AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-173
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:
* 2014 Candidates for the AMSAT-NA Board of Directors Announced * Russian Dnepr rocket lofts record haul of 37 satellites * Amateur Radio Role on Space Station Featured at ISS Research and Development Conference * Successful launch of amateur radio satellite payloads * Dnepr Launch for D-STAR Satellite * FUNcube-3 payload launch information * Upcoming AMSAT Events * ARISS News * Satellite Shorts From All Over
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-173.01 ANS-173 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 173.01
From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD.
DATE June 22, 2014 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-173.01
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2014 Candidates for the AMSAT-NA Board of Directors Announced
The 2014 candidates, in alphabetical order by last names are:
Jerry Buxton, N0JY Tom Clark, K3IO Steve Coy, K8UD Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA Frank Griffin, K4FEG Bryan Klofas, KF6ZEO Lou McFadin, W5DID JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM
Normally there would be 3 full Board seats open this year, plus 2 alternates. However, with the passing of Tony Monteiro, AA2TX (SK), there will be an additional full Board seat open to fill the remaining year of his term. This means that the top three recipients of votes will have two-year terms, the fourth most vote recipient will serve as full member for one year, and the fifth and sixth highest vote recipients will serve as first and second alternate respectively.
Ballots will be mailed to the AMSAT-NA membership by 15 JUL 2014 and must be received at the AMSAT office by 15 SEP 2014 in order to be counted. Those sent outside North America will go by air mail. If you have not received your ballot package in a reasonable time for your QTH, please contact the AMSAT office. Returned ballots should be sent as promptly as possible, and those from outside North American preferably by air mail.
Election of board members is both an obligation as well as an opportunity by our membership to help shape the future direction of AMSAT. Please take the time to review the candidate statements that will accompany the ballot and determine who you wish to see on the Board. You have the option to vote for up to four candidates.
[ANS thanks AMSAT-NA for the above information]
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Russian Dnepr rocket lofts record haul of 37 satellites
A Russian Dnepr rocket launched a record-breaking thirty-seven satellites on Friday morning local time, deploying a cluster of spacecraft for scientific research and commercial operation. The mission departed on schedule from Dombarovsky in Southern Russia at 01:11 local time (19:11 UTC on Thursday).
Dnepr Record Breaker: With thirty-seven satellites aboard the Dnepr, Friday’s launch saw the record for most spacecraft launched by a single rocket broken for the fourth time in less than a year.
The previous record was set at 34 by January’s Antares launch with Orbital Sciences’ first CRS mission to the International Space Station.
Thirty-three of the satellites werre deployed directly by the Dnepr – as opposed to being released by other payloads or transported to the International Space Station for later deployment – which is also a new record. That record had previously been held by an American Minotaur launch which occurred last year.
Deimos-2, KazEOSat-2 and Hodoyoshi-3 and 4 were the main payloads for what was the twentieth Dnepr launch.
Z3Built by South Korea’s SATREC Initiative for Deimos Imaging of Spain, the Deimos-2 satellite follows on from the smaller Deimos-1 which launched in 2009.
Based around the SI-300 bus, Deimos-2 has a mass of around 300 kilograms (660 lb). It will be used for high-resolution Earth imaging; it’s EOS-D imager is capable of producing pictures at resolutions as high as 0.75 metres (2.5 feet).
KazEOSat-2, which was previously known as the Medium Resolution Earth Observation Satellite, or DZZ-MH, will be operated by Kazakhstan Gharysh Sapary, the main contractor to the space programme of Kazakhstan. Built by Surrey Satellite Technology Limited of the United Kingdom, KazEOSat-2 is based upon the SSTL-150+ satellite bus and carries a camera which can image the Earth at resolutions of up to 6.5 metres.
The 185 kilogram (408 lb) satellite will complement the larger and higher-resolution KazEOSat-1, which was launched by Europe’s Vega rocket in April.
The University of Tokyo’s Hodoyoshi-3 and 4 are prototype remote sensing satellites.
With masses of 60 and 66 kilograms (132 and 145 lb) respectively, Hodoyoshi-3 carries two cameras with resolutions of 40 and 200 metres (131 and 656 feet), while Hodoyoshi-4 is equipped with a single, more powerful, instrument providing a resolution of 6 metres (20 ft) per pixel.
The spacecraft are also equipped for further technology demonstration, and store-and-forward communications.
The other payloads on the Dnepr include AprizeSat-9 and 10, which will be used for commercial communications. The ownership of these satellites is not entirely clear; they were built by SpaceQuest, who will operate them for the early phases of their missions.
Once operational, the two twelve kilogram satellites may be transferred to exactEarth or retained for operation by SpaceQuest. They are the eleventh and twelfth satellites in a series which was originally named LatinSat.
BRITE-Toronto and BRITE-Montreal, also known as BRITE-CA 1 and 2, are the fourth and fifth members of the six-satellite Bright Star Target Explorer (BRITE) constellation, a joint venture between Canada’s Universities of Toronto and Montreal, Austria’s University of Vienna and the Polish Academy of Sciences.
The two satellites launched on Friday form the Canadian part of the constellation, although the University of Toronto were responsible for designing all six satellites and manufacturing most of them. The final BRITE satellite, Poland’s Heweliusz, is scheduled to be launched atop a Chang Zheng 4B rocket from China later this year.
The BRITE programme is aimed at studying variations in the amount of light coming from the brightest stars visible from Earth. The Canadian satellites are identical apart from the filters used in their telescopes; Toronto’s satellite will use a red filter to study the lower-energy end of the spectrum, while Montreal’s will study light with shorter wavelengths using a blue filter.
BugSat-1, which will be operated by Argentina’s Satellogic S.A, is a 22 kilogram technology demonstrator. Intended to demonstrate a medium-resolution camera in addition to UHF and C-band communications systems, the satellite will be made available for amateur radio users at the end of its primary mission.
