- Amsat-dc (INACTIVE) - mailman.amsat.org

AMSAT-DC Workshop March 2010
by Kilroy, Patrick L. (GSFC-5680) 17 Dec '09

17 Dec '09

It's time to start planning for the next AMSAT-DC gathering! . . . Will it be a workshop like the one we held this past April 25, 2009, in Greenbelt, Md. where each participant can build a PICetSat module -- or something else??? Will it be a meeting and space symposium like we held in past years? OR something new, such as . . . ??? Who will attend? Who will help plan? Who will help execute it? Please think about these things over the next week or two. Talk about it. Share your thoughts on the AMSAT-DC e-mail list if you wish. [Subscribe under www.amsat.org FYI.] THEN LET'S MEET by telecon on Thursday, January 7, 2010, at 7:00 P.M. to decide on these matters and start outlining a plan. YOU ARE INVITED. You can make it happen. Individuals, please RSVP for the telecon directly to me at Patrick.L.Kilroy(a)nasa.gov with your ideas. The toll-free telephone number, passcode and access instructions will be distributed later in a follow up message. Your thoughts? Thank you, Pat Kilroy, N8PK AMSAT Area Coordinator Washington, D.C. - Maryland Areas ----------------------------------------- Mr. Patrick L. Kilroy Flight Systems Integration and Test (I&T) Building 5, Mail Code 568 NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Maryland 20771 Phone: 301-286-1984 E-mail: Patrick.L.Kilroy(a)nasa.gov ----------------------------------------- Outreach: http://simsat.net

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Goddard Engineering Colloquium - Software Defined Radio for Space
by Daniel Schultz 06 Nov '09

06 Nov '09

You will need a Goddard visitor's badge if you want to attend, please contact me by Monday morning if you plan on coming. Dan Schultz ---------------------------------------------------- Monday, November 9, 2009 / 3:30 PM, Building 3 Auditorium Gregory Boegner, Jr. "Software Defined Radio for Space" ABSTRACT -- Software Defined Radios (SDRs) are becoming commonplace for terrestrial applications, from wireless routers, to first responders' communications devices and military applications. This lecture will attempt to familiarize the audience with various aspects of the SDR, how it can be used, and GSFC's involvement. The construction of a traditional transceiver will be compared to the construction of the same device with SDR technology. This comparison will point out the advantages and disadvantages of SDRs. The talk will discuss current and future examples of SDRs, built for or by NASA, including the Low Power Transceiver (LPT), Navigator GPS receiver, Electra, and the CoNNeCT project. GSFC's involvement and capabilities will be highlighted. The talk will distinguish between SDRs that are programmable during mission operations and SDRs that are programmable only prior to launch. The applicability of these two types of SDRs to current NASA operations will define the schedule, cost, and risk-benefits of SDR technology versus traditional technology. The perceived risk of flying a new technology as part of the critical spacecraft communications system presents a challenge for the inclusion of SDRs into NASA missions. SPEAKER -- Gregory J. Boegner, Jr. is a Senior Electronics Engineer at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. He is the new Microwave and Communication Systems Branch lead of the Communications, Standards, and Technology Laboratory (CSTL). He brings over 20 years of experience in the design of analog and digital systems in the fields of communications, embedded control, and digital signal processing. His most recent work includes: the implementation of a novel approach for fast acquisition and tracking of weak GPS signals (patented), and the development and demonstration (to TRL-6) of a method for inter-satellite ranging and communications. He conceptualized and provided systems engineering for a bi-static radar experiment employing GPS signals reflected from the Hubble Space Telescope on Hubble Servicing Mission 4. He was recognized as one of the "Fifty Leaders to Watch" in GPS World magazine (May 2008). He is a guest lecturer at the University of Maryland College Park on the topic of Radiometric Navigation. He has worked for the National Security Agency, for ASRC Aerospace Corporation, and as an independent consultant. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from Drexel University in Philadelphia.

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Fwd: SSPI Mid-Atlantic Evening Networking & Program: ITAR Reform
by Samudra Haque 20 Oct '09

