AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-120

In this edition:

* XW-2A Satellite Decays * 14th Annual TAPR/AMSAT Banquet * SSTV Transmissions from ORBICRAFT-ZORKIY May 7-13, 2023 * Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for April 27, 2023 * ARISS News * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Satellite Shorts From All Over

The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, 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

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ANS-120 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

To: All RADIO AMATEURS From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation 712 H Street NE, Suite 1653 Washington, DC 20002

DATE 2023 Apr 30

XW-2A Satellite Decays

The popular linear transponder satellite XW-2A has decayed from orbit. Launched on September 19, 2015 on the maiden flight of the CZ-6 rocket from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center along with several other amateur radio satellites, including XW-2B, XW-2C, XW-2D, and LilacSat-2, XW-2A was a 25 kg microsat. Two other amateur radio satellites, XW-2E and XW-2F, rode piggyback on XW-2A. After launch, XW-2E and XW-2F deployed and XW-2A performed an orbit lowering manuever.

The record distance achieved on XW-2A was a transatlantic QSO between EA4NF in Spain and VE1CWJ in Nova Scotia in August 2022 - a distance of 4,751 km.

[ANS thanks CAMSAT, AMSAT, and Gunter's Space Page for the above information]

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ The 2023 AMSAT President's Club coins are here now! To commemorate the 40th anniversary of its launch on June 16, 1983, this year's coin features an image of AMSAT-OSCAR 10. Join the AMSAT President's Club today and help Keep Amateur Radio in Space! https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

14th Annual TAPR/AMSAT Banquet

The 14th Annual TAPR/AMSAT Banquet will be held at the Kohler Presidential Banquet Center on Friday, May 19th at 18:30 EDT. This dinner is always a highlight of the TAPR (Tucson Amateur Packet Radio) and AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corp.) activities during the Dayton Hamvention. This year's menu includes:

Cash Bar Regular and Decaf Coffee, Hot & Iced Tea, Water

Appetizer - Crudite Platter (with dip on the side)

Buffet - Roast Prime Rib of Beef Au Jus (Carved on site. Served with horseradish and au jus on the side) - Santa Fe Chicken (with Pepper Cheese Jalapeno Hollandaise) - Deep Fried Tempura Shrimp (with Tomato Lemon Aioli) - Risotto Cake - Fresh Asparagus - Smashed Cauliflower

Served to the Table - Strawberry Fields - Assorted Dinner Rolls (Served with butter)

Dessert - Assorted Layer Cake - Cheesecake

Tickets ($60 each) may be purchased from the AMSAT store at https://www.amsat.org/product/2023-tapr-amsat-joint-hamvention-banquet-regis.... The banquet ticket purchase deadline is Friday, May 12th. Banquet tickets must be purchased in advance and will not be sold at the AMSAT booth. There will be no tickets to pick up at the AMSAT booth. Tickets purchased on-line will be maintained on a list with check-in at the door at the banquet center. Seating is limited to the number of meals reserved with the Kohler caterers based on the number of tickets sold by the deadline.

The Kohler Presidential Banquet Center is located at 4548 Presidential Way, Kettering, Ohio – about 20 minutes away from the Greene County Fairgrounds.

[ANS thanks the AMSAT Hamvention Team for the above information.]

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Need new satellite antennas? Purchase Arrows, Alaskan Arrows, and M2 LEO-Packs from the AMSAT Store. When you purchase through AMSAT, a portion of the proceeds goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space. https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/

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SSTV Transmissions from ORBICRAFT-ZORKIY May 7-13, 2023

Dear radio amateurs! We invite you to participate in the SSTV award program with the ORBICRAFT-ZORKIY satellite!

Schedule:

Start of SSTV transmission: 07 May 2023 00:00 UTC; End of SSTV transmission: May 13, 2023 00:00 UTC; Frequency of MCA "ORBICRAFT-ZORKIY"

437.850 MHz GMSK 2k4 USP FEC, GMSK 4k8 USP FEC, GMSK 9k6 USP FEC, SSTV; Telemetry of the MSC "ORBICRAFT-ZORKIY" - https://r4uab.ru/satdb/orbicraft-zorkiy/

Conditions: within 6 days, the satellite will broadcast 6 (six) different images in Robot 72 mode. To receive a diploma, at least 3 (three) of any images must be received and decoded. Each image must be received at least 70% and have an acceptable quality, the logo and call sign of the satellite must be distinguishable.

