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ANS-121 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Paul Stoetzer 30 Apr '22

30 Apr '22

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-121 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/ In this edition: * AMSAT Hamvention Update * AMSAT Represented at the 2022 CubeSat Developers Workshop * FO-29 Now Eclipsing, Upcoming Operations Schedule Posted * ARISS News * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Satellite Shorts From All Over ANS-121 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins To: All RADIO AMATEURS From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation 712 H Street NE, Suite 1653 Washington, DC 20002 DATE 2022 May 1 AMSAT Hamvention Update The Dayton Hamvention is just three weeks away! It is time to be creating your shopping list and making your travel plans. AMSAT’s presence will be felt in with eight adjoining booths in Building 1. Highlighting the exhibit will be: – CubeSat Simulator hardware and software demonstrations – SatPC software demonstrations – AMSAT Engineering staff question and answer table – AMSAT Youth Initiative (KidzSat) introduction – OSCAR ground station for live satellite operations – Annual Membership sign-up and renewals – AMSAT President’s Club recognition – AMSAT Board of Directors and Senior Officers Meet and Greet – AMSAT Store offering AMSAT trinkets, books and Arrow Antennas In past years, we had 30 people assist with the AMSAT booth at Dayton. We’ve had a good response so far to our call for volunteers, but we could really use another 10-15 people. The 2022 Hamvention is May 20-22 in Xenia, Ohio. Would you consider helping AMSAT at the Hamvention this year? The interaction with AMSAT members, satellite operators, designers, and builders makes the whole experience a lot of fun. Meet or renew acquaintances, exchange operating tips, and find out what antennas, software and equipment other AMSAT members use. We currently expect the AMSAT senior officers and board members to be there too. If you’re an experienced operator, great! We can use you and your experience. If you’ve never operated a satellite before, but want to learn more, that’s OK. We can use your help too. Whether you’re available for only a couple of hours or if you can spend the entire weekend with us, your help would be greatly appreciated. Please send an e-mail to Phil, (w1eme[at]amsat[dot]org if you can help. Thank you! AMSAT/TAPR Banquet will honor the life of Bob Bruninga, WB4APR The 13th annual AMSAT/TAPR Banquet will be held at the Kohler Presidential Banquet Center on Friday, May 20th at 18:30 EDT. This dinner is always a highlight of the AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corp.) and TAPR (Tucson Amateur Packet Radio) activities during the Dayton Hamvention. This year’s banquet will honor the life and accomplishments of long time amateur satellite and amateur packet pioneer Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, who passed away in February. The Kohler Presidential Banquet Center is located at 4548 Presidential Way, Kettering, Ohio. That is about 20 minutes away from the Greene County Fairgrounds. Tickets ($57 each) may be purchased from the AMSAT store. The banquet ticket purchase deadline is Friday, May 13th. Banquet tickets must be purchased in advance and will not be sold at the AMSAT booth. There will be no tickets to pick up at the AMSAT booth. Tickets purchased on-line will be maintained on a list with check-in at the door at the banquet center. Seating is limited to the number of meals reserved with the Kohler caterers based on the number of tickets sold by the deadline. Register today at https://www.amsat.org/product/amsat-tapr-joint-hamvention-banquet-registrat… [ANS thanks Phil Smith, W1EME, AMSAT Hamvention Team Leader, AMSAT News & TAPR for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ The 2022 AMSAT President's Club coins have arrived! To commemorate the 50th anniversary of its launch on October 15, 1972, this year's coin features an image of AMSAT-OSCAR 6. Join the AMSAT President's Club today and help Keep Amateur Radio in Space! https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AMSAT Represented at the 2022 CubeSat Developers Workshop The 2022 CubeSat Developers Workshop was held in person for the first time since 2019 on the campus of California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California on April 26th-28th. AMSAT hosted an exhibitor booth