February 2016 - AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

All UK ARISS shortlisted schools now scheduled + Tim Peake KG5BVI update
by M5AKA 04 Feb '16

04 Feb '16

All UK ARISS shortlisted schools are now scheduled http://amsat-uk.org/2016/02/03/all-uk-ariss-shortlisted-schools-are-now-sch… Primary (Elementary) school students tune in to Tim Peake http://amsat-uk.org/2016/02/02/primary-school-students-tune-in-to-tim-peake/ An Unlikely Pair of Satellites http://amsat-uk.org/2016/01/30/an-unlikely-pair-of-satellites/ Sandringham School presentation http://amsat-uk.org/2016/01/28/sandringham-school-presentation/ The 3rd RSGB Tim Peake amateur radio school update is available at http://us5.campaign-archive1.com/?u=acc8d476eba710615541e5667&id=ec64c462e1… AMSAT-BR (AMSAT Brazil) is celebrating its first anniversary on Friday, February 5 - Activity session and Diploma https://www.facebook.com/amsatuk/posts/1001504376559278 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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13 CubeSats Make the Grade for NASA SLS Mission
by Eric Rosenberg 04 Feb '16

04 Feb '16

>From ViaSat Magazine: ----------------- [Via Satellite 02-03-2016] NASA has selected 13 CubeSats to test new technology on the first flight of the agency’s upcoming rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS), set to pave the way for deep space exploration. Launching in 2018, the new rocket aims to first propel an unmanned Orion spacecraft beyond the moon and into deep space, with NASA’s sights set on a journey to Mars. The small satellite secondary payloads will fly on SLS’ Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1) to carry out science and technology investigations in deep space and, hopefully, set the course for future human exploration into deep space. “Exploration Mission-1 will be a proving ground mission, whose goal is to demonstrate the integrated performance of SLS and Orion before we put crews on it for the first crewed flight. Because of the robust capability of the Space Launch System, we have a unique opportunity to transport small spacecraft and technology experiments onboard the very same mission,” said Todd May, Marshall Space Flight Center director, during a press event held at the center in Huntsville, Ala., to announce the small satellite fleet selection on Feb. 3. According to NASA’s website, the CubeSats will be deployed following the Orion capsule’s separation from the upper stage. Once Orion is a safe distance away, a spring mechanism will eject each payload from dispensers on the Orion stage adapter. Following deployment, the transmitters on the CubeSats will turn on, and ground stations will listen for their beacons to determine the functionality of these small satellites. Bill Hill, deputy associate administrator of Exploration Systems Development at NASA Headquarters, noted that the organization began looking at 11 payloads before deciding that there were sufficient resources to launch 13 CubeSats. Of the 13, NASA announced seven of the missions. NASA’s Science Mission Directorate selected and spoke to the first two publically announced missions, including, CuSP, a mission described by Michael Seablom, chief technologist for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters, as a “space weather station” that aims to measure particles and magnetic fields in space, and further understand the particles’ roles in geothermal storms. It also looks to test practicality for a network of stations to monitor space weather. The solar activity that causes space weather can impact both space exploration missions and satellites for telecommunications and remote sensing. Seablom also spoke to the LunaH-Map mission, which will map hydrogen that exists within craters, on the plains and in other permanently shadowed regions at the Moon’s south pole. “Because of the investments we’ve made in technology, this mission, which will carry a neutron spectrometer, and also an imager, will give us unprecedented horizontal resolution of the distribution of hydrogen. Roughly seven-and-a-half kilometers per pixel is what we’re expecting,” said Seablom. The CubeSat will also feature an advanced propulsion system with about 12 miniature thrusters to provide attitude control and enable the CubeSat to make more than 140 orbits over its planned 60-day lifecycle. NASA also selected two payloads through the Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships (NextSTEP). These two missions include Skyfire, a Lockheed Martin Space Systems-designed CubeSat, to perform a flyby of the Moon and collect infrared sensor data to enhance knowledge of the lunar surface, and the Lunar IceCube mission from Morehead State University, which will search for water ice and other resources at a low orbit of only 62 miles above the surface of the Moon. NASA’s Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate selected three payloads for the Orion mission: the Near Earth Asteroid (NEA) Scout mission, built by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), which will perform reconnaissance of an asteroid, take pictures and observe its position in space; the BioSentinel mission, which plans to use yeast to detect, measure and compare the impact of deep-space radiation on living organisms over long durations in deep space; and Lunar Flashlight, a mission that plans to look for ice deposits and identify locations where resources may be extracted from the lunar surface. Further CubeSats have yet to be chosen, but NASA will determine three additional payloads through the organization’s Cube Quest Challenge, a contest designed to “foster innovations in small spacecraft propulsion and communications techniques,” NASA Deputy Administrator Dava Newman explained. As part of the challenge currently taking place, CubeSat builders will compete for a chance to launch their spacecraft on the SLS mission. NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate will select and announce the winning payloads in 2017. Furthermore, NASA has reserved room for three payloads from international partners. According to Hill, NASA is in advanced discussions surrounding which international missions will be selected to fly onboard the SLS, and the organization will announce the payloads at a later date. “All the data from these missions and these experiments will be used to help us on our journey to Mars,” said May. NASA is designing SLS EM-1 to have a minimum lift of 77 tons, powered by twin boosters and four RS-25 engines, which are currently undergoing testing. In 2015 the agency saw the completion of multiple engine tests preparing the SLS for launch, including a major rocket booster test for which the agency is preparing for a follow up in May, according to Hill. “The space launch system, Orion and the ground systems that support both pre-launch and recovery are making great progress,” he said.

