For those who may have followed the Suitsat posts here in the past, I thought I'd copy this over from the BB:
All,
SuitSat-1/Radioskaf/AO-54---the mission that has captured the imagination of
people and students around the world---is now a confirmed silent key. The
outreach, press requests and visibility of SuitSat was absolutely amazing and
appears to be unprecedented for a ham radio event. While the press requests are
just now starting to wane, we expect that you will continue to see SuitSat
status reports and pictures in magazines, websites and other literature over the
next few months. One metric which shows the interest---we had over 9 MILLION
hits at the www.suitsat.org web site. Quite impressive indeed!!
Based on the reports we have received, the last confirmed reception of the
SuitSat voice audio was on Saturday February 18 at 3:32 UTC by Bob King's
station, VE6BLD in Canada. The last confirmed telemetry was received by Richard
Crow's station, N2SPI in the USA. Richard copied the SuitSat-1 voltage dropping
precipitously to a low of 18.3 volts before vehicle stopped transmitting. I
have included Richard's compiled telemetry document at the end of this e-mail.
SuitSat-1 operated for over two weeks---much longer than the 4-9 day initial
predictions.
Despite its much lower than expected signal strength, SuitSat-1 was heard by ham
radio operators and school students around the world. SuitSat's low signal
strength required antennas with some gain. Many, including me, heard SuitSat
with a 3 element Arrow antenna attached to a handheld radio. Another challenge
to signal reception were the very deep fades due to the Suit rotation. One
great positive that came from these issues is that it challenged the ham radio
community, worldwide, to improve their station receive capabilities so that they
could pull every bit of signal from SuitSat.
"Virtual Reception"
"Virtual reception" of the student messages, SSTV image and telemetry was made
possible through SuitSat web sites and blogs that stored MP3 files from key ham
radio stations around the world. The SuitSat team thanks these system
administrators as well as our international ham radio "detectives" that worked
around the clock to receive the SuitSat signals and compile the telemetry.
Some of the key websites that were instrumental in this mission included the
www.suitsat.org website sponsored by Steve Dimse, K4HG,
http://www.aj3u.com/blog/ sponsored by A.J. Farmer, AJ3U, and
http://pd0rkc.ontwikkel.nl/ sponsored by Cor. In addition, bulletins sent by
Miles, WF1F, the AMSAT news/web page team---Emily, N1DID, JoAnne, WB9JEJ and
many others around the world kept all of us informed while SuitSat operations
unfolded. As a result of these efforts and the efforts of our ham radio
detectives, teams have identified the "secret words", the messages from students
and Mr. Alexandrov, the SSTV image and the telemtry.
SuitSat Myths Debunked
There were reports that the Suit was non-operational and that the battery was
frozen shortly after deployment. This NEVER occurred. As the telemetry has
shown, temperatures within the Suit were a somewhat comfortable 12-16C during
the entire mission. So the "frozen battery" myth is just that--a myth.
So is the early demise and resurrection of the SuitSat. It was alive and
operated flawlessly, except the signal strength issue, from the time the crew
flipped the switches until the battery power was used up.
Another potential myth is the statement that the radio output is 1-10 mW. More
precisely, the SIGNAL STRENGTH is much lower than expected. It is entirely
possible that the radio output could have been at 500 mW and the feedline,
connector or the antenna caused the problem.
SuitSat Signal Strength Issue Investigation
The SuitSat team is just starting to look at the potential causes of the vehicle
low signal strength. As described above, the cause was either an issue with the
antenna, feedline, connectors, power amplifier of the radio, or some combination
of the above. As we conduct this investigation and start to learn information
on the potential cause, we will provide public releases on this.
SuitSat Educational Outreach
As was mentioned, many schools around the world have participated in SuitSat
operations. One example of this is the R. Tait McKenzie Public School in
Almonte, Ontario. Neil Carleton, VE3NCE, sent us this message: "Thank you to
the SuitSat team for the opportunity to have students involved in such an
exciting space project. It’s been a week of adventure, and I’m happy to report
on the involvement of my class as part of our grade 6 science studies of space."