Saudi Arabia’s SaudiSat-4 spacecraft will be used to study whether a phenomenon called the photoelectric effect, which causes metals to emit electrons when exposed to ultraviolet radiation, can be use to cancel out electrical charges which build up in satellite components over time.
The 100-kilogram (220 lb) satellite was built by the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) in association with NASA’s Ames Research Center.
TabletSat-Aurora was developed by Russian company Sputnix. A 25 kilogram (55 lb) spacecraft, the satellite will be used to test the TabletSat-2U-EO bus upon which it is based. In addition, the spacecraft will observe the Earth, returning images with a resolution of up to 15 metres (49 feet).
The UniSat-6 satellite, of Rome’s La Sapienza University, is a technology demonstration mission which follows on from last year’s UniSat-5 mission. Like UniSat-5, UniSat-6 carries CubeSat dispensers however it lacks the PocketQube deployers flown on the previous mission.
Four CubeSats are expected to be deployed from UniSat-6 at a later date. AeroCube-6 is an American technology demonstration satellite which will be operated by The Aerospace Corporation. Intended to test a new CubeSat bus, it is a single-unit satellite with sides of 10 centimetres (3.9 in), which will collect data on radiation levels in low Earth orbit.
It is joined by Lemur-1, a prototype Earth-imaging satellite for NanoSatisfi Incorporated, also of the United States. The three-unit CubeSat carries visible-light and infrared imagers, however its primary objective is to demonstrate how the satellite bus functions under operational conditions.
A three-unit CubeSat, TigriSat, is the first satellite to be launched for Iraq. Built for the country’s Ministry of Science and Technology by Iraqi students working at the La Sapienza University in Rome, TigriSat will be used to monitor dust storms in Iraq.
Iraq previously claimed to have launched a satellite in 1989, however this was discredited after footage of the rocket exploding during first stage flight surfaced. Analysts have also determined that it was unlikely to have been an orbital launch attempt in any case.
Antelsat, the fourth satellite to be deployed from UniSat-6, will be Uruguay’s first spacecraft. It is a two-unit CubeSat, which will be used for amateur radio, Earth observation and to advance Uruguayan satellite technology.
In addition to the CubeSats aboard UniSat-6, twenty-one more will be deployed from the Dnepr itself.
DTUSat-2 is a Danish satellite being launched for the Danmarks Tekniske Universitet. It will be used to aid studies of bird migration by relaying data from GPS trackers attached to the birds. Duchifat-1 is a single-unit CubeSat which will be operated by Israel’s Herzliya Science Centre.
The spacecraft has served as an educational project and once in orbit will be used to test location determination, with the satellite returning data on its calculated position to be plotted onto maps on the ground.
Eleven Flock-1c spacecraft will be launched for Planet Labs’ Flock constellation. Earth imaging spacecraft, each three-unit CubeSat is equipped with cameras capable of producing photographs at resolutions of up to three metres.
Following four technology demonstration missions using Dove satellites, the first twenty-eight Flock-1 spacecraft were carried into orbit by January’s Cygnus mission, for subsequent deployment from the ISS. Twenty-eight more satellites will be launched aboard the next Cygnus mission, currently scheduled for July.
NanoSatC-Br 1, a single-unit Brazilian spacecraft, is based on a kit purchased from ISIS. The spacecraft carries a magnetometer to study the South Atlantic Anomaly, an area where the Van Allen belts are unusually close to the Earth’s surface exposing satellites to greater radiation levels than would otherwise be expected at those altitudes.
The Platform for Attitude Control Experiments (PACE) CubeSat will be used by Taiwan’s National Cheng Kung University to test an attitude control system, returning data on how the satellite’s orientation changes as it attempts to manoeuvre. By studying its performance, the satellite’s operators hope to be able to develop better attitude control systems for small satellites.
Perseus-M 1 and 2 are the first six-unit CubeSats to launch, with dimensions of 30 by 20 by 10 centimetres (12 by 8 by 4 in). The satellites will be operated by Russia’s Dauria Aerospace, having been constructed by Dauria’s American subsidiary Canopus Systems. Each spacecraft carries an AIS receiver intended to collect data on the position and status of ships at sea.
Ukraine’s PolyITAN-1 will be operated by the country’s National Technical University. Itis intended to demonstrate that Ukraine can conduct a CubeSat mission and study the performance of the satellite’s single-unit bus in orbit.
POPSAT-HIP-1 will test attitude control and imaging systems for Singapore’s Microspace Limited. It is a three-unit CubeSat.
The last two CubeSats, QB50P1 and QB50P2, form part of the QB50 programme which aims to launch and operate a constellation of fifty small satellites for scientific research. These two demonstration satellites will be operated by Belgium’s von Karman Institute with contributions from other institutions.
QB50P1 carries an Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer, an attitude control experiment, a thermocouple to monitor the spacecraft’s temperature and FUNCube-3, an amateur radio payload for the Dutch branch of AMSAT. QB50P2 carries the same attitude control system and thermocouple, combining them with a French amateur radio system and the FIPEX experiment for the Technical University of Dresden, which will study the oxygen flux in the satellite’s environment.
Converted from the R-36 missile, the Dnepr is a three-stage rocket which incorporates the two stages of the R-36MUTTH, with the missile’s post-boost module converted to act as a third stage and satellite dispenser.
The R-36 originally served as an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of delivering an 18 megaton nuclear warhead, although later versions were equipped to carry up to ten Multiple Independently- Targetable Reentry Vehicles (MIRVs), each armed with a nuclear device.
Another variant, the R-36O, was designed to place its warhead into orbit, and then deorbit it onto a target anywhere in the world.
This was subsequently banned under an international treaty in 1979.
The Dnepr made its first launch in April 1999, when it deployed Britain’s UoSAT-12. Among the other payloads it has launched on previous missions are the two Genesis demonstrators for Bigelow Aerospace.
