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December 2016

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ANS-360 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Joseph Spier 24 Dec '16

24 Dec '16

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-360 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-1Cliff and Fox-1D launch now likely 2Q 2017 * AMSAT CW Activity Day * STARS-C reports requested * Extra - Extra - Read all about it - LVB Tracker * BY70-1 2U CubeSat Scheduled for Launch 01/08/201 * Pratham student satellite returns to life * FUNcube Transponders Info * AMSAT Events * ARISS News * Satellite Shorts from All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-360.01 ANS-360 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 360.01 >From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. DATE December 25, 2016 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-360.01 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Fox-1Cliff and Fox-1D launch now likely 2Q 2017 AMSAT Vice President Engineering Jerry Buxton said that because of the delays SpaceX has experienced following their September 1 anomaly, it is likely that the launch of the Fox-1Cliff and Fox-1D CubeSats will be no earlier than the second quarter of 2017. The two Fox-1 CubeSats will be carried to orbit in the Spaceflight Sherpa platform on a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch from Vandenberg AFB. The last period set for our launch would have closed November 30 of this year but was delayed due to the anomaly. The new launch period is not yet set but SpaceX expects to return to flight with their Iridium-1 launch in early January, 2017. Based on that expectation, we are looking forward to a 2Q 2017 launch of Fox-1Cliff and Fox-1D. [ANS thanks Jerry Buxton, NØJY, AMSAT Vice President for Engineering for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT CW Activity Day January 1, 2017 (UTC) will be AMSAT's first annual CW Activity Day! As with the old Straight Key Night, this is a fun event, not a contest. It will run for 24 hours on January 1, 2017 (UTC). All forms of CW are welcome, -- straight keys, bugs, keyers, even keyboards and decoders. Since it is not a contest, there is no required exchange. A QSO is a QSO. Working the same station on more than one satellite is permitted. Instead of submitting Best Fist nominations, all participants are asked to post their results, including "Soapbox" comments, to AMSAT- BB. Please include the satellites you used, and the number of CW QSOs you had on each. While it is not necessary to post your full log, you may do so if you wish. [ANS thanks Ray W2RS for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- STARS-C reports requested A group here in Huntsville is attempting to help the STARS-C team collect signal reports and data from the STARS-C satellite recently launch from the ISS. The team will filter the data and forward it to the STARS-C team at Shizuoka University in Japan. A NASA colleague received an email from Professor Yoshiki Yamagiwa, an engineering professor at Shizuoka University in Japan, requesting help listening for signals from a pair of CubeSats recently released from ISS. University orbiter set to lift space elevator technology The Asahi Shimbun http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201607060005.html provides overview information about the STARS-C (Space Tethered Autonomous Robotic Satellite-Cube). The basic configuration is two 1U satellites, a mother and a daughter, connected by a tether. Our understanding is that the STARS-C team is trying to receive the CW beacons as part of the first step of their operations, but their signals they're getting are too weak for data analysis, especially from the daughter satellite. They're reaching out to ham operators and ground stations at universities, and would appreciate reports on CW data received. Orbit and frequency info for the satellites: 19 Dec 2016 18:19:55 J-SSOD#5 Satellite Name: STARS-C Time: (UTCG) 19 Dec 2016 08:50:19.273 Semi-major Axis (km) 6785.004 Eccentricity 0.0009020 Inclination (deg) 51.6492 RAAN (deg) 214.6791 Arg of Perigee (deg) 33.9061 Mean Anomaly (deg) 293.7118 (*1) True of Date Coordinate System, Osculating Orbit # Mother satellite: CW 437.245MHz, FM downlinks 437.405MHz # Daughter satellite: CW 437.255MHz, FM downlinks 437.425MHz Details of the telemetry format are at http://www.ipc.shizuoka.ac.jp/~vk127139/download/Telemetry%20Format.pdf http://www.ipc.shizuoka.ac.jp/%7Evk127139/download/Telemetry%20Format.pdf The STARS-C team will appreciate any info that reaches your ears, automated receivers, or whatever! For additional information here is a link from the AMSAT UK group: https://amsat-uk.org/2016/11/08/jaxa-iss-ham-radio-cubesats/ Please email all reports with date and time directly to scotty.collect(a)gmail.com You can see the deployment on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOseY2mE5LY I hope you will like it though it is in Japanese. JAXA announced another 6 CubeSats transported to ISS by HTV-6 will deploy in January 2017. [ANS thanks Tim, N8DEU for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Extra - Extra - Read all about it The AMSAT On-Line Store has been stocked with LVB Tracker Complete. A limited number are available. Shipments will not go out until after Christmas due to long lines at the post office and the labor contract of the elves at the AMSAT Office. There is no choice in the color of the LED, some are Blue and some are Amber. You get what is in the box when shipped. Do not forget, these make great after Christmas, Kwanzaa, New Year, birthday, or just because, presents for that special ham (or yourself - we know that's what you really wanted). [ANS thanks Bruce KK5DO for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- BY70-1 2U CubeSat Scheduled for Launch 12/26/2016 BY70-1 is a 2U CubeSat project led by China Center for Aerospace Science and Technology International Communications for school education and amateur radio. The amateur radio station onboard will provide telecommand, telemetry and FM repeater functions. The spacecraft will be 3 axis stabilized and have deployable solar panels. Proposing a V/U transponder and requesting a 436.2MHz downlink and a 145.920 MHz uplink, this satellite has been IARU coordinated. It was planned to launch from Jiuquan on Dec 26th 2016 into a 530km circular SSO. The launch has now been rumored to be delayed due to weather. More info at http://english.spacechina.com/n16421/index.html [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Pratham student satellite returns to life The Mumbai Mirror reports on the return to life of the Pratham satellite launched on September 26, 2016. Pratham carries an amateur radio payload and was built by students at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B). The newspaper says: After one month of radio silence, the ground station at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, received a signal from Pratham satellite on the morning of December 17, suggesting that it was still alive and kicking. Pratham is the first satellite to be sent into space by an IIT. The satellite had received signals in the first few weeks after its launch on September 26, this year, but had gone quiet in November, due to technical difficulties, causing team members to worry if it was still operational. “The fact that we received a signal on Saturday suggests that the satellite has now stabilized and is back to collecting data,” said Ratnesh Mishra, project manager of Pratham. While Mishra says that the incoming signal means that the satellite is functional, data transfer is yet to take place. Read the full article at http://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/mumbai/other/IIT-Bs-satellite-gets-a-sig… -from-space/articleshow/56075162.cms