January 31, 2006
SuitSat to "Launch" Feb 3
Did you ever want to participate in a International Space Station mission? Starting Friday, February 3rd, you may get your chance. An old, used Russian spacesuit has been transformed into a most unusual earth orbit satellite. Just add one Kenwood TH-K2AT handi-talkie transceiver, a battery pack, a sensor for temperature readings, a compact voice synthesizer and telemetry device and a small helmet-mounted antenna and you are good to go.
The modified spacesuit will be thrust out of the space station into orbit and will begin broadcasting voice messages and slow scan television on 145.990 MHz FM in the two-meter amateur band. The Kenwood HT produces 5 watts RF output. Discover the time of fly-by using NASA's fascinating J-Pass program available at: http://science.nasa.gov/RealTime/JPass/25/JPass.asp. Enter your Zip Code and you'll instantly know when the next show begins. Aim your Yagis toward the proper position in the sky! You may hear Suit Sat's 30-second message of greetings, followed by a burst of telemetry. Transmission of a slow scan TV picture ends the sequence.
Mission Specialists at NASA have especially encouraged schools to participate in listening for Suit Sat and reporting receptions to the project's website suitsat.org. Awards will be issued to groups that copy Suit Sat's message. Extra credit is given to those who can capture the slow scan TV picture!
Running only on internal batteries within the spacesuit, SuitSat will have a limited, but interesting lifetime beaming down special messages and an SSTV image as it floats in space. Having no external thrust to adjust its orbit after it is hand-deployed during the EVA, SuitSat will be in a free-floating, but decaying orbit around Earth. It is expected to remain in orbit up to 6 weeks after being deployed.
The ARISS-Russia team headed by Sergei Samburov, RV3DR, first came up with the idea for SuitSat. The project--called Radioskaf or Radio Sputnik was led by project manager A. P. Alexandrov and Deputy Project Manager A. Poleshuk from RSC Energia. On the US side, AMSAT Board member Lou McFadin, W5DID headed up the hardware project development. The SuitSat electronics were built and tested in Phoenix, AZ by a team lead by Steve Bible, N7HPR.
SuitSat's transmissions will include special international voice messages, spacesuit telemetry, and a pre-programmed SSTV picture on its 145.990 MHz FM downlink. If you have already received the packet station or heard the ISS crew on 2-meter voice, then you already have most of what you need. Amateur radio signals from the ISS can be received with a 2 meter vertical antenna so an elaborate tracking system is not necessary. The SSTV signal can be decoded with personal computer SSTV software after you connect your computer to the speaker output of your radio.
The image above shows SuitSat in it's flight configuration. You can see the electronics control panel on the top of the helmet along with the SuitSat antenna. A new handle has been added around the midsection of the suit (black stripes). The handle is an important addition that will allow the astro/cosmonaut launching the suit to move it safely.
