A student-built CubeSat from the University of Arizona is providing the latest microwave-band linear transponder for use by amateur radio operators.

After entering orbit more than a year ago, the spacecraft known as CatSat began the earliest parts of its mission: taking images of the Earth, monitoring the ionosphere via HF radio measurements and demonstrating inflatable-antenna technology. CatSat completes a full circle of the earth every 90 minutes in a polar orbit that is nearly sun-synchronous.

The linear transponder was commissioned successfully during the past few weeks. It listens on an uplink of 5.663 GHz and transmits on a downlink of 10.47 GHz, with an estimated bandwidth of 200 kHz. For more details or to follow its operation, visit the CatSat mission website at catsat - that's C-A-T-S-A-T - dot arizona dot edu (catsat.arizona.edu)