AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-097
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:
* AMSAT-NA Working on Coordination Issues with Experimental Satellites * AMSAT YouTube Channel * 2013 AMSAT Field Day Rules Posted On-Line * ARRL Seeks Comments on 5 and 10 GHz National Band Plans * Final IARU-R1 Vienna 2013 Papers Released * First Satellite Contact Between Cuba and Ireland on FO-29 * NASA Seeks Academic Partners For Smallsat Technology Collaboration * Upcoming ARISS Contacts
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-097.01 ANS-076 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 097.01 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. April 7, 2013 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-097.01
***************************************************************** * Volunteers are needed to help at the AMSAT booth at Dayton. * * Steve Belter N9IP, is looking for volunteers to help man the * * AMSAT booth during the 2013 Hamvention. If you are willing * * to help at the Hamvention, please send an e-mail by April 30 * * to Steve Belter, [email protected]. * * * * Monitor the 'AMSAT at Dayton Hamvention 2013' link on the new * * AMSAT Web Site http://www.amsat.org for the latest AMSAT at * * Dayton news and developments * *****************************************************************
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AMSAT-NA Working on Coordination Issues with Experimental Satellites
Over the past several months events have caused the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) to more closely evaluate whether many of the small satellite projects proposed for launch should continue to be operated as stations in the Amateur-Satellite Service or instead be licensed as experimental stations. Based on the FCC's review, they determined that many do not really fit as Amateur projects and instead are requiring that the satellite developers obtain experimental licenses while still allowing them to operate in bands allocated to the Amateur-Satellite Service.
This has generated concern by the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) with regard to whether it is appropriate for their Satellite Advisory Panel to take on the duty of coordinating what the FCC now views as non-amateur satellites.
The IARU Satellite Adviser and his panel will coordinate frequencies for satellites to be licensed as experimental on an adhoc basis. The IARU Satellite Adviser is working closely with the FCC to prioritize the coordination of experimental satellites manifested on launches for the next few month. Satellites licensed as amateur will not be affected and will be coordinated as before. The IARU is urging administrations to take series steps to find alternative allocations for experimental satellites and prioritize their participation of preparation for agneda item at WRC-18 if not at WRC-15. "AMSAT groups around the world are urged to work with their national societies and regulators to resolve the situation", the IARU Satellite Adviser said.
AMSAT-NA is working with the ARRL to investigate long-term solutions to this situation while also addressing the short-term need for satellites already in the pipeline nearing launch.
AMSAT-NA recognizes the significant positive impact that the university cubesat programs have provided to the amateur radio satellite community, including:
* Affordable launch opportunities as NASA and other government policies encourage development of university satellite programs
* Encouraging students and staff to embrace amateur radio through obtaining amateur radio licensees and establishing amateur radio ground stations
* Providing the potential for more amateur radio communications satellites as the Fox-1 design is made operational, allowing both experimental payloads and amateur radio operations to be supported through a robust and dependable RF design
AMSAT-NA is committed to continue working with the FCC, IARU and ARRL to develop plans and processes that will address the needs and concerns of the small satellite community both short and long term.
[ANS thanks AMSAT President Barry Baines, WD4ASW, and Hans van de Groenendaal, ZS6AKV, for the above information]
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AMSAT YouTube Channel
AMSAT-NA is pleased to announce a dedicated YouTube channel for videos on and about amateur satellite operations. These will include demonstration videos as well as presentations at the AMSAT-NA Dayton Hamvention Forum and yearly General Membership Meeting and Symposium. It also links to the AMSAT-UK and AMSAT-DL channels for additional views and perspectives. The AMSAT-NA channel may be reached through the www.amsat.org web site, or directly via www.youtube.com/AMSATNA
[ANS thanks Alan, W4SCA, for the above information]
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2013 AMSAT Field Day Rules Posted On-Line
AMSAT Director Contests and Awards, Bruce Paige, KK5DO reminds you that time of year is once again approaching - Field Day!
Each year the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) sponsors Field Day as an emergency preparedness exercise. This year Field Day is June 22-23, 2013.
The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT) promotes its own version of Field Day for operation via the amateur satellites, held concurrently with the ARRL event.
With SO-50 being the only active FM satellite, Field Day this year will be challenging. If you are considering ONLY the FM voice sat- ellites for your primary AMSAT Field Day focus: Don't, unless you are simply hoping to make one contact for the ARRL rules bonus points.
