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ANS-121 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Paul Stoetzer 01 May '22

01 May '22

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-121 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 Hamvention Update * AMSAT Represented at the 2022 CubeSat Developers Workshop * FO-29 Now Eclipsing, Upcoming Operations Schedule Posted * ARISS News * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Satellite Shorts From All Over ANS-121 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 May 1 AMSAT Hamvention Update The Dayton Hamvention is just three weeks away! It is time to be creating your shopping list and making your travel plans. AMSAT’s presence will be felt in with eight adjoining booths in Building 1. Highlighting the exhibit will be: – CubeSat Simulator hardware and software demonstrations – SatPC software demonstrations – AMSAT Engineering staff question and answer table – AMSAT Youth Initiative (KidzSat) introduction – OSCAR ground station for live satellite operations – Annual Membership sign-up and renewals – AMSAT President’s Club recognition – AMSAT Board of Directors and Senior Officers Meet and Greet – AMSAT Store offering AMSAT trinkets, books and Arrow Antennas In past years, we had 30 people assist with the AMSAT booth at Dayton. We’ve had a good response so far to our call for volunteers, but we could really use another 10-15 people. The 2022 Hamvention is May 20-22 in Xenia, Ohio. Would you consider helping AMSAT at the Hamvention this year? The interaction with AMSAT members, satellite operators, designers, and builders makes the whole experience a lot of fun. Meet or renew acquaintances, exchange operating tips, and find out what antennas, software and equipment other AMSAT members use. We currently expect the AMSAT senior officers and board members to be there too. If you’re an experienced operator, great! We can use you and your experience. If you’ve never operated a satellite before, but want to learn more, that’s OK. We can use your help too. 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 Phil, (w1eme[at]amsat[dot]org if you can help. Thank you! AMSAT/TAPR Banquet will honor the life 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. That is 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 Phil Smith, W1EME, AMSAT Hamvention Team Leader, AMSAT News & 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/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AMSAT Represented at the 2022 CubeSat Developers Workshop The 2022 CubeSat Developers Workshop was held in person for the first time since 2019 on the campus of California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California on April 26th-28th. AMSAT hosted an exhibitor booth at the event and was represented by Vice President - Engineering Jerry Buxton, N0JY, and Assistant Vice President - Engineering Jonathan Brandenburg, KF5IDY. During the event, discussions were held with students and others developing CubeSats about educational partnership opportunities, AMSAT's LTM-1 linear transponder communications system as an option for their RF, and volunteer opportunities with AMSAT. AMSAT also met with officials from NASA's Launch Services Program (LSP) regarding options and possibilities for future GOLF missions above LEO. Stay tuned for more updates in a future Engineering Update column in The AMSAT Journal. [ANS thanks AMSAT Vice President - Engineering Jerry Buxton, N0JY, 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/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ FO-29 Now Eclipsing, Upcoming Operations Schedule Posted Regarding Fuji 3 (FO-29), we are currently in a situation where continuous operation is not possible as the satellite is eclipsing on every orbit and the condition of the batteries does not permit continuous operation. From now on, we will enter the eclipse period for about 3 months. It will be fully sunlit from August to next spring, so continuous operation will be possible. This eclipse period is about 3 months, and the maximum eclipse percentage is about 20%. The operation from the end of April to the end of May will from when the analog transponder is turned on until the transponder is turned off by UVC (undervoltage control). [Scheduled time to turn on the analog transponder of Fuji 3 (UTC)] May 1 09:55 7 09:45 8 08:45 14 10:18 21 09:10 22:00 22 09:55 27 23:28 28 09:35 [ANS thanks JARL for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS News No contacts currently scheduled Axiom AX-1 back on earth Congratulations on a job well done! Michael López-Alegría Larry Connor Mark Pathy KO4WFH Eytan Stibbe 4Z9SPC 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 WL7T: EL84, June 24-27 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! ND9M/MM: I’m on my merchant marine ship anchored just off Saipan and expect to be here a few weeks. I’m on from the ship as ND9M/MM in QK25, but I’ll try to be QRV as ND9M/KHØ from the island itself over the next few weekends, probably Fridays in the afternoon and evening, possibly Saturday evenings as well. I’ll post my island activities on Twitter (@ND9M) as they firm up N8MR: EN 57,67,56 8/6 through 8/13. More to come as date gets closer. Hawaii!: K5ZM is heading to HI on May 16-26 [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. + 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 + On April 28th, DO-64 (Delfi-C3) celebrated 14 years of operation in orbit. Although the linear transponder failed several years ago, the satellite continues to transmit telemetry. [ANS thanks DelfiSpace for the information] + The Netflix show Yakamoz S-245 features a mission control room. On one of the PC screens, both the FUNcube Dashboard and SatPC32 are visible. [ANS thanks 2M0SQL and PA3WEG for the information] + The SpaceX Crew-4 mission arrived at the International Space Station at 23:37 UTC on April 27, 2022 with Kjell Lindgren, KO5MOS, Robert Hines, KI5RQT, Samantha Cristoforetti, IZ0UDF, and Jessica Watkins on board. [ANS thanks NASA for the 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, Paul Stoetzer, N8HM n8hm at amsat dot org

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ANS-114 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for April 24, 2022
by kd4iz＠frawg.org 24 Apr '22

24 Apr '22