Launched in 2006 and 2007, these prototype inflatable space station modules paved the way for the work Bigelow is now doing on inflatable space habitats and an experimental module for the International Space Station.
Friday’s launch marked the Dnepr’s twentieth flight, with only one of its previous missions ending in failure. That came in July 2006, when a first stage hydraulic failure brought down a cluster launch which had been carrying eighteen satellites.
The Dnepr launched from a silo at Site 370/13 of Russia’s Dombarovsky launch site. The first stage did not ignite until the missile is clear of the silo, with ejection being accomplished by means of a gas generator at the aft of the vehicle which separated shortly after ejection is complete.
The first stage was powered by four RD-263 engines, while an RD-0255 powers the second stage and an RD-869 powered the third. The payloads were enclosed within a Gas Dynamic Shield, which protected them from the exhaust of the third stage, in addition to a regular payload fairing.
This shielding is necessary because, due to its missile heritage, the third stage flies backwards with the payloads mounted on the same side as its engine nozzles.
Spacecraft separation occurred while the stage was still firing, with the satellites ejecting from the back of the rocket. Once separation was complete, the stage continued to burn to remove itself from the operational orbit.
The Dnepr launch was the thirty-fourth orbital launch of 2014, and the first to make use of a Dnepr. The Dnepr’s next launch is scheduled for no earlier than August, with five satellites including Japan’s Hodoyoshi-1 and Asnaro-1.
Russia’s next launch, in early July, will see a Proton-M orbit a Luch communications satellite. This will be a return-to-flight mission for the Proton, which suffered its ninth failure in ten years in May.
[ANS thanks AMSAT-NA, AMSAT-UK, & the NASA Spaceflight.com for the above information]
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Amateur Radio Role on Space Station Featured at ISS Research and Development Conference
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) will have a prominent place at the third annual ISS Research and Development Conference this week. The conference, organized by American Astronautical Society (AAS) in cooperation with the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space and NASA, takes place June 17-19 in Chicago.
ARISS International Chairman and AMSAT Vice President for Human Spaceflight Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, will be the lead presenter for a program compiled by members of the ARISS US team — which includes ARISS International Secretary and ARRL Delegate Rosalie White, K1STO, ARRL Education Services Manager Debra Johnson, K1DMJ, and E. Mike McCardel, KC8YLD, of AMSAT. “ARISS — Inspiring and Educating Youth through Direct Connections with the ISS Crew” focuses on ARISS and its role in education.
ARISS is the first and longest continuously running educational outreach program involving the International Space Station. The first ARISS school contact took place in late 2000, and nearly 900 such Amateur Radio contacts have taken place since then. ARISS functions with participation from the ARRL, NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), the Russian Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS), CNES, JAXA, CSA and AMSAT. It allows students, as part of a science and technology curriculum, to speak with a member of the ISS crew and ask questions about life in space or other space-related topics.
ARISS conducts about 100 such school contacts per year, each about 10 minutes long — the time of a typical ISS pass — with students in the US and around the world. Preparation for the ARISS experience motivates both students and teachers to further their educations. Educators involved in an ARISS event can learn about electronics and wireless technology through the hands-on training provided in an ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology session — several are held each year. In similar fashion, youngsters preparing for a contact with an ISS crew member may learn about radio waves, space technology, science experiments onboard the ISS, geography, and the space environment. Some 15,000 students are touched directly by an ARISS contact each year, and many more become aware the program and its benefits either directly or via news media coverage resulting from an event.
The ARISS presentation at this week’s AAS conference will provide some historical background on the ARISS program, describe the international volunteer team responsible for making program a success, and provide an overview of the process for schools to apply for an ARISS school contact. It will also explain how the ARISS team, partnered with NASA Education Office’s Teaching from Space program to engage schools and students. And it will describe some of the educational outcomes from ARISS, including data and feedback from schools, students, and organizations.
In addition to inspiring an interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) curricula and careers, ARISS offers an opportunity for Amateur Radio experimentation and for evaluating new technologies. Today the ISS is only very rarely without an Amateur Radio licensee onboard, and the complement of Amateur Radio equipment on the ISS has expanded considerably since the early days of the ARISS program. While the initial hand-held VHF and UHF transceivers remain in use, mobile-type transceivers have been installed since, the ISS has slow-scan TV and digital capabilities, and, more recently, the ARISS program completed the commissioning of digital Amateur Radio television equipment to transmit video from space in conjunction with ARISS school contacts. That effort remain under development.
The emphasis of the overall AAS conference is on ISS research and development — Discoveries in Microgravity Science; Discoveries in Space Science, Earth Science, Engineering and Education; Applications Benefitting Earth; Applications Enabling Technology and Exploration; and Opportunities.
[ANS thanks AMSAT-BB, ARISS, & the ARRL for the above information]
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Successful launch of amateur radio satellite payloads
On Thursday, June 19, 2014 at 19:11:11 UT a Dnepr rocket was launched from Dombarovsky near Yasny in the Russian Federation carrying 37 satellites, 12 of which had amateur radio payloads.
Among the amateur radio payloads are a SSB/CW linear transponder, FM voice transponder, D-STAR Parrot Repeater and three Packet Radio Digipeaters.
In total 33 satellites were deployed, the remaining four, Tigrisat, Lemur 1, ANTELSat and AeroCube 6, are being carried by the microsatellite UniSat-6 and should be deployed on Friday, June 20.
In the hours immediately after launch signals were reported from POPSAT, QB50p1, QB50p2, UniSat-6, BugSat-1, NanosatC-BR1, Duchifat-1 and TabletSat-Aurora.
The two QB50 precursor Cubesats on the launch carry amateur radio transponders. They were deployed at 19:32 UT and CW signals from both were received shortly after by Andre Van Deventer ZS2BK in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Brian Best ZS5SB also reported receiving QB50p1.
