November 2012 - AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

Five CubeSats altitude
by Masahiro Arai 12 Nov '12

12 Nov '12

I'm ploting altitude of five CubeSats which were deployed from ISS. The results is interesting. First deployment satellites are lower altitude than laters. I guess this is related to initial velocity at deployment. First Deployment deployment order: #1 WE WISH, #2 RAIKO altitude: WE WISH < RAIKO Second Deployment deployment order: #1 TechEdSat, #2 F1, #3 FITSAT-1 altitude: TechEdSat < F1 < FITSAT-1 I'm also ploating ARISSat-1 on the same chart as its time line align to the five CubeSats deployment date. The chart shows five CubeSats have large decay rate than ARISSat-1. You can see the chart on the following URL. http://www.ne.jp/asahi/m-arai/gkz/5CubeSats_Altitude.png 73 Masa JN1GKZ Tokyo Japna

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IRC & Stamps
by Tom Lubbers K8TL 11 Nov '12

11 Nov '12

I gave up on IRC's over a decade ago. The last batch I purchased via mail from the local post office. They always had a fit when I went to the counter, I held up the line while they stamped them. The last batch were stamped on the wrong side, when I took them back they, at first refused to refund my money or replace them, the clerk said once stamped on that side they were worth only one domestic airmail stamp. Got really bent out of shape when they told me some I had were out of date, they were carefully marked "No Expiration" Used to buy at least one sheet of each commerative as it was released (starting in the late 50's). By the 80's they were releasing commeratives at a rate that made the European micro states look like pikers. Not long ago I decided to sell off a lot of them. Most of the offers were less than face value. So I have been using them for postage (now that sure doesn't help the post office out of its current problems). In The late 1990's I stopped at Bill Plumb's booth at the Dayton Hamvention and purchased two of his stamps in an attempt to get two outstanding cards. Got both cards in a few weeks and have been using his stamps ever since, in most cases the country stamp was cheaper than an IRC. Returns are over 90% Tom K8TL

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ANS-316 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Lee McLamb 10 Nov '12

