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ANS-273 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Mitch Ahrenstorff (AD0HJ) 29 Sep '24

29 Sep '24

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-273 In this edition: * AMSAT-UK to Provide FUNcube Lite Payload for Jovian-1 Satellite * AMSAT-EA HADES-R and HADES-ICM planned for Q1 2025 * NASA Gears Up for Europa Clipper Mission to Jupiter's Icy Moon * Artificial Star Mission Aims to Help Unlock Secrets of the Universe * GridMasterMap Satellite Top 100 Rovers October 2024 Rankings * Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for September 27, 2024 * ARISS News * Upcoming Satellite Operations * AMSAT Ambassador Activities * 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 https://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<http://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-273 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins To: All RADIO AMATEURS From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation 712 H Street NE, Suite 1653 Washington, DC 20002 DATE 2024 Sep 29 ________________________________ The 42nd Annual AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting will be held on Friday through Saturday, October 25-26, 2024 DoubleTree by Hilton Tampa Rocky Point Waterfront in Tampa, Florida. Click Here to Register Now<https://launch.amsat.org/event-5833792> [https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/DoubleTree-Tampa…] Rooms can be reserved at https://www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/radioamateursatellite/ If you're interested in presenting or submitting a paper, see the Call for Papers<https://www.amsat.org/2024-symposium/call-for-papers-2024/> webpage ________________________________ AMSAT-UK to Provide FUNcube Lite Payload for Jovian-1 Satellite AMSAT-UK has announced it will provide a FUNcube Lite payload for the Jovian-1 satellite, featuring a U/V FM voice transponder. Jovian-1, a 6U CubeSat, is being developed by Space South Central, a space cluster in the UK. The project is a collaboration between industry and academic institutions aimed at supporting the region’s space sector. Jovian-1 is part of the JUPITER program, which stands for Joint Universities Programme for In-Orbit Training, Education, and Research. The program involves the universities of Surrey, Portsmouth, and Southampton and offers students direct experience in the space sector. JUPITER prepares participants for careers in space, with a focus on practical training in satellite design and operations. The FUNcube Lite payload will collect telemetry data from the satellite’s subsystems, including radiation sensor readings and GPS information. The data will be transmitted to schools and colleges using the FUNcube data format. This will help track radiation levels across the satellite’s orbit and assess radiation effects on onboard electronics. [https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Space-South-Cent…]<https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Space-South-Cent…> Space South Central students will have the opportunity to design and launch the Jovian-1 satellite. [Credit: Space South Central] Students from Space South Central will design, build, test, and launch the Jovian-1 satellite. The satellite will use commercial S and X bands for its main communication, through a ground station at Surrey University. The FUNcube Lite payload will operate on UHF and VHF amateur radio frequencies. When not gathering telemetry, it can switch to a U/V mode FM voice transponder, enabling communication for radio amateurs. The project emphasizes the role of regional space clusters in advancing the UK space industry. Space South Central represents over 170 space-related businesses in the region. The mission allows students to conduct satellite operations from the University of Surrey’s ground station, bridging academic study with hands-on experience. More information about the Jovian-1 mission and the FUNcube Lite payload will be shared at the AMSAT-UK Colloquium on October 12-13, 2024. The event will provide detailed updates on the satellite’s development and its technical components, offering insights for anyone interested in amateur radio and satellite communications. For more information: * Space South Central: spacesouthcentral.com<https://www.spacesouthcentral.com/news/universities-launch-pioneering-space…> * University of Surrey: surrey.ac.uk<https://www.surrey.ac.uk/> * University of Portsmouth: port.ac.uk<https://www.port.ac.uk/> * University of Southampton: southampton.ac.uk<https://www.southampton.ac.uk/> [ANS thanks Dave Johnson, G4DPZ, Honorary Secretary, AMSAT-UK<https://amsat-uk.org/> , for the above information] ________________________________ AMSAT-EA HADES-R and HADES-ICM planned for Q1 2025 AMSAT-EA has announced the upcoming launch of two new satellites, HADES-R and HADES-ICM, which will be made available to radio amateurs in early 2025. These satellites are set to replace the current HADES-D (SO-121) satellite in orbit. Unlike HADES-D, which transmits at a power level of 40mW, the new satellites will have variable transmission power, reaching up to theoretical 250mW when fully charged. The HADES-R and HADES-ICM satellites, classified as 1.5p pocketQubes, will be launched by SpaceX on its Transporter-12 and Transporter-13 missions. The launches will utilize D-Orbit's ION orbital transfer vehicle (OTV), with mission management provided by Alba Orbital, a Scottish company specializing in satellite launch solutions. As with previous AMSAT-EA projects, these satellites have been developed with the support of private companies and universities. Both satellites will