June 2017 - ANS - mailman.amsat.org

ANS-176 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Lee McLamb 24 Jun '17

24 Jun '17

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-176 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: * India Launches 40th PSLV With 31 Satellites On-board * ARISS SSTV Commemorative Activity * LilacSat-1 Designated LilacSat-OSCAR 90 * Amateurs Recover I-Inspire-2 Satellite * SARL/AMSAT SA SDR Workshop To Be Held In August * New Zealand’s KiwiSAT Update SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-176.01 ANS-155 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 176.01 From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. DATE June 25, 2017 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-176.01 India Launches 40th PSLV With 31 Satellites On-board An Indian mapping satellite and 30 other payloads vaulted into space Friday aboard a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, arriving in an on-the-mark orbit more than 300 miles above Earth. Launching on its 40th flight, the PSLV rocketed away from the Satish Dhawan Space Center, a facility nestled on Sriharikota Island on India’s east coast, at 0359 GMT Friday (11:59 p.m. EDT Thursday). The 144-foot-tall (44-meter) launcher thundered into a mostly sunny sky over the launch base, where liftoff occurred at 9:29 a.m. local time The 1,570-pound (712-kilogram) Cartosat 2E satellite was the primary passenger on Friday’s launch, joining a fleet of Earth-imaging platforms built to feed observations of cities, crops, natural disasters and other targets to Indian civil and military authorities. Cartosat 2E radioed ground controllers moments after separation from the PSLV’s fourth stage, and engineers confirmed it unfurled its solar panels as planned. The PSLV launch team confirmed the upper stage released another Indian satellite — NIUSAT — a few seconds after Cartosat 2E. Designed for agricultural monitoring, NIUSAT is suitcase-sized satellite weighing about 33 pounds (15 kilograms) developed by students at Noorul Islam University in India’s Tamil Nadu state. Fifteen other satellites launched Friday also include amateur frequency downlinks: Max Valier Satellite 145.860 MHz Venta 1 437.325 MHz Pegasus 436.670 MHz NUDTSat 436.270 MHz VZLUSAT 1 437.240 MHz DragSail-CubeSat 437.300 MHz, 2403 MHz, and 2405-2445 MHz UCLSat 435.975 MHz InflateSail 436.060 MHz URSA MAIOR 435.950 MHz LithuanicaSAT 2 437.265 MHz SUCHAI 1 437.225 MHz Aalto 1 437.220 MHz and 2402.00 MHz Robusta 1B 437.325 MHz D-Sat 437.505 MHz skCUBE 437.100 MHz and 2401 MHz [ANS thanks SpaceFlightNow and the IARU for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS SSTV Commemorative Activity Special Slow Scan Television (SSTV) transmissions are expected to be made from the International Space Station on 145.800 MHz FM around the weekend of July 15. In commemoration of their 20th anniversary, the ARISS team is planning to transmit a set of 12 SSTV images that capture the accomplishments of ARISS over that time. The ARISS SSTV Blog says: While still to be scheduled, we anticipate the SSTV operation to occur around the weekend of July 15. We are planning for at least a 2 day operation, but are working for a potential longer operation. Note that all of this tentative and may change based on crew scheduling and ISS operations. Starting with our first meeting in November 1996, our joint operations on Mir, becoming the first operational payload on ISS in November 2000 to our 1103rd school contact (so far), ARISS’ accomplishments have been tremendous. We have touched the lives of many and inspired and educated countless students to pursue science, technology, engineering and math careers. Please stay tuned as more details on our SSTV event will be communicated in the coming weeks. Please spread the word. And think about how you can get students in your area involved in capturing these images. We would love to hear your stories on how that goes. [ANS thanks Frank, KA3HDO, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- LilacSat-1 Designated LilacSat-OSCAR 90 OSCAR Number Administrator Bill Tynan, W3XO, has announced that, pursuant to a request submitted to the AMSAT Board of Directors, the LilacSat-1 satellite has been assigned the designation LilacSat-OSCAR 90, or LO-90. LilacSat-OSCAR 90 was designed and constructed by the Harbin Institute of Technology in Harbin, China as part of the QB50 project to study the lower thermosphere. It was carried aboard an Orbital-ATK Cygnus cargo ship, which was launched to the International Space Station on April 18, 2017, and deployed from the ISS on May 25, 2017. LO-90 carries a voice transponder with a 145 MHz FM uplink and a 435 MHz digital voice downlink using the Codec2 open source voice codec as well as a camera open for activation by amateur radio operators worldwide. More information about the satellite can be found http://lilacsat.hit.edu.cn/?page_id=594. A guide for receiving the downlink prepared by Adam Whitney, K0FFY, can be found at http://adamwhitney.net/working-lilacsat-1/. Since the launch of the first amateur radio satellite, OSCAR 1 in 1961, it has been traditional for amateur radio satellites to carry the name OSCAR, for “Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio”. AMSAT, which administers the numbering of OSCAR satellites at the request of the Project OSCAR organization, encourages all builders/owners of amateur radio satellites that meet the requirements listed at http://www.amsat.org/?page_id=2478 to apply for an OSCAR designation. [ANS thanks Paul, N8HM, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Amateurs Recover I-Inspire-2 Satellite I-Inspire-2 is a 20 x 10 x 10cm CubeSat built by the University of Sydney in collaboration with the Australian National University and the University of New South Wales (Sydney) WIA News reports: On board the tiny spacecraft is an experiment, part of the QB50 project, designed to “explore the lower thermosphere, for re-entry research and in-orbit demonstration of technologies and miniaturised sensors”, as reported in earlier editions of the WIA broadcast. Its operational frequency was coordinated by IARU to be in the satellite segment of the 70cm amateur band. It was placed in orbit from the International Space Station in late May. The deployment was successful; however there were no signs of life when the ground stations started looking for it. The engineering group quickly tested various scenarios on the engineering model only to come to the conclusion that, due to the extended delay in the deployment, the satellite’s battery was likely