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{ "url": "https://mailman.amsat.org/hyperkitty/api/list/[email protected]/email/DZZM3MX3AJBUFXYAGRDRFT4BFJM5ESDZ/?format=api", "mailinglist": "https://mailman.amsat.org/hyperkitty/api/list/[email protected]/?format=api", "message_id": "[email protected]", "message_id_hash": "DZZM3MX3AJBUFXYAGRDRFT4BFJM5ESDZ", "thread": "https://mailman.amsat.org/hyperkitty/api/list/[email protected]/thread/PDY36IHBMBSPOE2YXRYJ2K3KVCZI72J7/?format=api", "sender": { "address": "wao (a) vfr.net", "mailman_id": "9057def1436c407fa55c4988db05914a", "emails": "https://mailman.amsat.org/hyperkitty/api/sender/9057def1436c407fa55c4988db05914a/emails/?format=api" }, "sender_name": "Joe Spier", "subject": "[amsat-bb] ANS-265", "date": "2013-09-22T06:41:13Z", "parent": "https://mailman.amsat.org/hyperkitty/api/list/[email protected]/email/GDDK6N4YLOGW7LZ4SZXWJFJA35ADEHNO/?format=api", "children": [ "https://mailman.amsat.org/hyperkitty/api/list/[email protected]/email/K2ZM6FWLY7TBCX6PVGD5XYRL2TND6G6R/?format=api" ], "votes": { "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "status": "neutral" }, "content": "AMSAT NEWS SERVICE\nANS-265\n\nThe AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and infor-\nmation service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite\nCorporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space\nincluding reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur\nRadio operators who share an active interest in designing, building,\nlaunching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio\nsatellites.\n\nThe news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur\nRadio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it.\n\nPlease send any amateur satellite news or reports to:\nans-editor at amsat.org.\n\nIn this edition:\n\n* 2013 AMSAT-NA Board of Directors Election Results Announced\n* Final Call for Papers for the 2013 AMSAT Annual Meeting and Space \nSymposium\n* NASA Internship Opportunities for Spring 2014\n* PSK-31 Transponder Needed for Launch Opportunity\n* Dutch Amateur Radio Satellite User Day – September 28, 2013\n* AMSAT-DL Satellite Symposium October 5\n* AMSAT-SM compares FUNcube Dongle Pro+ and RTL SDR’s\n* Australian ham radio BLUEsat satellite in the press\n* Canadian ConSat-1 CubeSat\n* ISS Ham Video launch campaign\n* Amateur Radio in Space: Radio Amateurs Headed to, Return From ISS\n* ARISS News\n* Satellite Shorts From All Over\n\n\nSB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-265.01\nANS-265 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins\n\nAMSAT News Service Bulletin 265.01\n From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.\nSeptenber 22, 2013\nTo All RADIO AMATEURS\nBID: $ANS-265.01\n\n\n-------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\n\n2013 AMSAT-NA Board of Directors Election Results Announced\n\n\nAs a result of the 2013 Board of Directors Election, Barry Baines, WD4ASW;\nTony Monteiro, AA2TX, Alan Biddle, WA4SCA, and Mark Hammond, N8MH, will \nserve\non the board for two years. The first alternate is JoAnne Maenpaa, \nK9JKM, and\nthe second alternate is Steve Coy, K8UD. The results of the voting with 688\nballots cast are as follows;\n\nBarry Baines, WD4ASW 521\nTony Monteiro, AA2TX 518\nAlan Biddle. WA4SCA 424\nMark Hammond, N8MH 365\n\nJoAnne Maenpaa, K9JK 316\nSteve Coy, K8UD 186\n\nFrank Griffin, K4FEG 158\nBryan Klofas, KF6ZEO 141\n\n[ANS thanks Martha at the AMSAT Office for the above information]\n\n-------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\n\nFinal Call for Papers for the 2013 AMSAT Annual Meeting and Space Symposium\n\n\nThis is the final call for papers for the 2013 AMSAT Annual Meeting and \nSpace\nSymposium to be held on the weekend of November 1 - 3, 2013, at the Marriott\nHobby Airport Hotel, Houston, Texas. Proposals for papers, symposium\npresentations and poster