August 2023 - AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

Re: Antenna input requested
by Greg Davis 28 Aug '23

28 Aug '23

Greg, I'm quite new to this myself, but I would recommend a mid-point between those two options: a handheld antenna such as an Arrow or - what I use - an Elk. That approach works quite well and is a fraction of the cost of a full-on automated system with rotors, etc. 73 de Greg N3ZL On Mon, Aug 28, 2023 at 10:05 AM GC via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> wrote: > Folks, > Looking for some guidance. Been in the hobby for years but have never > spent the time with satellites - I'm wanting to start. I also have a 13 yo > daughter who just got her Extra here (KD9PDL) and she is asking about Q's > on the birds....so am trying to keep up with her interests as well. > > Can we expect reasonable results with some non-directional eggbeater or > wagon wheel antennas or should I go all in and invest in a couple of LEO > yagis and rotor? I I have the room for either setup, just wanted some > opinions from those that have the experience. > 73/Greg > N5IF > > > ----------------------------------------------------------- > > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > AMSAT-NA. > Acceptable Use and Privacy Policies available at > https://www.amsat.org/about-amsat/ > > View archives of this mailing list at > https://mailman.amsat.org/hyperkitty/list/[email protected] > To unsubscribe send an email to amsat-bb-leave(a)amsat.org > Manage all of your AMSAT-NA mailing list preferences at > https://mailman.amsat.org

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Antenna input requested
by GC 28 Aug '23

28 Aug '23

Folks,Looking for some guidance. Been in the hobby for years but have never spent the time with satellites - I'm wanting to start. I also have a 13 yo daughter who just got her Extra here (KD9PDL) and she is asking about Q's on the birds....so am trying to keep up with her interests as well. Can we expect reasonable results with some non-directional eggbeater or wagon wheel antennas or should I go all in and invest in a couple of LEO yagis and rotor? I I have the room for either setup, just wanted some opinions from those that have the experience.73/GregN5IF

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Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2023-08-28 13:00 UTC
by aj9n＠aol.com 28 Aug '23

28 Aug '23

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2023-08-28 13:00 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Bowman Middle School, Bakersville, NC, direct via W4GUZ 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 Steve Bowen KI5BKB (***) The ARISS mentor is AA6TB Contact is go for: Mon 2023-08-28 14:38:46 UTC 85 deg Augusta Preparatory Day School, Augusta, 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 Steve Bowen KI5BKB The ARISS mentor is AA4KN Contact is go for: Thu 2023-08-31 13:51:28 UTC 64 deg The crossband repeater continues to be active. If any crewmember is so inclined, all they have to do is pick up the microphone, raise the volume up, and talk on the crossband repeater. So give a listen, you just never know. 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 2023-08-28 13:00 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 2023-08-25 16:00 UTC. https://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf ####################################################################################################################################### Comments on making general contacts I have been seeing a lot of traffic on Facebook and I suspect on other social media sites with people asking why they are not hearing the crew make general contacts. First off the crew is very busy on the ISS and they simply may not have the time to just pick up the microphone and talk. Also, one needs to be aware of their normal daily schedule. I have listed below the constraints that we at ARISS have to follow in order to schedule the school contacts. Hopefully this will help you better schedule your opportunities. Typical daily schedule Wakeup to Workday start= 1.5 hours Workday start to Workday end=12 hours Workday end to Sleep= 2 hours Sleep to wakeup= 8.5 hours The crew's usual waking period is 0730 - 1930 UTC. The most common times to find a crew member making casual periods are about one hour after waking and before sleeping, when they have personal time. They're usually free most of the weekend, as well. SSTV events are not that often. So please check out https://www.ariss.org/ for the latest information or watch for the ARISS announcements. And don’t forget that the packet system is active. As always, if there is an EVA, a docking, or an undocking; the ARISS radios are turned off as part of the safety protocol. 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 **************************************************************************************************************************************** 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) Call for Proposals The next proposal window for US schools and educational organizations to host an Amateur Radio contact with a crew member on board the ISS opens February 20, 2023 for contacts to be scheduled for January 1, 2024 – June 30, 2024. This proposal is due to ARISS by March 31, 2023 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time. Find more information and proposal instructions, visit the ARISS-USA website at: https://ariss-usa.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact-in-the-usa/ 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 congratulates the following mentors who have now mentored over 100 schools: Sergey RV3DR with 214 Francesco IKØWGF with 150 Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 149 Gaston ON4WF with 124 Peter IN3GHZ with 115 Steve VE3TBD with 105 **************************************************************************** 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 1654. Each school counts as 1 event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 1562. 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. 68 on orbit Sergey Prokopyev Francisco Rubio Dimitri Petelin SpaceX Crew-6 on orbit Steve Bowen KI5BKB Warren Hoburg KB3HTZ Sultan Al Neyadi KI5VTV Andrey Fediaev **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors

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Re: Swapping Control Boxes
by mikflathead＠aol.com 28 Aug '23

28 Aug '23

I would switch the azimuth to the elevation side and see if that works. Mike On Monday, August 28, 2023 at 07:45:26 AM EDT, Vincenzo Mone via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> wrote: Hi all, Please I have actually a Yaesu G-5500B Rotator that The azimuth does not respond properly. I wanted to try to understand if the problem depended on the control box or the rotor. A friend of mine has a Yaesu G-5600 rotor and I wanted to know if I could use his G-5600 control box under my G-5500 rotors without damaging both his friend's control box and my rotor. I also noticed that the instruments of the two control boxes are different, Please any help will be really appreciated 73 de Enzo IK8OZV EasyLog 5 BetaTester EasyLog PDA BetaTester WinBollet BetaTester D.C.I. CheckPoint Regione Campania Skype: ik8ozv8520 ********************************* ****** GSM +39 328 7110193 ****** ***** SMS +39 328 7110193 ***** ********************************* ----------------------------------------------------------- Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Acceptable Use and Privacy Policies available at https://www.amsat.org/about-amsat/ View archives of this mailing list at https://mailman.amsat.org/hyperkitty/list/[email protected] To unsubscribe send an email to amsat-bb-leave(a)amsat.org Manage all of your AMSAT-NA mailing list preferences at https://mailman.amsat.org

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Swapping Control Boxes
by Vincenzo Mone 28 Aug '23

28 Aug '23

Hi all, Please I have actually a Yaesu G-5500B Rotator that The azimuth does not respond properly. I wanted to try to understand if the problem depended on the control box or the rotor. A friend of mine has a Yaesu G-5600 rotor and I wanted to know if I could use his G-5600 control box under my G-5500 rotors without damaging both his friend's control box and my rotor. I also noticed that the instruments of the two control boxes are different, Please any help will be really appreciated 73 de Enzo IK8OZV EasyLog 5 BetaTester EasyLog PDA BetaTester WinBollet BetaTester D.C.I. CheckPoint Regione Campania Skype: ik8ozv8520 ********************************* ****** GSM +39 328 7110193 ****** ***** SMS +39 328 7110193 ***** *********************************

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ANS-239 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Mitch Ahrenstorff (AD0HJ) 27 Aug '23

