November 2018 - ANS - mailman.amsat.org

ANS-333 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin - Fox-1Cliff Launch Targeted for December 2nd
by Paul Stoetzer 29 Nov '18

29 Nov '18

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE SPECIAL BULLETIN ANS-333.01 In this Special Bulletin: * Fox-1Cliff Launch Targeted for December 2nd SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-333.01 ANS-333 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin 333.01 From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD DATE November 29, 2018 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-333.01 SpaceX has announced that the SSO-A: SmallSat Express mission carrying Fox-1Cliff is now targeted for launch on Sunday, December 2, 2018 at 18:31:47 UTC. In addition to Fox-1Cliff, the SSO-A mission will carry several other amateur radio satellites, includingF UNcube on ESEO, JY1-SAT, K2SAT, and ExseedSat. The launch window opens at 18:31:47 UTC and extends for approximately 30 minutes. [ANS thanks SpaceX and AMSAT for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ For a limited time, new and rewewing AMSAT members will receive a free digital copy of "Getting Started with Amateur Satellites" Join or renew your AMSAT membership today at https://www.amsat.org/product-category/amsat-membership/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers life memberships, and sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional 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 student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership information. 73 and Remember to help keep Amateur Radio in space, This week's ANS Contributing Editor, Paul Stoetzer, N8HM n8hm at amsat dot org

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ANS-332 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin - Fox-1Cliff Launch Postponed
by Paul Stoetzer 28 Nov '18

28 Nov '18

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE SPECIAL BULLETIN ANS-332.01 In this Special Bulletin: * Fox-1Cliff Launch Postponed SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-332.01 ANS-332 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin 332.01 From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD DATE November 28, 2018 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-332.01 SpaceX has announced that the SSO-A: Smallsat Express mission, previously scheduled for November 28th, has been postponed due to extreme high-altitude winds at Vandenberg Air Force Base. A new launch date will be announced once coordinated with the range. The SSO-A mission will carry several amateur radio satellites, including AMSAT’s Fox-1Cliff, FUNcube on ESEO, JY1-SAT, K2SAT, and ExseedSat. The launch window each day opens at 18:31:47 UTC and extends for approximately 30 minutes. [ANS thanks SpaceX and AMSAT for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ For a limited time, new and rewewing AMSAT members will receive a free digital copy of "Getting Started with Amateur Satellites" Join or renew your AMSAT membership today at https://www.amsat.org/product-category/amsat-membership/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers life memberships, and sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional 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 student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership information. 73 and Remember to help keep Amateur Radio in space, This week's ANS Contributing Editor, Paul Stoetzer, N8HM n8hm at amsat dot org

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Astro Pi Mission Zero: guarantee your code's place in space
by Frank Karnauskas 25 Nov '18

25 Nov '18

Today is the official launch day of Astro Pi Mission Zero, part of the 2018-2019 European Astro Pi Challenge, an ESA Education programme run in collaboration with us at Raspberry Pi. https://www.raspberrypi.org/blog/mission-zero-2018-19/ 73, Frank N1UW

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ANS-329 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Paul Stoetzer 25 Nov '18

