Fox-1E

Fox-1E
NamesRadFxSat-2
AO-109
AMSAT OSCAR 109
Mission typeCommunications
OperatorAMSAT[1]
COSPAR ID2021-002C Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.47311
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerVanderbilt University
Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation
Launch mass1.3 kg (2.9 lb)
Dimensions10 cm × 10 cm × 10 cm (3.9 in × 3.9 in × 3.9 in)
Start of mission
Launch date17 January 2021,
19:38:51 UTC
RocketBoeing 747-744
LauncherOne R03
Launch siteMojave Air and Space Port
ContractorVirgin Orbit
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit[2]
RegimeLow Earth orbit
Semi-major axis6,877.0 kilometres (4,273.2 mi)
Perigee altitude478.1 km (297.1 mi)
Apogee altitude535.9 km (333.0 mi)
Inclination60.7°
Period94.6 minutes

Fox-1E, AO-109 or AMSAT OSCAR 109 is an American amateur radio satellite. It is a 1U Cubesat, was built by the AMSAT-NA and carries a 30KHz linear transponder radio. Fox-1E is the fifth amateur radio satellite of the Fox series of AMSAT North America.

Mission

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The satellite was launched on 17 January 2021, with a LauncherOne rocket. This carrier rocket was launched by the "Cosmic Girl", a converted Boeing 747, from the Mojave Air and Space Port, California, United States, and to an altitude of approx. 35,000 ft (11,000 m). The flight was carried out on behalf of NASA's CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI) program and put 10 satellites into orbit as part of the Rideshare ELaNa 20 mission.[3]

The telemetry beacon could not yet be received, but the transponder is partially in operation with reduced signal strength. Work on commissioning the telemetry beacon and checking the transponder will continue with the aim of opening the satellite for general use.

The satellite became operational on 20 July 2021.[4] It is estimated to reenter the Earth's atmosphere on April 22, 2024.[5]

Frequencies
435.750 MHz downlink FM
145.860 MHz - 145.890 MHz uplink LSB
435.760 MHz - 435.790 MHz downlink USB

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Fox-1E". NASA GSFC. Retrieved 16 September 2021. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ "RADFXSAT-2 (AO-109)". n2yo.com. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  3. ^ Gunter Dirk Krebs. "RadFxSat 2 (Fox 1E, Evolution)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  4. ^ Paul Stoetzer (20 July 2021). "AO-109 (RadFxSat-2/AMSAT Fox-1E) Open For Amateur Use". AMSAT - The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  5. ^ "CelesTrak: Impending Decays". celestrak.org. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
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