Richard Dailey N8UX in Kentucky, USA made use of the Southampton University Wireless Society (SUWS) WebSDR to receive the QB50P2 beacon when the satellite was in range of the UK.
The details of the initial 145 MHz CW transmission format for both QB50p1, and its near twin QB50p2, is at http://www.isispace.nl/HAM/qb50p.html
QB50p1 carries the FUNcube-3 400 mW inverting linear 435/145 MHz transponder provided by AMSAT-NL. • 145.815 MHz BPSK telemetry • FUNcube inverting 400 mW SSB/CW transponder - 435.035-435.065 MHz Uplink LSB - 145.935-145.965 MHz Downlink USB
QB50p2 carries a 435/145 MHz FM transponder and FX25 data transmitter from AMSAT-F. • 145.880 MHz BPSK telemetry • 145.840 MHz 9600 bps FSK FX25
It is expected that both these transponder payloads will be activated after the science missions have been completed.
QB50 precursor amateur radio operator page http://www.isispace.nl/HAM/qb50p.html
There were 37 satellites and a 2U Mass Dummy on the launch, frequencies at http://r4uab.ru/?p=6393
For a short description of each of the satellites see http://www.zarya.info/Calendar.php#Dnepr
Article about the launch and payloads http://www.spaceflight101.com/dnepr-launch-updates%E2%80%942014-cluster- launch.html
Southampton University Wireless Society WebSDR http://websdr.suws.org.uk/
[ANS thanks the AMSAT-UK for the above information]
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Dnepr Launch for D-STAR Satellite
The D-STAR satellite TabletSat-Aurora launched with 11 other satellites carrying amateur radio payloads from Dombarovsky near Yasny on Thursday, June 19, 2014 at 19:11:11 UT.
It carries a D-STAR Parrot (Store and Forward) Repeater running 0.8 watts of GMSK on 437.050 MHz (+/- 10 kHz) to a whip antenna. It can store up to 8 seconds of voice message.
There are two other transceivers on the satellite that operate on 435.550 MHz and 436.100 MHz. Their power can be varied by command from the ground station between 0.8 and 2.0 watts and it is understood they will be used for command and control and transmit GMSK telemetry data. There is also a downlink on 8192 MHz.
Dmitry Pashkov R4UAB reports the D-STAR repeater could become operational in early July. It is understood that when the D-STAR repeater is active the telemetry transmitters will be inactive.
Description of TabletSat-Aurora in Google English http://tinyurl.com/TabletSat-Aurora-Description
A description of the satellites amateur radio capability is at https://www.facebook.com/SPUTNIX.ltd/photos/a.336584396454237.77484.2 93701294075881/569763353136339/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SPUTNIX.ltd/
There are 37 satellites and a 2U Mass Dummy on the launch and it is thought a dozen of them are carrying amateur radio payloads. A list of frequencies is at http://r4uab.ru/?p=6393
For a short description of each of the satellites see http://www.zarya.info/Calendar.php#Dnepr
Article about the launch and payloads http://www.spaceflight101.com/dnepr-launch-updates%E2%80%942014-cluster- launch.html
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information]
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FUNcube-3 payload launch information
The FUNcube team anticipate that the Dnepr launch of the amateur radio FUNcube-3 payload on the QB50p1 CubeSat will take place as previously stated.
This Thursday is the day!
To be precise, lift off is expected to take place from Yasny on June 19, 2014 at 19:11:11 UT and the deployment of the various payloads will take place over the Indian Ocean in a similar fashion to the launch of FUNcube-1 last November.
Pre-launch Keplerian elements / Two-Line Elements (TLEs) can be seen below. The details of the initial 145 MHz CW transmission format for both QB50p1, and its near twin QB50p2, is at http://www.isispace.nl/HAM/qb50p.html
QB50p1 carries an inverting linear UV transponder with 400 mW output provided by AMSAT-NL and which is similar to that on FUNcube-1. • 145.815 MHz BPSK telemetry • FUNcube inverting 400 mW SSB/CW transponder - 435.035-435.065 MHz Uplink LSB - 145.935-145.965 MHz Downlink USB
QB50p2 carries an UV FM transponder and FX25 data transmitter from AMSAT-F. It is expected that these payloads will be activated after the science missions have been completed. • 145.880 MHz BPSK telemetry • 145.840 MHz 9600 bps FSK FX25
AMSAT-UK will be monitoring the launch event and watching for signal reports on the #cubesat IRC channel throughout the evening. A web client is available at http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=#cubesat
QB50 precursor amateur radio operator page http://www.isispace.nl/HAM/qb50p.html
There are 37 satellites and a 2U Mass Dummy on the launch, frequencies at http://r4uab.ru/?p=6393
For a short description of each of the satellites see http://www.zarya.info/Calendar.php#Dnepr
Article about the launch and payloads http://www.spaceflight101.com/dnepr-launch-updates%E2%80%942014-cluster- launch.html
Preliminary orbital information:
Launch Time: 19:11:11 UT Separation of Platform A: 19:27:07 UT Separation of QB50p1: 19:32:07 UT Separation of QB50p2: 19:32:27 UT 1st pass over Delft/VKI: 20:46:46 UT
QB50p_PRELAUNCHKEPS 1 00362U 00362A 14170.81049769 .00000000 00000-0 10000-4 0 7 2 00362 97.9897 66.2289 0012982 291.8733 244.3145 14.85013404 03
FUNcube website http://www.funcube.org.uk/
FUNcube Yahoo Group http://amsat-uk.org/funcube/yahoo-group/
FUNcube Forum http://forum.funcube.org.uk/
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information]
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Upcoming AMSAT Events
Information about AMSAT activities at other important events around the country. Examples of these events are radio club meetings where AMSAT Area Coordinators give presentations, demonstrations of working amateur satellites, and hamfests with an AMSAT presence (a table with AMSAT literature and merchandise, sometimes also with presentations, forums, and/or demonstrations).