The congestion on FM LEO satellites was so intense in prior years that we must continue to limit their use to one-QSO-per-FM-satel- lite. This includes the International Space Station if it is oper- ational. You will be allowed one QSO if the ISS is operating Voice. You will also be allowed one digital QSO with the ISS or any other digital, non-store-and-forward, packet satellite (if operational).
If you have worked the satellites on Field Day in recent years, you may have noticed a lot of good contacts can be made on the linear transponder satellites including VUsat OSCAR 52, Fuji OSCAR 29, and AMSAT OSCAR 7. During Field Day the transponders come alive like 20 meters on a weekend. The transponders on these satellites will sup- port multiple simultaneous SSB or CW contacts.
The AMSAT Field Day 2013 event is open to all Amateur Radio opera- tors. Amateurs are to use the exchange as specified in ARRL rules for Field Day. The AMSAT competition is to encourage the use of all amateur satellites, both analog and digital.
For the complete listing of the AMSAT Field Day Rules please refer to the documents posted on-line at:
http://www.amsatnet.com/2013fd.docx http://www.amsatnet.com/2013fd.pdf
[ANS thanks AMSAT Director Contests and Awards, Bruce Paige, KK5DO for the above information]
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ARRL Seeks Comments on 5 and 10 GHz National Band Plans
Chairman, ARRL UHF/Microwave Band Plan Committee, Rick Roderick, K5UR reports that a the draft documents of the 5 and 10 GHz band plans has been released for review.
The Committee, charted by the ARRL Board of Directors, has pre- pared draft band plans for 5 centimeters (5.650-5.925 GHz) and 3 centimeters (10-10.500 GHz).
Amateur Satellite allocations in the draft band plans include: + Amateur Satellite; Up-Link Only 5650.000 - 5670.000 MHz + Amateur Satellite; Down-Link Only 5830.000 - 5850.000 MHz + Space, Earth & Telecommand Stations 10450.000 - 10500.000 MHz
The band plan committee is requesting user comments via e-mail to [email protected] by April 30, 2013.
The ARRL announcement, including links to the PDF copies of the pro- posed band plan documents can be accessed on-line at: http://tinyurl.com/ARRL-5-10GHZ-BandPlans (www.arrl.org)
[ANS thanks the ARRL UHF/Microwave Band Plan Committee for the above information]
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Final IARU-R1 Vienna 2013 Papers Released
AMSAT-UK_Bevelled_LogoThe final set of VHF/UHF/uW papers for the IARU Region 1 Interim meeting in Vienna, April 20-21, have been released.
They include a number of papers related to Amateur-Satellite Service allocations: * VIE13_C5_03 Increased Amateur-Satellite Service 144MHz Usage * VIE13_C5_05 Recommendations for DATV Transmission * VIE13_C5_24 Region 1 Satellite Coordinator Report * VIE13_C5_27 New Narrow-Band working frequencies in the 2300-2450 MHz band * VIE13_C5_32 2400MHz Amateur Satellites
Download the papers here: http://ukamsat.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/2013_vienna_documents_final .pdf
Discussion on the papers can be found on the RSGB C5 Yahoo Group at http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/ukc5discussion/
Article originally published at: http://amsat-uk.org/2013/04/02/final-iaru-r1-vienna-2013-papers-releas ed/
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information]
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First Satellite Contact Between Cuba and Ireland on FO-29
Congratulations to Hector Martinez, CO6CBF and Joe Murphy, EI5EV for completing the first satellite contact between Cuba and Ireland on April 3, 2013 on FO-29.
The distance between CO6CBF and EI5EV is 6955.1 km. Both stations had a 66 second window within the FO-29 footprint. Hector wrote, "Doppler is always in play. We did the calculations based on the great feature implemented on SatPC32 V12.8b using the option of see- ing the frequency you are at the satellite receiver. This was our common reference point. I was very satisfied when I heard Joe exact- ly on the frequency I was expecting!"
Hector operated from on top of a tall building which improved his horizon visibility toward Europe. He used a Yaesu FT-817ND trans- ceiver, 30 watt power amplifier, and a homebrew Arrow with a home- brew mast mounted amplifier. Everything was powered by two 12 volt, 7 amp gel cell batteries.
