Oscar Airbox One

It will only works if we do it all together

Oscar Airbox 01 the "Yellow Satellite" Prototype. Must weight less than 19.9 grams and must to complete at least 9 turns to the Earth. Both requirements are not easy.

The weight: the transmitter, antenna and battery do not leave much margin. No controllers and sensors will be picked up, only a beacon signal.

Nine turns to the Earth: As Oscar 1 only the HAM Radio Comunity can confirm if the challenge is a success. 

Tribute to Oscar 1

Project OSCAR (Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio) started in 1960 with the radio amateurs from the TRW Radio Club of Redondo Beach, California.
OSCAR I was their first Satellite. Launched December 12, 1961. The satellite was a rectangular box (30 x 25 x 12 cm) weighing 10 kg. The satellite had a battery-powered 140 mW transmitter operating in the 2 meter band 

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(144.983 MHz), employed a monopole transmitting antenna 60 cm long. Oscar 1 carried only a simple beacon. For three weeks it transmitted its Morse Code message "HI". OSCAR I lasted 22 days ceasing operation on January 3, 1962 and re-entered January 31, 1962.

Today, over fifty years later, Project OSCAR's mission is “To initiate and support activities that promote the Satellite Amateur Radio Hobby”. Project Oscar's primary goal is to reach out and provide logistical support, training and in some cases equipment to amateur radio associations, schools and the public at large.

Source Wikipedia: You can find the full story Here.

The Beacon

ISD1806 maybe you have more than one at home. The last sound Christmass or Birthday card can carry one... or a better IC than this. It can save up to 6 seconds of voice record.

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The Transmitter

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Radiometrix HX1 with 300 mW (Oscar 1 used only 140mW) and a similar frequency.
Would be 144.390MHz, 144.800MHz, 145.175, 151.300MHz and 169.000MHz band.

The antenna

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At the moment we are going to use a simple stainless steel measuring tape as a monopole or dipole antenna.

The Message

"Oscar Airbox One. Hi! Thanks to be here!"

A similar message would be transmitted. We expect to use a simple sound, a voice message and a CW or RTTY message.     

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Ground Stations requirements

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Just a VHF FM antenna. 

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