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

Kelly to go ahead as shuttle commander
by Clint Bradford 04 Feb '11

04 Feb '11

Washington (CNN) -- Astronaut Mark Kelly will command the upcoming flight of the space shuttle Endeavour, according to a statement released Friday by NASA.

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Arissat-1 lifetime
by Giulio P. AOL 04 Feb '11

04 Feb '11

Hi, i have a question: what is the estimated lifetime of Arissat-1 before re-entering in atmosfere from his first orbit? Thanks & 73 Giulio AB2VY

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VERY close approach of CQ1 today
by PA3GUO 04 Feb '11

04 Feb '11

http://www.portaltotheuniverse.org/blogs/posts/view/95329/ The newly discovered object, officially designated 2011 CQ1, will make a close Earth approach today February 04, 2011 around 19:40UT at ~0.03(LD)/0.00008(AU) or 11855 km.2011 CQ1 has been discovered by R. A. Kowalski few hours ago in the course of the "Catalina Sky Survey" with a 0.68-m Schmidt + CCD. The object was moving at roughly 6 "/min and it was of magnitude ~19. According to its absolute magnitude H=32 this is a very small object, in the order of 4-5 meters.Just few hours after his discovery, we have been able to follow-up this object using remotely a 0.35-m f/3.8 reflector + CCD of "Tzec Maun Observatory" in New Mexico. At the moment of our images (on February 04.46), "2011 CQ1" was moving at 23"/min and its magnitude was ~18.Here you can see our image (stacking of 20 unfiltered exposures, 10 seconds each). Click on the image for a bigger version:While this is an animation showing the object movement in the sky:According to Bill Gray (Findorb developer): "That perigee value is solid to within a few kilometers. So no chance of an impact, but still _very_ close!!"The orbital element published here, are very interesting:2011 CQ1Perigee 2011 Feb 4.818749 TT = ... http://remanzacco.blogspot.com/2011/02/2011-cq1-very-close-approach.html The newly discovered object, officially designated 2011 CQ1, will make a close Earth approach today February 04, 2011 around 19:40UT at ~0.03(LD)/0.00008(AU) or 11855 km. 2011 CQ1 has been discovered by R. A. Kowalski few hours ago in the course of the "Catalina Sky Survey" with a 0.68-m Schmidt + CCD. The object was moving at roughly 6 "/min and it was of magnitude ~19. According to its absolute magnitude H=32 this is a very small object, in the order of 2-3 meters. -- Henk, PA3GUO

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AMSAT @ Orlando Hamcation February 11-13
by Andrew Glasbrenner 04 Feb '11

04 Feb '11

Hi Gang, The Orlando Hamcation is just a week away, and AMSAT will be there in force. We have a forum scheduled Saturday from 1:45 to 3:15, and this year it is INSIDE! I expect ARISSat-1 will be the main topic of discussion. We'll have live satellite demonstrations, ranging from simple handheld/portable operations, to fully automated systems. The ARISSat-1 engineering model will be on display, and on the air. I'll have a FUNcube Dongle Pro on display and in use. I'm also planning on having materials on hand for new members to build their own CJU 435 MHz antenna, for free as incentive to join and support AMSAT. To make this all happen, we need your help. Orlando has become AMSAT's busiest hamfest behind Dayton, and we need current members to assist in the booth. If you can help answer questions and talk up the amateur satellite program, please consider putting in a few hours behind the table. Drop me an email at ko4ma(a)amsat.org, and let me know when you can come by and help out! 73, Drew KO4MA

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FM birds
by jerry 04 Feb '11

04 Feb '11

I gave up a long time ago trying to make a contact on FM . I heard My downlink several times , and maybe got one reply . Can't get a word in edgeways with the regular bunch on there on every pass . Not worth the effort to Me .

