KiwiSAT, an

amateur radio satellite An amateur radio satellite is an artificial satellite built and used by amateur radio operators. It forms part of the Amateur-satellite service. These satellites use amateur radio frequency allocations to facilitate communication between amat ...

developed by

AMSAT AMSAT is a name for amateur radio satellite organizations worldwide, but in particular the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT) with headquarters at Washington, D.C. AMSAT organizations design, build, arrange launches for, and then opera ...

-ZL, is to be New Zealand's first satellite. It is being designed and built by New Zealand radio amateurs supported by Massey University (Auckland) and various corporate sponsors.

Overview

The Satellite was built from scratch because of the impacts of ITAR restrictions/bans on technology sharing and was mothballed for a few years during the period of uncertainty and is now being prepared for flight. The key activity is testing and selecting the best batteries to replace the existing batteries. The design life expectancy of this "bird" is in excess of seven (7) years and past AMSAT Satellites have continued to function well beyond a decade. The Satellite, slightly larger than a

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular court, compete with the primary objective of shooting a basketball (approximately in diameter) through the defender's h ...

, is designed to connect with amateur radio stations worldwide, and to carry out experimental work in small satellite Attitude Determination and Control (ADAC) There are three functions on board the Satellite: 1) Satellite Attitude Control Experiment for Massey University 2) Climate Change Research 3) Amateur Radio Communications Transponder. Launch planning is underway. The Launch partner has yet to be agreed. However the team is exploring both local (NZ) and international launch opportunities. KiwiSAT is an amateur radio satellite but does not have an OSCAR designation until after it is launched.

External links

KiwiSAT home page

KiwiSAT joins space race
18 Jan 2003
AMSAT-ZL home page
Amateur radio satellites Telecommunications in New Zealand Satellites of New Zealand 2020s in spaceflight {{NewZealand-stub