AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-353
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:
* Gould Smith, WA4SXM appointed Director-Field Operations * AO-73/FUNcube Holiday Transponder Operation * HM85 Christmas Weekend Operation * 18 Years of SSTV and Human Spaceflight * WB8ELK Balloon Completes Second Lap Around the World * 18th Annual Long Island Section Convention
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-353.01 ANS-353 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 353.01 From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. DATE December 18, 2016 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-353.01
Gould Smith, WA4SXM appointed Director-Field Operations
AMSAT President Barry Baines, WD4ASW has appointed G. Gould Smith, WA4SXM as Director-Field Operations. The public announcement was made during the Field Operations Forum held in conjunction with the 34th AMSAT Space Symposium held on board Carnival Liberty on 12 Nov 2016.
Field Operations consists of AMSAT volunteers who serve as Area Coordinators in their local areas. As “Ambassadors of AMSAT”, they give AMSAT presentations at local club meetings or at hamfests, manage an AMSAT table/booth at a hamfest, or support local satellite operations as ‘elmers’ to new satellite operators.
Gould previously served as Director-Field Operations from 2004-2008 prior to becoming VP-User Services from 2008-2013. Gould is also the author of several books published by AMSAT starting in 1990 with “Getting Started With Amateur Satellites” the current AMSAT publication that carries his name. Due to medical issues, Gould was forced to resign from the Board of Directors and as VP-User Services in 2014 to focus on his medical concerns. Two years later, Gould’s medical recovery is now such that he’s once again in position to support AMSAT.
In conjunction with this transition, Patrick Stoddard, WD9EWK now serves as “Lead Area Coordinator”, essentially functioning as Gould’s Executive Officer. Together, Gould and Patrick will work to enhance the Field Organization.
“Having Gould back in an AMSAT leadership role is welcome news” notes AMSAT President Barry Baines, WD4ASW. “Gould is passionate about amateur radio in space and wants to encourage amateurs to become involved with satellite operations. The Field Organization will benefit from Gould’s focus on providing support to our Area Coordinators and developing materials that will assist our volunteers to speak on AMSAT’s behalf at club presentations and hamfests.”
Initially, Gould has been spending some time getting back up to speed on the current status of the Field Organization and establishing a line of communication with the Field Ops Team. Gould notes, “As a long time AMSAT volunteer I am excited to be re-engaging with the organization since my health has improved significantly. The Field Operations position is one that I have experience with and am looking forward to leading with the help of Patrick, WD9EWK. I have looked at the current Area Coordinator list and their activities and know most of the members. One of the first things I will be doing is getting to know the newer coordinators and determining how best we can serve AMSAT, it's members and prospective members. Please let me know of any ideas or suggestions to improve he Field Operations team.”
[ANS thanks AMSAT President Barry Baines, WD4ASW, for the above information]
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AO-73/FUNcube Holiday Transponder Operation
The AO-73/FUNcube plan for the Holidays is to switch to continuous transponder mode on Wed 22 Dec pm UTC, and revert back to auto transponder switching on Sunday 8 Jan 2017 ppm UTC.
Have FUN with the transponder.
[ANS thanks Jim, G3WGM, for the above information]
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HM85 Christmas Weekend Operation
Pedro, CU2ZG, reports that Christmas HM58 operation will take place from December 23rd to December 25th. Pedro will be SSB equipped and plans to operate on the following satellites: AO-7, FO-29, SO-50, AO-73, EO-79, XW-2A/B/C/D/F, and AO-85.
Logs will be uploaded as CU2ZG.
[ANS thanks Pedro, CU2ZG, for the above information]
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18 Years of SSTV and Human Spaceflight
December 12, 2016, marked the 18th anniversary of the activation of the MIR SSTV Amateur Radio developed System which was transported and put aboard the MIR Space Station. The MIR SSTV System sent pictures over a period of about 2 years and 4 months to the delight of Amateur Radio Operators and others worldwide. (Mir was deorbited in March, 2001) For those interested in this historical event and background, the publication Amateur Television Quarterly (ATVQ), Spring 2015 issue has an article, “How Did the MIR SSTV System come into Existence”? Back issue copies of ATVQ containing this article are available via [email protected]. See also web address: www.ATVQuarterly.com.
A small sampling of perhaps thousands of received pictures may be found in web sites:
http://www.marexmg.org/marexmirweb/fileshtml/galleryimagepage1.htm
http://www.qsl.net/dg7ro/afu/mirsstv.htm
Background information and initial efforts on developing the MIR System and early efforts to provide SSTV for the ISS may be reviewed at:
http://www.marexmg.org/fileshtml/sponsorspeople.htm
The ISS is now transmitting a similar series of SSTV Transmissions to that of MIR:
https://amsat-uk.org/beginners/iss-sstv
[ANS thanks Farrell, W8ZCF, for the above information]
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WB8ELK Balloon Completes Second Lap Around the World
After flying for over 41,000 miles, the WB8ELK HF WSPR Skytracker balloon has completed its second lap after crossing over into Indiana on 12 Dec 2016. For those of you capable of listening to 20m WSPR mode, it transmits at the 4-minute and 6-minute marks every 10 minutes on 14.09560 MHz USB during daylight hours.
[ANS thanks Bill WB8ELK and the BALLOON_SKED group on yahoogroups for the above information]
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18th Annual Long Island Section Convention
Ham Radio University (HRU) is scheduled for January 8th, 2017, there will be 30 forums with Tom Gallagher, CEO, of ARRL as the keynote speaker.
Peter, W2JV, will be doing a forum at 10 AM on ‘Getting Started with the Amateur Satellites”, AMSAT will have a table in the club room to answer your questions. There will be demonstrations on the air as time and weather permits, on both the FM and linear transponder satellites. Look for W2JV, or others on the air.
[ANS thanks Peter, W2JV, 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 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, Lee McLamb, KU4OS ku4os at amsat dot org