Satellites

摘要

This year my customary review of the AMSAT-UK Colloquium appears a little later than usual. There was a full and interesting programme this year but I have decided to focus on just a few of the papers read at the event, confining my comments to those which seemed particularly noteworthy. The 11th Colloquium, held as usual at the University of Surrey from 25 to 28 July, attracted 92 delegates from 17 countries. Of particular topical interest was the IARU Satellite Forum, when the 'Future of Amateur Radio' was discussed by a panel on a position paper produced by the IARU to stimulate input for the formation of a global viewpoint. Phase 3D naturally came high on the list of contributions, with papers ranging from 'Phase 3D - the view from Below' to the 'Development of a Magnetic-bearing Momentum Wheel for the Phase 3D Satellite'. 'Amateur Radio Satellites on the Internet' was again a topical subject.