AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-361
ANS is a free, weekly, news and information service of AMSAT North America, The
Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS reports on the activities of a
worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in
designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital
Amateur Radio satellites.
Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to:
ans-editor(a)amsat.org
In this edition:
* Report Your AMSAT Volunteer Hours
* SO-67 schedule
* SKN on OSCAR 2010
* AMSAT Kid's Day on AO-51 on 3 January
*Thank You and Season Greetings on Behalf of the HO-68 Team
* AO-51 Satellite Grid DXpedition Announced
* ARISS Status - 21 December 2009
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-361.01
Report Your AMSAT Volunteer Hours
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 361.01
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
December 27, 2009
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-361.01
Attention AMSAT Volunteers!
It is that time again when we gather volunteer hours donated to the AMSAT
Program of Work to include within our yearly Audit. These important
donations of personal time help us illustrate to the outside world the
involvement of our members. We welcome reporting in all areas of service
from Managing a booth at a Hamfest, to engineering of new AMSAT projects, to
day to day operational activities.
If you are not already signed up for the on line Web site "VRS" (Volunteer
Reporting System) program, please go to amsat.org and select "Become a
Volunteer" from the link on the left side of the main page. Select #2 in
order to create an account for your reporting. You will be given a
confidential account into which you can report your volunteer hours. Select
# 3 to actually report your 2009 efforts.
We total up the efforts and total value while we keep confidential the
actual dollar amount of each volunteer.
With the year drawing to a close, this is a great time to submit those
hours. After January 1, 2010 we'll download the file and report these
numbers to our Auditor.
Your efforts are important, so please take the time to report. If you have
any questions feel free to email me at: w8gsm(a)amsat.org.
Gunther Meisse
AMSAT Treasurer
W8GSM
[ANS thanks Gunther, W8GSM, for the above information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-361.02
SO-67 schedule
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 361.02
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
December 27, 2009
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-361.02
Jan-Albert Koekemoer, ZR1JAK, received the following schedules from the various
coordinators. Note that some passes had to be omitted due to other higher
priorities on the satellite.
SOUTH AMERICA:
27/12 01:18
27/12 11:48
27/12 13:25
27/12 23:25
28/12 00:58
28/12 11:28
28/12 13:02
28/12 23:05
29/12 00:35
29/12 11:08
29/12 12:41
30/12 00:16
30/12 01:50
30/12 10:48
30/12 12:20
30/12 23:56
31/12 01:30
31/12 10:29
31/12 11:59
31/12 23:36
01/01 01:10
01/01 11:38
01/01 13:14
01/01 23:16
AUSTRALIA/NZ:
27/12 21:19
28/12 00:28
28/12 20:57
28/12 22:31
29/12 00:07
29/12 20:37
29/12 22:09
29/12 23:46
30/12 21:51
30/12 23:24
30/12 21:30
30/12 23:05
01/01 00:40
USSR:
27/12 14:20
27/12 19:00
AFRICA:
27/12 05:30
28/12 08:16
29/12 07:58
30/12 06:03
30/12 07:38
31/12 05:42
31/12 07:17
01/01 05:20
01/01 06:57
01/01 08:26
JAPAN
27/12 00:30
27/12 22:37
28/12 00:09 (Deleted)
28/12 23:48
29/12 01:24
29/12 23:28
30/12 01:03
30/12 23:08
31/12 00:42
31/12 22:48
01/01 00:21
EUROPE
27/12 06:47
27/12 08:20
27/12 09:54
27/12 11:28
28/12 09:33
29/12 09:12
USA/CANADA
27/12 00:22 (Deleted)
27/12 13:08
27/12 14:43
27/12 16:16
27/12 17:49
27/12 19:21
27/12 20:54
27/12 22:28 (Deleted)
28/12 00:02
[ANS thanks Jan-Albert, ZR1JAK, for the above information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-361.03
SKN on OSCAR 2010
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 361.03
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
December 27, 2009
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-361.03
All radio amateurs, worldwide, are cordially invited to participate
in AMSAT's Straight Key Night on OSCAR 2010.
Participating in SKN on OSCAR 2010 is easy. No rules, no scoring and
no need to send in a log. Just operate CW through any OSCAR between
0000 and 2400 UTC on 1 January 2010, using a straight hand key.
