August 2015 - AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

ANS-221 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Joseph Spier 09 Aug '15

09 Aug '15

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-221 The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and infor- mation service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including 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. The news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor at amsat.org. In this edition: * AMSAT-NA Board of Directors Ballots Due by 15 September * July/August 2015 AMSAT Journal Sent to the Print Shop * SPROUT Deployable Membrane – Request for Telemetry * Frequencies Announced for Nayif-1 CubeSat * UK radio ham’s ISS contact in the press * Work continues on ESEO FUNcube-4 * Scout ISS ham radio contact video * Last Call for Papers: ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference * Satellite Frequency Co-ordination Announcement from IARU Region 1 * Chinese Amateur Radio Satellites Set to Launch in Early September * Do not Digipeat via PCSAT in IARU Region 1 * Planned DX Activity Via Satellite * AMSAT Events * ARISS News * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-221.01 ANS-221 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 221.01 >From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. DATE August 9, 2015 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-221.01 --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT-NA Board of Directors Ballots Due by 15 September Ballots were mailed to AMSAT-NA members in good standing by 15 JULY 2015, and must be returned to the AMSAT-NA office by 15 SEP 2015 in order to be counted. Those sent outside North America were sent by air mail. Your completed ballot should be returned as promptly as possible, and those from outside North America preferably by air mail or other expedited means. This year there are eight candidates: Barry Baines, WD4ASW Jerry Buxton, N0JY Steve Coy, K8UD Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA Mark Hammond, N8MH EMike McCardel, KC8YLD Bob McGwier, N4HY Bruce Paige, KK5DO The four candidates receiving the highest number of votes will be seated as voting Board Members with two year terms. The two candidates receiving the next highest number of votes will be non-voting Alternate Board Members with terms of one year. Please vote for no more than four candidates. Please take the time to review the candidate statements that accompany the ballot and determine who you wish to see on the Board. Election of Board members is both an obligation as well as an opportunity by our membership to help shape the future direction of AMSAT-NA. [ANS thanks AMSAT-NA for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- July/August 2015 AMSAT Journal Sent to the Print Shop The July/August 2015 AMSAT Journal is complete and has been sent to the print shop. The Journal is sent six times a year to all members as one of AMSAT's membership benefits. In this issue you will find: + AMSAT Announcements + Apogee View by Barry Baines, WD4ASW + AMSAT-NA, AMSAT-DL, and Virginia Tech Announce Potential Phase-3E Opportunity + AMSAT 2015 Field Day Results by Bruce Paige, KK5DO + A Field Day 2015 Experience by George Carr, WA5KBH and Hector Martinez, CO6CBF/W5CBF + AMSAT-NA Board of Directors Ballots in the Mail by Alan Biddle, WA4SCA + Engineering Update July/August 2015 by Jerry Buxton, N0JY + AMSAT at Dayton 2015 by Keith Baker, KB1SF/VA3KSF + Orbital Debrief - July/August 2015 by Paul Stoetzer, N8HM + ARISS Announces New Challenge Coin + Israel's Duchifat-1 Cubesat Open for Users by Shamai Opfer, 4Z1WS and David Greenberg, 4X1DG + Investigation of the International Arms Export Control Act of 1976 by Elizabeth Garbee, KC0OTR + A Quick Satellite Rover Trip by Kevin Manzer, N4UFO + 2015 AMSAT Symposium at Dayton Announcement + AMSAT Help Wanted Ads The Journal is always looking for your articles about your station, antenna topics, operating events and photos, technical articles suitable for amateur radio in space, software applications, software defined radio. To help you get started we have a web page "How to Write for the AMSAT Journal" posted at: http://www.amsat.org/?page_id=1709. The editors are available to help get you from idea into print. A big round of thanks goes to our contributors for this issue. The editors do a lot of work behind the scenes to get each issue ready. Thanks to Bernhard, VA6MBJ; Douglas, KA2UPW/5; James, K3JPH; Joe, KB6IGK; Red, KC4LE. [ANS thanks the AMSAT Journal Team for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- SPROUT Deployable Membrane – Request for Telemetry Students at Nihon University in Japan are requesting the assistance of radio amateurs in collecting telemetry from the SPROUT satellite which has deployed an inflatable membrane structure. The SPROUT JQ1YGZ Team say: We’d like to show to everyone about SPROUT, and we’d like