20 Oct '09

Is anyone on AMSAT-bb or AMSAT-DC interested to attend ITAR event of SSPI ? I would like to attend, but will be unable to. $20 or $10 depending upon if you are SSPI member or not. 73 de N3RDX ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: <travis.taylor(a)intelsat.com> Date: Tue, Oct 20, 2009 at 12:50 PM Subject: SSPI Mid-Atlantic Evening Networking & Program: ITAR Reform To: samudra.haque(a)gmail.com SSPI Mid-Atlantic invites you to *An Evening Networking & Program Event* ITAR Reform: What does the future hold for ITAR and what will its impact be on the satellite industry? *10* *22* *09* * Moderator* * John Ordway<http://www.sspi.org/link.asp?ymlink=114141&finalurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ebcr%…> * Partner, Berliner, Corcoran & Rowe, L.L.P.<http://www.sspi.org/link.asp?ymlink=114141&finalurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Elink…> * Panelists* *Franceska Schroeder* <http://www.sspi.org/link.asp?ymlink=114141&finalurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Efr%2…> Principal, Fish & Richardson, P.C. * Kent Bossart<http://www.sspi.org/link.asp?ymlink=114141&finalurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Einte…> * Director of Trade Compliance, Intelsat *THURSDAY | Please join us this Thursday, October 22 at 6:30 p.m. to network and hear a discussion on ITAR reform.* ** *ITAR* is a hotly debated topic with discussion centering around U.S. export reform to encourage competition and diversification. Recently, several satellite operators have joined forces in an attempt to influence legislators that change is necessary. Join us to hear industry experts provide their perspective on ITAR, the current effort that is underway to influence change, and what ITAR's future may be for the satellite industry. Join other satellite professionals for an evening of networking and learning, all beginning at 6:30 p.m. Bring your *questions* and *business cards*! Location Intelsat 3400 International Drive NW Washington, DC 20008 (*directions*<http://www.sspi.org/link.asp?ymlink=114141&finalurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Einte…> ) Time 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Cost $10 members $20 non-members *Cash or check only, please.* (*join now!*<http://www.sspi.org/link.asp?ymlink=114141&finalurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Esspi…> ) RSVP <travis.taylor(a)intelsat.com> by Tuesday, October 20, 2009 www.sspi.org<http://www.sspi.org/link.asp?ymlink=114141&finalurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Esspi…>

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[amsat-dc] 2nd Announcement AMSAT’s LCROSS “Lunar Bash” Live Special Event
by Samudra Haque 08 Oct '09

08 Oct '09

[I am requesting all to circulate this notice to a wide variety of attendees, students, teachers - 73 de N3RDX/S21X] Announcing AMSAT’s LCROSS “Lunar Bash” Live Special Event * 2009 AMSAT Space Symposium Celebrating 40 Years in Space *NEW: with an exhibit of NASA educational materials for the LRO/LCROSS program suitable for K-12 students *NEW: live updates of the mission progress from the Flight Directors Blog Date: Friday October 9, 2009 Location/Time: 0600-0900 Crane A/B, Four Points Sheraton Hotel at BWI Airport Hosted by Samudra Haque, N3RDX, N3RDX(a)amsat.org Open to All 2009 AMSAT Space Symposium Attendees Let’s Kick Up Some Moon Dust ! Join us in the Crane A/B rooms between at 0600 (event starts 0630) with other early bird AMSAT attendees for a Presentation and Live Simulcast of NASA’s Return to the Moon – and an once-in-a-lifetime event of the Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) impact into the Cabeus crater on the Lunar Surface estimated at 0730 EDT. The event will showcase NASA documentaries on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) and LCROSS missions, the Music Video “Water on the Moon” by NASA Deputy Project Manager John Marmie and will shift to the live video stream with commentary from NASA TV shortly before the actual impact event. As the best viewing of the impact site from Earth will be available to ground based telescope located in the Mid-West and points towards the West Coast we hope to see pre-recorded images/video clips well after the impact event as it is relayed from observing communities. If such images are available, we will post them during our open session. Educators and Students can obtain digital copies of the presentation materials from the host and can review “On the Moon” Educators guide which contains learning activities for Students. *In collaboration with NASA

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Fwd: Announcing a AMSAT's LCROSS "Lunar Bash" live event during 2009 AMSAT Space Symposium on Friday 0630 to 0900
by Samudra Haque N3RDX 06 Oct '09

06 Oct '09

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Samudra Haque <samudra.haque(a)gmail.com> Date: Tue, Oct 6, 2009 at 1:53 PM Subject: Announcing a AMSAT's LCROSS "Lunar Bash" live event during 2009 AMSAT Space Symposium on Friday 0630 to 0900 To: Amsat-bb <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> [I am requesting all to circulate this notice to a wide variety of attendees, students, teachers - 73 de N3RDX/S21X] Announcing AMSAT’s LCROSS “Lunar Bash” Live Special Event * 2009 AMSAT Space Symposium Celebrating 40 Years in Space Date: Friday October 9, 2009 Location/Time: 0600-0900 Crane A/B, Four Points Sheraton Hotel at BWI Airport Hosted by Samudra Haque, N3RDX, N3RDX(a)amsat.org Open to All 2009 AMSAT Space Symposium Attendees Let’s Kick Up Some Moon Dust ! Join us in the Crane A/B rooms between at 0630 with other early bird AMSAT attendees for a Presentation and Live Simulcast of NASA’s Return to the Moon – and an once-in-a-lifetime event of the Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) impact into the Cabeus crater on the Lunar Surface estimated at 0730 EDT. The event will showcase NASA documentaries on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) and LCROSS missions, the Music Video “Water on the Moon” by NASA Deputy Project Manager John Marmie and will shift to the live video stream with commentary from NASA TV shortly before the actual impact event. As the best viewing of the impact site from Earth will be available to ground based telescope located in the Mid-West and points towards the West Coast we hope to see pre-recorded images/video clips well after the impact event as it is relayed from observing communities. If such images are available, we will post them during our open session. Educators and Students can obtain digital copies of the presentation materials from the host and can review “On the Moon” Educators guide which contains learning activities for Students. *In collaboration with NASA

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"Final" Symposium Agenda Posted
by Frank H. Bauer 04 Oct '09

