ANS March 2022

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ANS-086 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for March 27, 2022
by kd4iz＠frawg.org 27 Mar '22

27 Mar '22

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-086 The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, 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: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/ In this edition: * AMSAT/TAPR Banquet To Be Held in Honor of Bob Bruninga, WB4APR * Artemis I rollout * FCC $35 Amateur Application Fee Effective Date Announced * AMSAT-LU WSPR beacon in Antarctica * ARISS News * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Satellite Shorts From All Over ANS-086 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins To: All RADIO AMATEURS From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation 712 H Street NE, Suite 1653 Washington, DC 20002 DATE 2022 Mar 27 AMSAT/TAPR Banquet To Be Held in Honor of Bob Bruninga, WB4APR The 13th annual AMSAT/TAPR Banquet will be held at the Kohler Presidential Banquet Center on Friday, May 20th at 18:30 EDT. This dinner is always a highlight of the AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corp.) and TAPR (Tucson Amateur Packet Radio) activities during the Dayton Hamvention. This year’s banquet will honor the life and accomplishments of long time amateur satellite and amateur packet pioneer Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, who passed away in February. The Kohler Presidential Banquet Center is located at 4548 Presidential Way, Kettering, Ohio – about 20 minutes away from the Greene County Fairgrounds. Tickets ($57 each) may be purchased from the AMSAT store. The banquet ticket purchase deadline is Friday, May 13th. Banquet tickets must be purchased in advance and will not be sold at the AMSAT booth. There will be no tickets to pick up at the AMSAT booth. Tickets purchased on-line will be maintained on a list with check-in at the door at the banquet center. Seating is limited to the number of meals reserved with the Kohler caterers based on the number of tickets sold by the deadline. Register today at https://www.amsat.org/product/amsat-tapr-joint-hamvention-banquet-registrat… [ANS thanks AMSAT & TAPR for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ The 2022 AMSAT President's Club coins have arrived! To commemorate the 50th anniversary of its launch on October 15, 1972, this year's coin features an image of AMSAT-OSCAR 6. Join the AMSAT President's Club today and help Keep Amateur Radio in Space! https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Artemis I rollout Artemis I, the culmination of NASA’s roughly $30B, two-decade-long rocket development effort, is now scheduled for launch no earlier than June 6. This first version of the SLS, which photogenically rolled out to the pad for a fueling and countdown ‘wet dress rehearsal’ last week, is 98 m tall and will generate 4 million kg of thrust, 17% more than the Saturn V. It is based largely on Shuttle-era technology developed in the 60s & 70s—its marvelous RS-25 engines are literally scavenged from Shuttles (they were designed to be reusable, but the SLS throws four of them away with every launch) and its solid-fuel boosters are also based on those used by the Shuttle. For this first SLS test flight, no crew (beyond Moonikin the mannequin) will ride the Orion capsule around the far side of the Moon and back to Earth, but the mission will test all parts of the system for the crewed Artemis II (launching in ~2024). After ULA and Boeing’s Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage pushes Orion into a translunar injection, it will separate and later deploy 10 small spacecraft: NEA Scout (asteroid rendezvous using a solar sail; covered in Issue 126), Lunar IceCube (map lunar water from orbit; Issue 84), LunaH-Map (map hydrogen in high resolution on the Moon’s south pole), BioSentinel (study the effects of deep space radiation on yeast; Issue 14), LunIR (lunar spectroscopy and thermography for surface characterization), CuSP (space weather observation and early warning), Miles CubeSat (a citizen-science mission that will autonomously travel 96 million kilometers using plasma propulsion), EQUULEUS (JAXA; visiting Earth-Moon L2 to study the plasma environment and watch the Moon for meteor impact flashes), OMOTENASHI (JAXA; attempting a lunar landing with a 12 kg spacecraft; Issue 126), and ArgoMoon (Italian Space Agency; optical communications tests, documentation and situational awareness of the ICPS, and finally lunar flybys and imaging in a exceptionally ecliptic geocentric orbit). Three other payloads, including Lunar Flashlight, were not ready for integration and missed their rides. Related: those 4 RS-25s getting thrown away on every SLS launch cost a staggering $146 million each—here are some other things you could buy for roughly the cost of one SLS engine: two basic Atlas V launches, three Falcon 9 launches, or a fully expendable Falcon Heavy launch, with ⅔ the SLS’s lift capacity at 1/27th the cost. As we mentioned a few weeks ago, the first four Artemis missions are now estimated to cost $4.1 billion per launch. It’s a pretty rocket though. [ANS thanks The Orbital Index for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Need new satellite antennas? Purchase Arrows, Alaskan Arrows, and M2 LEO-Packs from the AMSAT Store. When you purchase through AMSAT, a portion of the proceeds goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space. https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ FCC $35 Amateur Application Fee Effective Date Announced The FCC released a Public Notice on March 23, 2022, stating that the amateur radio application fees, including those associated with Form 605 application filings, would become effective on April 19, 2022. The Federal Communications Commission's authority to impose and collect fees is mandated by Congress. The $35 application fee, when it becomes effective on April 19, will apply to new, modification (upgrade and sequential call sign change), renewal, and vanity call sign applications. The fee will be per application. Administrative updates, such as a change of name, mailing or email address, will be exempt from fees. VECs and Volunteer Examiner (VE) teams will not have to collect the $35 fee at exam sessions. Once the FCC application fee takes effect, new and upgrade applicants will pay the $15 exam session fee to the ARRL VE team as usual, and pay the $35 application fee directly to the FCC by using the CORES FRN Registration system (CORES - Login). When the FCC receives the examination information from the VEC, it will email a link with payment instructions to each successful candidate who then will have 10 calendar days from the date of the email to pay. After the fee is paid and the FCC has processed an application, examinees will receive a second email from the FCC with a link to their official license. The link will be good for 30 days. Additionally, the FCC stated that applications processed and dismissed will not be entitled to a refund. This includes vanity requests where the applicant does not receive the requested call sign. The FCC published the notice in the Federal Register on March 23, 2022, stating that the amateur radio application fees, including those associated with Form 605 application filings, would become effective on April 19, 2022. [ANS thanks ARRL for the above information] -------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT-LU WSPR beacon in Antarctica AMSAT Argentina has