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AMSAT OSCAR-51 (“Echo”)

AMSAT OSCAR-51 (“Echo”). AMSAT AO-51 Design, Construction and Launch Campaign Presented by Lyle Johnson, KK7P. MicroHAMS 16 November 2004. What is AMSAT?. A group of national organizations which cooperate to design, build, launch and operate Amateur spacecraft AMSAT-NA formed in 1969

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AMSAT OSCAR-51 (“Echo”)

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  1. AMSAT OSCAR-51 (“Echo”) AMSAT AO-51 Design, Construction and Launch Campaign Presented by Lyle Johnson, KK7P MicroHAMS 16 November 2004

  2. What is AMSAT? • A group of national organizations which cooperate to design, build, launch and operate Amateur spacecraft • AMSAT-NA formed in 1969 • Arranged launch of OSCAR-5 for Australia • AO-6, AO-7, AO-8 in the 1970’s • Free Launches! • Assisted with UO-9, UO-11, P3A, AO-10, AO-13 in 1980’s • Microsats in 1988-1990 (AO-16..LO-19) • Launches no longer free… • Focus on AO-40 through 1990’s • Volunteer Organization at forefront of Amateur Radio technology

  3. Who is KK7P? • First licensed as WN6JLR at age 13 • WA7GXD 1967 – 2000 • KK7P (2000) • AMSAT Volunteer, donating time and expertise, since 1983 • Designed DCE in UO-11 • PACSAT prototype • 29 July 1983 – 01 March 1984 • Designed Flight Computers for MicroSats • Designed much of AO-27 • Designed several systems on AO-40 • Assisted JAMSAT for FO-12 and FO-20 projects • Assisting KiwiSat effort 1999-present • Designing IHU-3 for Eagle, P3E, P5A… • Design Engineer to CTO for Modular Mining Systems, Tucson AZ, 1980-2000 • Moved to Mt Vernon September, 2000. • Currently employed by Elecraft, LLC and also work as a consultant. • Married to Heather, N7DZU, with 6 kids and 16+ grandchildren

  4. Why Echo? • AMSAT-NA hadn’t designed and launched a satellite since the MicroSats in January 1990 • EasySats are popular • AMSAT-NA needed greater exposure to the Amateur community • We needed a success after the problems with AO-40 • We needed a stepping stone to Eagle

  5. Echo Timeline • 10/2001 – AMSAT BoD Commisisons SpaceQuest to prepare report on new small satellite project • 01/2002 – BoD approves project • 02/2002 – AMSAT contracts with SpaceQuest to build main “bus” • 10/2002 – “Flat Sat” configuration tested • 10/2003 – May ’04 set for launch (pushed to 6/29) • 12/2003 – Integration Testing Begins • 06/2004 – AO-E launched, becomes AO-51 • 07/2004 – Limited Availability for General Use

  6. AO-51 Technical Overview

  7. AMSAT OSCAR-51 (“Echo”)Communications Block Diagram VHF Rx UHF Tx Multi-Band Multi-Mode Rx Switching Matrix 6 Demodulators 2 Modulators

  8. AO-51 RF SubsystemsReceivers VHF PreAmp/Filters • 4 miniature VHF FM receivers • <40 mW each • <40 gm each • Each receiver has 2-channel capability • Sensitivity is -121dbm for 12db SINAD 4-Way Power Splitter Four VHF Receivers Interface Board

  9. AO-51 RF SubsystemsTransmitters UHF Hybrid Combiner • Two UHF FM transmitters that can be operated simultaneously. • 1-6 watts out. • Frequency agile in 2.5KHz steps, tunable over about 20 MHz. Transmitters

  10. AO-51 RF SubsystemsMulti-band Receiver • All-mode, 10m, 2m, 70cm and 23cm. • Performance limited by broadband antenna. Multi Mode Receiver is under the UHF Hybrid Combiner

  11. AO-51 RF Subsystems2.4 GHz S-Band Transmitter • Exciter & interface board. • Chuck Schultz KE4NNF • Exciter draws 38.3 mA • +5.0 dBm output.

  12. AMSAT OSCAR-51 (“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 antenna1268.700 MHz up2401.200 MHz down designed by Stan Wood WA4NFY.

  13. AO-51 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 • Design by KK7P

  14. AO-51 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

  15. AO-51 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

  16. AO-51 Power DistributionBattery 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. • Prevents the battery from overcharging or depleting. • Provides the necessary voltages and telemetry.

  17. AO-51 Power Distribution Batteries • Matched set of six NiCd cells • 4.4 Ah each, nominal 8 VDC.

  18. AO-51 Attitude Control (Experimental) • Active magnetic attitude control. • Semi-permanent magnetic rods • Strength and polarity can be adjusted • It's possible to turn the satellite upside down.

  19. AMSAT OSCAR-51 (“Echo”)Operations

  20. AMSAT OSCAR-51 (“Echo”)Operations • AO-51 provides long-distance, VHF/UHF operation with simple equipment. • Great for restricted antenna locations • QRP! • Fun! • FM Voice Mode • Digital Modes • Experimental Modes

  21. AMSAT OSCAR-51 (“Echo”)Operations • FM voice repeater mode • Can be Active all the time. • 145.920 MHz uplink with 67 Hz PL tone. • 435.300 MHz downlink. • TX comes on only when it hears a 67 Hz PL for one second and stays on for up to ten seconds after the tone disappears. • TX power is 1 Watt may be as high as 6 Watts.

  22. AMSAT OSCAR-51 (“Echo”)Operations • Digital mode • Can be Active with Analog Mode • 145.860 up, 435.150 down at 9,600 baud. • TX typically one Watt. • Store and forward bulletin board system (BBS) using PACSAT Protocol Suite. • Digital downlink also contains telemetry. • Whole orbit data will be available for download. • May broadcast periodic APRS status messages.

  23. AMSAT OSCAR-51 (“Echo”)Operations • 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 on same frequencies. • 10M SSB Up/U or S FM Down, using PSK31.

  24. AMSAT OSCAR-51 (“Echo”)Operations • Ground Station Equipment • 2m Tx w/PL tone capability • AO-51 is Sensitive – an HT will work! • 70cm Rx • Make it a dual-band HT… • Most Hams find a handheld 2 or 3 element beam is effective with an HT • “Arrow” Antenna is very popular • Orbital Predictions • Free software for Windows, Macintosh, Linux • You can buy software, too! (AMSAT-NA)

  25. AMSAT OSCAR-51 (“Echo”)Further Information • AMSAT-NA Website for the latest information www.amsat.org and click on the Echo Project Page link. • “Echo - Operation, Development and Specifications" by G. Gould Smith, WA4SXM. Available from: • AMSAT (888) 322-6728

  26. What’s Next? Eagle! • 8 cu ft, ~100Kg • High Eliptical Orbit • About 100 Watt power budget

  27. AMSAT OSCAR-51 (“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.

  28. AO-51 Photos and More… • Now let’s go on a tour of the integration and launch of Echo…

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