March 2014 - AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

AO-40 Telemetry Audio Files
by Paul Willmott 10 Mar '14

10 Mar '14

If anyone has some audio recordings of AO-40 telemetry (regular or FEC) (.WAV or .AIFF format), then please could you zip them and send them to me. I need them for some experiments. email: pwillmott(a)northrock.bm Thanks Paul, VP9MU

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Interview With Bob Twiggs, CubeSat Developer
by B J 09 Mar '14

09 Mar '14

http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1403/08cubesats/ 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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GOT GRIDS?
by wa4hfn＠comcast.net 09 Mar '14

09 Mar '14

Congratulations to Glenn AA5PK He has completed the requirements for the GOT GRIDS ? AWARD # 1 WA4HFN Damon em55

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AggieSat4 Dropbox file type
by M5AKA 09 Mar '14

09 Mar '14

I tried downloading the new AggieSat4 .doc files from their Dropbox at https://www.dropbox.com/sh/v8razh1evcabt7a/jrGSjbOJb4 Was unable to read either until I changed the file type from .doc to .pdf Looks like they plan to runa high speed 153.6 kbps downlink in 436/7 MHz with 5 watts output using emission designation 406KF7DBN. SpaceX launch is currently slated for September. 73 Trevor M5AKA

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AMSAT-DL and Bochum Observatory receive signal from retired NASA spacecraft
by Peter Guelzow 09 Mar '14

09 Mar '14

see also: http://www.amsat-dl.org/index.php/news-mainmenu-97/199-ice-satellite-receiv… --------------------- AMSAT-DL and Bochum Observatory receive signal from retired NASA spacecraft On March 1st and 2nd, 2014 radio amateurs were able to detect the beacon signal from the retired NASA deep space probe ICE (International Cometary Explorer) at the Bochum Observatory (Germany). After some changes to the ground equipment and aligning the receive antenna to the predicted position in the sky, the beacon signal could positively be identified due to its frequency, the position in the sky and the frequency shift due to the radial velocity (Doppler shift). For this detection the 20m radio telescope from the Bochum Observatory was used. In 2003, AMSAT-DL converted this former industrial monument into a fully functional groundstation for deep space probes. Since 2009 the facility is being used by volunteers almost full time as ground receive station for data from the STEREO mission with its two spaceprobes monitoring the sun from different viewing angles. The International Sun-Earth Explorer 3 (ISEE-3) was launched in 1978 and became the first spacecraft to orbit the Earth-Sun L1 Lagrange point, measuring the interaction between the Earth's magnetic field and the Sun. It was the first spacecraft to detect the stream of particles ("solar wind") approaching Earth. In 1982, the spacecraft was renamed the "International Cometary Explorer" (ICE) and diverted to the Moon, where its gravitational pull placed ICE on a heliocentric orbit. In 1985, the comet Giacobini-Zinner was visited (the first time a comet had been encountered by a spacecraft), followed by observation of Halley's Comet in 1986. While the instrumentation on board was still functional and fuel for more trajectory maneuvers was available, support for the ICE mission was terminated in 1997, though the spacecraft transmitter was left on. It was last detected by the NASA Deep Space Network in 2008. Its orbit however results in the spacecraft returning to Earth-Moon space in August of 2014. A small propulsive maneuver and lunar flyby could allow ICE to be directed into an Earth-Sun L1 halo orbit and perhaps resume a science mission, depending on instrument health. However in February 2014 a NASA study determined that the required resources to contact the spacecraft were not available anymore and due to budgetary constraints no further contact attempts were planned. In light of the recent observations and the available facilities in Bochum, additional studies about the economic feasibility to add a suitable uplink are being done. We would like to thank Jeremy Bauman from KinetX Aerospace (Tempe AZ, USA) for providing the ICE trajectory solution which was essential in finding the spacecraft and Jon D. Giorgini from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (Pasadena CA, USA) for his support. About AMSAT-DL: AMSAT-DL (short for AMSAT-Germany) is an organization consisting of engineers, scientists, students, radio amateur operators and space enthusiasts. They design, develop, build, operate and use satellites in their spare time. In addition to ca. 600 members of AMSAT-DL other national AMSAT organizations count in total about 6000 members. AMSAT-DL is one of the few space organizations which lead satellite projects from the drawing board through design stage and construction into the operative service. AMSAT-DL projects strictly follow the open-source principle so technologies and procedures can be used by third parties. This includes also lessons learned and scientific results obtained during the satellite's operation. About the Bochum Observatory: The Bochum Observatory is a recognized and sponsored higher-education institution of the state Nordrhein-Westfalen (Germany) and is also funded by the 'Landeszentrale für politische Bildung NRW'. Next to optical sky surveys the focus of the current work is the recording of earth monitoring data from satellites. The main task is the scientific analysis and the public presentation of this data to understand the function of the 'earth system' and to characterize the effects and risks of human actions in the context of globalization. contact AMSAT-DL: Dr. Achim Vollhardt, ICEteam(a)amsat-dl.org contact Sternwarte Bochum: Thilo Elsner, info(a)iuz-bochum.de <mailto:[email protected]>, +49 177 50 70 797 ---