10 Nov '12

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-316 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: * Satellite/VHF DX Events * FITSAT-1 5.84 GHZ Downlink Received in USA * Japan Schedules Launch of New Low Cost Epsilon Rocket * FUNcube-1 CubeSat time-lapse video * ARISS Status - 5 November 2012 SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-316.01 ANS-316 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 316.01 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. November 11, 2012 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-316.01 Satellite/VHF DX Events * Yuri, UT1FG/MM, reports having a very rare (Grid FK69ow -> GG24PL) 5217km 144.300 MHz contact with Alberto, ZP9SC, on November 2nd, at 2359z . Yuri monitors 50.110 and 144.300 MHz and is currently in the Atlantic (GL05) headed for the English Channel. When not on 6 and 2 meters, he is working the FM and SSB satellites with his Elk and "CJU" antennas, and an IC706 from rare wet grids. * Larry, VY0HL, in FP53 is back on the satellites. He favors VO-52 and is in the rare Canadian Territory of Nunavut. * Daniel, AL7RS, in AP65 and in Teller, Alaska (on the Bearing Sea), likes CW on FO-29. E-mail him for a schedule. [ANS thanks the Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- FITSAT-1 5.84 GHZ Downlink Received in USA The FITSAT-1 CubeSat, developed by students at the Fukuoka Institute of Technology (FIT) in Japan has a CW beacon on 437.250 MHz and a data link on 437.445 MHz. There is also a 5.8 GHz data downlink and an optical LED experiment that will flash Morse code planned to be visible with the unaided eye. FITSAT-1, also named NIWAKA was one of five cubesats launched on July 21 and loaded aboard the ISS. These were integrated with the J-SSOD small satellite deployer on the the Japanese Experiment Mod- ule, also known as Kibo. They were deployed with the Kibo robotic arm on October 4. Shortly after deployment into orbit FITSAT-1 was heard with strong signals on its 437 MHz downlinks. FITSAT CW transmits, "HI DE NIWAKA JAPAN" with its telemetry data. Mike Sequin, N1JEZ in Vermont reported success in copying the 5.8 GHz downlink from NIWAKA. Mike wrote, "Success! I was able to detect NI- WAKA. It was lower in frequency that I expected, but with the Funcube [Dongle], it was easy to spot. The Doppler was huge! and I was moving the dish almost continuous to try and keep up. The 5.84 GHz transmit- ter seemed to come on very close to the set time. First detection was at 12:24:21 UTC." Mike posted two screen shots. In the first shot, you can see the sig- nal on the left side Doppler shifting down. In the second, a close up of one data burst with Doppler - about 3 seconds or so: + http://tinyurl.com/N1JEZ-Screen1 + http://tinyurl.com/N1JEZ-Screen2 Mike's station used a 5.760 DEMI Transverter with a 144 MHz IF. That Is why the HDSDR screen for the FUNcube Dongle is tuned to 224 MHz. His antenna is a 2 foot dish is with a Directive Systems 5.76 G feed. You can receive a FITSAT-1 QSL card by sending your signal report and your postal address to: fitsat1 at hotmail.co.jp and also cc: to tanaka at fit.ac.jp. A photo of the QSL card is shown at: http://www.fit.ac.jp/~tanaka/fitsat.shtml (This web page will also be updated with information about the status of the LED experiment." HB9FFH has made a telemetry decoder for FITSAT-1, available at: http://carpcomm.com/satellite/fitsat1 FITSAT students have also developed a similar program for windows: http://turing.cs.fit.ac.jp/~fitsat/CWFM/FITSAT_CW_Analyzer1.zip Here is a reminder of the FITSAT-1/NIWAKA frequencies: CW Beacon 437.250 MHz, FM Data 437.445 MHz, High speed data 5840.00 MHz [ANS thanks Mike Seguin, N1JEZ and Takushi Tanaka, JA6AVG for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Japan Schedules Launch of New Low Cost Epsilon Rocket Japan is scheduled to launch its first Epsilon solid-fueled rocket next year, deploying a planetary telescope in orbit while demonstrating new low-cost rocket assembly and control techniques, the Japanese space agency announced last week. The Epsilon program is designed to cut in half the cost of Japanese small satellite launches. Japan's M-5 rocket, which launched seven times before retiring in 2006, cost $94 million per flight. Engineers designed the Epsilon rocket with a simplified control system, and the vehicle's own computers will autonomously monitor the status of its systems during a countdown. Only a handful of engineers with laptop computers are required on the launch control team, according to JAXA. The Epsilon is also designed to launch after only seven days of assembly on the launch pad, reducing labor and overhead costs. The Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper reported last week the first launch of an Epsilon rocket is scheduled for August or September of 2013. [ANS thanks SpaceFlightNow.com for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- FUNcube-1 CubeSat