27 Aug '23

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-239 In this edition: * Cast Your Vote: 2023 AMSAT Board of Directors Election Ending Soon * Registration Now Open for Upcoming International AMSAT Conferences * Chandrayaan-3 Makes Historic Soft Landing on Moon's South Pole * SpaceX Launches Crew-7 Mission aboard Crew Dragon Endurance * Teams Hack U.S. Air Force Satellite in Space Cybersecurity Contest * Satellite Top 100 Rovers August 2023 Rankings * Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for August 25, 2023 * ARISS News * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Satellite Shorts From All Over The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, 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: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/ ANS-239 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins To: All RADIO AMATEURS From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation 712 H Street NE, Suite 1653 Washington, DC 20002 DATE 2023 Aug 27 Cast Your Vote: 2023 AMSAT Board of Directors Election Ending Soon There is less than a three-week window remaining to participate in the 2023 AMSAT Board of Directors Election. The voting process will conclude on September 15, 2023. To access candidate statements and the online Election Ballot, you can visit AMSAT's Wild Apricot membership portal at https://launch.amsat.org/2023-BoD-Election. In this year's election, four seats on the Board of Directors are open for consideration. Once the voting period concludes on September 15th, four of the candidates will take their places on the Board, along with an alternate member. The following individuals have been officially nominated: Barry Baines, WD4ASW Jerry Buxton, N0JY Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA Zach Metzinger, N0ZGO Frank Karnauskas, N1UW Upon clicking the poll link, you will be directed to your ballot or poll question. After selecting your preferred choices, simply click the Submit button to cast your vote. Unlike typical online polls, the results of previous votes up until your vote will not be visible. Each AMSAT member is entitled to one vote only. If you attempt to access the poll link again after casting your vote, you will receive a message confirming your vote has been submitted. The outcomes of the Board of Directors Election, including the total number of ballots cast, the vote count for each candidate, and the names of the newly elected Board of Directors members, will be publicly announced a few days following the conclusion of the election. [ANS thanks Jeff Davis, KE9V, AMSAT Secretary, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Registration Now Open for Upcoming International AMSAT Conferences + AMSAT-DL was founded in 1973, so this year we can look back on 50 years of space exploration. We have taken this as an opportunity to put this year’s symposium in a special setting. Ticket sales are now available at https://shop.amsat-dl.org. The Festive Conference and Symposium will be held Friday, September 15 to Sunday, September 17, 2023. With a view to the 50-year history of AMSAT-Germany and its mission of promoting amateur radio via satellites, the celebratory conference “From OSCAR 10 to OSCAR 100: 50 years of AMSAT-DL in service to science, research and education” will take place at the Bochum Observatory radome. Accommodations are limited, and the booking of the overnight stays is only possible via the AMSAT-DL store. See https://amsat-dl.org/en/ticket-sales-festive-conference-50-years-amsat-dl for more information. + AMSAT-UK is pleased to announce that the 2023 Colloquium will take place alongside the RSGB Convention at Kents Hill Park Conference Centre, Milton Keynes on the weekend of 14/15th October 2023. Full details of the Colloquium will be made available nearer the time on the AMSAT-UK website at https://amsat-uk.org. As in previous years, the AMSAT-UK Colloquium will run as a separate stream within the RSGB Convention and will include presentations on a variety of satellite and space related topics. Entrance to the RSGB Convention is managed by the RSGB and you will be required to purchase Day Tickets for the Saturday and/or Sunday to attend the AMSAT-UK Colloquium. These can be booked via the RSGB website at https://rsgb.org/main/rsgb-2023-convention. Early bird discounts are being offered by the RSGB via their website. + AMSAT will hold their 41st Annual AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting on October 20-21, 2023 at the Sheraton DFW Airport Hotel in Irving, Texas. The schedule will encompass an array of activities, including an AMSAT Board of Directors Meeting, AMSAT Space Symposium, AMSAT Annual General Meeting, AMSAT Banquet and Reception, AMSAT Member Breakfast, as well as the Friday Night Social and Auction. You can register online for individual events or all events at: https://launch.amsat.org/event-5363188. Rooms are available for check-in on Wednesday, October 18, with check-out on Sunday, October 22. The Standard room with a single King bed is currently SOLD OUT; act quickly to secure your reservations. Alternatively, the Standard room with two Queen beds is priced at $137.00* (excluding state and local taxes of 15%). To make phone reservations, call 972-929-8400 and request the RADIO AMATEUR SATELLITE rate. For online reservations, visit https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=16899566…. [ANS thanks AMSAT, AMSAT-UK, and AMSAT-DL for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ The 2023 AMSAT President's Club coins are here now! To commemorate the 40th anniversary of its launch on