Analog Operating Techniques During the Pass Listen to who is talking - Note the callsign
Make a short call to this specific station
Give your name, callsign, and gridsquare
Have a means to record contacts
Have patience-LEO satellites are busy, so it may take a few passes until you make a contact Robin Haighton VE3FRH, Keith Pugh W5IU and Rick Hambly W2GPS at the 2004 Central States VHF Symposium, Toronto, ON July 2004
Slide31: Digital mode
Active all the time.
145.860MHz up, 435.150MHz down at 9,600 baud.
Store and forward bulletin board system (BBS) using PACSAT Protocol Suite.
Ground stations use WiSP or equivalent
Digital downlink will also contain telemetry.
Whole orbit data will be available for download. Mike Seguin N1JEZ decoding AO-51 telemetry during the Central States VHF Conference, Toronto July 2004. Rick Hambly W2GPS is aiming the Arrow Antenna.
AO-51 Digital Equipment : AO-51 Digital Equipment 9600bps Digital Satellite Station
AO-51 Telemetry: AO-51 Telemetry
AO-51 Operations Experimenter’s Day: AO-51 Operations Experimenter’s Day Experimenters' day
Wednesdays (UTC).
Any other mode may be in use.
Scheduled a week or more in advance.
Default is digital; 1268.700 up at 9,600 baud and 2401.200 MHz down at 38,400 baud.
Other common modes include L/S FM voice and L/S Data with 9,600 baud up and 38,400 or 76,800 baud down.
AO-51 Operations Experimenter’s Day: AO-51 Operations Experimenter’s Day First Experimenter’s Wednesday 4 AUG 04
L-band uplink on 1268.70 MHz for FM repeater
Satellite downlink UHF transmitter on 435.00 MHz.
CTCSS (PL) tone required on uplink
VHF uplink on 145.920 MHz was turned off
Second Experimenters Wednesday 11 AUG 04
FM Transmitter turned off
First opportunity to use the 9k6 Pacsat Broadcast Protocol
Uplink 145.860 MHz/Downlink 435.150 MHz
Upload/download of messages only
As new software will be uploaded, all stored messages lost
ECHO Information: ECHO Information AMSAT publications
AMSAT webpage
www.amsat.org
AMSAT News Service (ANS)
AMSAT Journal
AMSAT-bb (forum)
AMSAT Office
tel. 301-589-6062
What’s Next?: What’s Next? 6 cu ft, ~50Kg
High Eliptical Orbit
About 80 Watt power budget
Eagle: AMSAT’s Next Project: Eagle: AMSAT’s Next Project AMSAT’s vision is to “deploy high earth orbit satellite systems that offer daily coverage by 2009 and continuous coverage by 2012.”
HEO satellites are key to AMSAT fulfilling strategic needs
Eagle Design Team met in Orlando, FL the weekend of 17 JUL 04
Mechanical/Thermal design work has been done by Dick Jansen, WD4FAB over the past several years
Key team assignments were made at the design meeting
Eagle: AMSAT’s Next Project: Eagle: AMSAT’s Next Project Key design parameters are being finalized and have not yet been released. Expect details to be presented at the 2004 AMSAT Symposium.
The following has been announced:
High Earth Orbit (e.g. at apogee, it gives service to half the globe)
V/U and L/S capability with combination of gain and omni antennas
‘C/C’ Rider transponder @ 5.6GHz (C-Band) HEO Orbit
Eagle: AMSAT’s Next Project: Eagle: AMSAT’s Next Project A reasonable ‘expectation’ is that Eagle will also feature:
68 Kg class satellite
Rotation rate of 1 to 15 rpm
Ability to adjust perigee to a safe altitude after initial placement in orbit
Integration of spacecraft and cost-effective ground terminal design as part of the wideband digital system
IHU-3 (Internal Housekeeping Unit) will be the used (same as used for AMSAT-DL’s P3-E and P5-A)
A power budget that will allow multiple transponders to be operational at one time
Eagle: AMSAT’s Next Project: Eagle: AMSAT’s Next Project Eagle will fulfill AMSAT’s Vision:
AMSAT designs, builds and operates experimental satellites and promotes space education
AMSAT encourages technical and scientific innovation
The BOD believes that the 2009 and 2012 vision is the single critical goal that will lead to a healthy future for AMSAT
Eagle: AMSAT’s Next Project: Eagle: AMSAT’s Next Project What are the Next Steps?
Design Team releases specifications of proposed satellite
Review/comment
BOD reviews design and cost estimates
Fundraising is a critical component
Find a suitable launch (Hopefully sooner than 2009)
Eagle from the User’s perspective
Review the proposal
Volunteers are needed to work on Eagle
Support AMSAT with your financial support
Ability to proceed with Eagle is directly dependent upon how quickly funds are donated for the project
Questions?