ANS March 2018

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ANS-084 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by E.Mike McCardel 25 Mar '18

25 Mar '18

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-084 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: * AO-92 Operation Schedule * EQUiSat to launch into space May 9 * Pearl Technology STEM Camp, June 18-22, 2018 in Illinois * Software-Defined Radio Using MATLAB & Simulink and the RTL-SDR * AMSAT-LU Balloon Flight Carries RepSat-1 Cubesat Transponder * AMSAT Rover Awards Issued * New HackSpace Magazine Available For Download * Introducing CATSync - The new CAT tool for WebSDRs * ARISS News * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-084.01 ANS-084 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 084.01 >From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. March 25, 2018 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-084.01 AO-92 Operation Schedule AO-92 operations are scheduled among the U/v FM repeater, L-Band Downshifter, Virginia Tech Camera, and the University of Iowa’s High Energy Radiation CubeSat Instrument (HERCI). Please keep the uplink clear during passes with scheduled mode changes. For the week of 25-31 Mar 2018, the following mode changes are scheduled: Approximately 0242UTC 25Mar we will enable the L band uplink for ~24 hours. Approximately 1645UTC 27Mar we will enable the VT camera and high- speed data for ~40 minutes. Please be ready to copy high-speed data with FoxTelem, and keep the uplink clear at 1645UTC. All other times the U/v repeater will be open continuously. The schedule can be viewed anytime at https://www.amsat.org/satellite-schedules/ [ANS thanks Drew KO4MA for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- EQUiSat to launch into space May 9 NASA-funded student group constructs satellite, hopes to inspire interest in space among youth. Since its conception nearly seven years ago, a continuously revolving group of University undergraduates has been diligently working to send a satellite into space. Now, as May 9 draws closer, the group of over 200 past and current students and faculty can find catharsis as the EQUiSat will finally launch into orbit. The project, funded by NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative, will send a small cube satellite to the International Space Station to then launch into orbit. The EQUiSat will test lithium iron phosphate batteries, which are used in machines such as lawn mowers, but find limited applications in spacecrafts. Due to its low cost and the fact that its latitude will coincide with that of Providence, which allows its LED flashes to be seen from the ground, the satellite will also serve as a symbol for the accessibility of space. “A big part of the goal is proving the accessibility of space. … We kind of want to show people that space is right there,” said Hunter Ray ’18, the project’s co-leader and team manager. The project could have cost upwards of tens of thousands of dollars, but the team has kept its cost to just $3,776.61, Ray added. The project’s relatively low cost and mantra to “build it from the ground up” speak to the feasibility and accessibility of space. The EQUiSat will be equipped with powerful LED lights, a small radio and multiple sensors to keep track of its trajectory and control steering. “Anyone with a hand radio can pick up its frequency. … We will be relying on the community of amateur radio (groups) around the world to help collect EQUiSat’s data,” Ray said. He described the construction process as his favorite part of the project. “It’s like a Lego set. You build it and you’re like ‘great, now what do I do,’ … but the mission will keep going.” Ray has been a part of the project since he arrived on campus. “I started freshman year, first week … (I decided that) I want to build a spacecraft,” he said. “I ended up taking over for the power system development, … (and then) I was elected as part of the project’s manager and co-leader of the team,” he added. He hopes to see similar projections come together in the future following the EQUiSat’s launch. “The fact that as undergraduates we have been able to build an entire spacecraft from scratch … (it shows where) we are going with the space program, as humanity is progressing into the final frontier,” he said. Ray will be delivering the EQUiSat to Houston this week in order to facilitate preparations for the launch. Anand Lalwani ’18 leads the power team, the group of 17 team members in charge of the EQUiSat’s solar power and battery construction. “We are a group of incredibly motivated, but incredibly fun people. Yes, we have had our arguments and fights, but we still work very well with each other,” he said. The power team not only constructed solar panels from scratch, but also ensured that they would survive a launch. Eventually finding a coating and the means to apply it to protect the delicate panels was a grueling process, Lalwani said. “We tried (different protocols) for about 12 months, … and we failed consistently,” he said. Finding a solution “was probably (Brown Space Engineering’s) biggest achievement,” as no other satellite group in the country had done this, he said. The project also serves as an outreach symbol, Lalwani said. By talking to both middle school and high school students and teaching them about different aspects of engineering, the team hopes to show children that space is not as far-fetched as it may seem. “What we had pitched to NASA in our original mission was that ‘We are going to make space cool again,’” Lalwani said. He hopes to see BSE continue its work with new satellites being constructed in under two years. “For BSE, our future is very bright. … All our future applications for launches such as this will be very likely granted. … We expect all the sophomores in our team to have a satellite they would have designed and built and launched before they graduate from Brown,” he added. Max Monn GS, one of founders of the initial project, worked on the project from its initial creation in 2011 to 2013. “Since the manned space missions to the moon … (the public) had a declining interest for space” due to the lack of human connection, Monn said. The origin for the project began as a means for creating an idea in Adjunct Associate Professor of Engineering Rick Fleeter’s class, which has since evolved into ENGN1760: “Design of Space Systems,” Monn described. While other projects leaned toward theoretical concepts or plans such as the colonization of Mars, Monn and the other founders decided to plan something which was “down to Earth” and did not need a large corporation to complete, Monn said. The EQUiSat’s LED lights flashing down toward Earth show the accessibility of space, one of the project’s main purposes. This element was inspired by Monn’s interest in photography. Following the initial work, the project expanded from a four-person class project to a student group. “We weren’t really sure how it would be received,” he said. At the first information session, 15 to 20 people showed up. Seeing the growth of the group has been one of Monn’s favorite memories of the project. “It feels like a legacy,” he said. Serving as founder, member and mentor, Monn has seen the project evolve from “wires spread out on a table” to its eventual launch. “We had these visions of what it could be and to have left the project in such shambles … (and) having it become more and more real… (it’s) a pleasant surprise,” he said. “You don’t need to be a multi-millionaire, you do not have to be a rocket scientist, and space is not that far,” Lalwani said. The satellite will serve as a realization that the final frontier is truly not as far as it seems, he added. “EQUiSat is reaching down to everyone on the Earth and showing them that space is right there, and I hope that, in a sense, it helps unite everyone together,” Ray said. [ANS thanks Chris Schutte and The Brown Daily Herald for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Pearl Technology STEM Camp, June 18-22, 2018 in Illinois The STEM Academy is sponsored and put on by Pearl Technology, with the assistance of the University of Illinois Extension, Richwoods Township, Goodwill Industries of Central Illinois, Peoria Area Ama- teur Radio Club, Peoria Heights High School, volunteer Caterpillar engineers, and ISS Above Software. Twenty-five middle school students will spend June 18-22 attending the STEM Academy held at Goodwill Commons, where they will learn about space and radio communications. The students will build Rasp- berry Pi computers that stream live video from the ISS. Students will also participate in a high-altitude balloon launch by building the payload with student experiments and then, use radio telemetry