AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-291
The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and infor- mation service of AMSAT North America, 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.
In this edition:
* URGENT - AO-85 Operational Update * Joe Kornowski K9JMK Named AMSAT Journal Editor * Help AMSAT Launch FOX-1Cliff and FOX-1D Satellite in 2015 * AMSAT Elects Senior Officer * SAREX Reflector to be Closed 1 November 2015 * Amateur Radio – a hobby for the 21st century * Special Membership Offer for Fox-1A Launch * ARISS-US Contact Proposals Accepted Through November 1 * NASA awards launch services contracts for CubeSat satellites * ARISS News * Satellite Shorts From All Over
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-291 ANS-291 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 291
From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD.
October 18, 2015 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-291
URGENT - AO-85 Operational Update
After our successful launch on October 8, AO-85 has been chiefly in transponder mode and available to users. While this operational plan resulted in increased data for AMSAT engineering evaluation, we have some necessary tests to complete that require limiting access for a short period. We will be characterizing the uplink and downlink signals, and developing an updated set of recommendations for minimal equipment and best operating practices.
For the week of October 19 to 23, AO-85 will be unavailable while this testing and evaluation is complete. Please avoid transmitting to the satellite even if you hear the transponder on. Users are encouraged to collect and forward telemetry via the FoxTelem program. Please share this information to other operators as needed. Cooperation will expedite this testing and the return to normal operations.
[ANS thanks Drew KO4MA for the above informatioin]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Joe Kornowski K9JMK Named AMSAT Journal Editor
During the 2015 AMSAT Annual Meeting held in Dayton, Ohio, AMSAT President Barry Baines, WD4ASW, announced the appointment of Joe Kornowski, KB6IGK as the Editor of The AMSAT Journal beginning with the November/December 2015 issue, filling the position previously held by JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM, who had to resign for personal reasons. Joe has served as an Assistant Editor since 2014 and has several years of professional experience in writing, editing, and content creation in various fields, including law and legal publishing, technology, health and wellness, and creative/media.
[ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Help AMSAT Launch FOX-1Cliff and FOX-1D Satellite in 2015
For a $1,000.00 donation, AMSAT will provide you, after launch, with a clear solar panel protective cover actually used on Fox-1 Cliff or FOX-1D. The cover will be mounted on a plaque, and engraved with your name, callsign and date of launch. Quantities are limited.
The plaque will make an excellent display in your office or shack for you to show off your pride in helping AMSAT launch Fox-1 Cliff!
To donate and claim your panel visit https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/6pz92/ab/561Zd
Similar plaques from FOX-1A were recently presented to their donors during the AMSAT Space Symposium in Dayton.
[ANS thanks Barry WD4ASW for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
AMSAT Elects Senior Officer
Election of AMSAT's Senior Officers was one of the first orders of business to be settled once the AMSAT Board of Directors meeting opened on October 15, prior to the start of the 2015 AMSAT Space Symposium held in Dayton, Ohio.
The following positions were voted upon and filled:
Barry Baines, WD4ASW President Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA Vice-President Operations Jerry Buxton, N0JY Vice-President Engineering Frank Bauer, KA3HDO Vice-President Human Spaceflight Paul Stoetzer, N8HM Secretary Keith Baker, KB1SF/VA3KSF Treasurer Martha Saragovitz Manager
The following Senior Officer positions remained open at this time awaiting appointments: Executive Vice President Vice-President User Services Vice-President Marketing
The AMSAT Board of Directors for 2016 consists of:
Barry Baines, WD4ASW Tom Clark, K3IO JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM Lou McFadin, W5DID Jerry Buxton, N0JY Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA Bob McGwier, N4HY Mark Hammond, N8MH (First Alternate) Bruce Paige, KK5DO (Second Alternate)
[ANS thanks Paul N8HM for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
SAREX Reflector to be Closed 1 November 2015
At the request of the ARISS US Team, AMSAT-NA Vice President for Human Spaceflight Frank Bauer, KA3HDO has announced that the SAREX reflector will be closed 1 November 2015, and its functions folded into the AMSAT-BB list. Frank explained that at one time operations from the Space Shuttle and the ISS were considered as sufficiently different from other satellite operations as to need separate forums for their respective interest communities. More recently, changes in the human spaceflight operations, the new generation of satellites, and the interests of the general AMSAT community have removed the reasons for this distinction.
