AMSAT is both a generic name for amateur radio satellite organizations world-wide, but in particular is the name of the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation of North America (AMSAT-NA) with headquarters at Silver Spring, Maryland, near Washington DC. Amateur radio, often called ham radio, is a hobby and public service enjoyed by about 3 million people[1] throughout the world. ... Silver Spring is an urbanized, but unincorporated area in Montgomery County, Maryland, in the United States. ... Flag Seal Nickname: DC, The District Motto: Justitia Omnibus (Justice for All) Location Location of Washington, D.C., with regard to the surrounding states of Maryland and Virginia. ...

Other national organizations exist, such as AMSAT Germany (AMSAT-DL), AMSAT Japan, etc. [1]

AMSAT organizations design, build, arrange launches for, and then operate (command) the OSCAR series of satellites. OSCAR is an acronym for Orbital Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio. ...

AMSAT-DL has project managed and built several amateur radio satellites, notably AO-40. Amateur radio, often called ham radio, is a hobby and public service enjoyed by about 3 million people[1] throughout the world. ... For other uses, please see Satellite (disambiguation) A satellite is an object that orbits another object (known as its primary). ... AO-40 is the on-orbit name designation of an Amateur Radio satellite (AMSAT) of the OSCAR series; formerly known as Phase 3D. The Project Manager was Peter Guelzow (Amateur Radio call sign DB2OS) of AMSAT Germany (AMSAT-DL). ...

Phase system

Amsat set up some time ago a series of 5 phases of amateur satellites. Each of them takes a step further than the previous to benefiting mankind through amateur radio. These 5 phases are:

• Phase 1- Build a simple satellite, with no solar cells, to simply prove the technology. Must be able to orbit to be classified as a satellite
• Phase 2- Build a satellite with solar cells, and place into Low Earth Orbit.
• Phase 3- Build a satellite that orbits in a Highly Elliptical Orbit, generally a Molniya orbit, fully able to function for several years. Usually the initial orbit is a Geostationary transfer orbit. These satellites are capable of staying over a specific area for large periods of time, ideal for Amateur communications satellites.
• Phase 4- Build a satellite that orbits in Geosynchronous orbit.
• Phase 5- Send a spacecraft to the moon, Mars, or anywhere in the inner solar system. Orbit is not necessary.
• The Phase system stops here, but one could imagine a Phase 6 to the outer solar system, Phase 7 beyond Pluto, etc.

Amsat has currently built a large fleet of Phase 2 satellites, a few phase 3, and is planning 2 major Phase 3 satellites and a Phase 5. Phase 4 has never had much interest, due to the fact that never more than half of the globe could use such a satellite. In physics, an orbit is the path that an object makes, around another object, whilst under the influence of a source of centripetal force, such as gravity. ... A solar cell, a form of photovoltaic cell, is a device that uses the photoelectric effect to generate electricity from light, thus generating solar power (energy). ... A low Earth orbit (LEO) is an orbit in which objects such as satellites are below intermediate circular orbit (ICO) and far below geostationary orbit, but typically around 350 - 1400 km above the Earths surface. ... Molniya orbit is a class of a highly elliptic orbit with inclination of +/-63. ... A geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) is a Hohmann transfer orbit around the Earth between a low Earth orbit (LEO) and a geostationary orbit (GEO). ... A geosynchronous orbit is a geocentric orbit that has the same orbital period as the sidereal rotation period of the Earth. ... A spacecraft is designed to leave Earths atmosphere and operate beyond the surface of the Earth in outer space. ... For other moons in the solar system see natural satellite. ... Note: This article contains special characters. ... An inner planet is any one of the Solar systems rocky planets that lie inside the asteroid belt: Mercury (planet), Venus (planet), Earth (planet) and Mars (planet). ...

Current projects

AMSAT is currently building the P3-E and Eagle Satellites (Both Phase 3, see above), and has be instrumental in developing the AMSAT Widget, a device used to communicate from one device to another using as few wires as possible. It works over the CAN interface, over a special protocol AMSAT developed called the CAN-DO interface.

Amsat also is planning to build the P5A spacecraft. (Phase 5a, spelled fully out). Its plan is to be launched to Mars. Note: This article contains special characters. ...

Currently operating missions

• On the 29th of June 2004, AMSAT-NA launched a new microsat-class satellite, designated AO-51.

AO-51 is the in-orbit name designation of an Amateur Radio satellite (AMSAT) of the OSCAR series; formerly known as ECHO. It was launched on June 29, 2004 from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan on a Dnepr launch vehicle. ...

See also

OSCAR OSCAR is an acronym for Orbital Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio. ...

External links

• AMSAT-NA - North America history
• AMSAT-DL - Germany
• AMSAT-UK - United Kingdom