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January 2015

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ANS-018 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Joseph Spier 22 Mar '15

22 Mar '15

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-018 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: * Fox-1A Launch Date * Most Current ISS Keps * NASA Cubesat Simulators Intern Opportunities Summer 2015 * AESP-14 CubeSat on ISS awaiting deployment * OGMS-SA CubeSat to provide FM Transponder * Call for Speakers and Papers for the 41st Eastern VHF/UHF/Microwave Conference * Dick Flagg, AH6NM, honored as Yasme Excellence Award Winner * Video of FUNcube-1 demonstration at IARU-R1 conference * AMSAT Events * ARISS News * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-018.01 ANS-018 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 018.01 >From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. DATE January 18, 2015 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-018.01 ----------------------------------------------------- ---------------- Fox-1A Launch Date AMSAT has received a launch date for the Fox-1A satellite. Fox-1A will be launched on August 27, 2015 on a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California on the NROL-55 flight for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. The launch time has not been announced. Fox-1A Operating Frequencies include: Uplink 435.180 MHz FM Downlink 145.980 MHz FM The AMSAT Fox series of satellites will include additional opportunities for launch during 2015-2016: + Fox-1B will fly with the Vanderbilt University radiation experiments expected in 2016. + Fox-1C* will launch on Spaceflight's maiden mission of the SHERPA multi-cubesat deployer during the 3rd quarter of 2015. + Fox-1D is a flight spare for Fox-1C. If not needed as a spare it will become available to launch on any open launch slot which becomes available and be submitted in a Cubesat Launch Initiative (CSLI) proposal in 2015. + Fox-1E is built as a flight spare for Fox-1B but has been included in a student science proposal as part of the November, 2014 CSLI for an ELaNa flight slot. If selected the Fox-1B spare will fly as Fox-1E. * The flight for Fox-1C has been purchased by AMSAT. It is not funded by the Cubesat Launch Initiative ELaNa program. Fund raising for the $125,000 launch costs for Fox-1C are underway. We have commissioned a unique challenge coin for donors who have contributed at the $100 level or higher. This challenge coin is shaped as an isometric view of a Fox-1 CubeSat, complete with details such as the stowed UHF antenna, solar cells, and camera lens viewport. Struck in 3mm thick brass, plated with antique silver, and finished in bright enamel, the coin is scaled to be approximately 1:4 scale, or 1 inch along each of the six sides. The reverse has the AMSAT Fox logo. You may donate at: + The AMSAT web site http://www.amsat.org + AMSAT's page on the FundRazr crowdsourcing web site http://fnd.us/c/6pz92/sh/561Zd + Or Call Martha at the AMSAT Office (888) 322-6728 [ANS thanks the Fox-1 Team for the above information] ---------------------------------------------------- ------------------ Most Current ISS Keps AMSAT has been working on updating the keps for the ISS in a more timely manner. Joe Fitzgerald has confirmed that the AMSAT keps download site is now updated with the latest ISS data. Here is his comment: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ftp/keps/current/nasabare.txt is updated daily at 11:18 UTC with TLE's from Spaceflight.nasa.gov http://tinyurl.com/ANS018-ISS-TRAJECTORY-DATA According to Joe Fitzgerald, "This is a very significant improvement and should be very helpful for this who need accurate keps for school contacts and other ISS activities." The bulletins remain on a weekly schedule with data from spacetrack.org The ARISS team suggests this information should be share accordingly. [ANS Thanks Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, and ARISS for the above information.] ----------------------------------------------- ----------------------- NASA Cubesat Simulators Intern Opportunities Summer 2015 CubeSat Simulator Intern Opportunities in Greenbelt, MD USA The NASA Goddard Space Flight Center is offering an internship position for the Summer 2015 semester. Applications are being taken on the NASA One Stop Shopping Initiative (OSSI) recruiting web site. To search, go to: https://intern.nasa.gov --> Student Opportunities --> Internships --> and you are brought to a page with tabs. The opening tab HOME describes the main ground rules and schedule. Click the SEARCH OPPORTUNITIES tab and scroll to the very bottom. Enter Keyword in the box: "cubesat" without the quotes, then click the Search and then you will get a growing list of opportunities including the Cubesat Simulator, Cubesat Groundstation, and PICetSat Module & PCB Development. This brings the student to this page: https://intern.nasa.gov/ossi/web/public/guest/searchOpps/ Again, the Internship Titles are: o CubeSat Simulator Upgrade Plus o CubeSat Ground Station Development o PICetSat Module & PCB Development The objective of this Opportunity is to allow a university level student to rework, repair and improve a prototype "1-Unit" CubeSat simulator/model on loan from AMSAT and then to share his or her experiences as a result. The model used in this Opportunity is similar to that described in The AMSAT Journal article "Education With a Satellite Simulator: ETP CubeSat Simulator," by Mr. Mark Spencer, ARRL Education and Technology Program Coordinator, Part 1 in the the September/October 2009 issue and Part 2 in the November/ December 2009 issue. Back copies are available at: http://www.arrl.org/files/file/ETP/CubeSat/CubeSat-Pt1-SepOct09.pdfhttp://w… A course of study in engineering is required. Electrical/Electronics Engineering (EE) or Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) for university students in their junior class or higher. Experience in hardware is also required. Open to U.S. citizens. The immediate skills required of the intern are to be a well-rounded individual, and to have an excellent knowledge of and experience with Windows operating systems, Microsoft Office (especially in using spreadsheets), electrical and electronic circuits (theory and practice), microcontrollers, interfacing, and the use of basic laboratory test equipment and procedures. Familiarity with the CubeSat community is important. A proficiency in either C++ or a similar language for microcontrollers and the desire to learn a new one is necessary. A basic understanding of data acquisition, signal processing, or control is required. Hands-on experience in building something, repairing or upgrading PCs or other electronic gear, or just getting stuff to work is required. Mechanical and electrical construction skills will be used. Experience in RF or wireless technology (anywhere between 3 and 2400 MHz) is very important. Holding or obtaining an Amateur Radio license from the FCC and practical radio experience is a distinct advantage. A good attitude, an exceptional willingness to learn and to contribute as a team player are essential qualities. Likewise, excellent communicator skills (verbal, writing and definitely e-mail), reliability, punctuality, having a self-starter work ethic and the ability & desire to work independently for long periods are required. You may ask questions regarding the tasks and skill requirements with the mentor in advance (Mr. Pat Kilroy, Code 568, Patrick.L.Kilroy(a)nasa.gov) and telephone interviews will be available. The student application instructions provide a deadline of March 1 to apply, but mentors will start evaluating applications as soon as next week. The word to the wise is to get one's application in ASAP and certainly within the next three weeks! Applications must be made via the OSSI web. Please Be sure to enclose your callsign. https://intern.nasa.gov/ossi/web/public/main/index.cfm?sola rAction= view&subAction=content&contentCode=HOME_PAGE_INTERNSHIPS [ANS thanks NASA and Pat, N8PK for the above information] ---------------------------------------------------- ----------------- OGMS-SA CubeSat to provide FM Transponder The AESP-14 is a 1U CubeSat developed by undergraduate and graduate engineering students at the Technology Institute of Aeronautics (ITA) in Brazil. The satellite’s primary mission is to test the various subsystems in the space environment. The satellite was sent to the International Space Station (ISS) on January 10 by the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch and it is now awaiting release into space by the JEM orbital deployer (J-SSOD) at the Kibo Japanese module. The satellite has an amateur radio experiment developed by the Americana Amateur Radio Club (CRAM). The experiment consists of the random transmission of 100 sequences of ASCII characters prefixed with the “CRAM” word that will used as part of a contest among receiving stations. The first 10 amateur radio stations that complete receiving the 100 sequences will be awarded a commemorative diploma. A web site is being developed to collect the sequences. The site address will be announced shortly. AESP-14 will transmit with an RF power of 500 mW on 437.600 MHz using the 9600 bps G3RUH modulation (GFSK) and AX.25 UI framing. Radio amateurs are encouraged to send any telemetry frames received back to the team. Telemetry format and more information will be published in the project web site http://www.aer.ita.br/~aesp14 An update bulletin will be released as soon as the final launch date is announced by NASA. [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK and Edson, PY2SDR for the above information] ---------------------------------------------------- ----------------- OGMS-SA CubeSat to provide FM Transponder OGMS-SA is a 3U CubeSat being developed by students at the Paris-Est Creteil University as part of the QB50 constellation. The purposes of this CubeSat include upper atmosphere science; radio communication experiments; technology demonstrator; education, training and outreach. Additionally it will provide an FM voice transponder for amateur use. Planning is to use VHF uplink and UHF downlink with 9k6 FX25 GMSK modulation. A downlink of 437.545 MHz has been coordinated. OGMS-SA CubeSat http://www.esep.pro/-CubeSat-OGMS-SA-En-construction-.html Source IARU Satellite Frequency Coordination http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru QB50 CubeSat Launch Contract Signed http://amsat-uk.org/2014/01/28/qb50-cubesat-launch-contract-signed / [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information] ---------------------------------------------------- ----------------- Call for Speakers and Papers for the 41st Eastern VHF/UHF/Microwave Conference Talks and papers, both long and short, are needed for the 41st Eastern VHF/UHF/Microwave Conference on April 17-19 2015 in Manchester, CT. Please tell us about what you have been working on: Operating, contesting, construction, homebrewing, microwaves. Please let Paul, W1GHZ, (w1ghz(a)arrl.net) know if you are considering a presentation or paper. A commitment by the end of February would be appreciated, with a deadline of 18 March. The conference organizers are also planning another Friday afternoon workshop. One suggestion is for an Antenna Modeling workshop. We could even do two simultaneous workshops - one for Antenna Modeling and something else for those who aren't computer-oriented. Any suggestions, please. Find additional details at http://www.newsvhf.com/vhfconf.html [ANS thanks Paul, W1GHZ for the above information] ---------------------------------------------------- ----------------- Dick Flagg, AH6NM, honored as Yasme Excellence Award Winner The Yasme Foundation Board of Directors has announced the recipients of several awards. The Foundation named four individuals to receive the Yasme Excellence Award for 2014. Honored as Yasme Excellence Award winners were: * Kimo Chun, KH7U, for 20 years of behind-the-scenes support to DXpeditions to Pacific entities -- including logistics, organization, equipment, local contacts, and planning. * Dick Flagg, AH6NM, for his years of working with the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program and its predecessor Shuttle Amateur Radio EXperiment (SAREX), and for supporting NASA's Radio Jove project, both designed to introduce Amateur Radio to students and the general public. * Florin Cristian Predescu, YO9CNU, and Lisa Leenders, PA2LS, for their work in organizing and promoting Youngsters on the Air (YOTA) and Amateur Radio youth activities. The Yasme Excellence Award is presented to individuals who, through their own service, creativity, effort, and dedication, have made a significant contribution to Amateur Radio in technical, operating, or organizational achievement. http://www.yasme.org/news_release/2014-01-07.pdf [ANS thanks ARRL Letter and YASME Foundation for the above information] ------------------------------------------- -------------------------- Video of FUNcube-1 demonstration at IARU-R1 conference Riaan Greeff ZS4PR has released a video of the demonstration of the FUNcube-1 (AO-73) CubeSat by Graham Shirville G3VZV to delegates at the IARU Region 1 Conference in September 2014. Mats SM6EAN has posted a brief report on the Swedish Amateur Radio Society (SSA) website about the FUNcube-1 CubeSat presentation at the IARU Region 1 General Conference in Varna-Albena, Bulgaria. The following is translated from the original Swedish post. After the session of the VHF, UHF and Microwave C5 Committee had completed the delegates were given two interesting presentations. Graham Shirville G3VZV did a poolside demonstration of the FUNcube-1 satellite which was launched in November 2013. Using a computer, FUNcube SDR dongle and a turnstile antenna, held by Kjetil Toresen LA8KV, he received FUNcube-1 and displayed the telemetry data on the computer screen. The satellite’s telemetry beacon on 145.935 MHz was also heard using a handheld SSB receiver. A presentation was also made about Hamnet which is being expanded, especially in Germany. Hamnet is a high-speed multimedia network and it was discussed whether and how IARU Region 1 could support the expansion of this network. Post by Mats SM6EAN in Swedish http://www.ssa.se/iaru-reg-1-dag-4/ FUNcube http://FUNc ube.org.uk/ FUNcube SDR Dongle http://FUNcubeDongle.com/ FUNcube Yahoo Group http://amsat-uk.org/funcube/yahoo-group/ Dashboard App – Telemetry Decoder http://funcube.org.uk/working-documents/funcube-telemetry-dashboa rd/ Data Warehouse – Telemetry Archive http://warehouse.funcube.org.uk/ Hamnet http://hamnetdb .net/ IARU Region 1 Conference documents and pictures http://iarur1con2014.bfra.bg/ [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information] ---------------------------------------------------- ----------------- 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). * Friday and Saturday, 16-17 January 2015 – Cowtown Hamfest in Forest Hill TX (south of Fort Worth) * Saturday, 14 February 2015 – presentation for the Greater Los Angeles Mensa Regional Gathering 2015 in Los Angeles CA (Concourse Hotel at Los Angeles International Airport) * Friday and Saturday, 20-21 February 2015 – Yuma Hamfest in Yuma AZ (Yuma County Fairgrounds, 32nd Street between Pacific Avenue & Avenue 3E, south of I-8 exit 3) * Saturday, 7 March 2015 – Irving Amateur Radio Club Hamfest in Irving TX (west of Dallas) * Friday and Saturday, 13-14 March 2015 – Green Country Hamfest in Claremore OK (northeast of Tulsa) * Friday and Saturday, 20-21 March 2015 – Acadiana Hamfest in Rayne LA (west of Lafayette) * Saturday, 21 March 2015 – Weatherford Hamfest in Weatherford TX (west of Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex) * Saturday, 21 March 2015 – Scottsdale Amateur Radio Club Hamfest in Scottsdale AZ (northeast of Phoenix, near AZ-101/Princess Drive) * Saturday, 28 March 2015 – Tucson Spring Hamfest in Tucson AZ (22nd Street, east of Columbus Blvd.) * Friday, 3 April 2015 – presentation for the Associated Radio Amateurs of Long Beach in Signal Hill CA (Signal Hill Community Center) * Saturday TBD in early May 2015 – Cochise Amateur Radio Association Hamfest in Sierra Vista AZ * Saturday TBD in early June 2015 – White Mountain Hamfest in Show Low AZ * Friday and Saturday, 12-13 June 2015 – HAM-COM in Irving TX (west of Dallas) * Friday and Saturday, 7-8 August 2015 – Austin Summerfest in Austin TX [ANS thanks AMSAT-NA for the above information] ---------------------------------------------------- ----------------- ARISS News + A direct contact with students at Richmond Heights Middle School and at BioTECH @ Richmond Heights High School in Miami, Florida, USA via W1HQL was successful Thu 2015-01-15 16:09:40 UTC 46 deg. Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, IZ0UDF answered 12 questions for an audience of 400 students. RICHMOND HEIGHTS MIDDLE SCHOOL Richmond Heights Middle School opened its doors in 1963 in the Richmond Heights community in southwest Miami, Florida. The now 50 year old school, is located in a historic African American Community. An army captain by the name of Frank C. Martin believed it to be a wise investment as well as the right thing to do to establish a housing development in which Black veterans of WWII could purchase their own home. There are currently 636 students and a teaching staff of 41 faculty members. Along with its exemplary athletics program, full time gifted program, and Cambridge program, Richmond Heights Middle School offers a Zoology Magnet program to the students of Miami Dade County Public Schools. This is an extremely unique magnet program that is one of only three in the nation. The zoology magnet is a result of a partnership with Zoo Miami, the Zoological Society of Florida and Richmond Heights Middle School. It has been in existence since 1988. Students have the unique opportunity to visit the zoo to study the animals within their exhibits while engaging in STEM fields of study. BIOTECH @ RICHMOND HEIGHTS 9-12 HIGH SCHOOL BioTECH @ Richmond Heights 9-12 High School is the only Conservation Biology public magnet high school is the United States and boasts three campuses: our educational center at Richmond Campus, our Research Station at Zoo Miami, and our Botanical Outpost at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. BioTECH provides students with a challenging and advanced level math and science curriculum focused on Conservation Biology that exposes them to rigorous STEM coursework as well as research opportunities with practicing scientists in state-of- the-art laboratories. In classes taken on-site at Zoo Miami, students study the human impact on biological diversity, making BioTECH the only school in the country to offer a full research and teaching facility within zoo grounds. Research experiences are offered in collaboration with the local zoo and the local research and botanic garden. BioTECH is currently home to 130 students that travel within the boundaries of a 467 square mile area to attend this unique school. The school opened its doors in August 2014 with a total of 8 faculty members, 7 support staff members, and an arsenal of practicing scientists and conservation educators from Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Zoo Miami, Zoological Society of Florida, Everglades National Park, The Dumond Conservancy, and Biscayne National Park. 1. How would astronauts combat disease, say an accidental infection by a Salmonella culture, given the increased virulence of microbes in space? 2. What kind of work is the crew doing in support of the future missions to Mars? 3. We have a 3D printer in our school. What are the future implications of having a 3D printer on-board? What types of prints will you create? 4. Does experiencing a sunrise/sunset every 90 minutes change your sleep/wake cycles? 5. Do you feel physical exhaustion in space at the end of your work day? How long is your work day? 6. Without gravity, how do plants, such as Arabidopsis, determine orientation germination? Geotropism what do roots do? Do plants on the ISS grow in all different directions? 7. Do you feel stressed on the space station? How do you cope with stress on a space station and does it have more or less of an effect on your immune system in space? Measure muscle conditioning? 8. How are astronaut diets altered to accommodate the changes to the digestive system in microgravity? 9. All work and no play can be boring. What do you do for fun up in space? 10. How do you keep from feeling trapped in the space station? 11. What role did your education play in becoming an astronaut? 12. Which teacher influenced you the most in your life and why? Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule + A direct contact with high school students at Japanese Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) headquarters in Shibuya, Japan in connection with their “Masakame” event is scheduled for Sat 2015-01-24 14:21:04 UTC 56 deg. Japan’s NHK is televising a regular science program “Masakame” for young people. ("Masakame" means Good Heavens.) They are planning to offer a special program around the ARISS contact, which will be video recorded, and Amateur Radio satellites on air on February 28. The following contacts with RSØISS: + A direct contact with students in Kursk, Russia scheduled for Wed 2014-12-24 has been postponed until January. + A direct contact with students in Kursk, Russia scheduled for Thu 2014-12-25 has been postponed until January. No additional information has been provided. [ANS thanks ARISS, Charlie AJ9N and David AA4KN for the above information] ------------------------------------------- -------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over 73 on 73 Award #7 - EA4AYW Congratulations to Jorge Gallardo Sanchez, EA4AYW, for becoming the seventh recipient of the 73 on 73 Award. He submitted a list of 73 stations worked via AO-73 between September 1, 2014 and January 9, 2015. For more information on the award see http://amsat-uk.org/funcube/73-on-73-award/ [ANS thanks Paul, N8HM 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 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

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ANS-025 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Lee McLamb 24 Jan '15

24 Jan '15

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-025 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: * Listen In To Radar Observations of Near-Earth Asteroid 2004 BL86 * SKN on OSCAR Best Fist Nominations Due * Upcoming ARISS Contact * Containerized Satellite Survey * Search for NASA Educational Resources With New Search Tool SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-025.01 ANS-025 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 025.01 From AMSAT HQ Kensington, MD. January 25, 2015 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-025.01 Listen In To Radar Observations of Near-Earth Asteroid 2004 BL86 On 2015 January 26, the near-Earth asteroid 2004 BL86 will pass within 0.008 AU of Earth (3.1 times as far away as the Moon). This will be the closest approach to Earth by this asteroid for at least the next 240 years. As part of an extensive campaign of radar observations to learn about BL86’s shape, spin state, and surface; and to refine knowledge of its trajectory; the Arecibo Observatory’s S-band planetary radar plans to illuminate the asteroid with a continuous-wave signal over 2015 January 27 03:45 – 04:00 UTC. Over that time, BL86’s radar echo will be received by elements of the Very Long Baseline Array and the Very Large Array in New Mexico. Anyone with an antenna and receiver capable of detecting the echo is welcome to listen in. BL86 will be above the horizon for most observers in North and South America, and for some parts of western Europe and western Africa. To readily detect its radar echo, observers should have an antenna with an effective collecting area of at least 10 square meters. BL86 will be moving rapidly across the sky. Over Jan 27 03:45 – 04:00, it will move by ~0.5º. The asteroid’s exact position on the sky will depend on where it is observed from as well as the time, but will be near (RA,Dec) = (130º,+17º). A current ephemeris can be obtained from JPL’s Horizons system: http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/?horizons. The Arecibo transmission will be tuned to give a nominal echo center frequency of exactly 2380 MHz at geocenter. Without correction for Earth’s rotation, BL86’s radar echo will appear as slowly-drifting and within 15 kHz of 2380 MHz. Predicted echo frequency as a function of time for a given location can be obtained on-request by emailing Michael Busch (mbusch(a)seti.org). We expect an echo bandwidth of 6 Hz or less. Details of the BL86 radar observing campaign at the Arecibo Observatory, NASA’s Goldstone Solar System Radar facility, and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory are available at: http://echo.jpl.nasa.gov/asteroids/2004BL86/2004BL86_planning.html. [ANS thanks JPL for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- SKN on OSCAR Best Fist Nominations Due Thanks to all who participated in AMSAT's Straight Key Night on OSCAR 2015. If you haven't already done so, please take a moment to nominate someone you worked for Best Fist. Your nominee need not have had the best fist of those you heard, only of those you worked. Send your nomination to w2rs(a)amsat.org [ANS thanks Ray, W2RS, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Upcoming ARISS Contact An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at Masakame" event, Shibuya, Japan on 24 Jan. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 14:21 UTC. The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be direct between NA1SS and JK1ZRW. The contact should be audible over Japan and adjacent areas. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in English. Japan Broadcasting Corp. (NHK) are televising a regular science program Masakame (means Good Heavens) for young people and their parents. Aa special program focusing ARISS program and Amateur radio satellites, etc. on 2015-02-28 on air, with video record of ARISS school contact. Members of contact are TV talent (who has a amateur radio license) and high school students (age 15 to 18). [ANS thanks David, AA4KN, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Containerized Satellite Survey Bungo Shiotani is a Ph.D. student working with Dr. Norman Fitz-Coy at the University of Florida. He is requesting your assistance with this survey to assess the potential impact that containerized satellite have on the debris population in low Earth orbit. The results will be used as part of his Ph.D. dissertation to create a statistical database and to quantify the growth of debris population. The hope is the outcome will increase the awareness to the community regarding the potential growth of debris population due to containerized satellites. Your identify will not be collected unless you choose to disclose it in the survey. Additionally, if you would like the results sent directly to you, please disclose your contact information when requested in the survey. Please respond to this survey by Friday, February 27th 2015. The survey should take less than 30 minutes to complete. Survey link: https://ufl.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_8CYyyDTFUGKHFbL Please forward this information to other members of the space community. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to contact: Bungo Shiotani Graduate Researcher bshiota(a)ufl.edu Dr. Norman Fitz-Coy Research Advisor nfc(a)ufl.edu [ANS thanks Bungo Shiotani for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Search for NASA Educational Resources With New Search Tool Are you looking for a lesson plan about the planet Jupiter? Do you need a poster with information about the Wright Brothers' first flight? Or maybe you're hunting for a website with information about NASA's deep space missions. NASA Education has a new tool to help you in your search! NASA's new Educational Resource Search Tool can help you find lesson plans, posters, educator guides and other materials to supplement your science, technology, engineering and mathematics curriculum. Search hundreds of resources by subject, grade level, type and keywords. To check out the new search tool and begin your educational resource hunt, visit http://www.nasa.gov/education/materials/ [ANS thanks the NASA Education Express Message -- Jan. 22, 2015 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 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, Lee McLamb, KU4OS ku4os at amsat dot org

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ANS-011 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by E.Mike McCardel 10 Jan '15

10 Jan '15

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-011 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: * Dayton to Host 2015 AMSAT Space Symposium Oct 16-18 * Space Station Crew Available for Interviews Live from Orbiting Laboratory * NASA History Program Office Summer and Fall 2015 Internships * Dariusz Dabek, SP9TTX Earns 6th 73 on 73 Award * Next US ARISS Contact Proposal Window opens February 15 * FUNcube-2 on UKube-1 - Jan 2015 update * SHIN-EN2 Designated as Fuji Oscar 82 * FOX Challenge Coins Still Available * ARISS News * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-011.01 ANS-011 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 011.01 >From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. DATE January 11, 2015 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-011.01 Dayton to Host 2015 AMSAT Space Symposium Oct 16-18 Mark Your Calendars !! AMSAT NA announces that the 2015 AMSAT Space Symposium will be held on Friday through Sunday, Oct 16, 17, 18, 2015 in Dayton, Ohio. Location will be at the Crowne Plaza , 33 East 5th Street, in Downtown, Dayton. The Crown Plaza is a 3.5 star Hotel which has been recently renovated. Some of the perks include + Free parking for attendees (with validation from the hotel). + Free transportation to and from the airport and within 5 miles of hotel for side trips. + Several restaurants are in close proximity and within walking distance. + Several alternate activities and attractions are in the Dayton area. Air Force Museum Mendelsons R&L, Historical Carillon Park America's Packard Museum Local PBS Station, Think TV + If you are staying longer in the Dayton area, there are several other points of interest close by. 2015 AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual Meeting The annual AMSAT Space Symposium features: + Space Symposium with Amateur Satellite Presentations + Operating Techniques, News, & Plans from the Amateur Satellite World + Board of Directors Meeting open to AMSAT members + Opportunities to Meet Board Members and Officers + AMSAT-NA Annual General Membership Meeting + Annual Banquet, Keynote Speaker and Door Prizes !! Several members from The Dayton Amateur Radio Assn as well as many other local clubs will be participating in helping with this event. Additional information about the 2015 AMSAT Symposium will be posted on the AMSAT web site, www.amsat.org, as it becomes available. [ANS thanks Steve Coy K8UD and the AMSAT Office for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Space Station Crew Available for Interviews Live from Orbiting Laboratory Crew members of Expedition 42, currently aboard the International Space Station, are available for live interviews with media and social media during their mission aboard the orbital laboratory. Space station commander Barry Wilmore and Flight Engineer Terry Virts of NASA and European Space Agency Flight Engineer Samantha Cristoforetti are on board the station along with their three Russian crewmates, performing scientific research, demonstrating technology and maintaining the complex. Interviews will be offered in windows of 10 minutes. Interview opportunities will be evaluated based on media audience size, and relevance to current station activities and individual astronauts aboard the space station. All three crewmembers may not be available for every interview. Interested media should contact Rob Navias at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston at rob.navias-1(a)nasa.gov and provide a two-hour window of availability between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday. The crew also is available for interactive, social media events that have the potential to reach significant audiences. All social media platforms will be considered, but interviewers must meet the same requirements as traditional media. No direct web connection to the space station is available for conducting social media interviews. To schedule a live social media interview, media should contact Megan Sumner at megan.c.sumner(a)nasa.gov, and provide a two-hour window of availability. Actual dates and times for each interview will be provided to approved media approximately two weeks before the interview date and are subject to change or cancellation based on operational activity aboard the station. Television clients will use NASA Television Media Channel 103 to conduct the interviews. Print, radio and internet media must conduct the interviews using a land-line telephone connection and have an additional telephone connection of any type for coordination. All interviews will be broadcast live on NASA TV. Further technical information will be provided to all media upon interview approval. The International Space Station is a convergence of science, technology and human innovation that demonstrates new technologies and makes research breakthroughs not possible on Earth. The space station has had continuous human occupation since November 2000. In that time, it has received more than 200 visitors and a variety of international and commercial spacecraft. The space station remains the springboard to NASA's next great leap in human space exploration. Satellite tuning information is available at: http://go.nasa.gov/1pOWUhR For information about the International Space Station, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/station Source NASA Media Advisory M15-005: http://tinyurl.com/ANS011-ISSinterviews [ANS thanks NASA for the above information]] --------------------------------------------------------------------- NASA History Program Office Summer and Fall 2015 Internships The NASA History Program Office is seeking undergraduate and graduate students for summer and fall 2015 internships. The History Program Office maintains archival materials to answer research questions from NASA personnel, journalists, scholars, students at all levels and others from around the world. The division also edits and publishes several books and monographs each year. It maintains a large number of websites on NASA history. Students of all majors are welcome to apply. While detailed prior knowledge of the aeronautics and space fields is not necessary, a keen interest and some basic familiarity with these topics are needed. Strong research, writing and editing skills are essential. Experience with social media is a plus. Intern projects are flexible. Typical projects include handling a variety of information requests, writing posts for the NASA history Twitter and Facebook pages, editing historical manuscripts, doing research and writing biographical sketches, and identifying and captioning photos. Applications for summer 2015 internships are due Feb. 1, 2015. Fall 2015 internship applications are due June 1, 2015. For more information, visit http://history.nasa.gov/interncall.htm. If you have questions about this opportunity, please contact Bill Barry at bill dot barry at nasa.gov. [ANS thanks NASA Education Express Message for Jan. 8, 2015 for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Dariusz Dabek, SP9TTX Earns 6th 73 on 73 Award Congratulations to Dariusz Dabek, SP9TTX, for becoming the sixth recipient of the 73 on 73 Award. He submitted a list of 78 stations worked via AO-73 between September 1, 2014 and January 3, 2015. Reviewing the recent log submissions for the award, it appears that the full time transponder activation over the holiday season attracted several new users to the satellite. Paul Stoetzer N8HM is sponsoring the award for contacts made via the AO-73 (FUNcube-1) amateur radio satellite. 