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ANS-178 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for June 27
by Mark Johns, K0JM 27 Jun '21

27 Jun '21

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-178 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 Announces Candidates for 2021 Board of Directors Election * 39th Annual AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting Announced * MIR-SAT1 released into orbit from the ISS on June 22, 2021 * MIR-SAT1 Platinum Award Winners * ARRL Field Day: Active satellites listing * FO-29 operation schedule for July 2021 (UTC) * Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for June 24, 2021 * ARISS News * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Satellite Shorts From All Over ANS-178 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 178.01 To: All RADIO AMATEURS From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation 712 H Street NE Suite 1653 Washington, DC 20002 DATE 2021 June 27 AMSAT Announces Candidates for 2021 Board of Directors Election The nomination period for the 2021 Board of Directors Election ended on June 15, 2021. The following candidates have been duly nominated: Joseph Armbruster, KJ4JIO Robert Bankston, KE4AL Jerry Buxton, N0JY Zach Metzinger, N0ZGO To comply with AMSAT's Bylaws, an election will be held via AMSAT's Wild Apricot membership system. Instructions for voting will be emailed by July 15, 2021 to all members who are in good standing as of July 1, 2021. As four seats on the Board of Directors are up for election this year, all four candidates will be seated on the Board when the voting period concludes on September 15, 2021. To ensure that they receive their voting instructions, members should make sure their current email address is up to date in AMSAT's records. Members should log into the AMSAT Membership Portal at https://launch.amsat.org/ and check their account for their current email address. If a member has moved or changed their email address, they are encouraged to update their contact information at this time. (Note: If they have not already done so, members can instantly create their membership account at that same page so they can inspect their record. A membership account is not the same as an AMSAT Store account.) [ANS thanks Jeff Davis, KE9V, AMSAT Secretary for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- 39th Annual AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting Announced AMSAT is pleased to announce that the 39th Annual AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting will be held in late October at the Crowne Plaza Suites: MSP Airport - Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. The Crowne Plaza Suites is conveniently located adjacent to the American Blvd station on the Metro Blue Line, providing easy access to the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, downtown Minneapolis, and the Mall of America. The AMSAT Board of Directors will meet prior to the Symposium. Further details, including final dates, hotel reservation details, tours, and other events will be shared in the coming months. [ANS thanks the 2021 Symposium Committee for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- MIR-SAT1 released into orbit from the ISS on June 22, 2021 From Jean Marc Momple, 3B8DU: "Deployment of MIR-SAT1 into orbit from the ISS on June 22, 2021 at 10:55 UTC was broadcast live on JAXA Youtube channel starting at 10:35 UTC (14:35hrs local time). URL: A video clip is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqXMy3NDZn0 Awards are offered by the Mauritius Amateur Society (MARS) see URL: https://mars3b8.wordpress.com/news/ good luck and good hunt. Daniel Estévez, EA4GPZ, adds: For those interested in decoding this satellite, I have put up a short video in collaboration with UNOOSA showing how to use gr-satellites and GQRX to decode MIR-SAT1: https://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourwork/access2space4all/index.html https://spacemauritius.com/ Chris Thompson G0KLA/AC2CZ adds: "I have released an updated version of the Pacsat Ground station which now does a better job displaying the decoded beacons from Mir-Sat-1. It also fixes several small bugs in the conversions and in decodes. This also fixes a bug that impacts FalconSat-3 file downloads in some cases. Download it from here: https://www.g0kla.com/pacsat/index.php" Let me know any issues or problems you see. Please continue to download telemetry for Mir-Sat-1 during their commissioning period. All telemetry is sent to SatNogs assuming you check "Send Server Telemetry" on the File. You can see that your Mir-Sat-1 telemetry was uploaded here: https://dashboard.satnogs.org/d/TaZh29gnz/mir-sat1?orgId=1&refresh=30s" A post launch comment by Jean Marc: "We got a superb media coverage in 3B8 and FR on TV about MIR-SAT1 promoting amateur radio role and contribution to the project. I confirm that MIR-SAT1 is alive and TLM has been received by many stations, the firsts being by US stations, I also decoded well the TLM with Chris PsatGroundstation V0.41b which was successfully uploaded to Satnogs. I wish to thanks all who sent me personal messages or through Twitter that they received the first MIR-SAT1 signals, it was a great joy to have confirmation that the birds was alive. I also wish to thanks many HAMs to have supported the project from its initial stage, just to name a few which have been instrumental to make it happen, namely Chris Thompson, AC2CZ, Daniel Estevez, EA4GPZ, Graham Shirville, G3VZV, Hans Blondel-Timmerman, PB2T, Pierros Papadeas, SV1QVE, and Patrick Dohmen, DL4PD, of Satnogs, but also many others worldwide and 3B8 peers who contributed in one way or another to make it happen. I confirm that for the moment MIR-SAT1 is on TLM mode only and will keep all posted about progress. As a personal note, today is a great day for me, just a childhood dream becoming true inspired by Neil Armstrong little step and well before obtaining my HAM licence at the age of 16 and making my firsts satellite QSO on AO-07/AO—08 in 1980, thus enjoying the champagne right now writing. He adds: "1) Thanks to all to who captured the signals of MIR-SAT1 and uploaded data to Satnogs DB, this is really useful to the MIR-SAT1 team. 2) 10 successful participants for the Platinum Award have been selected for having successfully uploaded at least a valid frame to Satnogs DB and applied for same, certificates will be issued and announcement of the winners will be published soon. 3) However, many have uploaded data to Satnogs but have not applied for the Award, they can still do so for the Gold certificate and their past upload data still valid, it a first come first serve game. 4) The telemetry frequency which was 4 minutes actually made it harder to decode particularly on low elevation, it is just a coincidence that it was set to 50 seconds for testing purposes when the Gold Award opens today (Platinum closed today). 5) The satellite is in good health and commissioning tests are being performed presently by the MIR-SAT1 team. 6) Digipeater and image broadcast activation date not yet decided as 5) above must be completed successfully and also having some more data about power available for same. Will keep you informed" ANS thanks Jean Marc Momple, 3B8DU, Daniel Estévez, EA4GPZ, and Chris Thompson G0KLA/AC2CZ for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Join the 2021 President's Club! Score your 2" 4-Color Accent Commemorative Coin. This gold finished coin comes with Full Color Certificate and Embroidered "Remove Before Flight" Key Tag Donate today at https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/ You won't want to miss it! +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ MIR-SAT1 Platinum Award Winners Winners of MIR-SAT1 Awards are: S59ZM PY4ZBZ K4OZS N6RFM G8AFC DK3WN N8MH JA0CAW PU7ORD 3B8GL Congratulations to them. Their certificate has been sent by MARS a few minutes ago. To note that the award criteria is based on following: First that one received telemetry of MIR-SAT1 and second the participation form on the MARS WEB has been submitted. There are a few who successfully received MIR-SAT1 telemetry (even before the winners above) and uploaded same to Satnogs but have not submitted the participation form. They are still eligible for the Gold Award if they request same by filing their application on URL: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdCAAKTMtTmARDwrjIE_Coai1WR9b2zUFj… Good luck for the Gold Award. ANS thanks Jean Marc Momple, 3B8DU, 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. Come along for the ride. The journey will be worth it! https://tinyurl.com/ANS-GOLF +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ ARRL Field Day: Active satellites listing Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, has posted a list of the satellites likely to be active on Field Day at: https://www.amsat.org/satellites-likely-to-be-active-on-field-day-2021/ ARRL Field Day stations are reminded that only one satellite contact is admissable for the satellite "bonus" of 100 points. To assist as many stations as possible in their effort to make a contact, please make just a single contact and go to other modes. Please remember that satellites AO-7 and AO-91 HAVE POWER LIMITATIONS and should be accessed with care. Please note the limitations in the posted page and use those as operation guidelines. Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, adds: "APRS operators, please note any errors on the operational status of APRS satellites as shown on this page: http://aprs.org/sats.html I just updated it, so it will be a good resource for APRS satellites for Field Day" [ANS thanks Paul Stoetzer, AMSAT Executive Vice President, N8HM, and Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- FO-29 operation schedule for July 2021 (UTC) Hideo Kambayashi, JH3XCU has posted the July operational schedule for FO-29 on the JARL website: July 3rd 00:06- 10:20- 4th 00:55- 13:00- 10th 00:41- 10:57- 23:46- 11th 11:48- 13:32- 17th 01:15- 13:17- 18th 00:20- 12:23- 24th 00:05- 10:20- 23:12- 25th 12:58- 31st 00:39- 10:50- 23:44- Aug. 1st 11:48- Source: https://www.jarl.org/Japanese/3_Fuji/fuji3-202106.htm [ANS thanks Hideo Kambayashi, JH3XCU, 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/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for June 24, 2021 The following satellite was deployed from ISS on 6-14-2021 and has been added to this week's AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution: MIR-SAT1 (Mauritian Infra-Red Satellite 1) was launched from the Japanese ISS Kibo module at 10:55 UTC on 6-22-2021. The NORAD Cat ID has not yet been determined. However, SatNOGS generated keps can be found on the Libre Space Community web site at: https://bit.ly/3vWRqF6 TLE (KEPS) have been updated and are available on the AMSAT website at: https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/ [ANS thanks Ray Hoad, WA5QGD, AMSAT Orbital Elements 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 +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ ARISS NEWS: Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of June 27, 2021 No new sessions have been announced for the coming week. However the session for Ecole publique de Bellême in Bellême, Pôle scolaire Igé/Le Gué de la Chaine in Belforêt en Perche, and Ecole de Nocé in Perche en Nocé, was rescheduled for June 26, 2021 at 11:25 am CEST (Bellême, France) (9:25 am UTC, 5:25 am EDT, 4:25 am CDT, 3:25 am MDT, 2:25 am PDT). Three schools in France will participate in this ARISS contact: Ecole de Nocé, Pôle scolaire Igé/Le Gué de la Chaine and Ecole publique de Bellême. These are rural schools about 90 miles west of Paris and will involve about 360 students, age 6 – 15 years old. The schools have partnered with the amateur radio club (callsign F4KLQ) in preparation for this contact. Student-members of the ham club receive training from the adult members who have knowledge in the fields of radio, aeronautical, and the space sciences. Ham radio workshops include the topics: Orne Sky Sat, the Yaourtocom 2000, SSTV, Morse code, radio communication, and radio directional finding. [ANS thanks Dave Jordan, AA4KN, ARISS PR 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: WY7AA: I will be in FN02 starting 6/6 for a few weeks. Operating Sats. holiday style. If you need FN01, FN02, FN03, FN12 please let me know and we can try to set something up. FN01,03, and 12 will likely each be one day roves. FM and SSB EA4M: : Hi guys later in June I’ll be in IN73 on holidays, probably for a week or so, I will try some birds stay tuned on tweeter for schedules. ND0C and KE0WPA: In June @kylee_ke0wpa and I, along with our resident photojournalist (Mom/Amy), will be taking a family excursion to the southwest and working some sats as time permits. Here are the less commonly worked grids from which we plan to operate. We will hit other grids too. DN63 7/2, DN64 7/2 & 7/3 WA5RR: I’m looking at doing a rove in DL98 with an overnight stay in Eagle Pass, TX around the last week in June. Details to follow. VP2V/K3TRM: I will be operating from Tortola, BVI as VP2V/K3TRM on July 4-17, 2021. Activity will be on 40-6M SSB & digital, and satellite. N5LEX: CN98 last week of June. DM62: K5TA, I’m tentatively planning for DM62 ~9-July, when there are are several good passes mid-day, making it a doable day-trip for me…. EN57/67: @SeanKutzko KX9X and @Nancy_N9NCY will celebrate Sean’s birthday in the Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula July 15-19. Look for them on FM and SSB satellites, with the possibility of some Parks On The Air activity as well. [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT rover page manager for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events Satellites on Field Day: Seth Kutzko, KX9X, made an outstanding presentation to the RATPAC group on Satellites and Field Day. The session was held on Thursday May 27 during a weekly RATPAC meeting. Seth presented more than just a "how to", his tips and tricks were very valuable for new entrants and his cautions were particularly well taken. This presentation is a must for any Field Day group that is contemplating chasing the 100-point bonus. Dan Marler, K7REX has made the presentation, documents, and the video available: To View Video: https://vimeo.com/556034517 To Download Video: https://vimeo.com/user107547861/download/556034517/954b837d38 To Retrieve Documents: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/cktvhfz1lhvv8hr/AADzoAi0HiGccLLG6IdnY24Aa?dl=0Ra… AMSAT Ambassador Clint Bradford K6CLS is planning the following presentations: Conejo Valley (CA) - October 21 Think a 90-minute lively, informative, and fun “How to Work the Easy Satellites” Zoom presentation would be appropriate for your convention or club? Always includes are overviews of the ARRL, AMSAT, and ARISS … and pre-presentation questions are solicited and welcome. Send Clint an email or call! Clint Bradford K6LCS, http://www.work-sat.com. Tel:909-999-SATS (7287) [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT Events page manager, AMSAT Italia, Dan Marler, K7REX RATPAC Leader and ARRL Idaho Section Manager, and Clint Bradford, K6CLS AMSAT Ambassador for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + A number of questions have been asked about the operation status of Falconsat-3. Mark Hammond N8MH reports: "I suspect that FS-3 has just "crashed" and needs some attention. Usually that involves getting it back to a primitive level of operation and testing, and then reloading all of the spacecraft's software. So, it'll take some time. But I really do think we can recover it. Last reload was over 3.5 years ago! It takes a lot of preparation and sometimes multiple attempts to get all software loaded and running. Keep the hope :). Probably a couple weeks. [ANS thanks Mark Hammond, N8MH, AMSAT Director and Command Station for the above information] + Tiangong has a crew, and China has a vision. Shenzhou-12 launched three Chinese astronauts on a Long March-2F from the Gobi Desert and ferried them to Tiangong (here’s a video of the docking). This means there are now two long-duration crewed habitats in Earth orbit for the first time since the 1970s when Skylab and Salyut stations both hosted humans on-orbit (Mir’s last crew departed just a few months before Expedition-1 arrived at the ISS). The three astronauts are slated to stay in the new station’s Tianhe core module for up to three months, breaking China’s 30-day record set during their last crewed spaceflight five years ago. [ANS thanks the Orbital Index for the above information] + A history of US research, development, and production of solar photovoltaic cells, which was driven by space applications early on. “In 1958, the U.S. Navy bolted solar panels to Vanguard 1, the second American satellite in space.” A commentary: https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2021/06/why-the-us-doesnt-reall… [ANS thanks the Orbital Index for the above information] + CubeSat developments: Some interesting work in the CubeSat arena is documented at several links. Here are some discussions of: Deployable mirrors: https://bit.ly/2TZNrdT Wooden satellite construction: http://n.pr/2T3UqCd Flexible tapemeasure antennas: https://bit.ly/3wSSmvH [ANS thanks the Orbital Index for the above information] + A reminder for ARRL/AMSAT Field Day: JAMSAT has posted the FO-99 operating schedule for June at https://www.jamsat.or.jp/?p=1438 (ANS thanks JAMSAT for the above information) + Congratulations to Christy Hunter, KB6LTY, on working and confirming her 488th grid square in the continental United States. Christy worked John Brier, KG4AKV, operating portable in FM25 for the last grid she needed on June 11th. Christy is the 31st recipient of AMSAT's GridMaster Award. More details about the GridMaster Award can be found at https://www.amsat.org/gridmaster/ [Thanks to Bruce Paige, KK5DO, AMSAT Director of Contests and Awards] + Congratulations to Jim Clary, ND9M. Jim is the 57th recipient of the AMSAT Rover Award. Jim applied for and received this award after working from numerous wet grids during his recent journey on the USNS Sgt. William R. Button through the Panama Canal to Saipan. More details about the AMSAT Rover Award can be found at https://www.amsat.org/amsat-rover-award/ [Thanks to Bruce Paige, KK5DO, AMSAT Director of Contests and Awards] + A new distance record has been claimed on TO-108. F4DXV completed a QSO with A65GC on 18-Jun-2021 at 08:55 UTC, covering a distance of 5,298.6 km. Also, a new distance record has also been claimed on the ISS crossband repeater. G0ABI worked VE1PK on 29-May-2020. This transatlantic QSO covered a distance of 4,403 km. All claimed satellite distance records can be found at https://amsat.org/satellite-distance-records/ [Thanks to Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, AMSAT Executive Vice President] --------------------------------------------------------------------- /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. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Store. Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional student membership information. 73 and Remember to help keep amateur radio in space, This week's ANS Editor, Jack Spitznagel, KD4IZ kd4iz at frawg dot org