Thursday through Sunday, 17-20 July 2014 – ARRL Centennial Convention in Hartford CT. AMSAT will host a day-long Satellite Workshop on Thursday, and have a booth at the convention along with an AMSAT Forum and demonstrations throughout the convention.
Friday through Sunday, 12-14 September 2014 – ARRL Southwestern Division Convention 2014 in San Diego CA (north of the city center, near Montgomery Field airport & I-805/CA-163 interchange) – AMSAT will have a booth at this convention, there will be on-air demonstrations using satellites throughout the convention, and a presentation on amateur satellites and AMSAT
[ANS thanks AMSAT-NA for the above information]
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ARISS News
Upcoming Contacts as of 2014-06-16
Focus Camps in Sterrenlab, Italy and European Space Center, Transinne, Belgium are scheduled for a joint telebridge contact via IK1SLD on Fri 2014-06-20 18:36:47 UTC 46 deg. (more information below)
The questions will be asked alternately by participants of the Focus Camp in Italy and by participants of the Mission X Closing Event at the Euro Space Center in Belgium.
Focus Camp, Candriai, Italy
The radio contact with the ISS will take place during the Focus Campus, a science summer camp addressed to children aged 8 to 13 organized by Focus Junior - the most popular science magazine for children in Italy - and Sterrenlab, the camp organizer. During the week children will participate to science laboratories, learn about science topics and challenge themselves to design and build experiments and machines. The Focus Campus in Candriai (Trento) focuses on tinkering and DIY activities ("Una scienza da creare" - "A science to create"). Children will also have the opportunity to do sport in the morning, play with their friends and visit the alpine nature surrounding the camp premises.
Euro Space Center, Redu, Belgium
About 150 youngsters from all over Europe celebrate the International Closing Event for Mission X 2014 at the Euro Space Center in Belgium. “Mission X train like an astronaut” is an international education project that encourages children to take part in a challenge, adopting a life style reflecting astronaut training. The Closing Event offers participants the opportunity to meet astronauts and trainers, to experience the training simulators for astronauts, to simulate a Shuttle mission and to build a rocket.
The telebridge contact with Euro Space Center was a success. - 14 questions answered by Alex Gerst - audience 70 - signals 5.9 in the middle of the pass The landline with Candriai Focus Camp was still down.
Students at Ufa University, Ufa, Russia are planning a direct contact for Sat 2014-06-21 14:45 UTC. No additional information has been provided.
A direct contact with students at Gymnasium Markt Indersdorf, Markt Indersdorf, Bavaria, Germany, via DN4OD is planned for Thu 2014- 06-26 12:08:49 UTC 66 deg. The contact is expected to be conducted in German.
The grammar school/high school of Markt Indersdorf (Gymnasium Markt Indersdorf GMI, Germany) began operations in the school year of 2001/2002. In 2007 the first students graduated successfully with the certificate qualifying them to go to university (Abitur). Currently, about 90 teachers instruct approximately 1,100 pupils aged 10 to 19, about 250 of them are in the qualification phase (years/grades 11 and 12).
The GMI offers the choice between two faculties, the linguistic and scientific-technological one. Approximately 75 percent of the pupils decide for the latter. The pupils obtain an education in science from the 5th year/grade on, the subject Physics is taught from year/grade 8 on for both faculties, in the scientific-technological profile additional hours for more in-depth education are mandatory. In years/grades 11 and 12, the pupils have the choice between Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Experience has shown that about 30 to 40 per school year decide to take Physics. About half of them vote for Astrophysics in the 12th year/grade. From 5th year/grade on, all pupils study English as their first foreign language.
The ISS Project
The pupils are divided for this project into different groups that are each responsible for one of the following activities:
• Technology: Installation, commissioning and maintenance of the antenna system respectively the radio station as well as all the necessary hardware and software
• Planning and monitoring: Organization of the overall sequence of events, initiation of a school's competition to select the questions to the astronauts, organization of rehearsals
• Presentation and documentation: Design of the facilities in question, elaboration of exhibitions and wall papers, construction of a model of the ISS, photo, audio and video documentation
• Public Relations (local and trans-regional): Press, TV, radio and website.
Pupils of all ages should participate in selecting the questions to the astronauts. The examination of questionnaires of other schools which already made contact with the ISS should secure the creation of uncommon and interesting questions that are not asked in every interview.
At the event in question - depending on the date and time - a large number, if possible, of the school family should be present in the assembly hall, for example, to attend a live broadcast from the radio room.
Successful Contacts
A direct contact with Slavic Nations Ham Radio Conference, Sochi, Russia was successful Thu 2014-06-12 15:40 UTC.
[ANS thanks ARISS for the above information]
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Satellite Shorts from All Over
Subject: [amsat-bb] NanosatC-BR1
Hi
The first Brazilian cubesat are working well. Video; http://youtu.be/FZdiZMX9rcI
Preliminary TLE:
NANOSATC-BR1 1 00362U 00362A 14170.81049769 .00000000 00000-0 10000-4 0 7 2 00362 97.9897 66.2289 0012982 291.8733 244.3145 14.85013404 03
Doppler for SatPC32:
NANOSATC-BR1,145868.0,,USB,,,,TLM
Thank you
PY5LF Luciano Fabricio Curitiba-PR-BR GG54jm http://www.qrz.com/db/PY5LF
[ANS thanks Luciano, PY5LF & the AMSAT-BB for the above information]
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/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 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, Joe Spier, K6WAO
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-194
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:
* UKube-1 with FUNcube-2 payload launched! * AMSAT Prepares for ARRL Centennial Celebration * UKube-1 Signals Received * ISEE-3/ICE spacecraft fires thrusters for a return to Earth * DX-1 Appeal to radio hams from Dauria Aerospace * MEO and HEO satellite orbits * Surrey Space Centre – UK CubeSail Satellite * AMSAT Events * ARISS News * Satellite Shorts From All Over
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-194.01 ANS-194 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 194.01
From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD.