25 Nov '18

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-329 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. You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/ans In this edition: * Fox-1Cliff Launch Scheduled for 28-Nov-2018 at 18:32 UTC * Robert Bankston, KE4AL, Elected AMSAT Vice-President of User Services * Fox-1Cliff Launch - Your Help is Needed! * ESA Announces "First Telemetry" Contest for ESEO * Happy 5th Birthday FUNcube-1 * FCC Dismisses AMSAT's 2004 Petition for Reconsideration * Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-329.01 ANS-329 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 329.01 From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. DATE November 25, 2018 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-329.01 +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ 2019 is AMSAT's 50th Anniversary! Watch this space for announcements of special events coming in 2019 Get ready to help celebrate with us at the Hamvention Symposium 2019 promises to be a special event Stand by for 50th anniversary operating events and awards +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Fox-1Cliff Launch Scheduled for 28-Nov-2018 at 18:32 UTC SpaceX has announced that the SSO-A: Smallsat Express mission is scheduled for launch on November 28, 2018. The SSO-A mission will carry several amateur radio satellites, including AMSAT's Fox-1Cliff, FUNcube on ESEO, JY1-SAT, K2SAT, and ExseedSat. The launch window opens at 18:31:47 UTC and will extend for approx- imately 30 minutes each day. [ANS thanks SpaceX and AMSAT for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ For a limited time, new and rewewing AMSAT members will receive a free digital copy of "Getting Started with Amateur Satellites" Join or renew your AMSAT membership today at https://www.amsat.org/product-category/amsat-membership/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ --------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert Bankston, KE4AL, Elected AMSAT Vice-President of User Services AMSAT President Joe Spier, K6WAO recently forwarded the name of Robert Bankston, KE4AL of Dothan, AL, to the AMSAT Board of Directors. Robert, who was this year's AMSAT Symposium Chairman, has an MBA from Troy University and is a Certified Public Accountant. On Tuesday, November 20, 2018, Robert was elected by the Board as Vice-President of User Services. "I want to welcome Robert to the Executive Team in filling a position that has been vacant for far too long. Robert has taken on the task of essentially providing the AMSAT membership with the services that our members expect in the 21st century. I look forward to working with him." said Joe. The AMSAT Vice-President of User Services is the team leader for the AMSAT News Service (ANS), the AMSAT Journal, Dayton Hamvention, Contests and Awards, AMSAT Ambassadors, AMSAT Nets, AMSAT Website, and Electronic Communications. "With the AMSAT Golden Jubilee this next year, the VP, User Services will be hard work, exciting, and fun!" [ANS thanks Joe Spier, K6WAO, AMSAT President, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Fox-1Cliff Launch – Your Help is Needed! *** Please share this information through all of your club and group news outlets! *** Following the successful launch and deployment of Fox-1Cliff, all amateur radio satellite enthusiasts can play an important part in the commissioning of the new satellite. Telemetry helps us tremendously, starting ASAP after startup (~59 minutes after deployment*) and for the next 72-96 hours at least (for the life of the satellite is preferred!) as we look for successful startup, watch the general health and function as the satellite begins to acclimate to space, and start to perform the on orbit checkout. The first station to successfully receive and submit telemetry to the AMSAT server will receive a special 3D printed QSL card acknowledging their contribution. If you are capturing telemetry with FoxTelem, please be sure that “Upload to Server” is checked in your settings and your Ground Station Params are filled in as well. You can help AMSAT and everyone waiting to get on the air with Fox-1Cliff tremendously, by capturing Fox-1Cliff telemetry. In the initial Safe Mode after startup, which we actually call Beacon Mode, the transmitter is limited to 10 seconds on time then does the two minutes off cycle. For those of you capturing telemetry, that means that you will only see Current frames and no High or Low frames because the High and Low are truncated as it takes just over 10 seconds to send two frames. You will hear Veronica announcing “Fox-1Cliff Safe Mode” while in Beacon Mode. We will likely leave the satellite in Beacon Mode for 24 hours to observe power telemetry. If we are seeing good readings from what you gather, when it comes over the U.S. for the first good pass after that holding period we will command it from Beacon Mode to normal Safe Mode. That puts Fox-1Cliff in full (still Safe Mode though) operation and transmits a full two frames of telemetry which is one Current frame followed by, and alternating each ID cycle, a High or a Low frame. We will begin the rest of the in orbit checklist activities at that time, and it is expected to take 7 to 10 days given the Thanksgiving holiday. Help your friends and all of our satellite ham friends get on the air and have fun sooner by being polite and patient! The in orbit checkout procedure is similar to Fox-1D and could be completed in as little as 7 days if we have the cooperation of the users. It is very important, not to mention just plain good Amateur Operating Practice, to refrain from using the transponder uplink so we can do the on orbit tests, including when we turn on transponder mode for testing. I cannot stress enough, the importance of this cooperation not just for us but also for all users, simply having a little patience so we can conduct the tests as quickly and accurately as possible. AMSAT will make it broadly known when the tests are complete and the transponder is available for all to use. If you hear someone on the transponder, please do not assume that it is open for general use – check our website, Facebook, Twitter, to be sure you are not accidentally jumping in with and unwittingly causing interference as well. Many hams put thousands of volunteer hours of their time into making Fox-1Cliff happen. Just like any ham radio project you might undertake, we build satellites. We do it because we like to, and when we are done, we freely share our project with hams everywhere as is the spirit of amateur radio. I have to say though, that the incidents we have experienced in the past with stations intentionally disregarding the command stations requests to keep the frequency clear during testing not only delays the commissioning, but also negatively impacts the enthusiasm that our volunteers feel toward handing over a new bird to the members and users as soon as possible. I am asking all satellite hams to contribute just a little bit of your time to the fun now, by being patient and just gathering telemetry, not using the transponder uplink, and helping us complete the last few days of getting Fox-1Cliff in orbit and operating for all of you. Thank you very much, see you on the bird! Jerry Buxton, N0JY (AMSAT VP Engineering) *Time of deployment will be made generally available through AMSAT as soon as Spaceflight provides the information to us. [ANS thanks Jerry Buxton, N0JY, AMSAT Vice President-Engineering for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Purchase AMSAT Gear on our Zazzle storefront. 25% of the purchase price of each product goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ --------------------------------------------------------------------- ESA Announces "First Telemetry" Contest for ESEO To celebrate the launch of the European Student Earth Orbiter (ESEO), ESA's Education Office challenges the amateur radio community to listen out to be first to hear the new spacecraft orbiting Earth. ESEO is currently due to be launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, as part of the SSO-A launch; spacecraft separation and activation is scheduled at about 2 hours 13 minutes after launch. About two minutes after being deployed into its final orbit, ESEO will begin transmitting with its beacon signals to Earth that can be picked up by anyone with common amateur radio equipment. ESA challenges anyone to send to eseo(a)esa.int the recording of the signal of the 437.00 MHz signal received from ESEO during its pass in visibility of their ground station. For one week after the ESEO launch, the first email coming from each continent (America, Africa, Europe, Asia, Oceania, Antartica), sent by radio-amateurs who recorded the signals received from ESEO, for which the signal recorded is confirmed to belong to ESEO, will be awarded an official ESA Education shirt of the ESEO mission. More information about ESEO can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/ANS-329-ESEO1 ESEO UHF Beacon Information: Frequency: 437.00 MHz Transmission Format: https://tinyurl.com/ANS-329-ESEO2 Modulation Format: GFSK Beacon schedule: + Every 1 minute when in safe mode and just after deployment during the de-tumbling phase + Every 1 minutes when in sunlight + Every 5 minutes when in eclipse Telemetry equations are documented at: https://tinyurl.com/ANS-329-ESEO3 What your email should contain: + An IQ recording in a recognised format + Your Name + Your Callsign (if any!) + Snailmail address for delivery of your polo shirt + Reception time of the beacon + Details of any telemetry decoded + Your Location + A few lines about your equipment Access the full press release at: https://tinyurl.com/ANS-329-ESEO4 [ANS thanks the European Space Agency for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Happy 5th Birthday FUNcube-1 Five years ago, on November 21, 2013, FUNcube-1 launched into space. Soon, we hope to welcome ESEO (FUNcube-4) and JY1SAT (FUNcube-6) into space. A remarkable achievement by the radio amateur volunteers of AMSAT-UK and AMSAT-NL. See https://amsat-uk.org/2018/11/21/happy-5th-birthday-funcube-1/ for more information. [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AMSAT and ARISS are currently supporting a FundRazr campaign to raise $150,000 for critical radio infrastructure upgrades on ISS. The upgrades are necessary to enable students to continue to talk to astronauts in space via Amateur Radio. We have reached a great milestone with $15,645 raised or about 10% towards our goal. This would not have been possible without your outstanding generosity!! For more information and to DONATE TODAY visit: https://fundrazr.com/arissnextgen?ref=ab_e7Htwa_ab_47IcJ9 +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ --------------------------------------------------------------------- FCC Dismisses AMSAT's 2004 Petition for Reconsideration On November 15, 2018, the Federal Communications Commission approved a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Order on Reconsideration regarding mitigation of orbital debris. In the Order on Reconsider- ation, the Commission dismissed AMSAT's 2004 Petition for Reconsider- ation of the Commission's 2004 orbital debris regulations as applied to amateur satellites. AMSAT released a statement on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and dismissal of the Petition for Reconsideration: "For nearly 60 years, amateur radio hobbyists, experimenters, and researchers from AMSAT, other amateur radio organizations, and universities worldwide have pioneered numerous satellite tech- nologies, including inter-satellite communication links, search-and- rescue satellite systems (SARSAT), reception of GPS signals at altitudes above the GPS constellation, and the use of commercial off-the-shelf components in space while accomplishing this with smaller and smaller satellites. We look forward to working with the FCC to craft a regulatory framework that addresses the growing concerns regarding orbital debris while preserving the flexibility for hobbyists, experimenters, and researchers to access a variety of orbits." The full text of the FCC's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Order on Reconsideration can be found at https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-18-159A1.pdf [ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule IMP Aerospace & Defence, Goffs, NS, Canada, telebridge via IK1SLD The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS The scheduled astronaut is Serena Aunon-Chancellor KG5TMT Contact was successful: Sat 2018-11-24 19:05:09 UTC 50 deg (***) Ecole Primaire Jean Jaurès et Arnaud, Troyes, France, telebridge via IK1SLD The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS The scheduled astronaut is Serena Aunon-Chancellor KG5TMT Contact is go for: Tue 2018-11-27 16:28:57 UTC 34 deg If you are interested in applying for an ARISS contact, please go to http://www.ariss.org/apply-to-host-an-ariss-contact.html [ANS thanks ARISS for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + Randy, K7AGE has released a video of the November 2018 AMSAT Symposium in Huntsville Al. The video highlights are at : https://youtu.be/bS3Y12dyyD0 (K7AGE on Twitter) + James WX4TV wrote, "Watch the DX Clusters for N4P." This will be for the Dry Tortugas National Park DXpedition that we are doing from December 14-17. They will be on 80m, 40m, 20m, 17m, and the FM satellites. (WX4TV via Facebook) + John, N7AME, will be in Hawaii December 3 - 14 and will on two islands, Oahu and Maui. He hopes to rove BL01, BL10 and BL11. The Hawaiian Islands appear to have ten (10) different grids and he hopes he could work all of them. Contacts are planned to be worked on AO91 and AO92. (John N7AME johnv at frontier.com) + The C. A. Muller Radio Astronomy Station (PI9CAM) has posted an article about photographing the far side of the moon with the LO-94 amateur radio satellite. https://tinyurl.com/ANS-329-PI9CAM (PI9CAM) [ANS thanks everyone 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 and remember to do your part to help Keep Amateur Radio In Space, This week's ANS Editor, Paul Stoetzer, N8HM N8HM at amsat.org

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ANS-318 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin - Fox-1Cliff Launch – Your Help is Needed!
by Paul Stoetzer 14 Nov '18