prepared and donated to Cocoantar (Antarctic Joint Command), a beacon in WSPR mode (WSPR = emission of signals of minimum power 200mW and long range) On March 22, 2022, when the winter south hemisphere solstice occurred (passage of the sun over the equator to the north), this beacon was installed and began its operation at 40, 20, 15 and 10m from the Esperanza (Hope) Antarctic base, emitting with his Call Sign LU1ZV. In just one day, this permanent beacon has already been received and confirmed by multiple stations, allowing real-time viewing of propagation and range conditions in the bands that are broadcasted. This reaffirms and makes known to the world the will and commitment of Argentina of its permanent presence in Antarctica together with the Argentine Amateur Radio in the white continent by the hand of AMSAT-LU. To track, maps, graph and details see http://lu7aa.org/dx.asp?call=LU1ZV or by radio. AMSAT Argentina, LU7AA, thanks Cocoantar and AMSAT Argentina members and friends for being part and driving force of this special event, including its President LU4BMG, the President of CETRA LU8YY/Q, members of its Board of Directors and its 2,500 members for accompany this adventure. [ANS thanks JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM and AMSAT Argentina for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition? Get your AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff from our Zazzle store! 25% of the purchase price of each product goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ ARISS NEWS Amateurs and others around the world may listen in on contacts between amateurs operating in schools and allowing students to interact with astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station. The downlink frequency on which to listen is 145.800 MHz worldwide. No Educational Contacts have been announced for the dates 27 March to 2 April, 2022. The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html [ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AMSAT, along with our ARISS partners, is developing an Amateur Radio package, including two-way communication capability, to be carried on-board Gateway in lunar orbit. Support AMSAT's projects today at https://www.amsat.org/donate/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Upcoming Satellite Operations + KE0PBR: DN88/97 corner. 4/1 around 22:00-03:00. Weather dependent. #GetMitchTheGrids + KB2YSI: FN22, 3/26. CVARA Hamfest in Norwich NY (FN22) this Saturday morning. The passes will be mainly overheads as there are a few buildings that will block lower passes + Antonio Gonzalez, EA5RM, will once again be active as CP1XRM from Bolivia between March 31st and April 22nd, working as Solidaridad Medica España NGO (http://www.solidaridadmedica.org/) and Radioamateurs Without Frontiers NGO (https://www.rsf-rwf.org/) volunteer. Activity will be limited to his spare time on 160-10 meters using SSB and the Digital modes (FT8). He will also be on the LEO satellites from FH64pn and FH75ea grids. QSL via EA8RM. + W3IPA: DM42 vacation planned for Jul 30- Aug 6th will be on FM passes vacation style. I will be close to DM41 so might be able to work a gridline. Will post more updates closer to that week! [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT rover page manager, and JoAnne Maenpaa, K9KJM for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events. AMSAT Ambassador Schedules +Raleigh NC Hamfest April 16 (AMSAT Ambassador Phillip Jenkins, N4HF) (info table and demos; possible forum, but not likely at this point) Jim Graham Building – NC State Fairgrounds 4285 Trinity Rd, Raleigh, NC 27607 https://www.rarsfest.org/ Scheduled Events with AMSAT involvement: + Brainerd Area Hamfest April 23, 2022 Brainerd National Guard Armory Brainerd, MN https://brainerdham.org/ + CubeSat Developers Workshop April 26–28, 2022 San Luis Obispo, CA + Hamvention 2022 May 20, 2022 to May 22, 2022 Greene County Fairgrounds and Expo Center 210 Fairground Road Xenia, Ohio 45385 https://www.hamvention.org + 2022 Rocky Mountain ARRL Division Convention October 7, 2022 - October 9, 2022 Event Center at Archer 3921 Archer Pkwy Cheyenne, Wyoming 82007 https://wyhamcon.org/site. [ANS thanks Phillip Jenkins, N4HF and Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT Events Page Manager, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + Satellite snoopers pick up surprising tv broadcast: While Internet based streaming services appear to be the future of television, there are still plenty of places where it comes into the home via a cable, satellite, or antenna connection. For most satellite transmissions this now means a digital multiplex carrying a host of channels from a geostationary satellite, for which a set-top box or other decoder is required. Imagine the surprise of satellite-watchers than when the Russian polar communications satellite Meridian 9 which has a highly elliptical orbit was seen transmitting old-style terrestrial analogue TV (ThreadReader Link). What on earth was happening? See https://bit.ly/3D3ELFH for details. [ANS thanks Stephen Walters and Southgate Amateur Radio News for the above information] + The count of confirmed exoplanets just ticked past the 5,000 mark, representing a 30-year journey of discovery led by NASA space telescopes. Not so long ago, we lived in a universe with only a small number of known planets, all of them orbiting our Sun. But a new raft of discoveries marks a scientific high point: More than 5,000 planets are now confirmed to exist beyond our solar system. More at https://go.nasa.gov/3Iy7KTd [ANS thanks NASA for the above information] + Following the completion of critical mirror alignment steps, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope team expects that Webb’s optical performance will be able to meet or exceed the science goals the observatory was built to achieve. On March 11, the Webb team completed the stage of alignment known as “fine phasing.” At this key stage in the commissioning of Webb’s Optical Telescope Element, every optical parameter that has been checked and tested is performing at, or above, expectations. The team also found no critical issues and no measurable contamination or blockages to Webb’s optical path. The observatory is able to successfully gather light from distant objects and deliver it to its instruments without issue. While the purpose of this image was to focus on the bright star at the center for alignment evaluation, Webb's optics and NIRCam are so sensitive that the galaxies and stars seen in the background show up. While the purpose of this image was to focus on the bright star at the center for alignment evaluation, Webb's optics and NIRCam are so sensitive that the galaxies and stars seen in the background show up. Although there are months to go before Webb ultimately delivers its new view of the cosmos, achieving this milestone means the team is confident that Webb’s first-of-its-kind optical system is working as well as possible. More at https://go.nasa.gov/3NfKP2v [ANS thanks NASA and STScI for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/ In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to: * Societies (a recognized group, clubs or organization). * 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. * Memberships are available for annual and lifetime terms. Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional membership information. 73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space! This week's ANS Editor, Jack Spitznagel, KD4IZ kd4iz at arrl dot org