04 Oct '09

All, We have posted the "Final" Agenda for the 2009 AMSAT Symposium, including the presentation schedule. I call it "Final" because everything is subject to change. We are still looking for some volunteers for the following responsibilities: 1) Paper Session Chairs (introduce speaker, time presentation, use the "hook" if paper runs long) for the 5 paper sessions 2) AV table support (1 hour commitment or more during paper presentations) 3) Registration table (1 hour commitment or more) 4) Poster session Chair/security (1 hour commitment or more and only when the poster session is open to the public) If you are interested in supporting any of these, e-mail me directly (ka3hdo(a)comcast.net) and let me know what interests you and what dates/times you would like to support. We can really use your help on this as it is a critical element of making the 2009 symposium a success. And for those who have not done it already..please sign up for the symposium. We have a fantastic program planned. 73, Frank Bauer, KA3HDO 2009 AMSAT Symposium Co-Chair

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SimSat-4 Launch Status on Monday 9/28
by Kilroy, Patrick L. (GSFC-5680) 28 Sep '09

28 Sep '09

The SimSat-4 high-altitude balloon experiment launch was scrubbed this past Saturday morning due to weather. It was rescheduled to this coming Saturday morning, October 3. You are invited to check it out! For more insight on the mission or the scrub, go to http://simsat.net under SimSat-4. You can participate from either your home QTH, the WA3NAN club station in Greenbelt, Md., one of the remote ground stations (either Laurel, Md. or Bethesda, Md.) or at the launch site. Your choice. There is a list of volunteer positions on the SimSat-4 web page. Contact me for more information. There's room for all! Be sure to at least listen to the WA3NAN repeater on 146.835 MHz between 8:00 and 11:00 A.M. on Saturday to hear the fun. Sincerely, Pat Kilroy, N8PK SimSat flight director and AMSAT Area Coordinator Mr. Patrick L. Kilroy Integration & Test Manager NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Building 5, Mail Code 568 Greenbelt, Maryland 20771 Phone: +1-301-286-1984 E-mail: Patrick.L.Kilroy(a)nasa.gov Web: http://patkilroy.com/simsat/4/ (outreach)

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Symposium Restaurant Locations
by Frank H. Bauer 28 Sep '09

28 Sep '09

All, I had to go on some unexpected travel out of BWI the past couple of weeks. So I did some reconnaissance and developed a couple of maps that depict restaurants near the hotel and airport. You can retrieve these at the AMSAT Symposium Web Site. Go to the food and drink icon and click on the pdf or ppt file. I also included in this package directions to the G&M Restaurant which is close to the hotel. This restaurant just received the WTOP "Best Crab Cake" award through a survey from the radio station's Baltimore/Washington listeners. This restaurant has good food at reasonable prices. We will be including paper copies of these maps in the symposium registration packet. But wanted to give you a heads up, so you can plan out your meals. If you haven't registered for the symposium yet, please do so. We are less than 2 weeks away!! And if you want to volunteer to help in any way before or during the symposium, please contact me directly. 73, Frank, KA3HDO

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Coming Soon: 2009 AMSAT Symposium--40th AMSAT Anniversary Celebration
by Frank H. Bauer 23 Sep '09

23 Sep '09

All, A reminder that the Symposium is quickly approaching!! Don't miss the outstanding papers, camaraderie, and 40th anniversary celebration. And Edgar Allan Poe's 200th birthday celebration in "Charm City", Baltimore, Maryland. The 4 Points Sheraton is an outstanding venue for this year's Symposium. If you haven't looked, the agenda for the symposium and a list of papers are on the AMSAT Web site. So..make your reservations, call Martha, get on the web and get cracking!! See you all in Baltimore. 73, Frank Bauer, KA3HDO and Janet Bauer, Symposium Co-Chairs

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Volunteers needed for symposium poster sessions
by Mark Steiner 21 Sep '09

21 Sep '09

We need your help to have successful poster sessions at the AMSAT symposium. We're looking for people to help set up (1:30 - 2:30 PM on Friday) and tear down (5 - 6 PM on Saturday) as well as help out when the room is open to the public: Friday, Oct. 9: 2:30 - 5 PM Saturday, Oct. 10: 8 - 11:45 AM 1 - 3:30 PM We'll need help running cables, coordinating tables, setting up backdrops, and just generally being helpful to all the display folks as well as keeping an eye on things in general when the public is in the room. Please email me at k3ms(a)amsat.org if you are available and interested. Thanks! Mark Steiner, K3MS

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AMSAT Symposium poster sessions and commercial vendor displays
by Mark Steiner 21 Sep '09

21 Sep '09

Along with all the other exciting happenings at the AMSAT 40th Anniversary Symposium (being held October 9 - 11 at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel at the Baltimore Washington Airport), we'll have a room set up for poster displays and commercial vendor tables. Take advantage of this opportunity to show the rest of the amateur radio satellite community what you are doing in our exciting hobby. The poster session will be open for display to the public as follows: Friday, Oct. 9: 2:30 - 5 PM Saturday, Oct. 10: 8 - 11:45 AM 1 - 3:30 PM Set-up is from 1:30 - 2:30 PM on Friday and tear-down is 5 - 6 PM on Saturday. I need to know the following by Tuesday, Oct. 6 regarding what you will need for your display: Square footage of floor space # of tables (to be provided by hotel) If a power drop is needed Any other special needs Please email me at k3ms(a)amsat.org. Also, please pass this information along to anyone you think may be interested in providing a display or commercial table. Additional information and registration is available online at http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/symposium/2009/index.php Thanks, and see you at the Symposium soon! Mark Steiner, K3MS