to be depleted and the satellite was trapped in an endless loop, trying to deploy its antenna. The engineering group suggested that the satellite is still listening albeit with its antennas in the stowed position. This meant that the satellite command receiver might have difficulty receiving any signals from ground control stations. A set of commands were devised which, if received, would instruct the satellite to wait until the battery is charged before attempting to deploy its antenna. Both UNSW and ANU ground stations transmitted the recovery command to the satellite; however after a week or so of no success it was decided that more transmitter power was required to overcome the lack of receiver sensitivity caused by the still stowed antenna. A request for assistance was passed to EME operators around the world and many responses were received. The greatest hope for a successful recovery was thought to be PI 9 CAM using high power and a 25 m dish, normally used for radio astronomy but also EME. They were scheduled to transmit on the weekend of June 10-11. On Sunday June 11, during the morning pass, Rob VK1KW reported a strong signal every 30 seconds on I-Inspire-2’s frequency. Dimitris VK1SV who is part of the ANU team, verified reception from home around midnight. The following morning Dimitris drove to the ANU ground station and was able to send commands to the satellite for the first time since it was deployed. Many other radio amateurs around the world also reported reception of the beacon. The satellite had come back to life! This is a wonderful example of successful collaboration between radio amateurs and the academic community. If a frequency outside the radio amateur band had been used, it is doubtful that the satellite would have been brought back to life. The crew of I-Inspire-2 wishes to thank all radio amateurs involved and is looking forward to a successful collection of data for the scientific experiment! [ANS thanks WIA News and AMSAT-UK for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- SARL/AMSAT SA SDR Workshop To Be Held In August The date for the joint SARL/AMSAT SA workshop about enhancing the SDR experience has been set for Saturday 12 August 2017 at the National Amateur Radio Centre. The workshop will focus on getting more fun from a VHF SDR dongle. The second part of the workshop will focus on how to kick start the South African Radio League monitoring of the increase in the RF noise floor level project using the SDR waterfall. Both a HF and VHF dongle will be available as well as a memory stick with the required SDR and some fun software. More details will be published soon. If you are interested in attending the workshops, please send an e-mail with your details to admin(a)amsatsa.org.za and you will be added to a mailing list to keep you up to date with details of the workshops in Gauteng and the Western Cape. You are listening to a news bulletin of the South African Radio League. Take your hand-held to work this week. [ANS thanks SARL weekly news in English 2017-6-24 for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- New Zealand’s KiwiSAT Update Yes, we’re going into space and you can be part of it! AMSAT_ZL has reached a staging point in the development of their satellite project, KiwiSAT. We’re ready to go, ready to get up there! The KiwiSAT Team has produced a fine unit ready to launch. Then came a set-back. Our critically important Leader of the KiwiSAT Engineering Team, Fred Kennedy ZL1BYP, was struck down and driven to endure many months of medical procedures. This has have left him unable to continue his important work. It’s time for renewal. Over time the support team has aged, drifting from their positions of youth and ability. Much has been achieved but all to no avail if KiwiSAT sits on a shelf. Can you help? AMSAT-ZL is looking both to its members and to the general New Zealand amateur radio population for a coordinator to join the team and lead the project through this final stage. We’re making history. We’re going into space! We need a volunteer “Orbit Insertion Team” consisting of a Launch Co-ordinator and as many assistants as he/she requires to undertake the task of securing a launch for KiwiSAT. This new team will also take over Fred Kennedy’s leadership responsibilities. In parallel, the established KiwiSAT engineering team will continue their involvement, giving support along the way. Much of the new team’s work will be organisational rather than hands-on engineering. Involved is arranging final environmental testing of KiwiSAT, identifying and negotiating a launch, attending the launch and attending to funding for this final phase. Basic planning is complete, we need action. Other tasks will undoubtedly be crop up however it is envisaged that the current team will ensure the preparation of KiwiSAT to full flight status is completed. Offers need to be received by 30 June 2017. The AMSAT-ZL Committee will then appoint a team and leader. Offers can be advised to the AMSAT-ZL Secretary, 894 Ponga Road, RD 4, Auckland 2584 or by Email to iana(a)kcbbs.gen.nz or to myself tdcarrell(a)gmail.com. Email either of us for more details. Financial assistance is available to enable the successful applicant to meet for a briefing with Fred in Auckland, July this year. Thank you, Terry, ZL3QL President AMSAT-ZL [ANS thanks Southgate and NZART 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-169 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by E.Mike McCardel 17 Jun '17

17 Jun '17

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-169 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: * 2017 Candidates for the AMSAT-NA Board of Directors Announced * 2017 AMSAT Field Day Rules * Iceland/Greenland/Faroe Islands on Satellite July 4-19 * CAS-4A and CAS-4B Satellites from CAMSAT Launched Thursday * Updates to AMSAT-NA KEP Distribution for 06-15-2017 * Frank Bauer KA3HDO Among Distinguished Public Service Medal Honorees * Wireless Institute of Australia Reports Amateur Radio Rescue of Satellite * ARISS News * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-169.01 ANS-169 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 169.01 >From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. June 18, 2017 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-169.01 2017 Candidates for the AMSAT-NA Board of Directors Announced The 2017 candidates, in alphabetical order by last name are: Jerry Buxton, N0JY Clayton Coleman, W5PFG Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA Peter Portanova, W2JV Paul Stoetzer, N8HM This year AMSAT-NA will be electing four