to track the balloon to near-space. The highlight of the academy will be when students communicate directly with astronauts on the International Space Station. The ISS contact will be open to students of all ages in the local area. [ANS thanks Fritz Bock, WD9FMB for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Software-Defined Radio Using MATLAB & Simulink and the RTL-SDR Learn how to receive and analyze wireless signals using RTL-SDR, MATLAB, and Simulink. RTL-SDR is a popular, low-cost hardware that can receive wireless signals. The RTL-SDR dongle features the Realtek RTL2832U chip, which can be used to acquire and sample RF signals transmitted in the frequency range 25MHz to 1.75GHz. A FREE ebook that teaches users how to receive and analyze wireless radio signals using MATLAB, Simulink, and RTL-SDR Key features of this free ebook include: + Illustrating how to receive wireless RF signals using RTL-SDR and analyze the signals in time and frequency domains + Showing how to use RTL-SDR in conjunction with SDR transmitters to develop a complete communication system + Providing an extensive set of DSP-enabled SDR examples to help you get started Find out more or download from: https://tinyurl.com/ANS084-Mathwoks This news provided by http://www.nooelec.com/store/ [ANS thanks NooElec.com and mathworks.com for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT-LU Balloon Flight Carries RepSat-1 Cubesat Transponder AMSAT-LU reports they flew RepSat-1, a repeater designed for cubesat operation, aboard a balloon launched from Victorica, La Pampa, Argentina on March 24. The uplink was on 435.950 MHz with a downlink on 145.950 MHz. RepSat-1 is an 8 cm square board capable of being integrated into a cubesat. The FM module transmits at 1 watt. It is also capable of transmitting voice, SSTV in Robot 36, telemetry and APRS location data identifying as LU7AA-11. Telemetry and location were transmitted every 90 seconds via 1200 baud AX.25 APRS data. A separate module on the flight transmitted tracker data for balloon recovery on 145.930 MHz with the LU7AA-12 callsign. It included a camera capable of filming with a 360 degree view. The AMSAT Argentina web aite can be found at: http://www.amsat.org.ar [ANS thanks AMSAT-LU for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT Rover Awards Issued On January 1, 2018, Bruce Paige, KK5DO, AMSAT Director Contests and Awards announced the Rover Award. This award is granted to stations who achieve a combined 25 points using any combination of the defined criteria posted at: https://www.amsat.org/amsat-rover-award/ Points can be earned for each grid square activated outside of your home grid square using the FM, linear, and digital satellites. While FM contacts count for 1 point each multiplier points are available for contacts via the linear and digital satellites. Additional points are available for photographs, publicity, social media promotion, and AMSAT Journal articles. The options are numerous so please refer to the Rover Award Website for all of the details. To date, 16 rovers have earned the award: Rover Call Date Issued ===== ============ =========== 001 AC0RA 02 Jan 2018 002 WD9EWK 05 Jan 2018 003 NJ4Y 08 Jan 2018 004 M0IDA 09 Jan 2018 005 KG5GJT 12 Jan 2018 006 EB1AO 18 Jan 2018 007 N7AGF 22 Jan 2018 008 N4YHC 29 Jan 2018 009 W0S 07 Feb 2018 010 KE0PBR 08 Feb 2018 011 K5IX 18 Feb 2018 012 AK4WQ 23 Feb 2018 013 WI7P 25 Feb 2018 014 K5ND 09 Mar 2018 015 N6UA 12 Mar 2018 016 N9IP 16 Mar 2018 [ANS thanks AMSAT Director Contests and Awards, Bruce Paige, KK5DO, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- New HackSpace Magazine Available For Download Issue 5 of the free magazine HackSpace has an article about Limor Fried AC2SN (aka LadyAda) of electronics company Ada Fruit as well as a Dr Lucy Rogers M6CME article "Share the knowledge" Also in this issue - Tutorial Slack-powered On-Air sign - Direct from Shenzhen: Stirling engine buggy - Can I Hack It? Every home needs a hacked wireless doorbell - Raspberry Pi 3B+ Download the free PDF of issue 5 April 2018 from https://hackspace.raspberrypi.org/issues [ANS thanks Southgate ARN for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Introducing CATSync - The new CAT tool for WebSDRs Oscar, DJ0MY, has developed a new software tool for radio amateurs and SWLs. CATSync allows the user to control public WebSDR receivers with a real rig connected via CAT. It supports the classical Web-SDR servers as well as the newer Kiwi SDR servers publically available on the internet. This gives you access to dozens of web based receivers with the comfort of tuning your rig at home. This software helps you to bring you back into the fun of ham radio when you are suffering from local temporary or permanent high noise levels in an urban QTH location. The software has the following features: - Syncronizes any public WebSDR server with your real RIG… - Supports a wide number of RIG’s (it uses the popular OmniRig engine) - Supports WebSDR and KiwiSDR browser based SDR receivers - Tune the VFO of your radio and see the web SDR follow in realtime! - Switch modes (SSB, CW, etc.) on your radio and see the web SDR switch mode in realtime. - Listen to the same frequency as your rig via web SDR - Ideally suited e.g. for people suffering from local QRM - Can track RX or TX VFO (e.g. to find that split of a DX station) if radio CAT supports both simultanously - Can be interfaced with popular logging software using OminRig or via VSPE port splitter For more information visit the author’s website: https://catsyncsdr.wordpress.com/ See a YouTube video of CATSync under: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbSHfkjhx0c [ANS thanks Southgate ARN for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS News The following contacts were successful since February 18, 2018: On The Gagarin from Space, "Galaxy - Children and Youth Center for Space Education", Kaluga, Russia, direct via RK3X with Alexander Misurkin on 2018-02-18 10:45 UTC Agrupamento de Escolas do Fundão, Fundão, Portugal, direct via CS5DBB with Scott Tingle KG5NZA on 2018-02-21 09:38 UTC Museum of Science & Technology - Danforth Middle School, Syracuse, NY, direct via K2MST with Mark Vande Hei KG5GNP on 2018-02-24 08:45 UTC On The Gagarin from Space Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education "Southwest State University", Kursk, Russia, direct via RV3DR on 2018-02-26 17:59 UTC Parkside Middle School, San Bruno, CA, direct via K6PVJ Scott Tingle KG5NZA 2018-03-07 18:05 UTC Gymnasium Räddningsgymnasiet Sando, Sandöverken, Sweden, telebridge via K6DUE with Scott Tingle KG5NZA on 2018-03-15 11:12 UTC Templestowe Valley Primary School, Templestowe, Victoria, Australia, telebridge via VK4KHZ with Scott Tingle KG5NZA on 2018-03-19 08:43 UTC Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Templestowe Valley Primary School, Templestowe, Victoria, Australia, telebridge via VK4KHZ The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Scott Tingle KG5NZA Contact was successful: Mon 2018-03-19 08:43:46 UTC Watch for live stream on the EchoLink AMSAT conference server live. Freeport Public Schools, Freeport, NY, telebridge via IK1SLD The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS The scheduled astronaut is Scott Tingle KG5NZA Contact is a go for: Tue 2018-03-27 17:41:04 UTC [ANS thanks ARISS, Charlie AJ9N and David AA4KN for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + AO-91 Distance Record The footprint on AO-91 has been stretched yet again to 6,123 km with a QSO between @eb1ao and PU8MRS on 17-Mar-2018 at 14:51 UTC. https://www.amsat.org/satellite-distance-records/ . + PicSat Goes Silent PicSat @IamPicSat Tweeted: I am feeling somewhat confused up here. My communication has fallen silent (sorry faithful listeners, I did not see that coming. My team is trying to find out what happened. More to follow, when I pass over Paris @amsatf #amsat @AmsatUK @amsat_sm @SatNOGS PicSat @IamPicSat Tweeted: Passed over Paris, couldn't not talk. Don't know why, neither does my team. They tried! Fortunately, I have a so-called watch-dog onboard, a piece of hardware that will kickstart me if I have not received anything from nobody for 72h PicSat team tweeted Friday morning: Nothing, nix. I still cannot communicate. Hard for me to tell if my Watch Dog initiated the kick start. If it did, and it did not work for some reason, it will try again in 72h from now. In the mean time, pls stay tuned! Monday March 26 will be the next time the 72 hour watchdog fires. Now we wait: pic.twitter.com/OBdsOLiK67 --------------------------------------------------------------------- /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-077 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by JoAnne K9JKM 18 Mar '18