1. Work 73 unique stations on AO-73. 2. Contacts must be made on or after September 1, 2014. 3. There are no geographic restrictions on your operating location. There will be no cost for this award (donations to AMSAT-UK and AMSAT-NA's Fox program are encouraged though). No QSL cards are required. When you complete the requirements, email your log extract including the callsign of each station worked, time GMT, and date to n8hm(a)arrl.net as well as the address where you'd like the award certificate sent. For more information on the award see http://amsat-uk.org/funcube/73-on-73-award/ [ANS thanks Paul Stoetzer N8HM for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Next US ARISS Contact Proposal Window opens February 15 The next call for proposals for US entities to host an ARISS contact is coming up in February, 2015. Call for Proposals Proposal Window February 15 - April 15, 2015 The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Program is seeking formal and informal education institutions and organizations, individually or working together, to host an Amateur Radio contact with a crew member on board the ISS. ARISS anticipates that the contact would be held between January 1, 2016 and June 30, 2016. Crew scheduling and ISS orbits will determine the exact contact dates. To maximize these radio contact opportunities, ARISS is looking for organizations that will draw large numbers of participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed education plan. The deadline to submit a proposal is April 15, 2015. The Opportunity Crew members aboard the International Space Station will participate in scheduled Amateur Radio contacts. These radio contacts are approximately 10 minutes in length and allow students and educators to interact with the astronauts through a question-and- answer session. An ARISS contact is a voice-only communication opportunity via Amateur Radio between astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the space station and classrooms and communities. ARISS contacts afford education audiences the opportunity to learn firsthand from astronauts what it is like to live and work in space and to learn about space research conducted on the ISS. Students also will have an opportunity to learn about satellite communication, wireless technology, and radio science. Because of the nature of human spaceflight and the complexity of scheduling activities aboard the ISS, organizations must demonstrate flexibility to accommodate changes in contact dates and times. Amateur Radio organizations around the world, NASA, and space agencies in Russia, Canada, Japan and Europe sponsor this educational opportunity by providing the equipment and operational support to enable direct communication between crew on the ISS and students around the world via Amateur Radio. In the US, the program is managed by AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) and ARRL (American Radio Relay League) in partnership with NASA. More Information Interested parties can find more information about the program at www.ariss.org and www.arrl.org/ARISS. More details on expectations, audience, proposal guidelines and proposal form, and dates and times of Information Sessions are available at http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact Please direct any questions to ariss(a)arrl.org. [ANS thanks ARISS for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- FUNcube-2 on UKube-1 - Jan 2015 update Limited testing of the FUNcube-2 435/145 MHz linear transponder on the UKube-1 spacecraft has been undertaken during the recent holiday period. This testing has shown that the transponder is able to work effectively and that it is capable of a similar performance to the transponder already operating on FUNcube-1. AMSAT-UK and the FUNcube team have now submitted a detailed report on the testing to the UK Space Agency, who are the owners and prime operators of the UKube-1 spacecraft. It is expected that a meeting will be held with them late January or early February to plan possible future testing and operations. Reception of UKube-1 FUNcube-2 Beacon http://tinyurl.com/ANS011-FuncubeBeacon [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- SHIN-EN2 Designated as Fuji Oscar 82 William A. (Bill) Tynan, W3XO, OSCAR Number Administrator has confered on SHIN-EN2 the designation Fuji OSCAR-82 or FO-82. In reply to Seiji Fukushima's, JH6RTO, request for an OSCAR number, Bill said, "I along with all in AMSAT-NA and the world's Amateur Radio satellite community congratulate you and all involved with Fuji OSCAR-82 and trust that it will fulfill all of its mission objectives. FO-82 joins an illustrious line of Fuji spacecraft built and launched by Japan." Shin-En2 is a 17 kg satellite measuring 490×490×475 mm built by students at Kagoshima University in Japan which will carry a 145 to 435 MHz linear transponder into a deep space orbit. The aims of the mission are: * To establish communication technologies with a long range as far as moon. * To establish a new technology of the ultra-light-weight satellite. Proposing a WSJT 29dBm UHF downlink and a 29dBm 20 kHz linear transponder and a CW beacon all on UHF with a VHF uplink for the transponder The orbit will be quite different from the previous satellites. Shin- En2 will have an elliptic orbit around the Sun and travel to a deep space orbit between Venus and Mars. Its inclination will be almost zero, which means Shin-En2 will stay in the Earth's equatorial plane. The distance from the Sun will be between 0.7 and 1.3 AU. An Astronomical Unit (AU) is 149,597,871 km. Shin-En2 IARU coordinated frequencies: * 437.505 MHz CW beacon * 437.385 MHz WSJT telemetry * Inverting SSB/CW transponder - 145.940-145.960 MHz uplink LSB - 435.280-435.260 MHz downlink USB Shin-En2 launched in the 4th quarter of 2014 with another amateur radio satellite, ARTSAT2:DESPATCH, on a H-IIA rocket with the asteroid explorer Hayabusa 2 as the main payload. Kagoshima University satellite development team http://tinyurl.com/Kagoshima-Satellite Shin-En2 English Website http://www.eee.kagoshima-u.ac.jp/~fuku-lab/sinen,english.html ARTSAT2:DESPATCH - Art and Ham Radio in Deep Space http://amsat-uk.org/2013/11/03/art-and-ham-radio-in-deep-space/ [ANS thanks AMSAT-NA and AMSAT-UK for the above Information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- FOX Challenge Coins Still Available It's a new year, and hopefully we have all recovered from the holidays. Here at AMSAT Fox fundraising HQ, we are busy packing up the new batch of coins that came in over the holidays, to ship to our generous donors. This year will see the launches of Fox-1A and -1C, both carrying university experiments and VHF/UHF ham radio repeaters. Help us keep ham radio in space with your donation and sharing our FundRazr link via social media. http://www.amsat.org/?p=3275 The Fox program is designed to provide a platform for university experiments in space, as well as provide FM repeater capability for radio amateurs worldwide. Fox-1A and 1C are set to launch in 2015, and Fox-1B (also known as RadFXSat) is awaiting NASA ELANA launch assignment. Further information on the Fox project can be found at http://www.amsat.org/?page_id=1113. [ANS thanks Drew KO4MA for the above Information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Successful ARISS Contacts with three Italian schools Contacts with 3 Italian schools Friday January 9, 2015 were successful. The events included students at Scuola Santa Teresa del Bambin Gesù, Roma, Italy, direct via IKØUSO, students at Istituto Salesiano Villa Sora, Frascati, Italy, direct via IWØCZC, and students at Scuola Pontificia