presentations are invited on any topic of \ninterest to\nthe amateur satellite community. We request a tentative title of your\npresentation as soon as possible, with final copy to be submitted by \nOctober 5\nfor inclusion in the printed proceedings. Abstracts and papers should be \nsent\nto Dan Schultz at [email protected]\n\n\n[ANS thanks Dan Schultz, N8FGV, for the above announcement]\n\n-------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\n\nNASA Internship Opportunities for Spring 2014\n\n\nThe NASA One Stop Shopping Initiative, or OSSI, strives to provide\nstudents at all institutions of higher education access to a portfolio\nof internship, fellowship and scholarship opportunities offered by\nNASA mission directorates and centers.\n\nVisit the Office of Education Infrastructure Division LaunchPad to\nfind information on internship, fellowship and scholarship\nopportunities. The site features the OSSI online application for\nrecruiting NASA Interns, Fellows and Scholars, or NIFS. This\ninnovative system allows students to search and apply for all types of\nhigher-education NASA internship, fellowship and scholarship\nopportunities in one location. A single application places the student\nin the applicant pool for consideration by all NASA mentors.\n\nApplications for spring 2014 opportunities are due Oct. 11, 2013.\n\nTo find available opportunities and to fill out an OSSI online\napplication for recruiting NIFS, visit https://intern.nasa.gov.\n\nInquiries about the OSSI should be submitted via\nhttps://intern.nasa.gov/oic/.\n\n[ANS thanks NASA Education Express Message -- Sept. 19, 2013 for the\nabove information]\n\n-------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\n\nPSK-31 Transponder Needed for Launch Opportunity\n\n\nOn the AMSAT Bulletin Board (AMSAT-BB) Bob Bruninga WB4APR writes:\n\nIf someone will build a linear PSK-31 transponder, I have a launch \nopportunity\nin 9 months.\n\nAll it needs to be is a PSK-31 Linear receiver on 28.120 MHz (3 kHz \nbandwidth)\nwith AGC coupled to a downlink UHF FM transmitter of about 1 Watt. \nShould fit\non a 3.5? square card. This is the same as Brno University of Technology has\nbuilt for prior missions of PCSAT2 on the ISS back in 2006 and the two \non the\nshelf awaiting flights.\n\nFlight delivery by May 2014 (9 months from now).\n\nBrno University, may not have the people to make a third one for this new\nflight opportunity.\n\nJust a thought for someone looking for a project.\n\nPSK-31 Transponder Concept\nhttp://www.usna.edu/Users/aero/bruninga/psk31uplink.html\n\n\n[ANS thanks AMSAT-BB, AMSAT-UK, and Bob Bruninga, WB4APR for the above\ninformation]\n\n\n-------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\n\nDutch Amateur Radio Satellite User Day – September 28, 2013\n\n\nOn Saturday, September 28, 2013 the very first Amateur Radio Satellite User\nDay will be held.\n\nLocation:\nThe event will take place at restaurant ”Binnenhof”, in the small town of\nPaasloo, in the North of the Netherlands, a 90 minute drive by car from\nAmsterdam.\n\nJoin us!\nWe invite everyone to come over and join us! For both newbies as well as\nexperienced satellite operators it will be an exciting day with interesting\npresentations as well as exciting activities!\n\nTwo Dutch satellite builders will talk about their latest satellites, that\nboth will be launched in November: FUNcube-1 (Wouter Weggelaar – PA3WEG) and\nDelfi-n3Xt (Jasper Bouwmeester). Both projects will take along with them\nengineering models: a great opportunity to see yourself how small and \nadvanced\nCubesats look like!\n\nFurthermore we have many hands-on sessions planned: take your own radio and\nantenna to Paasloo, we can help you get started or you can compare yours to\nthat of the others!