14 Nov '18

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE SPECIAL BULLETIN ANS-318.01 In this Special Bulletin: * Fox-1Cliff Launch – Your Help is Needed! SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-318.01 ANS-318 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin 318.01 From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD DATE November 14, 2018 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-318.01 Fox-1Cliff Launch – Your Help is Needed! *** Please share this information through all of your club and group news outlets! *** Following the successful launch and deployment of Fox-1Cliff, all amateur radio satellite enthusiasts can play an important part in the commissioning of the new satellite. Telemetry helps us tremendously, starting ASAP after startup (~59 minutes after deployment*) and for the next 72-96 hours at least (for the life of the satellite is preferred!) as we look for successful startup, watch the general health and function as the satellite begins to acclimate to space, and start to perform the on orbit checkout. The first station to successfully receive and submit telemetry to the AMSAT server will receive a special 3D printed QSL card acknowledging their contribution. If you are capturing telemetry with FoxTelem, please be sure that “Upload to Server” is checked in your settings and your Ground Station Params are filled in as well. You can help AMSAT and everyone waiting to get on the air with Fox-1Cliff tremendously, by capturing Fox-1Cliff telemetry. In the initial Safe Mode after startup, which we actually call Beacon Mode, the transmitter is limited to 10 seconds on time then does the two minutes off cycle. For those of you capturing telemetry, that means that you will only see Current frames and no High or Low frames because the High and Low are truncated as it takes just over 10 seconds to send two frames. You will hear Veronica announcing “Fox-1Cliff Safe Mode” while in Beacon Mode. We will likely leave the satellite in Beacon Mode for 24 hours to observe power telemetry. If we are seeing good readings from what you gather, when it comes over the U.S. for the first good pass after that holding period we will command it from Beacon Mode to normal Safe Mode. That puts Fox-1Cliff in full (still Safe Mode though) operation and transmits a full two frames of telemetry which is one Current frame followed by, and alternating each ID cycle, a High or a Low frame. We will begin the rest of the in orbit checklist activities at that time, and it is expected to take 7 to 10 days given the Thanksgiving holiday. Help your friends and all of our satellite ham friends get on the air and have fun sooner by being polite and patient! The in orbit checkout procedure is similar to Fox-1D and could be completed in as little as 7 days if we have the cooperation of the users. It is very important, not to mention just plain good Amateur Operating Practice, to refrain from using the transponder uplink so we can do the on orbit tests, including when we turn on transponder mode for testing. I cannot stress enough, the importance of this cooperation not just for us but also for all users, simply having a little patience so we can conduct the tests as quickly and accurately as possible. AMSAT will make it broadly known when the tests are complete and the transponder is available for all to use. If you hear someone on the transponder, please do not assume that it is open for general use – check our website, Facebook, Twitter, to be sure you are not accidentally jumping in with and unwittingly causing interference as well. Many hams put thousands of volunteer hours of their time into making Fox-1Cliff happen. Just like any ham radio project you might undertake, we build satellites. We do it because we like to, and when we are done, we freely share our project with hams everywhere as is the spirit of amateur radio. I have to say though, that the incidents we have experienced in the past with stations intentionally disregarding the command stations requests to keep the frequency clear during testing not only delays the commissioning, but also negatively impacts the enthusiasm that our volunteers feel toward handing over a new bird to the members and users as soon as possible. I am asking all satellite hams to contribute just a little bit of your time to the fun now, by being patient and just gathering telemetry, not using the transponder uplink, and helping us complete the last few days of getting Fox-1Cliff in orbit and operating for all of you. Thank you very much, see you on the bird! Jerry Buxton, N0JY (AMSAT VP Engineering) *Time of deployment will be made generally available through AMSAT as soon as Spaceflight provides the information to us. [ANS thanks Jerry Buxton, N0JY, AMSAT Vice President-Engineering for the above information] /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers life memberships, and sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional 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 student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership information. 73 and Remember to help keep Amateur Radio in space, This week's ANS Contributing Editor, Paul Stoetzer, N8HM n8hm at amsat dot org

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ANS-315 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Mark D. Johns 11 Nov '18