DATE July 13, 2014 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-194.01
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UKube-1 with FUNcube-2 payload launched!
UKube-1 was successfully launched and deployed July 8th from the Soyuz-2-1B/Fregat-M launch vehicle as a secondary payload. The launch took place as planned at 15:58 UTC from Baikonur in Kazakhstan.
The primary payload was Russia’s Meteor-M2 weather satellite. Additional secondary payloads (according to eoportal.org) included: * Baumanets-2, a technology microsatellite (~100 kg) of BMSTU (Bauman Moscow State Technical University. * Monika-Relek (or MKA-PN2), a Russian microsatellite (solar and magnetosphere research) * Venta-1 / V1-QSPnP1 (V1-QuadSat-PnP-1) the first nanosatellite (7.5 kg) project of Latvia built by LatSpace SIA of Ventspils. * TechDemoSat-1 of SSTL, UK with a mass of ~160 kg * DX-1 (Dauria Experimental-1) of Dauria Aerospace, Russia’s first private microsatellite with a mass of 22 kg. * SkySat-2 of Skybox Imaging Inc. of Mountain View, CA, USA, a commercial remote sensing microsatellite of ~100 kg. * AISSat-2, a nanosatellite with a mass of 6.5 kg of Norway. * UKube-1 is a 3U cubesat and carries a FUNcube educational beacon and linear transponder similar to AO-73 (FUNcube-1). Beacon signals were heard soon after launch by the UKube team at 19:16 UTC.
Frequencies in use by UKube-1 include: * 145.840 Primary telemetry downlink CW or 1k2-9k6 BPSK * 145.915 FUNcube-2 telemetry 1k2 BPSK * 145.930-145.950 FUNcube-2 transponder downlink, * 435.080-435.060 uplink * 2401.0 S-band downlink (QPSK-OQPSK) * 437.425-437.525 myPocketQub spread spectrum
Transponder and data downlinks operation will be variable during checkout and early operations.
Check ANS, http://funcube.org.uk/, and http://amsat-uk.org/ for the most recent updates.
[ANS Thanks AMSAT-NA and AMSAT-UK for the above information]
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AMSAT Prepares for ARRL Centennial Celebration
AMSAT is preparing for its participation at the ARRL Centennial Celebration and National Convention in Hartford Connecticut July 17 through 19.
On Thursday an AMSAT team with present the all day Training Track, “An Introduction to Amateur Satellites.”
AMSAT President Barry Baines, WD4ASW will be the facilitator for the event which will begin at 8:30 am and run through 4:30pm. Baines explains, “The training session is to serve as a ‘Soup to Nuts’ approach to getting started with working Amateur Radio Satellites.”
Baines will lead the training with an Overview of the History of Amateur Radio in Space, including our future.
Director of Educational Outreach Joe Spier K6WAO will cover Understanding Orbits, Kepler Elements and Doppler Shift.
V.P. for Educational Outreach E. Mike McCardel KC8YLD will discuss Satellite Tracking and Tracking Software with an emphasis on SATPC32.
Director Field Operations Patrick Stoddard WD9EWK/VA7EWK and Area Coordinator Peter Portanova W2JV will address Station Configuration and Satellite Operation including general operation, Easy Sats, FM Birds, CW and SSB Birds and telemetry;
AMSAT Fox-1 Software Team Co-Leader Burns Fisher W2BFJ will present an overview and discuss the capabilities of AMSAT’s Fox-1 Satellite due to launch in 2015.
AMSAT will also host a Forum, “An Overview of AMSAT” Friday at 2pm in room 25. Immediately following the Forum Peter Portanova W2JV will present “Working the Amateur Radio FM Satellites with Your HT”, in the same room.
Throughout the weekend AMSAT will be staffing Booths 500 and 501. The booth will feature the legacy of Amateur Radio in Space with prototypes and models of OSCAR-1, AO-07, and Fox-1 on display.
For more information on the ARRL Centennial and National Convention visit WWW.ARRL2014.org.
[ANS thanks AMSAT-NA for the above information]
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UKube-1 Signals Received
The UKube-1 satellite was successfully launched on Tuesday, July 8, 2014 at 1558 UT from Pad 31/6 at Baikonur in Kazakhstan. The 145.840 MHz beacon signal was received by the UKube team in Chilbolton at 19:16 UT.
It had been expected the first signal would be received over South Africa at about 18:52 UT but no signals were heard. The UKube team at Chilbolton and radio amateurs across the British Isles and Europe anxiously awaited the satellite coming within range, when it did a strong signal was heard from the satellite.
Practical Wireless magazine VHF columnist Tim Kirby @G4VXE was one of the radio amateurs listening, he tweeted “Pleased to receive CW from UKube-1 on the first pass over the UK”.
Signals have also been received from DX-1 and the SSTL research satellite TechEdSat which were on the same launch as UKube-1.
UKube-1 carries a set of AMSAT-UK FUNcube boards which provide an educational beacon for use by schools and a linear transponder for amateur radio communications.
The first submitters of UKube-1 telemetry data to the FUNcube Data Warehouse were: DK3WN OO1A F-60429 G0PGL G4GUO PD3T M0LTC The team is currently analyzing the data.
The UKube team has asked that all stations continue to monitor the downlinks and where possible to forward their reports as follows: - CW beacon on 145.840 MHz to [email protected] and [email protected] - FUNcube telemetry on 145.915 MHz – your existing dashboard will not display properly (except for the Fitter Messages!) but it WILL be forwarding it to the Warehouse correctly and the data will be very useful for the team.