support a wide range of communications capabilities, including FM voice, FSK, FT-4, and FT-8 modes. They will also be equipped to handle AX.25/APRS communications at both 300 and 1200 bps. The uplink for the satellites will be in the VHF band, while the downlink will operate in the UHF band. Additionally, the satellites will transmit telemetry data, including status updates, voice messages, and CW messages. All communications will be managed through an SDR-based FM and FSK repeater, which will be available at all times, activated by squelch level without the need for a subtone. In addition to their primary communications functions, both satellites will carry a scientific experiment from the Smart IR/Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC) at the University of Manchester. This experiment will test a very low-power active radiator under space conditions. HADES-ICM has received sponsorship from IcMercury (Interstellar Communication Holdings), based in Florida, and will feature several challenge messages embedded within the FSK telemetry. While the HADES-R satellite has already been coordinated by the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU), HADES-ICM is still pending approval. [ANS thanks Félix Páez, EA4GQS, President / Mission Manager, AMSAT-EA<https://www.amsat-ea.org/>, for the above information] ________________________________ NASA Gears Up for Europa Clipper Mission to Jupiter's Icy Moon NASA is set to launch the Europa Clipper mission, a groundbreaking effort to explore Jupiter's icy moon, Europa. Slated for liftoff as early as October 10, 2024, the spacecraft will be carried into space by a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mission aims to uncover the mysteries of Europa’s hidden ocean and assess whether the moon could host conditions favorable for life. Europa Clipper’s journey will take six years to reach the Jupiter system. Once there, it will enter an orbit around Jupiter, performing dozens of flybys of Europa. The spacecraft’s suite of instruments will probe beneath the moon’s icy shell to study its subsurface ocean. By mapping the moon and investigating its potential habitability, NASA hopes to shed light on one of the most intriguing questions in planetary science: whether life could exist on other worlds. [https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Europa-Clipper-P…]<https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Europa-Clipper-P…> NASA reported that Europa Clipper passed its pre-launch review on September 9th. [Credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett] The mission is significant because Europa is thought to possess all the ingredients necessary for life. Beneath its thick ice lies a vast, salty ocean, which may contain more water than all of Earth’s oceans combined. The moon’s subsurface environment could offer the energy, liquid water, and organic compounds required to support life. Although Europa is smaller than Earth’s moon, its potential to harbor a habitable environment makes it a prime target for exploration. To reach Jupiter, Europa Clipper will rely on two gravity assists. In 2025, it will pass within 1,000 kilometers of Mars to adjust its trajectory, followed by a close flyby of Earth in 2026. These maneuvers will boost the spacecraft’s speed and guide it toward the Jupiter system, where it is expected to arrive in 2030. Instead of orbiting Europa directly, the spacecraft will remain in orbit around Jupiter, occasionally dipping into the planet’s intense radiation field for close encounters with Europa. [https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Jupiter-Europa-H…]<https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Jupiter-Europa-H…> View of Jupiter's moon Europa captured by NASA's Galileo spacecraft. [Credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona] Once in the Jupiter system, Europa Clipper will conduct over 40 flybys of Europa, approaching as close as 25 kilometers above its surface. The spacecraft’s instruments are designed to withstand the harsh radiation environment, with most being housed in a protective radiation vault. Each flyby will gather detailed data, providing new insights into the moon’s ice-covered ocean and the possibility of life beneath its surface. The spacecraft’s science instruments include ice-penetrating radar to map Europa’s icy shell and magnetic sensors to confirm the presence of its ocean. High-resolution cameras and spectrometers will analyze the moon's surface and search for water vapor plumes that may erupt from below. Although Europa Clipper is not officially a life-detection mission, it promises to transform our understanding of habitability beyond Earth. [ANS thanks Kate Howells, The Planetary Society<https://www.planetary.org/>, for the above information] ________________________________ The 2024 AMSAT President’s Club coins are here now! Help Support GOLF and Fox Plus [https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2024-Coin-Both_5…] Join the AMSAT President's Club today and help Keep Amateur Radio in Space! https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/ ________________________________ Artificial Star Mission Aims to Help Unlock Secrets of the Universe NASA is embarking on an ambitious mission that could reshape our understanding of the universe with the help of a small, human-made satellite. Researchers at George Mason University are leading a $19.5 million NASA-funded project to launch an "artificial star" into space. The goal of this satellite, once it reaches orbit, is to appear as a star to telescopes on Earth, allowing scientists to gather more precise data on stellar brightness. The mission could unlock