June 16, 1983, this year's coin features an image of AMSAT-OSCAR 10. Join the AMSAT President's Club today and help Keep Amateur Radio in Space! https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Chandrayaan-3 Makes Historic Soft Landing on Moon's South Pole In a momentous achievement, the Chandrayaan-3 mission by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) successfully executed a lunar landing, establishing India as the fourth nation to accomplish this feat. Amid palpable tension followed by jubilant cheers at the ISRO mission control center, the Chandrayaan-3 mission's robotic lander, known as Vikram, made a triumphant touchdown on the moon's surface near its southern pole at 12:33 P.M. UTC on August 23. The mission, launched on July 14, marked ISRO's determined return to lunar landing endeavors after the Chandrayaan-2 mission's unfortunate crash in 2019. With the safe landing of the spacecraft, India joins the ranks of the former Soviet Union, the United States, and China as countries that have successfully executed soft landings on the moon. A critical aspect of Chandrayaan-3's landing was its complete autonomy during lunar descent. Due to the three-second signal delay between the lander and Earth, Earth-bound engineers couldn't guide the landing in real-time. Vikram was tasked with reducing its orbital velocity to virtually zero, aligning with the intended trajectory for a secure landing. This required precise coordination of its engines based on continuous measurements of distance, velocity, and orientation. Learning from the lessons of Chandrayaan-2, ISRO incorporated increased redundancies and safeguards into Chandrayaan-3. The mission carried extra fuel and an improved guidance, navigation, and control system, capable of correcting significant deviations from the intended path. In-depth ground tests using helicopters and cranes further validated the changes made to 21 subsystems. The success of Chandrayaan-3 is particularly significant given the recent history of lunar landing attempts. Out of the past six attempts in the last five years, only four were successful. Notably, Russia's Luna-25 spacecraft crashed on August 19, joining the ranks of unsuccessful landers from Israel, India, and Japan. Chandrayaan-3's achievement aligns with the accomplishments of China's Chang'e 4 and Chang'e 5 landers, which have also found success in recent times. Sankaran Muthusamy, director of the U. R. Rao Satellite Center, ISRO's center responsible for the Chandrayaan-3 mission, stressed the responsibility to inspire both India and the world through this historic landing. Chandrayaan-3's intricate lunar descent involved four primary phases. The "rough braking" phase initiated when the craft was 30 kilometers above the lunar surface. It fired its four main engines for approximately 12 minutes, reducing its horizontal velocity by about 80 percent. A critical "attitude hold" phase followed, wherein smaller thrusters stabilized the lander to ensure accurate sensor readings. Chandrayaan-3 relied on redundant altimeters, one using lasers and another using microwaves, to determine its height. Microwave altimeters, with their wider coverage, enhanced the mission's accuracy. The successful mission is expected to propel India's lunar ambitions further. By signing the Artemis Accords, a framework for collaborative lunar exploration led by the United States, India has opened avenues for enhanced partnerships with other signatory countries. The success of Chandrayaan-3 also paves the way for India's potential collaboration with Japan in its upcoming LUPEX rover mission. This partnership aims to study water ice on the moon's south pole, contributing valuable data to future endeavors, including NASA's Artemis program. [ANS thanks Jatan Mehta, writing for ScientificAmerican.com for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- SpaceX Launches Crew-7 Mission aboard Crew Dragon Endurance SpaceX successfully launched the Crew-7 mission on August 26, 2023. Lift-off occurred precisely at 07:27 UTC (3:27 AM EDT) from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mission, also known as United States Crew Vehicle mission 7 (USCV-7), was orchestrated by SpaceX, the launch provider, for their customer, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). With this launch, SpaceX demonstrated its prowess in space technology, deploying its Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket and Booster B1081-1 for the mission. This launch was no ordinary event. It marked the 250th launch of a Falcon 9 rocket, accompanied by the 220th successful booster landing. Notably, it extended SpaceX's record for consecutive booster landings to an impressive 146. Moreover, Crew-7 marked SpaceX's 11th crewed mission, solidifying the company's position as a frontrunner in human spaceflight endeavors. The total number of humans launched by SpaceX totals 42 – the answer to everything! The Crew-7 mission aimed to bridge the gap between nations and space agencies. The spacecraft, aptly named "Endurance," carried a diverse crew from four different countries and space organizations: Commander Jasmin Moghbeli (KI5WSL): Raised in Baldwin, New York, by Iranian parents who emigrated in 1979, she holds a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from MIT. Commissioned as a U.S. Marine Corps officer, Moghbeli served as an AH-1 Super Cobra pilot, completing 150 combat missions. She earned a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School and became a helicopter test pilot at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma. Chosen for NASA Astronaut Group 