Dashboard App – Telemetry Decoder http://funcube.org.uk/working-documents/funcube-telemetry-dashboard/
Data Warehouse – Telemetry Archive http://warehouse.funcube.org.uk/
Nico Janssen PA0DLO has posted on the AMSAT Bulletin Board that Doppler measurements suggest that UKube-1 is either object 40074, 2014-037F, or object 40075, 2014-037G. The separation between these objects is now only 1 s, so no more than 7.5 km.
Keplerian Two Line Elements (TLEs) ‘Keps’ of new satellites launched in past 30 days http://celestrak.com/NORAD/elements/tle-new.txt
UKube-1 frequencies: • 145.840 MHz Telemetry downlink • 145.915 MHz FUNcube subsystem beacon • 400 mW inverting linear transponder for SSB and CW - 435.080-435.060 MHz Uplink - 145.930-145.950 MHz Downlink • 2401.0 MHz S Band Downlink • 437.425-437.525 MHz UKSEDS myPocketQub Downlink
There will be a presentation on the UKube-1 FUNcube-2 amateur radio payload at the AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium being held at the Holiday Inn, Guildford, GU2 7XZ on July 26-27, the event is open to all, further details at http://amsat-uk.org/colloquium/colloquium-2014/
Peter Goodhall @2E0SQL made this recording of UKube-1 CW and Data https://soundcloud.com/peter-goodhall/ukube-1-satellite-first-pass- over-the-uk
UK Space Agency announcement https://www.gov.uk/government/news/successful-launch-for-uk-space- agencys-first-cubesat-mission
UKube-1 Launch Information http://amsat-uk.org/2014/07/03/ukube-1-launch-information/
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK the above information]
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ISEE-3/ICE spacecraft fires thrusters for a return to Earth
AMSAT-DL report a team of engineers, space enthusiasts and radio amateurs have succeeded in firing the thrusters of the NASA-abandoned ISEE-3/ICE spacecraft.
The plan on Tuesday, July 8, was to fire the thrusters for a total of 7 sequences with breaks for telemetry analysis. While this would have resulted in a velocity change of 7 m/s, the course correction is required for the lunar swing-by on Aug 10, 2014 then to enter a stable orbit around Earth. However after the first firing sequence the remaining sequences were cancelled due to the returned telemetry data, which is being analyzed. A second attempt was planned for July 9.
The ISEE-3 Reboot Project (IRP) team attempted this main trajectory correction maneuver following a first short thruster firing on July 2, which increased the rotation rate of the spacecraft to the required value. This was possible due to international collaboration between the IRP, and a team of AMSAT-DL and Bochum observatory with its 20 m diameter radio telescope which received and processed critical real-time data of the maneuvers.
While the IRP has access to the Arecibo observatory which, at 305 m diameter, is the largest single-dish radio telescope in the world, downlink support from Bochum is required as Arecibo cannot transmit and receive simultaneously.
Two members of the AMSAT-DL Bochum team will be giving presentations on their reception of ISEE-3 at the AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium on Saturday, July 26, 2014 at the Holiday Inn, Guildford, GU2 7XZ, United Kingdom. The event is open to all, further details at http://amsat-uk.org/colloquium/colloquium-2014/
Real-time telemetry from ISEE-3 is displayed at http://amsat-dl.org/
ISEE-3 http://spacecollege.org/isee3
Read the Daily Mail story at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2684345/Zombie- spacecraft-rescued-abyss-fires-thrusters-time-20-years.html
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information]
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DX-1 Appeal to radio hams from Dauria Aerospace
The DX-1 satellite, built by Dauria Aerospace, launched from Pad 31/6 at Baikonur in Kazakhstan on Tuesday, July 8, 2014 at 15:58:28 UT. It weighs 27 kg and is 40x40x30 cm. Dauria Aerospace have posted the following information:
Finally, close to the accomplishment of our long-awaited event – the launch of the spacecraft DX1 Tuesday, July 8. We would like to ask for help to all radio amateurs who are interested in receiving signals spacecraft. Invite you to participate in the “catching” our satellite immediately after the start.
Start will be at 19:58 Moscow time from the Baikonur cosmodrome. Based on the parameters of the orbit, its separation from the upper stage and the inclusion happen over Eastern Europe, and it will return to Russia after only a few turns of a few hours from the Far East. Therefore, our MCC in Moscow will hold the first session the next day. Beacon satellite broadcasts in amateur radio frequency, so everyone will be able to hear it before us. Moreover, such aid, we need to clarify and confirm its orbit performance. Therefore, our gratitude will be backed up souvenirs for the lucky hunters from around the world.
Parameters of the radio beacon mode:
Carrier frequency: 438.225 MHz [it is understood there is a 145 MHz command uplink] The protocol used: AX.25 Call Sign source: DSC001 Call Sign Receiver: Dauria Size TMI frame within AX.25 packet: 55 bytes Speed: 9600 bit / s Modulation GFSK
It is understood the satellite will also be using the following frequencies: • 162.0125-162.0375 MHz Uplink – AIS ship tracking receiver • 2269.5-2270.5 MHz Downlink – Data
Dauria Aerospace http://dauriaspace.com/ Blog http://tinyurl.com/Dauria-Aerospace-Blog
DX-1 Microsatellite to launch from Baikonur http://amsat-uk.org/2014/04/27/dx-1-microsatellite-baikonur/
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information]
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MEO and HEO satellite orbits
The paper Revisiting elliptical satellite orbits to enhance the O3b constellation by Lloyd Wood, Yuxuan Lou and Opeoluwa Olusola of the University of Surrey is now available for download.
Early low-orbiting satellites were launched into Highly Elliptical Orbits (HEO) as a result of not having much control over trajectory. Circular orbits with minimal eccentricity offer consistent altitudes, with the benefits of consistent free space losses and link budgets throughout the orbit, and soon became the norm. Highly elliptical orbits fell from favour for communications use.