to ask receiving cooperation to everyone. SPROUT was launched at May 24, 2014 from Tanegashima Space Center in Japan. There are 3 main missions in SPROUT. ·Deployment demonstration of inflatable membrane structure. ·Demonstration of attitude determination and control technology for several kilogram class nano-satellite. ·Upbringing of human resources of a space sector For more information http://sat.aero.cst.nihon-u.ac.jp/sprout-e/ Please see this website. This time, we made a deployment demonstration of inflatable membrane structure. But it’s necessary to get a deal of data to get information on a satellite, and it takes time to get one of data only my satellite communication ground station. So when everybody of amsat would do reception cooperation, information on a satellite can be got quickly. We’d like to request reception cooperation of everybody of “AMSAT” for study promotion. If you wouldn’t mind, please reception cooperation. Please inform the following mail address of your question and a reception report – sprout_contact(a)forth.aero.cst.nihon-u.ac.jp Best regards SPROUT JQ1YGZ Team on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008270115808 SPROUT transmits on 437.525 MHz FM 1k2 AFSK AX.25 http://www.dk3wn.info/sat/afu/sat_sprout.shtml SPROUT SSTV activation http://amsat-uk.org/2014/05/31/sprout-sstv-digitalker-active/ [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Frequencies Announced for Nayif-1 CubeSat Nayif-1 is an educational single CubeSat project with the goal of providing an actual space project for Emirati University students. Additionally it is intended to enthuse and educate young people about radio, space physics and electronics. The 1U CubeSat is a collaboration between the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center and the American University of Sharjah both in the United Arab Emirates. The spacecraft will only require simple ground station antennas and an SDR dongle receiver. This will make it uncomplicated for schools and colleges to use with their students. It is anticipated Nayif-1 will be launched into an elliptical, sun synchronous, Low Earth Orbit (LEO) about 400 by 750 km. In such an orbit the satellite passes over the Emirates at least twice a day. This would allow the morning passes to be used for educational purposes and the evening passes for Amateur Radio communications. The student team will develop and operate a special ground station for this spacecraft. They will also be developing a unique “Dashboard” to display the received telemetry data and greetings messages in Arabic. Nayif-1 will incorporate a novel autonomous attitude determination and control system. This will be the first flight of this system. Additionally it will carry a UHF to VHF linear transponder (FUNcube-5) that will have up to 0.5 watt output and which can be used by Radio Amateurs worldwide for SSB and CW communications. A launch is planned for late 2015 on a SpaceX Falcoln 9. IARU coordinated frequencies for NAYIF-1: • 145.940 MHz 1200 bps BPSK FUNcube beacon • 500 mW inverting SSB/CW linear transponder – 435.045-435.015 MHz Uplink – 145.960-145.990 MHz Downlink Follow Nayif-1 on Twitter https://twitter.com/Nayifone Nayif-1 http://amsat-uk.org/satellites/communications/nayif-1/ [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- UK radio ham’s ISS contact in the press Adrian Lane 2E0SDR got some great newspaper publicity for the hobby when he made an amateur radio contact with an astronaut on the International Space Station. The story was published in the Thursday, August 6, 2015 edition of many UK national daily newspapers including The Sun, The Times, Telegraph, Independent, Daily Mail, Daily Express and Mirror. The Thursday edition of the BBC Radio 4 Today show also featured the story at 8:09:46am. To hear it fast forward to 2:09:46 in this recording: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0643x5z#play During Thursday evening the story featured on the TV news station CNN. On Friday, August 7, Adrian was interviewed about the contact on the BBC TV Victoria Derbyshire programme. Watch the interview at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33816779 The astronaut Adrian talked to was Kjell Lindgren who holds the amateur radio callsign KO5MOS. Kjell was operating the ISS amateur radio station in the ESA Columbus module using the callsign NA1SS. There is another ISS amateur radio station in the Russian Service module which uses the callsign RS0ISS. The online version of the Daily Mail story features a video interview with Adrian 2E0SDR http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3186534/Radio-ham-contacts- International-Space-Station-GARDEN-SHED.html CNN Story – Ham radio and the ISS broadcast 1930 GMT Aug 6, 2015 https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=35&v=XNs_b73Oiac Read the Telegraph story at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/11786461/Radio-ham- talks-to-space-station-from-garden-shed.html Read the Mirror newspaper story at http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/amateur-radio-enthusiast-dials- international-6199955 The Sun newspaper story is behind a paywall at http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/6575742/One-small-step-for-a-ham.