The AMSAT AO-51 Operations Group reminds everyone that AO-51
will be configured to support CW operations during the annual
Straight Key Night event. Participants may operate CW through
AO-51 between 0000 and 2400 UTC on 1 January 2010, using a
straight hand key.
AO-51 will be configured in the following mode during the event:
SSB/FM Repeater, V/U (CW QSOs only on Straight Key Night)
Uplink: 145.880 MHz USB
Downlink: 435.150 MHz FM
In keeping with the friendly nature of this event, all participants
are encouraged to nominate someone they worked for "Best Fist." Your
nominee need not have the best fist of those you heard, just of those
you worked. Please send your nomination to w2rs(a)amsat.org. A list of
those nominated will appear in ANS and The AMSAT Journal.
[ANS thanks Ray, W2RS, and the AMSAT AO-51 Operations Group for
the above information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-361.04
AMSAT Kid's Day on AO-51 on 3 January
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 361.04
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
December 27, 2009
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-361.04
AMSAT-NA and the AO-51 Operations Group will sponsor Kid's Day on
AO-51 on January 3, 2010. The event is open to all kids, worldwide.
We ask all amateur radio stations to give this short time window to
promote satellite operations with kids, by actually showing a kid how
to make contacts via AO-51, providing a station to contact, or stepping
aside to allow others to make contacts with the kids. During the event,
please limit contacts to stations that are operating with kids at the
microphone. This should allow the kids to have a nice QSO and pass some
information. Kids can tell their name, age, who is helping them operate
on AO-51, where they live, and other information about themselves.
AO-51 will be configured in the following mode during the event.
Uplink: 145.880 MHz FM voice
Downlink: 435.300 MHz FM voice
See http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/kd-rules.html on the ARRL
website for more Kids Day information.
Have fun and enjoy AO-51!
[ANS thanks the AO-51 Operations Committee for the above information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-361.05
Thank You and Season Greetings on Behalf of the HO-68 Team
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 361.05
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
December 27, 2009
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-361.05
CEO of Amsat-China and HO-68 (XW-1) Project Manager Alan Kung, BA1DU
wrote, "On behalf of Amsat-China and the HO-68 amateur satellite pro-
ject Team, I would like to express my sincere thanks to all radio
amateurs who reported the communications status of HO-68 satellite
in the past few days."
Alan continued, "I would also like to express my sincere thanks to
all individuals and organizations for your congratulations. I must
say I am sorry I am not able to respond to each of the reports,
but your reports are very valuable for our analysis of status of
the satellite. Thank you very much for your participation in the
in-orbit satellite communications test of HO-68."
The HO-68 team wishes all a happy holiday and we hope HO-68 amateur
satellite will be able to bring you a new fun!
This week AMSAT-NA President, Barry Baines, WD4ASW wrote, "On behalf
of Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, congratulations on the success-
ful launch of XW-1 and its subsequent designation as HO-68. This is a
significant milestone for both Amateur Radio and AMSAT-China. We are
very excited to see not only a new amateur satellite successfully
placed in service, but a new member of the AMSAT International family
establishing itself as well. Please let us know more about your organ-
ization and how we might be able to develop appropriate relationships
between AMSAT-China and other AMSAT organizations. Again, congratula-
tions on placing HO-68 in service and best wishes for the New Year."
The latest official information can be found on-line on the AMSAT-China
web page at http://www.camsat.cn/
The AMSAT-NA Satellite Status Web may also be consulted for frequency
and operating mode information:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/satInfo.php?satID=116&retURL=/
satellites/status.php
[ANS thanks Alan Kung, BA1DU and Barry Baines, WD4ASW for the above
information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-361.06
AO-51 Satellite Grid DXpedition Announced
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 361.06
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
December 27, 2009
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-361.06
Jim, ND9M/VQ9JC, plans to activate 85 grids in 8 states on AO-51
between January 21st and February 10th. Jim and his wife will be
driving to the Denver area (DN70) where his step-son lives and
Cheyenne (DN71) where his brother lives. The trip will start from
Panama City, Florida, on/or around January 21st, from where they
head to Memphis, TN. Jim may possibly activate some grids. From
Memphis they will head westbound through OK, then into KS and NE
before hitting CO. Their around trip will take them through Big
Bend National Park and Texas (hitting every grid in TX) and the
Gulf Coast into Louisiana.
