AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-013
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:
ans-editor@amsat.org
In this edition: * AO-51 Report * SW Conference * AMSAT Engineering Team Meets * Satellite Shorts From All Over * ARISS Status - 07 January 2008
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-013.01 AO-51 Report
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 013.01 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. January 13, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-013.01
Correction to the previously sent news item.
AO-51 update The period of no eclipse for AO-51 is about a week old. The no eclipse period has proven to exhibit many short periods when the bad sun angle has caused the solar cells not to supply sufficient power, this has been supplemented by the batteries. We have increased the power output significantly over the last week, TXA (L/U digital BB) is now running 630 mW and TXB (analog V/U repeater) is running 820 mW. We plan on experimenting with the S-Band trans- mitter and a U-Band transmitter during the next couple of weeks. We do not have a published schedule as we are adapting the outputs to optimize the satellite operation and decrease the temperatures. Updated Note:1/13/2007-- AO-51 stopped transmitting and is going to be re-booted ASAP. Keep an "ear" on it.
[ANS thanks Gould, WA4SXM and the AO-51 Command team for the above information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-013.02 SW Conference
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 013.02 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. January 13, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-013.02
A conference on global shortwave coordination will be held February in Kuala Lumpur. This, to try to resolve potential interference problems likely to affect shortwave transmissions.
According to the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union, the February meeting will be hosted by VT Communications on behalf of the High Frequency Coordination Conference, the Arab States Broadcasting Union and the Asian Broadcasting Union. Using mutual coordination, delegates will try to resolve many of the potential interference problems that are likely to affect shortwave transmissions in the 2008 joint global broadcasting schedule.
At present, a single global seasonal database of seasonal frequency requirements, compiled by the High Frequency Coordination Conference secretariat, assists in the coordination process. A new database of frequency requirements for the shortwave radio broadcasting season from March 30th to October 26th will be on the agenda of the conference.
Hams will want to keep an eye on the outcome of this gathering because whatever is decided could impact on Amateur Radio operations in spectrum that shared with international shortwave. (Southgate)
[ANS thanks ARNS for the above information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-013.03 AMSAT Engineering Team Meets
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 013.03 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. January 13, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-013.03
With the holiday season behind and everyone settling back into winter in the northern hemisphere, the AMSAT Engineering Team kicked off the new year with the first meeting of 2008 on Tuesday, January 8. Thirty-two radio amateurs met via a VoIP teleconference call to get down to work on AMSAT's main missions which include the Eagle Satellite, the geosynchronous Phase IV Lite rideshare opportunity with Intelsat, and educational support for university projects.
Engineering project manager Barry Baines, WD4ASW moderated the meeting along with AMSAT's Vice President of Engineering, Bob McGwier, N4HY. AMSAT's volunteer engineers provided status and planning information for the projects listed below. Barry, Bob and engineering team members will provide members with detailed project information in future columns of the AMSAT Journal.
Rick Hambly, W2GPS, AMSAT President, reported that negotiations are continuing with Intelsat and are now going to focus on size, weight, and cost of the geosynchronous rideshare arrangement. Rick reminded everyone that our mission must excite potential grant funding sources via our unique emergency communication and educational capabilities. Watch the Journal for future details!
Matt Ettus, N2MJI has taken on the design of the Advanced Communication Payload. The first steps toward specification of the high speed digital channels, power requirements, uplink and downlink protocols, and class of stations supported have begun. Watch the Journal for future details!
Howard Long, G6LVB continues work on the linear transponders based on Software Defined Radio (SDR) technology. Development and testing are underway. High altitude balloon, SuitSat2 and SSETI missions are planning to utilize this transponder technology to provide early experience prior to P3E and Eagle utilization. Watch the Journal for future details!
Marc Franco, N2UO has started work on the VHF amplifier driver stage using the silicon carbide technology enabling the 86% efficiency of the main PA. Space rated components are under study. The 2 meter band HELAPS amplifier will be the initial design and possible scaling upward to the 70cm band is under consideration. Watch the Journal for future details!