11 Nov '18

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-315 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. You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/ans In this edition: * Fox-1Cliff Launch Date Announced * Fox-1Cliff Launch Membership Drive * "Fox-In-A-Box" SD Cards Now Available * Can You Capture a Double Hop APRS Packet? * European MetOp-C Weather Satellite Launch * Collision Avoidance for SSO-A Mission * Identifying Newly Launched Objects * Upcoming Satellite Operations * ARISS News & FundRazr * Correction: AMSAT Senior Leadership * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-315.01 ANS-315 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 315.01 >From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. DATE November 11, 2018 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-315.01 +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ | 2019 is AMSAT's 50th Anniversary! | | Watch this space for announcements of special events coming in 2019 | | Get ready to help celebrate with us at the Hamvention | | Symposium 2019 near Washington, DC promises to be a special event | | Stand by for 50th anniversary operating events and awards | +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Fox-1Cliff Launch Date Announced! Spaceflight Now reports that a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch with Spaceflight’s SSO-A rideshare mission, a stack of satellites heading into sun-synchronous polar orbit. This stack includes AMSAT's Fox-1Cliff. The launch is now scheduled for scheduled for Monday, November 19, 2018 at 18:32 UTC. Fox-1Cliff carries the Fox-1 U/v FM repeater as well as AMSAT’s L-Band Downshifter. Uplink: 435.300 MHz FM voice (67.0 Hz CTCSS tone) 1267.300 MHz FM voice (67.0 Hz CTCSS tone) Downlink: 145.920 MHz FM voice; AFSK digital data up to 9600 bps Transmit power: 600 mW nominal Fox-1Cliff carries the flight spare of the AO-85 Vanderbilt University Low Energy Proton (LEP) radiation experiment, and the standard Fox-1 Penn State University–Erie gyroscope experiment. Virginia Tech provided a VGA camera which is the same as AO-92 but will provide images at a higher 640 x 480 resolution. These non-SSTV images will be decoded in the FoxTelem software. Fox-1Cliff, unlike the other three Fox-1 FM spacecraft, does not have an active AFC (Automatic Frequency Control) on the uplinks. Fox-1Cliff’s Data Under Voice (low-speed telemetry) will be the same as for AO-85, AO-91, and AO-92. It will be supported by the same FoxTelem software already released. As with AO-92, a high-speed mode will be used to support the Virginia Tech VGA camera experiment. This mode will be active for 40 minutes by ground command before reverting to standard U/v repeater voice operation. Numerous small payloads will be launched on this mission for nearly 50 government and commercial organizations from 16 countries. [ANS thanks Spaceflight Now for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Fox-1Cliff Launch Membership Drive As announced in a special bulletin earlier this week, as part of the preparations for the launch of Fox-1Cliff, AMSAT is making the “Getting Started With Amateur Satellites” book available for a limited time as a download with any paid new or renewal membership purchased via the AMSAT Store. This offer is only available with purchases completed online, and for only a limited time. A perennial favorite, Getting Started is updated every year with the latest amateur satellite information, and is the premier primer of satellite operation. The 186 page book is presented in PDF format, in full color, and covers all aspects of making your first contacts on a ham radio satellite. Please take advantage of this offer today by visiting the AMSAT store at https://www.amsat.org/shop/ and selecting any membership option. While there, check out AMSAT’s other items, including the M2 LEOpack antenna system, Arrow antennas, AMSAT shirts, and other swag. Be sure to view your cart before going to checkout. If you add a membership and then go directly to checkout, you’ll never see an option to add your free gift. Fox-1Cliff, is scheduled to launch on Spaceflight’s SSO-A mission on a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Air Force Base. Fox-1Cliff carries the Fox-1 U/v FM repeater as well as AMSAT’s L-Band Downshifter. Fox-1Cliff is named in honor of long-time AMSAT member, contributor, and benefactor Cliff Buttschardt, K7RR (SK), who passed away in 2006. Cliff’s contributions to AMSAT and other amateur satellite programs, including serving as an adviser during the initial development of the CubeSat specification at California Polytechnic State University, earned him the Lifetime Achievement Award from Project OSCAR in 2006. --------------------------------------------------------------------- "Fox-In-A-Box" SD Cards Now Available From AMSAT Store Fox-in-a-Box is a small, easily-deployed Fox satellite telemetry receiver based on a Raspberry Pi 3B+ and a FUNcube Dongle Pro+. You can read about it in the AMSAT 2018 Symposium Proceedings (digital copies available on the AMSAT store at https://www.amsat.org/product/2018-amsat-symposium-proceedings- digital-download/), or you can find a somewhat less extensive description with parts list and instructions at http://burnsfisher.com/AMSAT/FoxInABox Get started by simply plugging these 8 GB SD Cards with the Fox-in-a-Box software pre-installed into your Raspberry Pi and booting it. Just a bit of configuration (your call and grid) required. The website above also has an SD card image, but buying the SD card with the software pre-installed saves a lot of trouble and any additional proceeds go to Keeping Amateur Radio in Space. Order yours today at https://www.amsat.org/product/fox-in-a-box-raspberry-pi-sd-card/ Raspberry Pi and FUNcube Dongle Pro+ Not Included [ANS thanks Burns Fisher, WB1FJ, AMSAT Flight Software, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Can You Capture a Double Hop APRS Packet? With both ISS and PSAT now operational, this would be a good time for all users to be using the transmit dual hop path of ARISS,ARISS to maximize someone else on some other continent receiving them! Challenges: Since PSAT has only a 0.2W transmitter, the ISS is simply never going to hear it. But the chance of PSAT hearing the ISS is 20 times better. So the best chance of success is via ISS first then PSAT. But if they both hear the uplink packet, then PSAT will be transmitting at the same time ISS is and so a dual hop is blocked. So here is the best scenario for dual hop success: 1) Stations transmit via ARISS,ARISS on one continent hitting only ISS and NOT hitting PSAT at same time, while 2) PSAT is in footprint of ISS but also over mostly ocean so it might hear ISS without lots of user QRM, and 3) A receiving station is on a distant continent looking out over water towards PSAT. Then chances could be good. Notice, the transmitting stations can be any users as long as they are using the ARISS,ARISS path. So the only person that has to do any planning is simply coastal receiving stations. And remember, no one will find these on the ARISS or PSAT downlink pages because most likely only the first hop will be captured and the second hop will be rejected as a dupe. That is why everyone should always watch the downlink live if they want to capture one of those rare 2-hop APRS packets. [ANS thanks the Bob Bob Bruninga WB4APR for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Europe’s third polar-orbiting weather satellite launched The third MetOp satellite, MetOp-C, has been launched on a Soyuz rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana to continue the provision of data for weather forecasting from polar orbit. Carrying the 4083 kg MetOp-C satellite, the Soyuz rocket lifted off on 7 November at 00:47 UTC. Some 60 minutes later Soyuz’s upper stage delivered MetOp-C into orbit and contact was established through the Yatharagga ground station in Australia. MetOp-C is the last in the current series of MetOp satellites, following on from MetOp-A, which was launched in 2006, and MetOp-B, which was launched in 2012. The MetOp satellites are developed by ESA under a cooperation agreement to form the space segment of the Eumetsat Polar System. This system is Europe’s contribution to a multi-orbit polar system shared with the US NOAA agency. More details available at: http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2018/november/metop-satellite- launched.htm [ANS thanks Southgate ARN for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Collision Avoidance and Debris Mitigation for