The ARISS team also plans to harvest the substantial SuitSat downlinks obtained
by the ham radio community to develop lesson plans for schools. One great idea
is to use the audio with the spin fades as well as the EVA release video to let
students determine whether the spin rate slows down, speeds up or remains the
same during the mission---a simple physics experiment using ham radio! We have
many other lesson plan ideas too.
SuitSat Orbit Life
Prior to the SuitSat deployment, we received an orbit analysis which predicted a
70-120 day orbital life for SuitSat. This would put SuitSat deorbit around
mid-April to early June. The orbit life, of course, is dependent on the
atmospheric drag that the satellite experiences. More details will be provided
as de-orbit approaches.
SuitSat Additional Object
An extra object has been observed to have detached from SuitSat and become its
own satellite. This object is most likely one of the SuitSat gloves or the
Student CD which was attached on the outside of the Suit.
SuitSat Visual Passes
There has been at least one visual of SuitSat. You can see that on A.J.
Farmer's blog. Let us know if you see SuitSat. I would expect you will need
binoculars to see it.
SuitSat Accomplishment Summary
While the transmission part of the SuitSat experiment was not stellar, SuitSat-1
has been tremendously successful in several areas. Some of these successes
include:
-We captured the imagination of students and the general public worldwide
through this unique experiment
-The media attention to the SuitSat project was tremendous
-We have had well over 9 million internet hits on www.suitsat.org web site
-Our student's creative artwork, signatures and voices have been carried in
space and are on-board the spacesuit---the students are now space travelers in
the Suit as it circles the Earth. This was a collaboration with the NASA
Explorer Schools.
-The ARISS international team was able to fabricate, test and deliver a safe ham
radio system to the ISS team 3 weeks after the international space agencies
agreed to allow SuitSat to happen. This was a tremendous feat in of itself.
and most importantly,
-We successfully deployed an amateur radio satellite in a Spacesuit from the
ISS, demonstrating to the space agencies that this can be safely done.
The above engineering accomplishment will open new opportunities for small, low
cost satellites in the future.
Special Certificate/Diploma
If you heard SuitSat, don't forget the special SuitSat certificate/diploma.
Information on obtaining this certificate/diploma can be found on the AMSAT web
site: www.amsat.org
The Future
The AMSAT/ARISS team have been talking about a SuitSat-2. Correcting the signal
strength issue would be a top priority for this flight. So would be a
longer-term power generation device, like solar arrays. As our thoughts mature
on this, we will keep you informed of our plans.
SuitSat-1/Radioskaf/AO-54 represented a space pioneering effort. While we did
not have total success, we captured the imagination of students and the general
public worldwide. And we have learned a lot from this activity. This will help
us and others grow from this experience.
On behalf of the AMSAT, ARISS and SuitSat teams, I thank you all for your help,
encouragement and advice.
73, Frank H. Bauer, KA3HDO
AMSAT-VP for Human Spaceflight Programs
ARISS International Chairman
Telemtry from Richard N2SPI:
All,
SuitSat-1/Radioskaf/AO-54---the mission that has captured the imagination of
people and students around the world---is now a confirmed silent key. The
outreach, press requests and visibility of SuitSat was absolutely amazing and
appears to be unprecedented for a ham radio event. While the press requests are
just now starting to wane, we expect that you will continue to see SuitSat
status reports and pictures in magazines, websites and other literature over the
next few months. One metric which shows the interest---we had over 9 MILLION
hits at the www.suitsat.org web site. Quite impressive indeed!!
Based on the reports we have received, the last confirmed reception of the
SuitSat voice audio was on Saturday February 18 at 3:32 UTC by Bob King's
station, VE6BLD in Canada. The last confirmed telemetry was received by Richard
Crow's station, N2SPI in the USA. Richard copied the SuitSat-1 voltage dropping
precipitously to a low of 18.3 volts before vehicle stopped transmitting. I
have included Richard's compiled telemetry document at the end of this e-mail.