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ANS-082 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin - AMSAT/TAPR Banquet To Be Held in Honor of Bob Bruninga, WB4APR
by Paul Stoetzer 23 Mar '22

23 Mar '22

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE SPECIAL BULLETIN ANS-082 The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, 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: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/ In this edition: * AMSAT/TAPR Banquet To Be Held in Honor of Bob Bruninga, WB4APR SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-082.01 ANS-082 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin AMSAT News Service Bulletin 082.01 From AMSAT HQ WASHINGTON, DC DATE March 23, 2022 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-082.01 AMSAT/TAPR Banquet To Be Held in Honor of Bob Bruninga, WB4APR The 13th annual AMSAT/TAPR Banquet will be held at the Kohler Presidential Banquet Center on Friday, May 20th at 18:30 EDT. This dinner is always a highlight of the AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corp.) and TAPR (Tucson Amateur Packet Radio) activities during the Dayton Hamvention. This year’s banquet will honor the life and accomplishments of long time amateur satellite and amateur packet pioneer Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, who passed away in February. The Kohler Presidential Banquet Center is located at 4548 Presidential Way, Kettering, Ohio – about 20 minutes away from the Greene County Fairgrounds. Tickets ($57 each) may be purchased from the AMSAT store. The banquet ticket purchase deadline is Friday, May 13th. Banquet tickets must be purchased in advance and will not be sold at the AMSAT booth. There will be no tickets to pick up at the AMSAT booth. Tickets purchased on-line will be maintained on a list with check-in at the door at the banquet center. Seating is limited to the number of meals reserved with the Kohler caterers based on the number of tickets sold by the deadline. Register today at https://www.amsat.org/product/amsat-tapr-joint-hamvention-banquet-registrat… [ANS thanks AMSAT & TAPR 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 additional benefits. President's Club donations may be made at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-PresClub. 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. Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/ 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-079 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for March 20, 2022
by f.karnauskas＠amsat.org 20 Mar '22