\n\nOf course this is a fantastic opportunity to ‘meet and great’ each other in\nperson. The OSCAR lunch has a lot of time reserved for that as well. The \nentire\nday is free of charge, including coffee and lunch. From those that want \nto stay\nfor the Barbecue at the end of the day we ask a contribution of 17,50 euro.\n\nFor those that cannot come over to the Netherlands: meet us during one \nof the\non-air hands-on sessions (see the program details below).\n\nProgram\n10:00 Arrival\nCoffee and tea, registration\n\n10:30 – 10:45 Hands-on session VO-52\nListen to, and maybe even make a QSO via, the strongest linear transponder\ncurrently in space. We do have a low elevation pass, need to check line-of-\nsight. 2m/70cm SSB transponder, maximum elevation 11 degrees\n\n10:45 – 11:00 Welcome\nOpening of both the “VHF-day” and the “Amateur Radio Satellite User Day”\n\n10:43 – 11:02 Hands-on session HO-68\nListening to the CW downlink signals of this Chinese satellite. Its linear\ntransponder is no longer functional, but its beacon is great fun to \nexperiment\nwith for reception of amateur radio satellites. Examples include testing and\ncomparing different types of antennas. 70 cm CW beacon. Maximum \nelevation: 49\ndegrees\n\n11:04 – 11:24 Hands-on session FO-29\nListening to, and maybe make a QSO via, the linear transponder of this\nsatellite. A very distant satellite for portable equipment, but with a \nlittle\nbit of effort and luck we should be able to hear our own signals back on\ndownlink. 2m/70cm SSB transponder. Maximum elevation: 73 degrees.\n\n11:30 – 11:35 Welcome Amateur Radio Satellite User Day\nOpening of the very first Amateur Radio Satellite User Day in The \nNetherlands.\n\n11:35 – 12:15 FUNcube-1 – A new satellite revealed (Wouter Weggelaar –\nPA3WEG)\nA presentation by one of the builders, about the technology used in \nFUNcube-1,\na project of a series of organizations, including AMSAT-UK. Due to the \ndelayed\nlaunch (now planned for November) FUNcube-1 is not yet in space during the\nevent, but very likely Wouter will bring along the functional \nengineering-model\nof FUNcube-1. A presentation you don’t want to miss!\n\n12:15 – 13:00 Amateur Radio Satellites step-by-step, for newbies and\nexperienced operators! (Ivo Klinkert – PA1IVO and Henk Hamoen – PA3GUO)\nAn introduction into orbits of LEO/HEO-satellites and how to predict their\npasses. We will also talk about which kind of equipment is needed to \ntransmit\nvia amateur radio satellites. So, a talk on TLE, AOS, LOS, TCA, Kepler and\nDoppler, RHCP, LHCP, PCs, Antennes, TRX, SDR and Cubesat CW beacons. \nWhile this\nsession addresses the basics of satellite communications, we invite the more\nexperienced operators to share their experiences during the presentation as\nwell. For example which software they use, which satellites are \nfavorite, which\nantennas and rotators are being used… and: which transceivers are most \npopular.\n\n13:00 – 13:45 Hands-on session FUNcube-1 Engineering model\nMost likely it will be possible to make in Paasloo QSO’s via the transponder\nof the engineering-model of FUNcube-1. A fun exercise or simply a lot of fun\nwith a satellite of which we really control when it is within reach! 2m/70cm\nSSB transponder.\n\n13:00 – 14:00 OSCAR-lunch\nExtended buffet lunch buffet, where the objective is to meet and great your\nfellow radio amateurs that share the same interest amateur radio \nsatellites. At\nthe same time a demonstration of the famous FUNcube Dongle and equipment \nlike\nArrow antennas, LVB-tracker, etc.\n\n13:45 – 14:15 Hands-on session LO-19\nReceiving the downlink signals of the satellite. Even though this satellite\nhas gone through some rough situations up there in space, we can still \nhear a\nvery strong (continues) carrier in the 70cm band. A great opportunity to\nobserve the Doppler-effect and to experience how large this effect is at\ndifferent stages of a pass. Or: compare again the performance of the \ndifferent\nantennas that will be brought by visitors. 