February 2019 - AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

4 cubesats deployed from ISS; Cat1,Delphini,UNITE,TECHEDSAT-8
by christy hunter 06 Feb '19

06 Feb '19

I just saw this announced by Nanoracks; someone earlier on this BBS was asking about a TECHEDSAT-8 cubesat. http://nanoracks.com/nanoracks-completes-15th-cubesat-mission-on-internatio… four cubesats released: Assume it was done on January 31 2019? The satellites deployed and their timestamps were: *CAT-1/CAT-2:* 10:25 GMT/4:25 CST *Delphini-1:* 12:00 GMT/6:00 CST *UNITE:* 13:40 GMT/7:40 CST *TechEdSat-8:* 16:45 GMT/10:45 CST TechEdSat-8, and Unite are listed on Nasa's ELaNa site; https://www.nasa.gov/content/upcoming-elana-cubesat-launches and only Delphini-1 is listed as being coordinated(that I could find) ; http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru/ per the IARU site Delphini-1: Supporting Organisation Aarhus University – Department of Engineering Contact Person nh(a)eng.au.dk.nospam Headline Details: The Delphini-1 mission is a 1U CubeSat and is an educational and amateur radio mission with the purpose of teaching students and academic staff how to operate a nanosatellite in space, its electronics and all aspects of physics involved in space. Proposing a UHF downlink using9k6 GMSK. Planning a Nanoracks deployment from the ISS in October 2018. More details are available at http://projects.au.dk/ausat/delphini1/ **A downlink on 437.500 MHz has been coordinated** Application Date: 06 Jan 2018 Freq coordination completed on 25 Jan 2018 73 Christy KB6LTY

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Re: [amsat-bb] Operating SSB sats
by Ronald G. Parsons 06 Feb '19

06 Feb '19

One reason for some drifting, even with computer control. is not using up-to-date keps. Another is inaccurate time on one or both computers. But always be patient to those standing outside in rain or snow, and be patient with them. And always have fun. Ron W5RKN

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Re: [amsat-bb] Operating SSB sats
by Ronald G. Parsons 06 Feb '19

06 Feb '19

Umesh, A question and comment on your statement: > (b) Sometimes I hear a station calling CQ and it remains on the same > frequency during successive CQs, The method SatPC32 and HRD and others employ is keeping the “frequency at the satellite” a constant, varying your uplink and downlink frequencies as appropriate. In your statement above, do you mean by “on the same frequency” that you need not change your SatPC32 controlled frequency to remain tuned in to the CQing station? If so, then both of you are tuning to keep the “frequency at the satellite” a constant. This method is the preferred method of tuning for base stations. Mobile stations may not be able to do it. By keeping “frequency at the satellite” a constant, QSO’s with many participants can converse as easily as though they were on 20m. Ron W5RKN Umesh, If you can tune around and always hear your own downlink on the correct frequency, then you are doing everything right. 73, Paul, N8HM On Wed, Feb 6, 2019 at 12:42 PM k6vug at sbcglobal.net <k6vug at sbcglobal.net> wrote: > Good Morning All, > I'd like to understand something that seems to be happening with SSB > birds. > > I realize that they are two kinds of operators - one that has a computer > controlled station and one that tunes manually, and I respect both types. > The following observation is about two computer controlled stations working > via a SSB satellite - > > (a) My station is computer controlled (SatPC32 or HRD) and can hear myself > on the downlink throughout the pass. I can also go up or down the pass > band and still hear myself without needing to retune the uplink. It is > pretty rock solid, almost like HF operation. > > (b) Sometimes I hear a station calling CQ and it remains on the same > frequency during successive CQs, so I'm guessing their station is also > computer controlled. I can tune in and stay on their calling frequency. > > (c) However, when I can respond, it seems they have to tune their downlink > a bit to hear me well. So when they come back to my response, they are a > bit off-frequency (about 300Hz) and sound like Mickey Mouse, until I retune > the downlink to hear them well again. This keeps happening throughout the > QSO. > > (d) This "drifting" happens only with some stations calling CQ and not > everyone. > > Considering both stations are computer controlled at each end, I'm trying > to understand if I'm doing anything wrong/incorrect. Learning to operate > SSB sats has been humbling as well as exciting, I'd appreciate any pointers > for this situation. Thanks in advance. > > > 73! > Umesh > k6vug > >