18 Mar '18

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-077 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: * Article Introduces AMSAT's GOLF-TEE and GOLF-1 Satellites * ARISS-US Program Education Proposal Deadline is April 30, 2018 * AO-92 Operating Schedule Posted for Week of March 18-24 * AMSAT at the 2018 Hamvention -- Call for volunteers * Top 10 Reasons to Come to AMSAT at the Hamvention * AMSAT Field Day on the Satellites * HuskySat-1 Applies for IARU Coordination for Linear V/U Transponder * Thousands of Kilometers Via Satellite and a WAS Award Too * Phase 4 Weekly Update 9 March * Early Bird Bookings for the AMSAT-SA Space Symposium Now Open * Melbourne University Student Space Program Update * AMSAT Member Perry F. Crabill, W3HQX Silent Key * China's DSLWP-A1/A2 Satellites to Transmit Amateur Radio Data from the Moon * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-077.01 ANS-077 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 077.01 From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. DATE March 18, 2018 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-077.01 Article Introduces AMSAT's GOLF-TEE and GOLF-1 Satellites As a follow-up to the announcement that GOLF-TEE and GOLF-1 have been selected for launches through NASA's CubeSat Launch Initiative, we've posted an article introducing the GOLF program on the AMSAT website: http://tinyurl.com/ANS-077-AMSAT-GOLF [ANS thanks Paul, N8HM for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS-US Program Education Proposal Deadline is April 30, 2018 ARISS News Release No. 18-03 Dave Jordan, AA4KN ARISS PR aa4kn(a)amsat.org International Space Station Astronauts are Calling CQ Students ARISS-US program education proposal deadline is April 30, 2018. March 15, 2018: The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program is seeking proposals from US schools, museums, science centers and community youth organizations (working individually or together) to host radio contacts with an orbiting crew member aboard the International Space Station (ISS) between January 1 and June 30, 2019. Each year, ARISS provides tens of thousands of students with opportunities to learn about space technologies and communications through the exploration of Amateur Radio. The program provides learning opportunities by connecting students to astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) through a partner- ship between NASA, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, the American Radio Relay League, and other Amateur Radio organizations and worldwide space agencies. The program’s goal is to inspire students to pursue interests and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and Amateur Radio. A ham recently said, “ARISS shows how Amateur Radio is the most unique hobby/service there is.” Educators overwhelmingly report that student participation in the ARISS program stimulates interest in STEM subjects and in STEM careers. One educator wrote, “It exceeded our expectations--it created a great interest in both amateur radio and in space exploration. Our kids are completely inspired!” Ninety-two percent of educators who have participated in the program have indicated that ARISS provided ideas for encouraging student exploration and participation. An educator even joined the ham ranks, saying, “This chance for our school’s ARISS contact helped me see the great value of the ham world. I just passed my Technician License this weekend and have already signed up to take a General class.” ARISS is looking for organizations that will draw large numbers of participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed, exciting education plan. Students can learn about satellite communications, wireless technology, science research conducted on the ISS, radio science, and any related STEM subject. Students learn to use Amateur Radio to talk directly to an astronaut and ask their STEM-related questions. ARISS will help educational organizations locate Amateur Radio groups who can assist with equipment for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students. The proposal deadline for 2019 contacts is April 30, 2018. Proposal webinars for guidance and getting questions answers will be offered March 29, 2018, at 7 p.m. EDT and April 16, 2018, at 4 p.m. EDT. Advance registration is necessary. To sign up, go to https://ariss-proposal-webinar-spring-2018.eventbrite.com For more details such as expectations, proposal guidelines and the proposal form, visit: http://www.ariss.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact-in-the-us.html About ARISS Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the Center for the Advancement of Science in space (CASIS) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, tech- nology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students in classrooms or public forms. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org. Also join us on Facebook: Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Follow us on Twitter: ARISS_status [ANS thanks ARISS for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AO-92 Operating Schedule Posted for Week of March 18-24 Drew, KO4MA, AMSAT VP Operations updated the AO-92 Operating Schedule page for the coming week: https://www.amsat.org/satellite-schedules/ AO-92 operations are scheduled among the U/v FM repeater, L-Band Downshifter, Virginia Tech Camera, and the University of Iowa’s High Energy Radiation CubeSat Instrument (HERCI). Please keep the uplink clear during passes with scheduled mode changes. For the week of 18-24 Mar 2018, the following mode changes are scheduled: + 18 March at approximately 1500 UTC we will enable the L band uplink for ~24 hours + 22 March at approximately 1345 we will enable the VT camera and high-speed data for ~40 minutes. This is a Caribbean and South America pass. Please be ready to copy high-speed data with FoxTelem, and keep the uplink clear at 1345UTC. + All other times the U/v repeater will be open continuously. [ANS thanks Drew, KO4MA, AMSAT VP Operations for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT at the 2018 Hamvention -- Call for volunteers The 2018 Hamvention will be held on May 18-20, 2018 at Greene County Fairground and Expo Center in Xenia Ohio. Planning is under way for AMSAT's participation! Phil, W1EME, AMSAT's Hamvention Team Leader is looking for team leaders to assist him. If you can help please consider leading in one of the unfilled positions at w1eme(a)amsat.org + Volunteer Assistant + Publicity Assistant - JoAnne K9JKM + Forum Assistant - Keith KB1SF + Sales Assistant + Outdoor Demo Assistant - Paul N8HM + Facilities and Setup Assistant We need as many volunteers as possible to help staff the AMSAT booth during the Hamvention Last year, we had about 40 people assist with the AMSAT booth at the Hamvention. It was the efforts of those volunteers that made the 2017 Hamvention a success for AMSAT. 1. May 17 - Booth setup on Thursday. 2. May 18, 19, 20 - Staff the booth during Hamvention hours to answer questions, enroll members, indoor demos, merchandise and book sales. (We will train you!) 3. May 20 - Booth teardown on Sunday The interaction with AMSAT members, satellite operators, designers, and builders makes the whole experience a lot of fun. Whether you're available for only a couple of hours or if you can spend the entire weekend with us, your help would be greatly appreciated. Interested hams should contact Team Leader Phil Smith via email at: w1eme(a)amsat.org for information. [ANS thanks AMSAT Hamvention Publicity Assistant JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Top 10 Reasons to Come to AMSAT at the Hamvention 10. Rub shoulders with 25,000 of your best friends at the largest hamfest in the United States, including all of the AMSAT Directors and senior officers. See the latest equipment from Icom, Yaesu, Kenwood, Flex, Alinco, M2, Arrow, and many other manufacturers of amateur radio equipment and accessories. Take advantage of discounted pricing you won't find anywhere else. 9. Find out how to organize a contact with the astronauts on the International Space Station for your local school or youth group from our Education and ARISS experts. 