20 Mar '22

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-079 The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, 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(a)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: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/ In this edition: * AMSAT at Dayton Hamvention - Call for Volunteers * AMSAT Booth Scheduled for CubeSat Developers Workshop 2022 * Amateur Radio Payload Proposed for the Tiangong Space Station * WRC23: 23cm Band Work Continues in CEPT * ARISS News * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Satellite Shorts From All Over ANS-079 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins To: All RADIO AMATEURS From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation 712 H Street NE, Suite 1653 Washington, DC 20002 DATE 2022 Mar 20 AMSAT at Dayton Hamvention - Call for Volunteers Phil Smith, W1EME, AMSAT Hamvention Team Leader, reports, "In 2019, we had about 40 people assist with the AMSAT booth at the Hamvention. It was the efforts of those volunteers that made the 2019 Dayton Hamvention a success for AMSAT. The interaction with AMSAT members, satellite operators, designers, and builders makes the whole experience a lot of fun. "The 2022 Hamvention is May 20-22 at the Greene County Fairgrounds in Xenia, Ohio. Would you consider helping AMSAT at the Hamvention this year? 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. Please send an e-mail to me at w1eme (at) amsat (dot) org if you can help." [ANS thanks Phil Smith, W1EME, AMSAT Hamvention Team Leader for the above information.] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Join the 2022 President's Club! Score your 2" 4-Color Accent Commemorative Coin. This gold finished coin comes with Full Color Certificate and Embroidered Iron-on AMSAT Logo Patch Donate today at https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/ You won't want to miss it! +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AMSAT Booth Scheduled for 2022 CubeSat Developers Workshop The 2022 Cubesat Developers Workshop will be held on April 26-28 at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, California. The workshop, themed “Building the Future of Space Together”, recently announced the schedule for the three day event and is available online at https://www.cubesatdw.org/. AMSAT Vice President - Engineering Jerry Buxton, N0JY, and others will host a booth in the exhibitor's area. All interested persons are invited to stop by and ask questions, make suggestions or simply say "hello". Persons with Electrical Engineering degrees with RF experiences and Mechanical Engineers are especially invited to stop by and discuss volunteer opportunities available in the FOX-Plus and GOLF programs. [ANS thanks AMSAT and the CubeSat.org for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Amateur Radio Payload Proposed for the Tiangong Space Station The IARU satellite frequency coordination panel reports an application has been submitted for an Amateur Radio payload to be hosted on the Tiangong space station. The coordination request says: CSSARC is the Amateur Radio payload for Chinese Space Station, proposed by Chinese Radio Amateurs Club (CRAC), Aerospace System Engineering Research Institute of Shanghai (ASES) and Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT). The first phase of the payload is capable of providing the following functions utilizing the VHF/UHF amateur radio band: 1. V/V or U/U crew voice; 2. V/U or U/V FM repeater; 3. V/V or U/U 1k2 AFSK digipeater; 4. V/V or U/U SSTV or digital image. The payload will provide resources for radio amateurs worldwide to make contacts with onboard astronauts, or communicate with each other. It will also play a rule to inspire students to pursue interests and careers in science, technology, engineering and math, and to encourage more people to get interested in amateur radio. Planning a launch from Wenchang in Q3 2022 to the Chinese Space Station. [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information.] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Need new satellite antennas? Purchase Arrows, Alaskan Arrows, and M2 LEO-Packs from the AMSAT Store. When you purchase through AMSAT, a portion of the proceeds goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space. https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ WRC23: 23cm Band Work Continues in CEPT The 4th meeting of the CEPT project team (CPG PTC) tasked with developing the CEPT Brief for WRC23 agenda item 9.1b on 23cm band amateur service and RNSS coexistence took place during March 2022. The IARU R1 was present and provided a contribution to the working document. A summary report describing the contributions and the meeting activity can be found at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-079-CEPT. The meeting did not tackle any technical studies directly but the developing brief reports and summarizes the activities taking place in other groups where they are being carried out. Updates were made to the background including a description of the work carried out by the amateur community in CEPT and ITU-R with respect to resolves 1 of the WRC-19 Resolution 774. Further updates were introduced to describe the study work taking place in ITU-R (WP’s 4C and 5A). The draft CEPT Brief will undergo further development as technical studies evolve in the wider regulatory community including both CEPT and ITU-R. The next activity concerning this topic will take place in the CEPT arena (SE40) to progress the technical studies and the draft ECC Report. More information is available at https://iaru-r1.org/. [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information.] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AMSAT's GOLF Program is about getting back to higher orbits, and it all begins with GOLF-TEE – a technology demonstrator for deployable solar panels, propulsion, and attitude control, now manifested for launch on NASA's ELaNa 46 mission. Come along for the ride. The journey will be worth it! https://tinyurl.com/ANS-GOLF +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ ARISS NEWS Amateurs and others around the world may listen in on contacts between amateurs operating in schools and allowing students to interact with astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station. The downlink frequency on which to listen is 145.800 MHz worldwide. + Upcoming Contacts Toyonaka High School, Toyonaka, Japan, direct via 8J3THS. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS. The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz. The scheduled crewmember is Kayla Barron, KI5LAL. Contact is go for Monday, March 21, 2022 at 08:46:32 UTC. + Completed Contacts Kids Star Club Sayama, Sayama, Japan, multi-point via 8J1KSC. The ISS callsign was NA1SS. The downlink frequency was 145.800 MHz. The crewmember was Mark Vande Hei KG5GNP. Contact was successful on Thursday, March 17, 2022 at 10:21:47 UTC. The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html [ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AMSAT, along with our ARISS partners, is developing an amateur radio package, including two-way communication capability, to be carried on-board Gateway in lunar orbit. Support AMSAT's projects today at https://www.amsat.org/donate/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Upcoming Satellite Operations None listed at this time. [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT rover page manager, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events + April 16 - Raleigh NC Hamfest N4HF will attend with information table and demonstrations. Jim Graham Building – NC State Fairgrounds 4285 Trinity Rd, Raleigh, NC 27607 https://www.rarsfest.org/ + April 23 - Brainerd Area Hamfest Brainerd National Guard Armory https://brainerdham.org/ + October 7-8 - 2022 Rocky Mountain ARRL Division Convention Event Center at Archer 3921 Archer Pkwy Cheyenne, Wyoming 82007 https://wyhamcon.org/site [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT Events page manager, for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + Two upgraded Astro Pi units have arrived on the International Space Station. Each unit contains the latest model of the Raspberry Pi computer, plus a Raspberry Pi High Quality Camera and a host of sensors on a custom Sense HAT, all housed inside a special flight case designed to keep everything cool and protected. You can read the story of how the Astro Pi units were built at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-079-raspberry-pi. [ANS thanks Raspberry-Pi.org for the above information.] + NASA rolled the Space Launch System, a heavy-duty rocket designed to send astronauts to the moon, out of the iconic Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center on Thursday evening. A crawler-transporter originally built more than 50 years ago for the Apollo program hauled the towering rocket to its launch pad for a countdown dress rehearsal. The dress rehearsal in early April, when the launch team will load super-cold liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellants into the rocket’s Boeing-built core stage and upper stage, made by United Launch Alliance. Read more about the preparations for the Artemis-I mission at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-079-artemis. [ANS thanks Spaceflightnow.com for the above information.] + Oregon’s first satellite, also known as OreSat0, was launched into low Earth orbit on March 15 aboard Astra's "LV0009" rocket from Kodiak, Alaska. OreSat0 was designed and built by the Portland State Aerospace Society (PSAS), an interdisciplinary student group at Portland State University. It’s the first in a series of three satellites. It carries an Amateur Radio communications system. PSAS already has close to 200 data packets from the satellite as it circles the Earth and is working better than anticipated. Experiments will begin shortly allowing PSAS to test their sensors and systems over the next few years until OreSat0 makes its journey home. In the meantime, PSAS is already building its next satellite, OreSat0.5, which is equipped with a better camera to guide its journey later this summer. More information at https://www.pdx.edu/news/oregons-first-satellite-launched-orbit. [ANS thanks Portland State University for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/ In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to: * Societies (a recognized group, club or organization). * 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. * Memberships are available for annual and lifetime terms. Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional membership information. 73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space! This week's ANS Editor, Frank Karnauskas, N1UW n1uw at amsat dot org

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ANS-072 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for Mar. 13
by Mark Johns, K0JM 13 Mar '22