at the event and was represented by Vice President - Engineering Jerry Buxton, N0JY, and Assistant Vice President - Engineering Jonathan Brandenburg, KF5IDY. During the event, discussions were held with students and others developing CubeSats about educational partnership opportunities, AMSAT's LTM-1 linear transponder communications system as an option for their RF, and volunteer opportunities with AMSAT. AMSAT also met with officials from NASA's Launch Services Program (LSP) regarding options and possibilities for future GOLF missions above LEO. Stay tuned for more updates in a future Engineering Update column in The AMSAT Journal. [ANS thanks AMSAT Vice President - Engineering Jerry Buxton, N0JY, 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/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ FO-29 Now Eclipsing, Upcoming Operations Schedule Posted Regarding Fuji 3 (FO-29), we are currently in a situation where continuous operation is not possible as the satellite is eclipsing on every orbit and the condition of the batteries does not permit continuous operation. From now on, we will enter the eclipse period for about 3 months. It will be fully sunlit from August to next spring, so continuous operation will be possible. This eclipse period is about 3 months, and the maximum eclipse percentage is about 20%. The operation from the end of April to the end of May will from when the analog transponder is turned on until the transponder is turned off by UVC (undervoltage control). [Scheduled time to turn on the analog transponder of Fuji 3 (UTC)] May 1 09:55 7 09:45 8 08:45 14 10:18 21 09:10 22:00 22 09:55 27 23:28 28 09:35 [ANS thanks JARL for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS News No contacts currently scheduled Axiom AX-1 back on earth Congratulations on a job well done! Michael López-Alegría Larry Connor Mark Pathy KO4WFH Eytan Stibbe 4Z9SPC The USOS ARISS station is currently operating in voice cross-band repeater mode 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] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AMSAT, along with our ARISS partners, is developing an Amateur Radio package, including two-way communication capability, to be carried on-board Gateway in lunar orbit. Support AMSAT's projects today at https://www.amsat.org/donate/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Upcoming Satellite Operations WL7T: EL84, June 24-27 W3IPA: DM42 vacation planned for Jul 30- Aug 6th will be on FM passes vacation style. I will be close to DM41 so might be able to work a gridline. Will post more updates closer to that week! ND9M/MM: I’m on my merchant marine ship anchored just off Saipan and expect to be here a few weeks. I’m on from the ship as ND9M/MM in QK25, but I’ll try to be QRV as ND9M/KHØ from the island itself over the next few weekends, probably Fridays in the afternoon and evening, possibly Saturday evenings as well. I’ll post my island activities on Twitter (@ND9M) as they firm up N8MR: EN 57,67,56 8/6 through 8/13. More to come as date gets closer. Hawaii!: K5ZM is heading to HI on May 16-26 [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, 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. + Hamvention 2022 May 20, 2022 to May 22, 2022 Greene County Fairgrounds and Expo Center 210 Fairground Road Xenia, Ohio 45385 https://www.hamvention.org + 2022 Rocky Mountain ARRL Division Convention October 7, 2022 – October 9, 2022 Event Center at Archer 3921 Archer Pkwy Cheyenne, Wyoming 82007 https://wyhamcon.org/site [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT Events page manager, 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 +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Satellite Shorts From All Over + On April 28th, DO-64 (Delfi-C3) celebrated 14 years of operation in orbit. Although the linear transponder failed several years ago, the satellite continues to transmit telemetry. [ANS thanks DelfiSpace for the information] + The Netflix show Yakamoz S-245 features a mission control room. On one of the PC screens, both the FUNcube Dashboard and SatPC32 are visible. [ANS thanks 2M0SQL and PA3WEG for the information] + The SpaceX Crew-4 mission arrived at the International Space Station at 23:37 UTC on April 27, 2022 with Kjell Lindgren, KO5MOS, Robert Hines, KI5RQT, Samantha Cristoforetti, IZ0UDF, and Jessica Watkins on board. [ANS thanks NASA for the 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, Paul Stoetzer, N8HM n8hm at amsat dot org

