 |
Dr. Susan Jason works on the
STRaND-1 satellite.
(Courtesy AMSAT-UK website) |
The University of Surrey - a pioneer in amateur radio
satellite development in the United Kingdom (old-timers may recall the UoSat
series) - has launched the UK's first cubesat, called STRaND-1. According to
Newsline, the satellite is built around a Google Nexus One smartphone with an
Android operating system. It carries an amateur radio packet downlink which
transmits on 437.568 MHz. The purpose of the project was to demonstrate the
feasibility of using a smartphone to control a spacecraft. Its signals were
first heard in Sudan by Nader Omer, ST2NH, soon after its February 25th launch
and deployment. Follow the mission online at <
http://bit.ly/XBem9u>.
