RadioSkaf 1 (Suitsat) (AO-54)

Launch data: Designation  28933 / 05035C Launch date - time  08 Sep 2005 - 13:08 UT Launch site  Baikonur, LC1 Launch vehicle  Soyuz-U Mission  Amateur comsat Earth orbit: Perigee / Apogee  340 x 340 km Inclination  51.65° Period  91.43 min

Mission details:

• SuitSat-1 was deployed in an orbit around the Earth from Pirs/ISS at Feb, 3 2006 on 23:02 UT. The idea for this novel satellite was first formally discussed at an AMSAT symposium in October 2004, although the ARISS-Russia team is credited with coming up with the idea as a commemorative gesture for the 175th anniversary of the Moscow State Technical University.
• After deployment it was reported, that RadioSkaf fell silent, but shortly after was discoverered to be transmitting but much more weakly than expected. Designated by AMSAT as AO-54.
• The official designation for SuitSat is AMSAT-OSCAR 54, though it was nicknamed "Ivan Ivanovich" or "Mr. Smith". The radio transmitter used a frequency of 145.990 MHz.
• The last confirmed signal report from SuitSat-1 was the report of KC7GZC on February 18, 2006. All later reports indicate that no signal was received when SuitSat-1 was due to pass over.
• SuitSat-1 remained in operation for more than two weeks, easily outlasting initial predictions that it would transmit for about a week. On September 7, 2006, at 16:00 GMT, Suitsat re-entered the Earth's atmosphere over the Southern Ocean at 110.4° East longitude and 46.3° South latitude. It was over a point some 1400 km south-southwest of Cape Leeuwin, Western Australia.

Launch of SuitSat-1 (left to right: Astronaut, SuitSat)

Suitsat 1after release