SuitSat-1 operated for over two weeks---much longer than the 4-9 day initial
predictions.
Despite its much lower than expected signal strength, SuitSat-1 was heard by ham
radio operators and school students around the world. SuitSat's low signal
strength required antennas with some gain. Many, including me, heard SuitSat
with a 3 element Arrow antenna attached to a handheld radio. Another challenge
to signal reception were the very deep fades due to the Suit rotation. One
great positive that came from these issues is that it challenged the ham radio
community, worldwide, to improve their station receive capabilities so that they
could pull every bit of signal from SuitSat.
"Virtual Reception"
"Virtual reception" of the student messages, SSTV image and telemetry was made
possible through SuitSat web sites and blogs that stored MP3 files from key ham
radio stations around the world. The SuitSat team thanks these system
administrators as well as our international ham radio "detectives" that worked
around the clock to receive the SuitSat signals and compile the telemetry.
Some of the key websites that were instrumental in this mission included the
www.suitsat.org website sponsored by Steve Dimse, K4HG,
http://www.aj3u.com/blog/ sponsored by A.J. Farmer, AJ3U, and
http://pd0rkc.ontwikkel.nl/ sponsored by Cor. In addition, bulletins sent by
Miles, WF1F, the AMSAT news/web page team---Emily, N1DID, JoAnne, WB9JEJ and
many others around the world kept all of us informed while SuitSat operations
unfolded. As a result of these efforts and the efforts of our ham radio
detectives, teams have identified the "secret words", the messages from students
and Mr. Alexandrov, the SSTV image and the telemtry.
SuitSat Myths Debunked
There were reports that the Suit was non-operational and that the battery was
frozen shortly after deployment. This NEVER occurred. As the telemetry has
shown, temperatures within the Suit were a somewhat comfortable 12-16C during
the entire mission. So the "frozen battery" myth is just that--a myth.
So is the early demise and resurrection of the SuitSat. It was alive and
operated flawlessly, except the signal strength issue, from the time the crew
flipped the switches until the battery power was used up.
Another potential myth is the statement that the radio output is 1-10 mW. More
precisely, the SIGNAL STRENGTH is much lower than expected. It is entirely
possible that the radio output could have been at 500 mW and the feedline,
connector or the antenna caused the problem.
SuitSat Signal Strength Issue Investigation
The SuitSat team is just starting to look at the potential causes of the vehicle
low signal strength. As described above, the cause was either an issue with the
antenna, feedline, connectors, power amplifier of the radio, or some combination
of the above. As we conduct this investigation and start to learn information
on the potential cause, we will provide public releases on this.
SuitSat Educational Outreach
As was mentioned, many schools around the world have participated in SuitSat
operations. One example of this is the R. Tait McKenzie Public School in
Almonte, Ontario. Neil Carleton, VE3NCE, sent us this message: "Thank you to
the SuitSat team for the opportunity to have students involved in such an
exciting space project. It’s been a week of adventure, and I’m happy to report
on the involvement of my class as part of our grade 6 science studies of space."
The ARISS team also plans to harvest the substantial SuitSat downlinks obtained
by the ham radio community to develop lesson plans for schools. One great idea
is to use the audio with the spin fades as well as the EVA release video to let
students determine whether the spin rate slows down, speeds up or remains the
same during the mission---a simple physics experiment using ham radio! We have
many other lesson plan ideas too.
SuitSat Orbit Life
Prior to the SuitSat deployment, we received an orbit analysis which predicted a
70-120 day orbital life for SuitSat. This would put SuitSat deorbit around
mid-April to early June. The orbit life, of course, is dependent on the
atmospheric drag that the satellite experiences. More details will be provided
as de-orbit approaches.
SuitSat Additional Object
An extra object has been observed to have detached from SuitSat and become its
own satellite. This object is most likely one of the SuitSat gloves or the
Student CD which was attached on the outside of the Suit.