critical insights into the age, size, and scale of stars, offering fresh clues about the expansion of the universe and even the potential for extraterrestrial life. The so-called artificial star will be positioned in geostationary orbit, approximately 22,236 miles from Earth. While it won’t be visible to the naked eye, telescopes will be able to track the satellite as it moves at the same speed as Earth’s rotation, staying positioned over the U.S. Named in honor of the late astronomer Arlo Landolt, known for his work in stellar calibration, the satellite will spend its first year in space using advanced technology to monitor the brightness of millions of stars. This will allow astronomers to refine existing models for measuring stellar evolution and the universe’s expansion. [https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/NASAs-Landolt-Sa…]<https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/NASAs-Landolt-Sa…> NASA's Landolt mission will help researchers study star brightness. [Credit: George Mason University] Equipped with a sophisticated array of lasers, the satellite will serve as a controlled reference point for researchers on Earth. It will enhance the accuracy of brightness measurements, providing data that cannot be gathered from ground-based telescopes alone. According to Peter Plavchan, the primary investigator of the Landolt NASA Space Mission at George Mason, this mission represents a breakthrough in how stars and even distant supernovae are studied. “Such measurements can only be achieved by a space-based orbiting artificial star,” Plavchan said. The mission, part of NASA’s Pioneers program, marks a significant milestone for George Mason University. This is the university's first time leading such a mission, with NASA providing oversight and key technical support. George Mason is collaborating with the National Institute of Standards and Technology and 10 other universities to develop the satellite, which will face significant engineering challenges in high orbit. “Our team will design, build, and integrate the payload,” said Peter Pachowicz, an engineering professor at George Mason. “It’s an incredibly exciting opportunity.” [https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Arlo-Landolt-Kit…]<https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Arlo-Landolt-Kit…> Astronomer Arlo Landolt had compiled widely used catalogs of stellar brightness. [Credit: NOIRLab] One of the broader goals of the Landolt mission is to contribute to the search for habitable planets. By analyzing how stars influence planetary environments, the satellite could help scientists better understand where in the universe conditions might be suitable for life. Astronomers are particularly interested in so-called habitable or “Goldilocks” zones, where planets could have the right conditions—neither too hot nor too cold—to support liquid water, a key ingredient for life. Understanding how stars affect these zones is essential to identifying planets that may harbor life. While the mission has the potential to revolutionize the field of astronomy, it also poses big challenges. Finding definitive evidence of life beyond Earth requires precise measurements of stellar properties, such as how much energy a star emits and how close a planet is to that star. "There are so many big questions in astronomy: How did we get here? Are there other planets like ours? Do aliens exist?" said Jamie Tayar, an astronomer at the University of Florida, a partner in the mission. With the launch of the artificial star planned for 2029, the team hopes to get one step closer to answering these profound questions. [ANS thanks Eric Lagatta, USA Today<https://www.usatoday.com/>, for the above information] ________________________________ GridMasterMap Satellite Top 100 Rovers October 2024 Rankings The October 2024 rankings for the Top 100 Rovers (Mixed LEO/MEO/GEO) in satellite operations, as determined by @GridMasterMap<https://x.com/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<https://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: 2024-09-27 1 ND9M 26 KX9X 51 N6DNM 76 LU4JVE 2 NJ7H 27 ON4AUC 52 JK2XXK 77 AA8CH 3 JA9KRO 28 KG5CCI 53 EB1AO 78 VE1VOX 4 UT1FG 29 N5BO 54 SM3NRY 79 FG8OJ 5 N5UC 30 K8BL 55 EA4NF 80 PT9BM 6 DL6AP 31 KE4AL 56 JL3RNZ 81 KJ7NDY 7 OE3SEU 32 KB5FHK 57 XE1ET 82 KI7UXT 8 WI7P 33 VE3HLS 58 AA5PK 83 YU0W 9 DP0POL 34 KI0KB 59 DF2ET 84 KB2YSI 10 K5ZM 35 KI7UNJ 60 KI7QEK 85 N6UTC 11 N6UA 36 LA9XGA 61 SP5XSD 86 WA9JBQ 12 HA3FOK 37 F4BKV 62 F4DXV 87 N4DCW 13 WY7AA 38 PA3GAN 63 AD7DB 88 JM1CAX 14 N9IP 39 JO2ASQ 64 VE1CWJ 89 VE3GOP 15 W5PFG 40 N7AGF 65 KE9AJ 90 N0TEL 16 AK8CW 41 BA1PK 66 N8RO 91 KG4AKV 17 DL2GRC 42 VK5DG 67 VA7LM 92 K6VHF 18 AD0DX 43 XE3DX 68 KM4LAO 93 K0FFY 19 F5VMJ 44 KE0WPA 69 W1AW 94 CU2ZG 20 N4AKV 45 PR8KW 70 W8LR 95 VE7PTN 21 WD9EWK 46 K7TAB 71 N4UFO 96 AF5CC 22 ND0C 47 KE0PBR 72 DL4EA 97 VE6WK 23 AD0HJ 48 VA3VGR 73 HB9GWJ 98 W8MTB 24 LU5ILA 49 AC0RA 74 PT2AP 99 DK9JC 25 DJ8MS 50 W7WGC 75 M1DDD 100 BG7QIW [ANS thanks @GridMasterMap<https://x.com/GridMasterMap> for the above information] ________________________________ Need new satellite antennas? Purchase an M2 LEO-Pack from the AMSAT Store!