Pratham info https://amsat-uk.org/2016/09/07/pratham-student-satellite/ https://amsat-uk.org/2016/12/20/pratham-returns-to-life/ [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- FUNcube Transponders Info AO-73 has just changed into continuous transponder mode. Plan is to switch back to auto mode on Sunday 8 Jan 2017 pm UTC. This will give a long opportunity for transponder operations over the Holidays. Pls see below for FUNcube transponder info Have FUN with the transponder. All the best for the holiday season, and for 2017 AO-73 FUNcube-1 The transponder is normally operational only when the satellite is in eclipse, ie the solar panels are NOT being illuminated. During weekends (from pm Fridays UTC to PM Sundays UTC) the transponder is operational 24/7. When the transponder is switched off, the telemetry beacon is on full power, when the transponder is on the beacon it is on low power. During holidays, eg Christmas, New Year, Easter, etc, the transponder maybe activated for extended periods. Watch AMSAT-BB for announcements which are usually made on Friday evenings (UTC) The nominal transponder frequencies are: Uplink: 435.150 - 435.130 MHz LSB (Inverting) Downlink: 145.950 - 145.970 MHz USB Telemetry Tx: 145.935 MHz BPSK (The passband may be up to 15kHz higher depending on on-board temps. Low temperatures give higher freqs!) FUNcube-2 aka FUNcube on UKube The FUNcube-2 sub-system continues to operate autonomously and, almost continuously, in amateur mode. The transponder is operational and the telemetry downlink is functioning with about 70mW output. The FUNcube-1 Dashboard does not correctly display the telemetry but it does correctly decode the data and uploads it to the FUNcube Data Warehouse from where it can be examined. Most of the real time data channels are operational and these include battery voltages, temperatures and ADCS data coming via the main On Board Computer (OBC). The transponder is interrupted for a few seconds every 2 minutes when the other transmitter sends its CW beacon and, occasionally, for a few seconds when the main OBC reboots (approx seven times each orbit). The nominal transponder frequencies are: Uplink: 435.080 - 435.060 MHz LSB (Inverting) Downlink: 145.930 - 145.950 MHz USB Telemetry Tx: 145.915 MHz BPSK (The passband may be up to 10kHz higher depending on on-board temps. Low temperatures give higher freqs!) EO79 FUNcube-3 Due to power budget constraints the transponder cannot be operational 24/7 and an orbit specific schedule has been developed. The transponder will commence operation 27 minutes after the spacecraft enters sunlight and will stay on for a period of 25 minutes. This schedule may be modified in future months as a result of experience. The nominal transponder frequencies are: Uplink: 435.077-435.047 MHz LSB (Inverting) Downlink: 145.935-145.965 MHz USB All FUNcube transponders are sponsored by AMSAT-UK and AMSAT-NL. We are very grateful for the assistance given by Innovative Solution In Space Bv, The Netherlands. [ANS thanks Jim, G3WGM and the FUNcube team 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). *Sunday, 8 January 2017 – Ham Radio University in Bethpage, NY *Saturday, 14 January 2017 – Thunderbird Hamfest 2017 in Phoenix AZ *Thursday, 26 January 2017 – presentation for Arizona Repeater Association in Tempe AZ *Saturday, 4 February 2017 – Palm Springs Hamfest in Palm Springs CA *Friday-Sunday, 10-12 February 2017 Orlando HamCation in Orlando, FL *Friday and Saturday, 17-18 February 2017 – Yuma Hamfest in Yuma AZ *Friday-Sunday, March 31, April 1 & 2, 2017, NVCON in Las Vegas, NV [ANS thanks AMSAT-NA for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS News Successful Contacts * Maristes High School, Toulouse, France, direct via F8IDR The ISS callsign was scheduled to be FXØISS The scheduled astronaut was Thomas Pesquet KG5FYG Contact was successful: Mon 2016-12-12 13:29:47 UTC * A direct contact with students at The Communication College Of Vologda and Information Technologies, in Vologda, Russia, was successful Tue 2016-12-13. * Scuola Secondaria di Primo Grado “Niccolò Pisano”, Marina di Pisa, Italy, telebridge via IK1SLD The ISS callsign was scheduled to be OR4ISS The scheduled astronaut was Shane Kimbrough KE5HOD Contact was successful: Sat 2016-12-17 12:23:31 UTC * Ecole Communale de Saint Sylvestre, Saint Sylvestre, France, direct via IK1SLD The ISS callsign was scheduled to be OR4ISS The scheduled astronaut was Thomas Pesquet KG5FYG Contact was successful: Wed 2016-12-21 13:46:38 UTC 29 deg Very good contact between the school Nelson Mandela / St Sylvestre and Thomas Pesquet this afternoon. All 20 questions answered plus 2 spare minutes for congratulations and applause. Very clear audio all the way long Thanks to Claudio / IK1SLD who made a great job. Reported more than 300 people present in the gymnasium, with: 1 regional TV (France 3) 1 regional radio (France Bleu) 3 local Radios (Alouette FM, Beaub FM, Flash FM) 2 newspapers (Le Populaire du Centre, l'Echo du Centre) Live audio streaming on Beaub FM web site Upcoming Contacts * Primary School Georges Wallers, Saint-Amand-les-Eaux (59), France, Direct via F4KJV The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be FXØISS The scheduled astronaut is Thomas Pesquet KG5FYG Contact is a go for: Sat 2016-12-31 11:31:12 UTC 44 deg Watch http://www.ariss.org/upcoming-contacts.html for information about upcoming contacts as they are scheduled. [ANS thanks ARISS and Charlie, AJ9N for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over Best Wishes for the Holidays and the New Year All the editors at the AMSAT News Service wish to extend to you and yours the best wishes this holiday season and great success in the New Year. May your launches be high, your birds sing true, and have life beyond their years. [ANS thanks Joe, Lee, and EMike 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-353 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Lee McLamb 17 Dec '16

17 Dec '16

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-353 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: * Gould Smith, WA4SXM appointed Director-Field Operations * AO-73/FUNcube Holiday Transponder Operation * HM85 Christmas Weekend Operation * 18 Years of SSTV and Human Spaceflight * WB8ELK Balloon Completes Second Lap Around the World * 18th Annual Long Island Section Convention SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-353.01 ANS-353 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 353.01 From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. DATE December 18, 2016 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-353.01 Gould Smith, WA4SXM appointed Director-Field Operations AMSAT President Barry Baines, WD4ASW has appointed G. Gould Smith, WA4SXM as Director-Field Operations. The public announcement was made during the Field Operations Forum held in conjunction with the 34th AMSAT Space Symposium held on board Carnival Liberty on 12 Nov 2016. Field Operations consists of AMSAT volunteers who serve as Area Coordinators in their local areas. As “Ambassadors of AMSAT”, they give AMSAT presentations at local club meetings or at hamfests, manage an AMSAT table/booth at a hamfest, or support local satellite operations as ‘elmers’ to new satellite operators. Gould previously served as Director-Field Operations from 2004-2008 prior to becoming VP-User Services from 2008-2013. Gould is also the author of several books published by AMSAT starting in 1990 with “Getting Started With Amateur Satellites” the current AMSAT publication that carries his name. Due to medical issues, Gould was forced to resign from the Board of Directors and as VP-User Services in 2014 to focus on his medical concerns. Two years later, Gould’s