# Fox-1B

> American amateur radio satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q52375962](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q52375962)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox-1B)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/fox-1b

## Summary
Fox-1B is an American amateur radio CubeSat that carries a radio transponder for use by the amateur radio community. Launched on 2017-11-18 aboard a Delta II rocket from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2 West, it is also known by the designations AO-91 and RadFxSat.

## Key Facts
- Fox-1B is an amateur radio satellite and a 1U CubeSat (instance_of: amateur radio satellite, CubeSat).  
- Launch date and time: 2017-11-18 at 09:47:36 (COSPAR ID 2017-073E / NSSDCA ID 2017-073E).  
- Launch vehicle: Delta II (vehicle D-378); launch contractor: United Launch Alliance.  
- Launch site: Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2 West; part of the Educational Launch of Nanosatellites (ELaNa) mission number 14.  
- Mass (launch weight): 1 kilogram.  
- Primary on-board use: radio transponder for amateur radio communications.  
- Operators/manufacturer: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation‑North America (operator and manufacturer) and Vanderbilt University (operator).  
- Service entry (commissioned for amateur use): 2017-11-23.  
- Aliases and alternate designations: AO-91, AO91, RadFxSat, AMSAT OSCAR 91, OSCAR 91, Radiation Effects Satellite.  
- Satellite catalog number (SCN): 43017.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Fox-1B?
A: Fox-1B is a United States-built amateur radio CubeSat that carries a radio transponder for amateur radio use. It is a 1U CubeSat launched into low Earth orbit in November 2017.

### Q: When and how was Fox-1B launched?
A: Fox-1B was launched on 2017-11-18 at 09:47:36 from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2 West aboard a Delta II rocket (vehicle D-378) contracted by United Launch Alliance.

### Q: Who operates Fox-1B?
A: Fox-1B is operated by the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation‑North America and Vanderbilt University. The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation is also listed as the satellite manufacturer.

### Q: Under what other names is Fox-1B known?
A: Fox-1B is also known as AO-91 (AO91), RadFxSat, AMSAT OSCAR 91, OSCAR 91, and Radiation Effects Satellite.

### Q: When did Fox-1B enter service for amateur use?
A: Fox-1B was declared commissioned and open for amateur use on 2017-11-23.

## Why It Matters
Fox-1B demonstrates how compact, standardized CubeSat platforms can provide functional communications services for the amateur radio community and support educational missions. As a 1U CubeSat launched under the Educational Launch of Nanosatellites program, it embodies the trend of low-cost, small-satellite missions that expand hands-on opportunities for students, universities, and amateur operators. Its radio transponder gives licensed amateur radio users a space-based relay for contacts and experimentation, while its small mass and CubeSat form factor illustrate how modest hardware can be integrated, launched, and commissioned for operational service. Operated and manufactured by the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation‑North America with involvement from Vanderbilt University, Fox-1B also represents collaboration between amateur organizations and academia. The satellite’s launch on a veteran Delta II vehicle and its formal commissioning for amateur use underscore the viable pathway from educational payload deployment to active service in low Earth orbit.

## Notable For
- Being a 1U CubeSat amateur radio satellite launched into low Earth orbit with a radio transponder for amateur use.  
- Launch on 2017-11-18 aboard a Delta II (D-378) from Vandenberg SLC-2W and subsequent commissioning on 2017-11-23.  
- Multiple widely used amateur designations: AO-91 / RadFxSat / AMSAT OSCAR 91.  
- Operated and manufactured by Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation‑North America, with Vanderbilt University listed as an operator.  
- Very small launch mass (1 kilogram) while providing operational amateur radio services.

## Body
### Overview
- Official short description: American amateur radio satellite.  
- Fox-1B is a CubeSat-class satellite designed to provide an amateur radio transponder in low Earth orbit.  
- It is identified in catalogs with COSPAR ID 2017-073E and SCN 43017.

### Design and specifications
- Satellite class: CubeSat (1U form factor; CubeSats are miniaturized satellites made up of 10 cm-sided cubic modules).  
- Mass (launch weight): 1 kilogram.  
- Primary payload function: radio transponder for amateur radio communications.  
- Audio sample of the transponder beacon: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Fox-1B_Transponder_Mode_Beacon.wav

### Launch and mission
- Launch date and time: 2017-11-18 at 09:47:36 (COSPAR ID 2017-073E).  
- Launch vehicle: Delta II, vehicle D-378.  
- Launch contractor: United Launch Alliance.  
- Launch site: Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2 West.  
- Mission affiliation: part of the Educational Launch of Nanosatellites (ELaNa) program, listed as mission number 14.

### Operators and organization
- Operator(s): Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation‑North America and Vanderbilt University.  
- Manufacturer: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation‑North America.  
- Country of origin: United States.

### Identifiers and aliases
- COSPAR ID / NSSDCA ID: 2017-073E.  
- Satellite catalog number (SCN): 43017.  
- Aliases: AO-91, AO91, RadFxSat, AMSAT OSCAR 91, OSCAR 91, Radiation Effects Satellite.  
- Wikipedia title: Fox-1B; available in at least English and German language entries.

### Significant events
- Rocket launch event: launched from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2 West on 2017-11-18.  
- Service entry: commissioned and declared open for amateur use on 2017-11-23 (per AMSAT).

### Catalog and registry
- COSPAR: 2017-073E.  
- NSSDCA ID: 2017-073E.  
- SCN: 43017.

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/fox-1b.htm)
2. [Source](https://www.amsat.org/ao-91-commissioned-declared-open-for-amateur-use/)
3. Jonathan's Space Report