Explorer-1 Prime is heading for California tomorrow for her world premier.  This is the first official outing for E1P; the so-called "fit check" to insure that we meet the design specifications to fit into the P-POD without interference and that she meets size and weight specs.  NASA personnel and the CubeSat community will see her for the first time on Wednesday.  We anticipate no issues with the fit check -- dimensions seem to be pretty close to dead-on.  Her weight is about 985 grams, well within the 1000 gram limit.   Finishing out will add a few more grams for staking compound and for a few closeout panels that will be added.

E1P radio communications happen on amateur radio frequencies.  Because of the limited range of most* radio communications the amateur bands are regulated (or not, as the case may be) by individual countries.  The national regulating agencies (eg FCC in the US)  make the frequency allocation rules and amateurs share their bands by switching frequencies if a particular wavelength is over subscribed.
This same process must happen at the international level for amateur satellites. However, because satellite communications must be carefully planned well in advance, the cooperation must happen well in advance. Cooperation between hundreds of developers around the world is made complicated by time and space separation as well as the vagaries of development and launch schedules.  By common agreement this mess is sorted by the International Amateur Radio Union for which we are all eternally grateful.
Coordination is not easy, nor should it be. One must prove to the committee by providing details of your satellite plans and operation modes that your satellite has a chance at operational space flight and that it is truly an amateur project.
Friday the E1P team received the final confirmation of coordination for the upcoming NASA ElaNa launch!  This summer tune to 437.505 MHz to hear Explorer -1 [PRIME] exploring the Van Allen radiation belts.

*Some of the most interesting amateur radio happens at wavelengths longer than 8 meters where the ionosphere is reflective. This mirroring effect allows radio waves to travel for thousands of miles, sometimes to the other side of the planet! In reality the lack of global regulation has more to do with the limited range of politicians.

Cory was a computer scientist, known for his tender demeanor and excessively lame puns.  Cory graduated from MSU this year with degrees in Computer Science and Philosophy; be not surprised if a spacecraft of the future offers you a critique of objectivism.  He gave to his work, firmware for Explorer-1, a kind of maniacle genius few will soon match. His job was to program the satellite, but also Cory did what was needful, routinely working late hours leading his team to bring hardware online. He was an thoughtful leader, invaluable programmer, and a wonderful chef.  So long Cory!

*Note: While Cory journeys to meet our fathers in the great halls of Spacehalla, he is still quite alive.