<https://www.amsat.org/shop/> [https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/cm/LEO-Pack1-300x298.png]<https://www.amsat.org/product/m2-leo-pack-antenna-system/> When you purchase through AMSAT, a portion of the proceeds goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space. https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/ ________________________________ Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for September 27, 2024 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. TLE bulletin files are updated daily in the first hour of the UTC day. New bulletin files will be posted immediately after reliable elements become available for new amateur satellites. More information may be found at https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/. This week there are no additions or deletions to the 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. + Recently Completed Contacts Amur State University, Blagoveshchensk, Russia, direct via RKØJ The ISS callsign was RSØISS The scheduled crewmember was Ivan Vagner The ARISS mentor is RV3DR Contact was successful for: Tue 2024-09-24 09:24 UTC Tatarstan, Russia, direct via TBD The ISS callsign was RSØISS The scheduled crewmember was Aleksey Ovchinin The ARISS mentor is RV3DR Contact is successful for: Fri 2024-09-27 13:20 UTC Khazar University, Dunya School, Baku, Azerbaijan, direct via 4K6EH The ISS callsign was OR4ISS The scheduled crewmember was Sunita Williams KD5PLB The ARISS mentor is IN3GHZ Contact was successful for: Sat 2024-09-28 09:13:29 UTC + Upcoming Contacts СОНКО АНО "Clean and Simple" and the Cultural and Leisure Center "Flying Saucer", Shchyolkovo, Russia, direct via TBD The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS The scheduled crewmember is Alexander Gorbunov The ARISS mentor is RV3DR Contact is go for Fri 2024-10-04 10:50 UTC Girlguiding Surrey West County, Shepperton, UK, direct via GB4GGB The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled crewmember is Sunita Williams KD5PLB The ARISS mentor is MØXTD Contact is go for: Sat 2024-10-05 13:06:22 UTC Watch for Livestream at https://live.ariss.org/ Centre de Formation de la Base Aérienne de Payerne, Payerne, Switzerland, direct via HB9SPACE The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS The scheduled crewmember is Mike Barratt KD5MIJ The ARISS mentor is IN3GHZ Contact is go for: Sat 2024-10-05 14:44:48 UTC 213 RCSCC Qu’Appelle (Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corp), Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, telebridge via K6DUE The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled crewmember is Jeanette Epps KF5QNU The ARISS mentor is VE6JBJ Contact is go for: 2024-10-05 16:06:05 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). APRS is currently online, but may be impacted for an experiment in the Service Module after September 27th. 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 None currently listed. 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] ________________________________ AMSAT Ambassador Activities AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events. AMSAT Ambassador Clint Bradford, K6LCS, says, Just completed presenting my satellite show to the Sandton Amateur Radio Club in South Africa - via Zoom. And what a marvelous group they are! Keith ZS6HI was my contact. Great questions throughout from the Zoom audience. From Keith: "Thank you very much Clint and Karen. Wonderful presentation. You did a lot of research and preparation to put a South African spin on the presentation and spent effort on learning about the SARL, Sandton Club and South African Amateur Radio community beforehand." “SARL” is South Africa's “ARRL.” And there is an active AMSAT Chapter there, too! That was Presentation Number 175 … more are scheduled! Think a lively, informative, and fun presentation on working the “easy” satellites with minimal equipment would be appropriate for your club or convention? Clint Bradford K6LCS AMSAT Ambassador ARRL Affiliated Club Coordinator, benefactor work-sat.com<http://work-sat.com> 909-999-SATS (909-999-7287) North Star Radio Convention - October 5th, 2024 Hennepin Technical College (North Campus) 9000 Brooklyn Boulevard Brooklyn Park, MN 55445 https://conv2023.tcfmc.org/ AMSAT Forum and Information Table / KØJM and ADØHJ Central Kentucky Hamfest - October 5th, 2024 Highlands Baptist Church 2032 Parallel Road Lexington, KY 40502 https://www.facebook.com/w9khz/ AMSAT and Educational Satellites Forum and Information Table / AI4SR and W4FCL Radio Society of Tucson - October 5th, 2024 Calvary Tucson Church 8711 East Speedway Boulevard Tucson AZ 85710 https://k7rst.club/2024/07/tucson-autumn-ham-fest-2024/ N1UW Pacificon 2024, ARRL Pacific Division Conference - October 18th thru 20th, 2024 San Ramon Marriott 2600 Bishop Drive San Ramon, CA 94583 https://www.pacificon.org/ WU0I 2024 AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting - October 25th thru 27th, 2024 Doubletree by Hilton Tampa Rocky Point Waterfront 3050 N Rocky Point Drive West Tampa, FL 33607 https://www.amsat.org/ Stone Mountain Hamfest, ARRL State Convention - November 2nd and 3rd, 2024 Gwinnett County Fairgrounds 2405 Sugarloaf Parkway Lawrenceville, GA 30042 https://stonemountainhamfest.com/ K4RGK Oro Valley Amateur Radio Club - November 9th, 2024 Marana Middle School 11285 West Grier Road Marana, AZ 85653 https://www.tucsonhamradio.org/copy-of-hamfest-2022 N1UW Yuma HAMCON - February 20th thru 22nd, 2025 Yuma, AZ N1UW [ANS thanks Bo Lowrey, W4FCL, Director – AMSAT Ambassador Program, for the above information] ________________________________ Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition? Get an AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff from our Zazzle store<https://www.zazzle.com/store/amsat_gear>! 