For image decoding, it is recommended to use RX-SSTV or Robot36 software. Received images must be in their original state and resolution.

Registration of an application for a diploma An application for a diploma is sent to e-mail. mail radioamateur@sputnix.ru and should contain:

FULL NAME; Call sign (if available, if not, indicate “no call sign”); Date and time of receipt (UTC) of each image; City and country of reception; Return address for sending a paper version of the diploma (or a note that the diploma can be sent electronically) Type of hardware and software used; Accepted images; Applications will be accepted during the duration of the program (May 07-12, 2023), as well as a day after the end of the broadcast - until May 14, 2023 00:00 UTC.

Please note that submitting an application means your consent to the processing of personal data specified in it.

Diplomas will be sent within 30 days after the deadline for applications, delivery to recipients will depend on the speed of postal services :).

PS There will be special prizes for those who accept all 6 images in good quality ;).

We wish you all good luck!

73! Team Sputniks!

ORBICRAFT-ZORKIY is NORAD CAT ID 47960, International Designation 2021-022AE https://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=47960

[ANS thanks R4UAB for the above information]

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Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition? Get your AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff from our Zazzle store! 25% of the purchase price of each product goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear

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Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for March 31, 2023

Two Line Elements or TLEs, often referred to as Keplerian elements or keps in the amateur community, are the inputs to the SGP4 standard mathematical model of spacecraft orbits used by most amateur tracking programs. Weekly updates are completely adequate for most amateur satellites. TLE bulletin files are updated Thursday evenings around 2300 UTC, or more frequently if new high interest satellites are launched. More information may be found at https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/

SSS-2B NORAD Cat ID 56184 (uncoordinated frequency: 435.8000 MHz). Thanks to Nico Janssen, PA0DLO for the identification of the above satellite.

The following satellite has decayed from orbit and has been removed from this week's AMSAT-NA TLE distribution:

XW-2A NORAD Cat ID 40903 (Decayed 04/25/2023 per Space-Track.org).

[ANS thanks Ray Hoad, WA5QGD, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager, for the above information]

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ARISS News

Amateurs and others around the world may listen in on contacts between amateurs operating in schools and allowing students to interact with astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station. The downlink frequency on which to listen is 145.800 MHz worldwide.

Quick list of scheduled contacts and events:

Council Rock High School South, Holland, PA, direct via KC3JND (***) The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz The scheduled crewmember is Steve Bowen KI5BKB (***) The ARISS mentor is AB1OC

Contact is go for: Mon 2023-05-01 12:43:15 UTC 79 deg (***)

Watch for Livestream at www.crsarc.org/live

The crossband repeater continues to be active. If any crewmember is so inclined, all they have to do is pick up the microphone, raise the volume up, and talk on the crossband repeater. So give a listen, you just never know.

Comments on making general contacts

I have been seeing a lot of traffic on Facebook and I suspect on other social media sites with people asking why they are not hearing the crew make general contacts. First off the crew is very busy on the ISS and they simply may not have the time to just pick up the microphone and talk. Also, one needs to be aware of their normal daily schedule. I have listed below the constraints that we at ARISS have to follow in order to schedule the school contacts. Hopefully this will help you better schedule your opportunities.

Typical daily schedule

Wakeup to Workday start= 1.5 hours Workday start to Workday end=12 hours Workday end to Sleep= 2 hours Sleep to wakeup= 8.5 hours

The crew's usual waking period is 0730 - 1930 UTC. The most common times to find a crew member making casual periods are about one hour after waking and before sleeping, when they have personal time. They're usually free most of the weekend, as well.

SSTV events are not that often. So please check out https://www.ariss.org/ for the latest information or watch for the ARISS announcements.

