December 2021 - AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

APRS satellite Lifetimes?
by Robert Bruninga 04 Dec '21

04 Dec '21

Joe, KM1P reminded us of the decay of NO-84 soon. It woiuld be nice to get an assessment of the remaining lifetimes of the remaining APRS satellites listed on http://aprs.org/sats.html Since I retired (and health issues),, I wont be building any replacements and have not been paying attention. Joe wanna take a crack at it? Bob On Wed, Dec 1, 2021 at 11:05 AM Joseph B. Fitzgerald wrote: > > There is a non Russian object threatening NO-84, specifically the earth's > atmosphere. Mean motion is now dangerously close to 16! Time for a > Chicken Little contest? > > de KM1P Joe

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Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2021-12-03 18:00 UTC
by aj9n＠aol.com 03 Dec '21

03 Dec '21

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2021-12-03 18:00 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Hino Elementary School & Canna Project-Canna School Contact Team, Suzaka, Japan, direct via 8NØCAN The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html The scheduled crewmember is Raja Chari KI5LIU Contact was successful: Fri 2021-12-03 10:02:22 UTC 44 Deg (***) Congratulations to the Hino Elementary School & Canna Project-Canna School Contact Team students and Raja! (***) About Gagarin From Space, students of the youth collective radio station of the city of Aznakayevo of the Republic of Tatarstan Aznakayevo, Russia, direct via RC4P (***) The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS (***) The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html The scheduled crewmember is Pyotr Dubrov (***) Contact is go for Sat 2021-12-04 12:15 UTC (***) South-Western State University, Kursk, Russia, direct via TBD (***) The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS (***) The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html The scheduled crewmember is Anton Shkaplerov (***) Contact is go for Tue 2021-12-07 13:05 UTC (***) Notre Dame Jogakuin Junior and Senior High School, Kyoto, Japan, direct via 8N3ND The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html The scheduled crewmember is Raja Chari KI5LIU Contact is go for: Thu 2021-12-09 08:33:35 UTC 83 deg DLR_School_Lab Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany, multi-point telebridge via DN2DLR The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be DPØISS The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html The scheduled crewmember is Matthias Maurer KI5KFH Contact is go for: Fri 2021-12-10 13:50:53 UTC 61 deg Savannah River Academy, Grovetown, GA, direct via K4RGK The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html The scheduled crewmember is Thomas Marshburn KE5HOC Contact is go for: Fri 2021-12-10 15:09:58 UTC 54 deg The next mode change to packet is expected to occur in early December. The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html ######################################################################################################################################## A multi-point telebridge contact means that each student will be on the telebridge from their own home. **************************************************************************************************************************************** ARISS is very aware of the impact that COVID-19 is having on schools and the public in general. As such, we may have last minute cancellations or postponements of school contacts. As always, I will try to provide everyone with near-real-time updates. Watch for future COVID-19 related announcements at https://www.ariss.org/ The following schools have now been postponed or cancelled due to COVID-19: Postponed: No new schools Cancelled: No new schools **************************************************************************************************************************************** Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time. All dates and times listed follow International Standard ISO 8601 date and time format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2021-11-30 19:00 UTC. (***) Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts, and questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and instructions for any contact that may be streamed live. https://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf https://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.txt The successful school list has been updated as of 2021-11-30 02:00 UTC. https://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf The ARISS webpage is at https://www.ariss.org/ Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site. The main page for Applying to Host a Scheduled Contact may be found at https://www.ariss.org/apply-to-host-an-ariss-contact.html +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ARISS Contact Applications (United States) Sept. 11, 2021 --- The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Program is seeking formal and informal education institutions and organizations, individually or working together, to host an Amateur Radio contact with a crew member on board the ISS. ARISS anticipates that the contact would be held between July 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022. Crew scheduling and ISS orbits will determine the exact contact dates. To maximize these radio contact opportunities, ARISS is looking for organizations that will draw large numbers of participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed education plan. The deadline to submit a proposal was November 24th, 2021 and has now closed. For future proposal information and more details such as expectations, proposal guidelines and proposal form, and dates and times of Information Webinars, go to www.ariss.org. 