Pio IX, Roma, Italy, via telebridge with IK1SLD. The contact was with Samantha Cristoforetti using the callsign IRØISS the contact began 10:14:09 UTC, which is 11:14:09 CEWT. The downlink was audible in Europe on 145.800MHz FM. Images of event taken at Scuola Pontificia Pio IX, Roma: https://www.flickr.com/gp/82104276@N02/xvhd78/ Audio of both contacts established per direct/telebridge today: http://www.amsat.it/audio/ARISS_January092015_1011UTC.mp3 http://www.amsat.it/audio/ARISS_January092015_1145UTC.mp3 Schools represented: Scuola Santa Teresa del Bambino Gesù The school "Santa Teresa del Bambino Gesù" is a catholic primary school in Rome, established to answer to the needs and demands for Catholic education by the local population. The school belongs to the Congregation of Missionary Carmelitane Sisters of Saint Therese of Jesus Child. The school is open to families that take care of the religious education and formation of their children. Preparation for the ISS radio contact has been underway for a long time, including educational projects on different scientific topics to support the special event. Istituto Salesiano Villa Sora Villa Sora is located on the side of the ancient Roman boulevard (now Via Tuscolana) in an area known as Tusculanus ager, which is full of sumptuous villas, including those of Cicero, Lucullus and Sulpicius Galba. This villa was built as a country house in the same grounds of Lucullus` villa in the mid-16th century and it was originally known as 'Torricella'. The earliest documentation of its history dates back to 1546, when the Chapel of Sancta Sanctorum of Rome owned the villa. The land currently measures over 6 acres and includes, in addition to the house and the school, a large park with several building lots. The school of Villa Sora has a notable historical tradition. Since 1925, it has a primary school and a liceo classico. The liceo scientifico was founded in 1966 and in 1986 its admission was opened to girls. In 1989, the middle school was created, and finally, in 2011, a new liceo economico sociale was founded. The middle school now has 200 students divided in three classes. The liceo classico has 180 students, the liceo scientifico 280 and the liceo economico sociale 80, for a total of 740 students. The space conversation was conducted in Italian. The following 20 questions were answered by Samantha Cristoforetti as well as greetings and wishes before LOS. This was amazing as Samantha responded very exhaustively and with many details. Translation: 1. The time of the re-entry into the atmosphere seems to be less evolved. There are studies underway to modify or change this stage? 2. How long does it take to arrive on the international space station? 3. What is the equipment of the astronaut during extra vehicular activity? 4. What kind of material is made the surface that covers the lower part of the spacecraft re-entry? 5. How many km / h you travel to reach the international space station? 6. The extra vehicular activities that you will do will umbilical or free? What goals and how they will be held? 7. How does the deceleration during re-entry? 8. The control of the flight on the Soyuz is automatic or are you a pilot? 9. How does the return to the international space station after an extra vehicular activity? 10. After take-off part of the missile is dispersed in space? 11. Which angle is formed between the trajectory of the spacecraft and the Earth's surface during re-entry? What are the risks an angle of re-entry is not correct? 12. Samantha, you are the first Italian woman to do extra vehicular activity. What are your feelings and what your concerns about it? 13. What happens to take off when passing through the Earth's atmosphere? 14. During the return to earth, how much gravitational force suffer the astronauts? 15. There is the possibility of accidents during extra vehicular activity? 16. When it takes off there is a lot of turbulence? 17. Why do astronauts after the mission should go in quarantine? What happens at the neurological level? 18. How do you prepare for extra vehicular activity? What is the training and simulations? 19. It was more exciting to enter into the international space station or the time of takeoff? 20. How do you manage to fit into a specific point on the earth, without risk to human life and the environment? ARISS is an international educational outreach program partnering the participating space agencies, NASA, Russian Space Agency, ESA, CNES, JAXA, and CSA, with the AMSAT and IARU organizations from participating countries. ARISS offers an opportunity for students to experience the excitement of Amateur Radio by talking directly with crewmembers onboard the International Space Station. Teachers, parents and communities see, first hand, how Amateur Radio and crewmembers on ISS can energize youngsters' interest in science, technology and learning. [ANS thanks Gaston ON4WF and Francesco IK0WGF, ARISS for the above information] ARISS News Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule Richmond Heights Middle School, Miami, FL, anticipates a direct contact via W1HQL, scheduled for Thursday 2015-01-15 16:09:40 UTC. Because this is a reschedule due to the delay of the SpaceX resupply mission timing depends on the the school confirming availability. As of press time, ARISS was still awaiting word of the confirmation. The downlink should be audible across the SE USA. The contact will be held in English and is scheduled to be with Samantha Cristoforetti IZØUDF using the callsign NA1SS. RICHMOND HEIGHTS MIDDLE SCHOOL Richmond Heights Middle School opened its doors in 1963 in the Richmond Heights community in southwest Miami, Florida. The now 50 year old school, is located in a historic African American Community. An army captain by the name of Frank C. Martin believed it to be a wise investment as well as the right thing to do to establish a housing development in which Black veterans of WWII could purchase their own home. There are currently 636 students and a teaching staff of 41 faculty members. Along with its exemplary athletics program, full time gifted program, and Cambridge program, Richmond Heights Middle School offers a Zoology Magnet program to the students of Miami Dade County Public Schools. This is an extremely unique magnet program that is one of only three in the nation. The zoology magnet is a result of a partnership with Zoo Miami, the Zoological Society of Florida and Richmond Heights Middle School. It has been in existence since 1988. Students have the unique opportunity to visit the zoo to study the animals within their exhibits while engaging in STEM fields of study. BIOTECH @ RICHMOND HEIGHTS 9-12 HIGH SCHOOL BioTECH @ Richmond Heights 9-12 High School is the only Conservation Biology public magnet high school is the United States and boasts three campuses: our educational center at Richmond Campus, our Research Station at Zoo Miami, and our Botanical Outpost at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. BioTECH provides students with a challenging and advanced level math and science curriculum focused on Conservation Biology that exposes them to rigorous STEM coursework as well as research opportunities with practicing scientists in state-of- the-art laboratories. In classes taken on-site at Zoo Miami, students study the human impact on biological diversity, making BioTECH the only school in the country to offer a full research and teaching facility within zoo grounds. Research experiences are offered in collaboration with the local zoo and the local research and botanic garden. BioTECH is currently home to 130 students that travel within the boundaries of a 467 square mile area to attend this unique school. The school opened its doors in August 2014 with a total of 8 faculty members, 7 support staff members, and an arsenal of practicing scientists and conservation educators from Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Zoo Miami, Zoological Society of Florida, Everglades National Park, The Dumond Conservancy, and Biscayne National Park. The following is the list of the anticipated questions: 1. How would astronauts combat disease, say an accidental infection by a Salmonella culture, given the increased virulence of microbes in space? 2. What kind of work is the crew doing in support of the future missions to Mars? 3. We have a 3D printer in our school. What are the future implications of having a 3D printer on-board? What types of prints will you create? 4. Does experiencing a sunrise/sunset every 90 minutes change your sleep/wake cycles? 5. Do you feel physical exhaustion in space at the end of your work day? How long is your work day? 6. Without gravity, how do plants, such as Arabidopsis, determine orientation germination? Geotropism what do roots do? Do plants on the ISS grow in all different directions? 