13 Mar '22

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-072 The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, 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: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/ In this edition: * January/February 2022 Issue of The AMSAT Journal Now Available * AMSAT Discord Server Open to All * Study: Rapid Development of Satellite Mega-Constellations Risks Tragedies of the Commons * Successful QO-100 Ham Radio Emergency Communications Exercise * Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for March 10 * ARISS News * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Satellite Shorts From All Over ANS-072 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins To: All RADIO AMATEURS From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation 712 H Street NE, Suite 1653 Washington, DC 20002 DATE 2022 Mar 13 January/February 2022 Issue of The AMSAT Journal Now Available The January/February 2022 issue of The AMSAT Journal is now available to members on AMSAT’s Member Portal at https://launch.amsat.org/The_AMSAT_Journal The AMSAT Journal is a bi-monthly digital magazine for amateur radio in space enthusiasts, published by the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT). Each issue is your source for hardware and software projects, technical tips, STEM initiatives, operational activities, and news from around the world. Inside the Current Issue: * Apogee View – Robert Bankston, KE4AL * Educational Relations Update - Alan Johnston, KU2Y * Engineering Update - Jerry Buxton, N0JY * Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, SK - Joe Kornowski, KB6IGK * Space Weather for the Satellite Operator with Dr. Tamitha Skov - Paul Graveline, K1YUB * An EZNEC Model for the Lindenblad Antenna - Grant Zehr, AA9LC Not an AMSAT member? Join at https://launch.amsat.org/ [ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ The 2022 AMSAT President's Club coins have arrived! To commemorate the 50th anniversary of its launch on October 15, 1972, this year's coin features an image of AMSAT-OSCAR 6. Join the AMSAT President's Club today and help Keep Amateur Radio in Space! https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AMSAT Discord Server Open to All AMSAT is pleased to announce the availability of a Discord server for the amateur satellite community. Discord is a text, voice, and video client that has become very popular in recent years. Discord will provide the amateur satellite community with an additional option to communicate amongst each other, in real-time. Discord provides several neat features, including the following: * Ability to create channels, to organize different conversation topics * Hosting of events, that can include voice and or video chat * For satellite launch parties! * Use of bots to automate useful actions -Try typing /tle AO-92 -More commands are in development! * Notification of Twitter posts of interest -Currently only following @AMSAT Twitter account A special section of the server is reserved for AMSAT members. If you are a current member, please send a message in the #request-roles channel once you join the server, indicating whether you are a member or life member. Once the member role is granted, you will be able to post in the “Members Only” category. If you are not yet an AMSAT member, join today at https://launch.amsat.org/ The link below can be used to join the server. See you in Discord! https://discord.gg/xbTXcPJHyt [ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Need new satellite antennas? Purchase Arrows, Alaskan Arrows, and M2 LEO-Packs from the AMSAT Store. When you purchase through AMSAT, a portion of the proceeds goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space. https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Study: Rapid Development of Satellite Mega-Constellations Risks Tragedies of the Commons A study reported in Nature, “Satellite mega-constellations create risks in Low Earth Orbit, the atmosphere and on Earth,” in Scientific Reports (May 2021) by Aaron C. Boley and Michael Byers, says the rapid development of mega-constellations risks multiple tragedies of the commons. That could include tragedies to ground-based astronomy, Earth orbit, and Earth’s upper atmosphere. The study asserts that international cooperation is urgently needed, along with a regulatory system that takes into account the effects of tens of thousands of satellites. “[T]he connections between the Earth and space environments are inadequately taken into account by the adoption of a consumer electronic model applied to space assets,” the authors said. “For example, we point out that satellite re-entries from the Starlink mega-constellation alone could deposit more aluminum into Earth’s upper atmosphere than what is done through meteoroids; they could thus become the dominant source of high-altitude alumina.” The authors say their study shows that untracked debris will lead to potentially dangerous on-orbit collisions on a regular basis due to the large number of satellites within mega-constellation orbital shells. The total cross-section of satellites in these constellations also greatly increases the risk of impacts due to meteoroids. De facto orbit occupation by single actors, inadequate regulatory frameworks, and the possibility of free-riding exacerbate these risks. According to Boley and Byers, in 2 years, the number of active and defunct satellites in low-Earth orbit (LEO) has increased by over 50%. “SpaceX alone is on track to add 11,000 more as it builds its Starlink mega-constellation and has already filed for permission for another 30,000 satellites with the [FCC].” More than 12,000 trackable debris pieces are already in low-Earth orbit, typically 10 centimeters in diameter or larger, the study asserts. Including sizes down to 1 centimeter would raise the debris count to about a million inferred debris pieces that could threaten satellites, spacecraft, and astronauts due to their orbits crisscrossing at high relative speeds. Simulations of the long-term evolution of debris suggest that LEO is already in the protracted initial stages of a mushrooming collision scenario, but that this could be managed through active debris removal. The addition of satellite mega-constellations and the general proliferation of low-cost satellites in LEO stresses the environment further, the study posits. [ANS thanks ARRL for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Successful QO-100 Ham Radio Emergency Communications Exercise On February 26, 22 stations representing 14 countries in IARU Region 1 took part in a short notice exercise using the geostationary satellite QO-100 amateur radio transponder IARU Region 1 Emergency Communications Co-Ordinator Greg Mossop G0DUB has posted: This was the first of a number of smaller exercises, tests and meetings to be held by IARU Region 1 throughout the year, building on the earlier Global Simulated Emergency Tests to cover as many aspects of emergency communications as possible. The intention is to bring emergency communicators together more frequently to demonstrate how the Amateur Radio Service can work together as a global community and develop a common understanding of each others’ capabilities. The