[ANS thanks KB8NW, OPDX Bulletin, and MakeMoreMilesOnVHF Newsletter
For the above information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-361.07
ARISS Status - 21 December 2009
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 361.07
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
December 27, 2009
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-361.07
1. Jeffrey Williams Chats with Italian Students via ARISS Contact
On Monday, December 14, Expedition 21 astronaut Jeffrey Williams, KD5TVQ
participated in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS)
contact with students from Istituto Comprensivo di Govone - Scuola Secondaria
di primo grado "Nino Costa" di Priocca in Priocca, Cuneo, Italy. The
contact was
held at Infinito Astronomic Park in Pino Torinese, Torino, where an audience of
more than 150 students, teachers, visitors and media watched as the students
posed 22 questions to the astronaut during the nine minute pass. Following the
contact, ARISS mentor Francesco De Paolis spoke to the children via
teleconference about the contact and amateur radio. Regional television, local
media and newspapers covered the event. The video, which was streamed on the
web, received over 170 connections. The European Space Agency (ESA)
reported the
news on its Web site. See: http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMLSV9K73G_Italy_0.html
2. ARISS International Team Meeting Held
An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) meeting was held on
Tuesday, December 15. Agenda items addressed included the VHF AIS (Automatic
Identification System) and ARISS antennas which were recently installed on the
Columbus module and the status of ARISSat-1. To view the minutes, see:
https://www.rac.ca/ariss/arisstel2009-12-15.htm
[ANS thanks Carol, KB3LKI, for the above information]
/EX
In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's
Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project
Funds, will be eligible to receive additional benefits. Application forms are
available from the AMSAT Office.
73,
This week's ANS Editor,
Lee McLamb, KU4OS
ku4os at amsat dot org
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-355.01
ANS Special Bulletin - AMSAT China XW-1 Designated Hope OSCAR 68
AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin 355.01
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
December 21, 2009
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-355.01
AMSAT-NA OSCAR Number Coordinator Bill Tynan, W3XO has informed Alan
Kung, BA1DU, Amateur Satellite Project Manager and Chief Executive
Officer of AMSAT-China that XW-1 is now designated as Hope OSCAR 68,
or HO-68.
Bill wrote, "The satellite was launched successfully 15 December from
the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center of China, on a CZ-4C rocket. Ama-
teur Radio Operators around the world have received beacon signals
from XW-1."
Bill continues, "Further, I have been informed that XW-1 has been coor-
dinated through IARU Amateur Satellite Frequency Coordination Panel. As
XW in Chinese means 'hope', it had been requested that this word be used
as the prefix for the new OSCAR number. Therefore, with the above infor-
mation and the authority vested in me by the AMSAT-NA President, I hereby
designate this latest amateur radio satellite as Hope Oscar 68 or HO-68."
Congratulations to AMSAT-China. Bill concludes, "On behalf of AMSAT-NA
and the world's amateur radio satellite community I congratulate those
responsible for building, testing and launching this new satellite. May
it have a long and successful life."
The latest official information can be found on-line on the AMSAT-China
web page at: http://www.camsat.cn/
The AMSAT-NA Satellite Status Web may also be consulted for frequency
and operating mode information at:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/satInfo.php?satID=116&retURL=/sate
llites/status.php
/EX
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-354
ANS is a free, weekly, news and information service of AMSAT North
America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS reports on the
activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an
active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating
through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites.
Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to:
ans-editor(a)amsat.org
In this edition:
* AMSAT China's XW-1 Satellite Testing Proceeding Well
* AO-51 Schedule to Support SKN
* January 2010 AMSAT Kid's Day on AO-51
* Students and Teachers Invited to Fly a File on ARISSAT-1
* NASA Revised EVA Schedule Affects ARISSat
* Satellite Shorts From All Over
* ESA and CNES to Fly Atomic Clock to ISS Columbus Module
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-354.01
AMSAT China's XW-1 Satellite Testing Proceeding Well
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 354.01
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
December 20, 2009
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-354.01
Amateur satellite operators worldwide have reported receiving strong
signals on the telemetry beacon of China's XW-1 satellite launched
on December 15, 2009.