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Operating SSB sats
by k6vug＠sbcglobal.net 06 Feb '19

06 Feb '19

Good Morning All, I'd like to understand something that seems to be happening with SSB birds. I realize that they are two kinds of operators - one that has a computer controlled station and one that tunes manually, and I respect both types. The following observation is about two computer controlled stations working via a SSB satellite - (a) My station is computer controlled (SatPC32 or HRD) and can hear myself on the downlink throughout the pass. I can also go up or down the pass band and still hear myself without needing to retune the uplink. It is pretty rock solid, almost like HF operation. (b) Sometimes I hear a station calling CQ and it remains on the same frequency during successive CQs, so I'm guessing their station is also computer controlled. I can tune in and stay on their calling frequency. (c) However, when I can respond, it seems they have to tune their downlink a bit to hear me well. So when they come back to my response, they are a bit off-frequency (about 300Hz) and sound like Mickey Mouse, until I retune the downlink to hear them well again. This keeps happening throughout the QSO. (d) This "drifting" happens only with some stations calling CQ and not everyone. Considering both stations are computer controlled at each end, I'm trying to understand if I'm doing anything wrong/incorrect. Learning to operate SSB sats has been humbling as well as exciting, I'd appreciate any pointers for this situation. Thanks in advance. 73! Umesh k6vug

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JPL news item on MARCOs
by christy hunter 06 Feb '19

06 Feb '19

NASA/JPL is still listening for the little Sats (they call cubesats) that accompanied the lander to Mars last year. https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=7327&utm_source=iContact&utm… 73 Christy KB6LTY

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ANS-037 Special Bulletin - Reminder ARISS/NOTA Slow Scan TV Event February 8-10
by JoAnne K9JKM 06 Feb '19

06 Feb '19

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE Special Bulletin - ARISS/NOTA Slow Scan TV Event February 8 - 10 ANS-037 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. You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/ans In this edition: * REMINDER - ARISS/NOTA Slow Scan TV Event February 8 - 10 SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-037.01 ANS-037 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin 037.01 From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. DATE February 6, 2019 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-037.01 REMINDER - ARISS/NOTA Slow Scan TV Event February 8 - 10 ARISS is running another of their popular Slow Scan Television (SSTV) experiment events. Transmissions began Friday, Feb. 8 at 14:00 UTC and are planned to run through Sunday, February 10 at 18:30 UTC. SSTV operations is a process by which images are sent from the Inter- national Space Station (ISS) via ham radio and received by ham opera- tors, shortwave listeners and other radio enthusiasts on Earth, simi- lar to pictures shared on cell phones using twitter or instagram. SSTV images are being transmitted from the ISS at the frequency of 145.800 MHz using the PD120 SSTV mode. These can be received using ham radio equipment as simple as a 2 meter handheld radio or a common shortwave or scanner receiver the covers the 2 meter ham band. After connecting the audio output of the radio receiver to the audio input of a computer running free software such as MMSSTV, the SSTV images can be displayed. Transmissions consist of eight NASA On The Air (NOTA) images and an additional, four ARISS commemorative images will also be included. See: https://nasaontheair.wordpress.com/ Once received, Images can be posted and viewed by the public at http://www.spaceflightsoftware.com/ARISS_SSTV/index.php You can receive a special SSTV ARISS Award for posting your image. See details at https://ariss.pzk.org.pl/sstv/ Please note that the event is dependent on other activities, sched- ules and crew responsibilities on the ISS and are subject to change at any time. Please check for news and the most current information on the AMSAT.org and ARISS.org websites, the AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org, the ARISS facebook at Amateur Radio On The International Space Station (ARISS) and ARISS twitter @ARISS_status. +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AMSAT and ARISS are currently supporting a FundRazr campaign to raise $150,000 for critical radio infrastructure upgrades on ISS. The upgrades are necessary to enable students to continue to talk to astronauts in space via Amateur Radio. We have reached a great milestone with $16,895 raised or about 11% towards our goal. This would not have been possible without your outstanding generosity!! For more information and to DONATE TODAY visit: https://fundrazr.com/arissnextgen?ref=ab_e7Htwa_ab_47IcJ9 +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ [ANS thanks ARISS and NASA on the Air for the above information]