voting members of the Board of Directors. These will go to the four candidates receiving the highest number of votes. In addition, there will be one alternate chosen, based on the next highest number of votes received. Ballots will be mailed to the AMSAT-NA membership by July 15, 2017 and must be received at the AMSAT office by September 15, 2017 in order to be counted. Those sent outside North America will go by air mail. If you have not received your ballot package in a reasonable time for your location, please contact the AMSAT office. Completed ballots should be returned as promptly as possible, and those from outside North America preferably by air mail. Election of Board members is both an obligation as well as an opportunity by our membership to help shape the future direction of AMSAT. Please take the time to review the candidate statements that will accompany the ballot and determine who you wish to see on the Board. You have the option to vote for up to four candidates. [ANS thanks AMSAT Office for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- 2017 AMSAT Field Day Rules It's that time of year again; summer and Field Day! Each year the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) sponsors Field Day as a "picnic, a campout, practice for emergencies, an informal contest and, most of all, FUN!" The event takes place during a 24-hour period on the fourth weekend of June. For 2017 the event takes place during a 27- hour period from 1800 UTC on Saturday June 24, 2017 through 2100 UTC on Sunday June 25, 2017. Those who set up prior to 1800 UTC on June 24 can operate only 24 hours. The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT) promotes its own version of Field Day for operation via the amateur satellites, held concurrently with the ARRL event. This year should be easier than many years since we have about 10 transponders and repeaters available, with more possible before Field Day. Users should check the AMSAT status page at http://www.amsat.org/status/ and the pages at http://www.amsat.org/?page_id=177 for what is available in the weeks leading up to field day. To reduce the amount of time to research each satellite, see the current FM satellite table at http://www.amsat.org/?page_id=5012 and the current linear satellite table at http://www.amsat.org/?page_id=5033 If you are considering ONLY the FM voice satellites like SO-50 for your AMSAT Field Day focus, do not, unless you are simply hoping to make one contact for the ARRL rules bonus points. The congestion on FM LEO satellites is always so intense that we must continue to limit their use to one-QSO-per-FM-satellite. This includes the International Space Station. You will be allowed one QSO if the ISS is operating Voice. It was suggested during past field days that a control station be allowed to coordinate contacts on the FM satellites. There is nothing in the rules that would prohibit this. This is nothing more than a single station working multiple QSO's. If a station were to act as a control station and give QSO's to every other field day station, the control station would still only be allowed to turn in one QSO per FM satellite while the other station would be able to submit one QSO. The format for the message exchange on the ISS or other digital packet satellite is an unproto packet to the other station (3-way exchange required) with all the same information as normally exchanged for ARRL Field Day, e.g.: W6NWG de KK5DO 2A STX KK5DO de W6NWG QSL 5A SDG W6NWG de KK5DO QSL If you have worked the satellites on Field Day in recent years, you may have noticed a lot of good contacts can be made on some of the less-populated, low-earth-orbit satellites like FO-29, AO-7, AO-73, NAYIF-1 or the XW satellites. During Field Day the transponders come alive like 20 meters on a weekend. The good news is that the transponders on these satellites will support multiple simultaneous contacts. The bad news is that you can't use FM, just low duty-cycle modes like SSB and CW. THE 2017 AMSAT FIELD DAY RULES The AMSAT Field Day 2017 event is open to all Amateur Radio operators. Amateurs are to use the exchange as specified in ARRL rules for Field Day. The AMSAT competition is to encourage the use of all amateur satellites, both analog and digital. Note that no points will be credited for any contacts beyond the ONE allowed via each single-channel FM satellite. Operators are encouraged not to make any extra contacts via theses satellites (Ex: SO-50). CW contacts and digital contacts are worth three points as outlined below. 1. Analog Transponders ARRL rules apply, except: - Each phone, CW, and digital segment ON EACH SATELLITE TRANSPONDER is considered to be a separate band. - CW and digital (RTTY, PSK-31, etc.) contacts count THREE points each. - Stations may only count one (1) completed QSO on any single channel FM satellite. If a satellite has multiple modes such as V/u and L/s modes both turned on, one contact each is allowed. If the PBBS is on - see Pacsats below, ISS (1 phone and 1 digital), Contacts with the ISS crew will count for one contact if they are active. PCSat (I, II, etc.) (1 digital), - The use of more than one transmitter at the same time on a single satellite transponder is prohibited. 2. Digital Transponders We have only APRS digipeaters and 10m to 70cm PSK transponders (see Bob Bruninga's article in the March/April, 2016 issue of the AMSAT Journal). Satellite digipeat QSO's and APRS short-message contacts are worth three points each, but must be complete verified two-way exchanges. The one contact per FM satellite is not applied to digital transponders. The use of terrestrial gateway stations or internet gateways (i.e. EchoLink, IRLP, etc.) to uplink/downlink is not allowed. Sample Satellite Field Day Greetings File: Greetings from W5MSQ Field Day Satellite station near Katy, Texas, EL-29, with 20 participants, operating class 2A, in the AMSAT-Houston group with the Houston Amateur Television Society and the Houston QRP club. All the best and 73! Note that the message stated the call, name of the group, operating class, where they were located (the grid square would be helpful) and how many operators were in attendance. 