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Register Online
by Martha 24 Aug '09

24 Aug '09

You can now register online for the 2009 AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual Meeting. This year we are celebrating our 40th anniversary so please come and visit with old friends, listen to interesting presentations and enjoy our guest speaker, Dr. Martin Collins. Dr Collins who works at the the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum will talk on "Making the Space Age: The First Fifty Years". Online registration will disappear on October 5th so do not wait too long! -- 73- Martha- AMSAT Mana

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Re: SK: Art Goldman. N3OY (Tom Clark, K3IO)
by Pat Kilroy 20 Aug '09

20 Aug '09

THIS IS SAD NEWS indeed. My heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to Art's family and friends. Many of us in the greater D.C. area recognize Art's selfless support of our local annual AMSAT meetings too. Art was an experimenter. He always seemed to be tweaking and testing some hardware or software thing having to do with Amateur Radio in general or in Amateur Satellites in particular. I could count on Art to offer a top-notch presentation in many a spring time meeting. Sincerely, Pat Kilroy N8PK AMSAT Area Coordinator Greater MDC Area > -----Original Message----- > From: amsat-dc-request(a)amsat.org > Sent: Thursday, August 20, 2009 03:00 PM > To: amsat-dc(a)amsat.org > Subject: AMSAT-DC Digest, Vol 4, Issue 12 > > Send AMSAT-DC mailing list submissions to > amsat-dc(a)amsat.org > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-dc > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > amsat-dc-request(a)amsat.org > > You can reach the person managing the list at > amsat-dc-owner(a)amsat.org > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of AMSAT-DC digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. SK: Art Goldman. N3OY (Tom Clark, K3IO) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:28:20 -0400 > From: "Tom Clark, K3IO" <tom.k3io(a)gmail.com> > Subject: [amsat-dc] SK: Art Goldman. N3OY > To: AMSAT BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org>, AMSAT-DC <amsat-dc(a)amsat.org> > Message-ID: <4A8CC2D4.80801(a)verizon.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 > > It is with great sadness that I learned of the recent passing of Art > Goldman, N3OY (formerly WA3CVG). Art was 67 and succumbed to melanoma. > Information is at > http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/obituaries/bal-md.ob.ci.goldman05aug05,0,7…. > > Art was very active in CARA (Columbia Amateur Radio Association) and was > an AMSAT Life Member. Art often handled the satellite Field Day effort > at W3AO(see http://www.arrl.org/contests/soapbox/?con_id=133&call=W3AO > <http://www.arrl.org/contests/soapbox/?con_id=133&call=W3AO> for 2006 > pictures. W3AO is the 19 xmtr multi-multi joint effort of CARA & PVRC). > > Art lived in Columbia which has severe antenna limits. Despite this, he > managed to get on AO-40 using BBQ dish antennas. He show up frequently > in the AMSAT-BB archives. Art was also very active in the packet radio > world in the 80's & 90's. Art (with NG6Q) developed the TCP/IP driver > for the Eagle Computer card (Zilog 8530) for KA9Q's NOS. . > > A personal remembrance: Rick Hambly (W2GPS), Bob McGwier (N4HY)& I > remember fondly the 8-hour x 2-way "captive audience" trip to/from > Dayton a few years ago. Despite Art's New York Jewish roots, he knew > every country & western song every made. What with McGwier hailing from > redneck Alabama, the trip was hilarious. I particularly remember the two > singing to Toby Keith's hit C&W song "I ain't as good as I once was, but > I'm as good once as I ever was!" (complete lyrics are at > http://www.cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/keith-toby/as-good-as-i-once-was-15917.h…). > > 73 Art -- you are missed! > > > > ------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > AMSAT-DC mailing list courtesy of AMSAT-NA > AMSAT-DC(a)amsat.org > http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-dc > > > End of AMSAT-DC Digest, Vol 4, Issue 12 > *************************************** > Pat Kilroy pat(a)patkilroy.com

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SK: Art Goldman. N3OY
by Tom Clark, K3IO 19 Aug '09

