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WG3K > ANS 31.01.25 11:05l 33 Lines 4909 Bytes #5 (0) @ AMSAT
BID : ANS026.1
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Subj: AMSAT Fox-Plus CubeSat Moves Toward CDR Milestone
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Critical Design Review (CDR) of the new AMSAT FOX-Plus CubeSat concept is expected to occur during late May 2025 according to Mike Moore, K4MVM, AMSAT Fox Plus Systems Engineer. Launch of the newly-designed CubeSat is planned for late 2025.
Moore explained, 窶弋he purpose of the Fox-Plus Amateur Radio satellite is to continue and augment the success of the original Fox series of AMSAT 1U CubeSats. We want to have units ready to fly experimental payloads on short notice.窶� The term "1U" refers to the standard size CubeSat, also known as a nanosat, measuring 10x10x10 centimeters, weighing one to 1.33 kilograms.
According to Moore, 窶弋o expedite the development, commercial off the shelf (COTS) components were selected. The components included the frame, electrical power system (EPS), solar panels, and antenna system (AntS) from ISISPACE.窶� Netherlands-based ISIS describes itself as 窶廛isruptive Space Solutions For A Better Tomorrow窶� provider turn-key missions, launch services and components.
AMSAT concentrates on the Linear Transponder Module (LTM) which includes Legacy Internal Housekeeping Unit (LIHU), Improved Command Receiver (ICR) and receiver/transmitter (RX/TX) subsystem. The CubeSat Power Integrated Unit (PIU) consists of three subsystems deriving electrical energy from solar panels stored in a power battery pack (PBP).
AMSAT窶冱 Fox-Plus A began during 2022 with a Concept of Operations (ConOps) presentation on February 11, 2022. ISIS produced components were received during 2023 then evaluated and tested during 2024. EM build and test began in the later part of 2024 and continues into 2025.
Mike Moore was first licensed in March of 2018 and earned his extra class license in November of the same year. In addition to his AMSAT work he is the ARES Emergency Coordinator for Culpeper County, Virginia and a member of the Culpeper Amateur Radio Association. He is a charter member of the Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Emergency Communications, also known as R3EMCOMM, an all-volunteer community-wide public service organization. He uses an Icom 9700 for satellite work.
In addition to Moore, the Fox-Plus Engineering Team includes Andrew Robinson, KA3WDW (Mechanical & Structural Engineer), Cliff Jenkins, KE8JAE (Software), Will Brozovic (Software), Leandra MacLennan, AF1R (Electrical Engineer, Hardware), and Patrick Thomas, KB8DGC (System Engineer & PACSAT Liaison).
Fox CubeSat Program Background
AMSAT窶冱 Fox CubeSat program is aligned with the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) CubeSat Launch Initiative. This provides opportunities for CubeSats built by U.S. educational institutions, and non-profit organizations to fly on upcoming launches.
Also known as the Educational Launch of Nanosatellites (ELaNa) program, NASA窶冱 innovative technology partnerships provide CubeSat developers a low-cost pathway to conduct scientific investigations and technology demonstrations in space, thus enabling students, teachers, and faculty to obtain hands-on flight hardware design, development, and build experience.
Fox-1A (now designated AO-85) was among the earliest CubeSats launched by NASA. Fox-1 is a 1-Unit CubeSat with U/V FM repeater operating at up to 800mw along with experimental pay-loads facilitating STEM learning.
Ham Radio Now Episode 85 show host Gary Pierce, KN4AQ reveals the early days of the Fox program in his July 9, 2013 YouTube video. The show included an interview of Tony Montiero AA2TX (AMSAT VP Engineering) and Mark Hammond N4MH (AMSAT VP Education). They provided background information about the Fox-1 Satellite and talked about the AMSAT transition from purely Amateur Radio satellites to becoming a platform and communications provider for educational space science experiments.
AMSAT FoxTelem software for Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems is used to transmit satellite telemetry signals. It was developed by Christopher Thompson, G0KLA/AC2CZ/VE2TCP. Thompson also has developed other Amateur Radio Satellite software.
Payloads included a Penn State University capstone project for 2011-2012 academic year, senior engineering students. They developed a 3-axis Micro-Electro-Mechanical-System (MEMS) gyroscope to measure the spin and wobble of the satellite.
The second payload was developed by Vanderbilt University students. It recorded occurrences of radiation-induced bit upsets in modern commercial-off-the-shelf memory chips that exhibit a sensitivity to low-energy protons. The mission contributed to the validation of ground-based test methods for hardness assurance and error rate predictions.
An offshoot of the Penn State University experiment on Fox-1, Mark Spencer, WA8SME wrote about an Attitude Determination Experiment Simulator (Wobbler) in the AMSAT Journal July/August 2013 issue.
[ANS thanks Mike Moore, K4MVM, AMSAT Fox Plus Systems Engineer for the above information.]
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