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ANS-171 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for June 20, 2021
by n1uw＠gokarns.com 20 Jun '21

20 Jun '21

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-171 The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. The news feed on http://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 dot org. In this edition: * AMSAT Announces Candidates for 2021 Board of Directors Election * ARISS Slow Scan Television Event set for June 21-26, 2021 * PSAT2 Improved Coverage Is Here (Updated) * MIR-SAT1 Schedule for Deployment from the ISS * The IARU Participating in the CEPT Working Groups * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Upcoming Satellite Operations * ARISS News * Satellite Shorts from All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-171.01 ANS-171 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 171.01 From AMSAT HQ PO Box 27, Washington, DC 20044-0027 June 20, 2021 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-171.01 AMSAT Announces Candidates for 2021 Board of Directors Election The nomination period for the 2021 Board of Directors Election ended on June 15, 2021. The following candidates have been duly nominated: Joseph Armbruster, KJ4JIO Robert Bankston, KE4AL Jerry Buxton, N0JY Zach Metzinger, N0ZGO To comply with AMSAT's Bylaws, an election will be held via AMSAT's Wild Apricot membership system. Instructions for voting will be emailed by July 15, 2021 to all members who are in good standing as of July 1, 2021. As four seats on the Board of Directors are up for election this year, all four candidates will be seated on the Board when the voting period concludes on September 15, 2021. To ensure that they receive their voting instructions, members should make sure their current email address is up to date in AMSAT's records. Members should log into the AMSAT Membership Portal at https://launch.amsat.org/ and check their account for their current email address. If a member has moved or changed their email address, they are encouraged to update their contact information at this time. (Note: If they have not already done so, members can instantly create their membership account at that same page so they can inspect their record. A membership account is not the same as an AMSAT Store account.) [ANS thanks Jeff Davis, KE9V, AMSAT Secretary for the above information] -------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS Slow Scan Television Event set for June 21-26, 2021 ARISS reports there will be an “Amateur Radio on Shuttle, MIR and ISS” Slow Scan TV (SSTV) event from June 21-26, 2021. Transmissions from the International Space Station will be on 145.800 MHz FM using the PD120 format. The ARISS team will be transmitting SSTV images continuously from June 21 until June 26. The images will be related to some of the Amateur Radio activities that have occurred on the Space Shuttle, MIR space station and the International Space Station. The scheduled start and stop times are: Monday, June 21 – Setup is scheduled to begin at 09:40 UTC (transmissions should start a little later). Saturday, June 26 – Transmissions are scheduled to end by 18:30 UTC. The signal should be receivable on a handheld with a 1/4 wave whip. If your rig has selectable FM filters try the wider filter for 25 kHz channel spacing. Those that recently missed the opportunity during the limited period of MAI transmissions should have numerous chances over the six day period to capture many, if not all 12, of the images. Check the ARISS SSTV blog for the latest information at http://ariss-sstv.blogspot.com/. Pass predictions for the ISS pass times are available at https://www.amsat.org/track/. Useful SSTV info and links https://amsat-uk.org/beginners/iss-sstv/ [ANS thanks AMSAT UK for the above information.] -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- Join the 2021 President's Club! Score your 2" 4-Color Accent Commemorative Coin with Polished Gold Finish, Full Color Certificate and Embroidered "Remove Before Flight" Key Tag By donating today at https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/ You won't want to miss it! -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- PSAT2 Improved Coverage Is Here (Updated) Bob Bruninga, WB4APR reports, WPSAT2 (NO-104) has been in a great operating period from June 10-22, 2021 in the northern hemisphere due to its highly elliptical orbit. Passes have been in the evening but moving earlier each day. Conversely, for the two weeks following, it will be low on the horizon for northern hemisphere mid-latitudes stations and favor the southern hemisphere. "Normally its low inclination orbit (28 degrees) favors lower latitude locations. But the elliptical orbit assures that there are times, two weeks out of every month, when the elevation angle rises as much as 20 degrees to bring higher latitude stations into the footprint. "PSAT2 has been enabled for APRS on 145.825 and it should be 4 times stronger (+6 dB) than PSAT. PSAT2 requires your radio to be in narrow band mode. "Also it has the APRS-to-Voice enabled for your enjoyment. See http://aprs.org/psat2.html for how to use the A2V feature. "Also enabled is the PSAT (NO84) digipeating. And its HF to UHF transponder is always on for PSK31. See http://aprs.org/psat.html for further information. [ANS thanks Bob Bruninga, WB4APR 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/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ MIR-SAT1 Scheduled for Deployment from the ISS Jean Marc Momple, 3B8DU reports it now official that MIR-SAT1, the first Mauritius Amateur Radio 3B8 satellite, will be deployed from the ISS on June 22, 2021 at 10:55 UTC. The deployment will be made using the robotic arm on the Japanese Experiment Module nicknamed Kibo. MIR-SAT1 is a 1U CubeSat mission with the following objectives: 1. Verify the performance of the on-board subsystems by receiving telemetry from the satellite and establish communication to and from the satellite (command and control). 2. Collect images of Mauritius and the Mauritian EEZ for capacity, building, experiment and research. 3. Experimental communication with other islands via the satellite (for scientific and/or emergency purposes), through a Radio Amateur digipeater payload. 4. V/U 9600bps GMSK digipeater may be open for Radio Amateur communication worldwide when the satellite not used for all above. Further details can be found at https://spacemauritius.com. Experimental decoders are already available: + AMSAT Pacsat Ground Station Software by Chris Thompson, G0KLA/AC2CZ is a decoder for the PacSat protocol, designed for FalconSat-3 now with support for Mir-Sat1. More information and the download is available at: https://www.g0kla.com/pacsat/index.php. + GR-Satellites by Daniel Estévez, EA4GPZ is a collection of GNU Radio decoders. More information and the download is available at: https://github.com/daniestevez/gr-satellites/blob/master/python/telemetry/m…. These decoder will be used by local schools and Universities to capture the signals from the bird and hopefully create inspiration for our 3B8 youngsters to space science and STEM per AMSAT Ambassador program goals. Jean Marc remarks, "It is so great to have the support of above experts. I wish to put on record my appreciation for the all the advice they provided to the 3B8 team and their fully unconditional support in the Ham spirit of brotherhood. 'Grand merci Chris et Dani.' Without you we ham's will not have a clue about what is the status of the bird." In addition, the Mauritius Amateur Radio Society (MARS) is creating special awards open to all participating Hams/SWL's worldwide. These awards will be issued to those decoding MIR-SAT1 telemetry and forwarding same to SatNOGS. - A Platinum award will be issued to the first 10 ground station applying for MIR-SAT1 Award after having forwarded the telemetry to SatNOGS. - A Gold award will be issued to the next 20 ground station applying for MIR-SAT1 Award after having forwarded the telemetry to SatNOGS. - A Silver award will be issued to the next 30 ground station applying for MIR-SAT1 Award after having forwarded the telemetry to SatNOGS. - A Bronze award will be issued to the next 50 ground station applying for MIR-SAT1 Award after having forwarded the telemetry to SatNOGS. Complete information on the awards program can be found at https://mars3b8.wordpress.com/2021/06/19/mir-sat1-special-award/. [ANS thanks Jean Marc Momple, 3B8DU 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 +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ The IARU Participating in the CEPT Working Groups IARU volunteers have been participating in the CEPT FM and SE Working Groups looking after the Amateur Radio and Amateur Satellite Service interests. CEPT WG-SE #88 took place during April and WG-FM #99 took place at the end of May. The report from the IARU Region 1 site says: WG-FM’s project teams tackle a wide range of civil spectrum applications and are developing important regulatory deliverables relating to wireless power transfer and the 23cm band RNSS coexistence topic amongst other things. Work on both these topics is ongoing. The CEPT Radio Amateur Forum Group (RAFG) is hosted by WG-FM and is chaired by the IARU for the time being. Its main task is maintenance of the CEPT Recommendations TR61-01 and TR61-02. A proposal to merge the activities of the RAFG into project team FM58 (Maritime) has been made but the final decision has been held over until the next WG-FM meeting. The RAFG was tasked at this meeting with a new work item to consider the feasibility of developing an electronic database of CEPT wide amateur licensing documentation. This was supported by six administrations. https://cept.org/ecc/groups/ecc/wg-fm/fm-radio-amateur-fg/client/introducti… In WG-SE technical spectrum sharing studies are taking place covering; • Wireless power transfer including consideration of electric vehicle charging (WPT- EV). • UWB radiodetermination in 116 – 250 GHz. • Vehicular radar systems in 77 – 81 GHz. • Security Scanners in the range 60 – 90 GHz. • 23cm band RNSS coexistence (related to the WRC item and reported in detail elsewhere) https://www.iaru.org/spectrum/iaru-and-itu/wrc-23/agenda-item-9-1-topic-b/ Amateur service frequency bands are within the scope of all these studies and fall under the remit of the IARU R1 SRLC https://www.iaru-r1.org/about-us/committees-and-working-groups/srlc/ A summary report of the WG-SE meeting is at https://www.iaru-r1.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/CEPT-WGSE88-April-2021-r… The WG-FM meeting is at https://www.iaru-r1.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/WGFM-99-May2021-Report.p… Working Group FM Meeting 99 documents https://cept.org/ecc/groups/ecc/wg-fm/client/meeting-documents/?flid=28918 [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information.] -------------------------------------------------------------------- Upcoming Satellite Operations EM72, June 21-25, 2021 N4DCW be there all week. Operating vacation style, but DM him if you need a sked. He’ll have a decent Eastern horizon for those on the other side of the Atlantic. IN73, Later June EA4M will be in IN73 on holidays, probably for a week or so. He will try some birds. Check Twitter for schedules. DL98, Last week in June WA5RR is looking at doing a rove in DL98 with an overnight stay in Eagle Pass, TX. Details to follow. CN98, Last week of June N5LEX DN63, July 2, 2021; DN64, July 3, 2021 ND0C and KE0WPA along with their resident photojournalist (Mom/Amy) will be taking a family excursion to the southwest and working some sats as time permits. Among the less commonly worked grids from which they plan to operate are DN63 7/2, DN64 7/2 & 7/3. Check @kylee_ke0wpa for info. Tortola, BVI, July 4-17, 2021 VP2V/K3TRM will be operating from Tortola, BVI on 40-6M SSB & digital, and satellite. DM62, ~July 9, 2021 K5TA is tentatively planning when there are several good passes mid-day, making it a doable day-trip for him. [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR 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 + Completed Contacts Gagarin From Space. Performing a radio amateur session with school children in the city of Great Ustyug, Velikiy Ustyug, Russia, direct via UB1QBM. The ISS callsign was RSØISS. The downlink frequency was 145.800 MHz. The astronaut was Oleg Novitskiy Contact was successful on Saturday, June 12, 2021 at 09:15 UTC. Collège Albert Camus, La Norville, France and Université Paris-Saclay, Saint-Aubin, France multi-point telebridge via ON4ISS. The ISS callsign was FXØISS. The downlink frequency was 145.800 MHz. The astronaut was Thomas Pesquet KG5FYG. Contact was successful on Thursday, June 17, 2021 at 11:40:45 UTC. + Upcoming Contacts Ecole publique de Bellême, Bellême, France, Pôle scolaire Igé/Le Gué de la Chaine, Belforêt en Perche, France, and Ecole de Nocé, Perche en Nocé, France, multi-point telebridge via ON4ISS. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be FXØISS. The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 437.525 MHz. The scheduled astronaut is Thomas Pesquet KG5FYG. Contact is go for: Friday, June 25, 2021 at 08:34:42 UTC. A multi-point telebridge contact means that each student will be on the telebridge from their own home. + Current Status of ISS Stations IORS (Kenwood TM-D710GA) - STATUS - ACTIVE. supporting cross band repeater operation (145.990 up [67 Hz tone] /437.800 down MHz). Next mode change to packet operations targeting after Field Day. Supporting USOS scheduled voice contacts, packet and voice repeater ops. Service Module radios: Kenwood TM-D710E - STATUS - Radio usually off. Supporting ROS scheduled voice contacts and SSTV. Watch for possible operation mode change sometime after ARRL Field Day. Exact date and time TBD. The latest information on the operation mode can be found at: https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html [ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N for the above information.] -------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts from All Over + AMSAT Receives $403 from AmazonSmile AMSAT has received its quarterly notification from AmazonSmile that it has made a charitable donation to the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, in the amount of $403.32 as a result of qualifying purchases made by its members who have selected AMSAT. Thanks to AMSAT shoppers at smile.amazon.com, their everyday purchases have generated $7,097.98 in donations to the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation so far. [ANS thanks AmazonSmile for the above information.] * Where are the Women in STEM? Do you have a young lady in the family who is looking for ways to get involved in the world of science? When it comes to science influencers, Emily Calandrelli is a household name for a new generation of space enthusiasts. If you have kids, you may know her from “Emily’s Wonder Lab” on Netflix, which brought DIY science experiments into viewers’ homes during the pandemic lockdown. She’s also the long-running host of “Xploration Outer Space,” and a speaker and the author of the Ada Lace children’s book series. While Emily’s communication style is fun and accessible, she has a rigorous science and engineering background underpinning her work, with two master’s degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Check out Emily's website, The Space Gal at http://www.thespacegal.com/women-in-stem for ideas on how to engage your youngster in the adventures of space. [ANS thanks Via Satellite for the above information.] + Fly the SpaceX ISS Docking Simulator! "Now arriving at Docking Port #1..." Think you have "all the right stuff"? The SpaceX ISS Docking Simulator lets you try your hand at safely docking your Dragon space capsule to the ISS. In fact, they say it is the exact same interface that astronauts use on the job. Be sure to check the instructions tab for a quick overview of how the controls work. It's fun! Test your piloting skills at https://iss-sim.spacex.com/. [ANS thanks SPACEX for the above information.] + Chinese Astronauts Enter Tiangong Space Station for First Time Three Chinese astronauts floated into the country’s new Tiangong space station Thursday, becoming the first people to board China’s outpost in orbit after a successful launch from a military base in the Gobi Desert to start a three-month mission. The three astronauts will spend the next three months testing systems on-board the station, three times longer than any previous Chinese human spaceflight mission. In total, China has now launched 12 astronauts into orbit on seven crewed Shenzhou missions since 2003. Read the complete story at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-171-Tiangong. [ANS thanks Spaceflight Now for the above information.] -------------------------------------------------------------------- Not an AMSAT member? Join now at https://launch.amsat.org/ 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 six post-secondary years in this status. Contact info at the amsat dot org for additional student membership information. 73, This week's ANS Editor, Frank Karnauskas, N1UW n1uw at amsat dot org Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings see https://www.amsat.org/mailing-list-faq/.

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ANS-164 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Paul Stoetzer 13 Jun '21