70 cm constant carrier. Maximum\nelevation: 59 degrees\n\n14:15 – 15:00 Delfi-n3Xt (Jasper Bouwmeester – Program Manager TU/d)\nAn update on the status of the next Dutch satellite of the University of \nDelft\n(TU/d), which will be launched in November. Also here a lot of interesting\nhardware will be shown, including the engineering model of the S-band\ntransmitter, the positioning system and the VHF/UHF antennas.\n\n15:00 – 15:15 Radio Amateurs and scientific satellites (Henk Hamoen –\nPA3GUO)\nHow radio amateurs can contribute to scientific research in satellite\nprojects. No QSOs therefore, but rather support of science in space.\n\n15:15 – 15:35 A portable, multi-functional satellite station (Ivo \nKlinkert\n– PA1IVO)\nA presentation on a portable satellite station for radio communications \nusing\nlow earth orbit (LEO) satellites, multi-mode, including S-band reception.\n\n15:35 – 15:45 How to apply for an ARISS school contact (Bertus Hüsken –\nPE1KEH)\nHow to apply for a school contact with the International Space Station (ISS)\nvia ARISS.\n\n15:45 – 16:00 AMSAT-NL (Wouter Weggelaar – PA3WEG, Chairman AMSAT-NL)\nHow and why AMSAT-NL was founded.\n\n16:00 – 16:15 Future of the “Amateur Radio Satellite User Day” (Ivo –\nPA1IVO en Henk – PA3GUO)\nEvaluation and gathering of ideas for the event next year.\n\n16:15 Closure\nBBQ for those that upfront signed up.\n\n18:23 – 18:35 Hands-on session VO-52\nFor those that can get enough of it! 2m/70cm SSB transponder. Maximum\nelevation: 30 degrees.\n\nMuch more information (for example regarding registration) is available on\nthis website:\nhttp://ivok.home.xs4all.nl/other/SatDay2013.html\n\nSee you all in Paasloo!\nIvo Klinkert – PA1IVO and Henk Hamoen – PA3GUO\n\n\n[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK, for the above information]\n\n\n-------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\n\nAMSAT-DL Satellite Symposium October 5\n\n\nThe AMSAT-DL satellite symposium and AGM will be held in Bochum, Germany on\nOctober 5, 2013.\n\nThe AMSAT Deutschland Facebook page says “There will be certainly some\nexciting news!”\n\nAMSAT-DL Symposium lecture schedule\n\nSaturday 05.10.2013\n10:15 – 10:30 Welcome\n10:30 – 11:15 Stereo A / B status and Turbo Code introduction, experience\nreport by Mario Lorenz, DL5MLO\n11:15 – 11:45 Coffee break\n11:45 – 12:15 Asteroid Defense by Wolfgang Wittholt, Fernuni Hagen\n12:15 – 12:45 Space Generantion Advisory Council (SGAC) Small Satellite\nProject Group (SSPG) presentation and objectives by Dennis Mattes\n12:45 – 14:00 Lunch break\n14:00 Current and new projects / project progress / etc then an official \npart\nof the AGM with elections.\n\nAMSAT-DL event announcement\nhttps://www.facebook.com/events/397993230305940/permalink/419259888179274/\n\n[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK, for the above information]\n\n\n-------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\n\nAMSAT-SM compares FUNcube Dongle Pro+ and RTL SDR’s\n\n\nAMSAT-SM has published a comparison of the FUNcube Dongle Pro+ and the \nRTL TV\ndongle based software defined radio.\n\nThe FCD Pro+ costs about 10 times the price of the RTL TV Dongle. While the\nFCD Pro+ has a far wider frequency coverage enabling reception of LF, MF \nand HF\nare there any other differences ?\n\nRead the AMSAT-SM comparison in Google English at\nhttp://tinyurl.com/FUNcubeDongle-RTL-Comparison\n\nThe FUNcube Dongle (FCD) Software Defined Radio (SDR) was originally \ndeveloped\nfor educational outreach as part of the ground segment for the FUNcube\nsatellite. A proportion of the sales of the FCD goes to support AMSAT-UK’s\nFUNcube satellite.\n\nYou can join the FCDProPlus Yahoo Group by following these steps:\n• Send a blank email to [email protected]\n• Yahoo will send you an email in response, you may need to check your SPAM\nfolder\n• Click on the link in the email, this will bring up a Yahoo page in your\nbrowser\n• On the Yahoo page ignore the big Join link in the middle and click on the\nlink at the bottom of the page instead, it says: “As an alternate \noption, you\nmay join the mailing list instead.”