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

ARISS News Release No. 21-22
by David Jordan 17 Apr '21

17 Apr '21

ARISS News Release No. 21-22 Dave Jordan, AA4KN ARISS PR aa4kn(a)amsat.org FORIMMEDIATE RELEASE ARISS ContactScheduled for Students at Winmalee Public School BlueMountains, New South Wales, Australia April 17, 2021—AmateurRadio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received scheduleconfirmation for an ARISS radio contact with astronauts. ARISS is the groupthat puts together special amateur radio contacts between students around theglobe and crew members with ham radio licenses on the International Space Station (ISS). This will be a telebridge contact via amateur radio and students will take turnsasking their questions of Astronaut Victor Glover, amateurradio call sign KI5BKC. Englishis the language that will be used for this contact. Both onsite and remote access will beprovided to the student body at the time of the contact per Covid-19 guidelines.The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800MHz and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that alsoencompasses the telebridge station. ARISSteam member Jan Poppeliers, in Aartselaar, Belgium using radio call sign ON4ISS,will serve as the ARISS relay amateur radio station. The ARISS radio contact isscheduled for April 20, 2021 at 6:28 pm [AEST] (Winmalee,Australia), (8:28 UTC,4:28 am EDT, 3:28 am CDT, 2:28 am MDT and 1:28 am PDT). Winmalee PublicSchool (360 students, Kindergarten-Year 6) is one of five local primary schoolsin the town of Winmalee within the Blue Mountains, 80 km west of Sydney,Australia. Winmalee Public School’s STEM program curriculum includes a weeklySTEM Lab for Kindergarten through Year 6 taught by a specialist primary scienceeducator. Space-based studies also include lessons about the Solar system,space travel, space missions, and the future of space exploration. Inpreparation for the ARISS contact class lessons have focused on the ISS; how totrack its position in orbit (using applied mathematics), as well as learningabout the ISS astronauts and their roles. Other student activities included ISSmodel-building, designing promotional posters, and sharing their knowledge ofthe ISS with the local high school students. Students also participated in aspace trivia competition. _____________________________ Astime allows, students will ask these questions: 1.What is the best way to describe the feeling of microgravity? 2.How long does it take to travel to the Space Station from Earth? 3.Have you ever seen a meteor pass through Earth’s atmosphere from the ISS? 4.What experiments do you do at the International Space Station? 5.Has anything ever gone wrong or required you to take emergency action while youhave been on board the International Space Station? 6.What happens if space junk hits the International Space Station? 7.What personal items would you take into space if allowed…and why? 8.How many times a year do you get supplies delivered to the ISS? 9.What is the most difficult thing about being in space? 10.What do you do for fun up there? 11.As the ISS orbits the earth, can you see weather patterns like cyclones? 12.Do you grow plants in the space station? If so, how? 13.What is your daily routine on the ISS? 14.How are crew members chosen to go out on a space walk? 15.Which animal species are currently on board the ISS and what is their purpose? 16.Does seeing Earth from a distance give you and your crew a differentperspective on life? 17.What do you enjoy most about linking up with students from across the world aspart of this amazing ARISS program? 18.Many of my students have talked about their dream to become astronauts. Whatwould be your greatest advice for them? ARISS – Celebrating 20 Years of Amateur RadioContinuous Operations on the 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, sponsorsare the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio RelayLeague (ARRL), the ISS National Lab-Space Station Explorers, and NASA’s SpaceCommunications and Navigation program. The primary goal of ARISS is to promoteexploration of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematicstopics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew membersaboard the ISS and students. Before and during these radio contacts, students,educators, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, andamateur 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.

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ND9M/mm - Wet Grids - 4/17
by Clary, James T (Jim) 17 Apr '21

17 Apr '21

I'm planning to be on the AO-7 pass (CW) later today at about 17/2140Z from either FK01 or FK00, other passes up to mid evening should be FK00, and finally FJ09. I'll try to set up about 5 kHz above the center of each linear satellite's band segment. Our Canal transit will take most if not all day tomorrow (4/18). There are webcams positioned along the canal that update every 30 seconds or so as I remember it. Their web addresses are: https://multimedia.panama-canal.com/Webcams/aguaclara.html https://multimedia.panama-canal.com/Webcams/gatun.html https://multimedia.panama-canal.com/Webcams/cocoli.html https://multimedia.panama-canal.com/Webcams/Miraflores.html My ship is fairly large (675 feet long), and has five yellow-ish cranes on the main deck area, and a black hull with a white stack in the back. The stack has grey, blue, and yellow/gold horizontal identification stripes. The helicopter flight deck is at the back (stern) of the ship; its markings are all white and include a large landing circle. If the weather holds (possible showers), I'll have a 6-foot ladder set up in front of the landing circle where I operate from. If you happen to spot me at the ladder, please do a screen capture and let me know; it might make a good QSL! Please don't send attachments at this time however since our e-mail system is at its slowest capability because of minimized satellite connectivity. 73/Jim, ND9M

