Satellite Enthusiasts Encouraged to Take the 'LEDSAT' Challenge

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Satellite Enthusiasts Encouraged to Take the 'LEDSAT' Challenge

The challenge is on - are you up to it? The European Space Agency and S5Lab (pronounced: Ess Five Lab) are inviting hams around the world to get involved in making a special contact through the digipeater of an educational CubeSat known as LEDSAT.

LEDSAT, an LED CubeSat developed by university students in Rome with assistance from AMSAT Italia, was created primarily to demonstrate an LED-based payload to be used with ground-based optical tracking. Starting on June 26th and through to July 30th, it takes on a secondary purpose: It is part of a challenge to hams that will win them the prize of a personalized QSL card designed just for this competition. Hams are being asked to send a digital message via satellite to PI9ESA, the ground station of the ESA's Education Office. The CubeSat follows a sun-synchronous orbit and its digipeater will be activated at certain times. It has two communication windows, one around midday and one at midnight. Operators will be based at the ESA ground station to copy the messages. Hams are encouraged to use their preferred pass-prediction software to assist in the contact.

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Fly Your Satellite! Programme

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The Fly Your Satellite! programme, initiated by the European Space Agency (ESA), presents an exciting challenge for radio amateurs and space enthusiasts worldwide to establish communication via the LEDSAT CubeSat digipeater.

This unique opportunity invites participants to connect with the ESA Education Office ESTEC ground station in the Netherlands through the satellite digipeater, with a chance to win a special prize—a custom QSL card issued by the ESA Education Office and the LEDSAT team.

Running from 26 June 2023 to 30 July 2023, this challenge offers an exciting chance for radio enthusiasts to engage with space technology and demonstrate their communication skills.

Fly Your Satellite! Programme - https://www.esa.int/Education/CubeSats_-_Fly_Your_Satellite/Connect_and_communicate_with_a_satellite_via_the_LEDSAT_Digipeater_Challenge

Take Your Own Photos From Space?

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A new satellite being developed by students at Stanford University will allow amateur radio operators to download specific photos taken by the satellite and, if all goes according to plan, direct the satellite to take a picture on command. Different modulation techniques for transmitting the images will be analysed.

The Sapling Magnifica satellite's primary mission will be to prove several key technologies needed for future Stanford Student Space Initiative satellites to host scientific payloads. The International Amateur Radio Union has coordinated downlink frequencies of 437.400 and 2427.00 MHz. Launch is tentatively planned for later this year.

More information - https://github.com/stanford-ssi