SSO-A Mission The upcoming launch of Spaceflight mission SSO-A will involve the deployment of more than 70 objects, one of which will be AMSAT's Fox-1Cliff cubesat. Spaceflight engineers have had to develop a strategy to keep so many objects in similar orbits from colliding with one another. A brief discussion is available at: http://spaceflight.com/collision-avoidance-and-debris-mitigation-for- spaceflights-sso-a-mission/ [ANS thanks Spaceflight Industries for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Challenges Identifying Newly Launched Objects Another issue associated with the upcoming SSO-A launch, including Fox-1Cliff, is figuring out which satellite is which. Whenever satellites are launched, one of the first challenges is to find and track all the objects associated with that launch. This process must be performed as expeditiously as possible, to support early-orbit operations and safety of the flight. A paper discussing a simple technique which quickly assesses all available operator orbital data against the latest TLE data available from Joint Space Operations Center (JSpOC) may be of interest and is available at: https://celestrak.com/publications/IAC/2017/ [ANS thanks Celestrak for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Upcoming Satellite Operations South Texas Grid Expedition (EL06, EL07, EL08, EL15, EL16, EL17, EL18) – November 11-15, 2018 Glenn, AA5PK, will be travelling through South Texas, November 11th- 15th. Barring unforeseen circumstances, he will activate EL06, EL07, EL08, EL15, EL16, EL17 and EL15. Glenn will be on both FM and linear satellites and will post specific pass announcements on Twitter, https://twitter.com/AA5PK. He will also be position beaconing on APRS as AA5PK-9. Bermuda (DXCC NA-005) – November 12-14, 2018 Tom, N2YTF, will be operating as N2YTF/VP9/P from Bermuda, NA-005 vacation style Nov. 12, 13, 14; all FM passes (and perhaps a few transponder birds). Tom will also be working HF QRP portable from the beach. Tom is looking for a 2m ssb tropo path to some US super station(s). If interested, contact him directly. Key West, FL (EL94) – November 27 – December 1, 2018 Tanner, W9TWJ, will be vacationing in Key West, Florida from November 27th to December 1 , 2018. While there, he will work as many FM passes as he can (holiday style). Keep an eye on his Twitter feed for pass announcements, https://twitter.com/twjones85 RMS Queen Mary (DM03) – December 15, 2018 Patrick , WD9EWK, will be part of a day of satellite operating from a deck on the RMS Queen Mary, docked at Long Beach in southern California, on Saturday 15 December 2018. Operations will be portable, almost like a Field Day, and should include FM, SSB, and possibly packet. All operations from the Queen Mary will be as W6RO, the call sign for the wireless room on the ship operated by the Associated Radio Amateurs of Long Beach. Depending on staffing in the W6RO wireless room, there may also be HF activity during the satellite operation. QSLing for the W6RO satellite activation will be handled per the procedure on W6RO’s QRZ page: http://www.qrz.com/db/W6RO Please submit any additions or corrections to ke4al (at) yahoo.com Updated October 25, 2018 [ANS thanks Robert KE4AL for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS News ****************************************************************** * AMSAT and ARISS are currently supporting a FundRazr campaign * * to raise $150,000 for critical radio infrastructure upgrades * * on ISS. The upgrades are necessary to enable students to * * continue to talk to astronauts in space via Amateur Radio. * * * * $14,320 raised so far * * * * For more information and to DONATE TODAY visit * * * * https://fundrazr.com/arissnextgen?ref=ab_e7Htwa_ab_47IcJ9 * ****************************************************************** ARISS Contact Completed Bishop O’Connell High School, Arlington, VA, telebridge via W6SRJ was successful. Mentors were Bob N3IYI and Dave W8AAS The ISS callsign was NA1SS The astronaut was Serena Aunon-Chancellor KG5TMT Contact began: Thu 2018-11-08 15:56:28 UTC Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2018-11-07 New English School, Jabriya, Kuwait, telebridge via K6DUE The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Serena Aunon-Chancellor KG5TMT Contact is a go for: Tue 2018-11-13 10:08:08 UTC 50 deg ARISS-US program’s education proposal window now open until Nov. 30 ARISS is seeking proposals beginning October 1, 2018 from US schools, museums, science centers and community youth organizations (working individually or together) to host amateur radio contacts with an orbiting crew member aboard the International Space Station (ISS) between July 1 and December 30, 2019. If you are interested in applying for an ARISS contact, please go to http://www.ariss.org/apply-to-host-an-ariss-contact.html [ANS thanks AJ9N for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Correction In last weeks ANS 308 story, AMSAT Announces Senior Leadership Positions for 2018, Joe Spier, K6WAO was accidentally included on the list of Board of Directors. Joe, of course, is the AMSAT President and is not on the Board of Directors. ANS regrets this mistake. The following people make up AMSAT’s Board of Directors and Alternates. AMSAT Board of Directors ------------------------ Paul Stoetzer, N8HM Clayton Coleman, W5PFG Tom Clark, K3IO Jerry Buxton. N0JY Bruce Paige, KK5DO Mark Hammond, N8MH Peter Portanova, W2JV (First Alternate) Scott Harvey, KA7FVV (Second Alternate) [ANS thanks the BoD for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + Happy 34th Launch Anniversary AO-7 AMSAT-OSCAR 7 was launched November 15, 1974 by a Delta 2310 launcher from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Lompoc, California. + ISS Video available on Facebook A short video clip of Serena Aunon-Chancellor, KG5TMT, operating the amateur station aboard the ISS for random contacts on Oct. 25 was posted to the AMSAT Facebook page by NASA Flight Surgeon, Keith Brandt, WD9GET. It is available at https://www.facebook.com/groups/ 201031309923094/permalink/2806315769394622/ [ANS thanks KG4AKV for the above information] + The FCC is looking for engineers who want to work for the Commission. They are currently accepting applications for the Engineering Honors Program until 11/30! Apply here: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/513732500 + Aspiring Scientists to Launch the World’s Lightest Satellites A story featuring a program helping high school students in India to build and launch the upcoming KalamSat 2 micro-satellite, which will include an amateur radio transmitter, may be found at: http://kwhs.wharton.upenn.edu/2018/11/young-scientists-worlds- lightest-satellite/ [ANS thanks The Wharton School of Business, University of Penn- sylvania, for the above information] + How to live stream SpaceX’s remaining launches in 2018 Get a glimpse of the launch of Fox-1Cliff and other lift-off events on SpaceX’s YouTube Channel. The company is yet to confirm that all remaining launches will be live streamed, but at this stage, it looks likely. For details, see: https://www.techly.com.au/2018/11/05/live-stream-spacexs-five- remaining-launches-2018/ [ANS thanks Techly for the above information] + EME 2018 conference videos available Videos of the talks given at the EME 2018 conference are now available to view on YouTube. The conference was held August 16-18 at Egmond aan Zee, The Netherlands. Watch the videos at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMWIm0ddkVR34SrvhaF7Ntg/videos [ANS thanks Southgate ARN for the above information] + Video of Es'hail-2 geostationary transponder satellite talk More videos from the AMSAT-UK Colloquium, part of the RSGB Convention, held at Milton Keynes Oct 13-14 are now available on the AMSAT-UK YouTube Channel. Among the presentations given was one on the amateur radio transponders on the satellite Es'hail-2 that is expected to be launched into a geostationary orbit soon. Watch Es'hail-2 and it's Amateur Radio payload by Graham Shirville G3VZV and Dave Crump G8GKQ at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx5p8I20bjY&t=44s [ANS thanks Southgate ARN for the above information] + AMSAT Symposium Videos Available Online Friday Symposium Talks: https://youtu.be/d4AZmhPu0S0 Saturday Symposium Talks: https://youtu.be/6TraWCirFUs Schedule of Speakers: https://www.amsat.org/call-for-papers/ [ANS thanks the Symposium Committee 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 and Remember to help keep amateur radio in space, This week's ANS Editor, Mark D. Johns, K0JM K0JM at amsat dot org