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cubesat workshop at Calpoly
by nick 29 Apr '22

29 Apr '22

I am planning to go to the CubeSat workshop conference at CalPoly. Let have a get to gather . Who on the list is planning to go? nick Cell 337 258 2527 Helping UL become a world Class Engineering and Educational School Disagree I Learn -- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. https://www.avg.com

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Rocket Lab launch looking good for tomorrow
by Wendy and Terry Osborne 28 Apr '22

28 Apr '22

See: https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/1519797942579646464 73, Terry Osborne ZL2BAC

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ARISS News Release No. 22-27
by David Jordan 27 Apr '22

27 Apr '22

ARISS News Release No.22-27 Dave Jordan, AA4KN ARISS PR aa4kn(a)amsat.org FORIMMEDIATE RELEASE ARISSContact is Scheduled with Students at Istituto Comprensivo Tolfa, Tolfa, Lazio, Italy April27, 2022—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has receivedschedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between astronauts aboard theInternational Space Station (ISS) and Italian students at the IstitutoComprensivo Tolfa in Tolfa, Lazio. ARISSconducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year betweenstudents around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard theISS. Istituto Comprensivo Tolfa, an urban primary and middle school(student ages 8-14 years) in Tolfa is about 70 Km north of Rome. Theschool’s three-year curriculum focuses on the improvement of language skills,both in Italian and in English, and on STEM competencies. During the lastthree years, students have taken part in the projects: ESA (“Send your drawinginto space with Cheops”); ASI (sending mission ARTEMIS-inspired drawings to theMoon); and INAF (learning about the effects of light pollution). In preparationfor the ARISS event, students participated in activities drawn from ASI – ESA andNASA materials and were introduced to space-related technology and spaceexploration. These activities allow students to focus on what it’s like to bean astronaut, and the high-tech fields involved in space exploration and theISS. One such activity allowed primary school students (age 8-10) to work onISS-inspired scratch projects and middle school students took part in the AstroPi Challenge - Mission Zero. Members of the local amateur radio organizationinvolved the students in activities about radio science and demonstratedoperation of the radio equipment that will be used in the ARISS contact. This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions ofAstronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, amateur radio call sign IZØUDF. LocalCovid-19 protocols are adhered to as applicable for each ARISS contact. Thedownlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHZ and may be heard bylisteners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the relayground station. The amateur radio ground station for this contactis in Tolfa, Lazio, Italy. Amateur radio operators will use the call sign IKØWGFto establish and maintain the ISS connection. TheARISS radio contact is scheduled for April 30, 2022 at 10:37:35 am CEST (Lazio,Italy) (08:37:35UTC, 4:37 am EDT, 3:37 am CDT,2:37 am MDT, 1:37 am PDT). Thepublic is invited to watch the live stream at:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKlOwjvTpt8 _______________________________ Astime allows, students will ask these questions: 1.Da donna che tipo di difficoltà ha dovuto gestire durante il suo percorsoprofessionale? 2.Quando parte per queste missioni, cos’è che la preoccupa di più? 3.Il buio, il vuoto e la profondità dell'universo, che sensazioni trasmettono laprima volta che si va in una missione spaziale? 4.Durante le tue missioni quali sono l'esperienza più emozionante e quella piùdeludente che hai vissuto? 5.Quali effetti fisici e mentali si riscontrano una volta ritornati sulla Terra? 6.Gli astronauti fanno delle esercitazioni anche per riuscire a mantenere lacalma in qualsiasi situazione? 7.A cosa avete rinunciato negli anni per fare gli astronauti? 8.Nello spazio come si percepisce il passare del tempo? 9.La NASA è riuscita ad ascoltare "la voce dello spazio": cosa siintende con questa definizione? 10.A quale preparazione fisica dovete sottoporvi prima di una missione spaziale? 11. Quanto è evidente dallo spazio la sofferenzadel nostro pianeta? 12.Cosa ha provato la prima volta che ha visto la Terra dallo spazio? 13.E'stato portato qualche animale sulla nelle ultime missioni spaziali? 14.Era il tuo sogno fin da bambina diventare un astronauta? 15.L’equipaggio di una navicella spaziale da quanti membri è costituito? 16. Che cos'è per te il coraggio? 17. Il vostro addestramento in astronautica vitornerà utile per la vita quotidiana ? 18.Quale dieta seguite? Translation 1.When you go on a mission what are the things that worry you most? 2.What did you feel the first time you witnessed the vastness of space, itsdarkness and emptiness? 3.On your missions what has been the most meaningful experience and the mostdisappointing one? 4.What are the physical and mental effects an astronaut can experience once backon Earth? 5.Do astronauts do a specific training to keep calm in any situation? 6.What did you have to give up to become an astronaut? 7.How do you perceive the passing of time on the ISS? 8.NASA could hear the "sound of Space": what is it? 9.What physical training is necessary before a mission? 10. How evident is Earth's suffering from space? 11.What did you feel the first time you saw Earth from space? 12.In recent years have any animals been sent on missions? 13.Have you always dreamt of becoming an astronaut? 14.How many people form the crew of a spaceship? 15.What is courage for you? 16.Is your astronaut training useful also in your daily life on Earth? 17.Which is your astronaut diet? About ARISS: Amateur Radio on the InternationalSpace Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radiosocieties and the space agencies that support the International Space Station(ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur SatelliteCorporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the ISS NationalLab-Space Station Explorers, Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) andNASA’s Space communications and Navigation program. The primary goal of ARISSis to promote 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 www.ariss.org . MediaContact: DaveJordan, AA4KN ARISSPR Likeus on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. Search on Amateur Radio on the ISS and@ARISS_status. Checkout ARISS on Youtube.com.

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ARISS News Release No. 22-26
by David Jordan 27 Apr '22