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-114 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 Hamvention Update * MIR-SAT 1 (MO112) has de-orbited * Ron Parsons, W5RKN SK April 19, 2022 * * ARISS News * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Satellite Shorts From All Over ANS-114 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 Apr 24 AMSAT Hamvention Update: The Dayton Hamvention is four weeks away! It is time to be creating your shopping list and making your travel plans. AMSAT's presence will be felt in with eight adjoining booths in Building 1. Highlighting the exhibit will be: - CubeSat Simulator hardware and software demonstrations - SatPC software demonstrations - AMSAT Engineering staff question and answer table - AMSAT Youth Initiative (KidzSat) introduction - OSCAR ground station for live satellite operations - Annual Membership sign-up and renewals - AMSAT President's Club recognition - AMSAT Board of Directors and Senior Officers Meet and Greet - AMSAT Store offering AMSAT trinkets, books and Arrow Antennas In past years, we had 30 people assist with the AMSAT booth at Dayton. We've had a good response so far to our call for volunteers, but we could really use another 10-15 people. The 2022 Hamvention is May 20-22 in Xenia, Ohio. Would you consider helping AMSAT at the Hamvention this year? The interaction with AMSAT members, satellite operators, designers, and builders makes the whole experience a lot of fun. Meet or renew acquaintances, exchange operating tips, and find out what antennas, software and equipment other AMSAT members use. We currently expect the AMSAT senior officers and board members to be there too. If you're an experienced operator, great! We can use you and your experience. If you've never operated a satellite before, but want to learn more, that's OK. We can use your help too. 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 Phil, (w1eme[at]amsat[dot]org if you can help. Thank you! AMSAT/TAPR Banquet will honor the life 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. That is 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-registrati on/ [ANS thanks Phil Smith, W1EME, AMSAT Hamvention Exhibit organizer, AMSAT News & 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/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ MIR-SAT 1 (MO112) has de-orbited Jean Marc Momple, 3B8DU reports: "It seems to be confirmed that MIR-SAT 1 re-entered. The last valid telemetry signals of MIR-SAT 1 (worldwide) was received in Mauritius with the UoM ground station by YOG-3B8 (Dr Yogesh Beeharry, Lecturer of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering of the University of Mauritius). Yogesh, member of this forum led a team of UoM students who build their own ground station. This was at 01:36 Hrs local time this morning and JA0CAW (Tetsu, an experience Satellite HAM) confirmed to me by mail that no signals was received from MIR-SAT 1 at 05:03 (MRU time). More many other regular reporting HAMs confirmed to me that no signals received from our bird today. This confirms that MIR-SAT 1 re-entered between 01:36 and 05:03 Hrs and probably burned up around 110Km in a blast of flame, unfortunately the location is not known as mainly over oceans during the time window. I also confirm that a few minutes before last observation from Yogesh that I received the TLM of MIR-SAT 1 and also made successful Digipeats through it (see attached screenshot), the bird was at about 160km altitude at that time, this was my farewell to MO-112. Congratulations to Yogesh to be the last recorded person on this planet to have successfully decoded our 3B8 bird. RIP MIR-SAT 1, you have been a great tool for educational and HAM experiments. One page turned and the next (better) opens, MIR-SAT 2 ??? why not?, just a question of vision, willingness, motivation and hard work. 73, Jean Marc, 3B8DU" [ANS thanks Jean Marc Momple, 3B8DU 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/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Ron Parsons, W5RKN SK April 19, 2022 From Robert Bankston, KE4AL, AMSAT President: "Ron has been an important part of amateur radio in space and his passion for implementing Flex Radio Systems. If you are not familiar with his work, please take time to visit his website, http://www.w5rkn.com/. A memorial service will be held at 3pm on Saturday, April 23rd at the Remembrance Gardens at Riverbend (4214 Capital of TX Hwy, N, Austin, TX 78746). For those unable to attend in person, you may attend via Zoom (https://austinisd-org.zoom.us/j/83862240962?pwd=NS80SWJTaUFCNGpVdWRteU1MUml .). Obituary will be posted here: https://www.centraltexascremation.com/obituaries/ Biography: https://web2.ph.utexas.edu/utphysicshistory/RonGParsons.html" From Rick Lawn K2JAZ: "I regret to inform the satellite community that our good friend, who many of us relied on for advice, or a new grid square, passed away on Tuesday, April 19th at the age of 84. Not long ago I recall he earned the distinction of Grid Master and had been an active member of AMSAT for decades. He was instrumental in arranging for at least two ARISS contacts with Austin, TX schools and wrote an important paper on Doppler shift that has been referenced on countless occasions. Ron also was a strong advocate for the use of SDR equipment for satellite communications and had recently contributed, along with co-authors, a number of articles on related subjects to the AMSAT Journal. I am sure that he will be greatly missed by many of us. Donations in his name and memory can be made to any charity." [ANS thanks Robert Bankston, KE4AL, AMSAT President and Rick Lawn, W2JAZ for the above information] -------------------------------------------------------------------- [ANS thanks 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 school contacts are on the immediate schedule. 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 Quick Hits: + WL7T: 4/30, DM02 Check twitter for passes. + Hawaii!: K5ZM is heading to HI on May 16-26. + WL7T: EL84, June 24-27. + 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! + N8MR: EN 57,67,56 8/6 through 8/13. More to come as date gets closer. Major Roves: + Eastern Nevada: AD7DB to visit Eastern Nevada, DM25, DM26, DM27, DM28, DM29, DM36, and maybe DM37 and DM38. April 25 through April 30th 2022. List of passes at https://bit.ly/3OG3jdt [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT rover page manager for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for April 21, 2022 The following satellites have decayed from orbit and has been removed from this week's AMSAT-NA TLE distribution. STARS-EC NORAD Cat ID 47928 (decayed form orbit on 4/15/2022 per Space-Track). OPUSAT-II NORAD Cat ID 47930 (decayed form orbit on 4/15/2022 per Space-Track). MO-112 (MIR-SAT 1) NORAD Cat ID 48868 (decayed form orbit on 4/18/2022 per Space-Track). [ANS thanks Ray Hoad, WA5QGD, AMSAT Orbital Elements 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. AMSAT Ambassador Schedules Scheduled Events with AMSAT involvement: + 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] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + Ax-1. Commanded by Spanish-American Michael Lopez-Alegria on his fifth trip to the ISS, and accompanied by pilot Larry Connor (US) and mission specialists Eytan Stibbe (Israel) and Mark Pathy (Canada), Ax-1 has conducted the first all-commercial crewed mission to the station. Delayed by weather, the team will soon depart the ISS and will splash down off the coast of Florida after spending about 10 days in space and a bit more than a week on the ISS. More at https://bit.ly/3v37PdT [ANS thanks The Orbital Index for the above information] + SLS Wet Dress Rehearsal update. After three attempts, each ending in an abort, unexpectedly high lox temperatures, a helium check valve failure on the SLS's second stage, and a hydrogen leak on the mobile platform's service mast umbilical. NASA is now rolling the fully stacked SLS back to the VAB to