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 ISS National Lab and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEAM) 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. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ARISS Contact Applications (Europe, Africa and the Middle East) Schools and Youth organizations in Europe, Africa and the Middle East interested in setting up an ARISS radio contact with an astronaut on board the International Space Station are invited to submit an application from September to October and from February to April. Please refer to details and the application form at www.ariss-eu.org/school-contacts. Applications should be addressed by email to: school.selection.manager(a)ariss-eu.org ARISS Contact Applications (Canada, Central and South America, Asia and Australia and Russia) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Organizations outside the United States can apply for an ARISS contact by filling out an application. Please direct questions to the appropriate regional representative listed below. If your country is not specifically listed, send your questions to the nearest ARISS Region listed. If you are unsure which address to use, please send your question to the ARISS-Canada representative; they will forward your question to the appropriate coordinator. For the application, go to: https://www.ariss.org/ariss-application.html. ARISS-Canada and the Americas, except USA: Steve McFarlane, VE3TBD email to: ve3tbd(a)gmail.com ARISS-Japan, Asia, Pacific and Australia: Satoshi Yasuda, 7M3TJZ email to: ariss(a)iaru-r3.org, Japan Amateur Radio League (JARL) https://www.jarl.org/ ARISS-Russia: Soyuz Radioljubitelei Rossii (SRR) https://srr.ru/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ARISS is always glad to receive listener reports for the above contacts. ARISS thanks everyone in advance for their assistance. Feel free to send your reports to aj9n(a)amsat.org or aj9n(a)aol.com. Listen for the ISS on the downlink of 145.8Ø MHz unless otherwise noted. ******************************************************************************* All ARISS contacts are made via the Kenwood radio unless otherwise noted. ******************************************************************************* Several of you have sent me emails asking about the RAC ARISS website and not being able to get in. That has now been changed to https://www.ariss.org/ Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site. **************************************************************************** Looking for something new to do? How about receiving DATV from the ISS? Please note that the HamTV system has been brought back to earth for troubleshooting. Please monitor ARISS-EU or ARISS-ON for the very latest news on the troubleshooting efforts. If interested, then please go to the ARISS-EU website for complete details. Look for the buttons indicating Ham Video. http://www.ariss-eu.org/ If you need some assistance, ARISS mentor Kerry N6IZW, might be able to provide some insight. Contact Kerry at kbanke(a)sbcglobal.net The HamTV webpage: https://www.amsat-on.be/hamtv-summary/ **************************************************************************** ARISS congratulates the following mentors who have now mentored over 100 schools: Sergey RV3DR with 155 Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 142 Francesco IKØWGF with 140 Gaston ON4WF with 123 **************************************************************************** The webpages listed below were all reviewed for accuracy. Out of date webpages were removed, and new ones have been added. If there are additional ARISS websites I need to know about, please let me know. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school events is 1480. Each school counts as 1 event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 1408. Each contact may have multiple schools sharing the same time slot. Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 48. Please feel free to contact me if more detailed statistics are needed. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The following US states and entities have never had an ARISS contact: South Dakota, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas Islands, and the Virgin Islands. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ QSL information may be found at: https://www.ariss.org/qsl-cards.html ISS callsigns: DPØISS, FXØISS, GB1SS, IRØISS, NA1SS, OR4ISS, RSØISS **************************************************************************** Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing Doppler correction as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC https://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_correcti… Check out the Zoho reports of the ARISS contacts https://reports.zoho.com/ZDBDataSheetView.cc?DBID=412218000000020415 **************************************************************************** Exp. 64 on orbit Pyotr Dubrov Mark Vande Hei KG5GNP Exp. 65 on orbit Anton Shkaplerov SpaceX Crew-3 on orbit Raja Chari KI5LIU Thomas Marshburn KE5HOC Matthias Maurer KI5KFH Kayla Barron KI5LAL **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors

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Gpredict & adding satellites
by vk2pet＠internode.on.net 02 Dec '21

02 Dec '21

Hi all, Does anyone know how to add satellites to Gpredict on Linux 2004? The Satellites I'm trying to add are not any of list that gets downloaded from the database. I have the TLE's. The manual isn't helpful as well. 73's Pete Vk2pet

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thanksgiving request
by Robert Coppock 02 Dec '21