exercise on QO-100 was felt to be a success with a number of formal messages being passed between stations along with some learning from the inevitable challenges of equipment failures, language barriers and co-ordination of an exercise whose coverage area covered from South Africa to the United Kingdom. Once all the exercise feedback is received, the next test on that system is planned to take place in October this year. QO-100 brings another asset to the emergency communications toolbox in Region 1 and its presence is much appreciated. Source IARU Region 1: https://iaru-r1.org/ QO-100 information: https://amsat-uk.org/satellites/geo/eshail-2/ [ANS thanks Southgate ARC for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for March 10 Two Line Elements or TLEs, often referred to as Keplerian elements or keps in the amateur community, are the inputs to the SGP4 standard mathematical model of spacecraft orbits used by most amateur tracking programs. Weekly updates are completely adequate for most amateur satellites. TLE bulletin files are updated Thursday evenings around 2300 UTC, or more frequently if new high interest satellites are launched. More information may be found at https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/ The following satellite names have been corrected to their assigned AMSAT OSCAR designations. EASAT-2 (Cat ID 51081) has been corrected to SO-114. Hades (Cat ID 51080) has been corrected to SO-115. Thanks to Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, for a heads up on this correction. [ANS thanks Ray Hoad, WA5QGD, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS NEWS Amateurs and others around the world may listen in on contacts between amateurs operating in schools and allowing students to interact with astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station. The downlink frequency on which to listen is 145.800 MHz worldwide. Kids Star Club Sayama, Sayama, Japan, direct via 8J1KSC. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS. The scheduled crewmember is Mark Vande Hei, KG5GNP. Contact is go for: Thu 2022-03-17 10:21:47 UTC 51 deg. Current mode set to cross band repeater (145.990 MHz up {PL 67} & 437.800 MHz down) * Radio to be powered OFF to support US EVA on March 15. * Radio to be powered OFF to support Soyuz docking on March 18. * Radio to be powered OFF to support US EVA on March 23. The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html [ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AMSAT, along with our ARISS partners, is developing an Amateur Radio package, including two-way communication capability, to be carried on-board Gateway in lunar orbit. Support AMSAT's projects today at https://www.amsat.org/donate/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Upcoming Satellite Operations N4DCW: EM85/86 Saturday and Sunday (March 12&13). Watch Twitter for details. WL7T: BP54/BP64: Sunday, March 13. Start at 15:30 and go to 02:00. KB2YSI: FN22 Monday, March 14, will be done by 17:00. M1DDD/P: Currently active from IO93 with possible gridline operation on March 17. Watch Twitter for details. [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT rover page manager, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events. N4HF will be at the Raleigh NC Hamfest (info table and demos; possible forum, but not likely at this point) April 16, 2022 Jim Graham Building – NC State Fairgrounds 4285 Trinity Rd, Raleigh, NC 27607 https://www.rarsfest.org/ (Virtual event) CubeSat Developers Workshop April 26–28, 2022 San Luis Obispo, CA https://www.cubesatdw.org/ Hamvention May 20-22, 2022 Greene County Fairgrounds & Expo Center 120 Fairgrounds Road Xenia, OH 45385 https://www.hamvention.org 2022 Rocky Mountain ARRL Division Convention Friday, October 7th, 2022 to Sunday, October 9th, 2022 Event Center at Archer 3921 Archer Pkwy Cheyenne, Wyoming 82007 https://wyhamcon.org/site [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT Events page manager, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + Congratulations to Christy (KB6LTY) and Gustavo (PR8KW) successfully digipeat on MIR-SAT 1 during testing and debugging of the digipeater. The Digipeater has been enabled on the satellite and will be opened throughout this weekend, that is Saturday 12th March and Sunday 13th March 2022. It will close on Monday 14th March 2022. The digipeater Callsign is 3B8MIR-1. Operators would really appreciate it if you could please provide some feedback on the BB, on Twitter @3b8DU or to my personal address ( jean.marc.momple(a)gmail.com), it may be useful to identify any issues and take necessary actions. If all goes well MIR-SAT 1 the digipeater will be open every week-end (as a minimum) until reentry. (ANS thanks Jean Marc Momple, 3B8DU, for the above information) + Current operating schedules for IO-86 are being posted on Facebook. Follow the group "Creflo T S" for regular images of the schedule grid. (ANS thanks AMSAT-ID for the above information) + After at least seven years hurtling through space, a 3-ton (2.7 metric tons) discarded rocket stage probably smashed into the moon on March 4 at a blistering 5,771 mph (9,288 km/h). The discarded rocket stage was projected to land at Hertzsprung crater on the moon's far side at 7:25 a.m. EST (1225 GMT). This is the first time that space junk has accidentally collided with the lunar surface. But because the collision occurred on the moon's far side, it could take scientists months to find the crater and confirm the impact. Many experts believe that the junk is the spent upper stage of a rocket launched during one of China's first forays to the moon, in 2014. But Chinese officials disagree. (ANS thanks LiveScience for the above information) + The BIRDS-5 satellite, operating APRS on 145.825 MHz, as well as CW and 4k8 GMSK AX25 telemetry on 435.375 MHz, is scheduled to be deployed from the International Space Station this week. There seems to be some confusion as to the exact date and time of deployment, so watch for further information. (ANS thanks Tetsu Satou, JA0CAW, for the above information) + Astronaut Mark Vande Hei, KG5GNP, who holds the ongoing record for longest space flight, is set to end his 355 days in space in just three weeks. The plan is for him to land in Kazakhstan with two Russian cosmonauts on a Russian spacecraft. But on Feb. 26, Dmitry Rogozin, the head of Russia's Space Agency and a close ally to Russian President Vladimir Putin, posted a video in Russian that threatened to leave Vande Hei behind in space and detach Russia's segment of the space station altogether. NASA has remained silent on Rogozin's threats. (ANS thanks abcnews.go.com for the above information) --------------------------------------------------------------------- Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/ In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to: * Societies (a recognized group, clubs or organization). * 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. * Memberships are available for annual and lifetime terms. Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional membership information. 73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space! This week's ANS Editor, Mark Johns, K0JM k0jm at amsat dot org