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ANS-313 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin - Fox-1Cliff Currently Scheduled for November 19th Launch
by Paul Stoetzer 09 Nov '18

09 Nov '18

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE SPECIAL BULLETIN ANS-313.01 SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-313.01 ANS-313 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin 313.01 From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD DATE November 9, 2018 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-313.01 Fox-1Cliff Currently Scheduled for November 19th Launch AMSAT is counting down to the launch of the next Fox-1 satellite, Fox-1Cliff. Per Spaceflight Now, the launch of Spaceflight's SSO-A SmallSat Express mission, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, is currently scheduled for November 19, 2018 at 18:32 UTC. Fox-1Cliff carries the Fox-1 U/v FM repeater, AMSAT’s L-Band Downshifter, the flight spare of the AO-85 Vanderbilt University Low Energy Proton (LEP) radiation experiment, and the standard Fox-1 Penn State University–Erie MEMS gyroscope experiment. Virginia Tech provided a VGA camera which is the same as AO-92's but will provide images at a higher 640 x 480 resolution. Additional information about the launch and early operations phase (LEOP) will be released prior to launch. As part of the preparations for the launch of Fox-1Cliff, AMSAT is making the “Getting Started With Amateur Satellites” book available for a limited time as a download with any paid new or renewal membership purchased via the AMSAT Store. This offer is only available with purchases completed online, and for only a limited time. A perennial favorite, Getting Started is updated every year with the latest amateur satellite information, and is the premier primer of satellite operation. The 186 page book is presented in PDF format, in full color, and covers all aspects of making your first contacts on a ham radio satellite. Please take advantage of this offer today by visiting the AMSAT store at https://www.amsat.org/shop/ and selecting any membership option. While there, check out AMSAT’s other items, including the M2 LEOpack antenna system, Arrow antennas, AMSAT shirts, and other swag. Be sure to view your cart before going to checkout. If you add a membership and then go directly to checkout, you’ll never see an option to add your free gift. Fox-1Cliff is named in honor of long-time AMSAT member, contributor, and benefactor Cliff Buttschardt, K7RR (SK), who passed away in 2016. Cliff’s contributions to AMSAT and other amateur satellite programs, including serving as an adviser during the initial development of the CubeSat specification at California Polytechnic State University, earned him the Lifetime Achievement Award from Project OSCAR in 2006. /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers life memberships, and sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional 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 student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership information. 73 and Remember to help keep Amateur Radio in space, This week's ANS Contributing Editor, Paul Stoetzer, N8HM n8hm at amsat dot org

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ANS-309 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin - Fox-1Cliff Launch Membership Drive: Free Digital Copy of “Getting Started with Amateur Satellites” for New or Renewing Members
by Paul Stoetzer 05 Nov '18

05 Nov '18

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE SPECIAL BULLETIN ANS-309.01 SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-309.01 ANS-309 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin 309.01 From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD DATE November 5, 2018 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-309.01 Fox-1Cliff Launch Membership Drive Free Digital Copy of “Getting Started with Amateur Satellites” for New or Renewing Members The next AMSAT Fox-1 satellite, Fox-1Cliff, is scheduled to launch on Spaceflight’s SSO-A mission on a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Air Force Base. Fox-1Cliff carries the Fox-1 U/v FM repeater as well as AMSAT’s L-Band Downshifter. Uplink: 435.300 MHz FM voice (67.0 Hz CTCSS tone) 1267.300 MHz FM voice (67.0 Hz CTCSS tone) Downlink: 145.920 MHz FM voice; AFSK digital data up to 9600 bps Transmit power: 600 mW nominal As part of the preparations for the launch of Fox-1Cliff, AMSAT is making the “Getting Started With Amateur Satellites” book available for a limited time as a download with any paid new or renewal membership purchased via the AMSAT Store. This offer is only available with purchases completed online, and for only a limited time. A perennial favorite, Getting Started is updated every year with the latest amateur satellite information, and is the premier primer of satellite operation. The 186 page book is presented in PDF format, in full color, and covers all aspects of making your first contacts on a ham radio satellite. Please take advantage of this offer today by visiting the AMSAT store at https://www.amsat.org/shop/ and selecting any membership option. While there, check out AMSAT’s other items, including the M2 LEOpack antenna system, Arrow antennas, AMSAT shirts, and other swag. Be sure to view your cart before going to checkout. If you add a membership and then go directly to checkout, you’ll never see an option to add your free gift. Fox-1Cliff carries the flight spare of the AO-85 Vanderbilt University Low Energy Proton (LEP) radiation experiment, and the standard Fox-1 Penn State University–Erie gyroscope experiment. Virginia Tech provided a VGA camera which is the same as AO-92 but will provide images at a higher 640 x 480 resolution. These non-SSTV images will be decoded in the FoxTelem software. Fox-1Cliff, unlike the other three Fox-1 FM spacecraft, does not have an active AFC (Automatic Frequency Control) on the uplinks. Fox-1Cliff’s Data Under Voice (low-speed telemetry) will be the same as for AO-85, AO-91, and AO-92. It will be supported by the same FoxTelem software already released. As with AO-92, a high-speed mode will be used to support the Virginia Tech VGA camera experiment. This mode will be active for 40 minutes by ground command before reverting to standard U/v repeater voice operation. Fox-1Cliff is named in honor of long-time AMSAT member, contributor, and benefactor Cliff Buttschardt, K7RR (SK), who passed away in 2016. Cliff’s contributions to AMSAT and other amateur satellite programs, including serving as an adviser during the initial development of the CubeSat specification at California Polytechnic State University, earned him the Lifetime Achievement Award from Project OSCAR in 2006. /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers life memberships, and sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional 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 student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership information. 73 and Remember to help keep Amateur Radio in space, This week's ANS Contributing Editor, Paul Stoetzer, N8HM n8hm at amsat dot org

