AMSAT-DL reviews P3E satellite design: An international team gathered in Marburg, Germany, in late January to review progress on the Phase 3 Express (P3E) Amateur Radio satellite–essentially a scaled-down and less-complex version of the now-defunct AO-40.
The meeting focused on the design of the integrated housekeeping unit (IHU-3) computer and the “CAN-Do interface.” AMSAT-NA is a partner in the P3E high-altitude, elliptical-orbit satellite, a prelude to the ambitious Mars-orbiting P5A spacecraft, and AMSAT-NA
President Rick Hambly, W2GPS, was among those attending the gathering January 26-30. Being developed under AMSAT-DL leadership, P3E will provide a test bench for technology under development for the subsequent Mars mission. Launch is planned sometime before the end of 2006. The P3E satellite will offer both analog and digital communication on VHF through microwave.
There’s more information on P3E and P5A on the AMSAT-DL Web site
http://www.amsat-dl.org/