WAGGA has been chosen as the ideal location for one of the biggest steps in a 16-year university project.
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The University of NSW (UNSW) undergraduate amateur radio satellite project has been given the tick of approval to have a stratospheric balloon test flight in Wagga.
The Basic Low Earth Orbit UNSW Experimental Satellite, better known as BLUEsat, will undergo a test flight in April ahead of its launch into space.
The test will prove whether the hardware and software developed by the BLUEsat student team will withstand the near space environment.
Mission co-ordinator Stuart Bartlett said Wagga was selected for the test on the advice of experts who have carried out similar launches in the area.
“According to them, there are two real opportunities for the launch due to the winds with the first being around September and the second in April,” Mr Bartlett said.
“With September arriving, it was determined April would be the most suitable time to ensure the project wasn’t rushed.”
In the event of a successful test flight, it will still be a number of years until the satellite is launched into space.
Mr Bartlett said there were still a number of steps the project has to take, including the rebuilding of satellite model to update its components.
Once in orbit it is hoped BLUEsat will be a digital amateur radio satellite, which will allow voice and data files to be uploaded to it by any amateur radio operator.
UNSW students will be the primary operators.