medical recovery is now such that he’s once again in position to support AMSAT. In conjunction with this transition, Patrick Stoddard, WD9EWK now serves as “Lead Area Coordinator”, essentially functioning as Gould’s Executive Officer. Together, Gould and Patrick will work to enhance the Field Organization. “Having Gould back in an AMSAT leadership role is welcome news” notes AMSAT President Barry Baines, WD4ASW. “Gould is passionate about amateur radio in space and wants to encourage amateurs to become involved with satellite operations. The Field Organization will benefit from Gould’s focus on providing support to our Area Coordinators and developing materials that will assist our volunteers to speak on AMSAT’s behalf at club presentations and hamfests.” Initially, Gould has been spending some time getting back up to speed on the current status of the Field Organization and establishing a line of communication with the Field Ops Team. Gould notes, “As a long time AMSAT volunteer I am excited to be re-engaging with the organization since my health has improved significantly. The Field Operations position is one that I have experience with and am looking forward to leading with the help of Patrick, WD9EWK. I have looked at the current Area Coordinator list and their activities and know most of the members. One of the first things I will be doing is getting to know the newer coordinators and determining how best we can serve AMSAT, it's members and prospective members. Please let me know of any ideas or suggestions to improve he Field Operations team.” [ANS thanks AMSAT President Barry Baines, WD4ASW, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AO-73/FUNcube Holiday Transponder Operation The AO-73/FUNcube plan for the Holidays is to switch to continuous transponder mode on Wed 22 Dec pm UTC, and revert back to auto transponder switching on Sunday 8 Jan 2017 ppm UTC. Have FUN with the transponder. [ANS thanks Jim, G3WGM, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- HM85 Christmas Weekend Operation Pedro, CU2ZG, reports that Christmas HM58 operation will take place from December 23rd to December 25th. Pedro will be SSB equipped and plans to operate on the following satellites: AO-7, FO-29, SO-50, AO-73, EO-79, XW-2A/B/C/D/F, and AO-85. Logs will be uploaded as CU2ZG. [ANS thanks Pedro, CU2ZG, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- 18 Years of SSTV and Human Spaceflight December 12, 2016, marked the 18th anniversary of the activation of the MIR SSTV Amateur Radio developed System which was transported and put aboard the MIR Space Station. The MIR SSTV System sent pictures over a period of about 2 years and 4 months to the delight of Amateur Radio Operators and others worldwide. (Mir was deorbited in March, 2001) For those interested in this historical event and background, the publication Amateur Television Quarterly (ATVQ), Spring 2015 issue has an article, “How Did the MIR SSTV System come into Existence”? Back issue copies of ATVQ containing this article are available via WA6SVT(a)aol.com. See also web address: www.ATVQuarterly.com. A small sampling of perhaps thousands of received pictures may be found in web sites: http://www.marexmg.org/marexmirweb/fileshtml/galleryimagepage1.htm http://www.qsl.net/dg7ro/afu/mirsstv.htm Background information and initial efforts on developing the MIR System and early efforts to provide SSTV for the ISS may be reviewed at: http://www.marexmg.org/fileshtml/sponsorspeople.htm The ISS is now transmitting a similar series of SSTV Transmissions to that of MIR: https://amsat-uk.org/beginners/iss-sstv [ANS thanks Farrell, W8ZCF, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- WB8ELK Balloon Completes Second Lap Around the World After flying for over 41,000 miles, the WB8ELK HF WSPR Skytracker balloon has completed its second lap after crossing over into Indiana on 12 Dec 2016. For those of you capable of listening to 20m WSPR mode, it transmits at the 4-minute and 6-minute marks every 10 minutes on 14.09560 MHz USB during daylight hours. [ANS thanks Bill WB8ELK and the BALLOON_SKED group on yahoogroups for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- 18th Annual Long Island Section Convention Ham Radio University (HRU) is scheduled for January 8th, 2017, there will be 30 forums with Tom Gallagher, CEO, of ARRL as the keynote speaker. Peter, W2JV, will be doing a forum at 10 AM on ‘Getting Started with the Amateur Satellites”, AMSAT will have a table in the club room to answer your questions. There will be demonstrations on the air as time and weather permits, on both the FM and linear transponder satellites. Look for W2JV, or others on the air. [ANS thanks Peter, W2JV, 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-346 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by E.Mike McCardel 10 Dec '16

10 Dec '16

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-346 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: * New Satellites on the Horizon * Possible Satellite Activity From Virgin Islands * Obituary for Frank (Robin) Haighton, VE3FRH, (1937-2016) * Phase 4 Ground Weekly Report * AMSAT CW Activity Day * AMSAT Awards * AMSAT Events * NEON - NASA Educators Online Network ANNOUNCEMENTS * ARISS News * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-346.01 ANS-346 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 346.01 >From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. December 11, 2016 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-346.01 New Satellites on the Horizon Recent International Amateur Radio Union satellite coordination requests provide new details on several satellites expected to launch before the end of the first quarter of 2017. The first satellite expected to launch is UBAKUSAT. UBAKUSAT, developed by Istanbul Technical University along with TAMSAT, GUMUSH, and ERTEK Ltd. is a 3U CubeSat with a Mode V/u inverting linear transponder, CW beacon, and a digital telemetry downlink. The transponder downlink frequencies will be 435.200 MHz – 435.250 MHz with an uplink of 145.940 MHz – 145.990 MHz. The CW beacon frequency will be 437.225 MHz and the digital telemetry downlink will be 437.325 MHz. UBAKUSAT will be delivered to the International Space Station aboard the JAXA HTV-6 resupply mission, scheduled for launch on December 9, 2016, for future deployment. The mission is expected to last 6-12 months. On December 26, 2016, the China Center for Aerospace Science and Technology’s BY70-1 satellite is expected to launch from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center into a 530 km sun-synchronous orbit. The satellite, a 3-axis stabilized 2U CubeSat with deployable solar panels, will carry a Mode V/u FM transponder with an uplink frequency of 145.920 MHz and a downlink frequency of 436.200 MHz. On March 31, 2017, two satellites from the Chinese Amateur Satellite Group (CAMSAT) are expected to launch from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center into a 524 km orbit with an inclination of 42 degrees. The two satellites, CAS-4A and CAS-4B, will be 50 kg mass with 3-axis stabilization carrying optical remote sensing missions. The amateur radio payloads will be similar to the XW-2 series of satellites with Mode U/v linear transponders with power output of 100 mW, 100 mW AX.25 4800 baud GMSK telemetry, and 50 mW CW beacons. Frequencies for these two satellites have not yet been coordinated. In addition to these satellites, AMSAT’s Fox-1Cliff, Fox-1D, and RadFxSat (Fox-1B) satellites carrying Mode U/v FM transponders are all expected to launch in the first half of 2017. Nayif-1, from the Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST) and American Univeristy of Sharjah (AUS) carrying a FUNcube Mode U/v linear transponder and telemetry