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New EsSense Application for VhF
by Les Rayburn 09 Mar '14

09 Mar '14

In many ways, VHF operators in the EU lead the United States in their activity on the VHF band. If you've ever read a copy of the German/English publication, DUBUS magazine, you quickly get a sense of just how much is being done across the pond. Recent advances that I can think of include the low-noise LFA antenna, and the MSRX software decoder for WSJT modes. Here's another development that I think holds promise for US operators too. It allows much more active monitoring of E-Skip DX when you're away from the rig. Download it, and start using it today. E-Skip season is coming soon. Hope to see you on 2 Meters! The Android app "EsSense", which was launched in December, has been received well by the VHF community. Several hundreds of European operators have meanwhile downloaded the app; they are using it to literally "stay tuned" at all times and greatly enhance their DX power. Many thanks to all users for their useful feedback - this was a great help to fix bugs and further improve the app. Now that EsSense has reached a mature level it's time to expand the functionality to other regions: The latest version (0.10) now also supports North and South America, Middle East and Africa! (East-Asia, Oceania, Australia coming soon). EsSense can be downloaded for free from the Google Play store at: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.gooddx.essense Good DX! 73, Allard PE1NWL -- -- 73, Les Rayburn, N1LF 121 Mayfair Park Maylene, AL 35114 EM63nf 6M VUCC #1712 AMSAT #38965 Grid Bandits #222 Southeastern VHF Society Central States VHF Society Life Member Six Club #2484 Active on 6 Meters thru 1296, 10GHz & Light

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LitSat-1 Transponder Test
by M5AKA 09 Mar '14

09 Mar '14

The LitSat-1 transponder test was successful. http://www.dk3wn.info/p/?p=42732 http://amsat-uk.org/2014/03/09/litsat-1-transponder-test-successful/ 73 Trevor M5AKA

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Digitalker on ARTSAT1:INVADER worked
by ji1izr/Masahiro Sanada 08 Mar '14

08 Mar '14

Hello everyone, I watched the downlink of ARTSAT1:INVADER yesterday, and I heard the voice and CW on FM mode from the satellite! ARTSAT1:INVADER carrys "Morikawa", a compatible board of 'Arduino', and the Digitalker was worked by sending command to "Morikawa". This means Arduino (compatible) board worked in the space. Morikawa cannot be reprogrammed itself but has a Virtual Machine, so it may work by the binary code sent from the earth. I wish it will work well. ji1izr/Masahiro

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Nearly did it !!!!!
by Peter Wilson 08 Mar '14

08 Mar '14

Just finished a pass of FO29 (21:05 UTC) which seemed to "Hang" over the North pole for ages. I believe I heard a KB1 station returning my call but I couldn't pull him in. Must try again - and get myself some pre-amps... Peter G8KEK

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ISS HamTV success!
by Stefan Wagener 08 Mar '14

08 Mar '14

Just monitored live streams on BATC TV. Images and video looked very good. Congratulation to the ARISS team! Will be very exciting to monitor in the future. Have posted screen capture images on the HamTV Yahoo Group. 73, Stefan VE4NSA

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