8. Pickup the latest AMSAT golf shirts, T-shirts, and hats. Get your copy of the updated "Amateur Satellite Frequency Guide" (laminated frequency chart) and Gould Smith's just revised for 2018 "Getting Started with Amateur Satellites" book. We'll also have assembled wide-band preamps and antennas that are great for portable operation. 7. See demonstrations of SatPC32 and MacDoppler satellite tracking software, and get your operational questions answered. Assembled LVB Trackers will be available. 6. Hear the latest presentation at the joint AMSAT/TAPR dinner. 5. Hear the latest on the Fox and Golf satellites, the International Space Station, other current and future satellites, education news, and an AMSAT update at the AMSAT Forum Saturday, from 11:15 to 1:30. 4. Get one-on-one guidance on setting up your satellite station and making contacts at our "Beginner's Corner". Witness live demonstra- tions of contacts through satellites. 3. Meet and interact with some of the Engineering Team members working on the Fox and Golf satellites and our new Five and Dime AMSAT ground terminal. 2. Get satellite station and operating tips from some of the best satellite operators in the country. 1. Receive your 2018 laminated Satellite Frequency Chart when you join or renew your AMSAT membership at Hamvention. New members will receive the Frequency Chart and the latest edition of the AMSAT Journal. [ANS thanks AMSAT Hamvention Publicity Assistant JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT Field Day on the Satellites 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 23-hour period on the fourth weekend of June. For 2018 the event takes place during a 27-hour period from 1800 UTC on Saturday, June 23, 2018 through 2100 UTC on Sunday, June 24, 2018. Those who set up prior to 1800 UTC on June 23 can operate only 24 hours. The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT) promotes its own version of Field Day for operation via the amateur sat- ellites, held concurrently with the ARRL event. This year should be easier than many years since we have more than 10 transponders and repeaters available. 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, there are SO-50, AO-85, AO-91, AO-92 and possibly PicSat. It might be easier this year to make that one FM contact for the ARRL bonus points with so many FM birds. 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. The full set of rules are posted at: https://www.amsat.org/field-day/ [ANS thanks AMSAT Director Contests and Awards, Bruce Paige, KK5DO, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- HuskySat-1 Applies for IARU Coordination for Linear V/U Transponder The IARU Frequency Coordination pages show that the Husky Satellite Lab at the University of Washington applied for frequencies on March 7 for HuskySat-1, a 3U CubeSat with propulsion capability. Launch is planned for a high inclination LEO late 2018 on the ELaNA XXIV mission. HuskySat-1 will become the first amateur satellite from Washington state. HuskySat-1 will demonstrate the capabilities of new technologies being developed at the University of Washington and expand the capabilities of CubeSats as a whole. In particular, a high-thrust pulsed plasma thruster (PPT), and high-gain communications system will form the core technology suite on board the satellite. HuskySat-1 will carry AMSAT's 30 kHz wide V/u linear transponder for amateur radio SSB/CW communications. The transponder is the same design as the transponder being flown on RadFXSat-2/Fox-1E in 2018 including the 1k2 BPSK telemetry channel. HuskySat-1 will also transmit BPSK telemetry at 1 Mbps in the 24 GHz band. In order to utilize the transponder and telemetry beacon, equipment suitable for other linear transponder satellites such as FO-29 and AO-73 will be needed. Estimates are that a few watts into a small beam should be adequate, with a small beam with a low noise preamp serving for reception. Additional details have been posted at: https://sites.google.com/uw.edu/huskysatellitelab/huskysat-1 https://amsat-uk.org/2018/03/10/huskysat-1-cubesat/ IARU frequency coordination activities may be followed on-line at: http://amsat.org.uk/iaru/ [ANS thanks the IARU, the Unviversity of Washington, and AMSAT-UK for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Thousands of Kilometers Via Satellite and a WAS Award Too Listen to a recording of a 6005 KM contact with KE9AJ and OA4/XQ3SA on March 11: http://tinyurl.com/ANS-077-AO7-QSO Recording provided by NP4JV. A 4100 KM contact via AO-92 between Kuthumabaka Ramesh, VU3FTP, in Hyderabad City, India and Suryono P. Kebayoran Lama Selatan YD0NXX, in Jakarta, Indonesia on March 9 can viwed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uShVF6Y6MzM&feature=youtu.be On March 10 K7TAB (DM43)worked VY0ERC (ER60) located at 80 degrees north via AO-91 for a 5250 KM QSO. Both stations used a Kenwood TH-D72A HT running 5W. MI6GTY (IO64) and N9EAT (EN41) enjoyed a 6010 KM QSO vis AO-91 on March 11. This is a new distance record for AO-91. See: https://www.amsat.org/satellite-distance-records/ Jose, EB1AO in Spain (IN52) and David, W0DHB (DN70) completed a 7606 KM contact on March 12 via AO-7. They had a 2 minute window with 0.4 degrees for EB1AO (contact was made at 0.1 degree elevation) and 2 degrees for W0DHB. Jose operated portable on a hilltop with an IC-910 and Arrow Antenna. To date he has 34 states via satellite. PS8ET (GI84) worked CU2ZG (HM77) for a 5096 KM contact wia AO-91 on March 12. Mikey, K7ULS reported working FG8OJ and PJ2/HB9WDF via FO-29 on March 13. Now, a report on quantity vs distance ... congratulations to Michael, K9EI for his completion of Satellite Worked All States. He commented on Twitter, "Please let me say thank you to everyone who helped me finally achieve my first WAS. I became a ham in 1977, but never was involved enough to accomplish WAS. I am even more satisfied that I was able to do it first on satellites among so many friends. You’ve all been fantastic." [ANS thanks everyone for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Phase 4 Weekly Update 9 March Michelle Thompson, W5NYV has Phase 4 Weekly Report for 9 March 2018: View it on-line to hear all the details at: https://youtu.be/1GirCiB5XNg A summary of the key points discussed this week include: + Exploration of the use of the Ettus Research E310 and X310 Universal Software Radio Peripheral (USRP) devices. + GNU Radio Conference 2018 tickets are available: https://www.gnuradio.org/grcon-2018/ The whole conference is packed with wonderful experiences and fun. Come join Phase 4 Ground at our DVB-S2 and DVB-S2X workshop and hackfest on Friday! Presented by Open Research Institute, Inc. with a goal to produce an open source DVB-S2/X receiver in GNU Radio primarily for AMSAT. Please share with whoever you think would love to come! There will be a new user track as well as advanced content, workshops, vendors, demonstrations, and multiple social events. Look for the Phase 4 articles coming in the March/April 2018 AMSAT Journal. [ANS thanks Michelle Thompson, W5NYV and the Phase 4 Team for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Early