What does this mean to the current subscribers? If you are subscribed to both SAREX and AMSAT-BB, there is no need to take any action. You will cease to receive new postings on the SAREX list 1 November 2015, which will now be made on AMSAT-BB. The SAREX archives will continue to be available for historical purposes. If you are not subscribed to AMSAT-BB and wish to continue to receive human spaceflight announcements, please go to http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo and subscribe to AMSAT-BB. Your existing SAREX subscription will not be automatically carried over since not everyone will wish to do so.
[ANS thanks Alan WA4SCA for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Amateur Radio – a hobby for the 21st century
The RSGB has launched a new amateur radio promotional video on their YouTube channel.
The video was produced in conjunction with TX Factor and has generated lots of positive comment since it was first shown publicly at the RSGB Convention on October 10.
One person commented “the video is really good, hardly an oldie to be seen !!”
The amateur satellite service features prominently in the video, Peter Goodhall 2E0SQL is shown working the amateur satellites and astronaut Doug Wheelock KF5BOC puts in an appearance from on-board the International Space Station.
Among those spotted in the video were amateurs from the Silcoates School, Camb Hams and Essex Ham.
Watch the video at https://youtu.be/8x6x_6mDVlQ
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Special Membership Offer for Fox-1A Launch
AMSAT’s Fox-1A , AO-85 was launched as part of the GRACE (Government Rideshare Advanced Concepts Experiment) auxillary payload on the NROL- 55 mission October 8, 2015 from Vandenburg AFB on an Atlas V vehicle. NRO has released this factsheet about the mission: http://tinyurl.com/ANS291-FactSheet
General information on Fox-1A is available in the downloadable AMSAT Fox Operating Guide. http://tinyurl.com/ANS291-OperatingGuide
FoxTelem software for decoding and submitting telemetry has been made available for download at http://www.amsat.org/?page_id=4532 .
As part of the celebration for the launch and activation of this new satellite, AMSAT is making our “Getting Started With The Amateur Satellites” book available for a limited time as a download with any paid new or renewal membership purchased via the AMSAT Store. This offer is only available with purchases completed online, and for only a limited time. A perennial favorite, Getting Started is updated every year with the latest amateur satellite information, and is the premier primer of satellite operation. The 132 page book is presented in PDF format, in full color, and covers all aspects of making your first contacts on a ham radio satellite.
Please take advantage of this offer today by visiting the AMSAT store http://store.amsat.org/catalog/ and selecting any membership option. While there, check out our other items, including the M2 LEOpack antenna system, AMSAT shirts, hats, and other swag. Thank you, and see you soon on Fox-1A!
[ANS thanks Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, Vice-President Operations for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
ARISS-US Contact Proposals Accepted Through November 1
Message to US Educators Amateur Radio on the International Space Station Contact Opportunity Call for Proposals Proposal Window September 1 – November 1, 2015
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 July 1 and December 31, 2016. 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 November 1, 2015. Proposal information and documents can be found at www.arrl.org/hosting-an- ariss-contact.
The next and last of these will be offered Wednesday, September 30, at 2300 UTC.
Advance registration is necessary. E-mail ARISS ([email protected]) to sign up for an information session.
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 and educators 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 contact dates and times.
Amateur Radio organizations around the world, NASA, and space agencies in Russia, Canada, Japan and Europe sponsor this educational opportunity by providing the equipment and operational support to enable direct communication between crew on the ISS and students around the world via Amateur Radio. In the US, the program is managed by AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) and ARRL (American Radio Relay League) in partnership with NASA.
More Information Interested parties can find more information about the program at www.ariss.org and www.arrl.org/ARISS.
For proposal information and more details such as expectations, proposal guidelines and proposal form, and dates and times of Information Sessions go to http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss- contact. Please direct any questions to [email protected]
[ANS thanks ARISS for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
NASA awards launch services contracts for CubeSat satellites
NASA's Launch Services Program (LSP) has awarded multiple Venture Class Launch Services (VCLS) contracts to provide small satellites (SmallSats) - also called CubeSats, microsats or nanosatellites - access to low-Earth orbit.
The three companies selected to provide these new commercial launch capabilities, and the value of their firm fixed-price contracts, are: Firefly Space Systems Inc. of Cedar Park, Texas, $5.5 million; Rocket Lab USA Inc. of Los Angeles, $6.9 million; Virgin Galactic LLC of Long Beach, California, $4.7 million.
At present, launch opportunities for small satellites and science missions mostly are limited to rideshare-type arrangements, flying only when space is available on NASA and other launches. The services acquired through these new contract awards will constitute the smallest class of launch services used by NASA.
