Launch of Beacon aboard USC CAERUS CubeSat Subsystem

Hello Sir/Madam,
I would like to announce the expected launch of University of Southern California's (USC) CAERUS aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, on the 8th of Dec 2010, with a launch window of 1400-1722 GMT.

CAERUS is USC's 1st CubeSat subsystem delivered in May 2010, and was named after the greek word for "opportunity". It was developed from authorization to proceed (ATP) to delivery in 14 weeks. CAERUS is part of the "MAYFLOWER" Next Generation Technology CubeSat that is a joint effort with Northrop Grumman NOVAWORKS group.

The satellite would be transmitting beacon data in the Amateur Band, with the following specifications.
Call Sign: KJ6FIX
Downlink Frequency: 437.600 MHz
Beacon Output Power: 900mW
Modulation Type: AFSK, 1200 baud
TLE: Updated on website, right after launch.

It would be greatly appreciated, if you can please collect the beacon data and email the raw text file to caerus@astronautics.usc.edu. The collection of the data would help USC in tabulating the performance of our first student driven endeavour into space.

For further information and TLE updates, please go to the website http://www2.isi.edu/research/prj-serc/prj-serc_projects/prj-serc_projects-9.htm. The beacon data can also be translated with the jar applet provided on our website.
Thanks for all your help,
Regards,
USC CubeSAT Team.

## P.S. ##
- If it's raw beacon data file, please have your email subject: Beacon Data and your info.
- If you have the capability of hooking up a Spectrum Analyzer to the antenna feed, and can measure the 'Actual' frequency of the downlink, please send that too, with the Subject: Beacon Frequency. This is very important to us, for a tracking experiment we are conducting.

 

New TLE of CAERUS from Falcon9

F9_cubesat
1 99999U 99999 10342.68664352 .00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 14
2 99999 34.5382 180.5256 0019992 245.8787 334.0535 15.92118320 16

Next pass in approximately an hour ~13:56 pacific time.

 

Updated Website

http://www.isi.edu/projects/serc/caerus

 

Probable End of Beacon Activities

Thank you very much to all of you who helped us by sending in the data gathered from the Caerus Satellite System beacon. We got replies primarily from the US and Japan, and really appreciate your efforts, in determining the temperature and initial spin on our satellite.

Due to operational considerations, the beacon will be off except in certain conditions and at variable event times which will not be predicted. Whereas tracking of the beacon is possible over the next few weeks, it is improbable.

Thanks again,
Best Regards,
USC CubeSAT Team.