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WG3K > ANS 24.03.24 02:00z 93 Lines 4609 Bytes #999 (0) @ AMSAT
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Subj: AMSAT VP-Engineering Reviews GOLF Satellite Development
Path: HB9ON<IW8PGT<IZ3LSV<I0OJJ<N6RME<CX2SA<PE1RRR<KA1VSC<WG3K
Sent: 240324/0043Z 2466@WG3K.#SMD.MD.USA.NOAM LinBPQ6.0.24
Recently AMSAT News Service had the opportunity to interview Jerry Buxton,
N0JY, AMSAT Vice President of Engineering, about the GOLF satellites that
are currently in development.
ANS: Jerry, the AMSAT engineering team is developing the GOLF (Greater
Orbit, larger Footprint) satellites. What is the idea behind these
satellites and the kind of functionality that will be added?
JB: "Our original thought was for GOLF is to teach us how to go to Highly
Elliptical Orbit (HEO.) Higher orbits have greater challenges than the
satellites for LEO orbits we have built most recently. These are challenges
like the higher radiation environment that the satellite must endure and
controlling the satellite at higher altitudes.
"We've had a significant additional requirement that has been added since
GOLF was originally conceived. We must be able to deorbit the satellite on
command. This is a pending FCC regulation. It is also likely that we will
be required to move the satellite to avoid orbital debris in the future. To
do this we have to be able to accurately know where the satellite is which
requires a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), which direction it is
pointing which requires adding an Attitude Determination Control System
(ADCS), and have a propulsion system to move it. This is not trivial.
"Of course, we want to add more and more capabilities which require more
power.
"So, the purpose of the GOLF satellites is technology development, but they
will have radios on board. Once they are up and we have proven the
technology we will have another satellite that amateur radios operators can
use."
ANS: "What is the advantage of higher orbits?"
JB: "Most of our current satellites are LEO, so we have about a 10 to
15-minute window to work the satellite. With higher orbits, the satellites
will have a larger footprint (the signal will cover a larger area of the
earth) and will be available or visible for longer periods of time.
ANS: "Could you tell us a little more about how GOLF is being developed?"
JB: "We will design and build the systems if we can, and we will acquire
(buy) the functionality if need to. We are also using a stepped approach to
capability development. We may fly the Attitude Determination Control
System (ADCS) on the first satellite, add the propulsion system on the next
satellite and so on.
ANS: "Interesting! What else makes GOLF different from our previous
satellites?"
JB: "GOLF-TEE will have a new 3U space frame with deployable solar panels,
which will flop open and lock into place. The solar cell system is an
in-house design. It will have 14 cells on the satellite space frame and 28
on the deployable solar panels for a total of 42 cells, a significant
increase in available power.
"GOLF will have a radiation tolerant IHU (Internal Housekeeping Unit, or
on-board computer.)
It uses an automotive grade 32 bit ARM processor which has two processors.
One is the primary. If one locks up the other takes over. The computer
cores are in different areas of the chip and are at 90 degrees to each
other, which lowers the likelihood of radiation affecting both processors.
"We're adding microwave bands with a 10 GHz downlink experiment for
increased data speed, that can also be used as a transponder downlink. This
is a purchased radio. It has been a little bit of a challenge to fit the
SDR into GOLF because it doesn't fit the normal layout.
"GOLF will be much more complex than the FOX satellites. This complexity
will increase the cost. This is because of the added capability the
engineering team is developing like the additional solar panels as well as
the selection and integration of purchased items like the ADCS or the 10
GHZ SDR radio."
ANS: "Wow, the GOLF satellites will be a give us exciting new capabilities!
When will they be launched?"
JB: "The first is GOLF-TEE, which will be ready for launch in Q4 of 2025.
GOLF-1 will be ready follow in Q4 of 2026. We should have some data and
lessons learned from GOLF-TEE by then.
"Here is a little more detail on the launch; GOLF-TEE and GOLF-1 have been
approved by NASA as sound concepts and eligible for the ELaNa program. This
program will pay for launch up to $300k of launch cost (covers everything
up to a 3U satellite to LEO) and they will look for a launch that we can
ride on. (We don't get to choose just when we launch.) A launch is not a
guaranteed, but they always have found a ride for us."
ANS: "Thank you, Jerry, for helping us understand these important new
satellites!"
[ANS thanks Jerry Buxton, N0JY, and Mark Blackwood, KI5AXK, for the above
information.]
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