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K´OTO Updated: 17 Mar 2022   Responsible Operator José Alberto Ramirez Aguilar XE1TX
Supporting Organisation National Autonomous University of Mexico  
Contact Person albert09@unam.mx.nospam  
Headline Details: A 1U CubeSat mission. The name of this nanosatellite is based on the Otomi language term KOTO, which means in English “grasshopper”, this refers to the fact that this project, despite its size, will allow a great Academic, technological leap in the development of experimental Mexican space projects, maintaining the cultural roots of Mexico and in this case the original dialect (Otomi) of the state of Querétaro. The nanosatellite KOTO is an academic initiative in progress in the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) through the Advanced Technology Unit (UAT) of the college of engineering, at the Juriquilla, Querétaro. The goal of the KOTO project is to develop, integrate and put into orbit a CubeSat Amateur type nanosatellite from the International Space Station (ISS). The KOTO mission consists of testing two low-resolution cameras to take photographs of the Mexican territory and transmit them to the ground for the radio amateur’s community of the country experimenting in the amateur radio band. The development of this experimental satellite involves mainly undergraduate students from various Mexican institutions such as: UNAM, UAQ, UNITEC, ITQ and UPSRJ, from multiple areas, promoting multidisciplinary work and promoting the training of human resources in the space area. Through teamwork, multidisciplinary and multi-institutional collaboration, promoting the use of experimentation in the amateur radio bands. The project consists of the design, manufacture, integration, testing, launching, putting into orbit and operation of an experimental nanosatellite under the CubeSat standard. The development of this project in addition, aims to be a technological demonstrator through which the students participating in the project will have the opportunity to develop several subsystems that make up the nanosatellite, carry out the integration and participate in the pre-certification tests of the systems within of the facilities of the UAT-FI-UNAM in the Mexican state of Querétaro, which houses the National Laboratory for Space and Automotive Engineering (LN-INGEA). The KOTO nanosatellite is planned to be put into orbit in the first half of 2022 from the International Space Station (ISS) through collaboration with the Kyushu Institute of Technology (Kyutech) who will be in charge of carrying out the tests of flight certification and subsequently deliver the satellite to JAXA for its launch, with this collaboration the training of human resources and technology is reinforced internationally. Regarding provision 1.56 (amateur service): Because radio amateurs and university students from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), the Autonomous University of Queretaro (UAQ) participate in the development of the mission, among other technical higher education institutions, the project will contribute to the strengthening of the training of more authorized radio amateurs in Mexico and the world interested in radiocommunications for the purpose of self-training, intercommunication and technical investigations carried out by Radio amateurs, that is, by duly authorized persons interested in radio technique solely with a personal aim and without commercial or lucrative interest. In addition, it will strengthen and promote the use of amateur radio frequency bands in developing countries such as Mexico, Guatemala, Ecuador, Peru, etc. Regarding provision 1.57 (amateur-satellite service): The project will strengthen the use of amateur radio communications because it is a university nanosatellite developed by students and radio amateurs with a strong interest in satellite communications. For Mexico it is a great opportunity for young university students and radio amateurs to experiment with a real project that promotes the service of radio amateurs using satellites, a unique experience for students and fans from Mexico and the world who have a Yagi antenna and a radio amateur tuned to the requested frequencies. The project will adhere to the provisions established in Article 25, which implies that radiocommunications will be allowed between stations from different countries, except if there are any restrictions. Also, all satellite transmissions shall not be encoded according to point 25.2A 1A. Something very important is that the satellite can be used to transmit international communications in cases of emergency or relief mentioned in point 25.3 2. The maximum power levels will be subject to the provisions of the Mexican authority. Likewise, when establishing communications with the satellite, the call sign will be transmitted at short intervals. We will be subject to the provisions of the radio communications authority regarding the ability of the satellite operator to send and receive texts in Morse Code (CW) signals. With respect to section II of article 25, the project and the amateur radio equipment operators of the satellite and the earth station will be subject to the administrations that authorize the satellite for the amateur service mainly in the assurance that earth stations are established of command prior to launching the satellite to ensure that any harmful interference caused by emissions from a station in the amateur-satellite service can be terminated immediately. Finally, the mission of the experimental nanosatelite KOTO will contribute to the advancement of the amateur satellite service since its transmissions will be open to all radio amateurs from Mexico and mainly from Latin America. KOTO will contribute to the training of new fans because the project encourages young people to experiment with antennas, radios, software, etc. The university and institutions of higher education in Mexico will have the great opportunity to also contribute to the training of radio amateurs by satellite, an experience that will be shared with many countries of the world, always with the banner of experimentation and peace. The project also aims to inspire young people and the Amateur Radio community. More info at https://www.ingenieria.unam.mx/k-oto/ Proposing a UHF downlink using 4k8 or 19k2 FSK with AX25. Planning a JAXA deployment from the ISS. **A downlink on 437.880 MHz has been coordinated**
Application Date: 19 Nov 2021   Freq coordination completed on 17 Mar 2022

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