27 Apr '22

ARISS News Release No.22-26 Dave Jordan, AA4KN ARISS PR aa4kn(a)amsat.org FORIMMEDIATE RELEASE ARISSContact is Scheduled with Students at Istituto Comprensivo 1 Chieti, Chieti, Abruzzo,Italy April27, 2022—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has receivedschedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between astronauts aboard theInternational Space Station (ISS) and Italian students at the IstitutoComprensivo 1 Chieti in Chieti, Abruzzo. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each yearbetween students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboardthe ISS. Istituto Comprensivo Chieti is an urban school in Chieti with about1,000 students ages 4-14 years. The school’s STEAM program includes lessons andprojects for students at every grade level in the school. Previous school yearshave engaged students in robotics, and enabled students to participate in theINDIRE project (coding and robotics). Students have also participated in projectESA "Zero Mission- Astro Pi", and in 2021 met with ESA Astronaut LucaParmitano. Members of the amateur radio team from Pescara are supporting theschool for this ARISS contact, including instructing students on the equipmentrequired to make the contact and installation of the communication equipment. This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask questions of Astronaut SamanthaCristoforetti, amateur radio call sign IZØUDF. Local Covid-19 protocols areadhered to as applicable for each ARISS contact. The downlink frequency forthis contact is 145.800 MHZ and may be heard by listeners that are within theISS-footprint that also encompasses the relay ground station. The amateur radio ground station for this contactis located in Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy. Amateur radiooperators will use the call sign IZ6BMP to establish and maintain the ISSconnection. TheARISS radio contact is scheduled for April 29, 2022 at 9:49 am CEST (Chieti) (07:49UTC,3:49 am EDT, 2:49 am CDT, 1:49 am MDT, 12:49am PDT). Thepublic is invited to watch the live stream at:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlAR81pM4kM _______________________________ Astime allows, students will ask these questions: 1.Come si é sentita quando é stato annunciato a lei di andare alla base spaziale? 2.Quando torni dallo spazio, in cui non c'è gravità, alla terra che sensazionihai? 3.Che effetto ti fa vedere la terra girare? 4.Che tipo di test hai dovuto superare per entrare nella NASA? 5.Ti sei mai sentita sotto pressione? 6.Chi o che cosa ti ha ispirato e dato la forza di perseguire la carriera diastronauta? 7.Quali studi si devono fare per diventare un astronauta e in particolare tuquali hai fatto? 8.Quanto tempo ha impiegato per entrare nella ESA? 9.Quali competenze tecniche e informatiche sono necessarie e perché? Attraverso qualicorsi di studio si acquisiscono? 10.Quanto dura l’addestramento per andare nello spazio? 11.E’ stato difficile abituarsi a muoversi con la mancanza di gravità nellospazio? 12.Com'è possibile la trasmissione di dati dallo spazio alla terra in tempo reale? 13.Qual'è il tempo massimo per rimanere sulla stazione spaziale? 14.È mai stato sperimentato un metodo per vedere esattamente cosa c'è dentro laluna? 15.Quanto impegno e sacrificio è necessario per diventare astronauti? Quale gioiasi prova ad essere astronauti? Translation 1.How did you feel when you were told you would go to the space station? 2.How do you feel when you come back on the Earth, when you come back to gravity? 3.How do you feel when you see the Earth rotation? 4.What kind of test did you have to pass to enter NASA? 5.Have you ever felt under pressure? 6.Who or what inspired you and gave you the strength to pursue your career asastronaut? 7.What studies do you have to do to become an astronaut and in particular whichones have you done? 8.How long did it take you to enter the ESA? 9.Which technical and I.T. skills are needed and why? How can you get them? 10.How long is the training to go to space? 11.Was it hard to learn to move in lack of gravity in space? 12.How can data be transmitted from space to Earth in real time? 13.What is the maximum time to stay on a space station? 14.Have people ever tested a way to see what's inside the moon exactly? 15.How much effort and sacrifice does it take to become an astronaut? What joydoes it feel to be an astronaut? About ARISS: Amateur Radio on the InternationalSpace Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radiosocieties and the space agencies that support the International Space Station(ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur SatelliteCorporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the ISS NationalLab-Space Station Explorers, Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) andNASA’s Space communications and Navigation program. The primary goal of ARISSis to promote 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 www.ariss.org . MediaContact: DaveJordan, AA4KN ARISSPR Likeus on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. Search on Amateur Radio on the ISS and@ARISS_status. Checkout ARISS on Youtube.com.

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Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2022-04-27 14:00 UTC
by aj9n＠aol.com 27 Apr '22

