Overview of the ground facilities for controlling the OUFTI-1 nanosatellite and for routing its radio-communications through the worldwide D-STAR repeater network

Overview of the current state and upgrade plan of the OUFTI-1 nanosatellite ground segment. The OUFTI-1 project was initiated in September 2007. The OUFTI-1 nanosatellite is a one-unit (1U) CubeSat. Its main payload is - in essence - a D-STAR repeater in space, potentially the first one ever. D-STAR is an amateur-radio (“ham”), digital radio-communication protocol (with associated equipment) allowing the simultaneous transmission of voice and data, such as GPS coordinates and call-signs. The satellite was tested in 2014 and 2015 within the ESA’s Education Office Fly Your Satellite! (FYS) project, and it is now fully qualified and ready for launch and operation in space.