\n• You should then be a member of the group.\n\nSome of the SDR decoding programs available include:\n• SDR Sharp (SDR#) http://sdrsharp.com/\n• SDR-Radio http://www.sdr-radio.com/\n• HDSDR http://www.hdsdr.de/\n\nFUNcube Dongle Pro+ LF/MF/HF/VHF/UHF Software Defined Radio Video\nhttp://amsat-uk.org/2012/10/03/funcube-dongle-pro-plus-sdr-video/\n\nFUNcube Dongle Pro+ http://www.FUNcubeDongle.com/\n\nRTL TV Dongle SDR http://www.essexham.co.uk/news/realtek-sdr-pc-dongle-for-\nunder-20-pounds.html\n\n\n[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK, for the above information]\n\n\n-------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\n\nAustralian ham radio BLUEsat satellite in the press\n\n\nThe Daily Advertiser newspaper reports the University of New South Wales\n(UNSW) undergraduate amateur radio satellite project has been given the \ntick of\napproval to have a stratospheric balloon test flight in Wagga.\n\nThe Basic Low Earth Orbit UNSW Experimental Satellite, better known as\nBLUEsat, will undergo a test flight in April ahead of its launch into space.\n\nBLUEsat, a 260mm cube weighing around 13 kilograms, will carry a flight\ncomputer with transmissions to include a beacon and amateur packet radio \nusing\nthe AX.25 packet radio protocol in a “mode J” VHF/UHF configuration.\n\nOnce in orbit BLUEsat will be a digital amateur radio satellite, which means\nthat voice and data files can be uploaded to it by any amateur radio \noperator\nin the world over which the satellite passes.\n\nRead the Daily Advertiser article – Satellite project to reach new heights\nhttp://www.dailyadvertiser.com.au/story/1781014/satellite-project-to-reach-new-\nheights/\n\nAustralia’s own BLUEsat ready for launch\nhttp://amsat-uk.org/2013/09/13/australias-bluesat-ready-for-launch/\n\nBLUEsat on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/bluesat.unsw\n\nBasic Low Earth Orbit UNSW Experimental Satellite (BLUEsat) project\nhttp://www.bluesat.unsw.edu.au/\n\n\n[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK, for the above information]\n\n\n-------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\n\nCanadian ConSat-1 CubeSat\n\n\nThe Canadian ConSat-1 3U CubeSat aims to analyze radiation \ncharacteristics in\nthe South-Atlantic Anomaly, and test technology payloads.\n\nCanada is an Associate Member of the European Space Agency (ESA) and \nConSat-1\nis one of the educational CubeSats chosen for Phase 1 of the ‘Fly Your\nSatellite!’ initiative.\n\nThe ‘Fly Your Satellite!’ initiative builds on the success of the ‘CubeSats\nfor the Vega Maiden Flight’ pilot program. This culminated in 2012 with the\nlaunch of seven student-built CubeSats on the first flight of the new \nESA Vega\nlauncher.\n\nThe South-Atlantic Anomaly is a plasma cloud 200 km from the Earth’s \nsurface,\nlocated above the east coast of South America. It appears to be constantly\ngrowing in size and a NASA report speculates that by 2240 it might cover\napproximately half the southern hemisphere.\n\nhttp://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20000085550_2000122978.pdf\n\nConSat-1 plans to look at various aspects of the plasma cloud: its\ntemperature, its atomic and molecular composition, its density, and its \nvolume.\nThe team hope to produce meaningful data which shows the ever-changing\ncharacteristics of this extra-spatial hazard.\n\nESA announce six CubeSats chosen for Phase 1\nhttp://amsat-uk.org/2013/06/26/esa-announce-six-cubesats/\n\nESA ‘Fly Your Satellite’ Initiative\nhttp://www.esa.int/Education/Call_for_Proposals_Fly_Your_Satellite\n\nWiki – South-Atlantic Anomaly\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Atlantic_Anomaly\n\n\n[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK, for the above information]\n\n\n-------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\n\nISS Ham Video launch campaign\n\n\nThe ARISS DATV transmitter, dubbed “Ham Video”, already onboard the\nInternational Space Station, will soon be installed in the Columbus \nmodule and\ncommissioned.