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Upcoming ARISS contact with "Gesmundo Moro Fiore" Secondary School, Terlizzi, Italy
by n4csitwo＠bellsouth.net 04 Feb '16

04 Feb '16

An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at "Gesmundo Moro Fiore" Secondary School, Terlizzi, Italy on 06 Feb. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 09:09 UTC. It is recommended that you start listening approximately 10 minutes before this time.The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be a telebridge between NA1SS and LU1CGB. The contact should be audible over Argentina and adjacent areas. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in English. ''Gesmundo - Moro - Fiore '' is a secondary school formed of two different buildings in the suburb area of Terlizzi. The new school was born this school year from the fusion of two schools. What is more, in the last few years some foreign citizens are coming to live in Terlizzi, so the school is having new needs and is facing different realities from the East Europe to the Mediterranean Africa. There are laboratories ICT, Technology, Art, Conference room , Library. Multimedia room and big spaces outside with wonderful gardens. Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows: 1. How was born your passion in the space exploration? 2. In which module of the space station are you now? What's around you now? 3. How was the space station built? 4. What experiments are you doing on board the ISS? 5. Have you performed a spacewalk? 6. What amusing activities do you do on the ISS? 7. What are the tasks for ISS crew on board the space station? 8. Can you send us a photo of you greetings us from Cupola? 9. Can you see the biggest cities on Earth from the ISS? 10. It's true that the solar energy is the biggest power source on ISS? 11. What's temperature is on board and outside the ISS? 12. What are the benefits to do the experiments in zero gravity? 13. Do you have flowers on ISS? If YES, can you describe it? 14. How do you face medical problems by one ISS crew member? 15. What will you do to re-adapt when you come back to earth? 16. What do you miss of Earth life on board the ISS? 17. Do you like drinking the coffee on ISS? 18. How do you feel after seeing 16 sunrises and 16 sunsets in a very short time? 19. How you perceive on the ISS the astronomical distances of the planets? 20. How do you communicate with your family on earth? 21. How do you spend the free time on ISS? PLEASE CHECK THE FOLLOWING FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ARISS UPDATES: Visit ARISS on Facebook. We can be found at Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS). To receive our Twitter updates, follow @ARISS_status Next planned event(s): 1. Royal Masonic School for Girls, Rickmansworth, UK, direct via GB1RMS The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be GB1SS The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI Contact is a go for: Thu, Feb 11, 2016 18:11 UTC ABOUT ARISS Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students in classrooms or informal education venues. With the help of experienced amateur radio volunteers, ISS crews speak directly with large audiences in a variety of public forums. Before and during these radio contacts, students, teachers, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org, www.amsat.org, and www.arrl.org. Thank you & 73, David - AA4KN --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

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AMSAT-BR Commemorative Event
by Edson W. R. Pereira 04 Feb '16

04 Feb '16

Hello AMSATers! AMSAT-BR (AMSAT Brazil) will be celebrating its first anniversary tomorrow February 5th. To commemorate the event we are promoting QSO's over amateur satellites and will be distributing diplomas in electronic format to stations that confirm their QSO's. The rules are as follows: Event Start: 05/02/2016 00:00:00 UTC Event End: 07/02/2016 23:59:59 UTC CQ Format: CQ AMSAT-BR de <callsign> Example of a QSO: CQ AMSAT-BR de PY2UEP PY2UEP de PW8PM FH99 PW8PM de PY2UEP GG57 PY2UEP de PW8PM QSL 73 Log Format: Date/Time (UTC), Sat, Mode, DX Call, QTH Locator Example: 06/02/2016 15:35, AO-73, USB, PY2UEP, GG57 Email address to send logs: ano1(a)amsat-br.org Logs can be send in plain text. 73, Edson PY2SDR LABRE/AMSAT-BR http://amsat-br.org/ --- - We humans have the capability to do amazing things if we work together. - Nós seres humanos temos a capacidade de fazer coisas incríveis se trabalharmos juntos.

