KiwiSAT (Click for large image)
Welcome to KiwiSAT
- A Satellite Project by AMSAT-ZL
(Site maintenance - 7 March 2012 - Tests update)
KiwiSAT - taking New Zealand into space!
Thanks to a grant from the NZART Radioscience Education Trust Dr Johan Potgieter has launched the ADAC Science Experiment project with five students from the School of Engineering and Advanced Technology on the Albany Campus of Massey University. More ...
TRANSPONDER ON TEST!
KiwiSAT is live "on air" in the AMSAT-ZL Clean-room. More ...
STATUS REPORT (March 2012) More...
New Videos
KiwiSAT Engineering - Fred Kennedy introduces his purpose built Vacuum Chamber KiwiSAT Engineering - Inside the Clean Room at Massey's Albany Campus[pending]
KiwiSAT System Operational
KiwiSAT Flight Loom.
KiwiSAT operates in test mode in the Clean Room at Massey University in Albany, Auckland, New Zealand using a solar cell simulator acting as the primary power source. The flight wiring loom is fully formed and has been checked. It will be installed when the current dual loom providing both direct PC (RS232) and radio link options for remote testing revert to RF only for pre-flight "burn in" testing via local amateur radio satellite operators.
PCB Assembly and Translator Test - Video
BCR - Battery Charge Regulator - Video
An explanation of the design philosophy by Hans Holtz, ZL1HB.
Main Framing Construction
Underside of Base Frame
Mike Jack of Stanier Engineering, a small specialist precision engineering company based in Auckland, milled the main frame from solid blocks of Aluminium.
Video: Mike and his CNC milling machine in action.
We are most grateful to Mike for the use of his costly machinery and for donating his very valuable time to this project.
KiwiSAT to carry environmental experiment! More ..
Project Overview & Current Status (7 June 2011)
We're not just building a satellite, we're helping Massey University in Auckland develop a satellite command station and space capable laboratory facilities.
Organization
AMSAT-ZL - New Zealand's Amateur Satellite Organization, active in the Amateur (Radio) Satellite Service under the Radio Regulations (ITU-R) of the ITU, is affiliated to The New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters (Inc), commonly known as NZART.
General
KiwiSAT will carry both amateur radio communications; and a scientific experiment in small satellite attitude control (ADAC).
KiwiSAT development is completed ready for launch into a LEO orbit. Target launch date - late 2012.
CONTRIBUTE
This project is financed entirely by voluntary donation. If you would like to play a part in his project, you can make a secure contribution using this PayPal Donations button.
AMSAT-ZL are extremely grateful for the many contributions from around the world. Your support is important to our team.
(Our sincere gratitude for the excellent support to date. Your donations will now be channeled into the testing and calibration of the satellite as it's prepared for flight. This will be very expensive here in New Zealand and every cent will count.)
AMSAT-ZL is indebted to the various NZART Branches who have contributed magnanimously, the many individual ZL amateurs, and the tremendous support from the amateur radio community around the world, to finance this pioneering project. More ...
Clarification
KiwiSAT is an orbiting satellite project by radio amateurs under a strict "not-for-profit" regime and should not be confused with KiwiSat, a commercial ground based animal tracking transmitter. As prime owners of the name KiwiSAT, AMSAT-ZL permit its use in the lower case format (KiwiSat 101) by SIRTRACK for their earth based animal tracking transmitter unit.
Website powered by