downlink, as well as the U. S. Naval Academy Satellite Lab’s QIKcom-2, PSAT-2, and BRICSAT-2 satellites carrying two-way amateur radio payloads are all expected to launch in the first half of 2017. Es’Hail-2, a geostationary satellite carrying AMSAT-DL’s Phase 4A payload is scheduled to launch in the third quarter of 2017. AMSAT’s RadFxSat-2 (Fox-1E) satellite carrying a Mode V/u linear transponder may also launch in late 2017. [ANS thanks Paul N8HM for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Possible Satellite Activity From Virgin Islands KP4/WP4, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS. The "Buddies of the Caribbean", operators Tom/K4ZGB, Bryan/N8WD, Rick/AA4W and Robert/KE4AL, will be active as WP2/K4ZGB, KP2/N8WD, KP2/AA4W and KP2/KE4AL, respectively, from Saint Croix Island (NA-106) between December 6-14th. The location of their DXpedition is from "My Mountain Breeze" which is the location of the station NP2N <http://www.mymountainbreeze.com/page7/page7.html>. They will also be operating from his station and will have a station in the ARRL 10 meter Contest, NPOTA (Salt River Bay, Christiansted, and Buck Island), QRP, and beach operations will also take place. Activity will be on 160-6 meters using CW, SSB and the Digital modes. In addition, they will attempt to make some satellite contacts through SO-50 and AO-85. QSL via LOTW, eQSL or direct to their home callsigns. [ANS thanks Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin #1294 for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Obituary for Frank (Robin) Haighton, VE3FRH, (1937-2016) Robin was a Past Executive Vice President, a past President and a long-time member of the Board of Directors for AMSAT-North America (AMSAT-NA). HAIGHTON, F.R.E. "Rob" (1937-2016) P. ENG. Passed away at Joseph Brant Hospital, on Friday, December 2, 2016, at the age of 79. Beloved husband of Diana (nee Anderson) for 54 years. Cherished father to Andrew (Lois) and Peter (Nichole). Dear grandfather of Amethyst, Emerald, Topaz, Jasper, Rachel, David, Mary and Joanna. Brother of Jill Hill. Born in England, he immigrated to Canada with Diana and Andrew in 1965. Rob was a past Master of Burlington Lodge No.165, A.F. & A.M., a charter member and past Master of Wellington Square Lodge No. 725, A.F. & A.M., member of the Scottish Rite-32nd Degree, the York Rite, White Oak Chapter No.104 of the Royal Arch and very excellent companion of Royal Arch Masonry. Rob, an Active Ham Radio Operator known as VE3FRH, was also a long time member of the Burlington Amateur Radio Club. He was a past president of AMSAT North America and instrumental Founding Member of ARISS space satellite systems. Visitation at SMITH'S FUNERAL HOME, 1167 Guelph Line (one stop light north of QEW), BURLINGTON (905-632- 3333), on Sunday, December 18, 2016 from 3-5 pm and 7-9 pm with Masonic Service to begin at 8:30 pm. For those who wish, donations in memory of Rob to the Joseph Brant Memorial Foundation, to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or to a charity of choice would be sincerely appreciated by the family. Visitations: Sunday, December 18th, 2016, 3:00pm - 5:00pm Sunday, December 18th, 2016, 7:00pm - 9:00pm Smith's Funeral Home - Guelph Line Address 1167 Guelph Line Burlington, ON L7P 2S7 [ANS thanks Smith's Funeral Home for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Phase 4 Ground Weekly Report Greetings all! This is the Phase 4 Ground weekly report for the weekend of December 9th 2016. Paul KB5MU sitting in for Michelle. (Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/Jjn2_NLkMzY) Generic stream encapsulation for DVB, or GSE for short, is now working in GNU Radio with ping packets! Low latency, high efficiency, and it's available as an out of tree module right now at the following link. https://github.com/drmpeg/gr-dvbgse Thank you Dr. MPEG (Ron w6rz) Why is GSE important? It's the data link layer protocol we've chosen, and therefore binds the universe together. It's efficient and low latency. It allows us to carry packet protocols like IP, ethernet, or whatever through our system. There are several addressing modes and it enables adapative coding and modulation. You can do hardware filtering with it and you can add other link protocols by extension. There are no built-in integrity checks in GSE. That's left up to the physical layer to do. We are confident that the physical layer is up to the job. GSE is also used in the terrestrial version of the protocol, DVB-T2. You've heard less about this but it's what we're going to use for terrestrial radio modes. Sharing GSE function between all modes makes for a more consistent design and a bit less work. The testing continues with GSE using the Ayecka SR1 and SR1 Pro. These are DVB-S2 receivers that claim to do GSE. Three of us purchased the SR1 in anticipation that it would do GSE out of the box and be either a good test equipment choice or possibly one of the many recipes for a Phase 4 Ground radio or both. However, GSE is, if you hunt hard enough, listed as an option that requires another $220 to unlock. And, Ayecka wants to upgrade your receiver remotely, which could be a problem in some IT situations. Dr. MPEG's early results seem to indicate that there are some bugs in Ayecka's SR1 GSE implementation. That's just further evidence of our early adopter status. Yay us! We were of course disappointed to find out that GSE was an extra cost option, and nobody like to run into bugs, but kudos to the Ayecka folks for being very responsive with fixes for the GSE issues we've reported. "Just say no to HLS" We are soliciting opinions about HLS from Xilinx. This is High-Level Synthesis and is part of the Vivado design environment. It allows C, C++ and System C specifications to be directly targeted into Xilinx All Programmable devices without the need to manually create RTL. Sounds like magic, doesn't it? Is it something that you have experience with? Is it something you have an opinion about? Xilinx wants to know. Get in touch with me with your feedback. [ANS thanks Paul KB5MU for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT CW Activity Day January 1, 2017 (UTC) will be AMSAT's first annual CW Activity Day! As with the old Straight Key Night, this is a fun event, not a contest. It will run for 24 hours on January 1, 2017 (UTC). All forms of CW are welcome, -- straight keys, bugs, keyers, even keyboards and decoders. Since it is not a contest, there is no required exchange. A QSO is a QSO. Working the same station on more than one satellite is permitted. Instead of submitting Best Fist nominations, all participants are asked to post their results, including "Soapbox" comments, to AMSAT- BB. Please include the satellites you used, and the number of CW QSOs you had on each. While it is not necessary to post your full log, you may do so if you wish. [ANS thanks Ray W2RS for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT Awards Congrats to all who have earned an AMSAT Award since the last posting. AMSAT Satellite Communicators Award for making their first satellite QSO Augustinus Robert Tuanubun, YC8VRA Kenneth Hitchcock, KB0OQJ Jacek Zebrowski, W9OOO Terry Holman, AJ4A ------ AMSAT Communications Achievement Award Robert Beatty, WB4SON #569 Dan Koawl, AL7RS, #570 Robert Hinshaw, N6UK, #571 Mac Cody, AE5PH, #572 John Papay, K8YSE/7, #573 Dave Swanson, KG5CCI, #574 ------ AMSAT Sexagesimal Award Fernando Ramirez-Ferrer, NP4JV #173 Robert Hinshaw, N6UK, #174 Dan Koawl, AL7RS, #175 John Papay, K8YSE/7, #176 Dave Swanson, KG5CCI, #177 ------ AMSAT Century Club Award Dave Swanson, KG5CCI #48 ------ South Africa Satellite Communications Achievement Award Robert Hinshaw, N6UK, #US197 Dan Koawl, AL7RS, #US198 Mac Cody, AE5PH, #US199 John Papay, K8YSE/7, #200 Dave Swanson, KG5CCI, #201 ------ AMSAT Robert W. Barbee Jr., W4AMI Award Cleber Rodrigues, PY3TX, #88 Paul Stoezter, N8HM, Upgrade to 4000 Frank Westphal, K6FW, Upgrade to 2000 John Papay, K8YSE/7, Upgrade to 3000 ------ AMSAT Robert W. Barbee Jr., W4AMI 5000 Award Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, #33 [ANS thanks Bruce KK5DO 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). *Sunday, 8 January, 2017 - Long Island Section Convention at Briarcliffe College in Bethpage, NY *Saturday, 14 January 2017 – Thunderbird Hamfest 2017 in Phoenix AZ *Saturday, 4 February 2017 – Palm Springs Hamfest in Palm Springs CA *Friday-Sunday, 10-12 February 2017 Orlando HamCation in Orlando, FL *Friday and Saturday, 17-18 February 2017 – Yuma Hamfest in Yuma AZ *Friday-Sunday, March 31, April 1 & 2, 2017, NVCON in Las Vegas, NV [ANS thanks AMSAT-NA for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- NEON - NASA Educators Online Network ANNOUNCEMENTS Free STEM Education Webinars From NASA Educator Professional Development Audience: In-service, Pre-service, Home School and Informal Educators The NASA STEM Educator Professional Development Collaborative (EPDC) at Texas State University is presenting a series of free webinars open to all educators. Join NASA education specialists to learn about activities, lesson plans, educator guides and resources that bring NASA into your classroom. Registration is required to participate. To register, simply click on the link provided beneath the webinar description. December 6, 2016, at 5:00 p.m. ET: Picking Up STEAM: Using Models and Data to Understand Clouds (Grades 4-10) - Practice STEAM through the use of inquiry-based science activities from NASA curriculum guides. The activities and NASA educational websites introduced will provide participants with new curriculum ideas to assist in reaching the Next Generation Science Standards and CORE learning outcomes standards. This STEAM workshop will guide participants through inquiry-based learning activities related to clouds, phase change, light, water cycle, weather and climate. Participants will use authentic data sets to model STEAM lessons. Register online to participate. https://www.etouches.com/205303 ********** December 6, 2016, at 6:30 p.m. ET: Don't Count NASA Out of Your Math Classes: SpaceMath - Linking Math and Science (Grades 5-8) - Space Mathematics is a two-part series designed to help educators make the critical linkage between mathematics and science in the classroom. In Part 1 -- Linking Math and Science, participants will survey some of the available NASA resources and discuss the use of science as a vehicle for mathematics instruction. Register online to participate. https://www.etouches.com/199140 ********** December 7, 2016, at 6:30 p.m. ET: Don't Count NASA Out of Your Math Classes: SpaceMath - Active Math (Grades 5-8) - Space Mathematics is a two-part series designed to help educators make the critical linkage between mathematics and science in the classroom. In Part 2 -- Active Math, participants will explore the use of inquiry to reinforce mathematics skills while engaging students with hands-on activities. Register online to participate. https://www.etouches.com/199142 ********** December 8, 2016, at 6:30 p.m. ET: Don't Count NASA Out of Your Math Classes: Mass vs Weight (Grades K-12) - Participants will learn about hands-on standards-aligned activities comparing mass and weight. They also will learn about the microgravity environment of the International Space Station. This webinar addresses the Next Generation Science Standards ESS1 and ESS2 and Common Core Math Standards. Register online to participate. https://www.etouches.com/207364 ********** December 12, 2016, at 6:30 p.m. ET: Don't Count NASA Out of Your Math Classes: Scale of Discovery (Grades K-12) - Participants will engage in hands-on standards-aligned activities using scale to create a scroll of the universe exploring the inner planets, outer planets and the asteroid belt. They also will use mathematical conversions and scale to compare planets and asteroids using various-sized fruit while learning about the Dawn and New Horizons. This webinar addresses the Next Generation Science Standards ESS1 and ESS2 and Common Core Math Standards. Register online to participate. https://www.etouches.com/207360 ********** December 13, 2016, at 4:00 p.m. ET: Teachers Connect: LaRC Centennial Badge (Grades 6-8) - This webinar will focus for the first half-hour on clouds and their role in Earth’s “energy budget” and on implementation ideas using GLOBE for different classroom settings as part of the “Earth Right Now: LaRC 100th” digital badge. We also will talk about student badge implementations, extension ideas and extra resources. The second half-hour will be very similar but centered on the engineering design process using the Drag Race to Mars Engineering Design Challenge as part of the “Journey to Mars: LaRC 100th” digital badge. This portion of the webinar will focus on forces and motion and math calculations using paper airplanes and testing different materials as part of the “Aeronautics: LaRC 100th” digital badge. This webinar meets requirements of teacher discussions within the NASA Langley 100th Educator Professional Development Collaborative digital badges. To learn more about the Langley 100th digital badges, log in to https://nasatxstate-epdc.net/ and search for LaRC 100th. Register online to participate. https://www.etouches.com/207899 ********** December 14, 2016, at 6:00 p.m. ET: Don't Count NASA Out of Your Math Classes: So You Want to be a Rocket Scientist? (Grades 4-8) - So you want to be a rocket scientist? Explore the math and science of rockets with NASA missions and STEM curriculum resources. Launch your students' interest in forces and motion with inquiry rocket activities and design challenges that include designing, building and launching simple rockets while recording and analyzing data. Join us in a learning journey "blast-off." Register online to participate. https://www.etouches.com/209754 ********** December 15, 2016, at 4:00 p.m. ET: Teachers Connect: LaRC Centennial Badge (Grades 6-8) - This webinar will focus for the first half-hour on clouds and their role in Earth’s “energy budget” and on implementation ideas using GLOBE for different classroom settings as part of the “Earth Right Now: LaRC 100th” digital badge. We also will talk about student badge implementations, extension ideas and extra resources. The second half-hour will be very similar but centered on the engineering design process using the Drag Race to Mars Engineering Design Challenge as part of the “Journey to Mars: LaRC 100th” digital badge. This portion of the webinar will focus on forces and motion and math calculations using paper airplanes and testing different materials as part of the “Aeronautics: LaRC 100th” digital badge. This webinar meets requirements of teacher discussions within the NASA Langley 100th Educator Professional Development Collaborative digital badges. To learn more about the Langley 100th digital badges, log in to https://nasatxstate-epdc.net/ and search for LaRC 100th. Register online to participate. https://www.etouches.com/207902 ********** For the NASA STEM Educator Professional Development webinar schedule, go to: http://www.txstate-epdc.net/events/ [ANS thanks NASA Educators Online Network for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS News + A Successful contact was made between Collège Jean Charcot, Saint Malo, France] and Astronaut Thomas Pesquet KG5FYG using Callsign OR4ISS. The contact began Thu 2016-12-08 15:19:45 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was telebridge via IK1SLD. ARISS Mentor was Joseph F6ICS. + A Successful contact was made between The Museum of Innovation and Science (miSci), Schenectady