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[1] by six years, having received signals on 13 October 1989,[2] 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,[1] and transmitted telemetry data on a 145.826 MHz beacon at 1200 baud using asynchronous AFSK.[3]
The Astrid package sold by British firm MM Microwave,[4] 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.[1]
UoSAT-1's solar arrays were of an experimental design reused for UoSAT-2.[1]
Computers and Data Processing
The primary computer for the satellite was the RCA 1802 microprocessor.[5] A secondary microprocessor was also employed, the "F100L" (a Ferranti 16-bit processor). Memory was 16K of DRAM.
^ abcdCook, Mike (June 1986). "Way into the world of satellite telemetry: Mike Cook reviews the Astrid telemetry package". The Micro User. 4 (4). Stockport, UK: Database Publications: 100–1. ISSN0265-4040.
Payloads are separated by bullets ( · ), launches by pipes ( | ). Crewed flights are indicated in underline. Uncatalogued launch failures are listed in italics. Payloads deployed from other spacecraft are denoted in (brackets).