22 in 2017, Moghbeli's journey led her to become the Commander of Crew-7 in 2022. Pilot Andreas Enevold Mogensen (KG5GCZ): ESA astronaut with a diverse background. He earned a master’s degree in aeronautical engineering from Imperial College London in 1999. Mogensen's professional journey saw him working as an engineer in various global locations, including offshore oil rigs in Africa and wind turbine control systems in Denmark. He was selected as an ESA astronaut in 2009 while contributing to spacecraft guidance and navigation research. Mogensen's space journey began with Soyuz TMA-18M in 2015, making him the first Danish citizen in space. Mission Specialist Satoshi Furukawa (KE5DAW): Distinguished astronaut with a medical background. Graduating from the University of Tokyo with a Doctor of Medicine in 1989 and a PhD in Medical Science in 2000, Furukawa practiced as an anesthetist and surgeon before his selection as an astronaut candidate in 1999. His medical expertise took him on his first space journey aboard Soyuz TMA-02M in 2011. As a veteran, he returns to space as a Mission Specialist for Crew-7 in 2023, contributing his medical insights to the international team. Mission Specialist Konstantin Sergeyevich Borisov: Cosmonaut with a diverse educational journey. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in Economics from the Russian Academy of Economics in 2005 and pursued a master’s degree in Operations Research and Systems Analysis at Warwick University, UK. Borisov's passion for aviation led him to complete a master's program in Life Support Systems for Aircraft at the Moscow Aviation Institute. Selected as a cosmonaut in 2018, Borisov's dedication culminated in his assignment as a Mission Specialist for Crew-7 in 2023. The Crew Dragon spacecraft, "Endurance," embarked on a journey to rendezvous with the International Space Station (ISS) in an orbit approximately 400 km above Earth. This mission further solidified SpaceX's commitment to reusability, with the booster for Crew-7, Booster B1081-1, being a new addition to the roster, demonstrating the company's capability to successfully launch humans using an unused booster for the fifth time. [ANS thanks Florian Kordina and Trevor Sesnic, writing for EverydayAstronaut.com for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Need new satellite antennas? Purchase Arrows, Alaskan Arrows, and M2 LEO-Packs from the AMSAT Store. When you purchase through AMSAT, a portion of the proceeds goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space. https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Teams Hack U.S. Air Force Satellite in Space Cybersecurity Contest The United States Air Force has successfully concluded its pioneering Hack-A-Sat competition, with three teams claiming victory and substantial cash prizes. The competition, which took place as part of the annual DEF CON hacking convention in Las Vegas from August 11 to August 14, centered on the task of hacking into an active satellite in orbit. This was a new level of challenge compared to previous editions that relied on simulated ground-based satellites. The spotlight shone on the small CubeSat christened "Moonlighter," collaboratively developed by the Aerospace Corporation and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory. This formidable space contender was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on June 5, 2023, concurrently with cargo bound for the International Space Station. Five determined teams squared off in the Hack-A-Sat contest, each striving to outsmart the defenses of Moonlighter and reap both prestige and monetary rewards. Emerging triumphant was the Italian consortium "mHACKeroni," a fusion of five Italian cyber research teams, whose accomplishment netted them the coveted first-place position and a princely sum of $50,000. Following closely in second place was the "Poland Can Into Space" squad hailing from Poland, pocketing $30,000 for their impressive performance. The third spot on the podium was clinched by the collaborative British-American force known as "jmp fs:[rcx]," whose strategic prowess earned them $20,000 in cash winnings. The essence of the competition was the penetration of Moonlighter's protective layers, enabling participants to override the satellite's predetermined scope of observation targets. Successful teams then wielded the power to direct the satellite's lens towards desired focal points on the Earth's surface, capturing images that were subsequently relayed back to ground stations. The significance of such competitions resonates in their contribution to fortifying the security of satellite systems. Col. Neal Roach, representing the Space Systems Command of the U.S. Air Force, emphasized the broader impact of the Hack-A-Sat initiative. "Hack-A-Sat has raised public awareness on the importance of space cybersecurity and has helped to strengthen the industry, security, and government partnership that we need to build more resilient space systems that will keep our nation and our world secure," he stated. The urgency surrounding satellite cybersecurity has grown in recent years, exacerbated by real-world incidents. In a troubling revelation, Elon Musk disclosed that SpaceX's Starlink satellites faced repeated cyberattacks, coinciding with Russia's actions in Ukraine. The history of cyber intrusions into satellite systems traces back to 2011 when two U.S. government satellites reportedly fell victim to suspected Chinese military hacking endeavors. [ANS thanks Brett Tingley, Editor for Space.com for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Top 100 Rovers