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ANS-308 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by E.Mike McCardel 03 Nov '18

03 Nov '18

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-308 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: * AMSAT Announces Senior Leadership Positions for 2018 * Recordings and Videos From AMSAT-NA 2018 Symposium * News From AMSAT South Africa * Polish Students’ Satellite - PW-Sat2 * ARISS Receives Yasme Foundation Grant * Upcoming Satellite Operations * ARISS News * Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-308.01 ANS-308 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 308.01 >From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. November 4, 2018 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-308.01 AMSAT Announces Senior Leadership Positions for 2018 The 2018 AMSAT Board of Director's Meeting was held November 1-2, 2018 at the US Space and Rocket Center Marriott Hotel in Huntsville, Alabama. The following positions were announced during the meeting. AMSAT Senior Leadership Team ---------------------------- President Joe Spier, K6WAO Executive Vice President Paul Stoetzer, N8HM Secretary Clayton Coleman, W5PFG Treasurer Keith Baker, KB1SF/VA3KSF Manager Martha Saragovitz VP Operations Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA VP Engineering Jerry Buxton, N0JY VP Educational Relations Alan Johnston, KU2Y VP for Human Spaceflight Frank Bauer, KA3HDO VP Marketing Open VP User Services Open Other Appointments announced by the President include: ------------------------------------------------------ AMSAT Ambassador Coordinator Clayton Coleman, W5PFG AMSAT IARU Representative Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA Hamvention Operations Manager Phil Smith, W1EME AMSAT Journal Editor Joe Kornowski, KB6IGK ANS Senior Editor EMike McCardel, AA8EM ARISS International Delegates Dave Taylor, W8AAS Chet Latawiec, VE3CFK IT Team Leader Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P AMSAT Store Bruce Paige, KK5DO Web Content Manager Open AMSAT Board of Directors ------------------------ Joe Spier, K6WAO Paul Stoetzer, N8HM Clayton Coleman, W5PFG Tom Clark, K3IO Jerry Buxton. N0JY Bruce Paige, KK5DO Mark Hammond, N8MH Peter Portanova, W2JV (First Alternate) Scott Harvey, KA7FVV (Second Alternate) [ANS thanks the AMSAT Board of Directors for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Recordings and Videos From AMSAT-NA 2018 Symposium A recording of the livestream of the 2018 William A. Tynan W3XO Memorial Space Symposium, in Huntsville, AL is available at: https://www.youtube.com/user/AMSATNA/ Video of WB8ELK high altitude balloon launch from the Symposium can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/paul.stoetzer/videos/10113653475736994/ Drew Glasbrenner KO4MA has posted his video of the Symposium ARISS contact at: https://www.facebook.com/glasbrenner/videos/10155564640766750/ Patrick Stoddard WD9EWK has posted a raw audio recording of the same ISS flyover, but from Arizona which can be found at: https://tinyurl.com/ANS308-ISS-Stoddard [ANS thanks JoAnne K9JKM for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- News From AMSAT South Africa AN SDR CUBESAT ON THE CARDS AMSAT SA has announced that parallel to its analogue Kletskous CubeSat, the group is working on a digital project featuring a Software defined transponder. Called AfriCUBE, the CubeSat will use the same space frame as KLETSKOUS. Anton Janovsky is current building a prototype transponder. AMSATSA is inviting persons interested in becoming part of the development team to send their details to admin(a)amsatsa.org.za. Meanwhile the development and final construction of the AMSAT SA KLETSKOUS is plagued by electronic component obsolescence. This forces unwanted design changes to be made to ensure that when the time comes to construct the final launch unit, the main components are still available. The KLETSKOUS team decided to freeze the design of KLETSKOUS and purchase a quantity of devices to proactively mitigate future obsolescence. This decision will also speed up the process of putting a final satellite on the table. "Every time we change designs to mitigate for the discontinued components, it is like starting the design afresh, often creating new problems that have to be solved", Hannes Coetzee, ZS6BZP said. "By freezing the design, in other words making a final decision on the main specialised devices to be used, we will be able to speed up the process of putting a flight ready unit on the table." KLETSKOUS is not a textbook design. Most of the sub-components that will make up KLETS KOUS are designed and being built by the volunteer team. "We do not have the finances to go out and purchase sub-units and simply wire them up," Hannes said. AMSAT SA is holding its 2019 Space Symposium on Saturday 16 March 2019 in Gauteng. The theme of the conference is "Space Science with Amateur Radio." Paper proposals are invited. Send your synopsis to admin(a)amsatsa.org.za. [ANS thanks SOUTH AFRICAN RADIO LEAGUE NEWS for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Polish Students’ Satellite - PW-Sat2 Polish satellite - PW-Sat2 is scheduled as soon as early as 19th November 2018 launch of 4. . It’s primary mission is a technological tests of sail-based deorbit system. The PW-Sat2 is one of the payloads in SpaceFlight SSO-A The SmallSat Express mission aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. Please be advised that planned launch date may change since it’s quite common for orbital rockets launches - be prepared and follow our socials! Radio link The satellite is equipped with full duplex communication module TRxVU Rev. B from Innovative Solutions in Space BV. It operates in amateur bands UHF (downlink) and VHF (uplink). Antenna module consists of two dipole antenna (for uplink/downlink) with linear polarisation. Downlink power equals to 27 dBm (0.5 W). Downlink signal utilizes BPSK modulation, data scrambling according to G3RUH and AX.25 protocol. By default, the satellite transmits its downlink signal at 1200 bps, however it might be changed on request by the OPERation team (via uplink telecommand) up to 9600 bps. Currently set bitrate will be published on PW-Sat2’s Twitter profile, however determination of actual bitrate should be fairly easy by looking at signal spectrum. What data will be transmitted? Every 60 seconds the satellite transmits a beacon frame full of telemetric data. 229-bytes long payload of the beacon frame contains the most important information about satellite’s state - among others - temperatures of main subsystems, battery voltage, solar power, on- board computer mission time and experiments state. Other data, such as historical telemetry, experiments data, photos from cameras will be send on request from PW-Sat2’s OPERation team. There is one exception from this rule - deorbit sail experiment will transmit its results on-line (since after sail deployment random tumbling is expected to occur resulting in signal loses and solar energy decrease). Downlink signal of PW-Sat2 will be opened for everyone to receive, decode and interpret data! HAM radio tools to receive PW-Sat2 HAM radio community plays important role in almost every cubesat mission - receiving and sharing acquired signal with satellites’ owners. Our team has prepared set of tools helping in receiving and demodulation of PW-Sat2 radio signal and upload to cloud-based service afterwards. We believe that data shared to us by community will have big impact on our mission. Prepared desktop application is available on Linux and Windows platforms (however Ubuntu Linux is the main supported OS). It allows for signal reception utilizing software defined radio receivers (SDR): RTL-SDR, FUNcube Dongle Pro+, ADALM-Pluto SDR as well as “traditional” analogue radio receivers with single sideband demodulator (SSB) via computer’s line-in. Acquired signal from radio receiver is demodulated and deframed. Correctly received frames are classified by means of their type and uploaded to cloud-based application (radio.pw-sat.pl) prepared thanks to co-operation with SoftwareMill company. The cloud-based application allows for frames collection, sharing and telemetry decoding (for beacon frames, labeled as “telemetry frame”). There are available additional features like charts presenting the most important telemetry data. How to start receiving? Detailed information are available in our Wiki - https://github.com/PW-Sat2/HAMRadio/wiki. A good starting point is to take a look at “Quick start guide”. The wiki pages will be updated as new information (e.g. about orbit, TLE data) will be available. We encourage to try the software (desktop and cloud parts) right now! In case of any problems - don’t hesitate to mail us (by an e- mail, Messenger, in comment etc.), create an issue on GitHub (https://github.com/PW-Sat2/HAMRadio/issues) or simply ask in this thread! Mission status information Up to date information about mission status will be published on our Twitter profile - don’t miss anything, follow us now! Contests To encourage you to listen to PW-Sat2 and honour your contribution we would like to issue QSL cards for every HAM radio who will send us (to radio.pw-sat.pl) at least one correct PW-Sat2 frame. Additionally we’ve prepared contest in three categories: * the first received and uploaded frame, * the last received and uploaded frame, * the most received and uploaded frames. Shortly after mission we will reveal the winners and honour with packs of PW-Sat2-related gadgets! For more about contests see (https://pw-sat.pl/en/ham-contest/). [ANS thanks MGUMIELA via QRZ.com for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS Receives Yasme Foundation Grant The Board of Directors of The Yasme Foundation announces that it has made a significant grant to ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station, <www.ariss.org>) in support of the Critical Infrastructure Fund. Yasme has supported this important upgrade to the ISS amateur station since the effort began and challenges other organizations and individuals to support it, as well. As of late 2018, ARISS is the only non-commercial entity being considered for NASA’s Deep Space Gateway program, indicating the importance with which the space program views amateur radio. Putting and keeping amateur radio in space is a significant expense and needs the support of the entire amateur community. * * * * * The Yasme Excellence Award is presented to individuals and groups who, through their own service, creativity, effort and dedication, have made a significant contribution to amateur radio. The contribution may be in recognition of technical, operating or organizational achievement, as all three are necessary for amateur radio to grow and prosper. The Yasme Excellence Award is in the form of a cash grant and an individually- engraved crystal globe. The Board of Directors of The Yasme Foundation is pleased to announce the latest recipients of the Yasme Excellence Award: Brian Machesney, K1LI, and Michelle Guenard — in recognition of their extraordinary efforts on behalf of Commonwealth of Dominica communities in the wake of the 2017 hurricane season. Their efforts included fund-raising, delivery of communications supplies, on-site support, and application of amateur radio technologies to support the relief efforts which continue today. Fred Kleber, K9VV/KP2 — in recognition of Fred’s leadership and technical skills that support the Virgin Island’s emergency communications capabilities. Fred has been a key player long before hurricanes Irma and Maria devasted the islands. He is hard at work today re-building and extending the interisland communication systems even after his own station suffered extensive damage. Zorro Miyazawa, JH1AJT — for his extensive promotion of amateur radio in developing counties. Governments and telecommunications administrators in Bangladesh (S2), Bhutan (A5), Cambodia (XU), Eritrea (E3), and Myanmar (XZ) have benefited from Zorro’s patient and skillful efforts, supporting his own government and his fellow amateurs in Japan and around the world. Stu