OBSERVATIONS GM1SXX 27 July 2010
A UK Triple CUBESAT
Clyde Space to build a triple CUBESAT.
The new satellite named UKube-1 is a pilot project and is intended for launch in mid 2011. AMSAT-UK's FUNCUBE will have to get a move on if it's not to be trumped by this one as the UK's first Cubesat (a triple CUBESAT actually). I believe the UK Space Centre are also involved in this satellite mission. Personally I'm more than a little disappointed that they won't be calling it 'Weegiesat'.
A quick look at the IARU satellite pages show it's not there, so I imagine it will use commercial frequencies for it's communications, but I certainly wouldn't hold my breath on that score. Plenty of other CUBESATs have flown masquerading as 'amateur radio birds'. Hopefully this mission will be different.
There is no sign of this bird in the IARU
Satellite
Co-ordination pages.
The satellite project has several 'mentions'
already on the web including at
space.com
No doubt
things will become clearer as the project is 'firmed up' and more details emerge
of the technologies to be flown. The satellite seems to be a technology
demonstrator (aren't they all?).
Good luck to them I say!
73 Al
GM1SXX