fix some of these issues and upgrade the mobile launcher's gaseous nitrogen (GN2) supply. What was optimistically supposed to be a two-day test took three weeks, and Artemis I is probably not launching before the end of the summer (although NASA said Monday that they are currently hoping to make a beginning of July launch window). We definitely want to see Artemis I go well (especially for those 10 plucky little rideshare science missions), and these growing pains are better worked out now than on a future crewed mission, but the whole thing just feels kind of arduous. More at https://bit.ly/3v37PdT [ANS thanks The Orbital Index for the above information] + The Great Solar Eclipse of 2024. Perhaps we're getting ahead of ourselves, but it pays to start planning early. Where will you be in approximately two years? Andrew had the chance to watch 2017's total solar eclipse from Idaho and was blown away by how visceral the experience was, complete with a storm of moths that materialized out of nowhere as if through transient solar abiogenesis. For those of us in North America, the next (and last until 2044) opportunity for a total solar eclipse is on April 8th, 2024. You don't want to miss this! More at https://bit.ly/3v37PdT [ANS thanks The Orbital Index for the above information] + ULA begins stacking Atlas 5 rocket for Boeing's Starliner test flight. Final assembly of a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket began Wednesday with the hoisting of a first stage booster onto a mobile launch platform at Cape Canaveral, kicking off a campaign to prepare for liftoff May 19 on a delayed unpiloted test flight of Boeing's Starliner crew capsule. ULA's ground team raised the Atlas first stage off its trailer transporter, and a crane lifted the rocket into the Vertical Integration Facility Wednesday morning. The 107-foot-tall (33-meter) rocket stage was then lowered onto the Atlas 5's mobile launch platform inside the integration building just south of ULA's launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41. The milestone event Wednesday, known as Launch Vehicle On Stand, will be followed in the coming days by the addition of two strap-on AJ-60A solid rocket boosters made by Aerojet Rocketdyne. Then a dual-engine Centaur upper stage will be raised on top of the Atlas first stage to complete the initial build-up of the launcher. In early May, Boeing and ULA will move the Starliner spacecraft from its hangar at the Kennedy Space Center to the VIF for stacking atop the Atlas 5. The launch preparations will culminate in rollout of the Atlas 5 rocket and Starliner spacecraft to pad 41 on May 18. Liftoff to begin Boeing's Orbital Flight Test 2 mission to the International Space Station is scheduled for 6:54 p.m. EDT (2254 GMT). More at https://bit.ly/3vCZkpe [ANS thanks Stephen Clark, Spaceflight Now 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-107 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for April 17, 2022
by f.karnauskas＠amsat.org 17 Apr '22

17 Apr '22

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-107 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 Gearing Up for Hamvention * 2022 President’s Club Members Recognized * IARU Coordinates Two Amateur Radio Satellites * IARU-R1 Studies 23cm Band Amateur/RNSS Coexistence * Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for April 14, 2022 * ARISS News * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Satellite Shorts From All Over ANS-107 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 Apr 17 AMSAT Gearing Up for Hamvention With barely one month to go, AMSAT volunteers are busy getting ready to return to the Dayton Amateur Radio Club Hamvention. Running from May 20 to 22, 2022, this will be the 70th Anniversary of the legendary Amateur Radio get-together. After a two-year hiatus caused by the COVID pandemic, everyone is anxious to return to examine the latest in technology and to visit with old friends. As before, Hamvention will be held at the Greene County Fairgrounds and Expo Center in Xenia, Ohio. AMSAT's presence will be felt in with eight adjoining booths in Building 1. Highlighting the exhibit will be: - CubeSat Simulator hardware and software demonstrations - SatPC software demonstrations - AMSAT Engineering staff question and answer table - AMSAT Youth Initiative (KidzSat) introduction - OSCAR ground station for live satellite operations - Annual Membership sign-up and renewals - AMSAT President's Club recognition - AMSAT Board of Directors and Senior Officers Meet and Greet - AMSAT Store offering AMSAT trinkets, books and Arrow Antennas Everyone is also invited to two special evening events: - The annual "Dinner at Tickets will be held on Thursday evening at 6:00 PM at Tickets restaurant located at 7 W Main St, Fairborn, Ohio. - The AMSAT/TAPR Annual Banquet will be held Friday night at 6:30 PM at the Kohler Presidential Banquet Center located at 4548 Presidential Way, Kettering, Ohio. Tickets are $57 and must be ordered in advance at the AMSAT Store no later than May 13, 2022. Additionally AMSAT will also host its annual member forum at Hamvention. (Day, time and forum room to be announced.) Phil Smith, W1EME, AMSAT Hamvention Coordinator, and his team have been working feverishly to make sure everything falls into place for Hamvention. There is still a need for volunteers to help staff the exhibit. With over 800 square feet of booth space and 20 hours of exhibit time, there is plenty of opportunity for members to spend a few hours to meet their fellow members and to help those new to the world of amateur satellites. Anyone willing to help for an hour or two should send Phil an email via w1eme [at] amsat [dot]org. [ANS thanks AMSAT 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! +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ 2022 President’s Club Members Recognized AMSAT wishes to recognize these generous donors who have become members of the AMSAT 2022 President's Club during the first quarter of this year. Collectively, they have contributed over $46,000 toward AMSAT's commitment to Keeping Amateur Radio in Space! + Titanium ($4,800+) Barry A. Baines, WD4ASW Alan P. Biddle, WA4SCA John D. Botti, KC8OKB William G. Brown, K9LF + Platinum ($2,400+) Ronald Parsons, W5RKN + Gold ($1,200+) Burns Fisher, WB1FT John R. Kludt, K7SYS Joseph Lynch, N6CL Douglas B. Tabor, N6UA + Silver ($600+) Bruce Paige, KK5DO David A. Vine, WA1EAW + Bronze ($300+) Thomas Talley, K0CFI Dave Taylor, W8AAS + Core ($120+) Steve Bachhuber, K9SJB Robert Brennan, KC3CKV George Carr, WA5KBH Richard Dittmer, KB7SAT David Grebe, WA4LM Nels E. Knutzen, W0PEC David Hartrum, WA3YDZ Stephen Howard, AB0XE Gailen Marshall, N5GDM Brendan McNeill, ZL3BAM Ottawa Valley Mobile Radio Club Maxwell Rathbone, W3POI Alton Simpson, WA5TJB Carl Starnes, W4EAT Paul Stoetzer, N8HM Christopher Wachs, WA2KDL Stefan Wagener, VE4SW More information about the President's Club is available at https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/. [ANS thanks Frank Karnauskas, N1UW, AMSAT VP, Development for the above information.] -------------------------------------------------------------------- IARU