Lou McFadin, W5DID leads the team developing SuitSat-2. The internal housekeeping unit (IHU) and AMSAT's software defined transponder technology are the main items under development. Solar cells have been donated by NASA. A new antenna system on top of the helmet has been completed. Watch the Journal for future details!
Bob Davis, KF4KSS, AMSAT Lab Manager reported on several good projects that have arisen out of the cooperative efforts of AMSAT and the HAWK Institute of Space Sciences at the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore. Construction of the AMSAT lab in the 8500 square foot facility continues. The clean room and machine shop will be coming on line to begin the development of the Eagle satellite space frame. University students will utilize the facilities to develop and launch a high altitude balloon project and a university cubesat both carrying research-related and AMSAT-related payloads. Watch the Journal for future details!
If you want to help with the AMSAT Engineering Team, send an e-mail to Bob N4HY via n4hy@amsat.org.
[ANS thanks, Bob, N4HY, for the above information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-013.04 Satellite Shorts From All Over
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 013.04 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. January 13, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-013.04
Satellite Shorts From All Over
+ Clint Bradford, K6LCS reports success from his Wednesday, January 9 AO-51 club demonstration. "AO-51 performed tremendously! We worked Mexico and a couple California stations", said Clint.
+ Drew, KO4MA, AMSAT-NA VP Operations, says, "The satellite is now in full sun, with no eclipses, for the next several months. The downlink power has been increased substantially, to 630mw on the data side, and 820mw on the repeater side. Temperatures aboard the satellite have increased, but are within expectations".
+ Ed Long, WA4SWJ, Editor, The AMSAT Journal reminds authors that the dead-line is approaching for article submissions for the Jan/Feb 08 Journal. If you have an article to submit Ed would love to have it as soon as possible.
+ AMSAT Store Manager, Bruce, KK5DO suggests you check out the new 2GB USB Flash Drive in an aluminum finish with the AMSAT logo in the store. Bruce says, "This has to be one of the best items we have carried. Something that all of us can use."
+ The current launch date for the PSLV-C9, carrying the NLS-4 set of nanosatellites (CanX-2, Delfi-C3, AAUSat-II, COMPASS-1, Cute-1.7+APDII, SEEDS) is February 14.
+ Reserve your seat! For his next big plan for the private space industry, Richard Branson is thinking up new ways to excite affluent space tourists:
flying them into the biggest lightshow on Earth, the Aurora Borealis. Although the New Mexico Virgin Galactic Spaceport isn't scheduled for com-pletion until 2010, the British entrepreneur is already planning his next project intended for cruises into the spectacular space phenomenon from an Arctic launchpad. (Universe Today)
+ Amateur radio to the moon? Possible rideshare arrangements to the moon via ESA and NASA student projects are discussed in the November/ December 2007 AMSAT Journal. Not a member? Didn't get the Journal? Sign up for membership today at http://www.amsat.org!
[ANS thanks everyone for the above information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-013.05 ARISS Status - 07 January 2008
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 013.05 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. January 13, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-013.05
ARISS STATUS 07 January 2008
1. ARISS School Contacts Status
Due to ISS crew schedules, no Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contacts are planned at this time. The ARISS team expects contacts to resume once STS-122 launches in late January.
2. Astronaut Training Status
Timothy Creamer, KC5WKI, is scheduled for a training session in basic radio operations and school contacts on Tuesday, January 8. Creamer is a backup crew member for the Expedition 18 mission.
3. ARISS Annual Report
The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) FY2007 annual report has been written and is being finalized. It will soon be posted on the ARISS section of the AMSAT Web site.
[ANS thanks Carol, KB3LKI, 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 additional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office.
73, This week's ANS Editor, Dee Interdonato, NB2F nb2f at amsat dot org