Phillips, K6TU — for contributions to amateur radio through his Propagation and DX Strategy website, www.k6tu.net. In particular, his innovative tools, free for amateur use, enhance the use of the High Frequency Terrain Analysis (HFTA) program developed by Dean Straw, N6BV, another Excellence Award recipient in 2012. Randy Wright, W6CUA — in recognition of his long service to the Yasme Foundation as our Awards Manager. His steady efforts and exacting attention to detail and customer service are greatly appreciated. * * * * * The Yasme Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation organized to support scientific and educational projects related to amateur radio, including DXing (long distance communication) and the introduction and promotion of amateur radio in developing countries. For additional information about The Yasme Foundation, visit our website at <www.yasme.org>. Ward Silver, N0AX President The Yasme Foundation Board of Directors: Ward Silver, N0AX, President and Director Ken Claerbout, K4ZW, Vice-President, Secretary and Director Rusty Epps, W6OAT, Treasurer and Director Hans Blondeel Timmerman, PB2T, Director Martti Laine, OH2BH, Director Fred Laun, K3ZO, Director Robert Vallio, W6RGG, Director Marty Woll, N6VI, Director [ANS thanks OPDX for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Upcoming Satellite Operations Super Road Trip (EMxx, DMxx, DNxx, ENxx) – November 8-11, 2018 Wyatt, AC0RA, has a special event call sign W5Q, and he’s heading out on the road. The primary focus will be on 6m MSK144 and will also work satellites as time allows. Planned grid stops include EM08/18, EM07, EM06/16, EM05, DM94/95, DM84/85, DM86/96, DM77, DM87/97, DM88/98, DM89/99, DN80/90, DN91, and EN00. Wyatt will be using WSJTX v1.9.1 for MSK144 and will also use Contest Mode. Check the W5Q QRZ page for more information and follow him on Twitter @ https://twitter.com/WyattAC0RA South Texas Grid Expedition (EL06, EL07, EL08, EL15, EL16, EL17, EL18) – November 11-15, 2018 Glenn, AA5PK, will be travelling through South Texas, November 11th- 15th. Barring unforeseen circumstances, he will activate EL06, EL07, EL08, EL15, EL16, EL17 and EL15. Glenn will be on both FM and linear satellites and will post specific pass announcements on Twitter, https://twitter.com/AA5PK. He will also be position beaconing on APRS as AA5PK-9. Bermuda (DXCC NA-005) – November 12-14, 2018 Tom, N2YTF, will be operating as N2YTF/VP9/P from Bermuda, NA-005 vacation style Nov. 12, 13, 14; all FM passes (and perhaps a few transponder birds). Tom will also be working HF QRP portable from the beach. Tom is looking for a 2m ssb tropo path to some US super station(s). If interested, contact him directly. Key West, FL (EL94) – November 27 – December 1, 2018 Tanner, W9TWJ, will be vacationing in Key West, Florida from November 27th to December 1 , 2018. While there, he will work as many FM passes as he can (holiday style). Keep an eye on his Twitter feed for pass announcements, https://twitter.com/twjones85 RMS Queen Mary (DM03) – December 15, 2018 Patrick , WD9EWK, will be part of a day of satellite operating from a deck on the RMS Queen Mary, docked at Long Beach in southern California, on Saturday 15 December 2018. Operations will be portable, almost like a Field Day, and should include FM, SSB, and possibly packet. All operations from the Queen Mary will be as W6RO, the call sign for the wireless room on the ship operated by the Associated Radio Amateurs of Long Beach. Depending on staffing in the W6RO wireless room, there may also be HF activity during the satellite operation. QSLing for the W6RO satellite activation will be handled per the procedure on W6RO’s QRZ page: http://www.qrz.com/db/W6RO Please submit any additions or corrections to ke4al (at) yahoo.com Updated October 25, 2018 [ANS thanks Robert KE4AL for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS News ****************************************************************** * AMSAT and ARISS are currently supporting a FundRazr campaign * * to raise $150,000 for critical radio infrastructure upgrades * * on ISS. The upgrades are necessary to enable students to * * continue to talk to astronauts in space via Amateur Radio. * * * * $13,700 raised * * * * * For more information and to DONATE TODAY visit * * * * https://fundrazr.com/arissnextgen?ref=ab_e7Htwa_ab_47IcJ9 * ****************************************************************** Successful ARISS contacts completed since October 18, 2018 + 2018-10-22 13:05 UTC between Astronaut Serena Aunon-Chancellor KG5TMT using ISS callsign NA1SS and Ashford School, Ashford, Connecticut, USA. Contact was direct] via KZ1M. ARISS Mentors were Steve W1HQL and Ryan W4NTR. + 2018-10-23 09:14 UTC between Astronaut Alexander Gerst KF5ONO using ISS callsign DPØISS and Integrierte Gesamtschule Osterholz- Scharmbeck, Osterholz – Scharmbeck, Germany. Contact was direct via DN3HB. ARISS Mentor was Peter IN3GHZ. + 2018-10-23 09:14 UTC between Astronaut Alexander Gerst KF5ONO using ISS callsign DPØISS and Gymnasium Soltau, Soltau, Germany. Contact was direct via DN5ABG. ARISS Mentor was Peter IN3GHZ. + 2018-10-24 08:22 UT between Astronaut Alexander Gerst KF5ONO using ISS callsign DPØISS and Martin-Andersen-Nexö-Gymnasium Dresden/DLR_School_Lab TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany. Contact was direct via DLØTSD. ARISS Mentor was Peter IN3GHZ + 2018-10-24 08:22 UT between Astronaut Alexander Gerst KF5ONO using ISS callsign DPØISS and Liborius-Gymnasium Dessau, Dessau-Roßlau, Germany. Contact was direct via DKØLG. ARISS Mentor was Peter IN3GHZ + 2018-10-24 17:48 UTC between Serena Aunon-Chancellor KG5TMT using ISS callsign NA1SS and Delcastle Technical High School, Wilmington, Delaware. USA. Contact was direct via K2CCW. ARISS Mentor was Keith W5IU + 2018-10-31 14:56:40 UTC between Astronaut Serena Aunon-Chancellor KG5TMT using ISS callsign NA1SS and Tallmadge Community Learning Center, Lancaster, Ohio, USA. Contact was direct via K8QIK. ARISS Mentors were Gordon KD8COJ and John K4SQC. + 2018-11-02 14:50:19 UTC between Astronaut Serena Aunon-Chancellor KG5TMT using ISS callsign NA1SS and Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School, Palmer, MA, USA. Contact was direct via KB1MDS. ARISS mentors were Steve W1HQL & Ryan W4NTR. Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2018-11-02 17:00 UTC Bishop O’Connell High School, Arlington, VA, telebridge via W6SRJ The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Serena Aunon-Chancellor KG5TMT Contact is a go for: Thu 2018-11-08 15:56:28 UTC Want your school to experience an ARISS contact? The proposal window opens October 1, 2018 and the proposal deadline is November 30, 2018. For proposal guidelines and forms and more details, visit: http://www.ariss.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact-in-the-us.html [ANS thanks ARISS, Charlie AJ9N and David AA4KN for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Shorts From All Over + Ham radio satellites on 5 Euro coin The Bank of Lithuania (Lietuvos bankas) has released a commemorative gold 5 Euro coin featuring the amateur radio satellites LituanicaSAT-1 (LO-78) and LitSAT-1. The two CubeSats were launched to the International Space Station (ISS) on January 9, 2014 and deployed from the ISS on February 28. LituanicaSAT-1 carried a FM transponder and a camera while LitSat-1 had a linear (SSB/CW) transponder developed by by William Leijenaar PE1RAH. The face of the gold coin features the Lithuanian coat of arms (Vytis) as a star constellation with LituanicaSAT-1 and LitSAT-1 on the reverse. Watch A gold coin of 5 euros for technology education: https://youtu.be/-R6Q-quon2Y Numista catalogue entry https://en.numista.com/catalogue/piec [ANS thanks Southgate ARN for the above information] + Soyuz rocket: 'Faulty sensor' led to launch failure "Russian space agency Roscosmos said on Wednesday it hopes to resume manned missions with a three-person launch to the ISS on 3 December." https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-46055960 [ANS thanks The BBC for the above information] + FCC Satellite Related Filings For easier navigation of US FCC Satellite related filings Luke Rehmann has built an RSS feed of the FCC’s ELS and IBFS systems. The FCC Experimental Licensing System provides companies with temporary authorization to conduct temporary experimental wireless communication lab-testing, space launch/recovery communication, and other short-duration wireless communication needs https://fcc.report/ELS/ The International Bureau administers international telecommunications and satellite programs and policies, including licensing and regulatory functions. The bureau also promotes pro- competitive policies abroad, coordinates global spectrum activities and advocates U.S. interests in international communications and competition https://fcc.report/IBFS/ [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information] + Slade Stevens 2E0SQB announced via Twitter, "I’m happy to announce that I am the new editor for #oscarnews I look forward to working with the current editors until they retire at the end of the year. [ANS thanks Slade 2E0SQB for the above information.] + The following satellites have been added to AMSAT's Keplerian elements distribution: CubeBel 1 - NORAD CAT ID 43666 Ten-Koh - NORAD CAT ID 43677 Thanks to Nico Janssen, PA0DLO, for the detailed doppler identification of these two satellites. [ANS thanks Ray WA5QGD for the above information] + New sample edition of NZART Break-In magazine New Zealand's national amateur radio society, NZART, has made the Jan/Feb 2018 edition of their magazine Break-In available as a free PDF Yes an old edition but well worth the read! The magazine features the popular columns Digital Modes by Murray Greenman ZL1BPU and Satellite Orbits by Alan Cresswell ZL2BX. On pages 28-30 there is an interview with FT8 developer Joe Taylor K1JT. Download from http://www.nzart.org.nz/assets/breakin/sample/BreakIn-JanFeb-2018.pdf [ANS thanks VK1WIA News for the above information] + Recordings and Videos From AMSAT-NA 2018 Symposium Pass Recorder is a small application that records audio from satellite passes based on tracking data it receives from the commonly used SatPC32 application, pass recorder will sit in the background waiting for a pass to be above 0 degrees and record the audio to a wav file which you can use for logging purposes or just for storing passes to listen to later for enjoyment. Pass Recorder is provided free of charge with a donation request if you would like to support the author. Information can be found at https://www.2m0sql.com/pass-recorder/ [ANS thanks Peter 2M0QSL 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-306 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin - Live Video Stream from the 2018 William A. Tynan W3XO, Memorial Space Symposium
by JoAnne K9JKM 02 Nov '18

02 Nov '18

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE SPECIAL BULLETIN ANS-306.01 SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-306.01 ANS-306 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin 306.01 From 2018 William A. Tynan W3XO Memorial Space Symposium, Huntsville, AL DATE November 2, 2018 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-306.01 Live Video Stream from the 2018 William A. Tynan W3XO Memorial Space Symposium Join AMSAT for a livestream of the 2018 William A. Tynan W3XO Memorial Space Symposium, in Huntsville, AL at 13:00 CDT (18:00 UTC) November 2: https://www.youtube.com/user/AMSATNA/ Saturday, November 3 sessions begin at 0800 CDT (1300 UTC) [ANS thanks Paul Stoetzer, N8HM for the above information] /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers life memberships, and sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional 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 student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership information. 73 and Remember to help keep Amateur Radio in space, This week's ANS Contributing Editor, JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM k9jkm at amsat dot org

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