Closer to Spaceflight - Radio Licensing Complete for PQ-Gemini Satellite Cluster - to test Lunar Sample Return Systems!
The IARU (International Amateur Radio Union) has completed its "Frequency Coordination Efforts" for our PQ-Gemini Satellite Cluster to be flown to orbit late this year (typical Launch Schedule adjustments may occur). This is the internationally recognized process by which amateur satellites are "Licensed", involving operations for which the principles are already Licensed as Amateur Radio Operators in their nations of residence.
Official Frequency Coordination for the Four Satellites of the PQ Gemini Satellite Cluster places their operation in a band at 437.525 MHz +/- 10 kHz.
Operation is planned with 2048 Hz frequency offsets, with 2-1-2 spacing. i.e. 437.525 MHz center of 20 khz band, 2048 Hz Delta Base Offset YIELDS:
roughly 437.519, 437.524, 437.526, 437.531 MHz "In Orbit" carrier frequencies for the four satellites of this cluster (no Doppler Offsets).
BPSK modulation at no more than 300 Baud adds 300 Hz min (to 600 Hz max) to the "occupied bandwidth" of any of these carriers. Each satellite will emit no more than 10 milliwatts RF.
Command Uplink is planned to fit into this same frequency band, probably into the "2 Delta" gaps (4096 Hz gaps), offset 1024 Hz from the carrier of the intended cluster member. Command frequencies at the Earth Station will be offset up to +/- 10.5 kHz from these Orbital Frequency targets to "Pre-compensate" for Doppler Shift.
Each satellite of the cluster will continuously monitor the transmissions of the other three members, Phase Locking its transmission to a designated Master Unit, with emissions of a properly phase locked group appearing at 2048, 4096, 6144 or 10,240 Hz (1, 2, 3 or 5 Delta Base) offset from its own carrier, which serves as the Local Oscillator for its receiver.
It should be possible for a Ham, with a standard communications receiver, to monitor all four satellites simultaneously as CW transmissions, if the receiver bandwidth is not set too narrow. The satellite data transmissions will also be time synchronized, with distinctive codes for the satellites sent sequentially, unless one or more satellites have been switched into a continuous "Data Dump" mode by ground command.
Analysis of the Phase of the received, phase coherent signals, will provide high resolution information about their 3 dimensional distribution in space (practical resolution can reach 1 centimeter). This is a modified form of ISAR (Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar, with cooperating sources rather than RF reflections.
This completes the Preflight Licensing, Notifications and Coordination required by national and international law before our satellites can fly.
Richard P. Speck, K0HWA, Micro-Space, Denver, Colorado, USA
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