27 Apr '22

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2022-04-27 14:00 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Istituto Comprensivo 1 Chieti, Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy, direct via IZ6BMP The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be IRØISS 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 Samantha Cristoforetti IZØUDF Contact is go for: Fri 2022-04-29 07:49:17 UTC 74 deg (***) Watch for Livestream at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlAR81pM4kM Istituto Comprensivo Tolfa, Tolfa, Lazio, Italy, direct via IKØWGF The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be IRØISS 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 Samantha Cristoforetti IZØUDF Contact is go for: Sat 2022-04-30 08:37:35 UTC 29 deg (***) Watch for Livestream at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKlOwjvTpt8 Axiom AX-1 back on earth (***) Congratulations on a job well done! (***) Michael López-Alegría Larry Connor Mark Pathy KO4WFH Eytan Stibbe 4Z9SPC The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html ######################################################################################################################################## A multi-point telebridge contact means that each student will be on the telebridge from their own home. **************************************************************************************************************************************** ARISS is very aware of the impact that COVID-19 is having on schools and the public in general. As such, we may have last minute cancellations or postponements of school contacts. As always, I will try to provide everyone with near-real-time updates. Watch for future COVID-19 related announcements at https://www.ariss.org/ The following schools have now been postponed or cancelled due to COVID-19: Postponed: No new schools Cancelled: No new schools **************************************************************************************************************************************** Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time. All dates and times listed follow International Standard ISO 8601 date and time format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2022-04-27 14:00 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 2022-04-21 19:30 UTC. https://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf The ARISS webpage is at https://www.ariss.org/ Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site. The main page for Applying to Host a Scheduled Contact may be found at https://www.ariss.org/apply-to-host-an-ariss-contact.html +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ARISS Contact Applications (United States) Call for Proposals New Proposal Window is February 21, 2022, to March 31, 2022 February 16, 2022 — The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Program is seeking formal and informal education institutions and organizations, individually or working together, to host an Amateur Radio contact with a crew member on board the ISS. ARISS anticipates that the contact would be held between January 1, 2023, and June 30, 2023. Crew scheduling and ISS orbits will determine the exact contact dates. To maximize these radio contact opportunities, ARISS is looking for organizations that will draw large numbers of participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed education plan. The deadline to submit a proposal is March 31, 2022. Proposal information and more details such as expectations, proposal guidelines and the proposal form can be found at https://ariss-usa.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact-in-the-usa/. An ARISS Introductory Webinar session will be held on March 3, 2022, at 8 PM ET. The Eventbrite link to sign up is: https://ariss-proposal-webinar-spring-2022.eventbrite.com. The Opportunity Crew members aboard the International Space Station will participate in scheduled Amateur Radio contacts. These radio contacts are approximately 10 minutes in length and allow students to interact with the astronauts through a question-and-answer session. An ARISS contact is a voice-only communication opportunity via Amateur Radio between astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the space station and classrooms and communities. ARISS contacts afford education audiences the opportunity to learn firsthand from astronauts what it is like to live and work in space and to learn about space research conducted on the ISS. Students also will have an opportunity to learn about satellite communication, wireless technology, and radio science. Because of the nature of human spaceflight and the complexity of scheduling activities aboard the ISS, organizations must demonstrate flexibility to accommodate changes in dates and times of the radio contact. Amateur Radio organizations around the world with the support of NASA and space agencies in Russia, Canada, Japan, and Europe present educational organizations with this opportunity. The ham radio organizations’ volunteer efforts provide the equipment and operational support to enable communication between crew on the ISS and students around the world using Amateur Radio. Please direct any questions to ariss.us.education(a)gmail.com. For future proposal information and more details such as expectations, proposal guidelines and proposal form, and dates and times of Information Webinars, go to www.ariss.org. About ARISS: Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the ISS National Lab and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEAM) topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students in classrooms or public forms. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ARISS Contact Applications (Europe, Africa and the Middle East) Schools and Youth organizations in Europe, Africa and the Middle East interested in setting up an ARISS radio contact with an astronaut on board the International Space Station are invited to submit an application from September to October and from February to April. Please refer to details and the application form at www.ariss-eu.org/school-contacts. Applications should be addressed by email to: school.selection.manager(a)ariss-eu.org ARISS Contact Applications (Canada, Central and South America, Asia and Australia and Russia) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Organizations outside the United States can apply for an ARISS contact by filling out an application. Please direct questions to the appropriate regional representative listed below. If your country is not specifically listed, send your questions to the nearest ARISS Region listed. If you are unsure which address to use, please send your question to the ARISS-Canada representative; they will forward your question to the appropriate coordinator. For the application, go to: https://www.ariss.org/ariss-application.html. ARISS-Canada and the Americas, except USA: Steve McFarlane, VE3TBD email to: ve3tbd(a)gmail.com ARISS-Japan, Asia, Pacific and Australia: Satoshi Yasuda, 7M3TJZ email to: ariss(a)iaru-r3.org, Japan Amateur Radio League (JARL) https://www.jarl.org/ ARISS-Russia: Soyuz Radioljubitelei Rossii (SRR) https://srr.ru/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ARISS is always glad to receive listener reports for the above contacts. ARISS thanks everyone in advance for their assistance. Feel free to send your reports to aj9n(a)amsat.org or aj9n(a)aol.com. Listen for the ISS on the downlink of 145.8Ø MHz unless otherwise noted. ******************************************************************************* All ARISS contacts are made via the Kenwood radio unless otherwise noted. ******************************************************************************* Several of you have sent me emails asking about the RAC ARISS website and not being able to get in. That has now been changed to https://www.ariss.org/ Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site. **************************************************************************** Looking for something new to do? How about receiving DATV from the ISS? Please note that the HamTV system has been brought back to earth for troubleshooting. Please monitor ARISS-EU or ARISS-ON for the very latest news on the troubleshooting efforts. If interested, then please go to the ARISS-EU website for complete details. Look for the buttons indicating Ham Video. http://www.ariss-eu.org/ If you need some assistance, ARISS mentor Kerry N6IZW, might be able to provide some insight. Contact Kerry at kbanke(a)sbcglobal.net The HamTV webpage: https://www.amsat-on.be/hamtv-summary/ **************************************************************************** ARISS congratulates the following mentors who have now mentored over 100 schools: Sergey RV3DR with 164 Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 146 Francesco IKØWGF with 141 Gaston ON4WF with 124 Peter IN3GHZ with 114 **************************************************************************** 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 1517. Each school counts as 1 event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 1442. 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-3 on orbit Raja Chari KI5LIU Thomas Marshburn KE5HOC Matthias Maurer KI5KFH Kayla Barron KI5LAL Exp. 67 on orbit Oleg Artemyev Denis Matveev Sergey Korsakov Axiom AX-1 back on earth (***) Michael López-Alegría Larry Connor Mark Pathy KO4WFH Eytan Stibbe 4Z9SPC **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors

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ISS for Field Day
by Clint Bradford 26 Apr '22

26 Apr '22

Is it known yet if the ISS' rig will be in Packet or Crossband Repeater mode for Field Day? Sent from my iPhone

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Tiny GS
by vk2pet＠internode.on.net 25 Apr '22

25 Apr '22

Hi All, Is anyone running Tiny GS ground stations? What hardware & gateways are you using? Also interested if any used LoRa in weather balloon, again what type of hardware used? Cheers Pete Vk2pet

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Real-time Web page for satellites?
by Barry Pfeil 23 Apr '22

23 Apr '22

Newbie here. Apologies in advance for asking about what may be common knowledge, but if I'm asking here it is because at least two operators have told me they don't know the answer to my question. So, does the satellite community have a web page for real-time activity info and communication like Ping Jockey for Meteor Scatter ( https://www.pingjockey.net/cgi-bin/pingtalk/) or the ON4KST chat for EME ( http://www.on4kst.info/chat/index.php)? Thanks and 73, Barry K6RM FM03vx

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ANS-114 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for April 24, 2022
by kd4iz＠frawg.org 23 Apr '22

23 Apr '22

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-114 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/ In this edition: * AMSAT Hamvention Update * MIR-SAT 1 (MO112) has de-orbited * Ron Parsons, W5RKN SK April 19, 2022 * * ARISS News * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Satellite Shorts From All Over ANS-114 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins To: All RADIO AMATEURS From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation 712 H Street NE, Suite 1653 Washington, DC 20002 DATE 2022 Apr 24 AMSAT Hamvention Update: The Dayton Hamvention is four weeks away! It is time to be creating your shopping list and making your travel plans. AMSAT's presence will be felt in with eight adjoining booths in Building 1. Highlighting the exhibit will be: - CubeSat Simulator hardware and software demonstrations - SatPC software demonstrations - AMSAT Engineering staff question and answer table - AMSAT Youth Initiative (KidzSat) introduction - OSCAR ground station for live satellite operations - Annual Membership sign-up and renewals - AMSAT President's Club recognition - AMSAT Board of Directors and Senior Officers Meet and Greet - AMSAT Store offering AMSAT trinkets, books and Arrow Antennas In past years, we had 30 people assist with the AMSAT booth at Dayton. We've had a good response so far to our call for volunteers, but we could really use another 10-15 people. The 2022 Hamvention is May 20-22 in Xenia, Ohio. Would you consider helping AMSAT at the Hamvention this year? The interaction with AMSAT members, satellite operators, designers, and builders makes the whole experience a lot of fun. Meet or renew acquaintances, exchange operating tips, and find out what antennas, software and equipment other AMSAT members use. We currently expect the AMSAT senior officers and board members to be there too. If you're an experienced operator, great! We can use you and your experience. If you've never operated a satellite before, but want to learn more, that's OK. We can use your help too. Whether you're available for only a couple of hours or if you can spend the entire weekend with us, your help would be greatly appreciated. Please send an e-mail to Phil, (w1eme[at]amsat[dot]org if you can help. Thank you! AMSAT/TAPR Banquet will honor the life of Bob Bruninga, WB4APR The 13th annual AMSAT/TAPR Banquet will be held at the Kohler Presidential Banquet Center on Friday, May 20th at 18:30 EDT. This dinner is always a highlight of the AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corp.) and TAPR (Tucson Amateur Packet Radio) activities during the Dayton Hamvention. This year's banquet will honor the life and accomplishments of long time amateur satellite and amateur packet pioneer Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, who passed away in February. The Kohler Presidential Banquet Center is located at 4548 Presidential Way, Kettering, Ohio. That is about 20 minutes away from the Greene County Fairgrounds. Tickets ($57 each) may be purchased from the AMSAT store. The banquet ticket purchase deadline is Friday, May 13th. Banquet tickets must be purchased in advance and will not be sold at the AMSAT booth. There will be no tickets to pick up at the AMSAT booth. Tickets purchased on-line will be maintained on a list with check-in at the door at the banquet center. Seating is limited to the number of meals reserved with the Kohler caterers based on the number of tickets sold by the deadline. Register today at https://www.amsat.org/product/amsat-tapr-joint-hamvention-banquet-registrati on/ [ANS thanks Phil Smith, W1EME, AMSAT Hamvention Exhibit organizer, AMSAT News & TAPR for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ The 2022 AMSAT President's Club coins have arrived! To commemorate the 50th anniversary of its launch on October 15, 1972, this year's coin features an image of AMSAT-OSCAR 6. Join the AMSAT President's Club today and help Keep Amateur Radio in Space! https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ MIR-SAT 1 (MO112) has de-orbited Jean Marc Momple, 3B8DU reports: "It seems to be confirmed that MIR-SAT 1 re-entered. The last valid telemetry signals of MIR-SAT 1 (worldwide) was received in Mauritius with the UoM ground station by YOG-3B8 (Dr Yogesh Beeharry, Lecturer of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering of the University of Mauritius). Yogesh, member of this forum led a team of UoM students who build their own ground station. This was at 01:36 Hrs local time this morning and JA0CAW (Tetsu, an experience Satellite HAM) confirmed to me by mail that no signals was received from MIR-SAT 1 at 05:03 (MRU time). More many other regular reporting HAMs confirmed to me that no signals received from our bird today. This confirms that MIR-SAT 1 re-entered between 01:36 and 05:03 Hrs and probably burned up around 110Km in a blast of flame, unfortunately the location is not known as mainly over oceans during the time window. I also confirm that a few minutes before last observation from Yogesh that I received the TLM of MIR-SAT 1 and also made successful Digipeats through it (see attached screenshot), the bird was at about 160km altitude at that time, this was my farewell to MO-112. Congratulations to Yogesh to be the last recorded person on this planet to have successfully decoded our 3B8 bird. RIP MIR-SAT 1, you have been a great tool for educational and HAM experiments. One page turned and the next (better) opens, MIR-SAT 2 ??? why not?, just a question of vision, willingness, motivation and hard work. 73, Jean Marc, 3B8DU" [ANS thanks Jean Marc Momple, 3B8DU 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/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Ron Parsons, W5RKN SK April 19, 2022 From Robert Bankston, KE4AL, AMSAT President: "Ron has been an important part of amateur radio in space and his passion for implementing Flex Radio Systems. If you are not familiar with his work, please take time to visit his website, http://www.w5rkn.com/. A memorial service will be held at 3pm on Saturday, April 23rd at the Remembrance Gardens at Riverbend (4214 Capital of TX Hwy, N, Austin, TX 78746). For those unable to attend in person, you may attend via Zoom (https://austinisd-org.zoom.us/j/83862240962?pwd=NS80SWJTaUFCNGpVdWRteU1MUml .). Obituary will be posted here: https://www.centraltexascremation.com/obituaries/ Biography: https://web2.ph.utexas.edu/utphysicshistory/RonGParsons.html" From Rick Lawn K2JAZ: "I regret to inform the satellite community that our good friend, who many of us relied on for advice, or a new grid square, passed away on Tuesday, April 19th at the age of 84. Not long ago I recall he earned the distinction of Grid Master and had been an active member of AMSAT for decades. He was instrumental in arranging for at least two ARISS contacts with Austin, TX schools and wrote an important paper on Doppler shift that has been referenced on countless occasions. Ron also was a strong advocate for the use of SDR equipment for satellite communications and had recently contributed, along with co-authors, a number of articles on related subjects to the AMSAT Journal. I am sure that he will be greatly missed by many of us. Donations in his name and memory can be made to any charity." [ANS thanks Robert Bankston, KE4AL, AMSAT President and Rick Lawn, W2JAZ for the above information] -------------------------------------------------------------------- [ANS thanks 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 +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ 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. No school contacts are on the immediate schedule. 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] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AMSAT, along with our ARISS partners, is developing an Amateur Radio package, including two-way communication capability, to be carried on-board Gateway in lunar orbit. Support AMSAT's projects today at https://www.amsat.org/donate/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Upcoming Satellite Operations Quick Hits: + WL7T: 4/30, DM02 Check twitter for passes. + Hawaii!: K5ZM is heading to HI on May 16-26. + WL7T: EL84, June 24-27. + W3IPA: DM42 vacation planned for Jul 30- Aug 6th will be on FM passes vacation style. I will be close to DM41 so might be able to work a gridline. Will post more updates closer to that week! + N8MR: EN 57,67,56 8/6 through 8/13. More to come as date gets closer. Major Roves: + Eastern Nevada: AD7DB to visit Eastern Nevada, DM25, DM26, DM27, DM28, DM29, DM36, and maybe DM37 and DM38. April 25 through April 30th 2022. List of passes at https://bit.ly/3OG3jdt [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT rover page manager for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for April 21, 2022 The following satellites have decayed from orbit and has been removed from this week's AMSAT-NA TLE distribution. STARS-EC NORAD Cat ID 47928 (decayed form orbit on 4/15/2022 per Space-Track). OPUSAT-II NORAD Cat ID 47930 (decayed form orbit on 4/15/2022 per Space-Track). MO-112 (MIR-SAT 1) NORAD Cat ID 48868 (decayed form orbit on 4/18/2022 per Space-Track). [ANS thanks Ray Hoad, WA5QGD, AMSAT Orbital Elements 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 Ambassador Schedules Scheduled Events with AMSAT involvement: + CubeSat Developers Workshop April 26-28, 2022 San Luis Obispo, CA + Hamvention 2022 May 20, 2022 to May 22, 2022 Greene County Fairgrounds and Expo Center 210 Fairground Road Xenia, Ohio 45385 https://www.hamvention.org + 2022 Rocky Mountain ARRL Division Convention October 7, 2022 - October 9, 2022 Event Center at Archer 3921 Archer Pkwy Cheyenne, Wyoming 82007 https://wyhamcon.org/site. [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT Events Page Manager, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + Ax-1. Commanded by Spanish-American Michael Lopez-Alegria on his fifth trip to the ISS, and accompanied by pilot Larry Connor (US) and mission specialists Eytan Stibbe (Israel) and Mark Pathy (Canada), Ax-1 has conducted the first all-commercial crewed mission to the station. Delayed by weather, the team will soon depart the ISS and will splash down off the coast of Florida after spending about 10 days in space and a bit more than a week on the ISS. More at https://bit.ly/3v37PdT [ANS thanks The Orbital Index for the above information] + SLS Wet Dress Rehearsal update. After three attempts, each ending in an abort, unexpectedly high lox temperatures, a helium check valve failure on the SLS's second stage, and a hydrogen leak on the mobile platform's service mast umbilical. NASA is now rolling the fully stacked SLS back to the VAB to fix some of these issues and upgrade the mobile launcher's gaseous nitrogen (GN2) supply. What was optimistically supposed to be a two-day test took three weeks, and Artemis I is probably not launching before the end of the summer (although NASA said Monday that they are currently hoping to make a beginning of July launch window). We definitely want to see Artemis I go well (especially for those 10 plucky little rideshare science missions), and these growing pains are better worked out now than on a future crewed mission, but the whole thing just feels kind of arduous. More at https://bit.ly/3v37PdT [ANS thanks The Orbital Index for the above information] + The Great Solar Eclipse of 2024. Perhaps we're getting ahead of ourselves, but it pays to start planning early. Where will you be in approximately two years? Andrew had the chance to watch 2017's total solar eclipse from Idaho and was blown away by how visceral the experience was, complete with a storm of moths that materialized out of nowhere as if through transient solar abiogenesis. For those of us in North America, the next (and last until 2044) opportunity for a total solar eclipse is on April 8th, 2024. You don't want to miss this! More at https://bit.ly/3v37PdT [ANS thanks The Orbital Index for the above information] + ULA begins stacking Atlas 5 rocket for Boeing's Starliner test flight. Final assembly of a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket began Wednesday with the hoisting of a first stage booster onto a mobile launch platform at Cape Canaveral, kicking off a campaign to prepare for liftoff May 19 on a delayed unpiloted test flight of Boeing's Starliner crew capsule. ULA's ground team raised the Atlas first stage off its trailer transporter, and a crane lifted the rocket into the Vertical Integration Facility Wednesday morning. The 107-foot-tall (33-meter) rocket stage was then lowered onto the Atlas 5's mobile launch platform inside the integration building just south of ULA's launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41. The milestone event Wednesday, known as Launch Vehicle On Stand, will be followed in the coming days by the addition of two strap-on AJ-60A solid rocket boosters made by Aerojet Rocketdyne. Then a dual-engine Centaur upper stage will be raised on top of the Atlas first stage to complete the initial build-up of the launcher. In early May, Boeing and ULA will move the Starliner spacecraft from its hangar at the Kennedy Space Center to the VIF for stacking atop the Atlas 5. The launch preparations will culminate in rollout of the Atlas 5 rocket and Starliner spacecraft to pad 41 on May 18. Liftoff to begin Boeing's Orbital Flight Test 2 mission to the International Space Station is scheduled for 6:54 p.m. EDT (2254 GMT). More at https://bit.ly/3vCZkpe [ANS thanks Stephen Clark, Spaceflight Now 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, Jack Spitznagel, KD4IZ kd4iz at arrl dot org

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