Coordinates Two Amateur Radio Satellites The IARU coordinated two upcoming satellites containing Amateur Radio payloads on April 4, 2022. URESAT URESAT (HADES-B ITU designation) is a 1.5 P Pocketqube mission sponsored by AMSAT-EA. It will offer licensed radio amateurs around the world the opportunity to relay FM voice and AX.25/APRS 300/1200 bps communications. This will be achieved by implementing a SDR based FM and FSK repeater. A SSTV camera module by Brno University is expected to fly depending on time restrictions. Images would be taken randomly but the SSTV module would contain some ROM coded images to be transmitted as well. URESAT hardware and software subsystems are enhanced versions of the previous AMSAT-EA HADES satellite mission launched on a SpaceX Transporter-3 mission on January 3, 2022. A downlink on 436.888 MHz and an uplink on 145.975 MHz have been coordinated for a V/U FM voice repeater, a beacon with FSK, AFSK and APRS telemetry plus a CW beacon. The launch is planned for a 525km polar orbit with SpaceX in October 2022 managed by Exolaunch/Alba Orbital. More info at https://www.amsat-ea.org. LightCube LightCube is a 1U CubeSat educational mission sponsored by Arizona State University. Its aim is to inspire and provide a learning experience to people across the planet by producing a light visible to the naked eye. The flash, expected to be as bright as the International Space Station, will be produced by two Xenon flash tubes. The spacecraft will be triggered by Amateur Radio operators. This mission with its outreach goal of increasing the accessibility of satellites will inspire more people to become Amateur Radio licensees and to continue interacting with more CubeSats. In addition to triggering the LightCube flash, radio amateurs can also download and decode the telemetry information. A downlink on 437.175 MHz using 1k2 AFSK with AX25.has been coordinated. Planning a deployment from the ISS NET October 2022. More information at: https://lightcube.space. [ANS thanks the IARU 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/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ IARU-R1 Studies 23cm Band Amateur/RNSS Coexistence CEPT SE40 meeting #76 being held April 11-13, 2022 is studying the issue of coexistence between Amateur Radio operation in 1240-1300 MHz and RNSS systems such as Galileo. One of the agenda items for the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC23) is AI-9.1b - Measures to be applied in the frequency band 1240-1300 MHz to ensure the protection of the radionavigation-satellite service (RNSS) in accordance with Resolution-774. SE40 is the CEPT ECC working group that looks at Space Service compatibility issues. IARU Region 1 has submitted these documents to the April meeting: â€¢ Amateur density numbers â€¢ Amateur density numbers Background â€¢ Updated Proposals for WI_39 report These papers and other meeting input documents can be downloaded from https://cept.org/ecc/groups/ecc/wg-se/se-40/client/meeting-documents/?flid=… [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 â€“ 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 +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for April 14, 2022 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 has decayed from orbit and has been removed from this week's AMSAT-NA TLE distribution. BOBCAT-1 NORAD Cat ID 51081 (decayed form orbit on 4/9/2022 per Space-Track). [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. Completed Contacts - About Gagarin From Space, Southwestern State University of Kursk, Kursk, Russia, direct via UB3WCL The ISS callsign was RS0ISS. The downlink frequency was 145.800 MHz. The crewmember was Oleg Artemyev. Contact was successful on Friday, April 15, 2022 at 09:27 UTC. - Rakia - Herzliya Science Center, Herzliya, Israel, direct via 4X4HSC The ISS callsign was 4Z9SPC. The downlink frequency was 145.800 MHz. The crewmember was Eytan Stibbe, 4Z9SPC. Contact was successful on Thursday, April 14, 2022 at 13:32:09 UTC. - Ecole Marie Poburan, St. Albert, AB, Canada, telebridge via VK5ZAI The ISS callsign was NA1SS. The downlink frequency was 145.800 MHz. The crewmember was Mark Pathy, KO4WFH. Contact was successful on Thursday, April 14, 2022 at 17:20:49 UTC. - DLR School Lab TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany, direct via DL0TSD The ISS was DP0ISS. The downlink frequency was 145.800 MHz. The crewmember was Matthias Maurer, KI5KFH. Contact was successful on Monday, April 11, 2022 at 14:14:21 UTC. - Ecole Secondaries St. Albert Catholic High School, St. Albert, AB, Canada, telebridge via IK1SLD The ISS callsign was OR4ISS. The downlink frequency was 145.800 MHz. The crewmember was Mark Pathy, KO4WFH. Contact was successful on Monday, April 11, 2022 at 15:50:31 UTC. Upcoming Contacts - Bellefontaine High School, Bellefontaine, OH, direct via W8BCS 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 Thursday, April 21, 2022 at 17:13:09 UTC. Watch for Livestream at https://youtu.be/6t5ZQOw2j68. 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] -------------------------------------------------------------------- Upcoming Satellite Operations DM02 - April 30, 2022 WL7T: Check twitter for passes. DM42 - July 30 - August 6, 2022 W3IPA will be on FM passes vacation style. Timothy will be close to DM41 so he might be able to work a gridline. Watch for more updates closer to that week. [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT rover page manager, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events + Xenia, OH - May 20-22, 2022 Hamvention Greene County Fairgrounds, Xenia, OH. The Dayton Amateur Radio Club will hold the 70th annual Hamvention. AMSAT personnel will be present at its large eight-booth exhibit. More info available at: https://hamvention.org/ + Xenia, OH - May 20, 2022 AMSAT/TAPR Joint Banquet Kohler Presidential Banquet Center, 4548 Presidential Way, Kettering, Ohio 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 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. 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. Tickets available at the AMSAT Store: https://www.amsat.org/product/amsat-tapr-joint-hamvention-banquet-registrat…. [ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information.] . --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + Replacing Satellite Components With SDRs Traditional satellite RF communication systems can often have drawbacks. Software-defined radio can be used in satellite systems as a replacement for these traditional platforms, and have numerous benefits. SDRs can also be configured to various form factors for different payloads, for instance in CubeSats. In addition to all these, SDRs are extremely rugged and radiation-resistant and area able to withstand the harsh conditions of space. Considering that satellites function in space for decades without any maintenance, this characteristic is particularly of benefit. Read the complete article at: http://satmagazine.com/story.php?number=1467842844. [ANS thanks SatMagazine.com for the above information.] + Commercial Crew Adapting to Life on the ISS One crewmember comments, "I think we underestimated just how hard the adaptation would be and sort of how long it would take, Lopez-Alegria said. "You know, we have this phenomenon that astronauts call "space brain" when you get up here, things just take about 33 to 50 percent longer than they normally do. And that's even more true for people who've never been exposed to this environment before." Read the complete article at: https://tinyurl.com/ANS-107-Crew. [ANS thanks SpaceFlightNow.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, Frank Karnauskas, N1UW N1UW at amsat dot org