25% of the purchase price of each product goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space [https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/AMSAT-Car-Flag-e…]<https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_car_flag-256716714380264543> Keeping Amateur Radio in Space https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear ________________________________ Satellite Shorts From All Over + Congratulations are in order for Jerry Oliver, KJ4EU for his impressive accomplishments in earning GridMaster Award #70! This esteemed recognition, initiated by Star Comm Group in 2014 and backed by Damon Runion, WA4HFN, and Rick Tillman, WA4NVM, has now been entrusted to AMSAT for the benefit of the entire amateur satellite community. The GridMaster Award celebrates radio amateurs worldwide who achieve two-way communication via amateur satellite with operators in all 488 Maidenhead grids across the contiguous United States of America. For more details on this distinguished award, visit the AMSAT website at https://www.amsat.org/gridmaster/. Jerry, your achievement is truly commendable—well done! (ANS thanks Bruce Paige, KK5DO, AMSAT Director of Contests and Awards for the above information) + Congratulations to Nina Riethmueller, DL2GRC, for her outstanding achievements in providing satellite contacts! Nina has roved an impressive 102 grid squares, earning her the AMSAT VUCC/r Award #18. The Reverse VUCC or VUCC/r Award, originally introduced by the Central States VHF Society and now carried on by AMSAT, recognizes the dedication of satellite rovers like Nina. For more information about this prestigious award, you can visit the AMSAT website at https://www.amsat.org/reverse-vucc-or-vucc-r-award. Keep on roving, Nina, and continue to inspire others in the AMSAT community with your remarkable achievements! (ANS thanks Bruce Paige, KK5DO, AMSAT Director of Contests and Awards for the above information) + NASA’s Voyager 1 spacecraft, which has been in space since 1977, recently experienced issues with its thrusters due to clogged fuel tubes caused by aging. The thrusters, which are essential for keeping the spacecraft pointed toward Earth, use liquid hydrazine that releases in puffs to adjust its orientation. Engineers discovered that one set of thrusters had become clogged with silicon dioxide from the spacecraft’s fuel tank, necessitating a switch to a different set. However, due to power and temperature constraints, turning on the replacement thrusters required careful planning. The team successfully activated non-essential heaters to warm up the thrusters, making the switch on August 27, 2024. This complex operation ensures Voyager 1 can continue its mission, providing valuable data from interstellar space despite its advanced age and limited power. (ANS thanks NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory<https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/> for the above information) + The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) recently reached a milestone, processing its 1,000th satellite frequency coordination request. This achievement underscores the IARU’s essential role in managing radio frequencies for amateur satellites, ensuring optimal performance and minimal interference with terrestrial services. Since the late 1990s, the IARU’s Satellite Frequency Coordination Panel has collaborated with satellite developers and regulators to facilitate successful amateur communication and educational satellite missions. The rise of CubeSats and the drop in launch costs have increased the demand for careful spectrum management. The dedication of IARU volunteers and the global amateur radio community has made this possible, ensuring continued opportunities for education, communication, and scientific research. As Earth's orbit becomes more crowded, the IARU’s work in frequency coordination will remain critical for future missions. (ANS thanks IARU<https://www.iaru.org/> for the above information) + NASA astronaut Tracy C. Dyson, along with Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub, successfully returned to Earth on September 23, after landing in Kazakhstan aboard the Soyuz MS-25 spacecraft. Dyson spent 184 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of Expeditions 70 and 71, completing 2,944 orbits and covering 78 million miles. Chub and Kononenko, who spent 374 days in space, returned after an extensive mission spanning 5,984 orbits and 158.6 million miles. Notably, Kononenko set a record with over 1,111 cumulative days in space across five missions. The crew undocked from the ISS's Prichal module before their parachute-assisted landing southeast of Dzhezkazgan, Kazakhstan. Following their recovery, Dyson returned to Houston, while Kononenko and Chub headed to Star City, Russia, for post-mission procedures. (ANS thanks SciTechDaily<https://scitechdaily.com/> for the above information) + SpaceX is preparing for a historic test flight of its Starship megarocket, aiming to catch its Super Heavy booster using the "chopstick" arms of the launch tower. This innovative recovery method, practiced at the Starbase site in South Texas, could dramatically reduce refurbishment times compared to traditional landing methods. The company recently showcased these preparations, lifting the booster to its expected catch height. Starship's fifth test flight, slated for late November 2024, follows previous launches where performance has steadily improved. Despite SpaceX's readiness, regulatory delays from the FAA have pushed the launch timeline. SpaceX has expressed frustration with the regulatory process, citing concerns about the pace of environmental impact reviews and modifications assessments. (ANS thanks Space.com<https://www.space.com/> 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<https://www.amsat.org> for additional membership information. 73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space! This week's ANS Editor, Mitch Ahrenstorff, ADØHJ mahrenstorff [at] amsat.org<https://www.amsat.org>

