The PDF on their web site also mentions at 420 to 480 mhz radio option with a
500 mw output which might be somewhat more usefull (although the voltage
requirements of this radio seem different than the sattelite can provide ?)
http://interorbital.com/Downloads/TubeSat%20Sales%20Brochure%20Publish%201.0.pdf
- Original Message
From: W4ART Arthur Feller afel...@ieee.org
To: Mark Thompson wb9qzb_gro...@yahoo.com
Cc: amsat-bb@amsat.org
Sent: Wednesday, August 5, 2009 4:43:56 PM
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Fwd: Launch your own satellite for only eight grand
Hi, Mark,
The 902-928 MHz is not available for space stations in any radio
service. 2400 to 2450 MHz is available to the amateur-satellite
service. However, many of the example projects appear unrelated to
radio or may be commercial in nature, so they may not qualify for the
amateur-satellite service.
Wi-Fi equipment operates at very low power and relies upon provisions
in the radio regulations allowing administrations to use frequencies
for any purpose, provided they don't cause interference to stations
operating in accordance with the Table of Frequency Allocations. Low
power in this band fits the bill very nicely for short range use; not
for space operations. Timing issues may also apply.
Some good frequency planning is in order.
73, art.
W4ART Arlington, VA
On 5-Aug-2009, at 3:52 PM, Mark Thompson wrote:
-Original Message-
From: djmullen tds.net djmul...@tds.net
To: BARS b...@cs.wisc.edu; Joe j...@dzsp.org
Sent: Tue, Aug 4, 2009 11:46 pm
Subject: [BARS] $8000 to launch a satellite?
Here's an interesting article from The Register:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/08/04/tube_sat/
Launch your own satellite for only eight grand
Prospective world domination candidates apply here
By Bill Ray • Get more from this author
Posted in Telecoms, 4th August 2009 14:59 GMT
Interorbital Systems is offering your own orbiting satellite for
only $8,000, including launch, though evil geniuses might balk at
the expected 2-week lifespan before a fiery re-entry.
The plan is to launch 32 of the diminutive TubeSats into low earth
orbit, around 310Km up, using a single Neptune 30 launcher (under
development by=2 0Interorbital). The Neptune 30 will time release
the TubeSats into orbits that decay within a few weeks, after which
they'll burn up re-entering the Earth's atmosphere.
The cost of each one is $8,000, though you'll have to pay up front
to guarantee a launch slot, and put the satellite together yourself
from the supplied kit. Stil, at least Interorbital Systems accepts
PayPal.
Fitting a doomsday machine into the 13.5cm long TubeSat, which is
only 8.7cm wide, will challenge plans for world domination, but that
will be where the genius comes into play.
The company suggests you might use your TubeSat for everything from
Earth-from-space video imaging to private e-mail or On-orbit
advertising, though we're not sure what the audience figures would
be for the latter. More realistically, buyers might like to bounce
amateur radio signals off their own bird, or try experiments within
orbital conditions.
The radio aboard the TubeSat will operate at 902-928MHz or
2.4-2.4835GHz, the latter being ideal for Wi-Fi, as well as covering
the bands allocated for amateur satellite operations - allowing Hams
to fly even if pigs can't. Full specifications are available from
Interorbital (pdf).
Not that professionals will be allowed to buy TubeSats: The listed
price is not valid for military, governmental, or large corporate
entities. Members of these organizations should contact Interorbital
Systems if interested in purchasing a TubeSat.
Interorbital Systems has some form in space operations. It was a
competitor in the X-Prize, and has entered Google's Lunar X-Prize to
retrieve a bit of the moon. More practically, the company has been
testing engines in the Mojave desert, but the TubeSat launches
planned for next year will be the first time the company has flown a
bird, even a small one. ®
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