… The Register story: HAM IN SPAAAAAACE http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/08/06/radio_ham_talks_to_iss_astronaut_fr… arden_shed_in_gloucestershire/ [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Work continues on ESEO FUNcube-4 AMSAT-UK members have been busy this week working on the FUNcube-4 amateur radio payload for the new European Student Earth Orbiter (ESEO) satellite. On Friday, August 7, 2015 they tested the transponder and it seems to work fine. More testing and characterisation will follow over the next few days. This is the third mission within the European Space Agency’s Education Satellite Programme. The satellite, which has a mass of 40 kg and measures 33x33x63 cm, is planned to launch into a Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The spacecraft will carry a 1260/145 MHz FM transponder and 145 MHz 1200 bps BPSK telemetry beacon to provide a telemetry downlink that can be easily received by schools and colleges for educational outreach purposes. The data will be displayed in an attractive format and provide stimulation and encouragement for students to become interested in all STEM subjects in a unique way. The target audience is primarily students at both primary and secondary levels and the project includes the development of a simple and cheap “ground station” operating on VHF frequencies in the Amateur Satellite Service. This station is an omni-directional antenna feeding a FUNcube DonglePRO+ SDR receiver which will receive the signals direct from the satellite and transfer the data to specially developed graphical software running on any Windows laptop. 2015 International Space Colloquium Presentations Playlist https://www.youtube.com/user/AMSATUK/playlists [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Scout ISS ham radio contact video Scouts at the 23rd World Scout Jamboree at Bunkyo-ku in Japan had an amateur radio contact with the International Space Station. The contact on July 31, 2015 was between 8N23WSJ and NA1SS operated by astronaut Kjell Lindgren, KO5MOS from the ISS Columbus module. Watch Radio scouting with the ISS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGhQ8OamfTY ARISS 23rd World Scout Jamboree contact http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2015/august/ariss_event_0308.htm 23rd World Scout Jamboree http://www.23wsj.jp/ [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Last Call for Papers: ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference ARRL/TAPR are soliciting technical papers for presentation at the 34th Annual ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference, to be held October 9-11 in Chicago, Illinois. Papers will also be published in the Conference Proceedings. You do not have to attend the conference to have your paper included in the Proceedings. The submission deadline is August 17, 2015. E-mail your submission to Maty Weinberg at ARRL Headquarters at maty(a)arrl.org<mailto:maty@arrl.org> Please to do not send zip files as these will be rejected by our e-mail server. [ANS thanks Steve Ford, WB8IMY, and the ARRL for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Frequency Co-ordination Announcement from IARU Region 1 The following announcement has been released by the IARU International Secretariat: For some years, IARU has sought, through its group of volunteer satellite coordinators, to assign appropriate frequencies to be used by space satellites operating in the amateur bands. These efforts have generally been successful, allowing satellites to operate without undue interference to each other and to other services using the bands in question. The IARU role in coordination of frequencies is supported by ITU. IARU is aware of a few satellites already operating in amateur bands which are causing difficulties in parts of the world as the frequencies they use do not appear to accord to existing band plans. IARU has now become aware of plans to launch a series of satellites where the frequencies proposed appear to conflict with existing IARU band plans in some parts of the world. IARU is investigating how this has arisen, and is discussing the issues with the parties involved. We will make a further statement as soon as possible. http://www.iaru-r1.org/index.php/88-news/1461-satellite-frequency-co-ordina… [ANS thanks Trevor, M5AKA for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Chinese Amateur Radio Satellites Set to Launch in Early September China’s Amateur Satellite Group CAMSAT said this week that nine satellites carrying Amateur Radio payloads have been delivered to