19 Aug '09

It is with great sadness that I learned of the recent passing of Art Goldman, N3OY (formerly WA3CVG). Art was 67 and succumbed to melanoma. Information is at http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/obituaries/bal-md.ob.ci.goldman05aug05,0,7…. Art was very active in CARA (Columbia Amateur Radio Association) and was an AMSAT Life Member. Art often handled the satellite Field Day effort at W3AO(see http://www.arrl.org/contests/soapbox/?con_id=133&call=W3AO <http://www.arrl.org/contests/soapbox/?con_id=133&call=W3AO> for 2006 pictures. W3AO is the 19 xmtr multi-multi joint effort of CARA & PVRC). Art lived in Columbia which has severe antenna limits. Despite this, he managed to get on AO-40 using BBQ dish antennas. He show up frequently in the AMSAT-BB archives. Art was also very active in the packet radio world in the 80's & 90's. Art (with NG6Q) developed the TCP/IP driver for the Eagle Computer card (Zilog 8530) for KA9Q's NOS. . A personal remembrance: Rick Hambly (W2GPS), Bob McGwier (N4HY)& I remember fondly the 8-hour x 2-way "captive audience" trip to/from Dayton a few years ago. Despite Art's New York Jewish roots, he knew every country & western song every made. What with McGwier hailing from redneck Alabama, the trip was hilarious. I particularly remember the two singing to Toby Keith's hit C&W song "I ain't as good as I once was, but I'm as good once as I ever was!" (complete lyrics are at http://www.cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/keith-toby/as-good-as-i-once-was-15917.h…). 73 Art -- you are missed!

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SimSat-4 Rescheduled -- http://simsat.net
by Kilroy, Patrick L. (GSFC-5680) 12 Aug '09

12 Aug '09

>> Training Using Simulated Satellites << SIMSAT FLIGHT NEWS BULLETIN The SimSat-4 flight high-altitude balloon experiment has been scheduled for next month, Saturday morning, September 19, 2009. WEB: http://simsat.net click SimSat-4. You may check this link on a regular basis for updates and late breaking news. You are invited to participate with us! WE STILL SEEK VOLUNTEERS ... 1. Net Control Station for our (A) HF or (B) VHF net. See SimSat-4 announcement facts for the frequencies. Or create your own net on a repeater more local to you and your club. 2. Copy and save telemetry during mission from the comfort of your own home/shack. 3. Invite a student (young or old) to participate with you. Show 'em how to listen. That's all. 4. Download and install a CW code reader on your PC. Play with it and let us know how well it works. 5. Many other fun tasks. See the list on the SimSat-4 announcement page. WEB: http://simsat.net click SimSat-4. THERE IS A LOT OF INFORMATION THERE. Please enjoy it and share it with others. Thank you, Pat Kilroy N8PK SimSat P.I. ----------------------------------------- Mr. Patrick L. Kilroy Flight Systems Integration and Test (I&T) Building 5, Mail Code 568 NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Maryland 20771 Phone: 301-286-1984 E-mail: Patrick.L.Kilroy(a)nasa.gov ----------------------------------------- LRO Project http://lro.gsfc.nasa.gov "Your writing skills are evidence of your ability to think clearly." - Constance Newman, Director, OPM Outreach: http://patkilroy.com/simsat/4/

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2009 AMSAT Annual Meeting and Space Symposium - Call for papers
by Daniel Schultz 08 Jul '09

08 Jul '09

This is the second call for papers for the 2009 AMSAT Annual Meeting and Space Symposium to be held October 9 - 11 at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel at the Baltimore Washington Airport. Proposals for papers, symposium presentations and poster presentations are invited on any topic of interest to the amateur satellite community. We request a tentative title of your presentation as soon as possible, with final copy submitted by September 1, 2009 for inclusion in the printed proceedings. Abstracts and papers should be sent to Dan Schultz, N8FGV, at n8fgv(a)amsat.org.

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2009 AMSAT Symposium
by Frank H. Bauer 23 Jun '09

23 Jun '09

All, We are gearing up for this year's AMSAT Symposium, to be held in our area October 9-11, 2009. The symposium will be held in "Charm City"---Baltimore Maryland; at the Sheraton Four Points, BWI Airport. This is a special year and a special symposium in that we will be celebrating our 40th anniversary!! At this point, the Symposium Volunteer team have met twice and are quickly solidifying the program. We do need some additional volunteer support and we are hoping you will be willing to help. Specifically, we are looking for volunteers to help with running the AV system, helping set up and maintaining the poster session, support meeting registration, provide symposium paper moderation, and provide support as part of the PR team. These are some of the areas we need help, but could use support in many other areas too. If you are interested in helping with this year's symposium, please contact me directly at ka3hdo(a)comcast.net. You do not have to have prior experience---we will train all volunteers. Please seriously consider volunteering. And definitely come to this year's symposium there will be some special surprises this year. In addition, the symposium doesn't come to this area very often. Thanks es 73, Frank Bauer, KA3HDO

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2009 AMSAT Annhual Meeting and Space Symposium - Call for papers
by Daniel Schultz 08 Jun '09

08 Jun '09

This is the first call for papers for the 2009 AMSAT Annual Meeting and Space Symposium to be held October 9 - 11 at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel at the Baltimore Washington Airport. Proposals for papers, symposium presentations and poster presentations are invited on any topic of interest to the amateur satellite community. We request a tentative title of your presentation as soon as possible, with final copy submitted by September 1, 2009 for inclusion in the printed proceedings. Abstracts and papers should be sent to Dan Schultz, N8FGV, at n8fgv(a)amsat.org.

