PoSAT-OSCAR 28

 


Satellite Summary

Name: PoSAT-OSCAR 28 (PoSAT-1)
Catalog Number: 22829
Callsign: Broadcast: POSAT1-11 BBS: POSAT1-12
Launched: September 25, 1993
Launch vehicle: Ariane
Launch location: Kourou, French Guiana
Weight: 48.7 kg
Orbit: Circular LEO (Low Earth Orbit), sun synchronous, 822 x 800 km
Inclination: 98.6 degrees
Size: 350 x 350 x 650 mm
Period: 101 Minutes

Digital Transponders Mode JD 9600 baud FSK (FM)

Features: Status: Operational - Not open for Amateur use

Description

Launched alongside HealthSat-2 on the September 1993, PoSAT-1 is Portugal's first satellite achieved through a technology transfer program with Surrey Satellite Technology, Ltd. (SSTL).  PoSAT-1 was built at the University of Surrey in a collaborative program between a consortium of Portuguese academia and industry.  The Portugese consortium sent 4 engineers to Surrey to participate in on-the-job training.  Like KITSAT-1, PoSAT-1 carries a wide range of technology experiments, including earth imaging cameras, DSP and space-radiation experiments. In addition, PoSAT-1 carries the first microsatellite GPS experiment and an ultra-low-cost CCD star sensor. PoSAT-1 is operated jointly by the University of Surrey command station at Guildford and the Portugese command station at Sintra.

PoSAT was operated on amateur frequencies for several weeks in early 1994.  OSCAR News 105 (February 1994, p. 35) carried a letter from CT1DBS reporting that an agreement was signed by AMSAT-PO and the PoSAT Consortium on December 6, 1993 stating "The name of PoSat-1, when in use by the amateur radio community will be PoSAT OSCAR 28, OSCAR 28 or PO-28."   Presently, PoSAT-1 is not open for amateur operations.

More information is available at the Surrey Satellite Technology, Ltd. PoSAT-1 and PoSAT-1 Mission.


References


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Last update May 31, 2003 - N7HPR