The satellite is currently being commissioned but all three amateur
radio modes, which include an V/U FM repeater, V/U linear transponder,
and V/U AFSK packet, have been tested.
Michael Chen, BD5RV/4 reported, "I managed to operate the special
event station BT3WX to work several E2, BY, VR2, XX9 throughout an
evening pass of XW-1 using the FM transponder. It was the first open
test of this bird's transponder. Everything works just great!"
AFSK packets were active over Japan with JA0CAW receiving the down-
link on 435.675 MHz AFSK 1200bps.
JE1CVL, JH1EKH, BD4SY, JF2CTY, JH1BCL, JA5BLZ succeeded in a QSO over
Japan using the linear transponder in 'VHF(LSB) up and UHF (USB) Linear
Transponder Inverting on 145.950 MHz (Up) and 435.740 MHz (Down).
The XW-1 communications payload includes a beacon and three cross
band transponders operating in FM, linear, and digital modes.
Uplinks: 145.8250 MHz FM, PL 67.0 Hz.
145.9250 - 145.9750 MHz SSB/CW
145.8250 MHz AFSK 1200 BPS
Downlinks: 435.6750 MHz FM
435.7650 - 435.7150 MHz SSB/CW
435.6750 MHz AFSK 1200 BPS
Beacon: 435.7900 MHz CW
Users have posted videos on YouTube regarding XW-1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4-0yuC4Sx4&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwyTZT6JkC4
Luciano Fabricio PY5LF has made a YouTube video showing his reception
of the beacon: http://tinyurl.com/yjgett6
XW-1 was a secondary payload aboard the CZ-4C rocket from Taiyuan
Satellite Launch Center into a sun-synchronous orbit about 1200
kilometers high. The primary payload of this launch is the Yaogen-8
Remote Sensing Satellite.
BD5RV/4 requests amateur radio operators send him audio recordings,
notes on received content, your QTH, callsign, date/time of the XW-1
beacon you heard to AMSAT China by email. Later, you'll be able to
upload it via web, but for now, email works. Send your files and
information to michael.bd5rv(a)gmail.com.
XW-1 CW Telemetry Decoder by Mike Rupprecht, DK3WN can be downloaded
from his web site at: http://www.dk3wn.info/software.shtml
You can get an updated copy of the XW-1 Telemetry Format at:
http://www.camsat.cn/index.php?option=com_phocadownload&view=category&
id=1:xw-1&download=1:xw-1-telemetry&Itemid=66 (careful - line wrap)
The XW-1 Store-forward Transponder User's Manual can be found on the
AMSAT web at: http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/documents/
XW-1_Store-forward_Transponder_Users_Manual.pdf (careful - line wrap)
Details of the XW-1 satellite are available at:
http://www.camsat.cn/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=56&
Itemid=67 (careful - line wrap)
[ANS thanks Michael Chen BD5RV/4 and Alan Kung, BA1DU for the above
information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-354.02
AO-51 Schedule to Support SKN
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 354.02
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
December 20, 2009
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-354.02
The AMSAT AO-51 Operations Group reminds everyone that AO-51
will be configured to support CW operations during the annual
Straight Key Night event. Participants may operate CW through
AO-51 between 0000 and 2400 UTC on 1 January 2010, using a
straight hand key.
AO-51 will be configured in the following mode during the event:
SSB/FM Repeater, V/U (CW QSOs only on Straight Key Night)
Uplink: 145.880 MHz USB
Downlink: 435.150 MHz FM
And don't forget to nominate someone you work for "Best Fist".
Please send your nomination to w2rs(a)amsat.org. A list of those
nominated will appear in ANS and the AMSAT Journal.
Have fun and enjoy AO-51!
[ANS thanks the AMSAT AO-51 Operations Group and Ray, W2RS for
the above information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-354.03
January 2010 AMSAT Kid's Day on AO-51
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 354.03
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
December 20, 2009
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-354.03
AMSAT-NA and the AO-51 Operations Group will sponsor Kid's Day on
AO-51 on January 3, 2010. The event is open to all kids, worldwide.