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Looking for Volunteers to Help Me Staff AMSAT's Pacificon Booth
by Jim DeLoach 28 Sep '24

28 Sep '24

Hi AMSAT members! Are you planning to attend Pacificon this year? If so, I invite you to join me in staffing our AMSAT booth! This is a fun opportunity to explain satellite operations to fellow hams and share your experiences with this exciting aspect of our hobby. You can be involved as little or as much as you like. Please reach out to me at jim(at)deloach.net or jdeloach(at)amsat.org if interested and help keep Amateur Radio in space! Jim DeLoach, WU0I

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Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2024-09-27 02:30 UTC
by aj9n＠aol.com 27 Sep '24

27 Sep '24

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2024-09-27 02:30 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Schools in the Aznakaevsky district of the Republic of Tatarstan, Tatarstan, 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 Aleksey Ovchinin The ARISS mentor is RV3DR Contact is go for Fri 2024-09-27 13:17 UTC (***) Khazar University, Dunya School, Baku, Azerbaijan, direct via 4K6EH 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 crewmember is Sunita Williams KD5PLB The ARISS mentor is IN3GHZ Contact is go for: Sat 2024-09-28 09:13:29 UTC 38 deg СОНКО АНО "Clean and Simple" and the Cultural and Leisure Center "Flying Saucer", Shchyolkovo, 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 Alexander Gorbunov The ARISS mentor is RV3DR Contact is go for Fri 2024-10-04 10:50 UTC Girlguiding Surrey West County, Shepperton, UK, direct via GB4GGB 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 Sunita Williams KD5PLB The ARISS mentor is MØXTD Contact is go for: Sat 2024-10-05 13:06:22 UTC 86 deg Watch for Livestream at https://live.ariss.org/ Centre de Formation de la Base Aérienne de Payerne, Payerne, Switzerland, direct via HB9SPACE 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 crewmember is Mike Barratt KD5MIJ The ARISS mentor is IN3GHZ Contact is go for: Sat 2024-10-05 14:44:48 UTC 62 deg 213 RCSCC Qu’Appelle (Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corp), Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, telebridge via K6DUE 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 Jeanette Epps KF5QNU The ARISS mentor is VE6JBJ Contact is go for: 2024-10-05 16:06:05 UTC 31 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 2024-09-7 02:30 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 2024-09-24 17:30 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 07:30 – 19:30 UTC. The most common times to find a crew member making casual periods are about one hour after waking up and about an hour 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 sometimes active. Check the status at https://www.ariss.org/ or http://www.issfanclub.eu to see if the packet system is active or not. 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 July 8, 2024 for contacts to be scheduled for January 1, 2025 – June 30, 2025. This proposal window is due to ARISS by September 6, 2024 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time (Sept. 7, 2024, 06:59 UTC). (***) 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 July 22, 2024, at 7 PM ET (23:00 UTC). The Zoom link to sign up is: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZErf-ihrDktG9OphYxAjfz7nbONV0YcwY… 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 is back on board but awaiting re-installation. 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 244 Francesco IKØWGF with 154 Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 153 Gaston ON4WF with 124 Steve VE3TBD with 121 Peter IN3GHZ with 120 **************************************************************************** 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 1767. Each school counts as 1 event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 1658. 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 **************************************************************************** SpaceX Crew-8 on orbit Matthew Dominick KCØTOR Mike Barratt KD5MIJ Jeanette Epps KF5QNU Aleksandr Grebyonkin RZ3DSE Boeing CFT on orbit Sunita Williams KD5PLB Barry Wilmore **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors

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ARISS News Release No. 24-53
by David H Jordan 26 Sep '24

26 Sep '24

*ARISS News Release No. 24-53* *Dave Jordan, AA4KN * *ARISS PR* *aa4kn(a)amsat.org <aa4kn(a)amsat.org>* *FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE* *ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at * *Khazar University, Dunya School, Baku, Azerbaijan* September 26, 2024—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the Khazar University, Dunya School located in Baku, Azerbaijan. ARISS conducts 60-100 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS. Professor Hamlet Isakhanli and his wife Naila Isayeva founded Khazar University, the first private higher education institution in Azerbaijan. The Space Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan is the main sponsor of this ARISS contact. Prior to this ARISS contact, Baku Dunya School students have been participating in many regional competitions in technical sciences. Local members of the Azerbaijan Radio Amateur Society are supporting this ARISS radio contact. This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of astronaut Sunita Williams, amateur radio call sign KD5PLB. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHz and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the relay ground station. The amateur radio ground station for this contact is in Baku, Azerbaijan. Amateur radio operators using call sign 4K6EH, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection. The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for September 28, 2024 at 1:13:29 pm AZT (Baku, Azerbaijan) (9:13:29 UTC, 5:13 am EDT, 4:13 am CDT, 3:13 am MDT, 2:13 am PDT). *_______________________________* As time allows, students will ask these questions: 1. What studies have you done to become an astronaut? 2. What are the advantages of space exploration? 3. How do you interact with your family members while being in space? 4. Do you use a watch in space for getting the notion of time there? 5. Is it difficult to walk when you come back to Earth? 6. Are there any disadvantages in space exploration that may negatively affect the planet? 7. What skills are required to become an astronaut? 8. Which is the more difficult - to leave or to come back to Earth? 9. At what age can we travel out the space? 10. How long can we stay in space? 11. What are the consequences of space in human body? 12. What were your feelings during your first trip to space? 13. When you were a child, did you ever think that you would become an astronaut one day? 14. What sort of food do you eat in the ISS? 15. If you had a second chance, would you choose the same profession? 16: When was your last space mission and what was it? 17. What do astronauts usually eat to keep their body healthy? 18. What do you enjoy most about space? 19. Which memorable or surprising experiences did you have in space? 20. What is the biggest challenge in space? *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 ISS. In the United States, sponsors are the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC), Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation program (SCaN) and the ISS National Lab—Space Station Explorers. The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics topics. ARISS does this by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities take part in hands-on learning activities tied to space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see http://www.ariss.org. Media Contact: Dave Jordan, AA4KN ARISS PR Find us on social media at: X: ARISS_Intl Facebook: facebook.com/ARISSIntl Instagram: ariss_intl Mastodon: ariss_intl(a)mastodon.hams.social Check out ARISS on Youtube.com.