3. Operating Class Stations operating portable and using emergency power (as per ARRL Field Day rules) are in a separate operating class from those at home connected to commercial power. On the report form simply check off Emergency or Commercial for the Power Source and be sure to specify your ARRL operating class (2A, 1C, etc.). AND FINALLY... The Satellite Summary Sheet should be used for submission of the AMSAT Field Day competition and be received by KK5DO (email or postal mail) by 11:59 P.M. CDT, Monday, July 10, 2017. This is earlier than the due date for the ARRL submissions. The preferred method for submitting your log is via e-mail to kk5do at amsat dot org or kk5do at arrl dot net. You may also use the postal service but give plenty of time for your results to arrive by the submission date. Add photographs or other interesting information that can be used in an article for the Journal. You will receive an email back (within one or two days) from me when I receive your email submission. If you do not receive a confirmation message, then I have not received your submission. Try sending it again or send it to my other email address. If mailing your submission, the address is: Bruce Paige, KK5DO Director of Awards and Contests PO Box 1598 Porter, TX 77365-1598. Certificates will be awarded for the first-place emergency power/portable station at the AMSAT General Meeting and Space Symposium in the fall of 2017. Certificates will also be awarded to the second and third place portable/emergency operation in addition to the first-place home station running on emergency power. A station submitting high, award-winning scores will be requested to send in dupe sheets for analog contacts and message listings for digital downloads. You may have multiple rig difficulties, antenna failures, computer glitches, generator disasters, tropical storms, and there may even be satellite problems, but the goal is to test your ability to operate in an emergency situation. Try different gear. Demonstrate satellite operations to hams that don't even know the HAMSATS exist. Test your equipment. Avoid making more than ONE contact via the FM- only voice HAMSATS or the ISS, and enjoy the event! Please follow the following form when submitting results: AMSAT Satellite Summary Sheet - 2017 Satellite and number of Voice QSO's (example AO-27 1 ) Satellite and number of CW/RTTY/PSK31 etc QSO's (example AO-07 5 ) Satellite and Up/Downloads (example UO-11 3 ) Score Calculation Total Voice QSO's x 1 = Total CW/RTTY/PSK31 QSO's x 3 = Total Up/Downloads x 3 = Grand Total = Please provide the following information Your Field Day Callsign Your Group Name ARRL Field Day Classification ARRL Section Power Source (Select 1) Emergency Commercial Your name and home call Home address Any Comments [ANS thanks Bruce KK5DO for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Iceland/Greenland/Faroe Islands on Satellite July 4-19 Gabe Zeifman NJ7H/VE6NJH has finalized plans for an upcoming trip to Iceland, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands. Once again, this is a trip with family so radio is not his priority. However, he will put forth my best effort to give these rare entities and associated grids to everyone in range. Gabe will be arriving in Iceland at about 0000Z on July 5 and spend one night at the hotel on the airport (access to HP83/84 line). Gabe reports, "We will be in Iceland until July 10 with numerous grids in the HP and IP fields possible, no strict plan yet. "We will continue on to the Faroe Islands July 10-14. I will make an effort to operate from both IP61 and IP62 while in the Faroes. "Finally, we will head to Greenland on July 14th staying until the 18th. The destination in Greenland is Ilulissat in GP49. I do not anticipate any other grids to be activated in Greenland, although if there is an opportunity I will, but I don't expect any opportunities. >From GP49 all of North/Central America and Europe should be in range, along with portions of South America, Asia, and Africa, much of it even possible on SO-50. I anticipate a nearly perfect horizon to the west. "On the 19th we travel back to the US with a several hour connection in Iceland. I will also have two nights on the beginning and end in New York City, and July 21-25 in Florida (anyone who needs EM90, hit me up). "In exciting news, this very well may be the last DX use of NJ7H. Don't worry, I am not retired from roving. I am beginning my training at the FAA as an air traffic controller on July 26th and will be very busy with that. I expect facility placement in late October, and I am requesting Alaska. Although I cannot yet be certain, I have been told that I should expect to receive my request. "QSLing for this trip will be via LoTW. I still need to get some new generic cards printed, but if you need paper I'll get cards printed eventually, just don't expect rush service (I have some from other trips in the backlog, don't worry I havn't forgotten)." Calls to be used: Iceland: TF/NJ7H Greenland: OX/NJ7H Faroe Islands: OY/NJ7H [ANS thanks Gabe NJ7H/VE6NJH for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- CAS-4A and CAS-4B Satellites from CAMSAT Launched Thursday Two CAMSAT’s armature radio payloads piggybacked on the optical remote sensing micro-satellites OVS-1A and OVS-1B have been launched at 11:00BJT on June 15, 2017 at The Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center of China, using CZ-4B launch vehicle. The primary of this launch is a hard X-ray modulation telescope satellite (HXMT). Satellite Name: CAS-4A/OVS-1A Architecture: Micro-satellite Dimensions: 494Lx499Wx630H mm Mass: 55kg Stabilization: three-axis stabilization system with its +Y surface facing the earth Primary Payload: optical Camera with 1.98m resolution Orbit: Orbit type : Sun synchronization orbit Apogee : 524km Inclination : 43º Period : 95.1min Amateur Radio Payload: Call sign: BJ1SK VHF Antenna: one 1/4? monopole antenna with max.0dBi gain is located at +Z side UHF Antenna: one 1/4? monopole antenna with max.0dBi gain is located at -Z side CW Telemetry Beacon: 145.855MHz 17dBm AX.25 4.8k Baud GMSK Telemetry: 145.835MHz 20dBm U/V Linear Transponder Downlink: 145.870MHz 20dBm, 20kHz, Inverted U/V Linear Transponder Uplink: 435.220MHz Satellite Name: CAS-4B/OVS-1B Architecture: Micro-satellite Dimensions: 494Lx499Wx630H mm Mass: 55kg Stabilization: three-axis stabilization system with its +Y surface facing the earth Primary Payload: optical Camera with 1.98m resolution Orbit: Orbit type: Sun synchronization orbit Apogee: 524km Inclination: 43º Period: 95.1min Amateur Radio Payload: Call sign: BJ1SL VHF Antenna: one 1/4? monopole antenna with max.0dBi gain is located at +Z side UHF Antenna: one 1/4? monopole antenna with max.0dBi gain is located at -Z side CW Telemetry Beacon: 145.910MHz 17dBm AX.25 4.8k Baud GMSK Telemetry: 145.890MHz 20dBm U/V Linear Transponder Downlink: 145.925MHz 20dBm, 20kHz, Inverted U/V Linear Transponder Uplink: 435.280MHz [ANS thanks Alan Kung, BA1DU