AMSAT Groups Support ZEL Funding

Lite information angående P3E och ZEL:

 

Earlier this year the Directors of AMSAT-DL were informed by the University of Marburg in Germany that it had been decided that funding for the ZEL by the University would cease at the end of 2007. The Directors approached AMSAT-NA and AMSAT-UK for financial assistance in keeping the ZEL open for another year. The sum of 25,000 Euros was requested.

 

At recent meetings of the AMSAT-NA Board and of the AMSAT-UK Committee, it was agreed that both would contribute to the donation. Given the relative sizes of the two donating AMSAT groups it was agreed that AMSAT-NA would donate 75% of the money required, and that AMSAT-UK would donate 25%.

 

The ZEL (Zentrales Entwicklungslabor fur electronic, roughly translated as the Central Development Laboratory for Electronics) has been the facility which, over the last 40 years, has been at the centre of much amateur satellite development activity by members of the University, members of AMSAT-DL, as well as other members of AMSAT from outside Germany. The most famous satellite to be produced there was OSCAR-13 which gave the Amateur Radio Community many years of excellent service.

 

Currently under construction is Phase 3E, a satellite similar in size and shape to OSCAR-13, but with many advanced features. It will carry a 70 cms to 2 metre band transponder, as well as transponders on other bands. Importantly it will carry its own rocket motor which will boost its orbit into a highly elliptical one, which will give world wide coverage, allowing ordinary radio amateurs great DX possibilities through the transponders. Radio Amateurs have not had such a satellite since the demise of AO-40 in March 2004.

 

The P3E satellite is still under construction in the ZEL, and its completion is anticipated for sometime in 2008. It is note worthy that some of the personnel employed by the University to work in the ZEL have undertaken to continue working on P3E as volunteers.

 

Pictures of the ZEL can be seen at

http://www.uk.amsat.org/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=32

 

AMSAT-UK publish a quarterly newsletter full of Amateur Satellite information.
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For further details contact the secretary Jim Heck G3WGM
Tel: +44 (0)1258 453959
Email: g3wgm@amsat.org
Website: http://www.uk.amsat.org/