CAS-6 har nu fått sitt AMSAT-namn TO-108.
CAS-6 has now become TO-108.
The CAS-6 (TQ-1) microsatellite was launched December 20, 2019 on a
CZ-4B launch vehicle from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, China.
CAS-6 (TQ-1) was developed by the Chinese Amateur Satellite Group
(CAMSAT) and in cooperation with China’s commercial satellite manufac-
turer. CAMSAT completed the design and manufacture of the amateur radio
payload, and manages the on-orbit operation of the payload. The satel-
lite carries CW and digital telemetry beacons and a linear transponder.
The deployment of the amateur antennas was delayed due technical and
COVID-19 issues, but was completed on June 20, 2020. Currently the
beacons are carriers only, and the transponder operates with about 2
seconds on and 5 seconds off.
At the request of CAMSAT and the CAS-6 team, AMSAT hereby designates
CAS-6 (TQ-1) as TQ-OSCAR 108 (TO-108). We congratulate the owners and
operators of TO-108, thank them for their contribution to the amateur
satellite community, and wish them continued success on this and fu-
ture projects.
Frequencies for the intended radio amatuer mission are:
• CW Telemetry Beacon: 145.910 MHz
• AX.25 4.8kbps GMSK Telemetry: 145.890 MHz
• U/V Linear Transponder Downlink: 145.925 MHz, 20 kHz bandwidth
• U/V Linear Transponder Uplink: 435.280 MHz, Inverted
Operator reports indicate that the transponder is active only for brief
intervals of about 2 seconds, spaced approximately seconds apart. With
patience, and quick transmissions, QSOs have been completed.
CAS-6 (NORAD Cat ID 44881) has been added to the AMSAT distributions of
Two Line Element (TLE) sets beginning from June 25, 2020. Watch for
possible future changes to the satellite name in future TLEs.
[ANS thanks Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, AMSAT VP Operations & OSCAR Number
Administrator; Ray Hoad, WA5QGD, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager; and
Alan Kung, BA1DU, for the above information]