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WG3K > ANS 31.03.24 17:00l 139 Lines 8061 Bytes #148 (0) @ AMSAT
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Subj: AMSAT-DL Proposes Next Generation GEO/MEO Amateur Radio Payl
Path: IW8PGT<IZ3LSV<I0OJJ<N6RME<CX2SA<N3HYM<WG3K
Sent: 240331/1354Z 2651@WG3K.#SMD.MD.USA.NOAM LinBPQ6.0.24
At the request of the IARU, the European Space Agency (ESA) is supporting
an initiative to define a future amateur radio satellite payload in
geostationary orbit. The implementation is to take place through
collaborative cooperation between internal, industrial and amateur radio
participants. This activity will consolidate the requirements of the
amateur and commercial satellite industry, weigh up different payload
options, address the future user segment, develop scenarios for the
financing, procurement and operation of such a payload, and investigate
possibilities for placement on geostationary platforms.
This past weekend, AMSAT-DL released their proposal. AMSAT-UK, along with
the British Amateur Television Club, AMSAT-NA, and the UK Microwave Group
previously made a separate proposal
https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ESA-GEO-proposal-AMSAT-UK.pdf.
AMSAT-DL's proposal
https://amsat-dl.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/AMSAT-DL_Proposal-Geo-Payload_final.pdf
is written by the authors Kai Siebels, DH0SK and Matthias Bopp, DD1US. The
proposal takes into account the technical requirements and needs of radio
amateurs. Various aspects such as orbit, satellite and platform as well as
payload are taken into account.
Among the possible orbits such as MEO, HEO and GEO, the GEO orbit has
proven to be the most suitable due to the extensive experience with
OSCAR-100. A good compromise for the orbit position would be at ~43 degrees
West to also support Eastern European countries and most of North America.
A payload for amateur radio should allow the greatest possible scope for
experiments on different bands. Six bands could be used for the uplink to
enable experiments with different frequencies. The main uplink band is the
13 cm band, the main downlink band is the 3 cm band. All proposed band / NB
transponder combinations can be implemented at the ground station with very
reasonable effort.
A dedicated AMSAT (Amateur Radio) mission based on an ESA-supported Micro
GEO provides opportunities for several additional experiments that support
AMSATâ€Ös education, science and development goals to inspire young people
with amateur radio technology. Finally, such a mission could also provide
an excellent platform for disaster/emergency communications directly via
the GEO satellite transponders.
Micro GEO and QO-100
Micro GEO satellites are a new class of small geostationary communications
satellites. They are around a tenth of the size of traditional
geostationary satellites and typically measure just one cubic meter. This
smaller size makes them significantly cheaper to manufacture and launch,
allowing satellite operators to offer customized regional services or gap
fillers that would not be financially feasible with large satellites.
The amateur radio payload “QO-100” on the Esâ€Öhail-2 geostationary
satellite, is a groundbreaking platform for the amateur radio community as
it represents the first geostationary payload for amateur radio. The
exemplary collaboration between AMSAT-DL, QARS and commercial partners on
this project to integrate amateur radio payloads into a commercial
satellite is a sign of the ongoing cooperation between the amateur radio
community and the commercial space industry. This synergy can open up new
avenues for amateur radio projects in space. QO-100 serves as a bridge
between traditional approaches and new possibilities, while remaining
firmly rooted in the principles of amateur radio. Its presence in
geostationary orbit is a triumph for the amateur radio community and a sign
that amateur radio can continue to play an important role in the
exploration and use of space.
SYNCART 2.0 on the Heinrich Hertz satellite
The Heinrich Hertz Satellite Mission (also known as H2Sat) is a national,
geostationary communications and research satellite. It was planned by the
Space Agency of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) on behalf of the BMWi as
part of the German governmentâ€Ös space strategy and serves both independent
payloads (“hosted payloads”) and the in-orbit verification (IOV) of
technologies as well as for research purposes.
In July 2012, AMSAT-Germany (AMSAT-DL) proposed an amateur radio payload on
the Heinrich Hertz satellite with the name “SYNCART 2.0”
https://amsat-dl.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Projektvorschlag-HeinrichHertz-Satellit-SmallGEO.pdf.
This was a further development of the transponders of the P3-D
AMSAT-OSCAR-40 satellite in the X and K amateur radio bands and a beacon in
the 76 GHz band.
The objectives of the amateur radio payload were as follows:
- Development of the geostationary orbit for the amateur radio service
- Communication resource for emergency and disaster radio (with
low-power, small, simple technology)
- In-orbit verification of SDX technologies
- Promoting the spread of microwave technology
- Gaining new insights by studying propagation conditions in the 76 GHz
band for satellite applications
- Provision of a signal for the calibration of antennas, converters and
receivers, in particular for radio astronomical applications
- Stimulating the acquisition of scientific and technical education,
especially among schoolchildren and young people, by providing a
permanently available satellite resource, e.g. for use in teaching,
research and education
- Acquisition of concrete knowledge and experience with satellite
technologies and corresponding research opportunities in order to provide
the space industry with highly qualified specialists.
The concept aimed to make efficient and effective use of any remaining
H2Sat capacity.
The Heinrich Hertz feasibility study was completed in 2010. Planning phase
B was carried out from 2011 to 2013. In July 2012, AMSAT-DL submitted its
proposal for an amateur radio payload. Unfortunately, important positions
on the antenna deck and with the payloads were already occupied at this
point. There was also an approach for a Ka/Ka relaying transponder, but its
use would have been limited to two small spot beams to northern Germany and
southern Germany. At the time, this did not seem justifiable to our members
and the amateur radio community in terms of the cost/benefit ratio. After
it became clear that an amateur radio payload on the Heinrich Hertz
satellite in the proposed form was not feasible, the proposal was finally
withdrawn in September 2012.
Miraculously, however, a new window opened just a few months later! Initial
talks and contacts were held as early as December 2012, which ultimately
led to an amateur radio payload on the Esâ€Öhail-2 satellite, also known as
Qatar-OSCAR 100 or QO-100. Esâ€Öhail-2/QO-100 was launched aboard a SpaceX
Falcon 9 rocket on November 15, 2018. This project is a joint initiative of
the Qatar Satellite Company, the Qatar Amateur Radio Society and AMSAT-DL.
The satellite was built by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation in Japan and is
located in a geostationary orbit at 26° East.
Links
- Proposal for a Geostationary Microwave Amateur Radio Payload
[AMSAT-DL, DH0SK, DD1US, Mar2024]
https://amsat-dl.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Projektvorschlag-HeinrichHertz-Satellit-SmallGEO.pdf
- Definition of a future amateur satellite GEO/MEO payload [Frank
Zeppenfeldt (PD0AP), ESA, FOSDEM Feb2024]
https://amsat-dl.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Support_for_GEO_payload_FOSDEM_Feb_2024_v1.pdf
- Support For GEO Payload AMSAT DL Introduction V1 [Frank Zeppenfeldt
(PD0AP), ESA, AMSAT-DL Symposium 2023]
https://amsat-dl.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/08_Support_for_GEO_payload_AMSAT-DL_introduction_v1.pptx
- Proposal for a Geostationary Microwave Amateur Radio Payload
[AMSAT-UK, BATC]
https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ESA-GEO-proposal-AMSAT-UK.pdf
- SYNCART 2.0 project proposal on the Heinrich Hertz satellite
[AMSAT-DL, 2012]
https://amsat-dl.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Projektvorschlag-HeinrichHertz-Satellit-SmallGEO.pdf
*[ANS thanks AMSAT-DL for the above information]*
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