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Re: Fwd: Re: Rideshare missions to GTO, $800K for 3U Cubesat
by G0MRF＠aol.com 04 Feb '11

04 Feb '11

Yes. AO-24 was in a low inclination orbit. Probably a transfer orbit inclination of 2 -5 degrees. I recall the transponder output was up near 2450MHz. It was very high and had excellent coverage. I believe it failed because it went into a planned shutdown due to something like eclipse or temp etc. Unfortunately it never switched back on. While it was there it was very good. A bit low in the sky if you lived above or below 60N or 60S but nice and easy to track. Like AO-40 it was always in the southern sky from here. When we talk about 10 million to launch it's worth remembering that the approach that has shrunk usable satellites to 1-3U cubesats can also be applied to MEO or GTO / HEO sats. Arianespace may no longer be flying test flights, but Falcon 9 will go to GTO (and needs to be tested) as will the new Indian launcher. There are new satellites going en-mass to 20,000km too. A ride share with Galileo etc may be just as good. Thanks David In a message dated 04/02/2011 13:08:19 GMT Standard Time, ve9qrp(a)gmail.com writes: ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Bruce Robertson <ve9qrp(a)gmail.com> Date: Fri, Feb 4, 2011 at 8:49 AM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: Rideshare missions to GTO, $800K for 3U Cubesat To: "John B. Stephensen" <kd6ozh(a)comcast.net> On Thu, Feb 3, 2011 at 7:46 PM, John B. Stephensen <kd6ozh(a)comcast.net> wrote: > The interesting question is is how much will AMSAT members be willing to > invest in ground stations. A 3U cubesat could provide a HEO satellite > similar to Arsene (AO-24). > > 73, > > John > KD6OZH That's a great point, John, and an interesting analogy, which I'd not heard about before. Does anyone have recollections and experiences with AO-24 that they could share? 73, Bruce -- http://ve9qrp.blogspot.com -- http://ve9qrp.blogspot.com

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Why not a HEO?
by Mark L. Hammond 04 Feb '11

04 Feb '11

Okay, usually I don't comment on the hot topics on AMSAT-BB. I prefer to comment on the technical questions and issues. Maybe work has me feeling feisty this morning, so here it comes :) Why not a HEO? I can think of about 15 million reasons...that's a reference to money, if you didn't catch it. A good debate can be enjoyable. I'm okay if the outcome is that we disagree as topics are discussed. But regarding another HEO, it's quite simple, as I see it: 1) We all want a HEO. 2) It doesn't look like we're going to be able to afford a HEO. Our best chance is for somebody to hit a $300M lottery and lay out the cash in one big chunk. Or, somebody hits the "launch lottery" such that we get a free ride (probability is about the same these days...) If you don't like the FM bids, vote with your radio's power button. And play the lottery! See? I told you it was simple ;) Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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launch cost
by Bob- W7LRD 04 Feb '11

04 Feb '11

Hello With the cost of a launch bouncing around the bb. You might ask yourself, "how much did I c ontribute to AMSAT in 2010?" Just did my taxes and though not a huge amount it was deductable. I believe, "if you use it, you should help pay for it". This is rocket science and that, ain't cheap! 73 Bob W7LRD Seattle

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Fwd: Re: Rideshare missions to GTO, $800K for 3U Cubesat
by Bruce Robertson 04 Feb '11

04 Feb '11

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Bruce Robertson <ve9qrp(a)gmail.com> Date: Fri, Feb 4, 2011 at 8:49 AM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: Rideshare missions to GTO, $800K for 3U Cubesat To: "John B. Stephensen" <kd6ozh(a)comcast.net> On Thu, Feb 3, 2011 at 7:46 PM, John B. Stephensen <kd6ozh(a)comcast.net> wrote: > The interesting question is is how much will AMSAT members be willing to > invest in ground stations. A 3U cubesat could provide a HEO satellite > similar to Arsene (AO-24). > > 73, > > John > KD6OZH That's a great point, John, and an interesting analogy, which I'd not heard about before. Does anyone have recollections and experiences with AO-24 that they could share? 73, Bruce -- http://ve9qrp.blogspot.com -- http://ve9qrp.blogspot.com

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Iss challenge
by Andrew Rich 04 Feb '11

04 Feb '11

Get someone to leave a special code on the iss bbs and see how many people can retrieve it Sent from my iPhone Andrew Rich

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