AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-011

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:

* Launch Alert for Seven Small Satellites on January 21 * VE3NPC and G3VZV Complete Transatlantic AO-51 Mode V/S Contact * AMSAT-DC Spring Satellite Workshop Seeks Members for Mission Teams * ARISS logo items at CafePress * Satellite Shorts From All Over * ARISS Status Report for the Week of January 5, 2009

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-011.01 Launch Alert for Seven Small Satellites on January 21

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 011.01

From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.

January 11, 2009 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-011.01

Mineo Wakita, JE9PEL sent a Cubesat launch alert for seven amateur radio satellites planned as secondary payloads when Japan launches its GOSAT IBUKI satellite on January 21, 2009 at 03.54 UTC.

GOSAT - Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite is an environmental monitoring satellite which will be launched from Japan's Tanegashima Space Center aboard the H-IIA F15 booster.

Information about the primary mission can be found on-line at: http://www.jaxa.jp/countdown/f15/overview/ibuki_e.html http://www.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/gosat/index_e.html

Information about the launch vehicle can be found on-line at: http://www.jaxa.jp/countdown/f15/overview/h2a_e.html

The small satellite palyload will consist of:

Satellite Downlink Beacon Mode Callsign --------- ----------- ----------- -------- -------------- KAGAYAKI 437.375 437.375 FSK9k6/CW STARS 437.485/465 437.305/275 FM/CW JR5YBN/JR5YBO KKS-1 437.445 437.385 AFSK/CW JQ1YYY PRISM 437.425 437.250 AFSK/GMSK/CW JQ1YCX SOHLA-1 437.505 437.505 AFSK/CW SPRITE Scientific observation satellite SDS-1 Small demonstration satellite

(Ed. note - this table and all links can also be found on the main AMSAT web page http://www.amsat.org - see the bottom story.)

Masa, JN1GKZ reported that the small satellites are technically not CubeSats since they are larger in size and each platform is a unique design. He provided the following links to provide more information about each satellite.

Kagayaki 31x31x35cm, 28kg http://www.sorun.co.jp/kagayaki/top.html (sorry, Japanese only)

STARS - Space Tethered Autonomous Robotic Satellite KU (Mother Satellite) 16x16x25cm KAI (Daughter Satellite) 16x16x15cm http://stars1.eng.kagawa-u.ac.jp/english/index.html

KKS-1 Kouku-Kousen-Satellite-1 15x15x15cm, 3kg http://www.kouku-k.ac.jp/~kks-1 (sorry, Japanese only)

PRISM Pico-satellite for Remote-sensing and Innovative Space Missions 20x20x40cm, 8kg http://www.space.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/prism/main-e.html

SOHLA-1 http://www.sohla.com/docs/index.php

They will be launched into a sun synchronous orbit to an altitude of 660km with an inclination of 98.1 degrees. The orbital period is estimated to be 98 minutes.

[ANS thanks Mineo Wakita, JE9PEL and Masa, JN1GKZ for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-011.02 VE3NPC and G3VZV Complete Transatlantic AO-51 Mode V/S Contact

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 011.02

From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.

January 11, 2009 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-011.02

Clare, VE3NPC and Graham, G3VZV completed a transatlantic contact via AO-51 running an uplink of 145.880 MHz FM and downlink of 2401.200 MHz FM at 10:11 UTC on January 9, 2009. Clare reported the elevation at 5 degrees and a range of 2700 km. The two stations completed a short QSO with clear signals.

Clare says his equipment consists of a 52 turn helix with reflector cup into a DEM preamp and downconverter into SatPC32 controlled FT-736 for 13cm receiving on 2401.200 MHz. He used an FT-847 with 2 watts into 2 x 6 el quagis for 2m for his uplink. Complete infor- mation on the 52 turn helix was published in the September/October 2008 AMSAT Journal.

At the other end of the contact Graham, G3VZV says he was operating with an IC910 barefoot. The antennas included WIMO circular polarised VHF (10 dBd) and UHF (12 dBd) crossed quad antennas and the famous G3RUH 600mm/2 foot dish and patchfeed with a Kuhne DB6NT preamp at the feed left over from AO40 operating. The antennas are all at about 40 feet. The satellite reached around 3 degrees elevation. Graham says he did all doppler tuning correction by hand.

