At 12:09 AM 5/28/2023 +0000, you wrote:
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-148
In this edition:
- AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager Retires
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AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager Retires
It is time for me to retire from the position of AMSAT-NA Orbital Elements Manager.
I have held this position since October 8, 1993, when I inherited it from Dick Campbell, WR5RW (formally N3FKV). I also inherited a BASIC sorting program from Dick which has faithfully produced the AMSAT TLE format each week for almost 30 years. Today I have to use an emulator, but it consistently produces the format we (and our computer tracking programs) expect to see.
But, have no fear, Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P has been developing a software-based system that pulls the TLE data directly from the internet (Space-Track, 18SPCS), formats it, and sends it out to the amateur radio community. Joe has been testing it for over a month now and it is ready to go!
It has been a privilege to serve AMSAT as Orbital Elements Manager and I will miss the Thursday night routine of sending out the AMSAT TLE. But to those who have helped me along the way thanks. Special thanks to Keith Pugh (W5IU Silent key), Dick Cammpbell (WR5RW), Nico Janssen (PA0DLO), and also to Joe Fitzgerald (KM1P) for stepping up to the job.
[ANS thanks Ray Hoad, WA5QGD, for the above information]
Thank you for your service Ray. We never would have been on time and on target on satellite without you.
KB7ADL