for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Updates to AMSAT-NA KEP Distribution for 06-15-2017 ITF-2 is now Tsukuba-OSCAR 89 or TO-89 per Bill Tynan, W3XO, OSCAR Number Administrator. CAS-4A/OVS-1A and CAS-4B/OVS-1B where launched today (06-15-2017) at 03:00 GMT from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center of China using a CZ-4B launch vehicle. See amsat-bb email below from Alan Kung, BA1DU. Nico Janssen, PA0DLO notes that these two new satellites are two of the four NORAD ID CAT 42578-42761. For now the 06-15-2017 AMSAT-NA KEP Distribution list them as follows: Name NORAD CAT ID Object A 42758 Object B 42759 Object C 42760 Object D 42761 CAS-4A and CAS-4B Satellites from CAMSAT Launched today Two CAMSAT's armature radio payloads piggybacked on the optical remote sensing micro-satellites OVS-1A and OVS-1B have been launched at 11:00 BJT on June 15, 2017 at The Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center of China, using CZ-4B launch vehicle. The primary of this launch is a hard X-ray modulation telescope satellite (HXMT). [ANS thanks Ray Hoad WA5QGD for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Frank Bauer KA3HDO Among Distinguished Public Service Medal Honorees AMSAT's VP of Human Spaceflight Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, AMSAT V.P. for Human Spaceflight Programs, and ARISS International Chair was among 14 honorees for NASA's 2017 Distinguished Public Service Medal. NASA Agency Honor Awards Ceremony for 2017 Distinguished Service Medal and Distinguished Public Service Medal Honorees was held Thursday, June 15, 11 a.m. EDT, and broadcast on NASA TV. During the Agency Honor Awards Ceremony on Thursday, Acting NASA Administrator Lightfoot presented NASA’s most prestigious honors to NASA’s 2017 Distinguished Service Medal Honorees and Distinguished Public Service Medal Honorees. These NASA Agency Honor Awards recognize individual employees who have made an extraordinary and indelible impact on the agency’s mission success. All of these individuals help enable missions to explore and discover both our world and the universe. The 2017 Distinguished Service Medal Honorees are: Stephen Cash, Jeffrey Davis, Mike French, Peter Gnoffo, Kelly Hayhurst, Robin Henderson, Michael Hesse, Steven Kempler, Brenda Manuel, Carol Mosier, Ronald Mueller, Dava Newman, Paul Newman, David Radzanowski, Albert Sofge, Ellen Stofan, Patrick Troutman, Tereasa Washington, David Weaver, and Richard Williams. The 2017 Distinguished Public Service Medal Honorees are: Terry Abel, Frank Bauer, Eric De Jong, Edward Devine, Michael Dorsch, Alan Hargens, Kauser Imtiaz, Roger Launius, Edward Nace, Christopher Russell, John Salisbury, John Sterritt, Forman Williams, and Roberta Wyrick. For more information on the Agency Honor Award Program, please visit: https://www.nssc.nasa.gov/awards [ANS thanks NASA for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Wireless Institute of Australia reports amateur radio rescue of satellite I-Inspire-2 is a 20 x 10 x 10cm CubeSat built by the University of Sydney in collaboration with the Australian National University and the University of New South Wales (Sydney). On board the tiny spacecraft is an experiment, part of the European QB50 project, designed to “explore the lower thermosphere, for re-entry research and in-orbit demonstration of technologies and miniaturised sensors”, as reported in earlier editions of the WIA broadcast. Its operational frequency was coordinated by IARU to be in the satellite segment of the 70cm amateur band. It was placed in orbit from the International Space Station in late May. The deployment was successful; however there were no signs of life when the ground stations started looking for it. The engineering group quickly tested various scenarios on the engineering model only to come to the conclusion that, due to the extended delay in the deployment, the satellite's battery was likely to be depleted and the satellite was trapped in an endless loop, trying to deploy its antenna. The engineering group suggested that the satellite is still listening albeit with its antennas in the stowed position. This meant that the satellite command receiver might have difficulty receiving any signals from ground control stations. A set of commands were devised which, if received, would instruct the satellite to wait until the battery is charged before attempting to deploy its antenna. Both UNSW and ANU ground stations transmitted the recovery command to the satellite; however after a week or so of no success it was decided that more transmitter power was required to overcome the lack of receiver sensitivity caused by the still stowed antenna. A request for assistance was passed to EME operators around the world and many responses were received. The greatest hope for a successful recovery was thought to be PI 9 CAM using high power and a 25 m dish, normally used for radio astronomy but also EME. They were scheduled to transmit on the weekend of the 10th and 11th of June. On Sunday the 11th of June, during the morning pass, Rob VK1KW reported a strong signal every 30 seconds on I-Inspire-2's frequency. Dimitris VK1SV who is part of the ANU team, verified reception from home around midnight. The following morning Dimitris drove to the ANU ground station and was able to send commands to the satellite for the first time since it was deployed. Many other radio amateurs around the world also reported reception of the beacon. The satellite had come back to life! This is a wonderful example of successful collaboration between radio amateurs and the academic community. If a frequency outside the radio amateur band had been used, it is doubtful that the satellite would have been brought back to life. The crew of I-Inspire-2 wishes to thank all radio amateurs involved and is looking forward to a successful collection of data for the scientific experiment! I-Inspire-2 official web site: http://sydney.edu.au/inspire-cubesat/project/index.shtml ( Dimitris Tsifakis VK1SV/VK2COW ) [ANS thanks the VK1WIA news for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS News + A Successful contact was made between Space Center Houston, Houston, TX, USA and Astronaut Jack Fischer K2FSH using Callsign OR4ISS. The contact began 2017-06-13 15:19 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was Telebridge via ON4ISS. ARISS Mentor was Gene K5YFL. Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule Sochi, Russia, direct via TBD The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS The scheduled astronaut is Fyodor Yurchikhin RN3FI Contact is a go for Sat 2017-06-17 15:10 UTC Ufa, Russia, direct via TBD The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS The scheduled astronaut is Fyodor Yurchikhin RN3FI Contact is a go for Fri 2017-06-23 08:25 UTC SCaN/Glenn Research Center, Brook Park, OH, and the Girl Scouts of North East Ohio direct via NA8SA The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Jack Fischer K2FSH Contact is a go for: Fri 2017-06-23 14:25:09 UTC Note that this contact should be audible direct over parts of the Eastern USA. [ANS thanks ARISS, Charlie AJ9N and David AA4KN for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + Satellite DX operation in the BELIZE BELIZE, V3. Look for David, KG5CCI to be active as V31CI from Ambergris Caye (NA-073), from June 21 to 27, including Field Day. Listen for him on Satellites, 6 Meters (digital and SSB) and possibly on the HF bands. QSL direct to KG5CCI. --------------------------------------------------------------------- /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-162 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Joe Spier 10 Jun '17

10 Jun '17

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-162 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: * ITF-2 is now Tsukuba-OSCAR 89 (TO-89) * AMSAT Strategic Planning Member Poll * May/June Issue of The AMSAT Journal Sent to Printer * May/June 2017 Edition of Apogee View Posted on AMSAT.org * AMSAT Member is Author of July 2017 "This Month in QST" Free Article * 2017 AMSAT-NA Board of Directors Nominations Notice * DXCC Needs List for Satellites * AMSAT Events SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-162.01 ANS-162 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 162.01 >From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. DATE June 11, 2017 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-162.01 --------------------------------------------------------------------- ITF-2 is now Tsukuba-OSCAR 89 (TO-89) In accordance with your request sent to the AMSAT-NA Board of Directors for an OSCAR number for ITF-2, and evidence that all of the conditions for an OSCAR number have been met, I hereby by the authority vested in me by the AMSAT-NA President, do convey on ITF-2 the designation Tsukuba-OSCAR 89 or TO-89. Along with the rest of the Amateur Radio satellite community, I see that TO-89 has been meeting its objectives since its deployment from ISS and trust that it will continue to do so for the remainder of its mission. I wish you and your group at the University of Tsukuba YUT Satellite Project Team the best of luck in this and future endeavors to keep Amateur Radio in space. 73, William A. (Bill) Tynan, W3XO OSCAR Number Administrator [ANS thanks AMSAT-NA for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT Strategic Planning Member Poll A key part of the strategic planning process, as President Barry Baines explains in his article (http://www.amsat.org/?p=6058), is “member engagement.” The reason is that, in a non-profit membership organization like AMSAT, the members quite simply are the lifeblood, the key stakeholders, or what a commercial enterprise would call “customers.” Member engagement can take many forms. In the strategic planning process, however, member engagement means helping AMSAT figure out how and where to find new and realistic opportunities to move the organization forward. To that end, AMSAT is asking for your help by “engaging” the AMSAT leadership with YOUR desires, needs and vision about the future direction of AMSAT by providing your best answers to the five questions below: 1. What are 3-5 new products, services or activities that AMSAT should START offering or doing (in order of priority, 1 being highest)? 2. What 3-5 current offerings or activities should AMSAT STOP offering or doing (in order of priority, 1 being highest)? 3. What are the top 3 ways that you would prefer AMSAT to communicate with you as a member (in order of priority) [e.g., email, social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, other), website, text, HF radio nets, etc.]? 4. If you were going to recruit another amateur radio operator as an AMSAT member, what pitch do you think would be most successful in making that ham want to join? 5. From your perspective, what would AMSAT ideally look like in 3 years? What would it be doing? What products and services would it offer? We will share your answers with the AMSAT Board of Directors and members of the strategic planning team. PLEASE EMAIL RESPONSES TO: journal(a)amsat.org SUBJECT: Reader Poll [ANS thanks AMSAT-NA for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- May/June Issue of The AMSAT Journal Sent to Printer The May/June 2017 issue of The AMSAT Journal has been sent to the printer and should begin arriving in members’ mailboxes shortly. In this issue: *AMSAT Announcement *Apogee View Barry Baines, WD4ASW *AMSAT Strategic Planning Update Barry Baines, WD4ASW Keith Baker, KB1SF/VA3KSF Clayton Coleman, W5PFG Paul Stoetzer, N8HM Jerry Buxton, N0JY *AMSAT Journal Strategic Planning Poll *Hamvention 2017 Joe Kornowski, KB6IGK *Setting the ISS UHF Distance Record Jerry L. Rogers, W8LR *Going Portable with the Amateur Radio Satellites Keith Baker, KB1SF/VA3KSF *AMSAT Goes to the Moon with the Cube Quest Challenge Howie DeFelice, AB2S [ANS thanks AMSAT-NA for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- May/June 2017 Edition of Apogee View Posted on AMSAT.org The May/June 2017 edition of Apogee View, a comprehensive bimonthly update of AMSAT's activities written by AMSAT President Barry Baines, WD4ASW, is now available on the AMSAT website at http://www.amsat.org/?page_id=5850 Topics covered in this edition include: -Hamvention -Board of Directors Election & Leadership Changes [ANS thanks AMSAT-NA for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT Member is Author of July 2017 "This Month in QST" Free Article AMSAT member Gabriel Zeifman, NJ7H/VE6NJH, is the author of the ARRL's "This Month in QST" Free Article for July 2017. The article, "Satellite Roving in the Northwest Territories", chronicles his trip north of the 60th parallel this past winter. A copy of the article is available at http://www.arrl.org/this-month-in-qst [ANS thanks AMSAT-NA for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- 2017 AMSAT-NA Board of Directors Nominations Notice It's time to submit nominations for the upcoming AMSAT-NA Board of Directors election. Four directors' terms expire this year: Barry Baines, WD4ASW, Jerry Buxton, N0JY, Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, and Bob McGwier, N4HY. In addition, up to two Alternates may be