time-lapse video A time-lapse video made in the ISIS clean-room showing the integration of the AMSAT-UK amateur radio satellite FUNcube-1 has been released FUNcube-1 is aiming to launch on a DNEPR rocket from Yasny with 17 other satellites carrying amateur radio payloads in the first half of 2013. FUNcube is a complete educational single CubeSat project with the goal of enthusing and educating young people about radio, space, physics and electronics. The target audience consists of primary and secondary school pupils and the satellite will feature a 145 MHz telemetry beacon that will provide a strong signal for the pupils to receive. FUNcube-1 also carries a 435 to 145 MHz linear transponder for SSB/CW communications. It is being designed and built by AMSAT-UK and AMSAT-NL in collaboration with ISIS Innovative Solutions in Space BV. Watch FUNcube flight integration time-lapse (full) http://www.youtube.com/embed/sEMoLOcGOOw?rel=0 Other FUNcube-1 videos can be seen at http://www.uk.amsat.org/?p=11333 [ANS thanks South Gate ARC for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS Status - 5 November 2012 1. Successful ARISS Contacts Held On Tuesday, October 30, South Florida Science Museum (SFSM) in West Palm Beach, Florida welcomed county students to participate in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with Akihiko Hoshide, KE5DNI aboard the ISS. The West Palm Beach Amateur Radio Club, WPBARC, which maintains a ham station within the museum, collaborated with area teachers to provide educational content to students emphasizing NASA, the ISS and amateur radio. The club facilitated the radio connection with the ISS. During the contact, approximately 90 students were present at the radio station site and another 200 were in an adjacent room watching by CCTV. VIPs in attendance included Scott Carpenter - one of the original seven astronauts. The contact was seen by 125,000-187,000 students. The event was broadcast over the air on the Educational Networks channel 23, the PBS station's channel 42.4 (digital), and on 2 local Comcast Cable channels, bringing the estimated live audience to about 250,000 viewers. Others watched the live stream on the internet. Video is available for viewing: https://vodcast.palmbeachschools.org/player/812RZ An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact was held between students from Southern Tier Catholic and Archbishop Walsh Academy in Olean, New York and astronaut Suni Williams, KD5PLB on the Space Station on Tuesday, October 30 using telebridge station IK1SLD in Italy. An audience of over 100 gathered for the event at the Dresser-Rand Challenger Learning Center at St. Bonaventure University located in Allegany, New York, and listened as Williams answered 19 questions during the 11minute pass over northern Italy. The contact was part of a comprehensive education plan covering Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The Olean Times Herald covered the event. See: http://www.oleantimesherald.com/news/article_378e5d5e-235e-11e2-9531- 0019bb2963f4.html Students from Cumberland Elementary School in West Lafayette, Indiana participated in a Q&A session with Kevin Ford, KF5GPP via an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Tuesday, October 30. Over 600 students, parents and teachers listened in as the youths asked their questions. The contact was integrated into a curriculum covering topics on space research, robotics and engineering. WLFI TV 18 and Lafayette Journal Courier provided media coverage. See: http://www.wlfi.com/dpp/news/local/cumberland-elementary-calling-the- international-space-station and http://www.jconline.com/article/20121030/NEWS0401/310300030/West-Lafayette- school-to-space-station-Do-you-copy-?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE An ARISS contact was held between Primarschule Aesch students in Forch, Switzerland and on-orbit astronaut Sunita Williams, KD5PLB on Friday, November 2. The children had 21 questions answered before the ISS went over the horizon. Around 40 people attended the event which received extensive media coverage including 3 newspapers, one country-wide radio station and one television station. The contact complemented a science curriculum covering astronomy and spaceflight. 2. Public Relations Award Received for ARISS Contact The ARISS contact held with Flabob Airport Preparatory Academy on April 19, 2012 earned Karen and Clint Bradford an award for an annual competition held by the Public Relations Society of America. For the full story, see: http://ariss.rac.ca/oindex. htm#Special_event_with_astronaut_wins_public_relations_award [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 addi- tional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office. Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the stu- dent rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership information. 73, This week's ANS Editor, Lee McLamb, KU4OS ku4os at amsat dot org

