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Another Amateur Radio Satellite

Posted by samzenpus on from the very-cool dept.

k4hg writes "Remember the US Naval Academy satellite with the measuring tape antennas? Well, not only is it still alive after nearly four years in orbit (be sure to read the 2001 Slashdot articles to see who was right and wrong about it working at all!), but the latest satellite to come out of the same lab, called PCSat2, was installed Wednesday on the International Space Station. It is bolted to the space station on the P6 truss, but is otherwise independent, only benefiting from the high mass to drag ratio of the ISS to prolong orbital life. The satellite is alive and transmitting on amateur radio frequencies, I could hear it on a marginal elevation in the Florida Keys. When it come in range of a ground station with better coverage, the data will be viewable here in real time. This new system is in addition to the amateur radio station already operational on the ISS. And yes, they used tape measure antennas again, you could see them deploy on Nasa TV!"

9 of 140 comments (clear)

  1. Heh... by WindozeSux · · Score: 2, Funny

    Not only does this satellite transmit Amateur Radio waves, it measures the stars! :)

    --
    Fallout 3 will suck.
  2. Ham nerds by QuantumG · · Score: 5, Funny

    Now I know how "normal" people feel when I start talking about code.

    --
    How we know is more important than what we know.
    1. Re:Ham nerds by Kris_J · · Score: 2, Funny

      What's the Ham vs Computer vs whatever Nerds chain that's the equivalent of RPGers "greater than" LARPers "greater than" Furries?

    2. Re:Ham nerds by mmkkbb · · Score: 3, Funny

      you mean this chart?

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      -mkb
  3. marginal elevation? by fenodyree · · Score: 5, Funny

    Is there a type of elevation in the florida Keys _other_ than marginal?

    Marginal elevation: Elevation due to a stick of margarine. The low cholesterol alternative to butteral elevation.

    /*sarcasm*/

  4. In case of slashdot... by anthony_dipierro · · Score: 5, Funny
    In case the site gets slashdotted, here's a copy of the recent activity:
    00:08:54:51 : PC2XXB]APRS,RS0ISS-3*,qAO,KB8ZGL-5:!3900.00N/07630 .00W0Testing
    00:08:56:20 : PC2XXB]APRS,RS0ISS-3*,qAO,KB8ZGL-5:]testing
    02:03:26:43 : PCSAT2]APRLTM,SGATE,qAO,KC9XG:{T# IGNORE ALogger A side test packet
    02:03:26:43 : KC9XG]APRS,PCSAT2*,qAC,KC9XG:] IGNORE ALogger A side test digi packet
    02:03:26:44 : PCSAT2]APRLTM,SGATE,qAO,KC9XG:T# IGNORE ALogger A side test packet
  5. Re:Q: How can we listen to ISS/Shuttle comms? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Yes, we probably could reverse the polarity of the positron emitter array, but the quantum oscillation interference might implode the ship's hull!

  6. Re:Q: How can we listen to ISS/Shuttle comms? by Mozk · · Score: 3, Funny

    very small footprint
    HT and stock rubber duck antenna
    in packet mode
    1200 baud packet
    $45 TNC-X
    APRS for position reporting
    BBS for sharing messages
    homebuilt "J-pole"
    directional Yagi
    RF exposure
    make sure that your keplerian elements are up to date

    Dude, I have no idea what any of that means.

    The bold one's my favorite, though.

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    No existe.
  7. The good thing about a HAM transmisison by LupeSpywalper · · Score: 2, Funny

    There's supposedly no SPAM.