In other AO-51 news, AMSAT-NA VP Operations, Drew KO4MA provided updates to the AO-51 Operating Mode Schedule to better support a hamfest operation, and a DXpedition to Namibia.

January 12 - January 18

FM Repeater, V/U Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM Downlink: 435.300 MHz FM

FM Repeater, L/U Uplink: 1268.700 MHz FM Downlink: 435.150 MHz FM

January 19 - January 25

FM Repeater, V/U Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM Downlink: 435.300 MHz FM

9k6 BBS, L/U Uplink: 1268.700 MHz 9k6 FM Downlink: 435.150 MHz 9k6 FM

January 26 - February 1

FM Repeater, L/S Uplink: 1268.700 MHz FM Downlink: 2401.200 MHz FM

SSTV Repeater, V/U Uplink: 145.860 MHz FM SSTV Downlink: 435.150 MHz FM SSTV

The full AO-51 schedule and Command Team News can be found on-line at: http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/echo/ControlTeam.php. The AMSAT main web page will also provide a quick status update when the infor- mation changes. Operating mode requests can be sent via e-mail to ao51-modes@amsat.org .

[ANS thanks Drew, KO4MA, and congratulates Clare, VE3NPC, and Graham, G3VZV for the above information]

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SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-011.03 AMSAT-DC Spring Satellite Workshop Seeks Members for Mission Teams

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 011.03

From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.

January 11, 2009 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-011.03

If you find yourself in the Baltimore-Washington DC area this spring you may be interested in learning more and participating in an AMSAT-DC workshop which simulates building, testing, launch- ing, and receiving signals from an Amateur Radio satellite.

AMSAT Area Coordinator for the Maryland-DC area, Pat Kilroy, N8PK is proposing such a workshop for the 2009 AMSAT-DC Meeting and Space Seminar. This meeting is historically held in early spring at or near the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland.

Pat is proposing individuals and groups of Amateur Radio operators form teams who compete at this AMSAT-DC workshop to create and operate a satellite mission.

The first groups will build a PICetSat II flight module from a kit of electronic parts on a small printed circuit board. You can see an example of the original PICetSat module at: http://patkilroy.com/simsat/3/

The second groups will set up simple satellite ground stations to operate on 433.920 MHz SSB. These team members need to provide a radio, antenna, and feedline for the 70 cm band.

The third groups will be in charge of setting up and loading soft- ware in the computers at the ground stations to decode the telemetry and to analyze it according to a set of instructions.

This event will be perfect for beginners and advanced satellite users alike, all ultimately working together to "launch" the flight module, receive the downlink, and decode the telemetry. Instructions will be provided in advance of the event to enhance preparation.

Pat notes he needs volunteer help to plan and organize this event. A couple of dedicated individuals are needed immediately to start the plans to lock in the workshop meeting space, advertise the event, to do the footwork needed to process participant applications, and to assure one set of radio and computer stations are on hand and ready at the start of the workshop. To volunteer contact Pat at his e-mail address: n8pk@amsat.org as soon as possible. Pat will convene a conference call for all interested participants to finalize the Workshop details with the volunteers.

Pat requests that interested amateur radio operators RSVP to him via e-mail n8pk@amsat.org and indicate which group you will be most inter- ested in working with. The cost of the Workshop is still "TBD" to cover the materials and meeting space. Those choosing the PICetSat II will keep their completed project.

[ANS thanks Pat, N8PK for the above information]

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SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-011.04 ARISS logo items at CafePress

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 011.04

From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.

January 11, 2009 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-011.04

Will, KC6ROL says, "The ARISS team is pleased to announce the availability of ARISS logo items through the online store at: http://www.cafepress.com/ariss "

The ARISS logo is being made available as a courtesy to the members of the amateur radio community for personal use. Persons wishing to market items with the ARISS logo need to contact the ARISS Secretary Treasurer, Rosalie White, at k1sto@arrl.org to receive permission.