13 Jun '21

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-164 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: * Call for Nominations – 2021 AMSAT Board of Directors Election * CHESS CubeSats Will Not Carry Amateur Transponders * ARISS Offers More Fun to ARRL/AMSAT Field Day Operators * FUNcube Dongle Stock Update * Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for May 6, 2021 * ARISS News * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Satellite Shorts From All Over AMSAT News Service Bulletin 164.01 To: All RADIO AMATEURS From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation 712 H Street NE Suite 1653 Washington, DC 20002 DATE 2021 Jun 13 -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- Join the 2021 President's Club! Score your 2" 4-Color Accent Commemorative Coin with Polished Gold Finish, Full Color Certificate and Embroidered "Remove Before Flight" Key Tag By donating today at https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/ You won't want to miss it! -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- Call for Nominations – 2021 AMSAT Board of Directors Election AMSAT solicits nominations for the 2021 AMSAT Board of Directors election, to be held in the third quarter of the year. The seats of the following four incumbent Directors expire in 2021 and will be filled by this year’s election: Jerry Buxton N0JY Drew Glasbrenner KO4MA Patrick Stoddard WD9EWK Michelle Thompson W5NYV Further, up to two Alternate Directors may be elected for one-year terms. A valid nomination for Director must be written and requires either one Member Society or five current individual members in good standing to nominate an AMSAT member. Written nominations, with the nominee’s name, call sign, and contact information, as well as the nominators’ names, call signs, and contact information, should be sent to the AMSAT Secretary: Jeff Davis, KE9V 1909 S. Batavia Avenue Muncie, IN 47302-2044 ke9v at amsat.org A copy should be sent to Executive Vice President Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, at n8hm at amsat.org. The AMSAT bylaws require that the nomination be written and in the form specified by the Secretary. The Secretary has elected to accept written nomination materials via mail or in electronic form, including e-mail or electronic image of a paper document. Fax transmissions cannot be accepted. No matter what means are used, petitions MUST be received by the Secretary no later than June 15th. The Secretary will verify the qualifications of candidates and nominating members or Member Societies as petitions are received, and will notify candidates whether their nominations are in order by the end of June. [ANS thanks Jeff Davis, KE9V, AMSAT Secretary, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- CHESS CubeSats Will Not Carry Amateur Transponders Two CHESS CubeSats had been planned to carry amateur radio linear transponders, however, it was announced on June 10, 2021, there will not be any amateur payload on the satellites. A translation of the press release reads: The CHESS project management, due to funding constraints, had to move the project towards a commercial cubesat platform. Space is scarce on this new platform to accommodate another payload. Subsequently, there is no longer an opportunity to carry a ham radio transponder on board. The CHESS project management has correctly decided not to use frequencies in the amateur satellite service and to use earth exploration or experimental UHF- and X- band frequencies. The ham community, who assured the funding of the transponder, is very disappointed by this decision, but must accept it. Such projects always carry risks of one partner changing its mind. That is what happened here. Many thanks to all who have actively supported the transponder project, especially the AMSAT-UK and AMSAT-NL team. AMSAT-HB announcement https://www.amsat-hb.org/2021/06/10/chess-fliegt-ohne-amateurfunknutzlast/ January 2021 project announcement https://amsat-uk.org/2021/01/14/chess-cubesat-constellation-funcube/ [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK, AMSAT-HB, and AMSAT-NL for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS Offers More Fun to ARRL/AMSAT Field Day Operators Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has decided to keep its ARISS InterOperable Radio System (IORS) in crossband repeater mode until after ARRL Field Day ends. The IORS ham station is located in the Columbus Module of the International Space Station. ARRL Hq Contest Program Manager Paul Bourque, N1SFE, has confirmed that successful radio contacts made through the ARISS IORS, in crossband repeater mode, will count for an ARRL Field Day QSO point, but also for Field Day bonus points! Another fun opportunity for points. Don’t forget the rule limiting stations to 1 QSO per any single channel FM satellite. On-orbit astronauts always have very busy schedules, but if a voice contact were to be made with them, it would count for QSO credit but not for satellite bonus points. Only an ARISS crossband repeater QSO qualifies for the bonus. Crossband repeater contacts are also valid for AMSAT Field Day for satellite operations, held concurrently with the ARRL event. Frequencies for ARISS crossband repeater operation are as follows: 145.990 MHz up, 67 Hz tone and 437.800 MHz down. If you haven’t used the ISS repeater yet, be sure to practice with it before Field Day (June 26-27, 2021). These contacts can be tricky, but hams can practice right now…can you do it? ARISS had planned a mode switch to APRS packet during the second week of June. Now, ARISS is targeting the switch by the astronauts to packet after the first ARISS school contact following ARRL Field Day. In more news for ARISS supporters: the astronauts will power down the ARISS radio station during USA spacewalks on June 16 and June 20, 2021. [ANS thanks ARISS 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/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ FUNcube Dongle Stock Update Over the past month it’s proven difficult to keep stock, but we look forward to having stock ready within the next few days. During the pandemic, we’ve seen a significant uptick in sales of the FUNcube Dongle, and this trend continues. While we’ve managed to maintain stock for most of the past twelve months, it’s not been easy, and for the last month or so unfortunately we’ve been running on empty. The perfect storm combination of increased demand, logistics delays due to the pandemic, and more recently the global parts shortages, have all impacted our ability to maintain stock. On June 10th, it was announced that a limited stock was available for purchase at https://funcubedongle.3dcartstores.com/checkout_one.asp [ANS thanks the FUNcube Dongle Team for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for June 10, 2021 Rather than continue to send a "No amateur satellite additions or deletions..." report each week, I have decided to send an update message only when an addition or deletion has actually occurred. It seems a waste of bulletin space to send a message when there is really no new news. Please assume that if there is no change message, that means no additions or deletions have occurred. [ANS thanks Ray Hoad, WA5QGD, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager, 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 Collège Albert Camus, La Norville, France and Université Paris-Saclay, Saint-Aubin, France multi-point telebridge via ON4ISS The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be FXØISS The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz The scheduled astronaut is Thomas Pesquet KG5FYG Contact is go for: Thu 2021-06-17 11:40:45 UTC 84 deg Current Status of ISS Stations IORS (Kenwood D710GA) – STATUS - ACTIVE. supporting cross band repeater operation (145.990 up [67 Hz tone] /437.800 down MHz). Next mode change to packet operations targeting after Field Day. Supporting USOS scheduled voice contacts, packet and voice repeater ops. Service Module radios: Kenwood D710E – STATUS - Radio usually off. Supporting ROS scheduled voice contacts and SSTV. 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] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ 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 +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Upcoming Satellite Operations WY7AA: FI will be in FN02 starting 6/6 for a few weeks. Operating Sats. holiday style. If you need FN01, FN02, FN03, FN12 please let me know and we can try to set something up. FN01,03, and 12 will likely each be one day roves. FM and SSB EA4M: Hi guys later in June I’ll be in IN73 on holidays, probably for a week or so, I will try some birds stay tuned on tweeter for schedules. VE6WK: DN49: – I’m planning a SOTA rove to DN49 on June 12 and may hit some other grids on the way there/back. AD0DX: FN15/25 FM & SSB ND0C and KE0WPA: In June @kylee_ke0wpa and I, along with our resident photojournalist (Mom/Amy), will be taking a family excursion to the southwest and working some sats as time permits. Here are the less commonly worked grids from which we plan to operate. We will hit other grids too. DM67 6/15 – 6/17, DM56 6/18, DM45 6/19, DN63 7/2, DN64 7/2 & 7/3 AD0DX (VA3IIR) :Long Range Rover plans: VA3IIR in FN15/25 June 18 FM and SSB WA5RR: I’m looking at doing a rove in DL98 with an overnight stay in Eagle Pass, TX around the last week in June. Details to follow. VP2V/K3TRM: I will be operating from Tortola, BVI as VP2V/K3TRM on July 4-17, 2021. Activity will be on 40-6M SSB & digital, and satellite. N5LEX: CN98 last week of June. DM62: K5TA, I’m tentatively planning for DM62 ~9-July, when there are are several good passes mid-day, making it a doable day-trip for me…. EN57/67: @SeanKutzko KX9X and @Nancy_N9NCY will celebrate Sean’s birthday in the Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula July 15-19. Look for them on FM and SSB satellites, with the possibility of some Parks On The Air activity as well. Please submit any additions or corrections to Ke0pbr (at) gmail.com [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT rover page manager, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events AMSAT Ambassador Clint Bradford, K6LCS, reports these upcoming presentations scheduled for … 06/15 - East Massachusetts 10/21 - Conejo Valley CA … and dates for Roseland NJ, Austin TX, Maine, and NH to be firmed up! Think a lively, entertaining, AND educational 75-minute presentation to YOUR club or organization on “Working the Easy Sateliites” would be appropriate for your club? Send me a message or call! Clint Bradford K6LCS AMSAT Ambassador, ARRL instructor http://www.work-sat.com k6lcs AT work-sat DOT info (909) 999-SATS (7287) [ANS thanks Clint Bradford, K6LCS, AMSAT Ambassador, and Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT Events Page Manager, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + FO-99's operating schedule for June can be found at https://www.jamsat.or.jp/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/nexus202106.j… Note that times are listed in Japan Standard Time (UTC +9), so subtract nine hours to get the UTC time for the activations. The transponder is generally active for Friday evening passes over the Eastern United States according to this schedule. + Thanks to Gordon Scannell, KD8COJ, and the Livonia Amateur Radio Club, the AMSAT CubeSat Simulator Loaner ison display at the Livonia, MI Public Library for month of June. https://qrz.com/db/kd8coj + AMSAT Director Patrick Stoddard, WD9EWK, appeared on the June 3, 2021 episode of the ARRL's Eclectic Tech podcast to discuss amateur satellites and provide advice for ARRL/AMSAT Field Day. The episode can be downloaded at http://www.arrl.org/eclectic + Minutes of the March 2, 2021 AMSAT Board of Directors Teleconference are available at https://www.amsat.org/minutes-of-the-board-of-directors/ + Several new products are available on the AMSAT Zazzle store, including a set of coasters, a watch, a t-shirt featuring the AMSAT round logo, and more. Check out the new items! 25% of the purchase price goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space. https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear + All issues of The AMSAT Journal dating back to 2014 are now available to AMSAT members on AMSAT’s new membership portal. The 1969-2013 archive will be added at a later date. All editions of AMSAT’s Symposium Proceedings are also available for members. If you’re a current AMSAT member, get logged on today. If you are not yet a member, consider joining today at https://launch.amsat.org/ + The 2020 edition of AMSAT’s Getting Started with Amateur Satellites is available on the AMSAT store. A perennial favorite, Getting Started is updated every year with the latest amateur satellite information, and is the premier primer of satellite operation. The book is presented in DRM-free PDF format, in full color, and covers all aspects of making your first contacts on a ham radio satellite. The digital download is available for $15 at https://tinyurl.com/2020GettingStarted. The print edition is $30 plus shipping and is available at https://tinyurl.com/GS2020Print --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/ 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 Editor, Paul Stoetzer, N8HM n8hm at amsat dot org

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ANS-157 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for June 6
by Mark Johns, K0JM 06 Jun '21