FO-29 is at apogee which has increased the size of its footprint and improved chances for satellite DX contacts. Another example is Bob, W7LRD (grid CN87) reported a successful contact with Boris, UA0QJ (grid PP42) via FO-29 on March 26. The range between the two stations is 6268 km.
Hector would like to set up schedules with satellite operators in the FO-29 footprint. Please e-mail him at co6cbf[at]frcuba.co.cu.
[ANS thanks Hector Martinez, CO6CBF for the above information]
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NASA Seeks Academic Partners For Smallsat Technology Collaboration
[Credit: This article was first published on the Microcom Space Newsfeed on April 2. This article can be accessed at: http://tinyurl.com/Microcom-NASA-Collaboration (spacenewsfeed.co.uk)]
NASA is seeking small spacecraft technology project proposals from U.S. colleges and universities that would like to collaborate with agency researchers.
Small spacecraft, or smallsats, represent a growing field of space research and operations in which universities often have led the way in technology development. Smallsats, some of which are as small as a four-inch cube, are not expected to replace conventional space- craft, but sometimes can provide an alternative to larger, more costly spacecraft. Smallsats can serve as platforms for rapid tech- nology testing or specialized scientific research and exploration not otherwise possible. Smallsats also can be developed relatively quickly and inexpensively, and can share a ride to orbit with larger spacecraft.
"This new opportunity will engage university students and graduate researchers in advancing technology of value to NASA and the nation, and help strengthen our high-tech work force," said Andrew Petro, program executive for the Small Spacecraft Technology Program at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "There is a vibrant small space- craft community emerging within America's universities and NASA is taking steps to increase our collaboration with that community. The universities will benefit from the deep experience NASA has in space research and technology, while NASA will benefit from fresh ideas and cost-conscious innovation at the universities."
NASA expects to competitively select approximately 10 proposals. Each team will form proposal partnerships with researchers from any of NASA's field centers. Awards for each project will include as much as $100,000 ($150,000 for teams of more than one school). Proposals submitted in response to this NASA cooperative agreement notice are due June 5.
In addition, NASA will fund the time for NASA employees to work with each selected team. Project funding is for one year with the potential to continue for a second year. Proposed projects could include anything from laboratory work to advance a particular spacecraft technology to flight testing of a new smallsat. For example, projects might focus on a technology area such as propul- sion, power or communications, or on a smallsat capability, such as formation flight or satellite rendezvous.
The Small Spacecraft Technology Program is part of NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate, which is innovating, developing, testing and flying hardware for use in NASA's future missions.
For additional news see: http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=43721
[ANS thanks the Microcom Space Newsfeed for the above information]
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Upcoming ARISS Contacts
An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at Sir George Simpson Jr. High, Albert, AB, Canada on 09 April. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 20:00 UTC. The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be a telebridge between OR4ISS and IK1SLD. The contact should be audible over portions of Italy. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in English and French.
Sir George Simpson Public School is a junior high located in St. Albert, Alberta. Currently, with approximately 540 students enrolled in a variety of programs.
An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at Innalik School, Inukjuak, Nunavut, Canada on 12 April. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 17:30 UTC. The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be a telebridge between OR4ISS and IK1SLD. The contact should be audible over portions of Italy. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in English, French, and Inuktitut.
Inukjuak is a remote, fly-in Inuit community located on the Hudson Bay in Northern Quebec. Its population is approximately 1600. The Inuit of Inukjuak still partake in many cultural practices, for example; constructing sleds or harpoons, sewing traditional garments, training dogsled teams, hunting, fishing and berry picking. However, they also have a window into the modern world and are current on fashion trends, popular music, and breakout phenomena like "Gangnam Style". The primary language in the school and in the village is Inuktitut; English and French are secondary languages.
ARISS is an international educational outreach program partnering the participating space agencies, NASA, Russian Space Agency, ESA, CNES, JAXA, and CSA, with the AMSAT and IARU organizations from participating countries.
ARISS offers an opportunity for students to experience the excitement of Amateur Radio by talking directly with crew-members on-board the International Space Station. Teachers, parents and communities see, first hand, how Amateur Radio and crew-members on ISS can energize youngsters' interest in science, technology, and learning. Further information on the ARISS program is available on the website http://www.ariss.org/ (graciously hosted by the Radio Amateurs of Canada).
[ANS thanks David, AA4KN, 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