We ask all amateur radio stations to give this short time window to
promote satellite operations with kids, by actually showing a kid how
to make contacts via AO-51, providing a station to contact, or stepping
aside to allow others to make contacts with the kids. During the event,
please limit contacts to stations that are operating with kids at the
microphone. This should allow the kids to have a nice QSO and pass some
information. Kids can tell their name, age, who is helping them operate
on AO-51, where they live, and other information about themselves.
AO-51 will be configured in the following mode during the event.
Uplink: 145.880 MHz FM voice
Downlink: 435.300 MHz FM voice
See http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/kd-rules.html on the ARRL
website for more Kids Day information.
Have fun and enjoy AO-51!
[ANS thanks the AO-51 Operations Committee for the above information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-354.04
Students and Teachers Invited to Fly a File on ARISSAT-1
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 354.04
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
December 20, 2009
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-354.04
On 3 February 2006, cosmonaut Valery Ivanovich Tokarev hand launched
the Amateur Radio satellite SuitSat-1 from the ISS during an EVA
(Extra Vehicular Activity = Spacewalk).
SuitSat-1 was a very special Amateur Radio satellite. A discarded
Russian ORLAN Space Suit (in Russian a "Skafander") was equipped with
an Amateur Radio transmitter, which transmitted telemetry and
greetings from youngsters to the youth of the world in several
languages.
In 2010, an Amateur Radio satellite will once more be hand launched
from the International Space Station. It will be called ARISSat-1.
ARISSat-1 will again transmit messages recorded by students.
Moreover, teachers and students are invited to fly a file aboard this
amateur radio satellite.
The ARISSat-1 Team wishes to include on our new satellite a memory
stick of files prepared by students. This should be a jpg or pdf of
things the student has prepared such as a paper or a study done on a
STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) topic, a drawing of
space craft or a schematic, a journal kept on a STEM topic, a story
or news article about a STEM subject, a photo of the class doing a
hands-on STEM activity -- that type of thing.
Having the student's work be a part of ARISSat-1 means the student is
a part of the satellite project and along for the spacewalk and
deployment of ARISSat-1.
Readers of this Bulletin are invited to approach teachers and
students and draw their attention on this opportunity to participate
directly to a space flight for the honor of being part of space
activities.
Dave Jordan, AA4KN, will take delivery of these files and copy them
onto a memory stick. The quantity of files and the size of a file are
unlimited since memory sticks provide for a very large amount of file
space.
Files should be either .JPG or .PDF -- no Word documents, please.
Please send files to Dave Jordan's address -- <aa4kn(a)amsat.org>
He will look at all of them for content appropriate to students.
Files can be in any language as long as an English translation is
also included as a text file.
If the file contains sound recordings and/or photos or names of
persons, a "Talent Authorisation and Release" is requested. The
appropriate document can be downloaded from
http://www.rac.ca/ariss/Talent_Release.htm
The permission slip has to be signed by the student or his/her
guardian if the student is a minor.
The signed release form is to be mailed to:
AMSAT
Martha Saragovitz
850 Sligo Ave. Suite 600
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Deadline for submitting files: March 1st, 2010.
[ANS thanks the ARISS Team for the above information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-354.05
NASA Revised EVA Schedule Affects ARISSat
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 354.05
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
December 20, 2009
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-354.05
NASA has informed AMSAT that the schedule of work for EVAs at the
International Space Station is being revised. The planned deploy-
ment of ARISSat-1 from the ISS is now being scheduled for either
Fall 2010 or early 2011 rather than Spring 2010.
This schedule adjustment also impacts when ARISSat-1 will be flown
to the Space Station with upload likely to take place sometime in
Summer 2010 rather than in January.
These revisions were made in response to new higher priority work
that must be done during the timeframe of the EVA that ARISSat-1
was originally scheduled in April 2010.
Overall, this revision helps ARISSat-1 because it provides additional
time for testing of the spacecraft. Furthermore, it also ensures
that the NASA Safety Review process for ARISSat-1 can be concluded
prior to shipment of the spacecraft to Russia.
The major items to complete for ARISSat are the IHU software, PSU
software, PSU testing and system testing. The structure is coming
together well and the team looks forward to providing an innovative
and reliable satellite this coming spring.
