April 2010 - AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

Re: Most Hams in Space at one time?
by Thomas McGrane 13 Apr '10

13 Apr '10

Seems typical to me that the federal government would set a precedent in which they encourage licenses in space which I assumed to be free space. Why should anyone require a license off the planet? This reminds me of the FCC selling licenses for frequencies that only exist when used. Pat >------- Original Message ------- >From : James French W8ISS[mailto:[email protected]] >Sent : 4/13/2010 10:45:28 AM >To : amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >Cc : >Subject : RE: [amsat-bb] Most Hams in Space at one time? > >Currently there are 9 licensed American Amateur Radio operators on the ISS currently going by the list that is at the ARISS site on RAC.org. Is this the most hams in space to date or has there been more before this shuttle-ISS mission? James W8ISS _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

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Russian president calls station for Cosmonautics Day
by Fabiano Moser 13 Apr '10

13 Apr '10

9:50 AM, 4/12/10 Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called the International Space Station early Monday to mark the 49th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's historic flight, suggesting an international space summit to discuss ongoing and future cooperative ventures on the high frontier. "Space is our highest priority, regardless of how hard the economic situation is in the country," Medvedev said in translated remarks. "Space will always remain our priority. This is not just somebody's interpretation, it's our official state position. I am here in my presidential office and when addressing you, I can confirm again the significance of space for the government." "We want to thank you again for today's holiday," station commander Oleg Kotov replied. All six Expedition 23 crew members - Kotov, Alexander Skvortsov, Mikhail Kornienko, Tracy Caldwell Dyson, Timothy Creamer and Soichi Noguchi - gathered for the conversation in the U.S. Destiny laboratory module. "On behalf of all of us here on the International Space Station, including our shuttle colleagues, we just want to wish everyone congratulations on this historic day," Caldwell Dyson told the Russian president. "It means as much to us for the event of Yuri's first launch as it does for all of the people involved in making this space program possible. We're all filled with gratitude and appreciation. Congratulations to all of you." Medvedev told the space station crew that in the early years of the space program, "development of cosmonautics was based on ideology and now, this is the area where we should try to assist each other in creating the mechanisms that will yield collective results. And this cooperation, I believe, is extremely important for the future, taking into account that space programs become more and more complicated, more and more costly, and the goals that we set become more and more complicated. "No country can develop space alone, we need to combine our efforts and we need to talk about it more often," he said. "So maybe we could have some sort of international meeting, maybe at the heads of governments level. Because we talk about various issues, such as tackling all kinds of challenges, dangers and hazards that humanity is facing these days, various disarmament programs, etc., but there is a very important and positive factor that unites us all. So maybe it would be good to have a summit, maybe at the heads of governments level, for the countries that are working in space. So see, I have a very good idea on this holiday. What do you think? We could invite you to participate as well." Kotov called the International Space Station "a great example of international cooperation where we have two completely different technical schools, Russian and U.S., and we combine our effort, we found the interfaces not only for machines but also for humans and we've created this wonderful, fully functional station ... and that is something that should be used in the future. "Together, we have created a single organism," Kotov said. "The crew functions as one body even though it consists of representatives from different countries. We have had a European astronaut on board, we have Japanese astronauts on board right now, we have American astronauts, Russian, and we understand each other perfectly, we don't have any conflicts and I hope this will be true also regarding our cooperation everywhere else." "Oleg, those are very good words, it's nice to hear that," Medvedev replied. Then he changed the subject, saying "I think it will be a mistake if I don't ask you some simple questions. How's life?" "Well, it's like one of the most popular questions that we're asked - what do you like best in space?" Kotov said. "And my answer is always two things: weightlessness and the view out of the window. Also, just life in this three dimensional space, where walls and floor and ceiling become all the same. That's very interesting, and it takes changing your mind the way you think about your surroundings." Medvedev asked if the absence of gravity caused any problems for the station crew. "I can tell you honestly in my first flight, I noticed one month into the flight I had this feeling as though I had been living in space and weightlessness my entire life, it became such a natural part of my thinking that I didn't have any problems," Kotov said. "Everything was so natural, so pleasant, so comfortable, you get used to all the minor negative details of being in weightless, you begin to enjoy the positives tremendously. And that's something you don't forget and your body remembers that. It was interesting. After I came back to Earth, I was uncomfortable, actually, experiencing Earth's gravitation. To me, it was strange to see the people not only walking on the surface of the planet, but also running. It seemed very difficult." Medvedev asked about the food on the International Space Station, wondering "are they feeding you well?" "Food in space is different from the ideas people have based on what they knew in the 60s or 70s," Kotov said. "The food becomes more and more similar to what we eat on Earth. We don't have any tubes. We do have cans and the variety is pretty good. Because we're using the resources of all the space agencies, we have a very international cuisine. We have Japanese food, we have American food, European style, no complaints here." -- 73 Fabiano Moser CT7ABD / PY5RX "There is no great talent without great will. (Honoré de Balzac)"