02 Dec '21

can we build a jammer satellite ? to jam radar and missile guidance systems so that no more military "mistakes' can shoot down a commercial airliner like MH-17 in 2014 ? things are getting kind of weird at the border again over there i and the innocent souls THANK you it was 283 passengers and 15 crew in 2014 The case will be tried in absentia as none of the suspects will appear at the Dutch court. Russia does not extradite its own citizens. It said the crash was caused by the detonation of a Russian-made 9N314M-type warhead carried on the 9M38M1 missile, launched from the eastern part of Ukraine using a Buk missile system. KFoG planning for the worst, hoping for the best 73

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SATPC32 and XW series Sats
by Richard Lawn 01 Dec '21

01 Dec '21

Not too long ago I had to replace my computer. All seems to be working well and I'm slowly getting back to working satellites. One thing I've noticed is that according to WinAOS in SatPC32 one or 2 XW birds should be in my sky but they aren't showing as operable in SatPC32. For example XW-2B is supposed to have a nice pass right now according to WinAos but it is not showing as available in SatPC32. I experienced this same problem with another of the XW series earlier today. ANy idea what's going on with my software setup? Rick, W2JAZ

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Remote Power cord ops
by Robert Bruninga 01 Dec '21

01 Dec '21

It is possible to set up portable operations up to 175; from the nearest mains. I found I can replace the 20' of #14 power cord that comes on the Home Depot cord reel with 175' of #18. Rated at 10 Amps the reel can still carry plenty of power the distance if precautions are followed and it can still fit under the car seat if needed. See details about 50% down my Emergency power web page http://aprs.org/FrankenVolt.html and join our emergency power discussion group on SolarDIY(a)groups.io . I'm giving these 175' reels and a 1 kW inverter to my kids for Xmas for backup power. My son's Chevy-Bolt EV can remote power his apartment if the grid goes down for over 64 hours from its large battery. My daughter's Prius Plugin-hybrid can provide power for days to a week depending on gas in the tank. Similar to info in my ARRL Pub on emergency power: http://aprs.org/Energy-Choices.html CAUTION: Such emergency uses are not NEC or UL approved Bob, WB4APR

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ARISS News Release No. 21-63
by David Jordan 01 Dec '21

01 Dec '21

ARISS News Release No. 21-63 Dave Jordan, AA4KN ARISS PR aa4kn(a)amsat.org FORIMMEDIATE RELEASE ARISSContact is Scheduled for Studentsat Hino Elementary School And Canna Project-Canna School Contact Team Suzaka, Japan December1, 2021—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has receivedschedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact with astronauts. ARISS is thegroup that puts together special amateur radio contacts between students aroundthe globe and crew members with ham radio licenses on the International Space Station (ISS). This will be a direct contact via amateur radio between students in Suzaka, Japan and AstronautRaja Chari, amateur radio call sign KI5LIU. Students will taketurns asking their questions. Local Covid-19 protocols are adhered to asapplicable for each ARISS contact. The downlinkfrequency for this contact is 145.800 MHZ and may be heard by listeners thatare within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the radio relay ground station. Amateur radio operators, using the call sign 8NØCAN,will operate the ham radio ground station for this contact. The ARISS radio contact isscheduled for December 3, 2021, at 7:02 pm JST (Suzaka, Japan), (10:02 UTC, 5:02am EST, 4:02 am CST, 3:02 am MST and 2:02 am PST). In 2020, studentsat Hino Elementary school along with students in 20 other Japanese schools(from elementary to senior high schools) participated in the Canna Project PeaceSpace Mission. This project consisted of sending seeds of the Canna plant tothe ISS then returning these seeds back to earth to be propagated by these samestudents (who had harvested the seeds). The Canna plant produces a bright redflower and was quick to colonize the area near ground zero after the atomicbombing of Hiroshima. The seeds were sent to the ISS via the SpaceX Falcon 9rocket on March 7, 2020 and returned to earth August 3, 2020. These returnedseeds, so called “Space Canna”, produced flowering canna under the care ofthese students. Their blooms symbolize a “baton of peace” and have been sharedwith students at the United Nations International School in Vietnam, theGallaudet University in the United States, and children in 16 other countries. ThisARISS contact (previously cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic) will facilitatethe school’s goal: inspiring students’ interest and curiosity in space. TheCanna Amateur Radio Club will be supporting the students during this contact. _____________________________ Astime allows, students will ask these questions: 1. What does space smell like? 2. What was it like when the rocketbroke through the atmosphere? 3. Is the feeling of weightlessness likefloating in a pool? 4. Do you ever feel nauseous while inzero-gravity? What is your favorite part of the ISS’s interior? 5. What is the most popular space food? 6. Canna seeds were planted and takento the ISS for five months and were returned to the Earth to continue growing here.Are there any affects to the growth of the plants which have been in space andlater returned to Earth? 7. Can plants, including canna, grow inthe ISS? 8. How does a plant vine grow in space? 9. I heard that the canna seeds that welaunched were held with Velcro, but are there any other items that are alsoheld together with Velcro? 10. Do you have any things like plantson the ISS to help you relax? If not, what kind of plants would you like tohave? 11. How do astronauts, who stay inspace, feel about the various things that happen on Earth while they are upthere? 12. What will you do if you get injuredor sick in space on the ISS? 13. Are there any viruses in space? 14. What would you like to do firstwhen you come back to Earth? 15. What kind of skills should Iacquire as a child to become an astronaut? _____________________________ ARISS – Celebrating 20 Years of Continuous Amateur Radio Operations onthe ISS About ARISS: Amateur Radio on the InternationalSpace Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radiosocieties and the space agencies that support the International Space Station(ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur SatelliteCorporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the ISS NationalLab-Space Station Explorers, and NASA’s Space communications and Navigationprogram. The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science,technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics topics. ARISS does this byorganizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard theISS and students. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators,parents, and communities take part in hands-on learning activities tied tospace, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org . MediaContact: DaveJordan, AA4KN ARISSPR Likeus on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. Search on Amateur Radio on the ISS and@ARISS_status. Checkout ARISS on Youtube.com.