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2009 AMSAT-DC Workshop Results!
by Kilroy, Patrick L. (GSFC-5680) 27 Apr '09

27 Apr '09

Greetings! The 2009 AMSAT-DC Workshop was held this past Saturday as planned. It was held in place of the annual spring "AMSAT-DC Meeting and Space Seminar" of previous years, as voted by acclamation at last year's meeting. Something "new and different" was the vision. And, ... What a great day ... for education, for AMSAT and for NASA! The workshop was not without its scrapes, cuts and bruises. After all, it was an experiment unto itself, in part to see how well such an event might "take" in the mid-Atlantic USA region before attempting to emerge beyond. In the all-day event, a total of five individuals participated and three flight modules were built. We had humble beginnings, indeed. A follow up session is in the planning stage. (We didn't have enough time to complete some troubleshooting and to start the calibration procedure on each module.) We will meet at NASA GSFC again in the next month or two -- this time, instead of in a huge cushy conference room serving as our "fab lab", it will be inside a real space flight hardware laboratory -- to calibrate the PICetSat II flight sensors. Would you like to participate in a calibration session? Even if you missed the workshop, you are welcome to "finish the job" with us! The session(s) are free, but slots are VERY limited. Current AMSAT membership is required, and an advanced RSVP is required for security purposes. Contact me by e-mail if you are interested in participating. After our next AMSAT-DC planning telecon (to be held within the next two weeks) I will release our calibration date(s) and time. Please share the excitement. Please pass the word. What a great day for education and outreach. And fun! Respectfully submitted, Pat Kilroy, N8PK, co-host Bruce Semple, WA3SWJ, co-host AMSAT-DC guys ------------------------------------------ Date: Thu, 5 Mar 2009 14:11:04 -0600 From: Patrick.L.Kilroy(a)nasa.gov> Subject: [amsat-dc] AMSAT-DC Workshop Saturday, April 25, in Greenbelt, Md To: <amsat-dc(a)amsat.org> AN AMSAT-DC WORKSHOP will be held on Saturday, April 25, at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. A small "simulated satellite" kit will be built, tested and operated by individuals attending. The completed kit, soon to be widely known as a PICetSat II module, is a simple remote sensing unit that serves as an expendable high-altitude small balloon payload. It transmits downlink telemetry on the 70 cm Amateur Radio band. Other attendees will provide and configure radios, computers and software needed to receive, decode and analyze the PICetSat II telemetry. The workshop is an experiment unto itself for the sponsoring AMSAT-DC group. This workshop may prove to be a fine training opportunity for one to learn the basics of the design, construction, testing, calibrating and operating an earth- orbiting satellite. All in one long Saturday of fun! HELP IS NEEDED The workshop planning team meets weekly on Thursday evenings via a telephone conference. If you wish to help organize and/or execute the workshop then there may still be time to hop aboard if you are quick. Contact me by e-mail for the details of connecting with the group on the telecom at pat.kilroy(a)nasa.gov. We need another experienced soldering and construction helper or two, a photographer, a videographer, and several "Go-fers" to name a few. INFORMATION COMING Because of the workshop's experimental nature, the size is designed to be small in attendance this inaugural year. It will be an exclusive opportunity to AMSAT members, new and old alike. On Sunday, March 16, we expect to release details on the attendance application process and donation. Watch for information about the workshop via the AMSAT News Service (ANS) bulletins, the AMSAT-DC e-mail list, and the local AMSAT-DC web page. IMPORTANT LINKS http://www.amsat.org/ http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/tools/maillist/ http://patkilroy.com/amsat-dc/ More info to follow later. Thank you for your patience on this subject. Cheers, Pat Kilroy N8PK AMSAT Area Coordinator

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Fwd: What Would It Take ?
by Pat Kilroy 16 Apr '09

16 Apr '09

Please go to the local AMSAT web page at http://patkilroy.com/amsat-dc/ and read about the AMSAT-DC event on Saturday, April 25. Then read Bruce's message below. And then please respond to Bruce and me at our contact numbers below. Thank you! Sincerely, Pat N8PK http://patkilroy.com/amsat-dc/ -----Original Message----- From: Bruce Semple [mailto:brucesemple@verizon.net] Sent: Thursday, April 16, 2009 08:52 PM Subject: What Would It Take ? What would it take to get you to attend our event on April 25? Or what would it take to get you to attend on a different date later this Spring or Summer? For our April 25th event, we need to get turn in names to the NASA security desk early next week. As of this writing, we have three people signed up ... Is it a cost issue? Is it a scheduling conflict? Is it the program format? What is the single thing that would bring you out to our next meeting? We want to hear from you! Many thanks, Pat Kilroy, N8PK (Patrick.L.Kilroy(a)nasa.gov) 301-286-1984 weekdays Bruce Semple, WA3SWJ (bruce.semple(a)verizon.net) 301-803-6175 weekdays Thanks & 73, Bruce WA3SWJ http://patkilroy.com/amsat-dc/

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FW: Center Director Mourns Passing
by Kilroy, Patrick L. (GSFC-5680) 05 Mar '09

