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SA AMSAT SPACE SYMPOSIUM 2015
20 June Innovation Centre, Pretoria
The Innovation Centre, Mark Shuttleworth Street,
The Innovation Hub, Pretoria.
GPS Coordinates 25°44’57.54”S 28°16’05.72”E
08:00 Registration
08:45 Make Satellites your next journey into Amateur Radio
Hans van de Groenendaal, ZS6AKV
President SA AMSAT
09:00 Keynote address
South Africa’s contribution to space operations
Raoul C Hodges | Managing Director
SANSA Space Operations
09:45 Gossamer sails for satellite deorbiting
Lourens Visagie
ADCS Functional Area Engineer
Space Advisory Company
Synopsis
The requirement for satellites to have a mitigation or deorbiting strategy has been brought about by
the ever increasing amount of debris in Earth orbit. Studies have been used to formulate space debris
mitigation guidelines, and adherence to these guidelines would theoretically lead to a sustainable
environment for future satellite launches and operations.
Deployable sail designs that have traditionally been studied and used for solar sails are increasingly
being considered for de-orbit applications. Drag augmentation from a deployable sail is a potentially
passive method for de-orbiting in LEO. A sail-based deorbiting device might also be used as an actual
solar sail – to deorbit from higher orbits.
A number of concerns for sail-based deorbiting remain unaddressed. One important aspect that is
often overlooked is whether a sail deorbiting strategy succeeds in reducing collision risk. Another
critique that is also sometimes used against sail deorbiting is the attitude stability or lack thereof
without active control. Finally the use-cases of such a sail-based strategy remain to be identified. This
presentation will elaborate on these shortcomings.
10:30 Refreshment Break
10:50 ZACube-2: The successor to Africa’s first nanosatellite.
Danie de Villiers
Creative Technologist MTech/MSc Electronic Engineering CPUT
Synopsis
Following on successes of ZACube-1, a.k.a. TshepisoSat, ZACube-2 will be the second instalment in
the F’SATI mission series. The satellite will serve as technology demonstrator for essential
subsystems and form the basis on which an innovative Software Defined Radio (SDR) platform will be
developed as primary payload. The SDR is highly flexible to address a wide range of communication
needs and will be a test bed to validate next generation vessel detection. Additionally, the satellite will
feature a medium resolution imager as secondary payload to demonstrate the feasibility of future
remote sensing applications such as ocean colour monitoring and large fire tracking. This paper
details the conceptual design and highlights the choices made around the proposed development.
11:45 ZS6SRC - BACAR programme – Stimulating Science, Technology,
Engineering and Mathematics with high performance learners.
Christo Kriek ZR6LJK
Synopsis
In 2013 the Secunda amateur radio club embarked on a Balloon Carrying Amateur Radio equipment
initiative as a restart of an older program. Following next was a 5 year plan to involve the local
schools in the Govan Mbeki municipal area. Participation during Space week was the highlight of
2014 by launching two school payloads to near space, with 2015 creating extra ordinary opportunities
for learners. This an investment in the youth enabling them to think differently. During all the above
the fundamentals of amateur radio is constantly promoted. The presentation will focus on the
education aspects, some program aspects and eyewitness accounts from participating leaners.
12:30 KLETSKOUS –getting Africa into space
Hannes Coetzee ZS6BZP
KLETSKOUS Project leader
12:45 Kletskous Space frame - From concept to experimental model
Deon Coetzee ZR1DX
Synopsis
The presentation covers the development of the Kletskous cubesat spaceframe. The initial concept
structure based on CubeSat models at the time, is described.
Further enhancements, such as the addition of deployable solar panels and antenna system was
added, providing more functionality to the design. The next stage, i.e. the development of the
Advanced Development Model, during which the concept will be further refined, is undertaken by final
year engineering student Francois Oberholzer as part of the requirements for the Degree in
Engineering.
13:00 Methods to increase the strength-to-weight ratio of a cube-satellite
Johannes Francois Oberholzer
Stellenbosch University: Industrial Engineering Department
Synopsis:
The Southern African Amateur Radio Satellite Association (SA AMSAT) is designing
and manufacturing an amateur satellite based on the CubeSat design. The mission
of SA AMSAT is to provide Radio Amateurs in Southern Africa with access to a Low
Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellite on as many of the available passes as possible. The
paper to be presented at the symposium will represent a progress report of the
student’s findings.
The challenge is to increase the strength-to-weight ratio of an Amateur Radio CubeSatellite through innovative designs and manufacturing processes, while adhering to
the CubeSat design specifications set by the California Polytechnic State University.
In order to increase the strength-to-weight ratio of the satellite, innovative designs and
different manufacturing processes will be investigated to reduce the weight of the
structure. The main objective of this project is to design and manufacture a satellite
that has a higher strength-to-weight ratio than its predecessor. In order for the
CubeSat to be allowed into space, it has to comply with the CubeSat test
specifications.
The secondary objectives are to ensure that the design must be within the constraints
stated by the California Polytechnic State University and making sure that the CubeSat
complies with the General Environmental Verification Standard in order to meet the
launch requirements set by the launch provider and to be allowed on the spacecraft.
13:40 Light Lunch and refreshments
14:10 KLETSKOUS power unit - From concept to first prototype –
Fritz Sutherland Jnr ZS6FSJ, Kletskous team
14:40 KLETSKOUS Communication Data Structure
Brian McKenzie ZS6BNM, Kletskous team
15:10 Second Proto type of the Transponder
Jacques Roux ZR1ADC, Kletskous team
15:40 Development of ground control at VUT – B.Tech laboratory upgrade
Riaan Greeff, ZS4PR, Vaal University of Technology
Synopsis
The Vaal University of Technology is in the process of upgrading the laboratory used
by the Satellite communications 4 B.Tech students. This project is led by Mr. Riaan
Greeff, ZS4PR. He is the subject head and is developing a ground station on VUT
campus.
The paper will detail current hardware available, and planned construction project in
order to allow for the students to become involved in the ground station. Typically 20
students enrol for the subject, and this is used as a wonderful opportunity to create
interest in satellite technologies.
The subject practical work will also encourage making contact with LEO satellites,
investigating GEO satellite signals and services and understanding the different
facets of the overall satellite communication and application landscape.
The outcome of the planned ground station will then allow internet based access to
the antenna systems to allow other universities and SA AMSAT Kletskous
permanent ground control facilities.
16:20 Attendance draw
16:30 SA AMSAT AGM
17:00 ends