NY, USA and Astronaut Shane Kimbrough KE5HOD using Callsign NA1SS. The contact began Sat 2016-12- 10 19:49:54 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was direct via W2IR. ARISS Mentor was John K4SQC Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule + Maristes High School, Toulouse, France, direct via F8IDR The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be FXØISS The scheduled astronaut is Thomas Pesquet KG5FYG Contact is a go for: Mon 2016-12-12 13:29:47 UTC + Scuola Secondaria di Primo Grado “Niccolò Pisano”, Marina di Pisa, Italy, telebridge via IK1SLD The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS The scheduled astronaut is Shane Kimbrough KE5HOD Contact is a go for: Thu 2016-12-15 12:31:13 UTC (if the HTV launches on time) Contact is a go for: Sat 2016-12-17 12:23:31 UTC (if there is a HTV launch delay) [ANS thanks ARISS, Charlie AJ9N and David AA4KN for the above information] [ANS thanks ARISS, Charlie AJ9N information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + Tigrisat , the Irak's first cubesat, is transmitting in 435 MhZ at 9K6 FSK G3RUH. It's modulation is very clear and easy to decode to anybody that wants to start to decode this type of satellite. Here you can find a live capture: https://youtu.be/_eo6rqb5EVY [ANS thanks Gustavo, LW2DTZ for the above information] + Tiny 'Black Magic' Satellite Packs Origami-Like Radar Dish NASA challenged engineers to pack an entire satellite dish into a cereal box with Radar in a CubeSat (RainCube), a technology- demonstration mission scheduled for launch in 2017 that will measure rain and snowfall on Earth from space. Read more at: http://www.space.com/34807-cubesats-pack-origami-radar-dish.html [ANS thanks Space.com for the above information] + 18th annual LI Section Convention "Getting Started..." Forum. The Long Island Section Convention takes place at Briarcliffe College in Bethpage, NY January 8th, 2017, there will be 30 forums. Peter Portanova, W2JV, will be doing a forum at 10 AM on ‘Getting Started with the Amateur Satellites”, AMSAT will have a table in the club room to answer your questions. We will be doing demonstrations on the air as time and weather permits, on both the FM and linear transponder satellites. Look for W2JV, or others on the air. Tom Gallagher, CEO, of ARRL will be the convention keynote speaker. [ANS thanks Peter W2JV for the above information] + Call for pictures In an effort to improve the AMSAT web site, Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, requests pictures that are relevant to AMSAT, satellite operations and engineering. Pictures should include a short narrative identifying people and the subject of the picture. Including links to your photo sharing site would be greatly appreciated. Send photos and information to to Webmaster(a)amsat.org. [ANS thanks Joe KM1P 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, AA8EM aa8em at amsat dot org

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ANS-339 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Joseph Spier 03 Dec '16

03 Dec '16

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-339 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: * Past AMSAT-NA President Frank (Robin) Haighton, VE3FRH SK * Middle School Students’ Tancredo-1 TubeSat Scheduled for Launch * Radio Ham Awarded Space Achievement Honor * Receive Pictures from Space – ISS SSTV Dec 8-9 * Aussie HAM to make an impact on Mars * AO-7 Eclipses Return * W5RKN receives Satellite WAS, Satellite VUCC and WAC * ISS Packet Digipeater on 437.550 MHz * AMSAT Events * ARISS News * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-339.01 ANS-339 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 339.01 >From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. DATE December 4, 2016 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-339.01 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Past AMSAT-NA President Frank (Robin) Haighton, VE3FRH SK On behalf of AMSAT-North America, it is with great sadness that I announce the passing of Frank (Robin) Haighton, VE3FRH. Robin suffered a debilitating stroke earlier in this last week, was admitted to the hospital and became a silent key on the morning of December 2nd. Robin was a Past Executive Vice President, a past President and a long-time member of the Board of Directors for AMSAT-North America (AMSAT-NA). Over the years, Frank remained a strong Canadian voice for the organization. For example, as a founding member of the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) project, Robin served as one of two international delegates from Canada. Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, ARISS's International Chairperson said that he and Robin..."had a unique perspective and relationship that was very much appreciated". Frank went on to note: "Robin contributed significantly to ARISS through his ideas, guidance and wise counsel. He challenged members of our team to look at things in a different perspective. As a result of his sage advice, we were able work through these issues and arrive at a common approach, both in developing and delivering ARISS hardware as well as supporting the technical mentoring of schools and local hams." I first became fully aware of Robin's many leadership talents in the mid-1990s when I was then AMSAT's Executive Vice President. In 1997, Robin hosted our AMSAT Board of Directors meeting and Space Symposium in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, one of the first (if not THE first) time that meeting was held outside of the USA. At about that same time, Robin stepped up to the plate to also become AMSAT's Canadian Liaison, working a number of AMSAT issues north of the US/Canadian border. Most notably, Robin was instrumental in coordinating AMSAT's consultant role with the Canadian MOST (Microvariability and Oscillations of STars) satellite project. Through his tireless, "hands on" efforts with the satellite's Canadian builders, AMSAT was able to bring critical analysis and mentoring skills to bear the project which also garnered a large monetary donation to AMSAT as a result. MOST was successfully launched in 2003 and satellite remains on orbit (and largely operational) to this day. Throughout my time as President, and then later when we switched roles and I once again became Executive Vice President when he went on to become AMSAT's President in 2000, I always sought out and very much appreciated his wise counsel. During his time as our AMSAT President and BOD member, Frank helped to successfully guide the organization through the launch and subsequent anomalies with the Phase 3-D satellite (which later became AMSAT-OSCAR 40 (AO- 40)) on orbit. He was also instrumental in the birth, development and launch of AMSAT-NA's AO-51 satellite. During its long lifetime, AO-51 became one of the most popular (if not THE most popular) of the so-called "easy-sats", providing countless newcomers (and others) with an introduction to our wonderful world of amateur radio satellites. Needless to say, his legacy will live on, both within the hearts and minds of children and family members that experience ARISS, as well as those of us who served with him during his many years as a senior officer of AMSAT. At press time, funeral arrangements for Robin were pending, but that information will be passed along just as soon as it becomes known. In them meantime, and during this festive holiday season, please take a few moments to keep Robin and his family in your thoughts and prayers. Robin… you will be sorely missed. May your spirit soar among the stars! [ANS thanks Keith Baker, KB1SF/VA3KSF, AMSAT-NA Treasurer and Past President, and Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, AMSAT-NA Vice President, Human Spaceflight