[HamSat] Sorting out SSETI and Associated Objects - An Excercise in Understanding

[Tim Pickett]

Since the launch of SSETI Express on 10-27-05, the group of satellites 
consisting of SSETI, RS-25, UWE-1, XI-V, and have been slowly moving 
apart. This is normal for these mass launches. The trick for us is to 
figure out which satellite goes with which set of KEPs. We hope to have 
an advantage - normally our satellites transmit a signal.

Here are two opinions of what object goes with each set of KEPs. What 
you are now presented with is an opportunity to understand how the 
process of sorting out which object goes with each set of KEPs is done. 
Unfortunately, this is now complicated by the fact that not all the 
satellites seem to have consistently working transmitters.
(Thanks to an expert statellite tracker Mineo Wakita, JE9PEL.)

CAT# CAT#

Object JE9PEL Spacetrack

===================================

SSETI 28893 28894

RS25 28890 28898

UWE-1 28894 28895

XI-V 28892 28892


Here are the lastest KEPS associated with these objects. The names are 
per Spacetrack and may not be right!

BEIJING 1 (TSINGHUA)
1 28890U 05043A 05308.02155194 .00000001 00000-0 10001-4 0 406
2 28890 098.1803 204.6211 0016091 149.6253 210.5894 14.59914235 1138
TOPSAT
1 28891U 05043B 05307.74917561 .00000012 00000-0 12356-4 0 394
2 28891 098.1799 204.3476 0017655 151.8109 208.4050 14.59565570 1094
CUBESAT XI-V
1 28892U 05043C 05308.02507013 .00000152 00000-0 42080-4 0 408
2 28892 098.1828 204.6168 0017948 149.7328 210.4912 14.59248225 1133
SINAH 1
1 28893U 05043D 05307.81596041 .00000094 00000-0 29403-4 0 380
2 28893 098.1799 204.4180 0016078 152.5317 207.6736 14.59909744 1105
SSETI-EXPRESS
1 28894U 05043E 05307.81850872 -.00000346 00000-0 -63069-4 0 384
2 28894 098.1832 204.4183 0018289 152.1591 208.0592 14.59411575 1108
UWE-1
1 28895U 05043F 05307.88763432 .00000212 00000-0 54555-4 0 264
2 28895 098.1851 204.4846 0018426 150.2248 209.9996 14.59304086 999
MOZ.5/SAFIR/RUBIN 5
1 28898U 05043G 05307.82317078 -.00011887 00000-0 -25516-2 0 368
2 28898 098.1793 204.4070 0020612 155.8667 204.3485 14.58421492 1096

If you listen for the signal from a spacecraft on its posted transmit 
frequency and mode (assuming that it is transmitting) and if AOS 
(acquisition of signal) or LOS (loss of signal) matches the set of KEPs 
you have chosen to use, then you have determined which set of KEPs goes 
with that spacecraft. You have identified that object.! You will of 
course be dependent on the ability of the spacecraft to transmit. If 
there is no signal, this method will not work.

Go to this URL for frequencies to listen on.
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/cubesats.php

OK, this is a learning exercise. Now you sort out who is who. What do 
you think? No, there is not a prize for this. We are doing this for the 
joy of learning. Have fun!