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ANS-065 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Paul Stoetzer 06 Mar '22

06 Mar '22

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-065 The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, 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: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/ In this edition: * AMSAT Receives $93,795 ARDC Grant for 3U Spaceframe Development * Ray Soifer, W2RS, SK * ARISS to Support Axiom Space Crew Members on First Private ISS Mission * VUCC Satellite Awards/Endorsements For March 2022 * Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for March 3, 2022 * ARISS News * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Satellite Shorts From All Over ANS-065 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins To: All RADIO AMATEURS From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation 712 H Street NE, Suite 1653 Washington, DC 20002 DATE 2022 Mar 6 AMSAT Receives $93,795 ARDC Grant for 3U Spaceframe Development AMSAT has just received a generous grant from Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) for the development of a 3U spaceframe with deployable solar panels. This standardized 3U CubeSat space frame will serve as the mechanical platform for AMSAT’s GOLF series of satellites as well as a new generation of low earth orbit FM satellites. The spaceframe design will be available to the public under an open access agreement. Central to the development of the 3U spaceframe, AMSAT will build three flight-ready spaceframes for an upcoming series of satellites with potentially enhanced flight control, payload and communication capabilities. The need for a 3U spaceframe with deployable solar panels goes back to the original design requirements for the Greater Orbit, Larger Footprint (GOLF) satellites that would return AMSAT to Highly Elliptical Orbits (HEO). The benefit of this program will provide satellites with wider coverage and longer access times to the entire Amateur Radio satellite community worldwide. While that requirement still stands and the development of the GOLF satellites moves forward, the AMSAT Board of Directors' decision to approve an additional new series of Low Earth Orbit (LEO), named Fox Plus (Fox+), underscored the need for a more robust spaceframe that can support advanced educational and experimental payloads in LEO as well. The payload and power capabilities of such a spacecraft would serve as the platform for a series of higher-power satellites in LEO that would carry educational and scientific experiments in support of AMSAT’s Youth Initiative (KidzSat). This series of satellites, referred to as LOWER (Lower Orbit Within Everyone’s Reach) would be highly accessible to youth participants with the most rudimentary equipment. Robert Bankston, KE4AL, AMSAT President, comments, "This grant not only accelerates AMSAT's efforts to fly satellites with greater communications capabilities at higher orbits, it supercharges our efforts to bring educational opportunities and engineering innovations to Amateur Radio satellite at all orbits to hams around the world. While our LEO satellites help entry level hams become enthusiastic about space communications, our HEO satellites give advanced users the opportunity to push the limits of technology. Both programs are important to AMSAT’s mission of education and scientific advancement.” “AMSAT is indebted to ARDC for helping to bring this effort closer to reality. Still, with this generous award, AMSAT must still fund an additional $231,000 for other hardware development and launch preparation costs for just one GOLF series satellite. Our continued effort to raise funds is essential if we are to Keep Amateur Radio in Space.” As mentioned above, the new spaceframe is key to the development of the GOLF and Fox+ programs. Jerry Buxton, N0JY, AMSAT Vice President - Engineering leads the development of the GOLF satellite program while Jonathan Brandenburg, KF5IDY, Assistant Vice President - Engineering leads the new Fox+ program. Both RF Engineers and Mechanical Engineers are sought to help bring these programs to fruition. Potential volunteers should refer to https://www.amsat.org/volunteer-for-amsat/ for more information on how they can become part of this exciting move forward. [ANS thanks Frank Karnauskas, N1UW, AMSAT Vice President - Development, for the above information.] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ The 2022 AMSAT President's Club coins have arrived! To commemorate the 50th anniversary of its launch on October 15, 1972, this year's coin features an image of AMSAT-OSCAR 6. Join the AMSAT President's Club today and help Keep Amateur Radio in Space! https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Ray Soifer, W2RS, SK Raphael (Ray) Soifer, W2RS, passed away on March 1, 2022 at his home in Green Valley, AZ. He was 78 years old. Notably, as a teenager in 1960, Ray (then K2QBW) completed the first known amateur radio QSO via satellite ionization trail reflection with future AMSAT Founding President Perry Klein, then-K3JTE (now W3PK). Time Magazine published an article about this accomplishment in its March 14, 1960 edition. ( http://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,871561,00.html) Building on his earlier achievements, Ray completed the first reported intersatellite relay communication between two earth stations in any radio service with Ben Stevenson, W2BXA, on January 26, 1975. This was done while AMSAT-OSCAR 7 and AMSAT-OSCAR 6 were in close proximity, allowing AO-6's 145 MHz to 29 MHz transponder to relay signals from AO-7's 432 MHz to 145 MHz transponder. Ray held a number of AMSAT positions throughout the years, including serving on the Board of Directors and as Executive Vice President and Acting President. A relentless promoter of satellite operations, he held DXCC Satellite #13 and Worked All Continents Satellite #6, earned entirely using LEO satellites. He also authored numerous articles for publications including The AMSAT Journal, QST, and RadCom. From 1995 to 2005, Ray chaired the annual International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Satellite Forum. He served as the Secretary and later Chairman of the IARU Region 2 VHF/UHF Committee and also served as a member of the IARU Satellite Frequency Coordination Panel. An avid CW operator, Ray organized Straight Key Night - which later became AMSAT's CW Activity Night - for many years. This event is held on satellite in conjunction with the ARRL's annual New Year's Eve event. Ray is survived by his wife and two sons. More information on service arrangements and condolences will be published when available. [ANS thanks the Green Valley Amateur Radio Club and AMSAT for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Need new satellite antennas? Purchase Arrows, Alaskan Arrows, and M2 LEO-Packs from the AMSAT Store. When you purchase through AMSAT, a portion of the proceeds goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space. https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ ARISS to Support Axiom Space Crew Members on First Private ISS Mission Amateur Radio on the International Space Station, Inc. (ARISS-USA) is pleased to announce that two crew members scheduled to fly on Axiom Mission-1 (Ax-1), the first private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, will utilize the ARISS on-board radio resources to conduct six school connections via amateur radio. These ARISS school contacts will be conducted with Ax-1 crew members Mark Pathy, from Canada, and Eytan Stibbe, from Israel. Both Pathy and Stibbe are fully trained on the use of the ARISS radio system, located in the ISS Columbus module, and have studied and passed their amateur