g4tut
12-04-2006, 09:25 AM
GeneSat-1 Launch Planned for December 11
A Star is Flown
GeneSat-1 will launch from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) at NASA Wallops Flight Facility on December 11, 2006, about 7:00am EST.
It will go into orbit as a secondary payload aboard a Minotaur launch vehicle. GeneSat-1 is a 10 x 10 x 30 cm. spacecraft, which will conduct a cellular biology technology demonstration.
Of particular interest to the amateur radio satellite community, is the GeneSat-1 beacon. Operating at 437.075 MHz FM, the beacon sends an AX.25 packet every 5 seconds; the packet contains data about the spacecraft systems operation. The beacon will initiate transmission as soon as the spacecraft is deployed from its carrier on the 4th stage of the launch vehicle.
The mission website at http://www.genesat1.org will be fully operational as of December 5; look there for general mission and spacecraft information, for how to contact GeneSat Mission Operations, and for the latest orbit data and other information needed to work the GeneSat-1 beacon.
Let The Games Begin
To foster interest in the amateur community, and to support amateur radio and space technology outreach to student groups, the GeneSat Mission Team is sponsoring a contest, with entries made by uploading packets received onto the mission website. Recognition and awards will be made as follows:
Grand Prize:
A radio station set up for satellite tracking!
The rig will be donated by the Silicon Valley Center for Robotic Exploration and Space Technology (CREST) at NASA Research Park to the college or university of the winner's choice. The honor of choosing the recipient school goes to the station that logs 12 or more data packets each (about 1 minute's worth of listening) from the greatest number of satellite passes during the experiment.
The recipient school must be approved by CREST management, based on demonstration of suitable infrastructure and licensed amateur(s) available to operate and maintain the station, and available connectivity from CREST for remote support and operation.
The station will be installed with the cooperation of CREST staff. The winners also will receive a commemorative plaque for station team members and pictures and recognition on the GeneSat-1 website. In case of a tie the station with earliest initial packet submittal will win the right to
designate the recipient school.
First Contact Prize:
The station submitting the first packet after initiation of transmission will receive the First Contact Prize. They will receive a commemorative plaque and mission pins for station team members and pictures and recognition on the mission website.
The First 20 stations to post packets will receive mission pins and a certificate of recognition from the GeneSat Mission Operations Director.
All Contestants who submit one or more packets will receive an electronic QSL card from the mission web site upon submission of data.
Mike, KE7EGC and the GeneSat-1 team
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A Star is Flown
GeneSat-1 will launch from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) at NASA Wallops Flight Facility on December 11, 2006, about 7:00am EST.
It will go into orbit as a secondary payload aboard a Minotaur launch vehicle. GeneSat-1 is a 10 x 10 x 30 cm. spacecraft, which will conduct a cellular biology technology demonstration.
Of particular interest to the amateur radio satellite community, is the GeneSat-1 beacon. Operating at 437.075 MHz FM, the beacon sends an AX.25 packet every 5 seconds; the packet contains data about the spacecraft systems operation. The beacon will initiate transmission as soon as the spacecraft is deployed from its carrier on the 4th stage of the launch vehicle.
The mission website at http://www.genesat1.org will be fully operational as of December 5; look there for general mission and spacecraft information, for how to contact GeneSat Mission Operations, and for the latest orbit data and other information needed to work the GeneSat-1 beacon.
Let The Games Begin
To foster interest in the amateur community, and to support amateur radio and space technology outreach to student groups, the GeneSat Mission Team is sponsoring a contest, with entries made by uploading packets received onto the mission website. Recognition and awards will be made as follows:
Grand Prize:
A radio station set up for satellite tracking!
The rig will be donated by the Silicon Valley Center for Robotic Exploration and Space Technology (CREST) at NASA Research Park to the college or university of the winner's choice. The honor of choosing the recipient school goes to the station that logs 12 or more data packets each (about 1 minute's worth of listening) from the greatest number of satellite passes during the experiment.
The recipient school must be approved by CREST management, based on demonstration of suitable infrastructure and licensed amateur(s) available to operate and maintain the station, and available connectivity from CREST for remote support and operation.
The station will be installed with the cooperation of CREST staff. The winners also will receive a commemorative plaque for station team members and pictures and recognition on the GeneSat-1 website. In case of a tie the station with earliest initial packet submittal will win the right to
designate the recipient school.
First Contact Prize:
The station submitting the first packet after initiation of transmission will receive the First Contact Prize. They will receive a commemorative plaque and mission pins for station team members and pictures and recognition on the mission website.
The First 20 stations to post packets will receive mission pins and a certificate of recognition from the GeneSat Mission Operations Director.
All Contestants who submit one or more packets will receive an electronic QSL card from the mission web site upon submission of data.
Mike, KE7EGC and the GeneSat-1 team
Daily Amateur Radio RSS News Service:
http://www.southgatearc.org/
Add News Service to your Website: http://www.southgatearc.org/rss/index.htm
Add News Service to your PC: http://www.southgatearc.org/rss/newsreader.htm
Upload Your News Items: http://www.southgatearc.org/news/your_news.htm