06 Jun '21

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-157 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: * Call for Nominations – 2021 AMSAT Board of Directors Election * EASAT-2 and Hades Launch Delayed Again * Satellite Controllers Announce Schedule Changes * VUCC Awards-Endorsements for June 1, 2021 * The AMSAT SA Dual Band 70cm/2M Yagi Mark II Now Available * No Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for June 3 * Amicalsat 6 June S-band Transmission * ARISS News * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Satellite Shorts From All Over ANS-157 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 157 To: All RADIO AMATEURS From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation 712 H Street NE, Suite 1653 Washington, DC 20002 DATE 2021 June 6 Call for Nominations – 2021 AMSAT Board of Directors Election AMSAT solicits nominations for the 2021 AMSAT Board of Directors election, to be held in the third quarter of the year. The seats of the following four incumbent Directors expire in 2021 and will be filled by this year’s election: Jerry Buxton N0JY Drew Glasbrenner KO4MA Patrick Stoddard WD9EWK Michelle Thompson W5NYV Further, up to two Alternate Directors may be elected for one-year terms. A valid nomination for Director must be written and requires either one Member Society or five current individual members in good standing to nominate an AMSAT member. Written nominations, with the nominee’s name, call sign, and contact information, as well as the nominators’ names, call signs, and contact information, should be sent to the AMSAT Secretary: Jeff Davis, KE9V 1909 S. Batavia Avenue Muncie, IN 47302-2044 ke9v at amsat.org A copy should be sent to Executive Vice President Paul Stoetzer, at n8hm at amsat.org. The AMSAT bylaws require that the nomination be written and in the form specified by the Secretary. The Secretary has elected to accept written nomination materials via mail or in electronic form, including e-mail or electronic image of a paper document. Fax transmissions cannot be accepted. No matter what means are used, petitions MUST be received by the Secretary no later than June 15th. The Secretary will verify the qualifications of candidates and nominating members or Member Societies as petitions are received, and will notify candidates whether their nominations are in order by the end of June. [ANS thanks Jeff Davis, KE9V, AMSAT Secretary, for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Join the 2021 President's Club! Score your 2" 4-Color Accent Commemorative Coin. This gold finished coin comes with Full Color Certificate and Embroidered "Remove Before Flight" Key Tag Donate today at https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/ You won't want to miss it! +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ EASAT-2 and Hades Launch Delayed Again Spain's URE reports the launch of EASAT-2 and Hades satellites have suffered another delay A translation of the URE post reads: EASAT-2 and Hades, the communications satellites for radio amateurs built by AMSAT-EA, will not be able to be launched in June with SpaceX as planned, as the FAA (the American Aviation Administration) has rejected the license to the integrator Momentus Space, on whose orbital transfer vehicle Vigoride was to be mounted the AlbaPOD ejector from Alba Orbital, within which are the satellites of AMSAT EA, as well as other organizations and universities. The reasons for the FAA's rejection stem from the company's capital structure, which, according to the American agency, could endanger the national security of the United States. The next launch opportunity could come in December. EASAT-2 and Hades were to have been launched in January this year aboard a SpaceX Falcon-9 rocket, but the Momentus license was also rejected by the FAA at the time. Both satellites are FM and FSK voice repeaters, also having digitized voice recordings. Hades also incorporates an SSTV camera developed by the University of Brno in the Czech Republic and EASAT-2 incorporates as an experimental load a basaltic material from Lanzarote, similar to lunar basalts, provided by the research group on meteorites and planetary geosciences of the CSIC in the Institute of Geosciences, IGEO (CSIC-UCM) and that it could be used as a construction material on the Moon. This project was promoted and has the collaboration of the ETSICCP (UPM). The frequencies coordinated with the IARU for both satellites are the following: EASAT-2 • 145.875 MHz uplink, Modes: FM voice (without sub-tone) and FSK 50 bps • 436.666 MHz downlink, Modes: FM voice, CW, FSK 50 bps, FM voice beacon with AM5SAT callsign HADES • 145.925 MHz uplink, Modes: FM voice (without sub-tone) and FSK 50 bps • 436.888 MHz downlink, Modes: FM voice, CW FSK 50 bps, SSTV Robot 36, FM voice beacon with callsign AM6SAT Source URE https://tinyurl.com/IARU-Spain Read the May 2021 AMSAT-EA newsletter in English at https://www.amsat-ea.org/app/download/12773993/AMSAT-EA-Boletin_05-2021.pdf [ANS thanks Southgate ARC 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/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Satellite Controllers Announce Schedule Changes AO-73 After several months of being in full Sunlight, AO-73 has now entered a period of eclipses. The transponder was commanded "on" on May 30, and the team will evaluate performance over the coming days. An initial check of telemetry suggests the Lithium Ion cells are functioning well and satellite power budget is nominal. [ANS thanks David Bowman, G0MRF for the above information] IO-86 Effective immediately the activation of FM voice repeater on IO-86 (the amateur payload on LAPAN-A2/ORARI satellite) will be reduced, to preserve the life of the repeater (already more than 5 years old) while waiting for the successor , the LAPAN-A5. If required for emergency communication, we will activate the repeater full as usual. [ANS thanks Yono Adisoemarta, YD0NXX of the AMSAT Indonesia Technical Team for the above information] NO-104 and NO-84 PSAT2(NO-104) will enter about 2 weeks of good USA coverage between about 10 to 22 June. Normally its low inclination orbit favors the southern USA. But the orbit is also elliptical and so there are times when the elevation angle to more northern stations rises as much as 20 degrees, bringing higher latitude stations into the footprint. Currently it's VHF Xponder has been in DTMF & APRS-to-Voice (A2V) mode but with the ISS digipeater being inactive, we will enable PSAT2 for normal APRS operations plus the A2V feature. Its HF/UHF transponder will remain in linear operation for PSK31 SSTV and Voice. See http://aprs.org/psat2.html for how to use the A2V feature. We also note that PSAT(NO-84) has awakened from poor sun angles and we will try to activate its digipeater. [ANS thanks Bob Bruninga, WB4APR for the above information] FO-99 JAMSAT has published an updated operating schedule for NEXUS, FO-99, at https://www.jamsat.or.jp/ [ANS thanks JAMSAT for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- VUCC Awards-Endorsements for June 1, 2021 Here are the endorsements and new VUCC Satellite Awards issued by the ARRL for the period May 1, 2021 through June 1, 2021. Congratulations to all those who made the list this month! CALL May June WC7V 1232 1250 AA5PK 1074 1115 N8RO 1080 1096 N3GS 687 705 NS3L 681 695 K7TAB 627 656 WD9EWK (DM43) 640 650 N5BO 525 580 AC9O 475 549 AF5CC 477 525 K5IX 450 489 KS1G 413 427 W8LR 400 425 KJ4M 171 357 IK0WGF 258 324 DF2ET 250 300 N7ZO 250 275 N8URE (FM19) 243 263 KN2K 200 253 EA2AA 153 251 N3CAL 181 204 RA3DNC 110 142 AC9DX 100 141 N2ZN 120 135 VE3KY 103 128 DG9MA New 125 KP4RV 105 125 SQ5NRY New 105 NR1Z New 104 KC1MEB New 102 W4IPA New 101 NU1U New 100 XE1MYO New 100 If you find errors or omissions. Please contact me off-list at <mycall>@<mycall>.com and I'll revise the announcement. This list was developed by comparing the ARRL .pdf listings for the two months. It's a visual comparison so omissions are possible. Apologies if your call was not mentioned. Thanks to all those who are roving to grids that are rarely on the birds. They are doing a lot of the work! [ANS thanks Ron Parsons, W5RKN 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. Come along for the ride. The journey will be worth it! https://tinyurl.com/ANS-GOLF +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ The AMSAT SA Dual Band 70cm/2M Yagi Mark II Now Available AMSAT SA has launched Mark II of its dual band 70 cm/2 m handheld beam antenna with a new, easier to hold handle and improved coaxial terminations. The Yagi has been retuned for maximum performance in the amateur radio 2 m and 70 cm satellite bands. The coax cable is terminated crimped brass lugs instead of being soldered making it environmentally more robust. The driven element has been adjusted to accommodate the change in the connection. More about the Yagi. The antenna has a 50-ohm designed driver. The Yagi has a unique element called an 'Open Sleeve' which is a director very close to the driven element. The driven element is sized for 2 m. When operating on 70 cm the 'Open Sleeve' acts as part of the driven element on 70 cm (the third harmonic of 2 m). The original concept was developed in 1946 by Dr J T Bolljahn of the Stanford Research institute but was not introduced into amateur radio until the 1950s. The AMSAT SA version is based on a design by DK7ZB with modifications by WB5CXC. The first South African version was a collaboration between Guy Eales, ZS6GUY and Gary Immelman, ZS6YI. It was developed for YOTA 2018 where young people successfully used the antenna operating satellites using hand-held transceivers. The mechanical structure was redesigned by Gary Immelmann ZS6YI. A choke around the boom was added to isolate the antenna from the coax and reduce the effect human contact has on the antenna. A handle was added on the boom end which makes it more comfortable to hold and further isolates the antenna from the handler. The AMSAT SA Yagi is manufactured in one of Gary Immelmann's factories in Vereeniging. It has two elements on 145 MHz and 3 elements on 435 MHz. For its size, the antenna has excellent gain: 145 MHZ: 4.12 dBd or 6.3 dBi and 435 MHz: 6.23 dBd or 8.4 dBi. The Yagi is broadband with measured SWR being almost flat over the entire bands. The antenna is plug and play, no tools are needed except for soldering on a connector to suit the application. It comes