\n\nCommissioning will be done in several steps, each during a full pass of the\nISS over the Matera ground station (see Bulletin 2). It is not yet known if\nthese passes will be chosen in close succession, or if they will cover \nseveral\nweeks. ARISS proposes ESA to operate so called “blank” transmissions \nduring the\ncommissioning period. If this is accepted, it means that Ham Video will\ntransmit permanently without camera. The camera will not be used because \nit is\nfed on batteries and servicing it would need prohibitive crew time.\nTransmitting recordings is part of a future project, but not available\npresently.\n\nAlthough ground stations will receive a black image without audio, “blank”\ntransmissions contain all information needed for the setting up and the fine\ntuning of the station. Moreover, collected data will be used for a \nperformance\nstudy of the ARISS L/S-band antennas as well as for an evaluation of the \nglobal\nsystem.\n\nFor this launch campaign, ARISS addresses a call for collaboration to the\namateur radio community, especially to the operators interested in space\ncommunications. Several satellite operators have shown interest.\n\nHam Video technical characteristics are available at www.ariss-eu.org .\nSuggestions and useful addresses for the setting up of a Ham Video ground\nstation are also provided.\n\nAmong the components of a satellite ground station, the antenna system \nis the\nmost expensive. High gain antennas are needed, moved by azimuth and \nelevation\nmotors and driven by an appropriate computer program. For Ham Video \nreception,\na 1.2m dish with precision tracking is recommended. A station compliant with\nthe recommendations provided in the aforementioned reference text should be\ncapable of 3 to 4 minutes of DATV reception during a pass of the ISS. AO-40\noperators who still have an S-band dish can now use it for Ham Video.\n\nOn the other hand, interesting data can be gathered by stations with a much\nsimpler setup. A dish with a self made helix feed could be used without \nmotors.\nThis antenna could be positioned in a fixed direction, determined before \na pass\nof the ISS, pointing to the position of the ISS at closest approach, which\ncorresponds to the maximum elevation of the space station during the \npass. With\nthe setup as described hereunder, 1 to 2 minutes of solid reception of \nthe Ham\nVideo signal should be possible.\n\nCall for participation to the Ham Video launch campaign\n\nARISS addresses a call to amateur radio experimenters who would like to\nparticipate to the Ham Video launch campaign.\n\nData gathering during the initial “blank” transmissions is important and the\nhelp of volunteering operators will be most appreciated.\nMore details to follow.\n\nIt is to be noted that builders of the hereunder proposed “Simple Station”\ncould later update their equipment and add tracking motors. Chained stations\nwill be needed for ARISS Ham TV school contacts. Video and audio from \nthe ISS\nwill be web streamed to the schools over the Internet.\n\nWe will keep you informed of these developments. For the time being, as a\nstarter, let us concentrate on receiving “blank” transmissions.\n\nAll Ham TV Bulletins are available at www.ariss-eu.org\n\n\n[ANS thanks Gaston Bertels, ON4WF, and AMSAT-UK, for the above information]\n\n\n-------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\n\nAmateur Radio in Space: Radio Amateurs Headed to, Return From ISS\n\n\nNASA astronaut Mike Hopkins, KF5LJG, and Russian cosmonauts Oleg Kotov and\nSergey Ryzanskiy are scheduled to launch aboard a Soyuz spacecraft \nSeptember 25\nto join their Expedition 37 crewmates aboard the International Space \nStation.