Kodiak Star launch is a success

From the ARRL...



Following several delays, the Kodiak Star launch vehicle took off
into space from Alaska early Sunday, September 30 UTC. The Athena I
rocket boosted three Amateur Radio payloads into orbit. Initial
indications are that all satellites deployed properly and have been
monitored on the ground. The payloads included the APRS-equipped
PCSat, built by midshipmen from the US Naval Academy under the
guidance of Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, the acknowledged ''father of
APRS.''




PCsat is a 1200-baud APRS digipeater designed for use by amateurs
using hand-held transceivers or mobiles. Bruninga reports that PCSat
successfully separated and has been transmitting 1200 baud AX.25
AFSK telemetry on 145.825 MHz. The satellite is being checked out,
has not yet been commissioned for general amateur use and needs a
clear uplink frequency.



Carried into space in addition to PCSsat were the Starshine 3 and
Sapphire payloads. Starshine3 is a ''disco'' mirror ball with AX.25
9600 baud telemetry on 145.825. Sapphire has 1200-baud AX.25
telemetry and a voice replay on 437.1 MHz. Starshine 3's ''disco''
ball will be visible to the eye and give earthbound students the
opportunity to participate in its primary mission of satellite
tracking.



For more information, visit the PCSat Web site. For more information
on Sapphire, visit the Stanford University Space Systems Development
Laboratories Web site.