complete in a carry bag with full instructions. This antenna can be assembled and dissembled in minutes. The price of the MKII Yagi is R400 for AMSAT SA and SARL members. Non-members pay R500 (approximately $36.75 US). The courier charge is R120 (approximately $9 US, Postnet to Postnet). Ask for a quote for other courier options. Find more details and order forms on http://www.amsatsa.org.za/ [ANS thanks AMSAT SA 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 +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ No Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for June 3 No amateur satellite additions or deletions have occurred in this week's distribution. However, TLE (KEPS) have been updated and are available on the AMSAT-NA website at: https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/ or to receive a weekly TLE (KEPS) email, subscribe to the Keplerian Elements Mailing list (page 2) by clicking on "Keps" at: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/?page=2 [ANS thanks Ray Hoad, WA5QGD, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Amicalsat 6 June S-band Transmission The 6 June amicalsat will transmit a picture above Europe, US and Asia. Here is when a transmission will start : 09:35 UTC 05:58 UTC 3:18 UTC First CW is transmitted during one second, and then the frames follow. The RTC onboard is not very accurate due to high temperature change, allow up to two minutes drift on the time given. (because this is a planned task in the satellite) The transmission will occur on the S-band coordinated frequency: 2415.300 MHz. Due to temperature and hardware limitation the frequency might be a little lower. The modulation of the S-band downlink is GFSK 1Mbps. The downlink signal is RHCP. A picture transmission is about 3-5 minutes long. [ANS thanks Christophe Mercier and Julien Nicolas, F4HVX, 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. The Father's House Christian School (Home Education Provider: Roots), Morinville, Alberta, Canada, multi-point telebridge via VK4KHZ. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS. The scheduled astronaut is Akihiko Hoshide KE5DNI Contact was successful: Wed 2021-06-02 14:28:53 UTC 44 deg Congratulations to the he Father's House Christian School students and Akihiko Watch livestream at https://youtu.be/S0_-QFkXdi4 About Gagarin From Space. Conducting an amateur radio session with school children of Mordovia, Russia, direct via TBD. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS The scheduled astronaut is Oleg Novitskiy Contact is go for: Sun 2021-06-06 12:25 UTC College Maurice Genevoix, Couzeix, France, multi-point telebridge via ON4ISS. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be FXØISS The scheduled astronaut is Thomas Pesquet KG5FYG Contact is go for: Mon 2021-06-07 13:07:41 UTC 70 deg MAI-75 SSTV Events: MAI-75 will be conducting their experiment of transmitting SSTV images over specific orbits that overfly Moscow on June 9 and 10. Amateurs along the ground track of these orbits should have the opportunity to receive these images as well. Modes and targeted transmission periods are listed below. SSTV images will be transmitted at 145.800 MHz using a Kenwood TM-D710 transceiver. They are expected to use the PD-120 SSTV format. Wed 2021-06-09: 09:35 to 13:50 UTC Thu 2021-06-10: 08:55 to 15:50 UTC St. Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Bombala, NSW, Australia, telebridge via IK1SLD. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 437.525 MHz The scheduled astronaut is Shane Kimbrough KE5HOD Contact is go for: Thu 2021-06-10 10:45:26 UTC 80 deg Lipetsk, Russia, direct via TBD. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS The scheduled astronaut is Pyotr Dubrov Contact is go for: Fri 2021-06-11 11:40 UTC Velikiy Ustyug, Russia, direct via TBD. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS The scheduled astronaut is Oleg Novitskiy Contact is go for: Sat 2021-06-12 09:15 UTC Lipetsk, Russia, direct via TBD The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS The scheduled astronaut is Pyotr Dubrov Contact is go for Sat 2021-06-12 10:55 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 Upcoming Roves: Quick Hits: WY7AA: FI will be in FN02 starting 6/6 for a few weeks. Operating Sats. holiday style. If you need FN01, FN02, FN03, FN12 please let me know and we can try to set something up. FN01,03, and 12 will likely each be one day roves. FM and SSB EA4M: : Hi guys later in June I’ll be in IN73 on holidays, probably for a week or so, I will try some birds stay tuned on tweeter for schedules. VE6WK: DN49: – I’m planning a SOTA rove to DN49 on June 12 and may hit some other grids on the way there/back. ND0C and KE0WPA: In June @kylee_ke0wpa and I, along with our resident photojournalist (Mom/Amy), will be taking a family excursion to the southwest and working some sats as time permits. Here are the less commonly worked grids from which we plan to operate. We will hit other grids too. DM67 6/15 – 6/17, DM56 6/18, DM45 6/19, DN63 7/2, DN64 7/2 & 7/3 AD0DX (VA3IIR) :Long Range Rover plans: VA3IIR in FN15/25 June 18 FM and SSB WA5RR: I’m looking at doing a rove in DL98 with an overnight stay in Eagle Pass, TX around the last week in June. Details to follow. VP2V/K3TRM: I will be operating from Tortola, BVI as VP2V/K3TRM on July 4-17, 2021. Activity will be on 40-6M SSB & digital, and satellite. N5LEX: CN98 last week of June. DM62: K5TA, I’m tentatively planning for DM62 ~9-July, when there are are several good passes mid-day, making it a doable day-trip for me…. EN57/67: @SeanKutzko KX9X and @Nancy_N9NCY will celebrate Sean’s birthday in the Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula July 15-19. Look for them on FM and SSB satellites, with the possibility of some Parks On The Air activity as well. Please submit any additions or corrections to Ke0pbr (at) gmail.com [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT rover page manager, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events AMSAT Ambassador and ARRL registered instructor Clint Bradford, K6LCS, has a presentation scheduled for 06/15 in East Massachusetts. See http://www.work-sat.com for details. [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT Events page manager, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + The International Space Station’s robotic arm, Canadarm2, was struck by a piece of space debris. But luckily, it appears to be only a flesh wound, and the arm has been cleared for nominal operations while analysis on the strike continues. NASA and Canadian Space Agency officials don’t know exactly when the arm was hit – or what hit it — but the damage was noticed on May 12 during a routine inspection. The hole is quite small, approximately 5 mm (.2 inches) in diameter. (ANS thanks Universe Today for the above information) + An absolutely mesmerizing and very instructional video graphic on the problem of orbital debris (ie. space junk), created by the European Space Agency, may be viewed at: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2019/02/Distribution_of_space_deb… (ANS thanks Zach Metzinger, N0ZGO for the above information) + A Cargo Dragon capsule took off at 1729z Thursday, June 3, on top of a Falcon 9 rocket to begin a two-day trip to the space station. This was the: • 120th Falcon 9 flight • 17th SpaceX launch of 2021 • 22nd SpaceX cargo flight to ISS • 130th launch from pad 39A This mission is set to deliver experiments, food, spare parts, a NASA-sponsored CubeSat built by middle school students in Tennessee, and other equipment to the space station’s seven-person crew. The Dragon’s entire cargo load, including pressurized and unpressurized sections, weighs in at 7,337 pounds (3,328 kilograms). That makes it the heaviest supply shipment SpaceX has ever sent to the space station. (ANS thanks Spaceflight Now for the above information) + Among the equipment sent to ISS on the Cargo Dragon launch, above, was the first satellite to be built by the island nation of Mauritius. It will be deployed in June by the KIBO robotic arm. The callsign is 3B8MIR (MIR-1 meaning Mauritius Imagery & Radio-communication Satellite 1). Payloads are a camera and a digipeater (bent tube) which will be made available to the HAM community worldwide when satellite is not downloading images or used for experimental purposes, the uplink will be on 145.9875 MHz and the downlink on 436.925 MHz, 9K2 GMSK, as coordinated with IARU. More information will be available on (https://spacemauritius.com) soon. (ANS thanks Jean Marc Momple, 3B8DU, for the above information) + China’s robotic Tianzhou 2 cargo ship launched Saturday on top of a Long March 7 rocket and docked with the core module of the country’s space station eight hours later, delivering fuel, crew supplies, extravehicular spacesuits, and other gear in preparation for the arrival of three astronauts in June. (ANS thanks Spaceflight Now for the above information) + American intelligence officials have found no evidence that aerial phenomena witnessed by Navy pilots in recent years are alien spacecraft, but they still cannot explain the unusual movements that have mystified scientists and the military, according to senior administration officials briefed on the findings of a highly anticipated government report. While a forthcoming unclassified version, expected to be released to Congress by June 25, will present few other firm conclusions, senior officials briefed on the intelligence conceded that the very ambiguity of the findings meant the government could not definitively rule out theories that the phenomena observed by military pilots might be alien spacecraft. (ANS thanks The New York Times for the above information) + The team behind NASA's InSight Mars lander has come up with an innovative way to boost the spacecraft's energy at a time when its power levels have been falling. The lander's robotic arm trickled sand near one solar panel, helping the wind to carry off some of the panel's dust. The result was a gain of about 30 watt-hours of energy per sol, or Martian day. (ANS thanks Mars Daily 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. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Store. Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional student 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-150 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletin
by kd4iz＠frawg.org 30 May '21