Bird Bookings for the AMSAT-SA Space Symposium Now Open Bookings for the annual AMSATSA Space Symposium which will be held on May 19, at the Innovation Hub in Pretoria is now open. The symposium features interesting subjects including development of a new SDR transponder, building a ground station to operate Ama- teur Radio's first geostationary satellite Es'hail-2, a BACAR-ready 10 GHz beacon to exercise your Es'hail-2 receiver, a practical approach to improving modular system reliability, FunCube Data and some of its secrets and a progress report on Kletskous and its next generation transponder and systems. Get the booking form and details on www.amsatsa.org.za. [ANS thanks AMSAT South Africa for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Melbourne University Student Space Program Update Gabriel, VK3EXO, provided an update to the Wireless Institute of Australia regarding the Melbourne University Student Space Program. From the RF perspective project personnel have successfully trans- mitted packets between the ground station and the satellite radio. They have interfaced the satellite radio with the flight computer and the satellite antenna has been deployed. The ACMA recently approved the frequency allocation request and will be taking the application to the ITU on behalf of the project team. This is a huge achievement, particularly for an entirely student led organization. A major milestone has been passed with power-up test of everything to be included in the satellite all laid out on a flat surface called a FlatSat. The next step is to perform extensive software and hard- ware testing. The testing will be performed over the next few weeks. The Mission Operations website development is going well and the team is on track for launch at the end of this year / early next year. [ANS thanks the Wireless Institute of Australia VK1WIA news for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT Member Perry F. Crabill, W3HQX Silent Key This week Larry Wright, W8ANT, reported the sad news that Perry F. Crabill, W3HQX, member of AMSAT, born in 1920, formerly of Washington, DC and suburban Maryland and until his passing of Winchester Virginia, is now a Silent Key at age 97. Perry was first licensed as W3HQX in "19ought38" as he was wont to say, worked for C&P telephone for many years, served in the US Navy in World War Two as a radio technician (passing the difficult Eddy test,) and was active for almost 70 years in a variety of amateur radio activities. Known affectionately by the 147.300 repeater's "Question Of the Day" group as "The Professor", Perry had a wide range of on-the-air acquaintances. A memorial service and celebration of his life was held on Saturday, March 24 in Winchester, VA. [ANS thanks Larry Wright, W8ANT for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- China's DSLWP-A1/A2 Satellites to Transmit Amateur Radio Data from the Moon China is planning to launch the Chang’e 4 lander and rover which is slated to land on the far side of the moon in December. The lander configuration will use a relay satellite for a control and data link with Earth. Also aboard this flight will be a pair of microsatellites, DSLWP-A1 and DSLWP-A2, which will test low-frequency radio astronomy and space-based interferometry. These two lunar orbiting satellites developed by students at the Harbin Institute of Technology will include educational and amateur radio payloads (but not a trans- ponder). The Amateur Radio payload on DSLWP-A1 will provide a telecommand uplink and a telemetry and digital image downlink. Radio amateurs will be able to transmit commands that allow them to send commands to take and download an image. The IARU has coordinated downlinks on 435.425 MHz and 436.425 MHz for A1. Downlinks have been coordinated for A2 are 435.400 MHz and 436.400 MHz using 10K0F1DCN or 10K0F1DEN (10-kHz wide FM single-channel data) 250 bps GMSK with concatenated codes or JT65B. A1 and A2 will be deployed into a 200 × 9,000 kilometer lunar orbit. The 50 × 50 × 40 centimeter spacecrafts each weigh about 45 kilograms and are three-axis stabilized. Two linear polarization antennas are mounted along and normal to the flight direction. The satellites will use the moon to shield them from radio emissions from Earth for the long wavelength space-based interferometry experi- ments. The launch is anticipated for May or June on a CZ-4C vehicle, putting the satellites’ deployment about 6 months ahead of the launch of the Chang’e 4 lander and rover. [ANS thanks the Harbin Institute of Technology, IARU, and ARRL for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + The AmazonSmile Triple Donation Promotion Now Under Way Triple your impact! Until March 31, Amazon is tripling the donation rate on your first AmazonSmile purchase. You can name AMSAT to receive the donation from your purchase. https://smile.amazon.com + The Station and Operating Hints page has been updated to include WD9EWK's November/December 2017 AMSAT Journal article Working the FalconSAT-3 Digipeater (with Kenwood TH-D72 and TM-D710G radios) Read how to use the 9600bps AX.25 V/U digipeater. https://www.amsat.org/station-and-operating-hints/ and scroll down the page to the other digipeater articles. + Use the HA7WEN WebSDR at http://152.66.73.241:33333/ to listen to FO-29 traffic over Europe. (via Michel F6HTJ) + Enjoy a video made by the University of Bristol team's entry to the 2017 UK Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (UKSEDS)Lunar Rover Competition: https://youtu.be/ouL-cg1U0MI Visit http://ukseds.org/about/ to learn more about the UK’s national student space society. + The March PDF of the weather satellite publication GEO Newsletter produced by the Group for Earth Observation is now available for free download: http://www.geo-web.org.uk/geoquarterly.php + Amateurs preparing for our microwave future in space may find this information, relayed on the microwave(a)mailmanlists.us e-mail reflector, useful. An Analog Devices RF Detector Surf Board is $10 evaluation kit containing an RF Power detector made up of three RF detector chips covering DC to 9 GHz, one with 80 dB range. Search for part number ADL5XDETECTRKIT at https://www.richardsonrfpd.com to figure out if you want one. Even if you don't buy anything the page has links to useful electronic design tools. + GM4VZY produces a weekly Weather Satellite Report listing polar orbiting and geostationary satellites transmitting on VHF and L-band: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/weather-satellite-reports/info + Space enthusiasts, make room on your calendars. The Smithsonian Channel will premiere two sets of back-to-back space documentaries in late March and early April: https://www.space.com/39950-smithsonian-channel-space-specials.html + Not really satellite oriented but you guys are going to like this one anyways ... HF Voyager is an ocean-going drone currently making its way from Hawaii to California that can carry out amateur radio contacts in several digital modes. On-board in a waterproof container is an Elecraft KX3 and a Raspberry Pi computer enabling a variety of digital modes to be used. The station uses FT8 and PSK-31 on the 20 meter band as its primary operating modes. You may also find it using WSPR in times of poor propagation. Call sign to look for? KH6JF/MM. More details and the current location of the drone are available at: http://www.jrfarc.org/ --------------------------------------------------------------------- /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 Happy New Year, This week's ANS Editor, JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM k9jkm at amsat dot org

