[amsat-bb] STS-116 and USBA/DARPA/ANDE/RAFT satellites launch

[Luc Leblanc VE2DWE]

Could be of some interest on the next STS-116 mission.


STS-116 to launch USNA/DARPA satellites

Pretty much overshadowed by the main mission to the ISS, STS-116 will launch 
two U.S. Naval Academy Student Project satellites after undocking from the ISS. 
These satellites are called ANDE (Atmospheric Neutral Density Experiment) and 
RAFT (Radar Fence Transponder).

The NRL science mission of ANDE is to measure the density of the upper 
atmosphere by precise tracking of the orbit decay by the Maui Laser Ranging 
Tracking Station. The Comm system provides important telemetry on the attitude 
and temperature of the spacecraft. The ANDE and RAFT satellites will carry 
amateur radio communications payloads (see frequencies below), but RAFT has 
something a bit extra.

RAFT carries a 216.980 MHz receiver/transmitter to demonstrate self-location 
techniques when it flies through the Space Surveillance Network radar fence 
across the southern USA. When this experiment is activated, users will hear a 1 
second ping when it flies through the fence. This is an excellent way to see 
how sensitive your radio installation is.



Amateur Payloads:

ANDE Side A: 145.825 MHz Digipeater up/downlink 1200 baud packet

ANDE Side B: 145.825 MHz downlink (backup to side A only)

RAFT System: 145.825 MHz Digipeater up/downlink 1200 baud packet

RAFT PSK-31: 28.120 MHz HF PSK-31 uplink -downlink on 145.825 MHz

You can get more information on these satellites at the following links:

ANDE/RAFT Space Operations
http://eng.usna.navy.mil/~bruninga/ande-raft-ops.html

ANDE (MAA) - Telemetry/Command and Comms
http://eng.usna.navy.mil/~bruninga/ande.html

Various frequencies list 
http://www.monitoringtimes.com/


RAFT Satellite Project

The MARScom satellite is suppose to launch with this mission, but nothing hs 
been mentioned in any of the official STS-116 paperwork about that Cubesat. 
While its mission fate is unknown as of this writing, according to a 13 October 
2006 Chief of NAVMARCORPSMARS message
the satellite is at KSC and ready for launch.

You can view my complete description of the RAFT and MARScom payloads at
MEMS-Based PICOSAT Inspector (MEPSI)

http://exploration.nasa.gov/programs/station/STP-H2-MEPSI.html

sources:http://mt-milcom.blogspot.com/
           :http://monitor-post.blogspot.com/ 

_ADDITIONNAL MESSAGES__OF INTEREST______________________________

R 131200Z OCT 2006
FM NNN0ASA VA
TO NNN0ALL
INFO ZEN/AAA9A AZ
ZEN/AGA3C IL
BT
UNCLAS
SUBJ: CHNAVMARCORMARS INFO BCST 48-06 - MARSCOM SATELLITE
1. BOB, NNN0APR, HEAD OF THE NAVAL ACADEMY SATELLITE LAB, HAS
INFORMED ME THAT MARSCOM, THE NAVY-MARINE CORPS MARS SATELLITE, IS AT
THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER AWAITING LAUNCH ON THE NEXT SHUTTLE ON ABOUT
5 DEC 2006. AT THAT TIME WE WILL HAVE OUR OWN SATELLITE IN ORBIT. WE
HAVE A LITTLE OVER 50 DAYS TO DEVELOP A CADRE OF NAVMARCORMARS
OPERATORS AND GROUND STATIONS. MORE INFO (INCLUDING A COUNTDOWN TO
LAUNCH) IS AVAILABLE AT (ALL LOWER CASE):
  HTTP://WWW.EW.USNA.EDU/(TILDE)BRUNINGA/MARSCOM.HTML
2. MARSCOM WILL BE DIFFICULT TO HEAR AND TO CONTROL DUE TO USING HF
SSB FOR THE DOWNLINK AND THE DOPPLER SHIFT. THE DOWNLINK TRANSMITTER
TURNED OUT TO HAVE AN EFFECTIVE RADIATED POWER (ERP) OF UNDER 100
MILLIWATTS INSTEAD OF THE DESIRED 2 WATTS. WE ASSUME A 10 METER BEAM
WILL BE NEEDED FOR THE COMMAND STATIONS. THE NAVAL ACADEMY HAS NO
SUCH COMMAND STATIONS AT THIS TIME ... SO, WE NEED NAVMARCORMARS
STATIONS THAT HAVE 148 MHZ FM UPLINK AND SSB 10M DOWNLINK, AND A 1200
BAUD TNC CONNECTED TO EACH.
3. MARSCOM, BECAUSE OF ITS LOW EARTH ORBIT, WILL DE-ORBIT IN UNDER
SIX MONTHS. WE WILL NEED TO FIRM UP OUR PLANS ON WHAT WE WANT TO
ACCOMPLISH DURING ITS 6-MONTH LIFE. THE NAVAL ACADEMY WILL BE
CONTROLLING A TOTAL OF FOUR SATELLITES ALL LAUNCHED AT ABOUT THE SAME
TIME ON THE SHUTTLE AND AN ATLAS. THEY ASK THAT MARS VOLUNTEERS ACT
AS MARSCOM GROUND STATIONS, NET-CONTROL OPERATORS AND MISSION
PLANNERS.
4. BECAUSE OF THE SHUTTLE PROGRAM DELAYS, IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME
SINCE I INITIALLY REQUESTED VOLUNTEERS FOR THIS PROGRAM. THEREFORE, I
AM SOLICITING VOLUNTEERS ANEW TO TAKE ON THE ROLES LISTED ABOVE.
EXPERIENCE WITH SATELLITES IS DESIRED, BUT NOT MANDATORY. THE LOW ERP
ON THE HF DOWNLINK WILL MAKE THIS A REAL CHALLENGE. VOLUNTEERS ARE
NEEDED ACROSS THE COUNTRY BECAUSE OF THE ANTICIPATED SMALL FOOTPRINT
OF THE MARSCOM SATELLITE.
5. TO VOLUNTEER, PLEASE SUBMIT A REQUEST BY MARS MESSAGE TO YOUR
STATE DIRECTOR, INFO YOUR REGION AND AREA DIRECTOR AND NNN0ASA VA. BE
SURE TO INCLUDE A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF YOUR SATELLITE EXPERIENCE.
6. NAVMARCORMARS: PROUDLY SERVING THOSE WHO SERVE.
BT
NNNN


"-"
The medium is the message...The content is the audience...;)

Luc Leblanc VE2DWE
WAC basic,CW,Phone,Satellite
Skype VE2DWE
www.qsl.net/ve2dwe