\nHopkins will be the first member of the 2009 NASA astronaut class to fly \ninto\nspace. While he's aboard the ISS, Hopkins will install the Amateur Radio \non the\nInternational Space Station (ARISS) Ham Video gear, although that is \nconsidered\na low-priority assignment.\n\nHopkins will join Expedition 37 Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin, RN3FI, and \nFlight\nEngineers Karen Nyberg, and Luca Parmitano, KF5KDP. Yurchikhin, Nyberg, and\nParmitano arrived in May and will return to Earth in November.\n\nMeanwhile, US Astronaut Chris Cassidy, KF5KDR, and Russian Cosmonaut and\nExpedition 36 Commander Pavel Vinogradov, RV3BS, came safely back to \nEarth from\nthe ISS September 11 aboard a Soyuz capsule. Cosmonaut and Flight Engineer\nAlexander Misurkin rounded out the trio that landed in Kazakhstan after 166\ndays in space.\n\nA day earlier, Vinogradov handed over command of the ISS to another radio\namateur, Cosmonaut and Flight Engineer Fyodor Yurchikhin, RN3FI, in a\ntraditional change-of-command ceremony in the Zvezda service module.\n\n\n[ANS thanks the September 19, 2013 ARRL Letter for the above link]\n\n\n-------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\n\nARISS News\n\nAn International Space Station school contact has been planned with\nparticipants at Sarnelli De Donato Middle School, Polignano a Mare, \nBari, Italy\non 21 Sept. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 10:03 UTC. The\nduration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The \ncontact\nwill be a telebridge between NA1SS and W6SRJ. The contact should be audible\nover the west coast and adjacent areas of the U.S. Interested parties are\ninvited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected \nto be\nconducted in Italian.\n\n\"Sarnelli De Donato\" School is a middle school. It serves the educational\nneeds of the town because it is the only middle school in town. It \ncaters for\nboys and girls, aged 11-14. Located in one of the region's tourist \nareas, it is\nin the suburbs of the pleasant town of Polignano a Mare, in the \nsouth-east of\nthe APULIA region, south-east of Italy. In its Curriculum the school \nfocus on:\nSpace Communication, Media Communication, the Environment, Science \nactivities\nin lab. The school has a gym, an auditorium, a music room, two computer \nrooms,\na new scientific laboratory, a video room, 22 classrooms. At present \nthere are\n526 students on roll and they attend the regular class daily, from 8.00 \nam to\n1.00 pm.\n\nParticipants will ask as many of the following questions (translated) as \ntime\nallows:\n\n1. What sensation do you standing there in the void thinking that \neverything\n\n around is infinite?\n\n2. How do they appear from the space station celestial bodies: sun, \nplanets,\n\n moon, stars?\n\n3. The astronauts on the Space Station as they do not understand if it is\n\n night or day on Earth?\n\n4. A drop of water that is lost in the air is dangerous for the electronic\n\n equipment on board?\n\n5. What are the immediate benefits for humanity arising from the \nresults of\n\n the experiments of your space missions?\n\n6. The Risk factor aboard the Space Station can change by virtue of the\n\n activities that you carry?\n\n7. In a simple way how can be explained the force that keeps the ISS in\n\n orbit?\n\n8. The infinity of space that surrounds you bring you closer to the \nimage of\n\n a \"Creator God\"?\n\n9. The extraordinary figure of astrophysics Margherita Hack has influenced\n\n your training program as an astronaut?\n\n10. How do you live the danger that a meteorite will collide with the\n\n International Space Station?\n\n11. Assuming the distant future of man in space, the absence of gravity \nwill\n\n evolve as the appearance of man?\n\n12. What factors determine the residence time of 6 months on the Space\n\n Station?