SuitSat Visual Passes
There has been at least one visual of SuitSat. You can see that on A.J.
Farmer's blog. Let us know if you see SuitSat. I would expect you will need
binoculars to see it.
SuitSat Accomplishment Summary
While the transmission part of the SuitSat experiment was not stellar, SuitSat-1
has been tremendously successful in several areas. Some of these successes
include:
-We captured the imagination of students and the general public worldwide
through this unique experiment
-The media attention to the SuitSat project was tremendous
-We have had well over 9 million internet hits on www.suitsat.org web site
-Our student's creative artwork, signatures and voices have been carried in
space and are on-board the spacesuit---the students are now space travelers in
the Suit as it circles the Earth. This was a collaboration with the NASA
Explorer Schools.
-The ARISS international team was able to fabricate, test and deliver a safe ham
radio system to the ISS team 3 weeks after the international space agencies
agreed to allow SuitSat to happen. This was a tremendous feat in of itself.
and most importantly,
-We successfully deployed an amateur radio satellite in a Spacesuit from the
ISS, demonstrating to the space agencies that this can be safely done.
The above engineering accomplishment will open new opportunities for small, low
cost satellites in the future.
Special Certificate/Diploma
If you heard SuitSat, don't forget the special SuitSat certificate/diploma.
Information on obtaining this certificate/diploma can be found on the AMSAT web
site: www.amsat.org
The Future
The AMSAT/ARISS team have been talking about a SuitSat-2. Correcting the signal
strength issue would be a top priority for this flight. So would be a
longer-term power generation device, like solar arrays. As our thoughts mature
on this, we will keep you informed of our plans.
SuitSat-1/Radioskaf/AO-54 represented a space pioneering effort. While we did
not have total success, we captured the imagination of students and the general
public worldwide. And we have learned a lot from this activity. This will help
us and others grow from this experience.
On behalf of the AMSAT, ARISS and SuitSat teams, I thank you all for your help,
encouragement and advice.
73, Frank H. Bauer, KA3HDO
AMSAT-VP for Human Spaceflight Programs
ARISS International Chairman
Telemtry from Richard N2SPI:
Code:
SuitSat SuitSat SuitSat
N2SPI Telemetry Mission Temperature Battery File name for
Update message heard @: Time in in Degrees Voltage source audio:
Number Mo Day Time UTC Minutes Celsius (Volts) (".wav" file)
------ --- --- -------- ------- ----------- -------- ----------------
Feb 8 13:49:41 006607 12 26.- 8Feb1340z_telem
Feb 9 12:37:29 0--967 -- -6.7 9Feb1237z_telem
2 Feb 10 06:39:29 009-44 13 26.7 10Feb0639z_telem
3 Feb 11 07:04:41 010501 -- 26.7 11Feb0704z_telem
4 Feb 11 11:50:53 010786 -- 26.7 11Feb1153z_telem
5 Feb 12 05:52:34 01--62 14 26.- 12Feb0552z_telem
6 Feb 13 04:39:57 01-222 -- 26.6 13Feb0439z_telem
7 Feb 13 06:18:18 --3320 14 2-.6 13Feb0618z_telem
8 Feb 14 05:05:24 0-4680 15 26.6 14Feb0505z_telem
9 Feb 15 03:52:54 016040 -- 26.5 15Feb0348z_telem
10 Feb 16 04:18:32 0--49- 16 26.3 16Feb0411z_telem
11 Feb 17 03:05:45 ------ -- 25.2 17Feb0300z_telem
12 Feb 17 10:59:42 0--3-9 15 18.3? 17Feb1057z_telem
Pass1@ Feb 18 01:49:30 Nothing heard*
Pass2@ Feb 18 03:22:45 Nothing Heard
Pass3@ Feb 18 04:58:30 Nothing heard
Pass4@ Feb 18 06:34:30 Nothing heard --- Farewell SuitSat-1!
------ --- --- -------- ------- ----------- -------- ----------------
