December 2011 - AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

MP3 of Professor Colin Pillinger Beagle 2 BBC Interview
by Trevor . 27 Dec '11

27 Dec '11

Speaking to the BBC about the UK Mars exploration mission Beagle 2 Professor Colin Pillinger said that one of the biggest lessons learnt was not having had a radio beacon active during the decent phase and therefore not knowing what finally happened. http://www.uk.amsat.org/2011/12/27/bbc-interview-with-professor-colin-pilli… AMSAT-UK: http://www.uk.amsat.org/ ---- 73 Trevor M5AKA

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Testing ANS Formatting Update
by JoAnne Maenpaa 27 Dec '11

27 Dec '11

Hello Everyone, The ANS news bulletins have traditionally been sent out using a packet header format. In the year now approaching 2012 we're no longer sure how many VHF-UHF PBBS systems are re-distributing ANS bulletins via RF-based AX.25. Perhaps the packet header is no longer a requirement for each individual news item. ANS plans to continue to distribute the bulletins in our traditional plain-ascii format so this is not changing. Previous inquiries have indicated a very strong preference for the plain-ascii format. I'm working on an html-mail option with photos, links, etc. to be announced within the next few months. Below my signature line is a prototype, updated, clean-looking plain-ascii ANS format I'm testing. I've preserved the simple e-mail style of plain ascii text, 70 character lines. I preserved packet compatibility by placing a single packet-header (i.e.: SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-361.01) at the top of the news and a single /EX at the end of the entire news. If this still goes out by packet it should still be able to be processed, received, and read. The "news content" is just the recent ANS-359 bulletin. I updated the day number (361) and the date (December 27, 2011) in the packet header to provide a unique ID in case this somehow ends up going out by packet and collides with the previously released ANS-359. Please post comments via amsat-bb on how you think it looks? Is it easier to read, or no difference? Is there anyone who still needs the full packet header on every news item? -- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM k9jkm(a)amsat.org Editor, AMSAT News Service AMSAT NEWS SERVICE (Testing Prototype Version) ANS-361 ANS is a free, weekly, news and information service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor(a)amsat.org In this edition: * Help AMSAT to Fly Fox-1: Solar Panel Campaign Begins * SKN On OSCAR 2012 In Memory Of W1JSM * FO-29 Satellite Recovery in Progress * AMSAT-India Announces Linear Transponder * UK Space Agency Ukube-2 CubeSat Mission Concept Studies * Satellite Shorts From All Over * ARISS Status - 19 December 2011 SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-361.01 ANS-361 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 361.01 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. December 27, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-361.01 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Help AMSAT to Fly Fox-1: Solar Panel Campaign Begins As AMSAT embarks on the Fox-1 Project, here is an opportunity to literally put your callsign on the Fox hardware. AMSAT is looking for major donations to help underwrite the cost of solar cells/ panels, one of the more significant expenses of the project. These solar cells are needed for the flight unit as well as for the a flight spare. As Fox-1 will have solar cells on all six sides of the spacecraft and given the relatively small surface area avail- able on each side (at most 4" by 4" per side), AMSAT will invest in high efficiency solar cells to gain as much power as possible to operate the spacecraft. To protect the installed solar panels prior to launch, a lexan cover for each side will be fabricated and mounted to protect the cells. Prior to placement of the flight spacecraft into the 'P-Pod' that will house the cubesats on the launch vehicle, the lexan covers will be removed. "Friends of Fox" are encouraged to consider several levels of fund- ing support: 1. Donate $1,000 to support purchase of one panel that will cover one side of the spacecraft. 2. Donate $6,500 to support the purchase of six sets of solar panels to cover the entire spacecraft. Donors who contribute at these levels will have their callsign etched on the lexan cover protecting solar panels of the flight unit and the flight spare. Following the launch of Fox-1, donors will receive the lexan solar panel cover with their callsign for 'their' solar panel mounted on a plaque commemorating their contribution to the Fox-1 project and highlighting the purpose of the lexan cover. A letter of authenticity will be provided attesting to the use of the lexan cover to help protect the solar panels. Other potential donor levels are also available: 1. Donate $500 for one solar cell (two cells make up a 'panel' on one side of the spacecraft). 