for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Middle School Students’ Tancredo-1 TubeSat Scheduled for Launch The Tancredo-1 satellite, a small TubeSat built by middle school students in Brazil, is scheduled to be sent to the International Space Station on December 9, 2016. The satellite will be sent to the ISS inside the TuPOD TubeSat deployer onboard JAXA’s KOUNOTORI6 cargo ship (HTV-6 mission). The TuPOD is expected to be ejected into space by the J-SSOD satellite deployer on December 19th and on December 21st, Tancredo-1 is expected to be finally ejected from the TuPOD into space. Once in space, Tancredo-1 will start transmitting telemetry data. Tancredo-1 is the first satellite of the Ubatubasat project, a STEM project idealized by Prof. Cândido Oswaldo de Moura at Escola Municipal Tancredo Neves public school in Ubatuba, state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The project is supported by the Brazilian Institute for Space Research (INPE) and the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB). Tancredo-1 will initially have the same orbit as the ISS, but it will slowly drift with time and will eventually reenter in the atmosphere and burn. The Ubatubasat project team and AMSAT-BR would like to kindly request radio amateurs around the planet to monitor and report any signals heard from Tancredo-1. Please send any reports (audio, AX.25 KISS files, etc) to py2sdr(a)gmail.com Tancredo-1 will transmit on 437.200 MHz using 1200 bps AFSK AX.25. Telemetry format and equations: https://goo.gl/qOK6qM For more information see: http://www.ubatubasat.com/en/ http://www.amsatuk.me.uk/iaru/finished_detail.php?serialnum=419 http://amsat-br.org/ [ANS thanks Edson, PY2SDR, AMSAT-BR, and AMSAT-UK for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Radio Ham Awarded Space Achievement Honor Cornwall Live reports that radio amateur David Honess M6DNT has been awarded a prestigious space achievement honor for his Astro Pi work with the Tim Peake GB1SS Principia mission. David Honess M6DNT was presented with a Sir Arthur Clarke Award, on behalf of the Arthur C. Clarke Foundation and the British Interplanetary Society, for Space Achievement – Industry/Project Individual. This came after Mr Honess and his Astro Pi project which installed two Raspberry Pi’s (Izzy and Ed) on to the International Space Station as the platform for students to run their own code in space and speak with Major Tim Peake GB1SS. Mr Honess has been “the driving force” behind getting two UK designed and manufactured Astro Pi computers onto the International Space Station to provide a unique facility to inspire children and adults to learn to code. Read the full story at http://www.cornwalllive.com/west-cornwall-man-wins-award-for-space-achievem… after-project-with-tim-peake/story-29893608-detail/story.html Sir Arthur Clarke Awards Winners http://www.bis-space.com/2013/04/05/9719/sir-arthur-clarke-awards-winners You can follow the two ISS Astro Pi’s Izzy and Ed at https://twitter.com/astro_pi_ir https://twitter.com/astro_pi_vis [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Receive Pictures from Space – ISS SSTV Dec 8-9 Slow-scan television (SSTV) transmissions are planned from the International Space Station (ISS) on December 8-9, 2016. The SSTV images will be transmitted as part of the MAI-75 Experiment on 145.800 MHz FM using the Kenwood TM-D710 transceiver located in the Russian ISS Service module. The MAI-75 activities have been scheduled for the Russian crew on Dec 8 from 12:35 to 18:00 GMT and Dec 9 from 12:40 to 17:40 GMT. Note the ISS transmissions on 145.800 MHz FM use the 5 kHz deviation standard rather than the narrow 2.5 kHz used in Europe. If your transceiver has selectable FM filters try the wider filter. The ISS Fan Club website will show you when the space station is in range http://www.issfanclub.com/ ISS SSTV information and links at https://amsat-uk.org/beginners/iss-sstv/ ARISS-SSTV Images http://ariss-sstv.blogspot.co.uk/ Listen to the ISS when it is over Russia with the R4UAB WebSDR http://websdr.r4uab.ru/ Listen to the ISS when in range of London with the SUWS WebSDR http://websdr.suws.org.uk/ If you receive a full or partial picture from the Space Station your Local Newspaper may like to know http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2016/july/now-is-a-great-time-to-get-ham- radio-publicity.htm Scheduled ARISS Contacts and APRS Operations will utilize the Ericson UHF transceiver in the Columbia Module to allow multiple use of ARISS equipment onboard the ISS. [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK and ARISS for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Aussie HAM to make an impact on Mars On a salt lake in Central Australia early next year a radio amateur will conduct tests of a wide area radio network destined for the planet Mars. Robert Brand VK2URB, of Thunderstruck Aerospace, reports that it is an essential part of a project to develop the Mars Nano-Lander and Methane detection system called MEDIAN, set to land in 2025. Approval will be sought from the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority for use of the air space for the test. The project calls for 10 separate penetrators to be ejected from the jettisoned heat shield at about 6km from the surface of Mars. They are to spear into the surface of Mars and form a ring about 8km wide. The radio systems will begin measuring distance between the other landers and map the network. Robert VK2URB says they will then switch to a random packet mode and begin sending messages to an orbiting craft. Even the orientation of each probe covering an area around the size of a small city, will be detected and used to calculate the direction that wind, and hopefully any methane, on the thin Martian atmosphere. Robert VK2URB says that the audacious mission is a joint project with the UK Methane detection group at the University of Central Lancashire, and the Australian Thunderstruck Aerospace team. Robert is the design architect of the landing system, the mapping, orientation, communications, data relay, and the on-going non-methane science package. He says that never before has a network of probes been landed anywhere outside of earth and have impactors with the intention of surviving the process. The possibility of microbial life on Mars has been discussed by scientists since the presence of methane gas on the red planet was found several years ago. MEDIAN will map possible methane vent locations for a rover to investigate. If the rover fails to land, the project will still relay local weather and subsoil information back to earth. It's expected that the tests in Central Australia will demonstrate the essential role that radio will play in mapping, locating, orienting the network and then relaying data around the network. The tests will involve dropping a simulated heat shield from 3km altitude and having the impactors fire at 2.5km feet to simulate the impact that each would have on Mars. Even the orientation of each probe will be detected and used to calculate the direction that wind is coming from in the thin Martian atmosphere. The penetrators will stay vertical and elevate the science and radio package about a meter off the surface allowing for better radio connectivity and clear wind profile. A meter diameter solar panel will provide adequate power and the network is expected to survive for at least six months on Mars relaying weather and sub-surface information. An expected seven of the 10 spikes will survive the impact. Ham radio will provide essential communications for the tests and for the event. It is hoped a special event around the testing will attract the interests of ham operators worldwide, and focus attention of the role that Australia is playing in Space Missions. [ANS thanks Jim Linton