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Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2024-09-26 03:30 UTC
by aj9n＠aol.com 26 Sep '24

26 Sep '24

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2024-09-26 03:30 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Tatarstan, 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 Aleksey Ovchinin The ARISS mentor is RV3DR Contact is go for Fri 2024-09-27 13:20 UTC Khazar University, Dunya School, Baku, Azerbaijan, direct via 4K6EH 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 crewmember is Sunita Williams KD5PLB The ARISS mentor is IN3GHZ Contact is go for: Sat 2024-09-28 09:13:29 UTC 38 deg СОНКО АНО "Clean and Simple" and the Cultural and Leisure Center "Flying Saucer", Shchyolkovo, 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 Alexander Gorbunov (***) The ARISS mentor is RV3DR Contact is go for Fri 2024-10-04 10:50 UTC (***) Girlguiding Surrey West County, Shepperton, UK, direct via GB4GGB 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 Sunita Williams KD5PLB The ARISS mentor is MØXTD Contact is go for: Sat 2024-10-05 13:06:22 UTC 86 deg Watch for Livestream at https://live.ariss.org/ Centre de Formation de la Base Aérienne de Payerne, Payerne, Switzerland, direct via HB9SPACE 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 crewmember is Mike Barratt KD5MIJ The ARISS mentor is IN3GHZ Contact is go for: Sat 2024-10-05 14:44:48 UTC 62 deg 213 RCSCC Qu’Appelle (Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corp), Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, telebridge via K6DUE 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 Jeanette Epps KF5QNU The ARISS mentor is VE6JBJ Contact is go for: 2024-10-05 16:06:05 UTC 31 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 2024-09-26 03:30 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 2024-09-24 17:30 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 07:30 – 19:30 UTC. The most common times to find a crew member making casual periods are about one hour after waking up and about an hour 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 sometimes active. Check the status at https://www.ariss.org/ or http://www.issfanclub.eu to see if the packet system is active or not. 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 July 8, 2024 for contacts to be scheduled for January 1, 2025 – June 30, 2025. This proposal window is due to ARISS by September 6, 2024 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time (Sept. 7, 2024, 06:59 UTC). (***) 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 July 22, 2024, at 7 PM ET (23:00 UTC). The Zoom link to sign up is: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZErf-ihrDktG9OphYxAjfz7nbONV0YcwY… 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 is back on board but awaiting re-installation. 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 244 Francesco IKØWGF with 154 Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 153 Gaston ON4WF with 124 Steve VE3TBD with 121 Peter IN3GHZ with 120 **************************************************************************** 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 1767. Each school counts as 1 event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 1658. 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 **************************************************************************** SpaceX Crew-8 on orbit Matthew Dominick KCØTOR Mike Barratt KD5MIJ Jeanette Epps KF5QNU Aleksandr Grebyonkin RZ3DSE Boeing CFT on orbit Sunita Williams KD5PLB Barry Wilmore **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors

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Re: Food for thought and trying to trigger brainstorming/ideas GEO
by Jon 26 Sep '24

26 Sep '24

Jean, Some time back there was a discussion on QRZ forum that one GEO was being planned from the EU/UK with coverage for North America. Wonder how far that proposal has gone? 73 Jon, VU2JO On Wed, Sep 25, 2024 at 9:58 PM Jean Marc Momple via AMSAT-BB < amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> wrote: > Dear All, > > QO-100 changed our life in 3B8 and we have now probably the highest > density of active QO-100 OM’s/HAM population on the bird (approx.50% of > active 3B8 OM’s) as being quite isolated. Thanks to QARS and AMSAT-DL. > > More its cheaper for newbies to invest in a QO-100 station than in > commercial HF rig. Thus enabling them to enjoy day 1 the hobby 24/7 and get > acquainted to make QSO which is generally their biggest hurdle, > (nervousness) to make it. > > So the question I am constantly asking myself and to all now, is how we > can have 3-4 GEO to have global coverage? > > It is a difficult one but well proven by QO-100 that it is possible, I > also know that some of our leaders have been working on it for a long time > without success. Why I am asking the question is that may be someone > somewhere may have great ideas or insights which may help. Please share if > you have any input to be shared. > > 73 > > > Jean Marc (3B8DU) > > > > > > ----------------------------------------------------------- > > 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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Re: South Africa Presentation
by Jon 26 Sep '24

26 Sep '24

You may also consider one for the VU LEO satellite group on a weekend! We have our own zoom meetings in between. Some of the group members are already on this mailing list. We also have members from 3B, YB, 4S and S21 in our group. 73 Jon, VU2JO On Thu, Sep 26, 2024 at 12:12 AM Clint Bradford via AMSAT-BB < amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> wrote: > Just completed presenting my satellite show to the Sandton Amateur Radio > Club > in South Africa - via Zoom. And what a marvelous group they are! > > Keith ZS6HI was my contact. Great questions throughout from the Zoom > audience. > From Keith: > > "Thank you very much Clint and Karen. Wonderful presentation. You did a > lot > > of research and preparation to put a South African spin on the > presentation and > > spent effort on learning about the SARL, Sandton Club and South African > > Amateur Radio community beforehand." > > > “SARL” is South Africa's “ARRL.” And there is an active AMSAT Chapter > > there, too! > > > > That was Presentation Number 175 … more are scheduled! Think a lively, > informative, and fun presentation on working the “easy” satellites with > minimal > equipment would be appropriate for your club or convention? > > Clint Bradford K6LCS > AMSAT Ambassador > ARRL Affiliated Club Coordinator, benefactor > work-sat.com > 909-999-SATS (909-999-7287) > > > > ----------------------------------------------------------- > > 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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South Africa Presentation
by Clint Bradford 25 Sep '24