2. Donate $250 for one-half of a solar cell (one-quarter of the solar panel for one side of the spacecraft. Donors contributing at these levels will receive a letter affirming their contribution, including specifying which side of the spacecraft 'their' cells are located. If you're interested in supporting AMSAT's need to purchase solar cells, please return the Fox-1 fundraisingform sent to members. We expect significant interest so make your donation NOW to take full advantage of this donation opportunity. Additional donation opportunities may be found at: + Call Martha at the AMSAT Office +1-888-FB AMSAT (1-888-322-6728) + Paypal donation widget on the main page at: http://www.amsat.org + Paypal donation widget for Project Fox at: http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/fox/ + You can also go to the Paypal site and send your donation to martha(a)amsat.org. + The AMSAT Store: http://www.amsat-na.com/store/categories.php All donations over $40 will receive a Fox pin. Donations of $120 or more qualify you for AMSAT President's Club [ANS thanks AMSAT President Barry Baines, WD4ASW for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- SKN On OSCAR 2012 In Memory Of W1JSM You are cordially invited to participate in Straight Key Night on OSCAR 2012, conducted by AMSAT for all radio amateurs through- out the world. This year's event is dedicated to the memory of Don Brown, W1JSM, who passed away in 2011, aged 90. Don was a longtime, enthusiastic VHF/UHF and satellite operator, and one of our most frequent Best Fist winners. As always, SKN on OSCAR is simple and informal. Just operate CW through one or more satellites on 1 January 2012 (0000 to 2400 UTC), using a straight hand key. There is no need to send in a log, but all participants are encour- aged to nominate someone they worked for Best Fist. Your nominee need not have the best fist of anyone you heard, only of those you worked. Send your nomination to w2rs(a)amsat.org. A list of those nominated will appear in ANS in early February. [ANS thanks Ray Soifer, W2RS for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- FO-29 Satellite Recovery in Progress The FO-29 Command Team reports from Japan that they have recovered the satellite after it had experienced a shutdown due to longer eclipse periods causing an undervoltage condition. Ground station operators have placed FO-29 in a temporary, but stable configuration for further testing and recovery operations. They will test FO-29 while it is over Japan between December 23-25. If no problems occur the Command Team will announce an operating schedule for the satellite for the remainder of 2011 and into the early part of 2012. Please standby for further news and announce- ments. [ANS thanks Mineo Wakita, JE9PEL for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT-India Announces Linear Transponder AMSAT INDIA had a booth at Hamfest India held on December 10-11. An estimated 900 amateur radio operators and SWLs attended the event. A copy of their satellite presentation can be downloaded from: http://amsatindia.org/presentations/HFI-2011/AI-HFI2011.pdf AMSAT-India gave several presentations at the event, among them was one by Ganesan Namachivayam KJ6LRR in which he described a satellite 435/145 MHz linear transponder with a bandwidth of 50 kHz and capable of 1-3 watts PEP output. AMSAT-India plan to develop a smaller linear transponder for Cubesats. Ganesan also described a CubeSat communications system comprising a 435 MHz half-duplex narrow-band FM transceiver supporting a data rate of 1200-9600 bps. The transmitter produces 1 watt output and can also operate as a Morse Code beacon. Other presentations included: - Real Time Tracking by Mani VU2WMY - Working with LEO Sats by Dr. Raveendranath VU2RVJ - Telemetry Decoding by Nitin VU3TYG [ANS thanks Secretary - AMSAT INDIA Nitin, VU3TYG for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- UK Space Agency Ukube-2 CubeSat Mission Concept Studies With the UK Space Agency Ukube-1 program currently in development with a planned launch in the second half of 2012 an invitation for participation in studies for future cubesat missions has been ann- ounced. The concept can address a scientific theme or be of an in-orbit tech- nology demonstration nature (e.g. formation flying), providing a real impact to the UK. All UK based communities (academic, industrial and other) are invited to submit proposals. Applications can be made in- dividually or in partnership with other organisations, however indus- try and academia will be funded under the rules stipulated in the scope of funding presented below. Funding is available up to £35K per proposal; the size of award will depend on the requirements of the proposed project and the applicants' case for support. Proposals should not exceed a grant value of £35K. Funding will be awarded in 2012 and the project cannot exceed 3 months duration. Due to the short nature of these studies and the amount of funding available, we intend funding successful applicants at the on- set of the project. It is anticipated the scheme will fund a minimum of 7 proposals; the facility to fund more will depend on the size of awards and will be assessed on a competitive basis as detailed below. The deadline for submission of proposals is 1st February 2012, 12pm. Further information can be found by following the links posted on