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ANS-070 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletin
by Chris Bradley 12 Mar '18

12 Mar '18

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-070.01 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: * Robertsville Middle School Students Will Send a CubeSat into Space * Call for Volunteers - Dayton Hamvention * Maidenhead Grid EL58hx Activation Memorial Day Weekend 2018 * FJ, St. Barthelemy Operations April 19-27 * AMSAT-OSCAR 92 * Send Your Name to the Sun Aboard the Parker Solar Probe * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-070.01 ANS-014.01 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 070.01 >From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. March 8, 2018 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-070.01 Robertsville Middle School Students Will Send a CubeSat into Space In November of last year, a team of Robertsville middle students, educators, and Oak Ridge scientists submitted a proposal to NASA for their Cube Satellite Launch Initiative (CSLI) in hopes of sending a student-designed nanosatellite named, "RamSat" into space. NASA's CSLI provides opportunities for small satellite payloads built by various schools and non-profit organizations to fly on upcoming launches. NASA provides CubeSat developers a low-cost pathway to conduct scientific investigations in space, enabling students, teachers, and industry partners to obtain hands-on development experiences. In a letter received on March 2, 2018, we learned that our proposal for RamSat was accepted for participation in the CSLI, an initiative intended to provide launch opportunities during 2019, 2020, and 2021. CubeSats are auxiliary payloads on planned NASA, other U.S. Government, or commercial space flight missions, or deployments from the International Space Station. We learned that our payload is one of 21 satellites selected or prioritized for participation in the ninth CSLI selection. Our acceptance was also announced on NASA's website as RamSat, an education mission to develop and implement a middle school STEM curriculum for building a CubeSat. Peter Thornton, one of the RamSat team leaders from Oak Ridge National Laboratory stated, "This is such an exciting opportunity for the students! They will now have the chance to design, build, carry out and own a satellite mission. They will be the mission scientists, the communication specialists, and the logistics experts. They will calculate orbits, learn to aim their satellite camera at selected targets on the ground, radio their commands to RamSat, and receive and interpret the digital data streams broadcast by RamSat, containing imagery and all the other important data gathered on- board. They'll be working as a team to identify and solve problems, and they will be working with NASA professionals to integrate RamSat into the launch and deployment missions. I can't think of a more exciting project to ignite the students' curiosity and passion for science and engineering." The CSLI ride-share launch features spacecraft called nanosatellites. CubeSats are sized in units, and one unit (1U) is 10 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm. To participate in the CSLI program, CubeSat investigations must be in alignment with NASA's Strategic Plan. The Robertsville Middle School proposal aimed to demonstrate alignment by creating student-driven STEM-based lessons addressing educational development needs relevant to NASA's strategic goals. The students' targeted mission for their RamSat is to send a small camera and radio encased in a 2U nanosatellite that will relay data and images from space back to earth. With this information, students will study reforestation patterns of vegetation lost in forest fires. The student mission arose in response to a real-world connection they had to the Gatlinburg fires last year. [ANS Thanks OAK RIDGE SCHOOLS OAK RIDGE, TN for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Call for Volunteers - Dayton Hamvention The 2018 Hamvention will be held on May 18-20 2018 at Green County Fairground and Expo Center in Xenia Ohio. Planning is under way for AMSAT's participation, and we are looking for volunteers in the following areas: Volunteer Assistant, Publicity Assistant, Sales Assistant, Outdoor Demo Assistant, Facilities and Setup Assistant. Interested Hams should contact Team Leader Phil Smith via email at w1eme(a)amsat.org for information. [ANS Thanks Phil Smith, W1EME for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Maidenhead Grid EL58hx Activation Memorial Day Weekend 2018 (Venice, LA, USA) Wyatt Dirks, AC0RA, and Clayton Coleman, W5PFG will travel to the mouth of the Mississippi River in far Southeast Louisiana to activate maidenhead gridsquare EL58hx on Memorial Day weekend, 2018. The primary activities will be on the 6m band and OSCAR satellites. This will be Wyatt's first activation of EL58 in Louisiana and Clayton's second. Both operators have conducted multiple, successful portable activations over the years, with Wyatt activating over 200 grid squares and Clayton over 150. Dates, the operating location in the grid, and transportation arrangements are confirmed. The activation is scheduled to begin after 23:00 UTC on May 25 and will conclude by 20:00 UTC on May 27. All 6m operations will use the callsign AC0RA. All satellite operations will use the callsign W5PFG. HF operation will occur during slower periods on 6m and when there are no satellites in view. Those wishing to confirm HF contacts must do so via ARRL's Logbook of the World (LoTW.) 6m and Satellite confirmations will be available following the expedition on LoTW in addition to paper QSL's accompanied with a Self-Addressed, Stamped Envelope (SASE.) Further information will be released prior to the expedition. For general inquiries contact Clayton, W5PFG, at w5pfg(a)arrl.net. For 6m operational questions contact Wyatt, AC0RA, at dirkswyatt10(a)gmail.com. [ANS Thanks Clayton Coleman, W5PFG for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- FJ, St. Barthelemy Operations April 19-27 AI5P, N0KV, W0ZA and WD0E plan to operate from Pointe Milou, St. Barthelemy Island (IOTA NA-146/Grid Square FK87) from April 19-27, 2018. Operation will be on 80-10 meters (SSB/CW/ RTTY) with satellite operation by WD0E. Conditions may largely limit most activity to 20 meters and down. Operating 160 meters is being considered; however, no antenna option is yet finalized. Satellite operation will take place on several satellites. A satellite and pass schedule will be announced on the AMSAT-bb in advance. Equipment includes three Elecraft K3's and two 500 watt Elecraft amps. Antennas include a SteppIR crank IR vertical for 80-10 meters, a folding hexbeam by Folding Antennas (Germany) on 20-10 meters, LPDA's on 20 and 17 meters and verticals on 30 and 40 meters. Operation will be as continuous as conditions warrant. The Colorado operators have decided to use FJ/N0KV as their callsign while AI5P will be active as FJ/AI5P. FJ/N0KV logs will be updated to LOTW while Rick's logs (FJ/AI5P) will not since he continues to be an analog guy with an actual key and pen/paper log. Paper QSLs will be available from both N0KV and AI5P direct and via the bureau. Further: For satellite operation we plan to be on as many passes of as many satellites as possible focusing on the evening hours. Equipment will be an IC 910 and Arrow. On Montserrat in 2015 we were on FO-29 only. For St. Barts we will also operate some FM satellites. We will assemble a pass plan before we go and post it to this -bb. We will stick to that plan as much as possible but of course condi- tions may cause us adjust on the fly. The operating location has good visibility to the horizon from about the NW through N and E to the SE. Other directions are somewhat obscured. QSLs handled as written above. [ANS thanks Jim White, WD0E for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT-OSCAR 92 AO-92 operations are scheduled among the U/v FM repeater, L-Band Downshifter, Virginia Tech Camera, and the University of Iowa's High Energy Radiation CubeSat Instrument (HERCI). Please keep the uplink clear during passes with scheduled mode changes. For the week of 11-17 Mar 2018, the following mode changes are scheduled: Approximately 1420UTC 11Mar we will enable the L band uplink for ~24 hours Approximately 1625UTC 14Mar we will enable the VT camera and high- speed data for ~40 minutes. This is a central US and Mexico pass. Please be ready to copy high-speed data with FoxTelem, and keep the uplink clear at 1625UTC. All other times the U/v repeater will be open continuously. [ANS Thanks Drew KO4MA, AMSAT VP Operations for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Send Your Name to the Sun Aboard the Parker Solar Probe NASA will send your name on a microchip to the Sun aboard the Parker Solar Probe mission due to launch in the Summer of 2018. The probe will fly through the Sun's atmosphere and you can go along for the ride. To survive in the 2500° F solar environment the spacecraft and instruments will be protected by a 4.5-inch-thick carbon-composite shield. At its closest approach the probe will be flying at approximately 430,000 mph. To submit your name follow the instructions starting at: http://parkersolarprobe.jhuapl.edu/The-Mission/Name-to-Sun/ To learn more about the mission visit: http://parkersolarprobe.jhuapl.edu/ [ANS thanks NASA and the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + Gridders, Bob K8BL be staying in grid EM32 for the next couple weeks and operating "holiday style" while visiting family. He can probably work out going to adjacent Grids upon request. Besides LA, TX and AR and OK are possibilities. QSOs will be in LoTW when I return home the end of March. [ANS Thanks Bob K8BL, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- + I just wanted to thank Doug N6UA for his dedication to the hobby of Ham radio. Doug made an out of the way trip to nebraska to confirm the state for several of us who needed it for WAS LOTW. Doug fought 65 mph winds on the way and during the qso on Cas-4B . At times the howling was so bad that the audio was distorted , however Doug endured the elements and continued confirming the Grid/state for many of us. On the return home Doug encountered several semi accidents on I-25 . Thanks Doug for being so dedicated as to go out of your in bad weather to give a new grid or state to your fellow hams [ANS Thanks Jack KC7MG and Alex Weimer, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- + N8FQ Satalite Sked page available for amateur use. http://n8fq.org/sked/mobile.php?board=sat [ANS Thanks Joe, N3XLS for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- + Watch the development of a homebrew VHF mast head preamp design by VU2POP https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTDkRRtWTk8 [ANS Thanks VU2POP for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- + Information about China ham radio satellite to the moon https://amsat-uk.org/2016/11/18/lunar-amateur-radio-satellites-dslwp- a1a2/ [ANS Thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- + The schedule page at https://www.amsat.org/satellite-schedules/ has been updated for the coming week for AO-92 operations. We could use more stations feeding telemetry in auto or high-speed mode for the camera run on Wednesday! [ANS Thanks Andrew Glasbrenner for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- + All telemetry (image frames) received by anyone with FoxTelem are sent to the AMSAT server (if you have selected "upload to server") and used to construct a full image, in the same fashion that collecting many diverse telemetry frames provides a more complete record of satellite health and science data. So you may not see a whole image on your own FoxTelem, but you are helping everyone see the full image because you may capture a frame that no one else did. The more stations receiving, the better the chances for full images. Set your FoxTelem for "auto" source on the Input Tab and pitch in. Thank you for being part of the fun and learning! [ANS Thanks Jerry Buxton, NØJY, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- + AYMAN ISLANDS, ZF. Operators K0NR and KB9DPF will be QRV as ZF2NR and ZF2PF, respectively, from Grand Cayman Island from March 10 to 17. Activity will be holiday style on 40 to 10 meters using SSB and FT8. This includes some FM Satellite activity from grid square EK99. QSL to home calls. [ANS Thanks ARLD011 DX news bulletin 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, Chris Bradley, AA5EM aa5em at amsat dot org _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_cam…> Virus-free. www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_cam…> <#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>