7. Do you feel stressed on the space station? How do you cope with stress on a space station and does it have more or less of an effect on your immune system in space? Measure muscle conditioning? 8. How are astronaut diets altered to accommodate the changes to the digestive system in microgravity? 9. All work and no play can be boring. What do you do for fun up in space? 10. How do you keep from feeling trapped in the space station? 11. What role did your education play in becoming an astronaut? 12. Which teacher influenced you the most in your life and why? [ANS thanks ARISS for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + CQ To Combine Jan/Feb 2015 Issues (Hicksville, NY, January 9, 2015) -- CQ magazine today announced that it will be publishing a combined January/February 2015 issue and will be ceasing publication of its "CQ Plus" digital edition supplement as of the March 2015 issue. Both moves are intended to help restore the magazine's normal schedule for its print edition and to strengthen its foundations moving forward as it enters its eighth decade of publication, said Publisher Dick Ross, K2MGA. "These decisions were not made lightly," he added, "but in recognition of the realities of the publishing industry. It's a tough time to be in the magazine business, and we appreciate the patience and loyalty of both our readers and our advertisers." CQ will continue to publish both print and digital editions, but the digital edition will no longer contain the 50-60 additional pages each month that constituted "CQ Plus." Editor Rich Moseson, W2VU, noted that he hopes to include some former CQ Plus content within the pages of CQ, but says ham radio will remain the magazine's primary focus, as it has been for the past seven decades. CQ is marking its 70th anniversary of publication as of its January/February issue. As a consequence of the changes, CQ Plus Editor Richard Fisher, KI6SN, will be leaving the CQ staff after serving for many years as a columnist for, and then as editor of, Popular Communications, WorldRadio Online and CQ Plus. He was also CQ magazine's Emergency Communications Editor. "We will miss Richard's many contributions to CQ's products," noted Moseson, "and thank him for his many years of service to our readers." Subscribers to both the print and digital editions of CQ will have their subscriptions extended by one month due to the combined January/February issue. CQ <www.cq-amateur-radio.com> is the world's leading independent amateur radio magazine, serving the amateur radio community worldwide since 1945. It is published in three languages (English, Spanish and Portuguese) and in both print and digital formats. [ANS thanks Rich Moseson, W2VU, CQ Magazine 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 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, EMike McCardel, KC8YLD kc8yld at amsat dot org

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ANS-004 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Lee McLamb 04 Jan '15

04 Jan '15

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-004 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: * W5PFG/P Northern Maine Grid Expedition * Opportunities to Help at AMSAT User Services * Design The Next AMSAT Satellite! * 73 on 73 Award #5 - EC4TR * Geosynchronous Es'hail-2 with Amateur Payload Contracted for 2016 Launch * DESPATCH FO-81 Concludes Operations SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-004.01 ANS-004 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 004.01 From AMSAT HQ Kensington, MD. January 4, 2015 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-004.01 W5PFG/P Northern Maine Grid Expedition Weather permitting, a grid expedition to northern Maine will begin Saturday, January 10, 2015. Planned grids will be: FN53-54, FN57, FN65-67. The plan is to try to operate as many satellite passes and gridlines as possible in the same fashion as AC0RA's March 2014 trip. The trip will end up in FN42 by Sunday, January 11 evening. Twitter via @w5pfg will be the primary form of communications with follow-up afterwards with some pictures at www.w5pfg.us. [ANS thanks Clayton, W5PFG, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Opportunities to Help at AMSAT User Services AMSAT's User Services Department is recruiting for several volunteer positions to augment our dedicated and elite staff! The User Services Department provides support in several areas including: + AMSAT News Service + The AMSAT Journal magazine + AMSAT's web presence at www.amsat.org The AMSAT News Service ----------------------- We need two or more volunteers to step forward who can dedicate time on a rotating shift of news editors. The AMSAT News Service (ANS) sends out a weekly news bulletin of everything of interest to amateur radio in space. The entire ANS crew (currently 3 editors) helps round up the news and each ANS editor takes a week as editor to compile the week's ANS bulletins. We'll get you into the bulletin rotation and you'll take your turn as the ANS editor this week. The AMSAT Journal Magazine -------------------------- We need two or more volunteers who can help compile one of AMSAT's key membership benefits ... The AMSAT Journal Magazine. An assistant editor is needed to help our existing team of editors (currently 3) to locate articles and establish contact with potential authors. All you need is an eye for articles of interest to amateur radio in space. You'll compile input from AMSAT HQ, volunteer authors, and amateur radio news sources into articles for publication in our bi-monthly magazine. We also need one volunteer who is capable of assuming the position of editor-in-chief of the AMSAT Journal. You'll help develop article sources and using AMSAT provided software and templates compile the 32-page magazine for six issues per year. Our publishing system is the Adobe InDesign CS6 package. This can be learned quickly by any computer literate ham. InDesign is MS-Word on steroids. AMSAT's Web Presence -------------------- Help is needed on the front to locate and publish up to date content for the AMSAT web. We publish late breaking news of amateur radio in space. We also publish reference information to help operate on the satellites ... software, radios, antennas, operating techniques. Web content containing late-breaking operating news and reliable operator tips currently has several gaps needing to be filled. Our WordPress environment makes the web display easy but you'll be spending your volunteer time on the content. This is a job for 5 or more volunteers and needs to be filled immediately! AMSAT also is looking for a webmaster who will assume responsibility for the display of all content in a WordPress environment. The basic framework is in place but can definitely stand to be fine tuned and made into a world class display of amateur radio in space. For most hams on-line www.amsat.org is our "front door" and we are looking for the most capable help on this important user interface! Our team is the "voice of AMSAT". News, operator tips, and membership benefits are important products for AMSAT User Services. For questions or to volunteer please contact AMSAT's Vice President of User Services, JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM at k9jkm(a)amsat.org [ANS thanks AMSAT Vice President of User Services, JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Design The Next AMSAT Satellite! At the 2014 AMSAT Space Symposium AMSAT Vice President - Engineering Jerry Buxton announced the plan for the next generation of AMSAT satellites. "The door is open for everyone, to submit their ideas. AMSAT Engineering has a long term strategy and this is the first step." The Engineering long term strategy includes the following goals: - Advancement of amateur radio satellite technical and communications skills - Enhance international goodwill - Grow and sustain a skilled pool of amateur radio satellite engineers - Establish and maintain partnerships with educational institutions - Develop a means to use hardware common to all opportunities With respect to the last goal Jerry said "Within the bounds of the type of satellite it takes to achieve any of the various orbit opportunities, let's consider in those plans the possibility of developing a platform that can suit any and all orbits. Perhaps a modular CubeSat, using a common bus as we did in Fox-1, which gives great flexibility in building and flying different sizes and configurations of CubeSats with simple common-design hardware changes." Submissions should be thorough and contain the following information. The purpose of the proposal is not just in suggesting an idea; being an all-volunteer team AMSAT needs your help in carrying out the idea. Design Implementation - CubeSat platform Estimated timeline Cost - volunteer resources, commercial (COTS) units Launch - how does it get to orbit Strategy - how it fits into AMSAT's Engineering long term strategy As mentioned above the idea should be based on the CubeSat platform. This is the standard through which we will look for launches in the foreseeable future. In considering your proposal, Jerry encourages you to contact him for more details on the criteria. A guidebook to the criteria is now available for download here. In particular, if you plan to include a university as a partner to provide experiments or other support and you are not representing that university, please contact Jerry for assistance in working with our existing partners or establishing a new partnership. "Being amateur radio operators, it is easy for us to fall into a particular trap because of our history of communicating with other amateurs throughout the world" says Jerry. "Specifically, most people who are not already involved in the world of satellite technology are unaware of or simply overlook the provisions of the current ITAR and soon to be EAR export rules particularly with regard to deemed exports which requires governmental permission to discuss satellite projects with foreign nationals." While all amateurs are invited to submit ideas, U.S. amateurs must take particular care of they choose to become involved in a collaboration which includes individuals from other countries. It is permissible to receive ideas and proposals from outside the U.S., but it is not permitted for U.S. Persons to export or share design ideas with other countries unless they have taken the proper steps to insure compliance with ITAR and deemed export rules. Additionally, those wishing to work on proposals should use care in presenting themselves in their contacts. While the goal is for AMSAT to build and launch the satellite, it is not an AMSAT project until it is accepted by the AMSAT Board of Directors. It is acceptable to represent yourself as members of a project team that plans to submit a proposal to AMSAT for a future satellite project, as the AMSAT name is well known. "It is not our intention that ideas be submitted to AMSAT-NA which would be more appropriately handled by an AMSAT organization in a country where AMSAT is established. AMSAT-NA is seeking ideas from amateurs in North America and will certainly consider ideas from amateurs in countries which do not have an established AMSAT organization or relationships with an existing AMSAT organization." The deadline for submissions is May 30, 2015. After the submission date the ideas will be screened for completeness and then reviewed by a board consisting of the AMSAT Engineering Team, AMSAT Senior Officer and Board of Directors representatives, and aerospace industry members. The review board may modify or consolidate ideas and will consider which meet the criteria to become a project based on feasibility, cost, and the ability to bring value to the amateur satellite community. The review process is expected to be completed in September 2015. For those ideas selected to become a project which satisfy the requirements for an ELaNa launch, the idea authors will be asked to work with the AMSAT Engineering Team on an ELaNa proposal. The Engineering Team will then work on the details of execution for the selected project(s) and present a proposal to the AMSAT Board of Directors in October 2015 for final approval to begin work. Once approved, any ELaNa proposals will be submitted in November 2015 and the project(s) will move forward. Now is the time for YOU to begin working on the next AMSAT satellite! [ANS thanks Jerry, N0JY, for the above information --------------------------------------------------------------------- 73 on 73 Award #5 - EC4TR Congratulations to Jose Luis Peña Sanchez, EC4TR, for becoming the fifth recipient of the 73 on 73 Award. He submitted a list of 73 stations worked via AO-73 between September 1, 2014 and December 31, 2014. For more information on the award see http://amsat-uk.org/funcube/73-on-73-award/ [ANS thanks Paul, N8HM, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Geosynchronous Es'hail-2 with Amateur Payload Contracted for 2016 Launch The new satellite will be positioned at 26° East. In September 2014, a contract with MELCO was signed to build the satellite based on the DS-2000 bus. In December 2014, a launch contract was signed with SpaceX to launch the satellite on a Falcon-9 v1.1 booster in late 2016. Es'hail 2 will also provide the first Amateur Radio geostationary communication capability linking Brazil and India. It will carry two "Phase 4" Amateur Radio transponders. The payload will consist of a 250 kHz linear transponder intended for conventional analogue operations in addition to another transponder which will have an 8 MHz bandwidth. The latter transponder is intended for experimental digital modulation schemes and DVB amateur television. The uplinks will be in the 2.400-2.450 GHz and the downlinks in the 10.450-10.500 GHz amateur satellite service allocations. Both transponders will have broad beam antennas to provide full coverage over about third of the earth’s surface. The Qatar Amateur Radio Society and Qatar Satellite Company are cooperating on the amateur radio project. AMSAT-DL is providing technical support to the project. [ANS thanks Gunter Krebs for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- DESPATCH FO-81 Concludes Operations The following update was provided by Akihiro Kubota. One month has past since Deep Space Sculpture "ARTSAT2:DESPATCH(FO-81)" was put into an Earth-escape orbit as a piggyback payload of H-IIA F26 launched at December 3, 2014 from Tanegashima Space Center, JAXA. It is estimated to have stopped sending radio waves since the battery of DESPATCH already ran out (We predicted that the battery will work for 27 days according to the running time of the transmitter). Today January 3, the main control station, Tama Art University Ground Station, decided to conclude the operation of DESPATCH. Many people supported and cooperated us throughout the design and development of DESPATCH. In addition, many excellent many ham radio operator received and reported super weak radio waves of DESPATCH from deep space. To have this opportunity, I would like once again to thank all of them very much. Reception reports of DESPATCH are summarized on the following page. Reception Reports https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1WP- FzXHe8axAzNy44SGbKpJqIRKWHAcIP9vXnaHMb6g/edit#gid=0 Finally, we had two reception reports at 4.7 million kilo-meters from the Earth (more than 12 times of the distance to the Moon). They were far beyond what we expected. They are the the longest communication distance in the world between two amateur radio stations. Orbital elements of DESPATCH is as follows (J2000 heliocentric ecliptic coordinates). - Semi-major axis a : 1.003881127 [AU] - Eccentricity e : 0.08741828512 - Inclination i : 6.796995362 [deg] - Argument of perihelion w : 96.90057903 [deg] - Longitude of the ascending node W : 250.5520871 [deg] - Mean anomaly at epoch M : 101.6280436 [deg] - Epoch : 2457023.50000 [JD] (Time of perihelion : 2456919.7870655278675 [JD]) cf. Orbital elements of EARTH : http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/factsheet/earthfact.html Celestial sphere position and orbital trajectory of DESPATCH can be checked anytime on the following web pages. - Celestial Sphere http://artsat.jp/project/despatch/celestial - Orbital Position http://artsat.jp/project/despatch/orbit Transmission of the radio wave from DESPATCH has ended. However, the life of DESPATCH as a sculpture around the sun is almost eternal. We calculated the orbit (the distance from the Earth) of DESPATCH for 500 years from now. http://artsat.jp/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/500years.png http://artsat.jp/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/500years_large.png DESPATCH will continue to orbit around the sun as an artificial asteroid. By examining the calculated results for the local minimum value of the distance between the Earth, DESPATCH will approaches to less than 1 million km from Earth after about 350 years. Possibly it will approach more closer to the Earth due to the interaction with unpredictable other celestial bodies. We are glad if you think of DESPATCH as the most distant artwork in the world sometimes in the future. ARTSAT project will continue to the future. We already started the conceptual design of next ARTSAT3. We kindly ask for your continuous support and cooperation for the project. [ANS thanks Akihiro Kubota 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 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, Lee McLamb, KU4OS ku4os at amsat dot org

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