30 May '21

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-150 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: * FCC Considers UHF/Microwave Ham Bands for Commercial Space Launch Frequencies * ASU student-built spacecraft to interact with the public * Canadian Researchers Highlight Concerns About Overcrowded Orbits * Andy MacAllister, W5ACM, SK * PSAT2: DTMF *and* APRS-to-Voice enabled * NASA Schedules Live Coverage of Russian Spacewalk * No Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for May 27, 2021 * ARISS News * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Satellite Shorts From All Over ANS-150 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 150.01 To: All RADIO AMATEURS From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation 712 H Street NE Suite 1653 Washington, DC 20002 DATE 2021 May 30 FCC Considers UHF/Microwave Ham Bands for Commercial Space Launch Frequencies The FCC in April issued a Report and Order allocating spectrum in the 2200-2290 MHz range for private space travel and satellite launch companies to use for pre-launch testing and space launch operations. The order creates a non-federal secondary allocation for these uses in spectrum that is currently reserved exclusively for federal government use. The action also includes a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking which seeks comment on possible additional spectrum for private space launch purposes. Among the frequencies specifically mentioned are 420-430 MHz in the 70-centimeter amateur band and 5650-5925 MHz, which is the 5-centimeter ham band. Amateur radio has a secondary allocation in each of these bands, and the NPRM made no mention of the bands' current occupants and/or whether they would be displaced. The 5.6-GHz band is already shared widely with home WiFi networks. [ANS thanks CQ Newsroom for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ASU student-built spacecraft to interact with the public NASA has selected an Arizona State University-designed spacecraft to fly as an auxiliary payload aboard a rocket launching between 2022 and 2025. It is among 14 small research satellites, called CubeSats, that were chosen for this opportunity through NASAs CubeSat Launch Initiative. The ASU CubeSat, named LightCube, is about the size of a toaster and will be deployed to low-Earth orbit (LEO). Its unique feature is that it can be commanded by anyone with an amateur radio license and a ham radio to set off a xenon flash from the spacecraft that will be visible from the ground. Additional Details are available at https://bit.ly/3fF9v4B [ANS thanks Karin Valentine, Media Relations & Marketing Manager, School of Earth and Space Exploration at ASU for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Join the 2021 President's Club! Score your 2" 4-Color Accent Commemorative Coin. This gold finished coin comes with Full Color Certificate and Embroidered "Remove Before Flight" Key Tag Donate today at https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/ You won't want to miss it! +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Canadian Researchers Highlight Concerns About Overcrowded Orbits A new report by two Canadian researchers is highlighting the growing hazard of space debris. It warns that the new mega-constellations of tens of thousands of communication satellites could pose a new kind of danger that could ultimately threaten other satellites, astronauts, our ability to use space and could even have an impact on the climate. Recently, the uncontrolled fall from space of a large Chinese rocket booster gained worldwide attention as no one could predict where it would come crashing to Earth. Fortunately, it came down in the Indian Ocean and no one was injured. That was just one booster. But the amount of stuff satellites, discarded boosters and other debris in Earth orbit is huge. And this new report warns that with projects like the SpaceX Starlink satellite constellation, the issue of space debris could approach a critical turning point. Right now, Starlink has full approval within the current legal system to go ahead and launch 12,000 satellites, and they want to put up 30,000 more, so there will be 42,000 satellites. With Starlink alone, there will be more satellites in the sky than there are naked eye visible stars. And that's not all. Others have similar plans, including OneWeb, Amazon, Telesat, and GW, which is a Chinese state-owned company. This astounding number of satellites will outnumber the total number of objects orbiting the Earth today and form shells around the planet in low Earth orbit up to about 750 km altitude. The more objects placed in orbit, the greater the chance of collision between them, other working satellites, astronauts working in space, and people on the ground when the objects fall out of orbit. The new satellites launched by SpaceX and other companies are not just thrown up willy-nilly. They're placed in careful orbits meant to minimize risks of collision, and modern satellites are designed to be de-orbited when they die, not just abandoned as space junk. The commercial space companies must have plans to do this in an organized and safe way. This is all good and responsible. The report highlights the possibility and implications of accidents. Random pieces of untracked space debris, or even meteors, could disable these satellites, disrupting their careful orbits and the deorbiting plans. The sheer number of these new satellites increases the risk. [ANS thanks CBC radio host and blogger Bob McDonald for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Andy MacAllister, W5ACM, SK From Marty Smith, WV5Y: "It's with much sadness and deep regret I announce our buddy, Andy, W5ACM - Past AMSAT Board of Directors, King of the South Texas Balloon Launch Team, The Voice of The Houston AMSAT Net and KTRU Rice Radio Engineer and DJ, AndyMac - Passed away on the evening of Wednesday, 5/19/2021. Andy's wife Heather said he was on his computer until a few minutes before... His funeral service was held on Thursday, May 27th 2021 at 12:30 PM at the Pines Presbyterian Church (12751 Kimberley Ln, Houston, TX 77024-4097). Andy will be missed very much by all of his family, friends and coworkers. He lived life to the fullest, and his lust for life was contagious. Our common interests in everything high tech, scientific & electronic, was shared by many, and he had great taste in food, drink, and music, especially loving classic rock & roll! He will forever be in our minds and hearts. 73, Marty Smith, WV5Y" From AMSAT Director Bruce Paige, KK5DO: "Andy, W5ACM (ex WA5ZIB), became a Silent Key on May 19, 2021. He has been a close friend of mine since I became a ham in 1993. That was when I found satellites and AMSAT. Andy had been doing the Houston AMSAT Net and I became involved in the net. We have done over 1400 episodes of the net since then. Andy and I had a great time at many AMSAT Symposiums where we would work satellites from parking lots of restaurants or outside a hotel. During the AMSAT Symposium in 2016, we worked each other from the deck of the cruise ship when we were standing about 3 feet from each other. Andy spent some time in the early 90's on the AMSAT Board of Directors. Many of today's hams would not remember the K2ZRO tests on AO-13. When the satellite was at apogee, Andy would transmit a string of CW characters. He would then reduce his power by 50% and transmit another string of characters. This would be done 8 times to a point where the signals were very weak. Hams around the world would participate and receive a certificate with an endorsement for the level you achieved. Andy got into balloon launches. I do not remember when BLT-1 was launched but BLT-12 was launched in 1993 and they are into the 60's now. The balloons have gone up with all types of experiments on them and have come down in many a strange place. One came down in the Gulf of Mexico, picked up by a fishing boat and they called the number on the package. Of course that one was not reusable as everything was a tad bit wet. The balloon came down in someone's front yard once and they picked it up and took it inside. GPS told the tale and knocking on the door, the homeowner returned the package. A few recent balloon launches have traversed the globe one or two times. Andy had worked at NASA and was a member of the Johnson Space Center ARC as well as the Brazos Valley ARC in Houston, the ARRL and AMSAT. More recently he was the Chief Engineer for the radio station, KTRU, at Rice University in Houston. Andy gave talks and demos at many Houston area hamfests. It was only a few months ago in February that Andy went in for a quick procedure and they found something that should not be. He was sent home for hospice care. You will be missed my friend. ... _._ 73...Bruce" Andy's wife, Heather, has requested that donations in his name be made to AMSAT or the Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club, P.O. Box 2997, Sugar Land, TX 77487-2997 (reference the Andy MacAllister BLT Memorial Fund). Donations to AMSAT in his name may be made at https://www.amsat.org/donations/w5acm-memorial/ [ANS thanks Marty Smith, WV5Y 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/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ PSAT2: DTMF *and* APRS-to-Voice enabled A new feature has been enabled for the Voice Synthesizer on PSAT2 in addition to DTMF grid and DTMF messaging to voice. Now the voice synthesizer is also listening for APRS-to-Voice messages as well. Here is how to use it 1) Remain on the 145.980 uplink and 145.825 downlink for DTMF 2) Using an APRS radio, send an APRS message to PSAT-SAY 3) Begin the first 10 chars of the message with CCCCCC sez 4) Followed by the text to be spoken. 5) CCCCCC is your callsign right-padded with spaces. The satellite should ACK the packet uplink and then speak the text. You can tell if APRS-to-Voice is enabled if this 1 bit is on: XXXX0010. Usually the DTMF bits are also enabled so the telemetry will usually show as 11010010. To do both DTMF and APRS-to-Voice at the same time, the Basic Stamp processor has to check both the DTMF decoder and the packet decoder and so there is a finite chance that a perfectly good uplink might be missed. So, just try again. See http://aprs.org/psat2.html Tomorrow I will add this feature to the users manual and post it. Enjoy, Bob, WB4APR [ANS thanks Bob Bruninga, WB4APR for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- NASA Schedules Live Coverage of Russian Spacewalk Two Russian cosmonauts are scheduled to conduct a spacewalk outside the International Space Station on Wednesday, June 2, to continue preparing the Pirs docking compartment airlock for undocking and disposal later this year. Live coverage will begin at 1 a.m. EDT (0500z), with the spacewalk beginning about 1:20 a.m. (0520z) on NASA Television, the agencys website, and the NASA app. Expedition 65 Flight Engineers Oleg Novitskiy and Pyotr Dubrov of Roscosmos will emerge from the Poisk module on the space-facing side of the Zvezda service module for a spacewalk expected to last about six and a half hours. The two cosmonauts will disconnect all external mechanical links between Pirs and the station, reposition spacewalk hardware and antennas, and relocate other gear previously used for spacecraft dockings to Pirs. During the spacewalk, the cosmonauts will prepare Pirs for removal from its port by the uncrewed Progress 77 cargo ship on the Earth-facing side of Zvezda, clearing the way for the arrival of the new Russian Multi-Purpose Laboratory Module named Nauka, which is Russian for science. The undocking of Pirs is scheduled for this summer, about two days after Nauka launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The cosmonauts also will replace a fluid flow regulator on the nearby Zarya module and replace biological and material science samples on the exterior of the Russian modules. Novitskiy, who is designated as extravehicular crew member 1 (EV1), will wear a Russian Orlan spacesuit with red stripes. Dubrov will wear a spacesuit with blue stripes as extravehicular crew member 2 (EV2). This will be the first spacewalk for both cosmonauts and the 238th spacewalk overall in support of space station assembly, maintenance, and upgrades. It also marks the sixth spacewalk of 2021. See the NASA TV streaming video, schedule and downlink information at: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv Learn more about the International Space Station and its crew at: http://www.nasa.gov/station [ANS thanks NASA 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. Come along for the ride. The journey will be worth it! https://tinyurl.com/ANS-GOLF +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ No Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for May 27, 2021 No changes are noted for the current week. However, TLE (KEPS) have been updated and are available on the AMSAT website at: https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/ [ANS thanks Ray Hoad, WA5QGD, AMSAT Orbital Elements 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 +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ ARISS NEWS: Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of May 30, 2021 College of Saint Pierre Marboz, Marboz, France, multi-point telebridge via IK1SLD. