SunSpace was established in 2000 as a spin-off from Stellenbosch University following the successful launch of SUNSAT by NASA with a Delta-II launch vehicle. During the past decade SunSpace has developed and delivered numerous satellite components, subsystems and two flight model satellite, now operational in space. This blog documents the mission of Sumbandila (funded by the DST), launched on a Soyuz-2.1b on 17 September 2009. SunSpace places a high premium on a strong partnership with the South African Government for supplying the ongoing satellite needs of our government.

21 October 2009

OSCAR number (SO-67) allocated to Sumbandila

Given the recent success with the SA-AMSAT payload on the satellite, we have been officially assigned the OSCAR number of SO-67 by AMSAT (USA).  See message of Bill Tynan (AMSAT OSCAR number coordinator) below.  For more background on assignment of OSCAR number, see http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/information/faqs/numbers.php. SUNSAT was allocated the OSCAR number SO-35 in 1999. 

You can also listen to an edited version of the latest ARNewsline report here (see www.arnewsline.org for more detail).

I am in receipt of an e-mail sent to the AMSAT-NA Board of Directors by Hans van de Groenendaal, Secretary SA AMSAT. 

The e-mail states that the amateur payload on SumbandilaSat was developed by SA AMSAT and incorporated by the University of Stellenbosch into the main payload and that the SA AMSAT payload was officially coordinated through IARU Satellite Frequency Coordination Panel with an uplink of 145,880 and downlink of 435,350 MHz

The e-mail further states that the amateur radio transponder on SumbandilaSat was successfully switched on from the ground by ZS6BPZ during the test phase on Sunday 18 October 2009 and that several QSOs were made through the transponder.

The e-mail also requests that an OSCAR number be allocated to this spacecraft.

Therefore, by the authority vested in me by the AMSAT-NA President, I hereby designate this latest amateur radio satellite as SumbandilaSat Oscar 67 or SO- 67.

On behalf of AMSAT-NA and the world's amateur radio satellite community I congratulate those responsible for building, testing and launching this new satellite. May it have a long and successful life.

73,
William A. (Bill) Tynan, W3XO

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Heard strange sounding signals on 435.350 (+doppler) as it began pass over Australia at 22.22 UTC 21-10-09.
Signals disappeared after it went overhead so don't know if it was SO-67 or just coincidence.
Alex, VK5ALX

Anonymous said...

what is the pl tone to access the transponder? Its been asked about 100 times on various locations and no one has answered about it yet. Have to have the pl tone if you expect us to use and test the bird.

Anonymous said...

Just as a minor correction, Bill Tynan is a -former- AMSAT president, and currently our OSCAR number coordinator. Barry Baines, WD4ASW is the AMSAT-NA president currently. Congratulations on a successful mission, and we all look forward to using it soon!

73, Drew KO4MA

Sunspace Administrator said...

The SA-AMSAT payload on Sumbandila has not been switched on over Australia. So far we have only tested over RSA and once over Europe. We will continue our testing locally until all uncertainties have been ironed out and will then certainly activate the payload over other regions. Thank you for your patience.

Anonymous said...

sunspace administrator,

You still didnt answer any of the questions we have asked. What will be the pl tone used to access the satellite.

Unknown said...

Well done guys!

The PL tones will only be released once testing is complete.

73
Roger ZR3RC

Madhukar - VU2MUD said...

On 17th @ 15:55:57 UTC pass over VU land OM Guru - VU2GUR reports hearing a CW signal on 435.350 for a very short duration.

Eagerly awaiting PL tones to try out the new satellite

Anonymous said...

Is it amateur sat or new ITALIAN sat? I can hear only italian stations. Why? Because of power or PL tone or poor sat-RX sensitivity? It not work good, no acces to sat, lack of basic informations abt PL tone. Italians reach sat because of power (they destroy FO29 ...). It is impossible to work normally via this bird.

Current Keplerian Elements

Last Update: 1 Febr 2010
Element set: 404

Sumbandila
1 35870U 09049F   10032.48635300  .00000433  00000-0  21444-4 0  4040
2 35870 097.3525 084.8560 0011505 166.1189 300.7196 15.22856092 20818