And don’t forget that the packet system is active.

As always, if there is an EVA, a docking, or an undocking; the ARISS radios are turned off as part of the safety protocol.

ARISS Radio Status

Columbus Module radios: IORS (Kenwood D710GA) – STATUS - Configured. Default mode is for cross band repeater (145.990 MHz up {PL 67} & 437.800 MHz down). * Powering off for Russian EVA targeting May 03. OFF May 03 about 14:00 UTC. ON May 05 about 07:40 UTC. * Powering off for Russian EVA targeting May 12. OFF May 12 about 10:30 UTC. ON May 13 about 13:15 UTC. * Powering off for Progress 84 docking on May 24. OFF TBD . ON TBD. * Capable of supporting USOS scheduled voice contacts, packet and voice repeater ops.

Service Module radios: IORS (Kenwood D710GA) – STATUS - Configured. Default mode is fo packet operations (145.825 MHz up & down) * Powering off for Russian EVA targeting May 03. OFF May 03 about 14:00 UTC. ON May 05 about 07:40 UTC. * Powering off for Russian EVA targeting May 12. OFF May 12 about 10:30 UTC. ON May 13 about 13:15 UTC. * Powering off for Progress 84 docking on May 24. OFF TBD . ON TBD. * Capable of supporting ROS scheduled voice contacts, packet, SSTV and voice repeater ops.

The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html

The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html

[ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors for the above information]

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Upcoming Satellite Operations

Quick Hits: VE3GOP has been in EO74. I’m checking to see where/when the next stop is.

Major Roves: I post ’em as soon as I know about ’em. Just be aware that I still work roughly 60 hours a week. Tnx!

Please submit any additions or corrections to k5zm (at) comcast (dot) net.

[ANS thanks Ian Parsons, K5ZM, AMSAT rover page manager, for the above information]

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Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events

AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events.

+ Dayton Hamvention May 19-21 Greene County Fair and Expo Center, 210 Fairground Road, Xenia 45385 https://hamvention.org/

+ TAPR/AMSAT Banquet May 19, 2023 Kohler Presidential Banquet Center is located at 4548 Presidential Way, Kettering, Ohio Reservations are required and available at the AMSAT Store https://www.amsat.org/product-category/amsat-at-hamvention/.

+ AMSAT Symposium and Annual Meeting October 20-21, 2013 Dallas, Texas

AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events.

AMSAT Ambassador Clint Bradford, K6LCS, says,

"Think a 75-minute presentation on "working the easy satellites" would be appropriate for your club or event? Let me know by emailing me at k6lcsclint (at) gmail (dot) com or calling me at 909-999-SATS (7287)!"

Clint has NEVER given the exact same show twice: EACH of the 150+ presentations so far has been customized/tailored to their audiences. An email message received after a recent presentation:

"I really enjoyed Clint's presentation last night. The fact that he had taken the time to research and know something about his audience and welcomed interaction made it very informative and enjoyable. This was a refreshing change from many canned YouTube presentations I've tried to watch, which were poorly done, fuzzy video or muddy audio, or a badly prepared presenter stumbling his way through, with any valuable info lost along the way. Thanks for hooking this one up."

[ANS thanks Clint Bradford, K6LCS, and AMSAT for the above information]

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Satellite Shorts From All Over

+ Max, SA5IKN, has released LEO Satellite Observer. Coded by ChatGPT, it can plot FM and Linear stations with different markers, plot your maximum range & CQ zones, predict passes in one click with SatMatch, and display upcoming roves via Hams.at. https://dxer.site/leo-satellite-observer.html

+ CQ's WAZ Satellite Awards list has been updated. Thanks to IO-117, the number of WAZ Satellite award holders has nearly doubled this year. https://cq-amateur-radio.com/cq_awards/cq_waz_awards/April23-Satellite-Listi...

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Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/

In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to:

* Societies (a recognized group, clubs or organization). * 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 student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. * Memberships are available for annual and lifetime terms.

Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional membership information.

73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space!

This week's ANS Editor,

Paul Stoetzer, N8HM n8hm [at] amsat.org