radio license exams. Mark Pathy’s amateur radio callsign is KO4WFH. Eytan Stibbe’s amateur radio callsign is 4Z9SPC. As part of the "Rakia" mission, Eytan Stibbe will use ARISS facilities aboard the International Space Station to hold talks with middle school and high school students in Israel while the ISS will be above Israel. A total of 40 school classes are expected to participate in the project, and in the weeks preceding the launch, the students from Israel will participate in theoretical and practical sessions to learn about radio-based communication. Mark Pathy, under the personal mission theme of 'Caring for people and the planet', will connect with elementary and high schools across Canada while on board the ISS. Pathy will be answering questions developed by the students, ranging from how his body has reacted to being in space to how to do everyday things in zero gravity and thoughtful questions around the state of our planet. The conversations are part of Pathy’s educational program through which schools also benefit from STEM content and mentorship. “The long-held dream of private missions to stations in space becomes a reality on Ax-1. ARISS is proud to collaborate with Axiom Space, Mark Pathy, and Eytan Stibbe on this flight and support the Ax-1 crew members through amateur radio contacts that will inspire, engage and educate school students in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) topics,” said Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, Executive Director of ARISS-USA and Chair of ARISS International. “Axiom is proud to help enable the educational work of ARISS-USA on this historic mission,” said Dr. Mary Lynne Dittmar, Executive Vice President of Government Operations and Strategic Communications for Axiom Space. “For years, ARISS and its programs have inspired students across the globe to pursue interests in science, technology, engineering and math, and we are pleased that Ax-1 will join the list of missions that have contributed to this important educational work.” The Ax-1 mission includes an international crew of four with Axiom’s Michael Lopez-Alegria, former NASA astronaut and Axiom VP, serving as commander. The Ax-1 mission is currently scheduled to launch on March 30, 2022. [ANS thanks ARISS-USA for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- VUCC Upgrades/Endorsements for March 1, 2022 February 01, 2022 to March 01, 2022. ------------------------------------------------------------ K8YSE 2007 2035 WC7V 1250 1256 N8RO 1124 1128 N1AIA 604 613 VE1CWJ 585 609 AF5CC 582 600 ND0C 555 561 W8LR 526 548 S57NML 409 508 W2ZF 276 467 PV8DX 423 428 KC1MMC 230 355 W0JW 103 341 W4DTA 301 327 RA3DNC 276 305 VE3KY 251 278 KG4AKV 100 254 KE7RTB 200 250 N8MR 206 227 N3CAL 214 224 K3HPA 201 205 N0GVK New 203 JH0BBE 129 133 W1AW New 103 SA5IKN New 101 ------------------------------------------------------------ N0GVK is first home station from EN00 and 1st Nebraska SA5IKN is first home station from Sweden and JO89 Is anyone ever going to catch that K8YSE guy? [ANS thanks Jon Goering, N7AZ, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for March 3, 2022 The following satellite has been added to this week's AMSAT TLE Distribution: NO-116 - NORAD Cat ID 51031 (NO-116 was formally SanoSat-1.) At the request of AMSAT-Nepal, AMSAT hereby designates SanoSat-1 as Nepal-OSCAR 116 (NO-116). We congratulate AMSAT-Nepal and their partners, thank them for their contribution to the amateur satellite community, and wish them continued success on this and future projects. [Thanks to ANS and Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, AMSAT VP Operations/OSCAR Number Administrator for the above information.] The following satellite has decayed from orbit and has been removed from this week's AMSAT TLE Distribution: Quetzal 1 - NORAD Cat ID 45598 (Deorbited Feb 27, 2022. Confirmed by Space-Track.) [ANS thanks Ray Hoad, WA5QGD, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS News Contact schedule TBD The USOS ARISS station is currently operating in voice cross-band repeater mode The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html [ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors, for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AMSAT, along with our ARISS partners, is developing an Amateur Radio package, including two-way communication capability, to be carried on-board Gateway in lunar orbit. Support AMSAT's projects today at https://www.amsat.org/donate/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Upcoming Satellite Operations EA8/EA4NF: March 4-6 IL07, IL17 Hierro Island! If you want to try a QSO with this rare island,check FP and contact Philippe before to be in his NA shortlist. From the Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 1555: PJ5, ST. EUSTATIUS. Frank, K3TRM will be active as PJ5/K3TRM from St. Eustatius Island (NA-145) between March 6-12th. Activity will be on 40-10 meters using SSB, RTTY, FT8 and the satellite. QSL via K3TRM, by the Bureau, direct, LoTW or ClubLog's OQRS. (Note that PJ5 & PJ6 are one DXCC entity - Saba & St. Eustatius - please keep this in mind if you are chasing DXCCs and want to hop into a pileup!) [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT rover page manager, and the Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 1555 for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events. N4HF will be at two events: Charlotte NC Hamfest (forum & demo(s), Saturday only) March 11-12 Cabarrus County Arena & Events Center 4551 Old Airport Rd, Concord, NC 28025 https://charlottehamfest.org/ (Note: 2 day hamfest, but only open 4 hours on Friday the 11th.) Raleigh NC Hamfest (info table and demos; possible forum, but not likely at this point) April 16 Jim Graham Building – NC State Fairgrounds 4285 Trinity Rd, Raleigh, NC 27607 https://www.rarsfest.org/ Other events with a scheduled AMSAT presence: + CubeSat Developers Workshop April 26–28, 2022 San Luis Obispo, CA + Hamvention 2022 May 20, 2022 to May 22, 2022 Greene County Fairgrounds and Expo Center 210 Fairground Road Xenia, Ohio 45385 https://www.hamvention.org + 2022 Rocky Mountain ARRL Division Convention October 7, 2022 – October 9, 2022 Event Center at Archer 3921 Archer Pkwy Cheyenne, Wyoming 82007 https://wyhamcon.org/site [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT Events page manager, for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition? Get your AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff from our Zazzle store! 25% of the purchase price of each product goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Satellite Shorts From All Over + CubeSat Design Specification Rev. 14.1 has been released by the Cal Poly CubeSat Laboratory Team. It is available at https://www.cubesat.org/cubesatinfo + JAMSAT has posted the March FO-99 Operating Schedule at https://www.jamsat.or.jp/?p=1791 + Ham Radio Outlet interviewed AMSAT President Robert Bankston, KE4AL, at the 2022 Orlando Hamcation. A video of this interview is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNTK3TcJNWA --------------------------------------------------------------------- Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/ In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to: * Societies (a recognized group, clubs or organization). * 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. * Memberships are available for annual and lifetime terms. Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional membership information. 73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space! This week's ANS Editor, Paul Stoetzer, N8HM n8hm at amsat dot org

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2023

2022

2021

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ANS March 2022