"LSP is attempting to foster commercial launch services dedicated to transporting smaller payloads into orbit as an alternative to the rideshare approach and to promote the continued development of the U.S. commercial space transportation industry," said Jim Norman, director of Launch Services at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "VCLS is intended to help open the door for future dedicated opportunities to launch CubeSats and other small satellites and science missions."
Small satellites, including CubeSats, are playing an increasingly larger role in exploration, technology demonstration, scientific research and educational investigations at NASA. These miniature satellites provide a low-cost platform for NASA missions, including planetary space exploration; Earth observations; fundamental Earth and space science; and developing precursor science instruments like cutting-edge laser communications, satellite-to-satellite communications and autonomous movement capabilities.
LSP supports the agency's CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI) by providing launch opportunities for more than 50 CubeSats that are awaiting launch during the next three years. The VCLS contracts will demonstrate a dedicated launch capability for smaller payloads that NASA anticipates it will require on a recurring basis for future science SmallSat and CubeSat missions.
Small satellites already are used to provide imagery collection for monitoring, analysis and disaster response. In the future, CubeSat capabilities could include ship and aircraft tracking, improved weather prediction, and the provision of broader Internet coverage.
The Earth Science Division of NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington has partnered with LSP to fund the VCLS contracts. These VCLS launches of small satellites are able to tolerate a higher level of risk than larger missions and will demonstrate, and help mitigate risks associated with, the use of small launch vehicles providing dedicated access to space for future small spacecraft and missions.
"Emerging small launch vehicles have great potential to expand the use of small satellites as integral components of NASA's Earth science orbital portfolio," said Michael Freilich, director of NASA's Earth Science Division.
"Today's CubeSat technology fosters hands-on engineering and flight research training; with the addition of reliable, affordable, and dedicated access to space on small launchers, constellations of SmallSats and CubeSats could revolutionize our science-based spaceborne Earth-observing systems and capabilities. We're eager to work with the VCLS providers as they develop new launch capabilities for the Earth science community."
[ANS thanks Space Daily for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
ARISS News
A Successful contact was made between Bay View Elementary School, Burlington, WA, USA and Astronaut Kjell Lindgren KO5MOS using Callsign OR4ISS. The contact began 2015-10-14 19:41 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was telebridge via IK1SLD. ARISS Mentor was K4SQC.
Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2015-10-15 07:30 UTC
Quick list of scheduled contacts and events:
Saku Children’s Science Dome for the Future, Saku City, Japan, direct via 8NØSDF The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Kimiya Yui KG5BPH Contact is a go for: Thu 2015-10-22 09:47:21 UTC 62 deg
West Michigan Aviation Academy, Grand Rapids, MI, direct via W8ISS The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Kjell Lindgren KO5MOS Contact is a go for: Thu 2015-10-22 17:10:02 UTC 36 deg
[ANS thanks ARISS, Charlie AJ9N and David AA4KN for the above information]
[ANS thanks ARISS, Charlie AJ9N information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Satellite Shorts From All Over
+ 2016 Colloqium Dates Set
The dates for the next Colloquium have now been confirmed as Fri 29 Jul to Sun 31 July 2016. It will be held in the same location as in 2015, ie the Holiday Inn, Guildford, UK
[ANS thanks Jim G3WGM for the above information]
+ Eimac Moonbounce Notes collection
Way back in 1980 when I first got interested in amateur satellites and AMSAT, I wrote off to Eimac Corporation for their "Moonbounce Notes" collection.
While on a household paper eradication campaign I came across them and scanned them. I thought others might enjoy a look back at some bleeding-edge ham activities from the mid-late 1970s. It's particularly amusing to see how much effort was spent just tracking the moon with the technology then available.
http://www.ka9q.net/moonbounce-notes
This is a raw collection of pdf files, but the file names are pretty descriptive. Collect the entire set!
If anybody has any notes missing from my collection, please let me know.
[ANS thanks Phil KA9Q for the above information
+ Space Diary: Fire up your imagination!
Fire up your imagination and get ready for launch
Lucy Hawking and Curved House Kids launch a STEM literacy project to get 500 primary schools involved in Tim’s mission to the ISS. As Tim lifts off in December, school students will follow his mission by creating a personalised log book, the Principia Mission Space Book.
Each month a video will be released from amazing space crew including Dallas Campbell, Stephen Hawking, Richard Garriott and Lucy Hawking.
To learn more visit https://principia.org.uk/news/spacediary/
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
/EX
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 addi- tional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office.
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 stu- dent rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership information.
73, This week's ANS Editor, EMike McCardel, KC8YLD kc8yld at amsat dot org