In an effort to get a new satellite built and launched quickly in order to replace the troubled AO-51, AMSAT has decided to split its "Fox" cubesat project into two satellites, Fox-1 and Fox-2. The AMSAT News Service reports that Fox-1, the intended replacement for AMSAT-OSCAR-51, will contain only an FM transponder and a simple computer system for telemetry and control, built into a standard cubesat spaceframe. A target launch date for Fox-1 will be the second half of 2013.Fox-2 will contain the advanced technology currently under development for the project, including a software-defined linear transponder, an advanced power system and a spaceframe with deployable solar panels. The target date for launching Fox-2 will be 2015.