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ANS-100 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for April 10
by Mark Johns, K0JM 10 Apr '22

10 Apr '22

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-100 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: * Axiom Private Astronauts Headed to International Space Station * NASA Astronaut-Ham Colonel Douglas Wheelock Speaks in Pennsylvania * AMSAT Discord Server Open to All * AMSAT at the Dayton Hamvention -- Call for Volunteers * New FCC Application Fee Will Not Apply to Amateur License Upgrades * ARISS News * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * AMSAT Ambassador Activity Report * Satellite Shorts From All Over ANS-100 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 April 10 Axiom Private Astronauts Headed to International Space Station Four private astronauts are in orbit following the successful launch of Axiom Mission 1 (Ax-1), the first all private astronaut mission to the International Space Station. Axiom Space astronauts lifted off at 15:17 UTC on Friday, April 8, from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket propelled the Dragon Endeavour spacecraft carrying Ax-1 crew members Michael López-Alegría, KE5GTK, Larry Connor, Mark Pathy, KO4WFH, and Eytan Stibbe, 4Z9SPC, into orbit. The crew will spend more than a week conducting scientific research, outreach, and commercial activities on the space station. [Outreach activities for the Axiom crew include a flurry of ARISS school contacts in the coming week. See ARISS News, below.] Once aboard the station, the Axiom crew will be welcomed by Expedition 67 crew members, including NASA astronauts Thomas Marshburn, KE5HOC, Raja Chari, KI5LIU, and Kayla Barron, KI5LAL, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer, KI5KFH, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Artemyev, Sergey Korsokov, and Denis Matveev. Axiom Space astronauts are expected to spend about 10 days in orbit before a return to Earth and splashdown at one of seven landing sites off the coast of Florida. NASA and Axiom will release separate advisories to preview the Ax-1 farewell event and return coverage. Learn more about how NASA is supporting a space economy in low-Earth orbit: https://www.nasa.gov/leo-economy [ANS thanks spaceref.com and NASA 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/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ NASA Astronaut-Ham Colonel Douglas Wheelock Speaks in Pennsylvania The Murgas Amateur Radio Club (MARC), K3YTL, an ARRL-affiliated club in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, presented two appearances by NASA Astronaut Colonel Douglas Wheelock on April 6, 2022. The events were held in cooperation with NASA, the University of Scranton, and Misericordia University. Colonel Wheelock, now retired, was selected by NASA in 1998 and has accumulated more than 178 days in space. He is a radio amateur, and his call sign is KF5BOC. During his time in space, Wheelock made many ham radio contacts from the space shuttle and International Space Station (ISS) with radio amateurs and student groups. Wheelock flew on Shuttle Mission STS-120 in 2007, and in 2010, he began a long-duration stay aboard the ISS as a flight engineer for Expedition 24 and as a commander for Expedition 25. During this mission, Wheelock conducted three unplanned spacewalks to replace a faulty ammonia pump module. While on board the ISS, both Wheelock and fellow Astronaut Shannon Walker, KD5DXB, participated in the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program. They made 22 ISS-to-school and ISS-to-camp ham radio contacts. In addition, Wheelock averaged about two dozen casual contacts with radio amateurs around the world each week while on board the ISS. The Binghamton, New York native holds a Bachelor of Science in Applied Science and Engineering from the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, and a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Georgia Tech in Atlanta, Georgia. Wheelock’s first appearance was to be at 2 p.m. local time on Wednesday, April 6 at the University of Scranton DeNaples Center-Moskovitz Theater. The second appearance was scheduled for 7 p.m. at Misericordia University’s Frank M. and Dorothea Henry Science Center in Dallas, Pennsylvania. [ANS thanks ARRL for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AMSAT at the Dayton Hamvention -- Call for Volunteers 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 Phil, w1eme(a)amsat.org if you can help. [ANS thanks Phil Smith, W1EME, Dayton Team Lead, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- New FCC Application Fee Will Not Apply to Amateur License Upgrades The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) staff has clarified in response to an ARRL request that the new $35 application fee will not apply to most license modifications, including those to upgrade amateur radio licensee's operator class and changes to club station trustees. The FCC staff explained that the new fees will apply only to applications for a new license, renewal, rule waiver, or a new vanity call sign. As previously announced, the new fees take effect on April 19, 2022. "We are pleased that the FCC will not charge licensees the FCC application fee for license upgrade applications," said ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC) Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM. "While applicants for a new license will need to pay the $35 FCC application fee, there will be no FCC charge for future upgrades and administrative updates, such as a change of mailing or email address. Most current licensees, therefore, will not be charged the new FCC application fee until they renew their license or apply for a new vanity call sign." ARRL previously reported that the new $35 application fee for amateur radio licenses will become effective on April 19, 2022. Further information and instructions about the FCC Application Fee are available from the ARRL VEC page at, https://www.arrl.org/fcc-application-fee [ANS thanks ARRL News 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, unless otherwise noted. These contacts were recently completed successfully: Leonardo-Da-Vinci Campus Nauen, Nauen, Germany, direct via DC1RSN in contact with ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer, KI5KFH, operating as DPØISS. The contact was completed on Wednesday, 2022-04-06 at 11:48:08 UTC on a 26 degree pass. Congratulations to the Leonardo-Da-Vinci Campus Nauen students and Matthias! Space Hardware Club, Huntsville, Alabama, direct via K4UAH in contact with astronaut