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ANS-070 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Chris Bradley 11 Mar '18

11 Mar '18

1 0

ANS-063 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Lee McLamb 04 Mar '18

04 Mar '18

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-063 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: * VP9, BERMUDA on Satellites * GOLF-TEE and GOLF-1 Selected for NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative * Rare Grid Rover Activation Planned on Pacific Coast * VUCC Awards-Endorsements for February 2018 * Satellite 101 Wiki Released by IIT Bombay Student Satellite Project * Rules for AMSAT Awards updated * BIRDS-2 CubeSat Constellation Includes 145.825 MHz Digipeater * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-063.01 ANS-063 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 063.01 From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. DATE MARCH 4, 2018 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-063.01 VP9, BERMUDA on Satellites VP9, BERMUDA. Chris, KG6CIH, will be active as KG6CIH/VP9 from Bermuda (NA-005) between March 8-12th. Activity will be holiday style in addition to also checking out the island. He will be splitting radio time with a friend (David/WH6DSN was mentioned by another source). They will be focused on SSB operations on the main bands (80/40/20 meters, 15 meters if pro- pagation is good, 160m if antenna works), and maybe some satellite contacts too. QSL will primarily be via LoTW, but if they get enough contacts, they will consider printing up special cards. [ANS thanks Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin #1353 for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- GOLF-TEE and GOLF-1 Selected for NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative On March 2, 2018, NASA announced the ninth round of selections for the CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI). The first two AMSAT GOLF CubeSats, GOLF-TEE and GOLF-1, were among the 21 missions recommended for selection. AMSAT must negotiate and execute a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with NASA for each project to finalize selection. NASA anticipates a sufficient number of launch opportunities but does not guarantee that all recommended payloads will be launched. GOLF-TEE (Technology Evaluation Environment) will serve as a rapidly deployable Low Earth Orbit (LEO) testbed for technologies necessary for a successful CubeSat mission to a wide variety of orbits. AMSAT Vice-President Engineering Jerry Buxton, N0JY, said “The GOLF-TEE project tees off the next phase of our CubeSat program. GOLF-TEE provides AMSAT hardware and knowledge for Attitude Determination and Control (ADAC) capability and the opportunity to develop a 3U spaceframe with deployable solar panels that can be used in LEO or HEO missions, two of the major systems required in future GOLF and HEO missions.” Ragnarok Industries developed the attitude control system for the Lunar Heimdallr 6U CubeSat, a NASA Cube Quest Challenge finalist. GOLF-TEE provides the opportunity for rapid deployment and on orbit testing of the AMSAT’s Advanced Satellite Communications and Exploration of New Technology (ASCENT) program’s technology, including radiation tolerant transponder and Integrated Housekeeping Unit (IHU) technologies that will lead the way for low cost commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) systems that can function in the MEO and HEO radiation environments. GOLF-TEE will also carry a Fox-1E design V/u linear transponder and RadFx (Radiation Effects) experiment for Vanderbilt University. GOLF-TEE and the GOLF program will provide for the development of “Five and Dime” Field-Programmable Gate Array Software Defined Radio (FPGA SDR) transponders for use on a variety of missions and orbits. The target date for launch of GOLF-TEE is 4Q 2019. GOLF-1 will serve as a follow-on mission, also to LEO. Launch is targeted for 2020-2021. GOLF-1 will require a de-orbiting plan that is in compliance with NASA's NPR 8715.6 NASA Procedural Requirements for Limiting Orbital Debris in order to be manifested on a launch, due to the high altitude AMSAT has requested. Please consider a donation to the AMSAT GOLF program for development, construction, and testing of the GOLF-TEE and GOLF-1 CubeSats. Donate at https://goo.gl/GJ2Utb Checks may be mailed to AMSAT, 10605 Concord St. #304, Kensington, MD 20895-2526. [ANS thanks Paul, N8HM, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Rare Grid Rover Activation Planned on Pacific Coast Heads up AMSAT enthusiasts. Billy Blue, KM6NJL, plans to head to Humboldt County, California March 16-19. Billy says, "Depending on schedule and terrain and activities I'm going to try to work from CM89, CN70, CN80, CN71 and CN81 or the borders of these grids. Unfortunately I won't be heading further east." [ANS thanks Billy Blue, KM6NJL, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- VUCC Awards-Endorsements for February 2018 Here are the endorsements and new VUCC Satellite Awards issued by the ARRL for the period February 1, 2018 through February 28, 2018. Congratulations to all those who made the list this month! February: Short Month -- Fewer endorsements CALL 1Feb18 1Mar18 WA4NVM 1450 1488 WC7V 1158 1159 AA5PK 996 1012 K4FEG 841 878 N4UFO 700 715 K6FW 661 703 K0FFY 173 260 VE6SWC 173 173 K5IX 100 125 G0ABI 115 116 AB1OC 115 (NEW VUCC) PU8RFL 101 (NEW VUCC) If you find errors or omissions. please contact me off-list at <mycall>@<mycall>.com and I'll revise the announcement. This list was developed by comparing the ARRL .pdf listings for February 1, 2018. and March 1, 2018. 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 Ron, W5RKN, for the above information] -------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite 101 Wiki Released by IIT Bombay Student Satellite Project Members of the Pratham satellite team, the first student satellite of IIT Bombay Student Satellite Project (IITBSSP), have created the Satellite 101 Wiki as a part of a social goal of spreading knowledge and enthusiasm related to satellite and space technology among various aspiring students and universities across the globe. The Wiki discusses: + Starting a Student Satellite Project - Building the Team - Planning the mission and finalizing the Payload - Obtaining the required Infrastructure + Subsystems within a Satellite - Payload Subsystem - Communications Subsystem - Electrical Subsystem - Attitude Determination and Control Subsystem - Mechanical Subsystem Access the Satellite 101 Wiki at: http://www.aero.iitb.ac.in/satelliteWiki/index.php/Satellite_101 [ANS thanks the IIT Bombay Student Satellite Project for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Rules for AMSAT Awards updated A few months ago we added Washington, DC counting the same as a state. Today, we continued to align our awards with the ARRL. Our rules stated contacts had to be made within 25 miles or 40 kilometers from your home location. We have now amended the rules to read within 50 miles or 80 kilometers. This should be more beneficial for those that have moved to a new QTH. [ANS thanks Bruce, KK5DO, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- BIRDS-2 CubeSat Constellation Includes 145.825 MHz Digipeater The BIRDS-2 CubeSat constellation developed at Japan's Kyushu Institute of Technology includes three 1U CubeSats: + BHUTAN-1 + MAYA-1 + UiTMSAT-1 All CubeSats in BIRDS-2 constellation have identical designs and utilize the same radio frequencies. They are planned for release from the ISS together in 2018. The primary mission of BIRDS-2 CubeSat constellation is to provide digital message relay service to the amateur radio community by means of an APRS digipeater onboard. The APRS digipeater onboard BIRDS-2 CubeSats will use 145.825 MHz for both receive and transmit. 145.825MHz is a standard frequency used by other satellites such as ARISS and LAPAN-A2. Another mission of the BIRDS-2 CubeSat constellation is to demon- strate a store-and-forward (S&F) system. In this mission, a goal is to investigate technical challenges through experiments on appropriate data format, multiple access scheme, file-handling protocol while complying with limited operational time and power constraints. Another interesting application of BIRDS-2 CubeSat S&F system is for the satellites to collect data from remote ground sensors, store them onboard and download them to the different BIRDS-2 ground stations network. Further, students of Kyushu Institute of Technology will use BIRDS-2 CubeSat constellation to enhance research and experiment in the fields of single latch-up event detection, magnetic field measurements using a COTS anisotropic magnetometer, and flight testing of a COTS GPS chip which can be used for future CubeSat missions if proven effective. Students will also explore a passive attitude stabilization mechanism consisting of magnets and hysteresis dampers for proper orientation of camera on a CubeSat. All measurements and image data will be shared with the public on BIRDS-2 project website. Moveover, BIRDS-2 CubeSat constellation will expand amateur radio communication experiment on the operation of CubeSat constellation via a network of UHF/VHF amateur radio ground stations (started in BIRDS-1 CubeSat constellation project). All the above missions are envisioned to promote awareness of amateur radio communication and amateur satellites among the general public and students, especially in the participating nations of BIRDS-2 Project: Bhutan, Malaysia, Philippines, and Japan. Planning a deployment from the ISS in 2018. The IARU has coordinated a downlink frequency of 437.375 MHz and for APRS uplink/downlink 145.825 MHz. The IARU detailed pages are as noted: BHUTAN-1 http://www.amsatuk.me.uk/iaru/finished_detail.php?serialnum=562 MAYA-1 http://www.amsatuk.me.uk/iaru/finished_detail.php?serialnum=563 UiTMSAT-1 http://www.amsatuk.me.uk/iaru/finished_detail.php?serialnum=564 An article in the Bhutan press is posted at: http://www.kuenselonline.com/bhutan-1-expected-to-be-in-space-by-may/ [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK, kuenselonline.com, and the IARU for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + Congratulations on achieving a distance of 7649 km via AO-7 QSO by F6HTJ (JN12) and K4FEG (EM55) near Memphis, Tennessee. The frequency was 145930.0. (Via F6HJT) + The Eureka Amateur Radio Club, VY0ERC, is located at 79 degrees 59 min North, 85 degrees 56 min West on Ellesmere Island (IOTA NA-008). M0NPT recorded a video of G0ABI and G7SVF working VY0ERC via AO-91: https://youtu.be/oOiV-iEZhX4 (AMSAT-UK on Twitter) + 2017 Space Symposium - Corey Shields KB9JHU - Intro to SATNOGS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsKJX4WgCn0 (via AMSAT Twitter) + Congratulations on achieving a distance of 5,479 km via AO-91 QSO by Sam, N3ROY (FM29) and Jose, EB1AO (IN52) in Spain at 1530 Z on March 1. (via N3ROY) + A group of Ham Radio operators from Southern Mexico will be operating the special event "Spring Equinox" with the call 6E3MAYA from March 17th. to 21th. The activity will be 80 to 6 meters in SSB, CW, Satellite and Digital Modes. QSL via XE3N. (Twitter via Daily DX and XE3N) --------------------------------------------------------------------- /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, KT4TZ kt4tz at amsat dot org