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Antenna Rotor and yagi Antenna selection
by shakeel -ur-rehman 04 Feb '16

04 Feb '16

We are in process of development of Student Satellite Ground station for amateur satellite. we need to select rotor and antenna s for amateur satellite ground station. we initially worked that we need 17db gain for our polarized antennas for this purpose we need to have stacking of antennas in order to achieve the desired gain in UHF and VHF band. can anyone know from where we can purchase antennas having 1.VHF band (144 – 146 MHz) gain 17 dBi transmit and in for receive 17 dBi in UHF band polarization Circular 2. we narrow down two rotors from yaesu a) G5600 and b) G2800 rotor which will be separately required elevation and azimuth. Now the specific queires are Question 1:we dont know where to find antennas of 17dbs. or we need 3 antenna in stacking mode having accumulated gain of 17db. Question 2: we dont how how to finalize rotor. we have ICOM 9100 and we are currently tracking satellite manually. Question 3: how to calculate that these rotor will be sufficient for the load of our antennas.or the g5600 will be enough for stacking of three antenna's load. any help much appreciated Kind regards shakeel

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Severe UHF Satellite inerference found!
by Robert Bruninga 04 Feb '16

04 Feb '16

Our satellite ground station has been jammed for about a week with 60 dB over pulse (spread spectrum) Looks and sounds just like Wifi but from below 420 to above 460 MHz. Yestereday we built up a portable USB receiver and attenuator and began measurements. Went everywhere in the building and outside. Could be heard 40 dB over everywhere in the building. But darned if the signal wasn’t always just a bit stronger right at the Ground station console. Switched from omni to a hand held beam. Still signal seemed strongest right at the console. Turned off everything one by one. No change. Completely disconnected antenna, attenuator and cable but signal was still S9 into the portable receiver (AOR AR5000) and good enough for sniffing. Still strongest right on the console. BINGO! It was an FRS walkie talkie, not used in years, that someone had pulled out of its charger (it was dead) and re-inserted a few days ago. As the dead FRS slowly attempted to charge up, somehow its processor must have gone wild trying to power up and that was it! Remember, nothing electronics anymore has a real OFF switch. Just a processor that is always ON to sense the switch. When I pulled the radio from the charger, the noise instantly stopped and nothing we can do can recreate that one-in-a-million condition. And the FRS radio is still dead. But we can finally hear the noise floor again on the UHF band. Bob, WB4APR

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K2BSA/5 satellite demo for Scouts this coming Saturday.
by Tom Schuessler 04 Feb '16

04 Feb '16

Hi all, I will be doing another Radio Merit Badge workshop class at the National Scouting Museum in Irving, TX, EM12 this coming Saturday, February 6th. As is my normal practice, I will be including in the activities, an AMSAT satellite pass. This time around, we will be attempting to use AO-85 on what for us will be a 1713Z AOS, 73 degree Max Elevation pass. We will be using K2BSA/5 so please listen for/call us and lets show these 13 Scouts the fun and excitement of Amateur Radio in space. You can also find us on HF, probably 20 meters around 14.290 especially between 1900Z-2000Z and 2115Z-2230Z. Looking forward to hearing you on the birds/bands. 73 Tom Schuessler 2713 Lake Gardens Drive Irving, Texas 75060 972-986-7456 214-403-1464 (Cell) n5hyp(a)arrl.net

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Easy question
by skristof＠etczone.com 04 Feb '16

04 Feb '16

Sorry for this most basic question, but if I want to receive the telemetry from AO-85, do I listen on FM or USB? Steve AI9IN

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Where's the "how to contact an area coordinator lin"?
by Jim Sanford 04 Feb '16

04 Feb '16

Thanks! Jim wb4gcs(a)amsat.org --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

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XW2 CAMSAT CW
by Rob Quinlan 04 Feb '16

04 Feb '16

Hello, I manage to grab what appears to be the XW-2 CAMSAT CW beacon. Time UTC: 23:07 Date: 2016-02-03 Frequincy: I think it was 146.660 Mhz Mode: CW with AFC enabled Decoded: SEEESE DFH XW2 XW2 AAA RTT RUR RRI RUI TMT R6I RM4 RRI TTT RKI TIT VN N TTT TTT URT TTT TTI TTT TTT U4K VTT CAMSAT IE ES SIIR EIII UI R6I RM4 RRI TTT RKI TIT VDR TTT TTT ANT TTT TTI TTT TTT U4K VTT CAMSAT CAMSAT E<AS>J1SE DFH XW2 XW2 AAA RTT RUR SI*ESIUT CAMSAT IIBJ1SB DFH XW2 NTW? AE I'm guessing that this is the XW2 CAMSAT beacon? Radio: SDRplay Antenna: Diamond D130j discone Location: Beamsville, Ontario, Canada Do you send out some sort of QSL conformation card? I don't know since I never done this before.

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