25 Sep '24

Just completed presenting my satellite show to the Sandton Amateur Radio Club in South Africa - via Zoom. And what a marvelous group they are! Keith ZS6HI was my contact. Great questions throughout from the Zoom audience. From Keith: "Thank you very much Clint and Karen. Wonderful presentation. You did a lot of research and preparation to put a South African spin on the presentation and spent effort on learning about the SARL, Sandton Club and South African Amateur Radio community beforehand." “SARL” is South Africa's “ARRL.” And there is an active AMSAT Chapter there, too! That was Presentation Number 175 … more are scheduled! Think a lively, informative, and fun presentation on working the “easy” satellites with minimal equipment would be appropriate for your club or convention? Clint Bradford K6LCS AMSAT Ambassador ARRL Affiliated Club Coordinator, benefactor work-sat.com <http://work-sat.com/> 909-999-SATS (909-999-7287)

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Re: Food for thought and trying to trigger brainstorming/ideas GEO
by Jean Marc Momple 25 Sep '24

25 Sep '24

Hi John, In a nutshell: What you need as basic setup for QO-100 1) A Tx/Rx SDR 2) 1 or 2 WiFi cheap WiFi boosters 3) A sat TV LNB 4) 1 or 2 commercial Sat TV dish, generally free as lying on roofs after disconnection from SAT TV service. 5) A PC and free software, SDR Console is the best from Simon. 6) Cables and connectors. Cost around US$ 600 max. depending on what you can get from surplus or already in the shack. So I guess that US$ 600 for half of the world 24/7 connection is a good deal compared with any HF rig for limited propagation windows, but more for a newbie trying to get acquainted with the hobby without yet mastering HF propagation. 73 Jean Marc (3B8DU) > On Sep 25, 2024, at 8:46 PM, JOHN GEIGER via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> wrote: > > That is interesting about cost. In the US, getting a transmitter for 2.4G and receive converter for 10ghz would definitely cost more than an HF rig, and the antennas required would cost much more than just throwing up a dipole for HF. What do most 3B8 hams use for the uplink and downlink, and if they are using transverters, what is the IF they are using? > > 73 John AF5CC > > Sent using Zoho Mail <x-msg://9/%7B0%7D> > > > > ---- On Wed, 25 Sep 2024 11:29:03 -0500 Jean Marc Momple via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> wrote --- > > Dear All, > > QO-100 changed our life in 3B8 and we have now probably the highest density of active QO-100 OM’s/HAM population on the bird (approx.50% of active 3B8 OM’s) as being quite isolated. Thanks to QARS and AMSAT-DL. > > More its cheaper for newbies to invest in a QO-100 station than in commercial HF rig. Thus enabling them to enjoy day 1 the hobby 24/7 and get acquainted to make QSO which is generally their biggest hurdle, (nervousness) to make it. > > So the question I am constantly asking myself and to all now, is how we can have 3-4 GEO to have global coverage? > > It is a difficult one but well proven by QO-100 that it is possible, I also know that some of our leaders have been working on it for a long time without success. Why I am asking the question is that may be someone somewhere may have great ideas or insights which may help. Please share if you have any input to be shared. > > 73 > > > Jean Marc (3B8DU) > > > > > > ----------------------------------------------------------- > > 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/ <https://www.amsat.org/about-amsat/> > > View archives of this mailing list at > https://mailman.amsat.org/hyperkitty/list/[email protected] <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 <https://mailman.amsat.org/> > > ----------------------------------------------------------- > > 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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Re: Food for thought and trying to trigger brainstorming/ideas GEO
by JOHN GEIGER 25 Sep '24

25 Sep '24

That is interesting about cost. In the US, getting a transmitter for 2.4G and receive converter for 10ghz would definitely cost more than an HF rig, and the antennas required would cost much more than just throwing up a dipole for HF. What do most 3B8 hams use for the uplink and downlink, and if they are using transverters, what is the IF they are using? 73 John AF5CC Sent using {0} ---- On Wed, 25 Sep 2024 11:29:03 -0500 Jean Marc Momple via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> wrote --- Dear All, QO-100 changed our life in 3B8 and we have now probably the highest density of active QO-100 OM’s/HAM population on the bird (approx.50% of active 3B8 OM’s) as being quite isolated. Thanks to QARS and AMSAT-DL. More its cheaper for newbies to invest in a QO-100 station than in commercial HF rig. Thus enabling them to enjoy day 1 the hobby 24/7 and get acquainted to make QSO which is generally their biggest hurdle, (nervousness) to make it. So the question I am constantly asking myself and to all now, is how we can have 3-4 GEO to have global coverage? It is a difficult one but well proven by QO-100 that it is possible, I also know that some of our leaders have been working on it for a long time without success. Why I am asking the question is that may be someone somewhere may have great ideas or insights which may help. Please share if you have any input to be shared. 73 Jean Marc (3B8DU) ----------------------------------------------------------- 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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