VK3PC and the VK1WIA wireless news for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AO-7 Eclipses Return The AMSAT satellite status page at http://www.amsat.org/status/ indicates that as of the morning of 11/25/2016, AO-7 is once again entering eclipse each orbit. This means that the 24 Hour mode change timer is interrupted each orbit, and the satellite will be found primarily in Mode U/v (aka Mode B). As the satellite is powered solely by the now 42 year-old solar panels, it is very sensitive to strong uplink signals, particularly CW. Users should closely monitor their downlink for excessive chirp, warbling or "FM'ing" and reduce power as necessary. More information including frequencies can be found at http://ww2.amsat.org/?page_id=1031 [ANS thanks Drew, KO4MA, AMSAT Vice President, Operations for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- W5RKN receives Satellite WAS, Satellite VUCC and WAC In October 2016, Ron Parsens, W5RKN received the ARRL award for Satellite WAS #345 and Satellite VUCC #286 with 100 grids with 100 more grids ready to submit. Ron commented, "I would urge everyone to use LoTW for these awards as that makes applying for the awards so much simpler. I also received the IARU WAC award using a satellite contact for Asia with JF2WXS on March 13, 1994 on AO-13. I had a paper QSL card but since he was still listed on QRZ.com, I emailed Ban and he uploaded the contact to LoTW. Much thanks to all that provided the contacts, QSL cards and LoTW entries. It was a lot of work, but a lot of fun." [ANS thanks Ron, W5RKN for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ISS Packet Digipeater on 437.550 MHz The Ericsson UHF HT is using the ARISS 70cm frequency of 437.550 MHz. With the move to 70cm, this means users of the packet digipeater will have to make adjustments for Doppler on both the uplink and downlink. Even with the change in frequency, the digipeater operates exactly as it did on 145.825 MHz. For HTs or FM mobile transceivers, and possibly other radios capable of operating on 70cm FM, programming a group of 5 memory channels which compensate for Doppler will allow for 70cm packet operation. Use the following group of memory channels for the ISS packet digipeater on 437.550 MHz: Channel Receive (MHz) Transmit (MHz) Offset 1 437.560 437.540 -0.02 MHz 2 437.555 437.545 -0.01 MHz 3 437.550 437.550 (no offset, simplex) 4 437.545 437.555 +0.01 MHz 5 437.540 437.560 +0.02 MHz Memory channels in some radios will accept separate receive and transmit frequencies, while others will accept the receive frequency and the offset size/direction. Be ready to flip-flop between the first two memories after a minute or so into the pass, and near the end flip-flop between 4 and 5. There could be moments near AOS and LOS - and maybe other points in the middle - where the signal is just in between the two RX frequencies, and your TNC or software won't decode it. More useful advice for working the ISS packet digipeater is available from K9JKM’s document “Add ISS Packet Operation to Your Satellite Operation”, available from the AMSAT Station and Operating Hints page at: http://www.amsat.org/?page_id=2144 [ANS thanks AMSAT-NA and Patrick, WD9EWK/VA7EWK 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). *Saturday, 14 January 2017 – Thunderbird Hamfest 2017 in Phoenix AZ *Saturday, 4 February 2017 – Palm Springs Hamfest in Palm Springs CA *Friday-Sunday, 10-12 February 2017 Orlando HamCation in Orlando, FL *Friday and Saturday, 17-18 February 2017 – Yuma Hamfest in Yuma AZ *Friday-Sunday, March 31, April 1 & 2, 2017, NVCON in Las Vegas, NV [ANS thanks AMSAT-NA for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS News Successful Contacts * A telebridge contact via LU1CGB with students at Michel LOTTE Junior High School in Belle Isle, France was successful Mon 2016-11-28. * A telebridge contact via W6SRJ with students at Salesian High School in Wroclaw, Poland was successful Fri 2016-11-25. Upcoming Contacts * Collège Jean Charcot, Saint Malo, France, telebridge via IK1SLD The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS The scheduled astronaut is Thomas Pesquet KG5FYG Contact is a go for: Thu 2016-12-08 15:19:45 UTC 74 deg This contact might be on the downlink of 437.525 MHz * The Museum of Innovation and Science (miSci), Schenectady NY, direct via W2IR The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Shane Kimbrough KE5HOD Contact is a go for: Sat 2016-12-10 19:49:54 UTC 85 deg Watch http://www.ariss.org/upcoming-contacts.html for information about upcoming contacts as they are scheduled. [ANS thanks ARISS and Charlie, AJ9N for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over South African SDR Workshop Completed Phase 1, Now Planning Phase 2 Last Saturday it was hi-tech amateur radio at the National Amateur Radio Center when Cor Rademeyer, ZS6CR and Anton Janovsky, ZR6AIC presented the Software Defined Radio Workshop. Known by its initials SDR, it is a software way of creating a receiver and transmitter. During the workshop which included two videos introducing the SDR concept, the two speakers created a two metre to 70cm FM repeater using a dongle and a Raspberry Pi. The workshop, presented by AMSAT SA in cooperation with the SARL was attended by 37 radio amateurs and electronic hobbyists. A follow up workshop is planned for 18 February when Cor and Anton will take delegates through the steps of creating a satellite receiver using the RTL dongle and software. The workshop registration fee will include a dongle and memory stick with the required software. Full details will become available on amsatsa.org.za in the next few weeks. The various presentations and videos presented last Saturday, including how to build a repeater with a Raspberry Pi will be posted on www.amsatsa.org.za this weekend. You will also be able to follow the links from www.sarl.org.za. [ANS thanks SARL weekly news in English 2016-12-3 for the above information] FUNcube-1/AO73 Celebrates 3 Years in Space Monday, November 21, 2016, marked the third birthday in space for the 985 gram spacecraft FUNcube-1 / AO73. FUNcube-1 was launched at 07:10 UT on November 21, 2013 and its first signals were received immediately after deployment over the Indian Ocean by amateurs in South Africa. Since then it has been operating continuously in either its education mode or, with the transponder active, in amateur mode when in eclipse and at weekends. The FUNcube team are very grateful to everyone who has been contributing their telemetry records to the Data Warehouse and also to those who are using FUNcube- 1 for educational outreach to schools and colleges around the world. This important part of our mission is intended to encourage young people to develop an interest and passion in all STEM subjects for their future. The spacecraft is operating nominally – the telemetry indicates that all the sub-systems are fine. The battery voltages, solar panel charge currents and on board temperatures are virtually unchanged since launch. In addition to FUNcube-1, there are now similar FUNcube transponders operating in low earth orbit on the UKube-1 and EO79/QB50p1 CubeSats. The team has recently contributed to the development of Nayif-1, which is presently awaiting launch, and is currently working on a number of further CubeSat and microsat projects. Happy Birthday AO73! Get your 73 on 73 Award, details at https://amsat-uk.org/funcube/73-on-73-award/ AO-73 (FUNcube-1) website https://amsat-uk.org/funcube/funcube-website/ FUNcube Yahoo Group https://amsat-uk.org/funcube/yahoo-group/ https://amsat-uk.org/2016/11/21/funcube-1-ao73-celebrates-3-years-in-space/ [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK 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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