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Flying with HT
by David Jordan 17 Apr '21

17 Apr '21

I'll be flying Southwest airlines tomorrow and plan to take my TH-D72 HT along for the ride. This is my first time taking an HT in my carry-on backpack through security. Does this usually go smoothly or are there any pit falls I need to be prepared for? Dave, AA4KN Sent from AT&T Yahoo Mail on Android

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ND9M/mm - FK14 - CAS-4A/B
by Clary, James T (Jim) 16 Apr '21

16 Apr '21

By the time the second RS-44 pass ended, we still had another mile to go in FK15 before crossing into FK14. We're in FK14, so I'll be on CAS-4A and CAS-4B about 40 minutes from now. I'll target 5 kHz above the center of each band. 73/Jim, ND9M

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Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2021-04-17 00:00 UTC
by aj9n＠aol.com 16 Apr '21

16 Apr '21

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2021-04-17 00:00 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Winmalee Public School, Blue Mountains, NSW, Australia, telebridge via ON4ISS The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS 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 astronaut is Victor Glover KI5BKC Contact is go for: Tue 2021-04-20 08:28:39 UTC 81 deg ************************************************************************************************************* 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 2021-04-17 00:00 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 2021-04-07 16:30 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) New Proposal Window is February 15th, 2021 to March 31st, 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 January 1, 2022 and June 30, 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 is March 31st, 2021. Proposal information and more details such as expectations, proposal guidelines and the proposal form can be found at www.ariss.org. An ARISS Introductory Webinar session will be held on February 25th, 2021 at 8 PM ET. The Eventbrite link to sign up is: https://ariss-proposal-webinar-spring-2021.eventbrite.com The Opportunity Crew members aboard the International Space Station will participate in scheduled Amateur Radio contacts. These radio contacts are approximately 10 minutes in length and allow students to interact with the astronauts through a question-and-answer session. An ARISS contact is a voice-only communication opportunity via Amateur Radio between astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the space station and classrooms and communities. ARISS contacts afford education audiences the opportunity to learn firsthand from astronauts what it is like to live and work in space and to learn about space research conducted on the ISS. Students also will have an opportunity to learn about satellite communication, wireless technology, and radio science. Because of the nature of human spaceflight and the complexity of scheduling activities aboard the ISS, organizations must demonstrate flexibility to accommodate changes in dates and times of the radio contact. Amateur Radio organizations around the world with the support of NASA and space agencies in Russia, Canada, Japan and Europe present educational organizations with this opportunity. The ham radio organizations’ volunteer efforts provide the equipment and operational support to enable communication between crew on the ISS and students around the world using Amateur Radio. Please direct any questions to ariss.us.education(a)gmail.com. 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 congratulations the following mentors who have now mentored over 100 schools: Sergey RV3DR with 148 Francesco IKØWGF with 140 Satoshi 7M3TJZ 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 1436. Each school counts as 1 event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 1369. 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, 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. 63 now on orbit Kate Rubins KG5FYJ Sergey Ryzhikov Sergey Kud-Sverchkov SpaceX-Crew 1 on orbit Victor Glover KI5BKC Mike Hopkins KF5LJG Soichi Noguchi KD5TVP Shannon Walker KD5DXB Exp. 64 now on orbit Oleg Novitskiy Pyotr Dubrov Mark Vande Hei KG5GNP **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors

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ND9M/mm - FK15 & FK14 Tonight
by Clary, James T (Jim) 16 Apr '21

16 Apr '21

We're in FK15 right now, and I'm planning to be on RS-44/CW from this same grid on the next pass at 17/0023Z. We should cross into FK14 sometime around 17/0200Z. I should be on XW-2A at 17/0205Z and RS-44/CW at 17/0215Z. We're setting clocks back tonight for our first time change of 10 this trip. This time change makes CAS-4A and -4B passes around 0400Z possible. Grey cumulus clouds are starting to develop which is no surprise for this area, so I'll have to keep an eye on them. Even if I had some kind of shelter to cover the gear and myself with, I'm operating from a helo flight deck that's more than 100 feet above the water line not to mention waving the Elk antenna around. Ben Franklin I'm not! I'm estimating FK01, F010, and FJ09 for tomorrow late afternoon and evening. We'll transit the Canal (FJ09, FJ08, and FJ07) on Sunday. 73/Jim, ND9M

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Looking for design article on patch feeds
by w8kmx＠bellsouth.net 16 Apr '21