Highly elliptical orbits can be used to provide targeted satellite coverage of locations at high latitudes. We review the history of use of these orbits for communication. How elliptical orbits can be used for broadband communication is outlined. We propose an addition of known elliptical orbits to the new equatorial O3b satellite constellation, extending O3b to cover high latitudes and the Earth’s poles. We simulate the O3b constellation and compare this to recent measurement of the first real Internet traffic across the newly deployed O3b network.
Download the paper from http://arxiv.org/pdf/1407.2521v1
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information]
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Surrey Space Centre – UK CubeSail Satellite
CubeSail is an exciting, ground-breaking educational satellite project at the Surrey Space Centre (SSC) that hopes to launch into a 680 km Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO) from India in December 2014.
A key feature is the deployment of a 25 square metre sail structure, which will be used to demonstrate the propulsive effect of solar radiation pressure (i.e. solar sailing) and will demonstrate the de- orbiting capabilities of the sail as a drag augmentation device. CubeSail will be the first launched three-axis stabilised solar sail.
CubeSail will build on small satellite experience at SSC, such as the STRaND-1 nanosatellite, launched on February 25, 2013. Furthermore, the mission critical sail deployment mechanism has undergone an extensive testing and validation process as part of the ESA Gossamer Deorbiter project carried out at SSC. The CubeSail project is also financially and technically supported by world leading industrial partners, Astrium and Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd.
CubeSail is a 3U CubeSat project with a 6kg mass, the mission aims are :
• Technology Demonstration 1: Deployable Sail- The CubeSail satellite will deploy a large (up to 5×5 metre) square aluminised Kapton sail, using novel CFRP deployable booms.
• Technology Demonstration 2: Solar Sailing – The CubeSail mission will demonstrate ‘solar sailing’ in LEO by utilising the solar radiation pressure on the reflective sail to change its orbital inclination.
• Technology Demonstration 3: Attitude Control CubeSail is equipped with 3-axis-stabilizing attitude determination and control system. A novel capability of this system is pointing via a centre-of- mass/centre-of-pressure (COM/COP) offset.
• Technology Demonstration 4: Drag Deorbiting -The satellite will deorbit much more quickly than otherwise due to its deployable sail. Satellite pointing will be optimized by the attitude control system for maximum drag.
• Outreach – The satellite will provide beacons for which amateur satellite users and ham radio users will be able to receive. Proposing a 9600 Bit/s AX.25 RC-BPSK downlink
The IARU Satellite Frequency Coordination Panel have coordinated a downlink frequency of 435.240 MHz.
CubeSail http://www.surrey.ac.uk/ssc/research/space_vehicle_control/cubesail/
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information]
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AMSAT Events
Information about AMSAT activities at other important events around the country. Examples of these events are radio club meetings where AMSAT Area Coordinators give presentations, demonstrations of working amateur satellites, and hamfests with an AMSAT presence (a table with AMSAT literature and merchandise, sometimes also with presentations, forums, and/or demonstrations).
Thursday through Sunday, 17-20 July 2014 – ARRL Centennial Convention in Hartford CT. AMSAT will host a day-long Satellite Workshop on Thursday, and have a booth at the convention along with an AMSAT Forum and demonstrations throughout the convention.
Friday through Sunday, 12-14 September 2014 – ARRL Southwestern Division Convention 2014 in San Diego CA(north of the city center, near Montgomery Field airport & I-805/CA-163 interchange) – AMSAT will have a booth at this convention, there will be on-air demonstrations using satellites throughout the convention, and a presentation on amateur satellites and AMSAT
[ANS thanks AMSAT-NA for the above information]
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ARISS News
+ A direct contact with students at DLR School Lab, Braunschweig, Germany, via DH1ALF was successful Fri 2014-07-11 09:37:47 UTC 66 deg. During the interview which was conducted in German, students asked 13 questions of astronaut Alex Gerst, KF5ONO.
The German Aerospace Center (DLR) is one of Europe's largest and most modern research institutions. Here is where the aircraft of the future are being developed and pilots trained, rocket engines tested and images of distant planets analyzed. In addition, over 7,700 DLR staff members are investigating next-generation high-speed trains, environmentally responsible methods of generating energy, and much more ...
DLR School Lab in Braunschweig investigates many topics related to transportation: whether on the road, rails, or in the air. In various experiments, school classes can acquaint themselves with the research topics being studied at the science institutes at DLR Braunschweig.
+ A Successful contact was made between DLR Project Lab, Neustrelitz, Germany and Astronaut Alexander Gerst KF5ONO using callsign DPØISS. The contact began 2014-07-02 12:05:13 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was direct via DL1BLV. ARISS Mentor was Francesco IKØWGF.
Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule
ARISS offers congratulations the following mentors who have now mentored over 100 schools: Gaston ON4WF with 117 Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 102 Francesco IKØWGF with 102
[ANS thanks ARISS, Charlie AJ9N and David AA4KN for the above information]
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Satellite Shorts From All Over
Louisiana Tech University Online Course -- Steps to STEM
NASA Education Resources for STEM Engagement - Louisiana Tech University is teaming up with NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center to offer a 10-week course for educators interested in putting a space-themed twist on learning. The course is designed to be a self-paced, online professional development experience focusing on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, or STEM, education resources available from NASA. These resources have application methods for use in grades 4-9 classrooms with the goal of advancing high quality STEM education utilizing NASA's unique capabilities.
Applications are due Aug. 30, 2014.
For more information and to enroll in the course, visit http://scitecatlatech.weebly.com/opeo.html.
Questions about these courses should be directed to Amy McDowell at [email protected]
[ANS thanks the NASA Education Express Message -- July 10, 2014 for the above information]
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/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 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, Joe Spier, K6WAO k6wao at amsat dot org
participants (1)
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Joseph Spier