Thomas Marshburn, KE5HOC, operating as NA1SS. The contact was completed on Thursday 2022-04-07 at 17:07:39 UTC on a 36 degree pass. Congratulations to Space Hardware Club and Thomas! These contacts are scheduled for the coming week: DLR_School_Lab TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany, direct via DLØTSD in contact with ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer, KI5KFH, operating as DPØISS. Contact is go for: Mon 2022-04-11 14:14:21 UTC 44 degrees. Watch for Livestream at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LKjD2QlisM École Secondaire St. Albert Catholic High School, St. Albert, AB, Canada, telebridge via IK1SLD in contact with Axiom astronaut Mark Pathy, KO4WFH, operating as OR4ISS. Contact is go for: Mon 2022-04-11 15:50:31 UTC 33 degrees. Watch for Livestream starting about 15 minutes before AOS: www.ariotti.com and https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA55YJg_jvRtoEBPKK-p__A Dr. David R. William School, Oakville, ON, Canada, Telebridge via K6DUE in contact with Axiom astronaut Mark Pathy, KO4WFH, operating as NA1SS. Contact is go for: Wed 2022-04-13 13:57:41 UTC 86 degrees. École Secondaire Sainte Marguerite d’Youville, St. Albert, AB, Canada, telebridge via AB1OC in contact with Axiom astronaut Mark Pathy, KO4WFH, operating as NA1SS. Contact is go for: Wed 2022-04-13 15:36:27 UTC 24 degrees. Rakia - Herzliya Science Center, Herzliya, Israel, direct via 4X4HSC in contact with Axiom astronaut Eytan Stibbe, 4Z9SPC. Contact is go for: Thu 2022-04-14 13:32:09 UTC 89 degrees. Watch for Livestream at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1gJRBkNXyv5tbMZkmjzi4g and ARISS YouTube channel. École Elementaire Ste. Jean D’Arc, London, ON, Canada, Telebridge via AB1OC in contact with Axiom astronaut Mark Pathy, KO4WFH, operating as NA1SS. Contact is go for: Thu 2022-04-14 14:47:54 UTC 31 degrees. École Marie Poburan, St. Albert, AB, Canada, telebridge via VK5ZAI in contact with Axiom astronaut Mark Pathy, KO4WFH, operating as NA1SS. Contact is go for: Thu 2022-04-14 17:20:49 UTC 35 degrees. SSTV Event Watch for SSTV event honoring Cosmonautics Day and Women in Space starting 2022-04-11 at 16:30 UTC and ending 2022-04-13 at 12: 00 UTC. The mode will be PD120. 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 KX9X and N9NCY: April 8-10: EM57 + EM66 (IL/TN): EM57 will only be on April 8 and April 10 while en route to EM66; EM66 will be April 9. Linear and FM, holiday style. Passes to be determined based on travel schedule. Log/Upload as KX9X/R and N9NCY/R. Follow them at @SeanKutzko and @Nancy_N9NCY on Twitter for real-time info on what passes they will be on. WL7T: 4/30, DM02 Check twitter for passes. LoTW: WL7T/P 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! IN51/61 – Portugal: EA4NF is heading to Portugal April 13-16, FM & Linears. LoTW: CT7/EA4NF FK78 British Virgin Islands: VP2V/N2IEN – N2IEN, WW2DX, WW1X, W2RE and KB2HZI holiday style to FK78pj April 10-16, 2022. 6M-160M with focus on higher bands. Possibly some #amsat passes. No EME this trip. QSL to EB7DX @david_lianez @DAILYDX @DX_World @dxcoffee (from Twitter) [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 is heading out to the NC Hamfest! NC Hamfest, Saturday April 16, there will be a forum (presented by Ernie, N4AEW), demos (by John KG4AKV), and an info table (manned by me, N4HF) Jim Graham Building – NC State Fairgrounds 4285 Trinity Rd, Raleigh, NC 27607 https://www.rarsfest.org/ Brainerd Area Hamfest: Brainerd National Guard Armory: 4/23/22 https://brainerdham.org/ Hamvention (see call for volunteers, above) 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] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT Ambassador Activity Report Jack Spitznagel, KD4IZ, gave a virtual presentation on March 26, on general SDR usage and the Fox-In-A-Box Raspberry Pi image, to the Dallas Amateur Radio Club "Lecture and Lab" special interest group organized by Bill Brady, KF5ZBL. It was well received and many of the participants had their RTL-SDR and RPi SBC's ready to go. They experimented with the software during the lab portion while Jack reviewed the slides on configuration and answered questions. The Club also expressed interest in having a live demonstration of the CubeSat Simulator and building one of the simple L.B. Cebik turnstyle antenna designs that was presented. Jack reached out to Dallas area AMSAT Ambassador Tom Scheussler, N5HYP, who will follow up. On April 2, a second live presentation was made to a local club to the K3AE/South Pennsylvania Communications Group based in Shrewsbury and York County, Penn., of which Jack is a member. Again the presentation was well received and many questions came up. This time he added a live demonstration of the CubeSat Simulator Mini prototype and had participants bring their 434 MHz capable HT's to monitor the sound of the various telemetry streams. This club has become increasingly interested in Satellite and Balloon ops. Their balloon team recently launched the W3UAV-7 APRS balloon which is now on the second circumnavigation pass around the globe. They plan to have Jack bring the full size simulator to the summer township Fireman's fair where the club will have a booth demonstrating all of their activities, from HF and VHF contesting to fast scan TV and satellite ops. Among our exhibits, they will have a complete satellite ground station on display and we will attempt some contacts from FM19ps. Stay tuned for the "rove" announcement. The PDF of the presentation (which may be shared) is at: https://www.dropbox.com/s/h8o63ok1ccjc6ze/SDR%20applications%20ver3.pdf?dl=0 It lacks the A/V screen grabs that the PowerPoint uses. [ANS thanks Jack Spitznagel, KD4IZ, AMSAT Ambassador, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + Morazán is a project for Central American integration through cooperation in space. Its objective is to put into orbit the first Honduran satellite developed by the National Autonomous University of Honduras with the cooperation of the University of Costa Rica and the University of San Carlos of Guatemala. The project is led by the Secretariat of the Central American Integration System and has the support of the Radio Clubs of Honduras and Costa Rica, as well as the Federated College of Engineers and Architects of Costa Rica. (ANS thanks https://ti0rc.org/amsat-ti for the above information) + The Portland State University publication, PSU Vanguard, published a feature story about the Portland State Aerospace Society and the successful launch of their OreSat0 satellite. The launch took place on March 15, 2022, and the satellite downlinks on 436.500 MHz and 2425.00 MHz using 9k6 G3RUH AX25/APRS packet beacons. Amateur radio is mentioned briefly in the article, which may be found at https://bit.ly/3766ZUB (ANS thanks PSU Vanguard for the above information) + NASA officials said on Tuesday, April 5, that they are standing down from a cryogenic loading test on the agency’s Space Launch System moon rocket until after the launch of a commercial crew mission from a neighboring pad at the Kennedy Space Center. [That launch took place on April 8.] A countdown test