the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Central China. CAMSAT CEO Alan Kung, BA1DU, said they’re expected to launch between September 7 and 9. All are part of the CAS-3 series of satellites. Four of the microsatellites and two of the CubeSats included in the launch have been designated as the XW-2 (Hope-2) amateur satellite system (XW-2A through XW-2F), although Kung also refers to them using their initial CAS-3A through CAS-3F nomenclature. The other three satellites — a CubeSat, a nanosatellite, and a picosatellite, carry the designations CAS-3G through CAS- 3I, respectively. CAMSAT announced earlier this year that the launch date would be postponed from mid-July until early September. “Each satellite of the CAS-3 series will work independently, and they are made by different organizations,” Kung told ARRL. The XW-2 series satellites are equipped with substantially identical Amateur Radio payloads — a U/V mode linear transponder, a CW telemetry beacon and an AX.25 19.2k/9.6k baud GMSK telemetry downlink, CAMSAT said in May. Each Amateur Radio complement has the same technical characteristics, but will operate on different 70 centimeter uplink and 2 meter downlink frequencies. XW-2A through XW-2F have identical quarter-wavelength deployable monopole whip antennas made of steel tape. CAMSAT worked with three entities to complete the other three satellites: CAS- 3G (DCBB), a 2U CubeSat being built by Shenzhen HIT Satellite Ltd of China for educational purposes; CAS-3H (LilacSat-2), a Harbin Institute of Technology of China microsatellite for science experiments and Amateur Radio, and CAS-3I (NDT- Phone Sat), a National University of Defense Technology of China picosatellite for carrying out technical experiments. CAS-3G and CAS-3I will downlink digital telemetry on amateur frequencies, while CAS-3H will carry a U/V FM transponder and APRS. Details on all satellites are attached (see "Downloads," below). Kung said a Long March-6 rocket will carry the XW-2 and CAS-3 satellites into orbit along with 11 other satellites. http://www.arrl.org/news/chinese-amateur-radio-satellites-set-to-launch-in- early-september [ANS thanks the ARRL, CAMSAT CEO Alan Kung, BA1DU, and IARU for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Do not Digipeat via PCSAT in IARU Region 1 As has been reported in the RSGB News, the PCSAT spacecraft was launched some fourteen years ago and has, due to an on-board power system issue, started to transmit APRS on 144.390 MHz Although this is the correct frequency for APRS operation in IARU Region 2, it is not compatible with our Region 1 bandplan which has this part of the band designated for weak signal and particularly Meteor Scatter operation. The orbit of this spacecraft means that sometimes it is in full sunlight and, at other times, it is eclipsed for a major percentage of the orbit. As the on- board batteries have lost their ability to hold a charge, the problem can only occur when it is in sunlight. Various methods of mitigate this problem are presently under active consideration but in the meantime it is important that no amateur in Region 1 should attempt to digipeat through this spacecraft. Additionally those amateurs on the east coast of the American continent are also requested not to attempt to activate the spacecraft when it can be “seen” from Europe. At IARU level, further work is being undertaken to reduce the risk from future spacecraft potentially causing similar problems. Such problems could result from developers not following the globally agreed bandplans for amateur satellite operations. In particular the IARU Satellite Coordinator has been requested to make urgent contact with the team responsible for XW-2(CAS-3) mission of nine satellites from China. Some of the proposed frequencies do not respect the internationally agreed Region 1 Bandplan for 2 metres. [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Planned DX Activity Via Satellite HH, HAITI. Doug, KD8CAO, son of K8YSE (OPDX Webmaster), will be active as HH8/KD8CAO from Jacmel (FK38rf) between August 15-22nd. He is there on a "Medical Mission Trip" with his XYL. Activity will be mainly on the satellites (SSB/FM), with a possibility of some HF activity (QRP). His activity on the satellite will be on FO29, AO7, AO73 and SO50. As this was being written, Doug was thinking of using/taking his FT-817 (this could change). QSL via KD8CAO and LoTW. T47, CUBA (LH Op). Members of the Camaguey Contest Crew got special permission to operate as T47LH during the ILLW from the Colon Light- house at Sabinal Key, Cuba. A crew of 5 hams (CO7RR, CO7SF, CO7FR, CO7DS and CO7WT) will be active from mid-day August 14th to mid-day August 16th. Operations are planned on all HF bands (60m is pending approval) and Satellite via SO-50 passes during the ILLW. For more info and details, see the QRZ.com page for T47LH. QSL route is TBD. V7, MARSHALL ISLANDS. A group of JA operators will be active from Majuro Island (OC-029) between September 24-28th. Operators are YL Mami/JP3AYQ (V73YL) and her husband Sanny/JJ3CIG (V73H), Team Leader Takio/JH3QFL (V73A), Co-Leader Keizo "Kay"/JH3AZC (V7EME) and Hiro/JR3GWZ (V73GW). Activity will be on the HF bands, 6 meters, satellite, EME, CW, SSB and RTTY. Radios are a FT857 and FT847. Their antennas will be a homebrew 3 element full size beam (3 bands) and a SpiderBeam antenna (5 band). They will also have a Elecraft 500w amp to use. QSL all operators via their home callsigns. ADDED NOTES: * YL Mami, JP3AYQ, states (on QRZ.com), that her activity will be holiday style (she like to scuba dive) on the HF bands using CW (be patient), SSB and the Digital mode (RTTY). Suggested frequencies are the IOTA frequencies, such as 14260, 14040, 21260 and 21040 kHz. QSL via JP3AYQ, direct, by the Bureau or LoTW. Log will be uploaded to LoTW and ClubLog. She does have a Blog page at: http://jp3ayq.269g.net * Sanny, JJ3CIG/KH0YA, states (on QRZ.com), that he plans to operate on the JT65 mode. QSL via his home callsign, direct or by eQSL. [ANS thanks Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin #1225 for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT Events Information about AMSAT activities at other important events around the country. Examples of these events are radio club meetings where AMSAT Area Coordinators give presentations, demonstrations of working amateur satellites, and hamfests with an AMSAT presence (a table with AMSAT literature and merchandise, sometimes also with presentations, forums, and/or demonstrations). *Saturday, 15 August 2015 – Arctic Amateur Radio Club Hamfest in Fairbanks AK *Sunday, 16 August 2015 – demonstration at Chena Hot Springs AK *Saturday and Sunday, 22-23 August 2015 – Boxboro Hamfest and ARRL New England Convention in Boxborough MA *Saturday and Sunday, 5-6 September - ARRL Roanoke Division Convention Shelby, NC Hamfest, AMSAT Forum scheduled for Saturday *Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, October 16-18 2015, AMSAT Symposium in Dayton OH (Dayton Crown Plaza) *Saturday, 7 November 2015 – Oro Valley Amateur Radio Club Hamfest in Marana AZ *Saturday, 5 December 2015 – Superstition Superfest 2015 in Mesa AZ [ANS thanks AMSAT-NA for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS News Successful Contacts Maroochydore State School, Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia, telebridge via LU1CGB The ISS callsign scheduled was NA1SS The scheduled astronaut was Kjell Lindgren KO5MOS Contact was successful: Thu 2015-08-06 10:10:26 UTC 59 deg The Maroochydore ISS contact was a success with all 10 questions answered in detail by Kjell. There were good signals right through the entire contact. The principal Stuard Maish just had enough time to thank Kjell before LOS. Space Jam 9, Rantoul, IL, telebridge via IK1SLD The ISS callsign was scheduled to be OR4ISS The astronaut was Kjell Lindgren KO5MOS Contact was successful: Sat 2015-08-08 16:58:02 UTC 33 deg Space Jam 9 just had a successful contact. All 24 questions got asked and we did get 24 answers. The last 3 or 4 were pretty noisy but he was there. There was no notice any signal dropouts and the signal seemed pretty steady throughout. Space Jam 9 has about 1000 scouts there for the weekend. The contact was held outside so all could see. Space Jam 9 did their annual balloon launch, they told me it went to 101000 feet and traveled about 40 miles. They had a beacon going and a cross band repeater. The electronics were recovered just fine. Greetings to all stations from the participants and volunteers of Space Jam 9 in Rantoul, Illinois. Though primarily a weekend Scouting and STEM education event, we are open to all interested youth. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts from 24 states have come together in an educational and fun format to learn more about the life skills that will prepare them for the increasingly complex technological future. Training is our theme this year. While it is well known that Scouting teaches pioneering skills like camping and wilderness survival, the new pioneers and wilderness are in outer space and we are working hard at 44 technology oriented Merit Badges and activities, plus some fun things like the Duct Tape Merit Badge. Talking to the astronauts on the ISS is an unforgettable part of the experience at Space Jam and that's next on our list. We will not know for many years whether one of these youths becomes an astronaut themselves but it is certain that they are all part of tomorrow's leaders. ESA Space Camp, Külsheim, Gemany A telebridge contact with students at ESA Space Camp, Külsheim, Gemany, was successful Mon 2015-08-03 10:43:44 UTC 75 deg. The interview was conducted via W6SRJ with astronaut Kjell Lindgren, KO5MOS, who answered 21 questions for students. The European Space Agency (ESA )Space Camp 2015 was held in the Germany at a sport and activity centre Aktiv-Welt in Külsheim, which is situated on the beautiful landscape of Baden-Württemberg. The camp will run from Sunday 26 July to Saturday 8 August 2015. 