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS. 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 astronaut is Thomas Pesquet KG5FYG. Contact is go for: Mon 2021-05-31 13:49:32 UTC 40 deg. Watch for livestream at https://youtu.be/HnPoFku7DXg About Gagarin From Space. Conducting an amateur radio session with schoolchildren of Mordovia, Russia, direct via TBD. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS. 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 astronaut is Oleg Novitskiy. Contact is go for Sun 2021-06-06 12:25 UTC. The Father's House Christian School (Home Education Provider: Roots), Morinville, Alberta, Canada, multi-point telebridge via VK4KHZ. 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 astronaut is Akihiko Hoshide KE5DNI. Contact is go for: Wed 2021-06-02 14:28:53 UTC 44 deg. Lipetsk, Russia, direct via TBD. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS. 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 astronaut is Pyotr Dubrov. Contact is go for Fri 2021-06-11 11:40 UTC. Velikiy Ustyug, Russia, direct via TBD. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS. 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 astronaut is Oleg Novitskiy. Contact is go for Sat 2021-06-12 09:15 UTC. Lipetsk, Russia, direct via TBD. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS. 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 astronaut is Pyotr Dubrov. Contact is go for Sat 2021-06-12 10:55 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 Quick Hits: EA4M: : Hi guys later in June Ill be in IN73 on holidays, probably for a week or so, I will try some birds stay tuned on tweeter for schedules. ND0C and KE0WPA: In June @kylee_ke0wpa and I, along with our resident photojournalist (Mom/Amy), will be taking a family excursion to the southwest and working some sats as time permits. Here are the less commonly worked grids from which we plan to operate. We will hit other grids too. DM67 6/15 6/17, DM56 6/18, DM45 6/19, DN63 7/2, DN64 7/2 & 7/3 Major Roves: AD0DX (VA3IIR): Long Range Rover plans: VA3IIR in FN15/25 June 18 FM and SSB DL98 WA5RR: Im looking at doing a rove in DL98 with an overnight stay in Eagle Pass, TX around the last week in June. Details to follow. N5LEX: CN98 last week of June. DM62: K5TA, Im tentatively planning for DM62 ~9-July, when there are are several good passes mid-day, making it a doable day-trip for me. EN57/67: @SeanKutzko KX9X and @Nancy_N9NCY will celebrate Seans birthday in the Michigans Keweenaw Peninsula July 15-19. Look for them on FM and SSB satellites, with the possibility of some Parks On The Air activity as well. Please submit any additions or corrections to Ke0pbr (at) gmail.com Updated 05/19/2021 [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT rover page manager for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events On the Air event: AMSAT Italia: Members of AMSAT Italia commemorate Gagarin's flight into space until the end of the year with the callsign II0SAT on HF and via satellite. Satellites on Field Day: Seth Kutzko, KX9X, made an outstanding presentation to the RATPAC group on Satellites and Field Day. The session was held on Thursday May 27 during a weekly RATPAC meeting. Seth presented more than just a "how to", his tips and tricks were very valuable for new entrants and his cautions were particularly well taken. This presentation is a must for any Field Day group that is contemplating chasing the 100-point bonus. Dan Marler, K7REX has made the presentation, documents, and the video available: To View Video: https://vimeo.com/556034517 To Download Video: https://vimeo.com/user107547861/download/556034517/954b837d38 To Retrieve Documents: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/cktvhfz1lhvv8hr/AADzoAi0HiGccLLG6IdnY24Aa?dl=0Rad io The Amateur Training Planning and Activities Committee (RATPAC) comprises ARRL section managers, appointed field leadership, and membership. Together, we host nationwide Amateur Radio Zoom presentations twice-a-week, Wednesdays on general radio topics and Thursdays on amateur radio emergency communications. The topics are selected from audience recommendations that the planning committee then seeks topic experts or discussion panel members. The presentation audience consists of thousands of amateur radio operators worldwide who participate directly in the Zoom sessions or with video links of the presentation and related documentation sent out after each session. AMSAT Ambassador Clint Bradford K6CLS is planning the following presentations: University of Arizona - June 1 Conejo Valley (CA) - October 21 Wellesley ARC - June 15 White Mountain ARC - June 2 West Valley (CA) ARC - June 9 Think a 90-minute lively, informative, and fun How to Work the Easy Satellites Zoom presentation would be appropriate for your convention or club? Always includes are overviews of the ARRL, AMSAT, and ARISS and pre-presentation questions are solicited and welcome. Send Clint an email or call! Clint Bradford K6LCS, http://www.work-sat.com. Tel:909-999-SATS (7287) [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT Events page manager, AMSAT Italia, Dan Marler, K7REX RATPAC Leader and Idaho Section Manager, and Clint Bradford, K6CLS AMSAT Ambassador for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + June 2021 Eclipse Festival Seeks Ham Participants HamSCI is looking for ham radio operators to make recordings of time-standard stations during the June 2021 annular solar eclipse across the Arctic Circle as part of a citizen science experiment. Researchers will use the crowd-sourced data to investigate the superimposed effects of auroral particle precipitation and the eclipse on HF Doppler shift. For details, see: https://bit.ly/3ukP6ai [ANS thanks HamSci and ARRL News for the above information] + Hackaday Satellite Commnications Hack Chat scheduled for 2 June, 2021 - 19:00Z Paul Marsh from UHF-Satcom will join us for the 2 June Hack Chat. The number of satellites whizzing along above our heads is truly mindboggling, with the number growing daily. Each of these spacecraft is up there for a specific reason, and a lot of them are doing interesting things. Listening in on what they have to say can be a lot of fun, but learning the ropes and getting that first capture can be tricky. Paul Marsh will stop by the Hack Chat to share the ins and outs of monitoring satellite communications and give us some insight into what the satcom hobby is all about. [ANS thanks the hackaday.io Newsletter for the above information] + The possibility of a Europa Lander is under study. Intense radiation from Jupiter converts ice and dust on the surface of its icy moon Europa into energetic compounds, which may cycle through the ice and ultimately be food for microbes in the ocean below. NASA has been developing a potential Europa Lander mission to look for such chemistry since 2016 (and also previously in 2005 and 2012). This mission concept proposes a 575 kg battery-powered lander with a limited (but still impressive) lifespan of 1-3 months. Additional information is available at https://go.nature.com/3oRkVXf and https://bit.ly/3hWvsyE [ANS thanks The Orbital Index for the above information] + The March/April 2021 edition of Apogee View has been posted to the AMSAT website at https://www.amsat.org/apogeeview/ + Congratulations to John Papay, K8YSE, for becoming the first amateur satellite operator to receive the GridMaster Award twice! John was the first recipient of the GridMaster Award, issued for completing QSOs with all 488 of the grid squares within the continental United States (analogous to the Fred Fish Memorial Award issued by the ARRL for completing the same feat on six meters) in May of 2014. John's second award, the 30th issued, was for QSOs completed while operating as K8YSE/7 in Mesa, Arizona. More information about the GridMaster Award can be found at https://www.amsat.org/gridmaster/ (Thanks to AMSAT Director of Contests and Awards Bruce Paige, KK5DO). + A couple of amateur satellite operators in Nova Scotia have been taking advantage of their favorable geographic location to set new distance records on various satellites. On May 5, 2021, John Langille, VE1CWJ, and Jérôme LeCuyer, F4DXV, claimed the initial distance record on the newly activated satellite JO-97 with a QSO cover 4,889 km between FN85ii in Nova Scotia and JN04it in France. Dana Rushton, VE1CWJ, also in FN85ii, set the new record on XW-2C on May 18, 2021, completing a QSO with F4DXV in JN04jr covering 4,897 km. Finally VE1CWJ and F4DXV also set a new record on LilacSat-2 on May 27, 2021, completing a 4,888 km QSO between FN85jn and JN04jr. For a list of current satellite records and instructions for claiming new (or old) ones, visit https://www.amsat.org/satellite-distance-records/ [ANS thanks AMSAT Executive Vice President Paul Stoetzer, N8HM for the above information] + JAMSAT has posted the FO-99 operating schedule for June at https://www.jamsat.or.jp/?p=1438 (ANS thanks JAMSATfor the above information]) + Dr. Alan Johnston, KU2Y, AMSAT Vice President - Educational Relations, made a presentation on the AMSAT CubeSat Simulator to the Holmesburg Amateur Radio Club on May 21, 2021. A copy of his presentation can be found at https://www.cubesatsim.org/pres/AMSAT_HARC_Presentation.pdf [ANS thanks AMSAT Executive Vice President Paul Stoetzer, N8HM for the above information] + Last weekend, AMSAT President Robert Bankston, KE4AL, Executive Vice President Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, Founding President Perry Klein, W3PK, and Manager Martha Saragovitz spent three days cleaning out the AMSAT office in Kensington, Maryland, moving documents and other AMSAT items to a storage facility. This completes the transition of AMSAT from operating a physical office location to a fully virtual operation. The savings of nearly $150,000 per year from the closing of the physical office, transition to digital delivery of The AMSAT Journal, and Martha's retirement ensures that AMSAT will remain financially healthy and able to Keep Amateur Radio in Space for many years to come. [ANS thanks AMSAT Executive Vice President Paul Stoetzer, N8HM 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. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Store. Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional student membership information. 73 and Remember to help keep amateur radio in space, This week's ANS Editor, Jack Spitznagel, KD4IZ kd4iz at frawg dot org

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ANS-143 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for May 23, 2021
by n1uw＠gokarns.com 22 May '21

