CubeSats launched successfully

[Andre Kesteloot]

* CubeSats launch successfully! Four CubeSats containing payloads operating
on Amateur Radio frequencies were among several spacecraft launched
successfully April 17 at 0645 UTC from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan. A
Dnepr rocket deployed seven CubeSats plus seven other satellites from Egypt,
Saudi Arabia and Ukraine into Earth orbit, and signals from at least two of
the four CubeSats have been copied on Earth. Among the spacecraft was
Colombia's first satellite. The CubeSats are: CalPoly's PolySats CP3 and
CP4, 436.845 MHz and 437.325 MHz respectively, 1200 bps FM AFSK, AX.25, 1 W,
operating under an FCC Part-5 Experimental license; University of Louisiana
CAPE-1 435.245 MHz, 9600 bps FM FSK AX.25 and CW telemetry during opposing
30-second intervals, 1 W, call sign K5USL (e-mail telemetry reports
<jd.harrist at gmail.com>); Universidad Sergio Arboleda, Colombia, Libertad-1,
437.405 MHz, 1200 bps FM AFSK AX.25, 400 mW, call sign 5K3L. CP4 will
transmit a "sensor snapshot" every 2 minutes on 437.325 MHz at 1200bps FSK,
AX.25. FSK will require using SSB mode for reception. A 6-second CW preamble
precedes this transmission. Keplerian elements for the new ham radio birds
and additional information will be posted on Cal Poly's CubeSat Web page
<http://www.cubesat.org/>. CalPoly offers a CubeSat "Satellite Contact Form"
to report telemetry data received from any satellite
<http://cubesat.atl.calpoly.edu/pages/missions/dnepr-launch-2/data-packet-fo
rm.php>. -- AMSAT