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Extension
by Martha 13 Apr '10

13 Apr '10

We have been given a one week extension by the Country Inn & Suites in Fairborn OH. If you are interested in reserving a room with the AMSAT block for the Dayton Hamvention, you MUST do so by April 20th. Please call me at 301-589-6062. After that date, I cannot get you a room! -- 73- Martha

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Yaesu FT-530
by Clint Bradford 13 Apr '10

13 Apr '10

Please help me remember how the FT-530 is used for "full duplex" FM sat ops. Correct me, and add to this list - THANK YOU! - You must use an earpiece (or a headset) so that the RX audio isn't passed - There is a keystroke sequence to enable either the LEFT side or the RIGHT side to be the EARPHONE - what is it? - Then a press of the PTT "locks in" that audio choice setting, right? I must be gettin' old ... I *used* to remember this stuff. Clint Bradford, K6LCS

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Sat Collision - 2009 Event
by Clint Bradford 12 Apr '10

12 Apr '10

Thank you, Tom, for the AO-51 "collision" warning. What an email message to receive: "Guys, a project that you've spent years on that has opened up the world of amateur radio to thousands might be destroyed by a piece of space junk tomorrow ... " ANYWAY - I found this Celestrak page on last year's sat collision to be fascinating ... http://celestrak.com/events/collision.asp Clint, K6LCS

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AO-51 PL Testing
by Clint Bradford 12 Apr '10

12 Apr '10

I have two AMSAT presentations this week. Should I tell audiences to go ahead and program the 67.0 on the Uplink for AO-51? If this is turned OFF any time soon, will the use of the tone mess anything up? Clint, K6LCS http://www.work-sat.com

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Alinco DJ-596
by Clint Bradford 12 Apr '10

12 Apr '10

If you are familiar with setting this handheld up for "split freqs" for the FM sats, would you please email me off-list? I have an inquiry from a fellow ham and, although I sent him Page 16 of the manual which covers it, he's still having difficulty. And I don't own one to be able to assist any further. Clint, K6LCS clint(a)clintbradford.com

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HO-68 Op Sked
by Clint Bradford 12 Apr '10

12 Apr '10

What is AMSAT-China's rationale for only turning HO-68 "ON" for a couple hours at a time for hams to access? Clint

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W1AW
by Angelo Glorioso 12 Apr '10

12 Apr '10

In the last week or so, some of us have heard W1AW on AO-27 and maybe SO-50 calling CQ. I for one was wondering if it was truly W1AW since the station was not replying to any calls. So, I made a call to HQs and talked with Joe Carcia NJ1Q, station manager of W1AW inquiring if it was truly W1AW from HQ trying to make some contacts. Sure enough, it was Joe himself. He is working out some bugs with the W1AW Satellite station to prepare for the big EME weekend later this week. ( Be on the look out for them ) Joe and myself talked a while and he mentioned that he had forgotten about the imaging signal on the Kenwood TS-2000 on the downlink frequency of both AO-27 and SO-50. So, in short, if you do hear W1AW on the air, rest a sure, it is Joe testing and willing to give out QSOs to all when possible. Joe also did not make any promises but said he would try and show up on AO-51 V/S mode next week after I mentioned to him I lost my QSL Card where I worked him in V/S mode to Hurricane Katrina. See ya on the birds. 73 de Angelo

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Report page up and running again
by OZ1MY 12 Apr '10

12 Apr '10

Hi all, The report page is up and running again. Thanks to KD5QGR, David, for the fast action. Please use it as much as possible. It gives a nice overview of which satellites are working. 73 OZ1MY Ib

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