\n\n13. Assuming that the trajectory of a meteor crosses the Earth's orbit, \nwhat\n\n contribution can the Space Station for safety on Earth?\n\n14. From space failed to observe atmospheric phenomena and to provide those\n\n disasters such as tornadoes or tsunamis?\n\n15. If the man in the distant future \"inhabit\" the space as it will change\n\n your perception of spatial and temporal distances?\n\n16. This mission how is for you example of an expression of brotherhood and\n\n cooperation among people of different countries?\n\n17. An 'possible for you direct contact with the family over the internet?\n\n18. How much you exercise in Star City before you leave?\n\n19. What specific astronomical events you witnessed during your stay on the\n\n ISS?\n\n20. Will it be possible in the future for a person who is not an astronaut\n\n traveling to visit and remain on the ISS?\n\nPLEASE CHECK THE FOLLOWING FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ARISS UPDATES:\n\n Sign up for the SAREX maillist at\n\n http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/sarex\n\n\n Visit ARISS on Facebook. We can be found at Amateur Radio on the\n\n International Space Station (ARISS).\n\n To receive our Twitter updates, follow @ARISS_status\n\n\n Next planned event(s):\n\n 1. Scuola Media Statale \"Salvo D'Acquisto\", Cesano Maderno, Italy,\n\n telebridge via VK5ZAI, Tue, 24Sept2013, 10:18 UTC\n\n Watch for possible last minute cancellation.\n\n 2. College de la Combraille, La Mouniaude Chatelguyon, France,\n\n telebridge via VK5ZAI, Sat, 28Sept2013, 08:39 UTC\n\nARISS is an international educational outreach program partnering the\nparticipating space agencies, NASA, Russian Space Agency, ESA, CNES, \nJAXA, and\nCSA, with the AMSAT and IARU organizations from participating countries.\n\nARISS offers an opportunity for students to experience the excitement of\nAmateur Radio by talking directly with crewmembers on-board the \nInternational\nSpace Station. Teachers, parents and communities see, first hand, how \nAmateur\nRadio and crewmembers on ISS can energize youngsters' interest in science,\ntechnology, and learning. Further information on the ARISS program is \navailable\non the website http://www.ariss.org/ (graciously hosted by the Radio \nAmateurs\nof Canada).\n\n\n[ANS thanks David, AA4KN for the above information]\n\n\n-------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\n\nSatellite Shorts From All Over\n\n\nNASA/AMSAT Mentors Still Making News\n\nPat Kilroy N8PK, the group’s mentor, is an AMSAT area coordinator for\nMaryland/Washington DC. See:\n\nhttp://www.southgatearc.org/news/september2013/nasa_interns_start_work_on\n_future_cubesat_mission.htm#.UjmW6X9Osw8\n\nOr\n\nhttp://phys.org/news/2013-09-nasa-interns-future-cubesat-mission.html\n\n[ANS thanks Southgate ARC, for the above information]\n\n\nSpace Weather's Effects on Satellites\n\nMIT Study of interest to the satellite community:\nhttp://web.mit.edu/press/2013/space-weather-effects-on-satellites.html\n\n[ANS thanks Les Rayburn, N1LF, and Spacedaily.com for the above information]\n\n\n-------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\n\n\n\n\n/EX\n\n\nIn addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the\nPresident's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining\ndonors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive addi-\ntional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT\nOffice.\n\nPrimary and secondary school students are eligible for membership\nat one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students\nenrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the stu-\ndent rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status.\nContact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership\ninformation.\n\n73,\nThis week's ANS Editor,\nJoe Spier, K6WAO\nk6wao at amsat dot org\n", "attachments": [] }