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AMSAT-UK Website
by Trevor . 10 Nov '12

10 Nov '12

The AMSAT-UK website may be down for maintenance this weekend. 73 Trevor M5AKA

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ISS Slow Scan TV on 145.800 MHz
by Trevor . 09 Nov '12

09 Nov '12

An SSTV image received today from the ISS on 145.800 along with a short video can be seen at http://www.essexham.co.uk/news/images-from-the-iss-nov-2012.html 73 Trevor M5AKA ----

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Re: IRC's to be discontinued
by Joe Leikhim 09 Nov '12

09 Nov '12

The last time I bought some IRC's I was surprised to find later that they had an expiration date. So I lost money on them. I would NOT be stocking up on these unless you really expect to use them up. -- Joe Leikhim Leikhim and Associates Communications Consultants Oviedo, Florida JLeikhim(a)Leikhim.com 407-982-0446 WWW.LEIKHIM.COM

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BBC News - US Army SMDC 3D Printer
by Trevor . 09 Nov '12

09 Nov '12

Saw this story about the US Army's Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC) in Alabama who've built a 3D printer. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20269645 I wondered if anyone had any up-to-date news on PrintSat that students at Montana Sate University were planing to make with a 3D printer ? The BBC also report on the Interplanetary Internet (Disruption-Tolerant Networking protocol) trials that took place on the ISS, see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20270833 73 Trevor M5AKA ----

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Video of ISS contact with Italian schools November 9
by Trevor . 09 Nov '12

09 Nov '12

See http://www.uk.amsat.org/?p=11416 73 Trevor M5AKA AMSAT-UK http://www.amsat-uk.org/ ----

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IRC's to be discontinued
by John Papay 08 Nov '12

08 Nov '12

The ARRL Letter dated November 8th has an item about the USPS proposing to discontinue the sale of IRC's here in the United States. If you are sending for a QSL card to many countries, the alternative compensation, American dollar bills, are likely to be stolen by a postal worker. Your card never makes it and you don't get one back. IRC's can only be exchanged for stamps so the likelihood of them being stolen is lessened. IRC's are available at usps.com so there is no need to have them stocked or ordered at a local post office. It costs literally nothing to have them in the online store. If the sale of IRC's is discontinued here in the US, you will have to buy them from another country. IRC's must be exchanged for postage by Universal Postal Union member countries but there is no requirement that they be sold in member countries. There is a link in the ARRL Letter that goes to a site where you can file comments regarding the proposal. The URL is http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=USPS-2012-0101-0001 I did that and made the case for retaining them in the usps.com store only. Please consider doing the same so we don't have to buy them overseas. 73, John K8YSE

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Re: IRC's to be discontinued
by Rick Tejera 08 Nov '12

08 Nov '12

It took working my up from desk clerk to supervisor to manager before I got someone at the Scottsdale Airpark PO who even knew what they were. ThenI was told they don't carry them anymore. I get mine online. That being said, I think I've gotten one QSL back from a card sent with an IRC. Much better return with Greenstamps. I fold them an put them in the return envelope with the card and a blank piece of card stock. I also make sure no call sign or anything else that looks "Hammy" does not appear on the envelope. That reminds me, gotta get few cards out... 73 Rick Tejera K7TEJ Saguaro Astronomy Club www.saguaroastro.org Thunderbird Amatuer Radio Club www.w7tbc.org Jim Bennett <jlb3nn(a)bellsouth.net> wrote: >John, >Thanks for the heads up on this. When I started sending off QSLs I wasn't >able to get them at my local PO. So I asked them to get them in. They did, >but when I needed them again, they didn't have them and I was told that they >would not stock them anymore. So, I went to the PO next to the airport. An >International Airport. And I was able to get them then. Then I ran out and >went back and was told that they were not going to stock them and didn't >know where I could get them. I did find them on line. And it was a real >plus being able to get them online. > >It appears that the US PO is trying to phase them out. > >I will follow and post a comment on the site you mention. > >Thanks for your dedication to the sats and ham radio. > >Jim, Ke4kol > >-----Original Message----- >From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] On >Behalf Of John Papay >Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2012 2:46 PM >To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >Subject: [amsat-bb] IRC's to be discontinued > >The ARRL Letter dated November 8th has an item >about the USPS proposing to discontinue the sale >of IRC's here in the United States. If you are >sending for a QSL card to many countries, the alternative >compensation, American dollar bills, are likely to be stolen by >a postal worker. Your card never makes it and you don't >get one back. IRC's can only be exchanged for stamps so the >likelihood of them being stolen is lessened. > >IRC's are available at usps.com so there is no need to have >them stocked or ordered at a local post office. It costs >literally nothing to have them in the online store. If the >sale of IRC's is discontinued here in the US, you will have to >buy them from another country. IRC's must be exchanged for >postage by Universal Postal Union member countries but there >is no requirement that they be sold in member countries. > >There is a link in the ARRL Letter that goes to a site where you >can file comments regarding the proposal. The URL is >http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=USPS-2012-0101-0001 > >I did that and made the case for retaining them in the usps.com >store only. Please consider doing the same so we don't have to >buy them overseas. > >73, >John K8YSE > >_______________________________________________ >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 > >_______________________________________________ >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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