05 Mar '09

FYI Mario Acuna callsign: LU9HBG -pk. -----Original Message----- From: James E. Gass Sent: Thursday, March 05, 2009 11:01 AM To: Minetto, Fred A. (GSFC-6950) Cc: GARC-BB Subject: Re: WA3NAN: Passing of Mario Acuna ---------------------------------------------------------- This message traffic is of, by and for members and friends of the NASA Goddard Amateur Radio Club (GARC) and WA3NAN. ---------------------------------------------------------- Fred, That's [sad] news. Mario was a part of the heart and soul of the science community here at Goddard for a very long time. A real pioneer in space magnetometry. Jim N3CJN Fred Minetto wrote: > ---------------------------------------------------------- > This message traffic is of, by and for members and friends > of the NASA Goddard Amateur Radio Club (GARC) and WA3NAN. > ---------------------------------------------------------- > > To all of GARC, > > Mario Acuna passed away last night, in the comfort of his home, > surrounded by his family and loved ones. He leaves a devoted wife, > Barbara; sons Jamie, Andrew, and Daniel; daughter Marta, and five > grandchildren, with more on the way. He passed peacefully, content > with all that life afforded him. > > A good man, scientist, and fellow Ham radio operator. He will be missed. > > Fred > KB3PEE ________________________________________ From: On Behalf Of GSFC-PAO Sent: Thursday, March 05, 2009 3:05 PM To: gsfc_all(a)listserv.gsfc.nasa.gov Subject: Center Director Mourns Passing of GSFC Employees Colleagues: It with profound sadness to inform you that Goddard has tragically lost several members of its family in the past few days. Dr. Mario Acuña, a Senior Astrophysicist in the Planetary Magnetospheres Lab, passed away last night, in the comfort of his home, surrounded by his family and loved ones. Dr. Acuña was world renown for his work in magnetic fields and plasmas in the solar system, and is one of most prolific and accomplished scientists to ever work at Goddard. He has been an Instrument Scientist, Co-Investigator or Principal Investigator in multiple NASA and ESA missions such as Pioneer, Voyager, Mariner, Giotto, Tether, ISPM, and many others, and the Principal Investigator or Lead Scientist for the magnetometer investigations on the Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous Mission, Mars Global Surveyor, Lunar Prospector, Messenger and STEREO. He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2007 and was honored by NASA with numerous prestigious awards including the GSFC John C. Lindsay and Moe I. Schneebaum Memorial Awards, the Medal for Exceptional Scientific Achievement, the Distinguished Service Medal and a Presidential Meritorious Rank Award. His death follows a valiant fight against multiple myeloma, a cancer of the blood. He leaves a devoted wife, Barbara; sons Jamie, Andrew, and Daniel; daughter Marta, and five grandchildren. [snip] Words cannot adequately express the deep and abiding sorrow we all feel upon hearing of the loss of our friends and colleagues. Each, in his or her own way, made a lasting contribution to making Goddard what it is today, and we will miss them terribly. Our thoughts and prayers go out to their families and friends. Rob Strain Center Director Goddard

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AMSAT-DC Workshop Saturday, April 25, in Greenbelt, Md
by Kilroy, Patrick L. (GSFC-5680) 05 Mar '09

05 Mar '09

AN AMSAT-DC WORKSHOP will be held on Saturday, April 25, at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. A small "simulated satellite" kit will be built, tested and operated by individuals attending. The completed kit, soon to be widely known as a PICetSat II module, is a simple remote sensing unit that serves as an expendable high-altitude small balloon payload. It transmits downlink telemetry on the 70 cm Amateur Radio band. Other attendees will provide and configure radios, computers and software needed to receive, decode and analyze the PICetSat II telemetry. The workshop is an experiment unto itself for the sponsoring AMSAT-DC group. This workshop may prove to be a fine training opportunity for one to learn the basics of the design, construction, testing, calibrating and operating an earth- orbiting satellite. All in one long Saturday of fun! HELP IS NEEDED The workshop planning team meets weekly on Thursday evenings via a telephone conference. If you wish to help organize and/or execute the workshop then there may still be time to hop aboard if you are quick. Contact me by e-mail for the details of connecting with the group on the telecom at pat.kilroy(a)nasa.gov. We need another experienced soldering and construction helper or two, a photographer, a videographer, and several "Go-fers" to name a few. INFORMATION COMING Because of the workshop's experimental nature, the size is designed to be small in attendance this inaugural year. It will be an exclusive opportunity to AMSAT members, new and old alike. On Sunday, March 16, we expect to release details on the attendance application process and donation. Watch for information about the workshop via the AMSAT News Service (ANS) bulletins, the AMSAT-DC e-mail list, and the local AMSAT-DC web page. IMPORTANT LINKS http://www.amsat.org/ http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/tools/maillist/ http://patkilroy.com/amsat-dc/ More info to follow later. Thank you for your patience on this subject. Cheers, Pat Kilroy N8PK AMSAT Area Coordinator -----Original Message----- 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(a)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(a)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] /EX -----Original Message----- Message: 1 Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 09:43:37 -0600 From: Patrick.L.Kilroy(a)nasa.gov Subject: [amsat-dc] AMSAT-DC Workshop Planning Starts Hi! We must start the planning sessions for the next AMSAT-DC gathering. If you would like to join us then please send me an RSVP e-mail soon. I will respond to you with the call-in numbers. Our first planning session will take place next week, via telecon, likely on Thursday evening at 7:00 PM EST. I hope it will last less than a half-hour, certainly no more than 45 minutes. The first agenda item will be to discuss the location and date of the all-day event. You may check the local AMSAT web page at http://patkilroy.com/amsat-dc to refresh your memory on what I propose to take shape for this workshop in place of the "old" seminar type of meetings that we held in the past. Hope to hear from you soon. Thanks! Cheers, Pat Kilroy N8PK AMSAT Area Coordinator Maryland-DC Area ----------------------------------------- Mr. Patrick L. Kilroy Flight Systems Integration and Test (I&T) Building 5, Mail Code 568 NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Maryland 20771 Phone: 301-286-1984 E-mail: Patrick.L.Kilroy(a)nasa.gov ------------------------------------------- LRO Project http://lro.gsfc.nasa.gov "Your writing skills are evidence of your ability to think clearly." - Constance Newman, Director, OPM Outreach: http://patkilroy.com/simsat/3/