16 Apr '21

There was a gentleman, ham radio operator who was also a professor at a college in Kentucky or Tennessee or in that general area. He was noted for his design of antennas and specifically patch feed systems for satellite communications. He passed away several years ago but his articles are still circulating around. I am looking for his article on how to design and construct a patch feed for 1296. Does anybody remember this gentleman, his call sign, and can tell me where I can file an article? Thanks for reading Dan, WHKMX

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ND9M/mm - FK16, FK15, FK14 Today
by Clary, James T (Jim) 16 Apr '21

16 Apr '21

I'm going to try AO-7 on CW if it's in Mode B about 16/2050Z; we'll be in either FK16 or FK15 at that time. FK15 after that for XW-2A/D/F passes, and either FK15 or FK14 for RS-44/CW later on. We've lost our primary comms satellite, so my internet access is essentially nil for the next week to 10 days. E-mail should flow although it'll be much slower than before, and I can't even say when this note will actually get off the ship! 73/Jim, ND9M

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Re: Amateur Radio satellites for Beginners?
by Bob Liddy (K8BL) 16 Apr '21

16 Apr '21

Carl, I'm surprised you're not hearing any of the SATs, especially withyour setup. Some of them are quite strong and folks have heardthem with handhelds and worked them from mobiles using verticalantennas while in motion. Since moving to a new QTH, I have no home station at the moment.But when I'm roving and using an Arrow, the SATs are easy to hearand track. I use either AmsatDroid or Look4Sat on my phone and theyboth do a great job. If I were you and I just wanted to check if I could hear a SAT, here'swhat I would do. Pick a common SAT known to be active and well-usedlike SO-50. Set your RX VFO to 436.800 MHz FM. Set your antennaelevation to about 20 degrees. Look up the timing of a pass viewablefrom your location. Set the azimuth of your antenna in the direction ofthe middle time of that pass. At that time, you should hear SO-50 loudand clear with several stations making QSOs. Since you say that your setup works fine for terrestrial QSOs, you willsurely hear SO-50 if you have the pass time correct for your location andyou have the azimuth set properly. If you want to verify that your MACsoftware is accurate, check the pass info against the AMSAT predictioncalculation for your QTH on: AMSAT - AMSAT Online Satellite Pass Predictions | | | | AMSAT - AMSAT Online Satellite Pass Predictions AMSAT is a worldwide group of Amateur Radio Operators who share an active interest in building, launching and th... | | | GL/73, Bob K8BL On Friday, April 16, 2021, 03:03:38 AM EDT, Carl A Estey <carl(a)esteys.net> wrote: Bob - Thanks for your input. Right now I am using a TH-D72 handheld and GP-95 vertical and also the IC-9700 with the M2 LEO Pack. I hear nothing with either although terrestrial reception with both is fine. I am using MacDoppler software for tracking and have verified time and location. 73Carl WA0CQG On Apr 15, 2021, at 9:08 PM, Bob Liddy (K8BL) <k8bl(a)ameritech.net> wrote: Carl, The FM SATS are pretty easy and can be loads of fun. However, beingso easy, they get quite busy at times which brings about mayhem andchaos. It takes a while for new users to learn the proper operationalskills for using a single channel repeater available often nationwide. The Linear SATS are somewhat difficult to master at first, but most folkscatch on in a reasonable timeframe. They have a wide bandwidth whichmakes them available for quite a few QSOs to take place simultaneously.And, they can be actual QSOs as opposed to hello/goodbye types thatare the norm on the FM Birds. Your 9700 is an excellent radio for theLinear SATs, whereas an HT would have been sufficient for the FM ones. GL/73, Bob K8BL On Thu, Apr 15, 2021, 10:57 AM Carl A Estey <carl(a)esteys.net> wrote: What handful of Amateur Radio satellites should a newcomer focus on? The Amsat Current Status table lists 15 with current reports but many of those are telemetry only. Is there a current “Amateur Satellite Frequency Guide? My April 2019 is pretty out of date. I need to know what satellites I should try to hear in an effort to validate my IC-9700 and M2 Leo Pack system. 73Carl WA0CQG -----------------------------------------------------------

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EM75 next week.
by tjschuessler＠verizon.net 16 Apr '21

16 Apr '21

My wife and I will be traveling from North TX to East Central Tennessee this coming week to hang out at a lake house with our Bostonian kids. I will not do any operating from the road, but will try to do some EM75 passes during the Sunday, April 18 through Friday April 23rd time frame. Holiday style ops based on what we are planning to do for the day. Will update via this list and maybe Facebook. It may take a week or so after that to get contacts to LOTW so patience please. See you on the Birds 73 Tom, N5HYP

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