AMSAT Receives Major Grant for Spaceframe Development

The AMSAT News Service reports that the amateur satellite group has been awarded a grant of close to $100,000 by ARDC (Amateur Radio Digital Communications) for development of a "3U" spaceframe with deployable solar panels. This structure – the size of three standard cubesats – will serve as the mechanical platform for AMSAT's GOLF series of high-altitude satellites and a new generation of low-orbit FM satellites, according to ANS. 

The GOLF satellites are intended for higher elliptical orbits, providing longer access times and greater coverage areas for hams here on the planet. AMSAT stressed, though, that as generous as the ARDC grant is, another $231,000 is needed to cover additional hardware development and launch preparation costs for just one GOLF satellite.