[ANS thanks Gould, WA4SXM for the above information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-354.06
Satellite Shorts From All Over
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 354.06
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
December 20, 2009
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-354.06
+ SSTV pictures received during the Moscow Aviation Institute
Experiment aboard the ISS on December 9 can be viewed in the
ARISS SSTV Gallery at: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/SSTV/
+ Congratulations to Jean-Marie, F2IL for 10,000 contacts via
AO-7. (Via Zeljko, 9A2EY)
+ On December 7 Juan Antonio, EA4CYQ had a contact with Piraja
PS8RF in Brazil via AO-7 Mode B. Signals were reported to sound
clear without any noise or distortion over the Atlantic Ocean.
+ AMSAT Area Coordinator for the Washington, D.C. - Maryland Areas,
Pat Kilroy, N8PK will kick off the planning for the next AMSAT-DC
gathering with a teleconference call on Thursday, January 7, 2010,
at 7:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time. Please RSVP for the telecon
directly to Patrick.L.Kilroy(a)nasa.gov, and he will forward the
meeting information to you.
+ A YouTube video showing how to make a VO-52 contact can be
viewed at: http://tinyurl.com/ydpc6ru
[ANS thanks everyone for the above information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-354.07
ESA and CNES to Fly Atomic Clock to ISS Columbus Module
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 354.07
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
December 20, 2009
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-354.07
The French space agency (CNES) and ESA have signed an agreement
that paves the way for the launch of a high-accuracy atomic clock
to be attached to the outside of the European Columbus laboratory
onboard the International Space Station (ISS).
The PHARAO (Projet d'Horloge Atomique par Refroidissement d'Atomes
en Orbite) atomic clock, which will be combined with another atomic
clock, the Space Hydrogen Maser (SHM), to form ESA's Atomic Clock
Ensemble in Space (ACES), will have an accuracy of 1x10-16, corres-
ponding to a time error of about one second over 300 million years.
This new generation of atomic clocks in space will be instrumental
in enabling accurate testing of Einstein's theory of general rela-
tivity. In addition, it will contribute to the accuracy and long-
term stability of global timescales, such as Coordinated Universal
Time (UTC). A dedicated microwave link will send the timing signal
to the ground.
The atomic clock is designed for launch in the unpressurised cargo
bay of the Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) or commercial SpaceX
carrier in the second half of 2013. Once in orbit, it will be attached
to Columbus' Earth-facing external payload platform using the Station
Robotic Arm.
(Via SpaceDaily.com, see http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/PHARAO_
Atomic_Clock_Agreement_Signed_By_ESA_And_CNES_999.html for full
story.)
[ANS thanks SpaceDaily.com for the above information]
/EX
In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the
President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors
to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional benefits.
Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office. And with that
please keep in mind that Santa's elves are actually subordinate Clauses.
73,
This week's ANS Editor,
JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM
K9JKM at amsat dot org
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-349.01
ANS Special Bulletin AMSAT China Says XW-1 Has Been Launched
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 349.01
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
December 15, 2009
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-349.01
China's 1st ever amateur radio satelite XW-1 is in space now!
AMSAT China reports it was launched at about around 0230 UTC on
December 15, 2009. The beacon was received in Sanya after launch.
XW-1 was a secondary payload aboard the CZ-4C rocket from Taiyuan
Satellite Launch Center into a sun-synchronous orbit about 1200
kilometers high. The primary payload of this launch is the Yaogen-8
Remote Sensing Satellite.
The preliminary keplerian elements for the satellite are:
XW-1
1 99999U 09349.11987269 .00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 00006
2 99999 100.4859 046.2958 0001760 147.4703 038.6343 13.15267150000017
The XW-1 communications payload includes a beacon and three cross
band transponders operating in FM, linear, and digital modes.
Here is a Spacecraft Summary:
Common Name: XW-1
Alternate Name: CAS-1
Satellite Type: Microsatellite
Launch Date: TBD
Launch Location: Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center of China
Launch Vehicle: CZ-2C(LM-2C) Rocket
Apogee: 1200km
Perigee: 1200km
Inclination: 105 degrees
Period: 109 minutes
Local time of descending node: 21:30
Weight: 50kg
Frequency Information
Mode V/U (J) FM Voice Repeater (30 dbm (1 w)):
Uplink: 145.8250 MHz FM, PL 67.0 Hz.