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VUCC Awards-Endorsements for December 1,2021
by Ronald Parsons 01 Dec '21

01 Dec '21

Here are the endorsements and new VUCC Satellite Awards issued by the ARRL for the period November 1, 2021 through December 1, 2021. Congratulations to all those who made the list this month! CALL Nov. December VE7CEW 555 600 VE1CWJ 335 585 MI6GTY 462 579 N9FN 561 567 W8LR 500 526 KS1G 484 525 PV8DX 412 423 VE4MM 401 421 KE8RJU 256 417 KQ4DO 353 406 N6UTC 348 400 EA2AA 382 396 VE3KY 227 251 K6SFO 129 229 KC1MEB 207 225 HB9GWJ 102 206 NK1K 179 194 N8SGZ 100 150 KB3IAI 103 125 JH0BBE 100 112 WD9EWK (DM62) New 108 NK0S New 100 If you find errors or omissions. please contact me off-list at <mycall>@<mycall>.com and I'll revise the announcement. This list was developed by comparing the ARRL .pdf listings for the two months. It's a visual comparison so omissions are possible. Apologies if your call was not mentioned. Thanks to all those who are roving to grids that are rarely on the birds. They are doing a lot of the work! Ron W5RKN

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NO-84 threat notification
by Joseph B. Fitzgerald 01 Dec '21

01 Dec '21

Bob, There is a non Russian object threatening NO-84, specifically the earth's atmosphere. Mean motion is now dangerously close to 16! Time for a Chicken Little contest? de KM1P Joe

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Fwd: PCSAT Close Approach Notification
by Robert Bruninga 01 Dec '21

01 Dec '21

For what it's worth, since the Russian space littering event, I am getting almost daily Close approach alerts on PCSAT (is a high orbit, originally 800 km high). Alert miss-distances seem to be on the order of 200 to 500 meters Example Alert below at end.. Another day in space (after 20 years for PCSAT Semi-operational: http://aprs.org/pcsat.html Live downlink (W3ADO-1): http://www1.findu.com/cgi-bin/pcsat.cgi One minute serial nos (T#xxx), suggest a wake from1 to 8 minutes per orbit. PCSAT is unique in that is has no CPU or Operating system. It is just two off- the-shelf KPC9612 TNC's (chips in sockets, etc) and uses their built-in sysop features for telemetry, command and control. Follow-on APRS satellites: http://aprs.org/sats.html Bob, WB4APR ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: ...space-track.org> Date: Tue, Nov 30, 2021 at 2:40 PM Subject: PCSAT Close Approach Notification The United States 18th Space Control Squadron has identified a close approach between PCSAT (SCC #26931) and SCC #30230 Time of Closest Approach: 2021-335T02:20:51(UTC) Probability of Collision (Pc): 0.0003769653 Overall miss distance: 338.0m <end snip>

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