There's been a bit of noise about a possible collaborative N-Prize attempt. In this vein, I'ld like to start a topic to throw around some ideas dealing with orbit validation, so we can build upon each other's creativity and experience.

Assuming that a radio beacon of one form or another is best for validation (some people have suggested something visual, but that requires orders of magnitude more power), and seeing that some of the more advanced teams have even built and tested some transmitters, perhaps this part of the design would be a good place to start with collaboration. I'm assuming that orbit validation would be the area with the least difference of opinion, as opposed to say, propulsion, etc.

So if anyone has any ideas, no matter how developed or not, dealing with orbital validation in the form of RF signals, this is the place to post. Anything from general ideas, to electrical schematics, to mechanical issues. Hopefully we can get some sort of active and productive conversation going, and start a team design effort of some vague sort...

While not orbiting in space, this project has launched a tiny payload that has been transmitting successfully for several weeks with the aid of small solar cells:



Well engineered project that just keeps going and going and...

Rick