AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-364
ANS is a free, weekly, news and information service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS 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.
Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: [email protected]
In this edition:
* 2008 Straight Key Night on OSCAR in Memory of ex-JA1ANG * AMSAT Orbital Classroom Concept Study Announced * KiwiSAT Status Update From New Zealand * AMSAT Awards * ARISS Status Report for the Week of December 24, 2007 * ANDE Satellite De-Orbits
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-364.01 2008 Straight Key Night on OSCAR in Memory of ex-JA1ANG
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 364.01
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
December 30, 2007 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-364.01
You are cordially invited to take part in Straight Key Night on OSCAR 2008, sponsored by AMSAT for all radio amateurs throughout the world. This year's event will be held in memory of Haruo (Harry) Yoneda, ex-JA1ANG, a past AMSAT Director and co-founder of JAMSAT. Harry was also a keen CW operator and a past member of the First Class CW Operators Club (FOC).
Participating in OSCAR SKN is fun and simple. No scoring and no need to send in a log. Just operate CW through any OSCAR, using a straight hand key, at any time between 0000 and 2400 UTC on January 1, 2008.
In keeping with the friendly nature of this event, all participants are encouraged to nominate someone they worked for Best Fist. Your nominee need not have the best fist you heard, just the best of those you worked. Please send your nomination to W2RS at [email protected]. Those nominated will be recognized in an AMSAT News Service bulletin, and in The AMSAT Journal.
[ANS thanks Ray, W2RS for the above information]
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SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-364.02 AMSAT Orbital Classroom Concept Study Announced
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 364.02
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
December 30, 2007 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-364.02
Stefan, VE4NSA has been asked to organize and coordinate an amateur radio space communications training concept called the "Orbital Classroom". Stefan said, "Here is an opporturnity for AMSAT members to voice their needs for education. We are listening and working on this."
Stefan asks interested AMSAT members to send him your answers to these questions via e-mail ([email protected]).
1. Would you be interested in attending pre-conference courses and workshops as part of the annual meeting or at other venues?
2. Would you be willing to pay a registration fee that would cover course material, instructor cost etc.?
3. Would you be interested in receiving a certificate for ongoing education as it relates to amateur radio and satellites?
4. What topics would you like to see taught at such courses?
5. Would you be willing in helping to organize and facilitate courses (you don't have to teach for this one, just help the instructor and take care of registration, etc)?
6. Would you be willing to teach a course and if yes, on which topics?
Stefan concludes, "That's a start and hopefully it sparks your interest as a participant, facilitator or instructor. As always, your opinion counts and even more your help is greatly appreciated."
[ANS thanks Stefan, VE4NSA for the above information]
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SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-364.03 KiwiSAT Status Update From New Zealand
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 364.03
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
December 30, 2007 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-364.03
This week Terry, ZL3QL, President AMSAT-ZL, provided AMSAT members with a summary of the New Zealand KiwiSAT project.
KiwiSAT is a Microsat scheduled for launch into a LEO, will carry FM and Linear transponders with inputs on 70 cm & 23 cm - outputting on 2 meters. A unique feature will be the on-board Small Satellite Attitude Control scientific experiment. It will also carry a special environmental global warming scientific unit.
Over the years AMSAT-ZL has contributed some $10,000 to Phase 3 and UoSAT programs. Now they are getting on with completing KiwiSAT for your amateur radio enjoyment. ( See http://www.kiwisat.org )
Terry says, "We want this to be a truly radio amateur satellite and while we could get some extra sponsorship, which we will do for the launch, the satellite itself needs to be completed using amateur radio resources and amateur radio money. So far our investment is some US$15,000 cash and perhaps US$100,000 in time and effort. We have a further US$12,000 in the bank reserved towards the cost of the solar cells which are estimated to cost US$30,000."
