UoSAT-1

{{Infobox spaceflight

| name = UoSAT-1

| image =

| image_caption =

| mission_type = OSCAR

| operator = University of Surrey

| website =

| COSPAR_ID = 1981-100B

| SATCAT = 12888

| mission_duration =

| spacecraft_bus =

| manufacturer =

| dry_mass =

| launch_mass = {{convert|54|kg|lb}}

| dimensions =

| power =

| launch_date = {{start-date|6 October 1981, 11:27|timezone=yes}} UTC

| launch_rocket = Delta 2310 D-157

| launch_site = Vandenberg SLC-2W

| launch_contractor =

| disposal_type =

| deactivated =

| last_contact =

| decay_date =

| orbit_epoch =

| orbit_reference = Geocentric

| orbit_regime = Low Earth

| orbit_periapsis = {{convert|372|km}}

| orbit_apoapsis = {{convert|374|km}}

| orbit_inclination = 97.6°

| orbit_period = 92 minutes

| apsis = gee

| programme = OSCAR

| previous_mission = OSCAR 8

| next_mission = OSCAR 10

}}

UoSAT-1, also known as UoSAT-OSCAR 9 (UO-9), was a British amateur radio satellite which orbited Earth. It was built at the University of Surrey and launched into low Earth orbit on 6 October 1981. It exceeded its anticipated two-year orbital lifespan by six years, having received signals on 13 October 1989,{{Cite web|last=Bopp|first=Matthias|title=Homepage DD1US / Sounds from Space|url=http://www.dd1us.de/spacesounds%202.html|date=2 October 2010 |access-date=13 October 2010}} before re-entering the atmosphere.

This was the first of several UoSAT satellites; followed by UoSAT-2.

Mission

Like its successor UoSAT-2 it carried a CCD camera and a Digitalker speech synthesiser,{{cite journal |last = Cook |first = Mike |date= June 1986 |title = Way into the world of satellite telemetry: Mike Cook reviews the Astrid telemetry package |journal = The Micro User |volume = 4 |issue = 4 |pages = 100–1 |publisher = Database Publications |location = Stockport, UK |issn = 0265-4040}} and transmitted telemetry data on a 145.826 MHz beacon at 1200 baud using asynchronous AFSK.{{cite web |url=http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/sat_summary/uo11.php |title=Amateur Satellite Summary - UoSAT-OSCAR-11 |author= |website=AMSAT |access-date=17 January 2014}}

The Astrid package sold by British firm MM Microwave,{{cite web|url=http://www.g3tpw.co.uk/Page8EvenMoreFAQs.html|title=Even More FAQs|last=Webb|first=Stephen R.|date=16 January 2008 |access-date=13 October 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802162736/http://www.g3tpw.co.uk/Page8EvenMoreFAQs.html|archive-date=2 August 2009}} consisting of a fixed frequency VHF receiver set and software for the BBC Micro, could display the telemetry frames from either UoSAT-1 or UoSAT-2.

UoSAT-1's solar arrays were of an experimental design reused for UoSAT-2.

Computers and Data Processing

The primary computer for the satellite was the RCA 1802 microprocessor.{{Cite web|url=http://www.retrotechnology.com/memship/amsat.html|title=The COSMAC 1802 and AMSATs, OSCARs and UoSATs}} A secondary microprocessor was also employed, the "F100L" (a Ferranti 16-bit processor). Memory was 16K of DRAM.{{-}}

References

Category:University of Surrey

Category:Amateur radio satellites

Category:Satellites of the United Kingdom

Category:Spacecraft launched in 1981