August 2023 Rankings The August 2023 rankings for the Top 100 Rovers (All Satellites) in satellite operations, as determined by @GridMasterMap on Twitter, has been released. The ranking is determined by the number of grids and DXCC entities activated, taking into account only those grids where a minimum number of QSOs logged on the gridmaster.fr website have been validated by a third party. Grid numbers do not directly reflect the exact number of activations. Satellite operators are encouraged to upload their LoTW satellite contacts to https://gridmaster.fr in order to provide more accurate data. Updated: 2023-08-05 1 N5UC 26 KE4AL 51 JK2XXK 76 AC0RA 2 ND9M 27 N7AGF 52 DL2GRC 77 PT9BM 3 NJ7H 28 ON4AUC 53 M1DDD 78 A41ZZ 4 JA9KRO 29 KG5CCI 54 AD7DB 79 HB9GWJ 5 DP0POL 30 K8BL 55 VE1VOX 80 PT9ST 6 N6UA 31 N6DNM 56 AA8CH 81 5H3SE 7 DL6AP 32 KE0PBR 57 LU4JVE 82 KB2YSI 8 AD0HJ 33 WI7P 58 KM4LAO 83 9J2SEU 9 WY7AA 34 JO2ASQ 59 VE3GOP 84 DL4EA 10 HA3FOK 35 XE3DX 60 AM1SAT 85 DK9JC 11 K5ZM 36 EA4NF 61 KD8RTT 86 K4DCA 12 AK8CW 37 OE3SEU 62 FG8OJ 87 AB5SS 13 AD0DX 38 SP5XSD 63 N4UFO 88 PA3GAN 14 N5BO 39 VE1CWJ 64 N4DCW 89 K0FFY 15 N9IP 40 PR8KW 65 PT2AP 90 EC3TZ 16 WD9EWK 41 W7WGC 66 KJ7NDY 91 KF6JOQ 17 W5PFG 42 EB1AO 67 AF5CC 92 VE6WK 18 ND0C 43 F4DXV 68 N0TEL 93 CU2ZG 19 LU5ILA 44 JL3RNZ 69 VO2AC 94 KG4AKV 20 KX9X 45 KE0WPA 70 KI7UXT 95 KC7JPC 21 KB5FHK 46 K7TAB 71 KI7QEK 96 VE7PTN 22 LA9XGA 47 VA7LM 72 W8LR 97 YU0W 23 VE3HLS 48 AA5PK 73 XE1ET 98 VA3VGR 24 KI7UNJ 49 KE9AJ 74 WA9JBQ 99 WN9Q 25 DJ8MS 50 F5VMJ 75 VK5DG 100 V55QO [ANS thanks @GridMasterMap for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition? Get your AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff from our Zazzle store! 25% of the purchase price of each product goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for August 25, 2023 Two Line Elements or TLEs, often referred to as Keplerian elements or keps in the amateur community, are the inputs to the SGP4 standard mathematical model of spacecraft orbits used by most amateur tracking programs. Weekly updates are completely adequate for most amateur satellites. Elements in the TLE bulletin files are updated daily. TLE bulletin files are updated to add or remove satellites as necessary Thursday evenings around 2300 UTC, or more frequently if new high interest satellites are launched. More information may be found at https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources. This week there are no additions or deletions to the weekly AMSAT TLE distribution. [ANS thanks AMSAT Orbital Elements page for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS NEWS Amateurs and others around the world may listen in on contacts between amateurs operating in schools and allowing students to interact with astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station. The downlink frequency on which to listen is 145.800 MHz worldwide. + Upcoming Contacts Bowman Middle School, Bakersville, NC, direct via W4GUZ The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled crewmember is Warren Hoburg KB3HTZ The ARISS mentor is AA6TB Contact is go for: Mon 2023-08-28 14:38:46 UTC Augusta Preparatory Day School, Augusta, GA, direct via K4RGK The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be TBD The scheduled crewmember is Steve Bowen KI5BKB The ARISS mentor is AA4KN Contact is go for: Thu 2023-08-31 13:51:28 UTC The crossband repeater continues to be active (145.990 MHz up {PL 67} & 437.800 MHz down). If any crewmember is so inclined, all they have to do is pick up the microphone, raise the volume up, and talk on the crossband repeater. So give a listen, you just never know. The packet system is also active (145.825 MHz up & down). As always, if there is an EVA, a docking, or an undocking; the ARISS radios are turned off as part of the safety protocol. 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. 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. [ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors for the above information] -------------------------------------------------------------------- Upcoming Satellite Operations TF/DL2GRC: Got an email from Nina stating that she & the family will be heading to Iceland with operations scheduled to begin on Friday (18th). From Nina: We will do a trip around the Island and hope to be active on MEO, LEO and GEO: family, equipment, satellites and weather permitting. Operations can be expected between August 18th to 30th. Please keep in mind, it will be a family holiday and no DX-pedition. Look out for TF/DL4BEN, TF/DL8SCU and TF/DL2GRC. Stay tuned! To include your satellite roving plans in the AMSAT News Service Weekly bulletins, send them to Ian, K5ZM at k5zm (at) comcast (dot) net at least a couple of weeks in advance. Upcoming satellite operations are updated weekly on the AMSAT Upcoming Satellite Operations page but may expire before the next AMSAT News Service bulletin is released. You can watch for the latest roving information to become available at https://www.amsat.org/satellite-info/upcoming-satellite-operations. A growing number of satellite rovers are currently engaged in sharing their grid square activations on https://hams.at. By visiting the website, you gain easy access to comprehensive information about the operators responsible for activating specific grid squares. Additionally, you have the ability to assess the match score between yourself and a particular rover for a given pass, while also being able to identify the upcoming satellite passes that are accessible from your location. [ANS thanks Ian Parsons, K5ZM, AMSAT rover page