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

NASA tiny sats
by Robert McGwier 24 Aug '12

24 Aug '12

NASA Preparing Mini-Satellites To Send Into Space Powered By The Nexus One and Nexus S posted on Aug 24th 2012 at 4:54am by Chris Chavez The boys at NASA have been making headlines after hitting the sand dunes of Mars with their mini go-cart, Curiousity, and it looks like they have a few more surprises in store. A team from NASA’s Ames Research Center has been hard at work developing miniature satellites — called a “PhoneSat” — powered by, none other, than the OG Nexus One and Nexus S. NASA has spent the last few years putting these PhoneSats and the devices inside through the paces, testing them in a variety of situations, destroying a few prototypes in the process. Currently, the team has 2 nanosatellite prototypes that will be sent up into space at different times. To see if something like this is even possible, the first will consist of a Nexus One, external batteries, external radio beacon, all inside a comfy 10x10x10cm shell. If the PhoneSat 1.0 is a success, the team will send up the PhoneSat 2.0 with the more powerful Nexus S inside and featuring a 2-way S-band radio, solar panels, and GPS receiver. At $3,500 to build, NASA’s goal is to launch the “lowest-cost satellites ever flown into space,” and plans to send ‘em on up later this year aboard the Orbital Sciences Corporation’s Antares rocket. With plans to send future PhoneSats to the moon, it shouldn’t be long before we see the Galaxy Nexus making an orbital space trip for itself, finally at home amongst the galaxies. http://phandroid.com/2012/08/24/nasa-preparing-mini-satellites-to-send-into… -- Bob McGwier Technical Director, Allied Communication, LLC Facebook: N4HYBob ARS: N4HY

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Exclusive New Product Launch at AMSAT-UK Colloquium
by Trevor . 24 Aug '12

24 Aug '12

AMSAT-UK are delighted to announce that Howard Long, G6LVB, will be present at the Colloquium this year and will be launching a new "FUNcube Dongle PRO-PLUS" during his presentation. Full technical details have been embargoed until his talk and we are not permitted to steal his thunder by releasing further details of this new product in advance. Attendees at the Colloquium will therefore be the first to learn about Howard's latest development which will further advance the applications for SDR devices. The Colloquium is a truly international event and will include: Exclusive access to inspect the new SSTL clean room and integration facilities at the recently opened Kepler Building. If you have visited their previous facilities at the university campus, during previous Colloquia, you will be amazed by what is happening now. Presentations by experts from AMSAT-SA, AMSAT-NA and AMSAT-DL on their current spacecraft projects. CubeSat presentations on UKube-1, STRaND-1, STRaND-2 and, of course the FUNcube-1 project. We will be including an exclusive roundup of a number of new live and potential spacecraft projects that are under investigation and/or development. Additionally a number of presentations are planned covering new communications techniques and similar futuristic topics. Plus all the usual networking opportunities, the gala dinner and auction/raffle, plus the opportunity to operate the sophisticated groundstation in the GB4FUN mobile demonstration module. The Colloquium takes place at the Holiday Inn, Guildford, GU2 7XZ, England, September 15-16. Rooms and Saturday’s Gala Dinner must be booked in advance at http://tinyurl.com/Colloquium-2012-Booking Further information http://www.uk.amsat.org/colloquium/twelve 73 Trevor M5AKA AMSAT-UK ----

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SPROUT SSTV Nanosat Jan 2013
by Trevor . 24 Aug '12

24 Aug '12

SPROUT, a 20 x 20 x 22 cm amateur radio SSTV nano-satellite with a mass of 6.7 kg, plans to launch with the L-band (1236.5 MHz/1257.5 MHz/1278.5 MHz) Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite ALOS-2 in January, 2013. See http://www.uk.amsat.org/?p=9837 73 Trevor M5AKA AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium takes place Guildford Sept. 15-16 http://www.uk.amsat.org/colloquium/twelve ----

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Ts2000 with external preamps
by Lawn, Richard 24 Aug '12

24 Aug '12

Can anyone recommend to me how they remove dc from the coax before rf hits my preamps and fry's them.? I see a box on eBay that a guy is selling but it seems to be a device that uses relays and is designed to key external rf amps using the din connector on the ts2000. I'm not certain however this will work for my needs. Rick W2jaz Sent from my iPad http://RickLawn.com

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SpaceX Cleared For Cargo Flights To ISS
by B J 24 Aug '12

24 Aug '12

http://spacecoalition.com/blog/international-space-station-space-shuttle-na… 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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Possible Operation From CO96
by B J 24 Aug '12

24 Aug '12

I'll be travelling to CO96 in NE British Columbia in about 2 weeks time and I plan on taking my FT-817 and Arrow Yagi with me. If I can, I'll try to get onto AO-27 and SO-50. I don't have any details right now about exactly when I'll arrive or how long I'll be there. I might know more in the next 2 or 3 days. 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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Pictures Of Sfera Deployment
by B J 23 Aug '12

23 Aug '12

http://www.onorbit.com/node/4890 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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YW5B La Blanquilla Island DXpedition on Satellites
by JoAnne Maenpaa 23 Aug '12

23 Aug '12

Hello Everyone, Here is some news that arrived at the ANS "newsdesk" which would be too late if we waited for the next weekend news cycle: + Members of the Grupo DX Caracas announced their YW5B DXpedition to La Blanquilla Island (SA-037) between August 21-27. Activity will be on 160-2 meters using CW, SSB, FM, Satellites and the Digital modes. QSL Manager is DM4TI with instructions on his QRZ.com page. (Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 1075) -- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM k9jkm(a)amsat.org Editor, AMSAT News Service Associate Editor, AMSAT Journal

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HamsatDroid - Choices
by David Johnson 23 Aug '12

23 Aug '12

Hi, To keep all the HSD users in the loop.... I'm looking at what the basic / paid release should be so that we can get the better navigation / API functions. The problem occurs when it comes to phone v tablet For phone, Android v2.3.3 is recommended For tablet, Android v4.0.3 (or v4.1) to get the richness especially with the release of the Nexus 7. I'm tempted by the 4.0.3 for the paid version and upgrade from 1.5 to 2.3.3 for the base version. What do you think? replies here or hamsatdroid(a)g4dpz.me.uk 73 - Dave, G4DPZ

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The AMSAT-UK SPACE Colloquium - 14 - 16 Sep 2012
by Jim List 23 Aug '12

23 Aug '12

Hi Folks, There are still rooms available at the hotel at which the AMSAT-UK Colloquium will be held on 14, 15 and 16 Sep. TO BE SURE OF A ROOM AT THE HOTEL YOU SHOULD BOOK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO AVOID DISSAPPOINTMENT! The location of the Colloquium is at the Holiday Inn, Guildford, Surry, UK. New this year will be guided tours of the new SSTL satellite construction facility, the Kepler Building, including a view of the clean rooms. This facility has been open less than a year, and is hugely impressive! Numbers on the tours are limited and strictly first come first served basis. Detailed timings to follow. Further details are at http://www.uk.amsat.org/9565#more-9565 and at http://www.uk.amsat.org/colloquium/twelve and you can book online using PayPal or Credit Card at http://shop.amsat.org.uk/shop/catalog/browse Any difficulties or questions to g3wgm at amsat.org 73 Jim G3WGM Hon Sec AMSAT-UK

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