elected for one year terms. A valid nomination requires either one Member Society or five current individual members in good standing to nominate an AMSAT-NA member for Director. Written nominations, consisting of the nominee's name and call, and the nominating individual's names, calls and individual signatures should be mailed to: AMSAT-NA, 10605 Concord St, #304 Kensington, MD 20895-2526. In addition to traditional submissions of written nominations, which is the preferred method, the intent to nominate someone may be made by electronic means. These include e-mail, fax, or electronic image of a petition. Electronic petitions should be sent to martha(a)amsat.org or faxed to (301)822-4371. No matter what means is used, petitions MUST arrive no later than June 15th at the AMSAT-NA office. If the nomination is a traditional written nomination, no other action is required. If it is other than this, i.e. electronic, a verifying traditional written petition MUST be received at the AMSAT-NA office at the above address within 7 days following the close of nominations on June 15th. ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS WITHOUT THIS SECOND, WRITTEN VERIFICATION ARE NOT VALID UNDER THE EXISTING AMSAT-NA BYLAWS. [ANS thanks AMSAT-NA for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- DXCC Needs List for Satellites DXCC (NEEDS) ON THE BIRDS. The Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin notes that OPDX's Webmaster, John, K8YSE, is getting close to DXCC on the current Low Earth Orbit Satellites. His want list includes 3A, 3C, CN, CP, EA9, HB0, HC8, HK0, JW, JX, OH0, P4,U, A2, V44,P2E and ZB2, plus DXpedition entities like 5T, 6W, C5, OJ0, TI9 and XF4. If you want to try working him, contact John at his QRZ.com address. And if you are planning a DXpedition to a place that is within 6000km of a population center, please consider adding satellites to your operation. You can receive assistance from John and AMSAT. More info at <papays.com/sat> and amsat.org. [ANS thanks Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 1317 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). *Tuesday, 20 June 2017 – presentation for Superstition Amateur Radio Club in Mesa AZ [ANS thanks AMSAT-NA 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-155 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Lee McLamb 03 Jun '17

03 Jun '17

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-155 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: * 2017 AMSAT-NA Board of Directors Nominations Due June 15 * Assistance Needed Recovering UNSW-ECO0 and i-INSPIRE 2 Cubesats * Flight Qualified Digipeater and DTMF Transponder Available * VUCC Awards/Endorsements for May 2017 * Amateur Radio BIRDS-1 CubeSat Constellation * AMSATSA Reports Significant Progress with the Kletskous Cubesat * MacDoppler Version 2.25 released SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-155.01 ANS-155 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 155.01 From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. DATE June 4, 2017 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-155.01 2017 AMSAT-NA Board of Directors Nominations Due June 15 It's time to submit nominations for the upcoming AMSAT-NA Board of Directors election. Four directors' terms expire this year: Barry Baines, WD4ASW, Jerry Buxton, N0JY, Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, and Bob McGwier, N4HY. In addition, up to two Alternates may be elected for one year terms. A valid nomination requires either one Member Society or five current individual members in good standing to nominate an AMSAT-NA member for Director. Written nominations, consisting of the nominee's name and call, and the nominating individual's names, calls and individual signatures should be mailed to: AMSAT-NA, 10605 Concord St, #304 Kensington, MD 20895-2526. In addition to traditional submissions of written nominations, which is the preferred method, the intent to nominate someone may be made by electronic means. These include e-mail, fax, or electronic image of a petition. Electronic petitions should be sent to martha(a)amsat.org or faxed to (301)822-4371. No matter what means is used, petitions MUST arrive no later than June 15th at the AMSAT-NA office. If the nomination is a traditional written nomination, no other action is required. If it is other than this, i.e. electronic, a verifying traditional written petition MUST be received at the AMSAT-NA office at the above address within 7 days following the close of nominations on June 15th. ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS WITHOUT THIS SECOND, WRITTEN VERIFICATION ARE NOT VALID UNDER THE EXISTING AMSAT-NA BYLAWS. [ANS thanks Paul, N8HM, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Assistance Needed Recovering UNSW-ECO0 and i-INSPIRE 2 Cubesats Joon Wayn, part of the AU02 (UNSW-EC0) and AU03 (i-INSPIRE 2) Australian team of QB50 cubesats, requests assistance from experienced and well-equipped foreign HAM amateurs experts. Joon reports, our satellite was deployed last week and we have been unable to hear any beacons coming from it. We had several brainstorm sessions to identify possible configurations that could be changed to optimize the occurrence antenna redeployment sequence. Based on this, we devised a set of commands that reflect these changes in configurations that needs to be uplinked to the satellite. We have attempted to uplink these commands at 50W transmit power, but there's no response so far. We strongly believe the satellite is still alive but has an undeployed antenna. As such, we require sufficient transmit gain in both transmit power and antenna gain to achieve positive uplink margin. Our problem is that we do not have the equipment to achieve the required transmit power to overcome the losses due to an unstowed configuration. We have a recorded *.wav file that you can play through radio in FM mode to perform the uplink. Relevant technical info: - The sat uses Nanocom ANT430 antenna that is still stowed. The stowed antenna is exposed on the outside of the spacecraft. - The sat uses Nanocom U482C transceiver. - The OBC might be trickling between on and off states and hence a daytime or dusk zenith pass is optimal for the uplink. Our ground station: - 21 el H and 21el V yagi configured in RHCP - Kenwood TS-2000 in FM mode with 50W transmit power. Hope you have a good weekend, and do not hesitate to contact me at cjwayn(a)unsw.edu.au if you would be willing to help. Your attention has been much appreciated. [ANS thanks Joon Wayn for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Flight