manager, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events. + AMSAT-DL Festive Conference & Symposium (50 Years) September 15-17, 2023 Bochum Observatory Blankensteiner Str. 200A, 44797 Bochum, Germany + 2023 AMSAT-UK Colloquium & RSGB Convention October 14-15, 2023 Kents Hill Park Conference Centre Milton Keynes MK7 6BZ, United Kingdom + 41st AMSAT Space Symposium & Annual General Meeting October 20-21, 2023 Sheraton DFW Airport Hotel 4440 W John Carpenter Fwy, Irving, TX 75063 AMSAT Ambassador Clint Bradford, K6LCS, says, "Think a 75-minute presentation on "working the easy satellites" would be appropriate for your club or event? Let me know by emailing me at k6lcsclint (at) gmail (dot) com or calling me at 909-999-SATS (7287)!" Clint has NEVER given the exact same show twice: EACH of the 150+ presentations so far has been customized/tailored to their audiences. [ANS thanks Clint Bradford, K6LCS, and AMSAT for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + Russia's Luna-25 mission, launched from Vostochny Cosmodrome on August 10, has encountered failure as its spacecraft crashed into the Moon's surface during an attempt to land at the lunar south pole. This marks Russia's first lunar mission since 1976. The intended target was the Boguslawsky Crater near the south pole, and the spacecraft was equipped with instruments, including a robotic arm, to search for water ice up to 50 centimeters below the surface. The failure occurred after a command was sent to lower the craft's orbit, resulting in a loss of communication on August 19. Roscosmos confirmed the craft's collision with the lunar surface on August 20. Roscosmos plans to follow Luna-25 with a lunar orbiter, called Luna-26, and then two more landing missions: Luna-27, which will send a drilling rig to the lunar surface; and Luna-28, a sample-collection mission that aims to return material from the moon's polar regions to Earth. [ANS thanks Elizabeth Howell, Staff Writer for Spaceflight.com, for the above information] + On August 23, 2023, the Progress MS-24 cargo ship launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome carrying 2.5 tons of cargo for the International Space Station (ISS). This mission marked the third out of four Progress cargo ships planned for 2023. The cargo ship, designated as Progress MS-24, was launched using a Soyuz-2-1a rocket from Launch Pad 6 at Site 31 in Baikonur. It followed a sequence of stages, with successful booster separations, fairing jettisoning, and third-stage ignition, ultimately inserting the cargo ship into an initial parking orbit. Progress MS-24 arrived at the International Space Station’s aft port of the Zvezda service module at 11:45 p.m. EDT on August 24. The spacecraft will remain at the orbiting laboratory for approximately six months, then undock for a destructive but safe re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere to dispose of trash loaded by the crew. [ANS thanks RussianSpaceWeb.com for the above information] + Brown University students successfully demonstrated a low-cost solution to address space debris by reentering their cube satellite, SBUDNIC, into Earth's atmosphere. The satellite, developed by an academically diverse team, including undergraduates led by alumni Marco Cross and faculty member Rick Fleeter, deployed a plastic drag sail made from Kapton polyimide. This sail, acting like an umbrella, aided the satellite's descent and contributed to its early reentry. SBUDNIC was launched aboard SpaceX's Transporter 5 mission and reentered the atmosphere after just 445 days, about five years earlier than planned. The project's success highlights the potential for cost-effective measures to combat space junk and reduce the risk it poses to space vehicles. [ANS thanks Brown University for the above information] + NASA’s Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory-A spacecraft (STEREO-A), launched in October 2006, far outlived its mission life span of two years. Its orbital trajectory around the sun meant that it had a chance to do what very few other NASA spacecraft could: eventually make its way back toward home. This month, when STEREO-A passes between the sun and the Earth for the first time since its launch, it will be used to perform new research on the sun, aided by newer NASA satellites that have been developed more recently. When STEREO-A was launched, it viewed the sun during a solar minimum. That limited the number of coronal mass ejections and other phenomena that the spacecraft initially observed. This year, STEREO-A’s return has coincided with a period of intense solar activity. Earthbound instruments can only ever observe one Earth-facing slice of the sun at a time, while the rest of the rapidly changing solar surface remains obscured. The STEREO spacecraft, from its offset position, allowed scientists to capture a 360-degree view of the sun for the first time, research that is ongoing as long as this old bird continues to perform. (ANS thanks the Washington Post for the above information) --------------------------------------------------------------------- Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/ In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to: * Societies (a recognized group, clubs or organization). * 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 student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. * Memberships are available for annual and lifetime terms. Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional membership information. 73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space! This week's ANS Editor, Mitch Ahrenstorff, ADØHJ ad0hj [at] amsat.org