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SPACEFLIGHT Magazines For You!
by Eric Rosenberg 15 Feb '09

15 Feb '09

I have a complete set of the 1995 through 2001 British Interplanetary Society's SPACEFLIGHT Magazine. They're yours -- if you pick them up from my QTH in NW Washington, DC... or nearby. 73, Eric W3DQ

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AMSAT-DC Workshop Planning Starts
by Kilroy, Patrick L. (GSFC-568.0) 03 Feb '09

03 Feb '09

Hi! We must start the planning sessions for the next AMSAT-DC gathering. If you would like to join us then please send me an RSVP e-mail soon. I will respond to you with the call-in numbers. Our first planning session will take place next week, via telecon, likely on Thursday evening at 7:00 PM EST. I hope it will last less than a half-hour, certainly no more than 45 minutes. The first agenda item will be to discuss the location and date of the all-day event. You may check the local AMSAT web page at http://patkilroy.com/amsat-dc to refresh your memory on what I propose to take shape for this workshop in place of the "old" seminar type of meetings that we held in the past. Hope to hear from you soon. Thanks! Cheers, Pat Kilroy N8PK AMSAT Area Coordinator Maryland-DC Area ----------------------------------------- Mr. Patrick L. Kilroy Flight Systems Integration and Test (I&T) Building 5, Mail Code 568 NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Maryland 20771 Phone: 301-286-1984 E-mail: Patrick.L.Kilroy(a)nasa.gov ------------------------------------------- LRO Project http://lro.gsfc.nasa.gov "Your writing skills are evidence of your ability to think clearly." - Constance Newman, Director, OPM Outreach: http://patkilroy.com/simsat/

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AMSAT-DC Meeting this Spring?
by Kilroy, Patrick L. (GSFC-568.0) 05 Jan '09

05 Jan '09

Hi! Do we want to hold an AMSAT-DC meeting this spring? At the meeting last year, I announced that perhaps the time is ripe to hold a workshop. Are we still game for this? What fun! My suggestion is that we use the workshop to host three simultaneous groups (or three types of individuals working solo, if prefered, picking any one of the three to emphasize). GROUP ONE One group or set of individuals will build a PICetSat II flight module from a kit of electronic parts on a small printed circuit board (hopefully under $100 each kit). We would need a soldering iron and "optics" at each station even though no tiny SMT parts are planned to be used. See an example of the original PICetSat module at http://patkilroy.com/simsat/3/ GROUP TWO and GROUP THREE Others would set up a simple ground station each, with a choice to work with the radio hardware (bring in radio, antenna and feedline) OR work on setting up the software (bring in a PC or laptop running Windows XPP) to decode the telemetry and to analyze it according to a set of instructions. Frequency: 433.920 MHz SSB. All instructions will be provided in advance to enhance preparation. The event would be either one full day or two half days. At the end, we "launch" a module and copy the telemetry. Perfect for beginners and advanced satellite users alike, all ultimately working together. The donation per individual will be the cost of kit (if desired) plus expenses (divided among participants) plus no more than $10 to the AMSAT-DC "sustenance" fund. I will be very busy finalizing the PICetSat II design and fabricating the PCBs over the next two months. So, I will need more help than ever before in organizing such an event. o Can you help, as a worker? In preparation of the workshop or during the workshop? o Would you attend, as an experimenter? Which group, one, two or three? (Group One: Fabricating/testing/calibrating a flight unit; Two: setting up Ground station hardware; or Three: Ground station software.) Please RSVP e-mail to me if you would like to participate in a telecon one evening to ask questions and start planning for our meeting/ workshop! Until the more productive telecon, I will entertain basic discussion and basic QnA on this e-mail list. Thoughts? Thank you, Pat N8PK AMSAT Area Coordinator Maryland-DC Area ----------------------------------------- Mr. Patrick L. Kilroy Flight Systems Integration and Test (I&T) Building 5, Mail Code 568 NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Maryland 20771 Phone: 301-286-1984 E-mail: Patrick.L.Kilroy(a)nasa.gov ------------------------------------------- LRO Project http://lro.gsfc.nasa.gov "Your writing skills are evidence of your ability to think clearly." - Constance Newman, Director, OPM Outreach: http://patkilroy.com/simsat/

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