165 children aged 8 to 17 years old will be participating in this annual space camp from every ESA establishment in Europe where their parents are working. The children will learn in the spirit of international cooperation and team work where the camp theme of “ My planet, beyond Earth”, will be take these young explorers on a continuing journey around our planet and beyond. The children will be participating in a range of physical and cultural activities as well as a full space education program. Apart from the science element, the children will learn how to work as part of a team, to be respectful of different cultures and embrace and appreciate the various talents each child brings to a group. Good training for any ‘first contacts’ that the future may bring! Learning through active participation will be paramount as with every camp - as well as having FUN! Beyond Earth – as last year, the children will continue to ‘reach for the stars’ with new and innovative activities involving rocket design and launches as well as making observations of the night sky using telescopes. With such an environment as in Külsheim, we hope to explore more of the sky in relatively low light pollution. The children will be expected to communicate activities in a range of ways from designing and drawing to building models. It is hoped that the spirit of fun and collaboration with such an international group of young children will enable them to learn new things as well as share information which will help each other be better acquainted with the space environment their families work in. The audio file can be downloaded from the internet at https://www.dropbox.com/s/eb1y6ke2lgg0h35/ISS-final.mp3?dl=0 Upcoming ARISS Contacts Fleurance Astronomy Festival, France, telebridge via IK1SLD The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS The scheduled astronaut is TBD Contact is a go for: Fri 2015-08-14 19:42:01 UTC 46 deg Fleurance is a small town located in the South-West of France near Toulouse, in the Gers department, with about 7,000 inhabitants. One of the main specialties of this city is the French gastronomy, and especially everything made from duck (e.g. french foie gras, duck magret) and melon. In terms of beverages, Gers is the home region of Armagnac (french alcohol made from white wine), Floc de Gascogne (made from Armagnac and grape must) and Pousse-Rapiére (made from Armagnac and a kind of Champagne). Since 1991, the French Astronomy Festival takes place in August in Fleurance where more than 10,000 people attend this summer event, the largest European festival on astronomy and space topics. More than 50 international researchers as well as astronauts are welcomed and give lectures to everyone coming to the festival over the week. Since 2006, Astro-jeunes, a kids festival, is organized during the same week, and welcomes more than 200 children per day to unveil them the mysteries of our universe and space conquest history. A dozen of children from this festival and the Fleurance high-school "Hubert Reeves" (sponsor of the Festival) have prepared this contact both with their physics and English teachers. Watch http://www.ariss.org/upcoming-contacts.html for information about upcoming contacts as they are scheduled. [ANS thanks ARISS, and Charlie, AJ9N for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over * Live Broadcast of Space Launch System RS-25 Engine Test Firing The Space Launch System, or SLS, Liquid Engines Office is conducting a series of tests for its RS-25 engine. The seven-test series began in January 2015 and will conclude in September 2015. On Aug. 13, 2015, at 4:30 p.m. EDT, a 550-second test will be conducted at Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The seven-test series will provide critical data on the new engine controller unit and will show how the RS-25 will perform. New ablative insulation and heaters also will be tested during the series. NASA's SLS will help send humans to deep space destinations like an asteroid and Mars. SLS is an advanced, heavy-lift launch vehicle that will provide an entirely new capability for science and human exploration beyond Earth's orbit. The SLS will give the nation a means to reach beyond our current limits and open new doors of discovery from the unique vantage point of space. The test will be carried live on NASA TV beginning at 4 p.m. EDT and will be streamed at http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html. Please make plans to watch and hear the rumble as NASA continues on its Journey to Mars. To learn more about the Space Launch System, visit http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/ [ANS thanks NASA Education Express Message -- Aug. 6, 2015 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, Joe Spier, K6WAO k6wao at amsat dot org