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ARISS News Release No. 23-42
by David Jordan 25 Aug '23

25 Aug '23

ARISS News Release No.23-42 Dave Jordan, AA4KN ARISS PR aa4kn(a)amsat.org FORIMMEDIATE RELEASE ARISSContact is Scheduled with Students at Bowman Middle School, Bakersville, North Carolina USA August25, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has receivedschedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboardthe International Space Station (ISS) and students at the Bowman Middle School locatedin Bakersville, NC. ARISS conducts 60-80of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around theglobe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS. Bowman Middle School (BMS) is a rural, public school in Bakersvillein northwestern North Carolina near the border with Tennessee and in the heartof the Blue Ridge mountains within the southern Appalachian Mountainchain. BMS has approximately 200students in grades 5 through 8. Inpreparation for this ARISS contact, BMS STEM faculty have implemented ISS/Spacetravel/Satellite related lesson plans. Students studied topics such as wavepropagation, doppler effect, gravity, speed of light, speed of sound, and participatedin building a scaled lunar module. Throughout the year, students have set up anHF/VHF ham station in the classroom, built wire and directional antennas, andparticipated in satellite QSOs using an Arrow 2m/432 MHz antenna. Experienced localamateur radio operators are supporting the school during this contact. This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions ofAstronaut Warren Hoburg, amateur radio call sign KB3HTZ. The downlink frequencyfor this contact is 145.800 MHz and may be heard by listeners that are withinthe ISS-footprint that also encompasses the relay ground station. The amateur radio ground station for this contactis in Bakersville, NC. Amateur radio operators using call sign W4GUZ, willoperate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection. TheARISS radio contact is scheduled for August 28, 2023 at 10:38 am EDT (NC) (14:38:46UTC, 9:38 am CDT, 8:38 am MDT, 7:38 am PDT). _______________________________ Astime allows, students will ask these questions: 1.Are you or anyone else up there doing research on any diseases that affecthumans? Are you aware of any research inspace that has helped to understand, treat, or cure a disease? 2.How are you trained to respond to a fire on the ISS? How do you get rid of theresidual chemicals, materials, and smoke? 3.What is your favorite space-themed movie or show? 4.How long have you been an astronaut and how long have you been on the ISS? 5.Are there ever any climate or weather-related research carried out on theISS? If so, what was the focus of theresearch? 6.How many ham radio operators are currently on board the ISS? How long have you been a ham radio operatorand what do you enjoy about it? 7.Can minor or major surgery ever be performed, if necessary, on the ISS? What are the procedures medical-relatedissues among the crew? 8.What is your educational background and field of study? How do you use this on the mission? 9.What is the typical mission length in months of an ISS astronaut? How long is the pre-training before thismission and how would you describe the pre-training experience? 10.Being an ISS astronaut has to be the highlight of your career, what do you wantto do in the future as far as space research or travel? 11.Who inspired you the most to be where you are today and why? 12.Were there any specific events that you saw that led you to become an astronauton the ISS? 13.What specific advice would you give to young people today? 14.What activities and food do you miss the most while on this mission? 15.Who was your favorite teacher and what made them special to you? 16.What is the size of the current ISS crew and what nations are representedcurrently? Did you have to learn any ofthe languages of the other astronauts? 17.Can you describe the training you went through inpreparing for the return trip to Earth and splashdown? 18.How do you maintain your health and fitness while on the ISS? 19.What advice would you give to a future astronaut about something they shouldknow that the training did not prepare you for, if any? 20.How are the crew and mission of the ISS an instrument of peace and hope in aworld full of conflict today? 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 Satellite Corporation(AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the ISS National Lab-SpaceStation Explorers, Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) and NASA’s SpaceCommunications and Navigation program (SCaN). The primary goal of ARISS is topromote exploration of science, technology, engineering, the arts, andmathematics topics. ARISS does this by organizing scheduled contacts viaamateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students. Before andduring these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities takepart in hands-on learning activities tied to space, space technologies, andamateur radio. For more information, see http://www.ariss.org MediaContact: DaveJordan, AA4KN ARISSPR Findus on social media at: Twitter:ARISS_Intl Facebook:facebook.com/ARISSIntl Instagram:ariss_intl Mastodon:[email protected] Checkout ARISS on Youtube.com.

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TEVEL-7
by david.greenberg 25 Aug '23

25 Aug '23

Hello All, TEVEL-7 FM transponder has been activated, starting from today, 25.08.23 19:45U for 72 hours.73,David 4X1DGנשלח מה-Galaxy שלי

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TEVEL-2
by david.greenberg 25 Aug '23

25 Aug '23

Hello All, TEVEL-2 FM transponder has been activated, starting from today, 25.08.23 19:20U for 72 hours.73,David 4X1DGנשלח מה-Galaxy שלי

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TEVEL-6
by david.greenberg 25 Aug '23

25 Aug '23

Hello All, TEVEL-6 FM transponder has been activated, starting from today, 25.08.23 18:30U for 72 hours.73,David 4X1DGנשלח מה-Galaxy שלי

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