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ANS-061 ANS Special Bulletin GOLF-TEE and GOLF-1 Selected for NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative
by Lee McLamb 03 Mar '18

03 Mar '18

AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-061.01 ANS-061 GOLF-TEE and GOLF-1 Selected for NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative AMSAT News Service Bulletin 061.01 From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. DATE MAARCH 2, 2018 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-061.01 On March 2, 2018, NASA announced the ninth round of selections for the CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI). The first two AMSAT GOLF CubeSats, GOLF-TEE and GOLF-1, were among the 21 missions recommended for selection. AMSAT must negotiate and execute a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with NASA for each project to finalize selection. NASA anticipates a sufficient number of launch opportunities but does not guarantee that all recommended payloads will be launched. GOLF-TEE (Technology Evaluation Environment) will serve as a rapidly deployable Low Earth Orbit (LEO) testbed for technologies necessary for a successful CubeSat mission to a wide variety of orbits. AMSAT Vice-President Engineering Jerry Buxton, N0JY, said “The GOLF-TEE project tees off the next phase of our CubeSat program. GOLF-TEE provides AMSAT hardware and knowledge for Attitude Determination and Control (ADAC) capability and the opportunity to develop a 3U spaceframe with deployable solar panels that can be used in LEO or HEO missions, two of the major systems required in future GOLF and HEO missions.” Ragnarok Industries developed the attitude control system for the Lunar Heimdallr 6U CubeSat, a NASA Cube Quest Challenge finalist. GOLF-TEE provides the opportunity for rapid deployment and on orbit testing of the AMSAT’s Advanced Satellite Communications and Exploration of New Technology (ASCENT) program’s technology, including radiation tolerant transponder and Integrated Housekeeping Unit (IHU) technologies that will lead the way for low cost commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) systems that can function in the MEO and HEO radiation environments. GOLF-TEE will also carry a Fox-1E design V/u linear transponder and RadFx (Radiation Effects) experiment for Vanderbilt University. GOLF-TEE and the GOLF program will provide for the development of “Five and Dime” Field-Programmable Gate Array Software Defined Radio (FPGA SDR) transponders for use on a variety of missions and orbits. The target date for launch of GOLF-TEE is 4Q 2019. GOLF-1 will serve as a follow-on mission, also to LEO. Launch is targeted for 2020-2021. GOLF-1 will require a de-orbiting plan that is in compliance with NASA's NPR 8715.6 NASA Procedural Requirements for Limiting Orbital Debris in order to be manifested on a launch, due to the high altitude AMSAT has requested. Please consider a donation to the AMSAT GOLF program for development, construction, and testing of the GOLF-TEE and GOLF-1 CubeSats. Donate at https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id= STK27W4G9RMLC. Checks may be mailed to AMSAT, 10605 Concord St. #304, Kensington, MD 20895-2526. [ANS thanks Paul, N8HM, for the above information] /EX

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ANS March 2018