Qualified Digipeater and DTMF Transponder Available If anyone has access to a ride to space on a HOST, remember there is a fully qualified flight unit DIGIPEATER and DTMF transponder module ready to fly as an attached payload to any HOST spacecraft. Lets call it QIKCOM-3. The mission of the identical QIKCOM-2 is described here: http://aprs.org/qikcom-2.html QIKCOM-2 flight Unit #1 was delivered back in 2015, and it might finally fly this fall. So, the backup FLIGHT unit is also ready to fly (attached to a suitable host). Unfortunately, the Air Force (responsible for all DoD satellite launches) has unilaterally declared that they will not accept any more Amateur Radio student satellites from the Naval Academy for flight on DoD launches, and so this unit is available to anyone that can get it attached to a payload and get it launched. [ANS thanks Bob, WB4APR, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- VUCC Awards/Endorsements for May 2017 Here are the endorsements and new VUCC Satellite Awards issued by the ARRL for the period May 1, 2017 through June 1, 2017. Congratulations to all those who made the list this month! CALL GRIDS KO4MA 1539 KB1RVT 1524 AC0RA 1143 W5PFG 1046 N8RO 959 N8HM 951 K8TL 901 XE1AO 584 KK4FEM 404 N6UK 400 WD9EWK 350 K5ND 301 AI6GS 230 K8BL 220 N1AIA 216 PV8DX 201 N9EAT 135 (NEW VUCC) VR2XMT 111 (NEW VUCC) K7TAB 100 (NEW VUCC) KA9P 100 (NEW VUCC) This list was developed by comparing the ARRL .pdf listings for May 1st and June 1st, 2017. It's a visual comparison so omissions are possible. Apologies if your call was not mentioned. Thanks to all those who are roving to grids that are rarely on the birds. They are doing most of the work! [ANS thanks John, K8YSE, for the above information} --------------------------------------------------------------------- Amateur Radio BIRDS-1 CubeSat Constellation The BIRDS-1 constellation consists of five 1U CubeSats (BIRD-B, BIRD-J, BIRD-G, BIRD-M and BIRD-N). They are planned to launch the ISS on a SpaceX Falcon 9 CRS-11 on June 3, 2017. The satellites are made of the exactly same design including the radio frequencies to be used and will be deployed from the ISS later in the year. The main mission of the constellation is to do experiments on radio communication with a CubeSat constellation via a network of UHF/VHF amateur radio ground stations all over the world. The challenge is to distinguish each satellite from the four satellites transmitting with the same frequency, hand over operation of a satellite from one ground station to another and assemble the satellite data, such as housekeeping telemetry, music and the Earth images, obtained at different ground stations. Amateur radio enthusiasts are asked to join the network to assist in the data downlink and reconstruction of the patchy satellite data into one meaningful data. Orbit information and operational plan of each satellite will be made available to the amateur radio community in the world. Software to decode the satellite data will be also made available. The respective amateur ground stations that can successfully decode the telemetry data, music and the Earth images, shall receive a QSL card from the BIRDS team. The data reconstructed by the effort of the amateur ground station network will be made public to share the sense of satisfaction and achievement. A particularly interesting mission of BIRDS project is the SNG mission that exchanges music via a digi-singer. It is an outreach-oriented mission. First, music in MIDI format is uploaded from ground. Then the MIDI file is processed on-board using a vocal synthesizer. Finally, the processed music is sent back to Earth using UHF antenna as voice FM data. During organized events on space utilization with schools or general public, music could be heard using a common hand-held receiver and hand-made Yagi antenna positioned to track the satellite at each given pass over the region. This has a tremendous effect on awareness of radio communication among school children and general public, especially in the countries participating in the BIRDS project, Japan, Ghana, Mongolia, Nigeria and Bangladesh. Proposing to use CW, 1k2 AFSK FM, audio FM and 9k6 GMSK downlinks. The IARU has coordinated a downlink frequency of 437.375 MHz. BIRDS project information: http://birds.ele.kyutech.ac.jp/ http://birds.ele.kyutech.ac.jp/amateur.html http://birds.ele.kyutech.ac.jp/newsletter.html https://www.facebook.com/Joint-Global-Multi-Nation-Birds-BIRDS- project-171403156542445/ Download the Paper – IAA-CU-15-01-16 Five-nations CubeSat constellation; An inexpensive test case for learning and capacity building https://www.researchgate.net/publication/289868265_IAA-CU-15-01-16_Five- nations_CubeSat_constellation_An_inexpensive_test_case_for_learning_and_capaci-_ ty_building The IARU Satellite Frequency Coordination pages are hosted by AMSAT-UK at http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru/ [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSATSA Reports Significant Progress with the Kletskous Cubesat At the annual AMSATSA space symposium, significant progress with the Kletskous CubeSat was reported by the development team. A new design space frame was released, which is constructed on a locked-in basis and now requires assembly screws. Although based on the original design by Deon Coetzee, ZR6DE, it is much lighter and fully machine produced with the advantage that its manufacture is repeatable exactly as the original. The Electronic Power System is in its final stages and offers advanced controls over the powering of the satellite even should the battery failed. The Symposium itself was a great success and as delegates said is the highlight on the annual amateur radio technology calendar. Planning for the 2018 is already underway. For more, visit www.amsatsa.org.za [ANS thanks the SARL weekly news in English 2017-6-3 for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- MacDoppler Version 2.25 released Dog Park Software is pleased to announce that MacDoppler Version 2.25 has been released and can be downloaded from: http://www.dogparksoftware.com/MacDoppler.html What's New in this release ? * Added Yaesu FT-991 driver. * Added Prosistel Combo azel driver. * Added Tuning Dial Tracking to IC-910. * Show Tuning Dial Tracking capability. * Added Rotator Stop button. * Display offsets in VFO panel Uplink and Downlink. * Fixed FT-847, FT-817 in-band doppler. * Fixed GS232B ERC Rotor Readback. [ANS thanks Dog Park Software and Southgate 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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