Monday, April 4, was delayed by what NASA managers characterized as minor issues. The countdown dress rehearsal is a key test before NASA completes final preparations on the Space Launch System and Orion crew capsule. The giant rocket is set to launch no earlier than June on the unpiloted Artemis 1 test flight around the moon, laying the groundwork for future lunar missions with astronauts on-board. (ANS thanks SpaceFlightNow for the above information) + Amazon announced the largest commercial launch deal in history April 5, revealing agreements for up to 83 missions to deploy thousands of internet satellites on United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur rocket, Arianespace’s Ariane 6, and Blue Origin’s New Glenn vehicle. The agreements solidify the commercial business cases for all three rockets, more than doubling the backlogs for Vulcan Centaur, Ariane 6, and New Glenn rockets before any of them have ever flown. Amazon’s Kuiper network, similar in concept to SpaceX’s Starlink constellation and the OneWeb satellite fleet, will provide low-latency Ka-band broadband internet connectivity to customers between 56 degrees north and 56 degrees south latitude. (ANS thanks SpaceFlightNow for the above information) + SpaceX has lost the right to provide Starlink broadband services in France after the country’s highest administrative court revoked its spectrum license. France’s Conseil d’État ruled April 5 that French telecoms regulator ARCEP should have launched a public consultation before authorizing Starlink in February 2021. The ruling came after Priartem and Agir Pour L’Environnement, two French environmental activist organizations, submitted an appeal to challenge ARCEP’s decision to award Starlink frequency rights. Agir pour l’Environnement (Acting for the Environment), has called for stronger regulations on megaconstellations to protect views of the night sky and reduce space debris risks. (ANS thanks SpaceNews for the above information) + On April Fools Day, SpaceX launched their fourth dedicated SSO rideshare mission with 40 spacecraft onboard. The largest payload was the German hyperspectral Environmental Mapping and Analysis Program satellite at 980 kg. Other payloads included 5 ÑuSat visible + IR Earth observation sats, 12 Swarm 1/4U (400g) Spacebees, GNOMES-3 (radio occultation weather forecasting), Albania's first satellite (Albania-1), amateur radio BDSat, and D-Orbit’s ION SCV orbital transfer vehicle that will host or later release “four Kleos Space CubeSats, three CubeSats from the University of Chile, and a passive payload for Spacelust called Upmosphere.” SpaceX’s Transporter-5 is scheduled for June. (ANS thanks The Orbital Index 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-093 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Paul Stoetzer 03 Apr '22

03 Apr '22

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-093 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 at the Dayton Hamvention -- Call for Volunteers * Kerry Banke to be honored with the 2022 Hamvention Special Achievement Award * NASA On The Air (NOTA) Special Event Stations * VUCC Satellite Awards/Endorsements For April 1, 2022 * New GridMasters * ARISS News * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Satellite Shorts From All Over ANS-093 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 Apr 3 AMSAT at the Dayton Hamvention -- Call for Volunteers The Dayton Hamvention is six weeks away! It is time to be creating your shopping list and making your travel plans. We've had a good response so far to our call for volunteers, but we could really use another 10-15 people. The 2022 Hamvention is May 20-22 in Xenia, Ohio. Would you consider helping AMSAT at the Hamvention this year? The interaction with AMSAT members, satellite operators, designers, and builders makes the whole experience a lot of fun. Meet or renew acquaintances, exchange operating tips, and find out what antennas, software and equipment other AMSAT members use. If you're an experienced operator, great! We can use you and your experience. If you've never operated a satellite before, but want to learn more, that's OK. We can use your help too. 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 Phil, w1eme at amsat.org if you can help. Thank you! [ANS thanks Phil Smith, W1EME, AMSAT Dayton Hamvention Team Lead, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Kerry Banke to be honored with the 2022 Hamvention Special Achievement Award The Hamvention awards committee recently announced that Kerry Banke, N6IZW, has won the 2022 Hamvention Special Achievement Award for his efforts in the design, development, manufacturing, and human spaceflight certification of the ARISS Multi-Voltage Power Supply (MVPS). The MVPS is a foundational element of the ARISS next generation radio system, which is now on-orbit. The Hamvention Special Achievement Award is given each year to a deserving amateur that has made an outstanding contribution advancing the art and/or science. Now retired, Banke spent most of his career in the research and development of electronics systems as a microwave RF (Radio Frequency) electrical engineer. This included 14 years as Qualcomm engineer, developing innovative microwave wireless technologies. Kerry’s electronic interests span DC (Direct Current) to light with particular interest and expertise in microwaves. His ham radio operations have included transmissions on 136 kHz through Laser. Since 1982 he has served as host of the San Diego Microwave Group’s monthly meeting, sharing his expertise with other hams of like interest. Mr. Banke’s exceptional support to Human Spaceflight Amateur Radio began in 1994 where he served as a school technical mentor and certified ground station for the Shuttle Amateur Radio EXperiment (SAREX) program. When NASA transitioned from the Shuttle to the International Space Station (ISS), Kerry became an exemplary member of the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) hardware team. For seven years, working from his home and electronics lab garage in La Mesa, California, Mr. Banke led the circuit design, breadboarding, flight circuit board layout, assembly, and testing of the MVPS. The MVPS, which occupies a volume roughly the size of two stacked reams of paper, can connect into different ISS power sources (120 VDC and 28 VDC) and simultaneously power up to 18 devices with multiple voltage level input needs. ARISS USA Executive Director, Frank Bauer, said “The ARISS team is proud of Kerry’s sustained exemplary support to ARISS. His contributions to our next generation radio system are transformative, enabling expanded ARISS operations for ham radio operators and enhanced STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education outcomes for youth.” Through this system 60 to 80 foreign and domestic ARISS school contacts are conducted each year with 150,000 to 200,000 students, teachers, and members of the public engaged. Amateur radio operators also enjoy over 100,000 digital and voice repeater connections from this radio system each year. [ANS thanks ARISS-USA 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/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ NASA On The Air (NOTA) Special Event Stations There is an Amateur Radio club established at many NASA field centers across the USA. Their members gather together to highlight NASA milestones the way such events are done best. That is, through radio. These club members are made up of civil servants, contractor personnel, retirees and recognized community members. Some clubs are large and well supported, some are small and struggle. But they have a common goal to show their support to NASA and space fans everywhere by highlighting the history of some amazing accomplishments. The first NASA On The Air (NOTA) special event of the year will be held on Saturday, April 23, through Wednesday, April 27, to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 16 mission to the moon. Different NASA radio clubs will go on the air at different times to make two-way contacts with fellow space enthusiastic ham radio operators. For the list of suggested frequencies, modes, points scoring, rules, certificates, procedures and news, please visit NasaOnTheAir.wordpress.com each day. Be sure to watch for posts on Twitter.com/NASARadioClubs (a Twitter account is NOT required to view) for late breaking news updates -- and don't forget your favorite spotting network -- for NOTA activity live and in real time. For QSL card information, please check the QRZ.com page for each individual NASA club callsign. [ANS thanks Pat Kilroy, N8PK, NASA Engineer and AMSAT Ambassador 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/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ VUCC Upgrades/Endorsements for April 1, 2022 March 01, 2022 to March 31, 2022. ------------------------------------------------------------ PS8ET 600 726 K9UO 695 700 WD9EWK (DM43) 675 679 AC9O 549 675 N5BO 635 650 K0JM 500 601 KE8FZT 550 576 KS1G 525 551 WB7VUF 455 510 KN2K 450 505 DF2ET 400 500 EA2AA 425 483 N6UTC 450 475 AE5B 450 459 HP2VX 425 453 XE1MYO 200 349 K4RGK 278 313 VE3KY 278 304 XE1GK 265 300 DG7RO 172 285 N3CAL 224 235 N5EKO 207 234 AC9DX 141 228 WD9EWK (DM41) 187 207 A65BR 157 181 WB9YIG New 175 DL8GAM New 152 PS7JN New 152 OE7BJT 107 150 N2ZN 135 147 TG9AMD New 141 XE2YWH (DL82) 110 113 PP2RON 106 108 XE2YWH (DL82 - D 105 108 VE7PTN New 104 US6IKN New 102 AG7NR New 101 DH0GSU New 100 K4NHW New 100 PU5DDC New 100 XE1YDK New 100 Congratulations to the new VUCC holders. TG9AMD is first Guatemala and grid EK44 PU5DDC is first grid GG53 PS7JN is first grid HI24 DL8GAM is first grid JO42 US6IKN is first Ukraine and grid KN59 [ANS thanks Jon Goering, N7AZ, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- New GridMasters AMSAT’s most prestigious award is the GridMaster Award. This award was first introduced by Star Comm Group in 2014. AMSAT thanks Damon Runion, WA4HFN, and Rick Tillman, WA4NVM, for not only sponsoring this award since its inception, but, also, entrusting AMSAT with the honor of carrying on this important award for the benefit of the entire AMSAT community. The GridMaster award is available to all amateurs worldwide who submit proof with written confirmation of contacts with each of the 488 maidenhead grids located within the contiguous United States of America via amateur satellite. Thanks to a couple of March roves, four new amateur satellite operators have joined the GridMaster club, bringing the total number of hams who have worked and confirmed all 488 maidenhead grids within the contiguous United States to 38. Congratulations to the newest GridMasters! 35 Patrick Stoddard WD9EWK March 15, 2022 36 Dennis Love N7EGY March 26, 2022 37 Chris Wilford VE7CEW March 26, 2022 38 Merle Olmsted AA4QE March 28, 2022 See the full list at https://www.amsat.org/gridmaster/ [ANS thanks Bruce Paige, KK5DO, AMSAT Director of Contests and Awards for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS News Leonardo-Da-Vinci Campus Nauen, Nauen, Germany, direct via DC1RSN The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be DPØISS The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html The scheduled crewmember is Matthias Maurer KI5KFH Contact is go for: Wed 2022-04-06 11:48:08 UTC 26 deg Watch for Livestream at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xk3nn3CYKoM (***) Space Hardware Club, Huntsville, Alabama, direct via K4UAH The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html The scheduled crewmember is Thomas Marshburn KE5HOC Contact is go for: Thu 2022-04-07 17:07:39 UTC 36 deg Exp. 64 back on earth (***) Pyotr Dubrov Mark Vande Hei KG5GNP Exp. 65 back on earth Anton Shkaplerov Congratulations to all for a job well done 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 KX9X and N9NCY: April 8-10: EM57 + EM66 (IL/TN): EM57 will only be on April 8 and April 10 while en route to EM66; EM66 will be April 9. Linear and FM, holiday style. Passes to be determined based on travel schedule. Log/Upload as KX9X/R and N9NCY/R. Follow them at @SeanKutzko and @Nancy_N9NCY on Twitter for real-time info on what passes they will be on. WL7T: 4/3, DN57/58 and DN67/68 WL7T: 4/30, DM02 Check Twitter for passes. K4DCA: EM96 4/6 – 4/9. Will be in EM96 on April 6-9 with FM and Linear gear. Vacation style. Also the possibility of hitting FM08 and FM09 on the way to/from. 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, 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 following event: 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 + JAMSAT has posted the April FO-99 Operating Schedule at https://www.jamsat.or.jp/?p=1806 + An initial distance record has been claimed via the MO-112 digipeater: EA4SG in IN80cp worked DG9MA in JN58di, a distance of 1,406 km on 22-Mar-2022 at 21:01 UTC. Who can do better? https://www.amsat.org/satellite-distance-records/ + A new modern distance record has been claimed via AO-7 Mode A. VE6WQ in DO33 worked F4DXV in JN04 on 23-Mar-2022 - a distance of 7,454 km. Note that AO-7 Mode A supported some very long distance QSOs during it's early life in the 1970s. If anyone has any information about extreme distance QSOs on AO-7 Mode A, please contact n8hm at amsat.org. + The AMSAT CubeSatSim PCB sets are finally back in stock at the AMSAT Store. Get yours today at https://www.amsat.org/product/amsat-cubesatsim-pcb/ + New v1.2 software release for the AMSAT CubeSatSim project! This release fixes an issue with the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W that can cause an auto shutdown if battery isn’t fully charged. No change for other hardware. https://github.com/alanbjohnston/CubeSatSim/releases/tag/v1.2 + Remember to get your tickets for the AMSAT/TAPR Banquet at the Dayton Hamvention! 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. https://www.amsat.org/product/amsat-tapr-joint-hamvention-banquet-registrat… + A MAI-75 SSTV Event is scheduled for April 7th and 8th. Details at https://issfanclub.eu/2022/04/01/mai-75-sstv-event-7-and-8-april-2022/ --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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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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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