Downlink: 435.6750 MHz FM
Mode V/U (J) Linear Transponder (Inverting) (30 dbm (1 w)):
Uplink:145.9250 - 145.9750 MHz SSB/CW
Downlink:435.7650 - 435.7150 MHz SSB/CW
Mode V/U (J) PacSat BBS (30 dbm (1 w)):
Uplink:145.8250 MHz AFSK 1200 BPS
Downlink: 435.6750 MHz AFSK 1200 BPS
Mode Beacon (23 dbm (200mw)):
Downlink:435.7900 MHz CW
You can get XW-1 Telemetry Format at
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/documents/XW-1_Telemetry_Format.p…
Details of the XW-1 satellite are available at:
http://www.camsat.cn/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=56&Itemid…
[ANS thanks David Chen, BD5RV/4 and Alan Kung, BA1DU for the above information]
/EX
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-347
ANS is a free, weekly, news and information service of
AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation.
ANS reports on the activities of a worldwide group of
Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in
designing, building, launching and communicating through
analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites.
Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to:
ans-editor(a)amsat.org
In this edition:
* Faraday Medal for Professor Sir Martin Sweeting, G3YJO
* Satellite Shorts
* OSCAR 11 Notes
* ARISS Status - 7 December 2009
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-347.01
Faraday Medal for Professor Sir Martin Sweeting, G3YJO
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 347.01
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
December 13, 2009
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-347.01
Faraday Medal for Professor Sir Martin Sweeting, G3YJO
Professor Sir Martin Sweeting OBE FRS, G3YJO has been awarded
the Faraday Medal by the Institute of Engineering and
Technology, IET. The medal is awarded for notable scientific
or industrial achievement in engineering or for conspicuous
service rendered to the advancement of science, engineering
and technology. The citation said that Sweeting was awarded
the Medal for "his visionary leadership, satellite expertise,
ambition and drive, which among other things, brought the
overheads involved in space exploration, down to earth. Sir
Martin's work includes establishing the viability of the use
of small satellites for earth observation, communication and
navigation purposes and his founding of a company to design
and supply small satellites to organisations throughout the
world". G3YJO will be giving the 45th Appleton Lecture,
entitled Small Satellites - Big Future, on Tuesday 19
January at the IET's headquarters in London.
[ANS thanks Ray, W2RS, for the above information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-347.02
Satellite Shorts
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 347.02
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
December 13, 2009
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-347.02
ARISS Activity Reports
There has been confirmed reports of Packet activity on the ISS. Monitor for
it
If you can and would like to perform packet ops with the ISS.
SSTV signals are also planned for activity from the MAI-75 experiment. Most
Signals will be near Moscow coverage area, however, other coverage areas
could
be activated as well. 145.800 downlink should be monitored.
ISS SSTV Images Available On-Line
Cor PD0RKC has archived several ISS SSTV images from the December 10
operation in the ARISS SSTV gallery:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/SSTV/
[ANS thanks,Tony, VK5ZAI & Ken, N5VHO, for this information]
/EX
Hudson Valley SatCom Net
Stu WA2BSS invites all amateur radio operators to join the next
Hudson Valley SatCom net on Wednesday December 23 at 8PM EST (or
0100 UTC 12/24). The on-air portion of the meets on the 146.97
Mt.Beacon Repeater. Hams worldwide can "tune in" via EchoLink node
N2EYH-L. More info: http://www.wr2abb.org
This is a special time since the normal net meets every other
Thursday and Conflicts with Christmas Eve.
{Thanks to Stu, WA2BSS, for the above info]
RADIO POLITICS: IARU SAYS TO GET READY FOR WRC-12
The next World Radiocommunications Conference takes place in January of
2012 and ham radio is making ready to face any challenges that it might
bring to the service.
The International Amateur Radio Union's Secretary is Rod Stafford,
W6ROD. He says that every IARU member society capable of doing so, should
take the initiative to be in contact with their own telecommunications
administration and let the it know what the Union's position is on those
agenda items that influence the amateur radio service.
