Hi Fabien,
darn! Missed the launch! This is exciting news! Please keep us updated! Do you have a GNU
Radio Flowgraph with which interested readers could monitor the satellite? TLEs?
Best regards,
Marcus
On 26.12.24 08:53, Fabien PELLET wrote:
Dear all,
I would like to inform the GNURadio community that tomorrow 27 December 2024 is scheduled
the launch of CASAA-Sat, a student nanosatellite from Marseille.
Bernard Repetti, CASAA-Sat project manager, informs us that the satellite will be launched
by the Kinetica-1 rocket from the Jiuquan launch base (Inner Mongolia, China). The launch
is scheduled for 27 December 2024 at 1.03 UTC.
The CASAA-Sat project of the Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille (LAM), supported by
CNES, began in 2013. It involved more than 200 Master's students from Aix-Marseille
University's IUT and engineering schools (ISAE, ESEO, etc.).
Designed in CubeSat 2U format (10 x 10 x 20 cm), this 2-litre nanosatellite carries a
suite of sophisticated instruments:
*
A dosimeter to measure the flow of charged particles
*
A precision magnetometer
*
A high-resolution camera
The aim of these instruments is to map the South Atlantic Magnetic Anomaly (SAA), an area
where the Earth's magnetic field is particularly weak, with unprecedented precision.
In addition to the amateur radio mission, there are 3 other objectives:
*
CASAA-Sat's first objective is to measure the doses deposited by this
radiation,
particularly at the poles and in the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) where a
higher flux
is expected. To do this, it has six dosimeters, two in each axis, capable
of recording
the irradiation they receive over time.
*
The second objective of CASAA-Sat is to measure the local magnetic field
and correlate
it with the irradiations. This field will then be compared with existing
models such
as IGRF 13.
*
The third objective of CASAA-Sat is to capture the aurora borealis (to the
north) and
aurora australis (to the south) by taking photos and correlating them with
the
irradiance and magnetic field.
On the amateur radio side, AMSAT-Francophone helped Bernard Repetti with the amateur radio
mission. An appeal was made to the Bouches-du-Rhône amateur radio community. Jean-François
IOSCA (F1LVO) and Fabien PELLET (F4CTZ) responded. Together with AMSAT-Francophone, they
contributed to the submission of the satellite frequency coordination request. Their
strong commitment enabled the operating mode to evolve to the benefit of radio amateurs.
Jean-François and Fabien, thanks to their proximity, have made improvements to the ground
station and have also contributed their expertise to the development of the satellite.
The satellite will broadcast telemetry and images captured by the satellite.
The satellite uses the following amateur service frequencies:
Downlink frequency: 436.500 MHz, modulation 9600 baud BPSK G3RUH
The satellite uses AX.25 UI (Unnumbered Information) protocol frames.
Call sign is: CASAA-1
Uplink frequency for sending commands: 145.900 MHz
The document ‘TM/TC specifications for the CASAA-Sat nano-satellite’ describes the
protocol used. : _https://site.amsat-f.org/download/120557/?tmstv=1735157767_
IARU link: _IARU Sat Coordinator <https://iaru.amsat-uk.org/finished_detail.php?
serialnum=958>_
Link to the project :_Nanosats - LAM <https://www.lam.fr/formations/nanosats/>_
_Amsat-Francophone article on CAASAT <https://site.amsat-f.org/2024/12/23/casaa-sat-un-
nanosatellite-etudiant-de-marseille-a-lassaut-de-lanomalie-de-latlantique-sud-lancement-
prevu-le-26-decembre-2024/>
_
Every ham radio operator are invited to try to receive CASAA-Sat and report to the LAM any
successfull reception.
Thanks,
Best regards,
Fabien, F4CTZ.
