Five new satellites ‘launched’ from the back of the International Space station – can be picked up with 1/4 wave whip and basic receiver – FunCube Dongle will be ideal!!!

Five new satellites ‘launched’ from the back of the International Space station – can be picked up with 1/4 wave whip and basic receiver – FunCube Dongle will be ideal!!!

Some images here:- http://www.uk.amsat.org/?attachment_id=10807

On October 4, 2012 five CubeSats were successfully deployed from the International Space Station (ISS). The first pod containing RAIKO and WE-WISH was deployed at 1437 UT while the second pod containing FITSAT-1, F-1 and TechEdSat deployed at 1544 UT.

Howard Long, G6LVB (designer of the satellite tracking interface I use), as well as the FunCube Dongle Pro and Pro + has a video here, picking up one of these satellites with the new version of the dongle, and a simple 1/4 wave antenna on a baking tray sat on his balcony 🙂

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4UA19W2i94

FITSAT-1 has an array of ultra bright LED’s, and under good viewing conditions will be visible to the naked eye – so can send CW as it moves in an arc across the sky!!

http://www.uk.amsat.org/?p=10701

There will soon be kepler elements listed, so we can work out pass times for these satellites, until then – if we use the position info for ISS, we shouldn’t be too far out.

Matty

MD0MAN