the AMSAT-UK web: http://tinyurl.com/7glkm3f (www.uk.amsat.org) [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + The 2012 SA AMSAT Space Symposium will be held at the University of KwaZulu-Natal on 12 May 2012. This is the second call for papers. Authors are invited to submit a brief synopsis of their proposed paper. The deadline is 31 January 2012. Send a synopsis as a word file attachment to saamsat(a)intekom.co.za. The theme of the confer- ence is "50 Years of Amateur Radio Satellites" celebrating the launch of OSCAR 1 on 12 December 1961. SA AMSAT: http://www.amsatsa.org.za/ + YX6, VENEZUELA. Members of the Radio Club of Venezuela plan to be active as YX6AJ from Angel Falls waterfall (the world's tallest - 979m) between January 3-6th, 2012. Operators mentioned are Lino/ YY5FRD, Jesus/YY5CHJ, Marcel/YY5CAR, Wilmer/YY5CWM, Alfredo/YV5SSF, Edwin/YV5HUJ, Jose/YV5JF, William/YV5VE, Angel/YV5NEA and possibly one more. Activity will be on CW, SSB, Digital modes and the Satel- lites. QSL via YV5AJ, by the Bureau or direct. They have posted a promotional video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=57lufNJtftk (Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 1041 for December 19, 2011) + The Polish amateur radio satellite PW-SAT built by students at the Warsaw University of Technology was featured on the Internet TV channel, BRITE TV. PW-SAT carries a single channel transponder that will operate in a similar way to the amateur satellite AO-16. The uplink on 435.020 MHz will be FM and the downlink on 145.900 MHz will use the BPSK telemetry beacon transmitter to produce Double Sideband (DSB) that can be received on an SSB radio. Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=74u7Nqxpkk0 + The Internet Archive and Textfiles has posted every issue of Wayne Green's 73 Magazine ever published, for free. Read 73 online, or download PDF files here: http://www.archive.org/details/73-magazine + A video of the presentation about Amateur Radio Space Communications given by Mario Lorenz DL5MLO to hackers at the Chaos Communication Camp 2011 is now available: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Lh_RvzceJo4 + AMSAT area coordinator Clint Bradford, K6LCS, will be presenting his 'Working Amateur Satellites With Your HT' session at the Gwinnett Amateur Radio Society's TechFest 2012 in Lawrenceville, Georgia on January 14, 2012. ALL are welcome to attend! Event Web site: http://tinyurl.com/GARS-2012 Clint's four-page tutorial and radio programming data can be found at: http://www.work-sat.com + Bobby, KF4GTA posted photos of his trip to KSC with access to both Atlantis and Endeavour. The links to his photo pages are: http://flic.kr/p/aVsWfM and http://flic.kr/s/aHsjxni8cR [ANS thanks everyone for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS Status - 19 December 2011 1. Kobe, Japan Contact Successful On Monday, December 12, an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact was held between the Hirano Branch of Kobe Youth Nurturing Council in Kobe-city, Hyogo-pref, Japan and Astronaut Dan Burbank, KC5ZSX on the ISS. The contact highlighted lessons cover- ing the ISS and the environment. An audience of approximately 50 peo- ple attended the event. Media coverage included two newspapers. 2. New Proposal Cycle for ARISS-US Contacts NASA Teaching From Space (TFS) office recently announced a new pro- posal cycle for ARISS-US contacts. The deadline for submitting pro- posals is January 30, 2012 for contacts to be held in the July 15, 2012 - January 15, 2013 time frame. The next informational session will be held on Wednesday, January 11 at 2100 UTC to answer any ques- tions concerning the proposal process. To attend the session or to have questions answered, contact TFS at JSC-TFS-ARISS(a)mail.nasa.gov or call 281-244-1919. For more information, visit the TFS Web site: http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/teachingfromspace/students/ariss.h tml 3. ARISS-U.S. Proposal Process Makes the News A NASA Express message which included an item on ARISS contact oppor- tunities for U.S. schools using the proposal process was sent on Dec- ember 8. The message may be viewed on the NASA blog: http://blogs.nasa.gov/cm/newui/blog/viewpostlist.jsp?blogname=educationexpre ss The NASA Educators Online Network (NEON) posted a link to its ARISS article, "Holiday Ham for NASA." See: http://nasatalk.com/blog/article/bylines/67-dynae-fullwood/1629-holiday-ham- for-nasa.html The Hartford Hobby Radio Examiner published the story, "Schools can apply for space station radio chats." http://www.examiner.com/hobby-radio-in-hartford/school-applications-welcome- for-space-station-contacts 4. ARISS Status on Social Media This is a reminder that ARISS news is available on Twitter and Face- book. ARISS has over 200 active users on Facebook and over 800 follow- ers on Twitter. See: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amateur-Radio-on-the-International-Space-Stati on-ARISS/153679794647788 and http://twitter.com/#!/ARISS_status [ANS thanks Carol, KB3LKI, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office. 73, This week's ANS Editor, Lee McLamb, KU4OS ku4os at amsat dot org