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ZF1DM active on SO-50
by Kevin M 09 Aug '15

09 Aug '15

Hi all. The last few days I have been hearing a callsign trying to get into SO-50 but kept missing the first letter; something Fox one Delta Mike. I scratched my head on that one as there is no KF1DM in the FCC database. On a low elevation pass (for me) of SO-50 today I finally caught the whole call, ZF1DM! It was very near my LOS, but we managed to squeak in a QSO. He e-mailed me later to say it was his FIRST satellite QSO! Also sent me a picture of the 2m tape measure beam he was using... - Moral to the story... he is a new ham, definitely a new sat op and I didn't see any gain antenna for UHF, so he may not be hearing really well. I know many will want to work him, but I'd like to suggest to try and take it easy on him until he gets his 'bird legs', so to speak. (I'm not even sure he has QSL cards, but I did asked.) Sure is nice to see any new activity, but especially a new op in another DXCC.-Just wanted to share the info to help avoid confusion... good luck and 73 all, Kevin N4UFO.

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Re: [amsat-bb] LVB Tracker
by Loren Moline WA7SKT 08 Aug '15

08 Aug '15

Hello, I have circuit boards and parts to build the LVB tracker and don't see myself ever building it now. I am putting it up for sale and entertaining offers. I prefer to ship to US and Canada. Thanks! I know I have the circuit board, IC's, IC sockets, LCD readout and terminal strips. If interested I will inventory the parts to see what I have. Loren Moline WA7SKT Member: Pacific Northwest VHF Society and ARRL Member: Hearsat Satellite Monitoring Group. www.uhf-satcom.com Member: CVARS-Chehalis Valley Amateur Radio SocietyStarchat IRC: Channel = #hearsat RF Electronics: Starchat IRC: Channel = #rfelectronics Grid: CN86mr

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Re: [amsat-bb] LVB Tracker
by Loren Moline WA7SKT 08 Aug '15

08 Aug '15

Hello, I have circuit boards and parts to build the LVB tracker and don't see myself ever building it now. I am putting it up for sale and entertaining offers. I prefer to ship to US and Canada. Thanks! I know I have the circuit board, IC's, IC sockets, LCD readout and terminal strips. If interested I will inventory the parts to see what I have. Loren Moline WA7SKT Member: Pacific Northwest VHF Society and ARRL Member: Hearsat Satellite Monitoring Group. www.uhf-satcom.com Member: CVARS-Chehalis Valley Amateur Radio SocietyStarchat IRC: Channel = #hearsat RF Electronics: Starchat IRC: Channel = #rfelectronics Grid: CN86mr