The KiwiSAT team spends a lot of time looking for economy without engineering compromise thus this is a real cost effective satellite. They have abandoned purchasing ready made modules and opted for self design and construction. In some areas we have had to use professional services such as SMD handing which is limited by our standard ham- shack tools and techniques. However we have made much of the test equipment ourselves - including the thermal vacuum chamber.
To finish the satellite to flight-ready status, (less solar cells) KiwiSAT needs to raise about $10,000, which is about what we have given to other projects. So if you agree that its pay-back time, and you like what they are doing, perhaps you might like to contribute to this venture into space.
You can contribute large or small, direct or via PayPal, just visit our informative website at http://www.kiwisat.org, all help is greatly appreciated. Be assured your contribution will be thankfully received and faithfully applied.
Terry concludes,"Our grateful thanks to those who have already made a commitment to supporting this project. What a great time to help and what a great Yuletide gift to a worthy cause."
[ANS thanks Terry, ZL3QL for the above information]
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SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-364.04 AMSAT Awards
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 364.04
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
December 30, 2007 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-364.04
Bruce Paige, KK5DO, AMSAT Director Contests and Awards has issued the last awards for 2007.
We would like to welcome the following to the satellite community. They have made their first satellite contact and are now members of the AMSAT Satellite Communicators Club: Jeremy Ramirez KB9QIC Charles Doolittle N1SPX Jose Vitor Toste CU3EQ
AMSAT Communication Achievement Award John Henderson N4NAB, #456 Charles Doolittle N1SPX, #457
South Africa AMSAT Communication Achievement Award John Henderson N4NAB, US115 Charles Doolittle N1SPX, US116
To see all the awards visit http://www.amsat.org.
[ANS thanks Bruce, KK5DO for the above information]
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SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-364.05 ARISS Status Report for the Week of December 24, 2007
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 364.05
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
December 30, 2007 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-364.05
1. ARISS Contact with Russian School
The ARISS contact was not successful with the 15 Korolev City School in Korolev, Russia on Thursday, December 27 and will be rescheduled. Fifth graders will speak with flight engineer Yuri Makenchenko, RK3DUP.
2. ARISS International Team Meeting Held
The monthly ARISS teleconference was held on Tuesday, December 18. The topics discussed included the 2008 Face to Face Meeting to be held in Moscow, Russia, the progress being made on SuitSat-2 and the Kenwood radio software reload status. Minutes will be posted to the ARISS Web site in the near future.
3. Astronaut Gives Talk on ARISS at AMRASE Conference
The first AMRASE International Aerospace Research Conference was held on December 8 in Rio de Janeiro. Brazilian astronaut Marcos Pontes was one of the speakers at the meeting. Pontes gave a presentation on his training and his participation in the Centenario Mission onboard the ISS. He also talked about the importance the ARISS program plays in the education of youth. See: http://www.amrase.org/english.html
[ANS thanks Carol, KB3LKI for the above information]
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SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-364.06 ANDE Satellite De-Orbits
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 364.06
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
December 30, 2007 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-364.06
Henk, PA3GUO reminds everyone of the special ANDE de-Orbit AWARD available for everyone who makes a QSO via ANDE or receives telemetry during its final days in space. Bob, WB4APR, will set the official date/time of de-orbit. E-mail a copy of your final ANDE packets to Henk at [email protected].
ANDE was no longer copied on December 25, 2007. Mike, DK3WN reported the last packet from ANDE was received by by JA0CAW on December 24, 2007 at 22:27 UTC:
Fm ANDE-1 To APRS1 Via SGATE <UI pid=F0 Len=72 >[22:27:08] :BLN1ANDE :ANDE-1 only wakes up 1 of evry 15s for users. Pse conserve. Fm ANDE-1 To BEACON <UI pid=F0 Len=39 >[22:27:43] T#001,145,132,135,135,137,10101111,000
[ANS thanks Henk, PA3GUO and Mike, DK3WN for the above information]
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In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office.
73, This week's ANS Editor, JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM K9JKM at amsat dot org