AMSAT-NA receives 10% from sales through this store. These funds will be used to support the ARISS team activities. Neither ARISS nor AMSAT have any control over items ordered, or returns, through Café Press.

[ANS thanks Will, KC6ROL for the above information]

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SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-011.05 Satellite Shorts From All Over

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 011.05

From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.

January 11, 2009 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-011.05

+ CQ Magazine announced a new e-mail list has been established to notify readers of the availability of each new issue of WorldRadio magazine, which is converting to a free online-only publication. You may sign up for the list at: http://mailman.sunserver.com/mailman/listinfo/WorldRadio-L . Direct links to this signup page will be posted on both the CQ magazine website at http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com and the old WorldRadio website at http://www.wr6wr.com .

+ SatMagazine, a free web based magazine is available on-line at: http://www.satmagazine.com/cgi-bin/display_edition.cgi . This month's issue is dedicated to Cubesats. AMSAT and Amateur Radio are mentioned.

+ If you participated in OSCAR SKN, please nominate someone you worked for Best Fist now, while you're thinking of it. Remember, your nominee need not have the best fist you heard, just the best of those you worked. Send your nomination to w2rs@amsat.org

+ The first English issue of the free electronic Amateur Radio magazine Ham-Mag is now available and features an article on working satellites with your HT by K6LCS. The first issue can be downloaded from the maga- zine's website at http://www.ham-mag.com/ and if you subscribe (free) the magazine will be emailed to you each month.

+ Information about the Southeastern VHF Society Conference April 24-25 in Charlotte, NC can be found at: http://www.w4dex.com/svhfs_2009.htm

+ An upgrade to the RASCAL software to decode DO-64 telemetry is avail- able at http://www.delfic3.nl/rascal - this page also includes the upgrading instructions if you are moving up from a previous version.

[ANS thanks everyone for the above information]

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SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-011.06 ARISS Status Report for the Week of January 5, 2009

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 011.06

From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.

January 11, 2009 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-011.06

1. School Contacts

Axam Jatiya Vidyalaya in Guwahati, India had a successful ARISS contact on Wednesday, January 7 at 08:01 UTC via telebridge station W6SRJ in California. Approximately 1300 students are enrolled at the school. All students are taught in Assamese with English taught as a compulsory second language.

Tongfu Road No. 1 Primary School in Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China has been scheduled for an ARISS contact on Saturday, January 17 at 10:23 UTC. The school is over 70 years old with an enrollment of over 1000 students. An amateur radio club was established at the school in 2007 and during the same year a team from this school won the national youngster's amateur radio contest. Elective courses on amateur radio, space technology and ARISS are offered to the students. All grades have participated in essay and cartoon contests to prepare for the contact. Students have written letters to the astronauts and determined the questions to ask. Media coverage is planned with newspapers, tele- vision and the internet.

2. Technopolis Contact Successful

On Saturday, January 3, students visiting Technopolis in Mechelen, Belgium experienced an ARISS contact via telebridge station VK4KHZ in Australia. The students asked Mike Fincke, KE5AIT, 16 questions with time left over to exchange Season's Greetings. Approximately 100 students, parents and ham radio operators attended the event. Three television stations and two newspapers reported on the contact. The audio was fed into the EchoLink AMSAT and JK1ZRW servers and received 29 connections from ten different countries including the Ukraine and Romania. More information on the contact may be found on the ARISS-Europe Web site: http://www.ariss-eu.org/2009_01_03.htm

3. ARISS 25th Anniversary Special Event Update

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of ham radio in space, an ARISS commemorative event will be held during the month of December through mid January. A special certificate is being developed for those who communicate with the ISS, either 2-way direct (with the ISS crew, the digipeater, or cross band repeater), or 1-way reception of SSTV or voice downlink. For more information and an update on this event, see: http://www.rac.ca/ariss/oindex.htm under "Latest News."

[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. With that recall the time two silk worms had a race which ended in a tie.

73, This week's ANS Editor, JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM K9JKM at amsat dot org