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PCSAT-1 recovery (not)
by Bob Bruninga 27 Dec '11

27 Dec '11

Almost recovered. Mike got command over Germany (DK3WN) but it did not hold. At 1300z pass over east coast, I got 3 telemetry packets, 5, 6 and 8 minutes into the pass with Latitude between 29N and 39N. The first packet showed +Z (best panel) current was 93 mA. Above that latitude, packets got weaker. One person got a perfect digipeat just about when I was going to try to command at 7 minutes into the pass. So I waited 1 minute and tried to COMMAND at 8 minutes into the pass, but it killed it. No response after the first ACK. TLM did not appear again until 10 minutes into the pass. But +Z current was down to 59 mA. Only decoded that one packet for the rest of the pass. WE MUST GET EVERYONE TO STOP TRYING TO DIGIPEAT. Chances are, that one successful user packet should have been mine for control, it was at the right time, and best sun angle. It used up all the power and so I had to wait another minute, but by then the power had dropped. Bob, WB4APR

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FO-29 Operative Schedule
by Mineo Wakita 27 Dec '11

27 Dec '11

2011 Dec 29 03:58 UTC Dec 31 03:53 UTC 2012 Jan 1 04:43 UTC Jan 3 04:37 UTC Jan 4 05:28 UTC JTA of Sat will turn off soon into eclipse by UVC computer due to the decrease in NiCad battery performance. JE9PEL Mineo Wakita

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Re: K4FEG/p EM46
by Andrew Glasbrenner 26 Dec '11

26 Dec '11

Great job Frank! Thank you for my 2nd to last grid in the EM field on satellite. Kb0RZD, KA2UPW, K5TDN, and W5PFG finished all the others up for me over the last few months. Anyone going to EM33 anytime soon? Lunch is on me if so! :-) 73, Drew KO4MA

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D-STAR in Space Video
by Mark Thompson 26 Dec '11

26 Dec '11

D-STAR in Space Video by Ham Brief http://blip.tv/73s-hambrief-ham-radio-update/73s-org-hambrief-44-2553785

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K4FEG/p EM46
by K4FEG 26 Dec '11

26 Dec '11

Hello, if you worked me and need a QSL for EM46, today on SO50 or AO27, email me the contact info and I will send you a card. NO SASE IS NEEDED AND NO QSL IS NEEDED!!! I am happy to return the favor so many of you have for me in confirming a grid. I was in the parking lot of South East Missouri State University in Kennett, Missouri, today EM46xf. 73's and thank you all who gave me a call! Frank K4FEG/p EM46 now back home in EM55aj!

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KD8KSN/p EN75 Cards Mailed
by Zachary Beougher 26 Dec '11

26 Dec '11

Hi All, The EN75 cards went out this morning. Please email me if any of the QSO info is wrong or if you do not receive it within 2 weeks. 73! Zack KD8KSN

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Re: ARISSat-1 heard
by Craig Gagner 25 Dec '11

25 Dec '11

Christmas Day here and ARISSat-1 loud and clear at 1645 utc in Massachusetts. It was about a 38 degree elevation pass and I got two SSTV pictures and did an audio recording. I don't notice much of a signal difference. Like I said Loud and Clear here !! Merry Christmas !! Craig, W1MSG

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Happy Hollidays and Question about ARISSat-1 Telemetry forwarding
by Raydel Abreu Espinet (CM2ESP) 25 Dec '11

25 Dec '11

Hello everyone, First, I wish to send all of you a Merry Christmas and happy new year. I wish to forward few telemetry frames I recieve here from ARISSat-1, but I cannot send it direct through the Telemetry Software, does any one have a currently working e-mail address where can I send the CSV files?, the initially given address is not working, at least to me my e-mail server reply "Unknown remote host". Also any tips, will be usefull too, should I send it compress in ZIP or just the CSV? Regards, and happy hollidays. Raydel, CM2ESP Havana, EL83

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