The most significant of these so far are the implementation of the
radiolocation service in the range 30 to 300 MHz; the possible allocations
in the range 3 to 50 MHz to the radiolocation service for oceanographic
radar applications and the effect of emissions from short-range devices.
Also likely to be discussed is a ham radio allocation of about 15 kHz in
parts of the band from 415 to 526.5 kHz. This, on a secondary basis and
taking into account the need to protect existing services. (Southgate)
[ANS thanks Southgate for the above information]
/EX
STRAIGHT KET NIGHT ON OSCAR 2010
AMSAT is inviting hams worldwide to participate in Straight Key Night on
OSCAR 2010. Taking part in this event is both fun and quite easy. Just
operate CW through any OSCAR satellite between 0000 and 2400 UTC
on January 1st 2010, using a straight hand key. There are no other rules,
no scoring and no need to send in a log.
In keeping with the friendly nature of this event, all participants are
encouraged to nominate someone they worked for "Best Fist" of those you
worked. Please send your nomination to w2rs(a)amsat.org. A list of those
nominated will appear in the Amsat News Service and will also be published
in the AMSAT Journal.
[ANS thanks Ray, W2RS for this info and for coordinating the SKN]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-347.03
OSCAR 11 Notes
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 347.03
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
December 13, 2009
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-347.03
OSCAR-11 Makes Another Appearance
Clive G3CWV noted that UO-11 switched on again on December 10 after
about 15 days of silence. Heard in early December, UO-11 had been
silent for over a year. Good signals were received during daylight
passes for two days.
Clive would be interested in knowing whether anyone heard it, or
listened and did not hear it, between 11:25 UTC 11 December and
08:26 UTC 12 December.
Based on previous observations, it's probably worth listening for
it again in 10 to 20 days time, between 22 December and 01 January.
[ANS Thanks Clive, G3CWV, For this information.]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-347.04
OSCAR 11 Notes
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 347.04
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
December 13, 2009
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-347.04
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station
(ARISS) Status Report December 7, 2009
1. Upcoming School Contact
An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS)
contact was scheduled with Scuola Primaria De Gasperi in
Noicattaro, Bari, Italy on Saturday, December 12 at 09:11 UTC.
Lesson plans have covered amateur radio communications and space
missions. Newspapers, radio and television, both local and
regional, will report on the event.
2. Astronaut Training Status - Simulated Contact Scheduled
A simulated Amateur Radio on the International Space Station
(ARISS) contact was planned for Tuesday, December 8 at
approximately 14:45 UTC. The contact took place between Deer
Creek Elementary School in Bailey, Colorado and astronaut Tracy
Caldwell, KF5DBF. Audio was available on IRLP (Internet Radio
Linking Project). The training session is a terrestrial-
based amateur radio contact using ARISS equivalent equipment.
3. Successful ARISS Contact with Utah School
On Wednesday, December 2, students from Midvalley Elementary
School in Midvale, Utah participated in an Amateur Radio on
the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with Jeffrey
Williams, KD5TVQ. The school prepared for the contact using
NASA lesson plan resources and integrated the ARISS activity
into the school curriculum at many grade levels. Children
learned about amateur radio, electromagnetic waves and the
ISS and even viewed IMAX Space Station video. Nineteen
questions were answered during the nine minute pass. Approximately
200 students were present for the contact and others
listened in from their classrooms. Dr. David Doty (the school
district superintendent), school board members and district
directors were also present. Two major Salt Lake City newspapers,
the Salt Lake Tribune and the Deseret Morning News as well as
Channel 4 (ABC) television, Fox 13 and the local community
newspaper all covered the event. This was the first ARISS
contact for Utah.
4. ARISS-Brazil on Twitter
ARISS-Brazil is promoting ARISS events on its new Twitter site.
It provides an excellent opportunity to better understand what
the ARISS education program is. The site is in Portuguese:
http://twitter.com/arissbrazil
An ARISS-US member has also been posting ISS amateur radio
related items to a Twitter site. See: http://twitter.com/RF2Space
[ANS thanks Carol, KB3LKI, for the above information]
/EX
73,
This week's ANS Editor,
Dee Interdonato, NB2F
nb2f at amsat dot org