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ARISS News Release (ANR) No. 19-03
by n4csitwo＠bellsouth.net 06 Feb '19

06 Feb '19

ARISS News Release No. 19-03 Dave Jordan, AA4KN ARISS PR aa4kn(a)amsat.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE US Schools/Groups Move Into Phase 2 of ARISS Selections February 5, 2019- The ARISS-US Team (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) is pleased to announce schools or organizations submitting proposals have been selected to advance to the next stage of planning to host amateur radio contacts from July to December 2019. The contacts will be with International Space Station (ISS) crew members using the ARISS equipment on the ISS. A review team of teachers from the ARISS-US Education Committee selected proposals after the recent proposal window closed. The groups will go forward to Phase 2, developing an amateur radio equipment plan to host a scheduled ARISS contact. ARISS's primary goal is to engage people in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) activities, and involve them in pursuits related to space exploration, amateur radio, communications, and associated areas of study and career options. After a recent ARISS contact, Joanne Michael, KM6BWB, at Meadows Elementary School in Manhattan Beach, CA, stated, "ARISS is such an incredible opportunity for students to gain a once-in-a-lifetime experience and real-world skills that they can use the rest of their lives. What a wonderful program!" ARISS anticipates that NASA will be able to provide scheduling opportunities for these US host organizations. The candidates must now complete an equipment plan that demonstrates their ability to execute the ham radio contact. Once their equipment plan is approved by the ARISS technical team, the final selected schools / organizations will be scheduled as their availability and flexibility match up with the scheduling opportunities. The schools and organizations are: 24th World Scout Jamboree West Virginia Council Rock High School South Holland, PA Galileo STEM Academy Eagle, ID Golden Oak Montessori Castro Valley, CA Lakeside Elementary School West Point, UT Loudon County Space Dreamers Ashburn, VA Pearsall High School Air Force Jr. ROTC Pearsall, TX Santa Barbara Public Library Santa Barbara, CA Sonoma County Library Rohnert Park, CA Traverse Area District Library Traverse City, MI University of Colorado Amateur Radio Club Boulder, CO Woodridge Middle School High Ridge, MO Young Scientists Program at USC Los Angeles, CA 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), the Center for the Advancement of Science in space (CASIS) and 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 public forms. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org. Also join us on Facebook: Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Follow us on Twitter: ARISS_status Media Contact: Dave Jordan, AA4KN ARISS PR aa4kn(a)amsat.org --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

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All power to the ISS!
by Ciaran Morgan 05 Feb '19

05 Feb '19

All, You may be aware of the MarconISSta project that has been running on the ARISS station in the Columbus module of the ISS - https://marconissta.com The project team have been informed that the experiment is due to be decommissioned on Feb 9th and Martin Boucher DJ1MBB, the lead for MarconISSta, has requested some support to help categorise the antennas on the ISS. If you have UHF tx capability and can track the ISS, please have a look at https://marconissta.com/2019/02/05/urgent-call-all-power-to-the-iss/ and help if you can. 73s Ciaran M0XTD

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Re: [amsat-bb] AO-85 status?
by Roy Dean 05 Feb '19

05 Feb '19

> > Just what is "Safe Mode"? Is it OK to make a call when the bird is in > safe mode? Safe mode is the beacon/TLM only, every couple of minutes. No point in attempting QSO's, as the transponder will not be on. The spacecraft can be placed in Safe Mode by a control operator, or it can switch in automatically depending on the status of onboard systems. If you hear "Hi, this is Amateur Radio Satellite Fox-1" (or something like that), then the transponder is on. If you hear "safe mode", then obviously the transponder will not be on. --Roy K3RLD

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Correction to ARISS News Release (ANR) No. 19-02 sent Feb 3, 2019
by n4csitwo＠bellsouth.net 05 Feb '19

05 Feb '19

Concerning the ARISS News Release No. 19-02 sent on Feb 3, please make note that the February 8 start time for the ARISS/NOTA SSTV Event has been changed from 18:25 UTC to 14:00 UTC. Dave, AA4KN ARISS PR --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

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