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Arrow antenna UK
by Kevin Glacken 08 Aug '15

08 Aug '15

Hello Clint. It's a pity Amsat UK does not stock arrow. I imported one from the States a few years back and got hit with import tax duties. Nearly doubled the price. Amsat UK stocks the Elk antenna and would be nice if they had the Arrow as well. Cheers Kev MM0KJG

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IARU International Secretariat announcement on Satellite Frequency Co-ordination
by M5AKA 08 Aug '15

08 Aug '15

The following announcement has been released by the IARU International Secretariat: For some years, IARU has sought, through its group of volunteer satellite coordinators, to assign appropriate frequencies to be used by space satellites operating in the amateur bands. These efforts have generally been successful, allowing satellites to operate without undue interference to each other and to other services using the bands in question. The IARU role in coordination of frequencies is supported by ITU. IARU is aware of a few satellites already operating in amateur bands which are causing difficulties in parts of the world as the frequencies they use do not appear to accord to existing band plans. IARU has now become aware of plans to launch a series of satellites where the frequencies proposed appear to conflict with existing IARU band plans in some parts of the world. IARU is investigating how this has arisen, and is discussing the issues with the parties involved. http://www.iaru-r1.org/index.php/88-news/1461-satellite-frequency-co-ordina… 73 Trevor M5AKA

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VO1ONE plans
by Kevin M 08 Aug '15

08 Aug '15

On the 1100z SO-50 pass, VO1ONE was in FO44. When the bird fell silent from lack of callers, I asked if he wanted me to post any plans. He said he should be in FO54 on the next SO-50 pass and that was the literal end of the road. From that point he would be reversing course and heading back the way he came. So if anyone missed any grids he was in going up, maybe you can work him on the way back. I would assume there also may be some 'new ones' he wasn't able to work going the other way. Thanks for all the fun, Mark... safe travels! 73, Kevin N4UFO

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ESEO FUNcube-4 payload + Other News
by M5AKA 07 Aug '15

07 Aug '15

Work continues on ESEO FUNcube-4 transponder http://amsat-uk.org/2015/08/07/eseo-funcube-4-update/ Do not Digipeat via PCSAT http://amsat-uk.org/2015/08/07/do-not-digipeat-via-pcsat/ Watch BBC and CNN TV News reports on UK radio ham’s ISS contact http://amsat-uk.org/2015/08/05/uk-radio-hams-iss-contact-in-the-press/ SPROUT Deployable Membrane – Request for Telemetry http://amsat-uk.org/2015/08/05/sprout-telemetry-request/ Frequencies Announced for Nayif-1 CubeSat http://amsat-uk.org/2015/08/04/frequencies-announced-for-nayif-1-cubesat/ 73 Trevor M5AKA ---- AMSAT-UK http://amsat-uk.org/ Twitter https://twitter.com/AmsatUK Facebook https://facebook.com/AmsatUK YouTube https://youtube.com/AmsatUK ----

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KX9X mobile 8/15-8/24
by Sean K. 07 Aug '15

07 Aug '15

Hi all- I'll be heading back to Illinois for a week's R&R. Not hitting anything rare, but I'll be QRV on SO-50 and possibly FO-29. I'll pass through the following grids: FN31FN21FN11FN10FN01EN91 (overnighting here August 15) EN80EM89EM79EM69EN60EN50 Will be staying just a few miles from the EN50/EN60/EM59/EM69 intersection. Trip back on August 22/23 will be reverse of the same. If anybody needs any of these, let me know and I'll make an effort to be on. Sean Kutzko Amateur Radio KX9X

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NO-84
by Bob Cutter 07 Aug '15

07 Aug '15

The 435.35 downlink seems weak to me, anyone else? Bob KIØG

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