22 May '21

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-143 The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. The news feed on http://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 dot org. In this edition: * Call for Nominations - 2021 AMSAT Board of Directors Election * Reminder: AMSAT Server Maintenance Scheduled for Weekend of May 22 * Are Your USPS Mail and E-Mail Addresses Up-to-Date at AMSAT? * CubeSatSim PCB's Version 1.0 Available at AMSAT Store * March/April 2021 Issue of The AMSAT Journal Now Available * FO-29 operation schedule for June 2021 * Astronaut/Ham Assigned to Next ISS Mission * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Upcoming Satellite Operations * ARISS News * Satellite Shorts from All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-143.01 ANS-143 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 143.01 From AMSAT HQ PO Box 27, Washington, DC 20044-0027 May 23, 2021 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-143.01 Call for Nominations - 2021 AMSAT Board of Directors Election AMSAT solicits nominations for the 2021 AMSAT Board of Directors election, to be held in the third quarter of the year. The seats of the following four incumbent Directors expire in 2021 and will be filled by this year's election: Jerry Buxton N0JY Drew Glasbrenner KO4MA Patrick Stoddard WD9EWK Michelle Thompson W5NYV Further, up to two Alternate Directors may be elected for one-year terms. A valid nomination for Director must be written and requires either one Member Society or five current individual members in good standing to nominate an AMSAT member. Written nominations, with the nominee's name, call sign, and contact information, as well as the nominators' names, call signs, and contact information, should be sent to the AMSAT Secretary: Jeff Davis, KE9V 1909 S. Batavia Avenue Muncie, IN 47302-2044 ke9v at amsat.org A copy should be sent to Executive Vice President Paul Stoetzer, at n8hm at amsat.org. The AMSAT bylaws require that the nomination be written and in the form specified by the Secretary. The Secretary has elected to accept written nomination materials via mail or in electronic form, including e-mail or electronic image of a paper document. Fax transmissions cannot be accepted. No matter what means are used, petitions MUST be received by the Secretary no later than June 15th. The Secretary will verify the qualifications of candidates and nominating members or Member Societies as petitions are received, and will notify candidates whether their nominations are in order by the end of June. [ANS thanks Jeff Davis, KE9V, AMSAT Secretary, for the above information] -------------------------------------------------------------------- Join the 2021 President’s Club! Score your 2" 4-Color Accent Commemorative Coin. This gold finished coin comes with Full Color Certificate and Embroidered “Remove Before Flight” Key Tag Donate today at https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/ You won’t want to miss it! -------------------------------------------------------------------- Reminder: AMSAT Server Maintenance Scheduled for Weekend of May 22 As part of its modernization efforts, AMSAT will be moving its web server to a new vendor over the weekend of May 22, 2021. This move will result in greater operational flexibility, ensure continued flow of security updates and may result in lower costs for server rental and backup services. End users may see service outages for www.amsat.org and the central telemetry server associated with FoxTelem but otherwise no observable changes are expected. Outages are expected to be brief, perhaps an hour or two, and are presently planned during the USA overnight hours, and we have confidence that we will be complete by the end of the weekend. FoxTelem users will find that any telemetry collected during an outage will be uploaded once the central telemetry server is established in its new home. Mailing lists and mail forwarding will not be affected, and the membership and events portal at launch.amsat.org will remain fully operational throughout the migration. (ANS thanks Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, AMSAT IT services team for the above information) -------------------------------------------------------------------- Are Your USPS Mail and E-Mail Addresses Up-to-Date at AMSAT? Recent attempts to deliver important announcements to AMSAT members shows that many AMSAT members are not keeping AMSAT headquarters up-to-date with their current U.S. Post Office mail address and/or email address. It is important that members update their membership accounts with their current contact information. The mail servers that deliver AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins and AMSAT-Bulletin Board posts operate independently from the AMSAT membership roster. Just because a person receives emails from ANS or the AMSAT-BB does not mean that their contact information is current in the membership database. The same is true for any email address or mail address you may have on file in the AMSAT Store. The AMSAT Store operates independently from the AMSAT membership roster. (Remember, a person does not have to be an AMSAT member to receive news bulletins or posts or to shop at the store.) AMSAT headquarters asks all members to ensure that their current contact information is up-to-date by taking a few minutes to complete the following steps: - Log into the AMSAT Membership Portal at https://launch.amsat.org/. - Click on the light-blue "person" icon near the upper right corner of the screen. - Choose "View Profile". - Review your information, especially your e-mail and mailing addresses. - If you need to update any information, click on the "EDIT PROFILE" box near the upper left corner of the screen. - After updating your information, be sure to click on the "SAVE" box near the upper left corner of the screen. By making sure your contact information is current, you can help ensure that you receive all official announcements and documents from AMSAT Headquarters. (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/ -------------------------------------------------------------------- CubeSatSim PCB's Version 1.0 Available at AMSAT Store The first release Version 1.0 of the AMSAT CubeSat Simulator printed circuit boards (PCBs) are now available for a donation at the AMSAT Store https://www.amsat.org/product/amsat-cubesatsim-pcb/. The CubeSatSim is a low cost satellite emulator that runs on solar panels and batteries, transmits UHF radio telemetry, has a 3D printed frame, and can be extended by additional sensors and modules. Instead of having to get one's own circuit boards made, which often has minimum quantities, buyers can get one complete set of three boards - a Main board, Battery board, and STEM Payload board. The Main board comes with the SMD surface mount components for the Band Pass Filter (BPF) pre-installed. The remainder of the components are through-hole. Besides the printed circuit boards, builders will need the components listed on the Bill of Materials at https://CubeSatSim.org/bom. For information on building your own CubeSatSim, see the Wiki at https://CubeSatSim.org/wiki. For more information about the AMSAT CubeSatSim Project or to borrow a loaner unit for your classroom or demonstration, contact Alan Johnston, KU2Y, AMSAT VP Educational Relations at ku2y at amsat dot org. [ANS thanks Alan Johnston, KU2Y, AMSAT VP, Education for the above information.] -------------------------------------------------------------------- March/April 2021 Issue of The AMSAT Journal Now Available The March/April 2021 issue of The AMSAT Journal is now available to members on AMSAT's Member Portal. Download your copy today 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 by Robert Bankston, KE4AL - Educational Relations Update by Alan Johnston, KU2Y - 2021 AMSAT Field Day by Bruce Paige, KK5DO - Report of the AMSAT Bylaws Committee and Amended Bylaws - Working FalconSAT-3 Packet Digipeater by Ramadhan Ibrahim, YD1RUH, Juliadi Satyo Pramudito, YD0AVI, and Creflo Teodoro Sebastian, YD2UUY - Arizona Roving in an Afternoon by Patrick Stoddard, WD9EWK/VA7EWK - Design and Flight Results of the VHF/UHF Communication System of Longjiang Lunar Microsatellites by Mingchuan Wei, Chaoran Hu, Daniel Estévez, Mier Tai, Yuhao Zhao, Jiahe Huang, Cees Bassa, Tammo Jan Dijkema, Xibin Cao, and Feng Wang. [ANS thanks AMSAT 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. Come along for the ride. The journey will be worth it! https://tinyurl.com/ANS-GOLF -------------------------------------------------------------------- FO-29 operation schedule for June 2021 The JARL has published the operation schedule for FO-29 for June 2021 is follows: June (UTC) 4th 23:33- 5th 01:17- 6th 00:22- 14:10- 12th 00:07- 13:53- 13th 00:57- 13:00- 19th 00:42- 10:57- 20th 01:32- 11:48- 26th 01:16- 11:34- 27th 00:22- 12:23- The UTC time represents the start time for each operating period. The satellite will remain in operation until the battery voltage falls to a preset level. [ANS thanks Hideo Kambayashi, JH3XCU for the above information.] -------------------------------------------------------------------- Astronaut/Ham Assigned to Next ISS Mission NASA has assigned Kayla Barron, KI5LAL, to serve as a mission specialist for the agency's SpaceX Crew-3 mission to the International Space Station, which is targeted to launch as early as Oct. 23, 2021. This will be the first spaceflight for Barron, who became a NASA astronaut in January 2020 after completing two years of training. She will join NASA astronauts Raja Chari, KI5LIU, and Tom Marshburn, KE5HOC, as the mission's commander and pilot, respectively, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer, KI5KFH, who also will serve as a mission specialist. Barron was born in Pocatello, Idaho, but considers Richland, Washington, her hometown. She earned a bachelor's degree in systems engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, in 2010. She earned a master's degree in nuclear engineering from the University of Cambridge, in England, in 2011, as Gates Cambridge Scholar. Lt. Cmdr. Barron earned her submarine warfare officer qualification and deployed three times while serving aboard the USS Maine. At the time of her selection as an astronaut candidate in 2017, she was serving as the flag aide to the superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy. NASA previously assigned Chari, Marshburn, and Maurer to the mission in December 2020. This will be the first spaceflight for Chari and Maurer. It will be the third spaceflight for Marshburn, who previously served as a crew member of the space shuttle STS-127 mission in 2009 and Expedition 34/35 aboard the space station, which concluded in 2013. When Barron, Chari, Marshburn, and Maurer arrive at the orbiting laboratory, they will become expedition crew members for the duration of their six-month science mission. The crew will have a slight overlap with the Crew-2 astronauts, who arrived April 24. Crew-2 consists of Shane Kimbrough, KE5HOD, Megan McArthur, JAXA astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, KE5DNI, and ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet, KG5FYG. This will mark the second time commercial crew missions have overlapped on the station. The Crew-1 astronauts, who ended their mission with a splashdown off the coast of Panama City, Florida, on Sunday, May 2, were aboard the station with the Crew-2 astronauts for a seven-day direct crew handover. Increasing the total number of astronauts aboard the station enables the agency to boost the number of science investigations conducted in the unique microgravity environment. [ANS thanks NASA for the above information] -------------------------------------------------------------------- Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events No events scheduled. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Upcoming Satellite Operations W8LR: May 27. EM99/98_EM89/88 TENTATIVE schedule. Subject to change depending on obligations. Will post to twitter as needed if I have cell coverage. EA4M: : Hi guys later in June I’ll be in IN73 on holidays, probably for a week or so, I will try some birds stay tuned on tweeter for schedules. ND0C and KE0WPA: In June @kylee_ke0wpa and I, along with our resident photojournalist (Mom/Amy), will be taking a family excursion to the southwest and working some sats as time permits. Here are the less commonly worked grids from which we plan to operate. We will hit other grids too. DM67 6/15 – 6/17, DM56 6/18, DM45 6/19, DN63 7/2, DN64 7/2 & 7/3 WA5RR: I’m looking at doing a rove in DL98 with an overnight stay in Eagle Pass, TX around the last week in June. Details to follow. DM62: K5TA, I’m tentatively planning for DM62 ~9-July, when there are several good passes mid-day, making it a doable day-trip for me…. EN57/67: @SeanKutzko KX9X and @Nancy_N9NCY will celebrate Sean’s birthday in the Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula July 15-19. Look for them on FM and SSB satellites, with the possibility of some Parks On The Air activity as well. [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, Rover Page Manager for the above information.] -------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS News + Upcoming Contacts Ecole Elémentaire de Saint Leu Centre, Saint Leu, France, (Reunion Island), multi-point telebridge via ZS6JON. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS. The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz. The scheduled astronaut is Thomas Pesquet KG5FYG. Contact is go for: Monday, Mary 24, 2021 at 11:06:02 UTC. 84 degrees. Windsor School and Liceo Industrial de Valdivia High School, Valdivia, Chile, multi-point telebridge via ON4ISS. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS. The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz. The scheduled astronaut is Mark Vande Hei KG5GNP. Contact is go for: Tuesday, May 26, 2021 at 18:33:34 UTC. 84 degrees. Ufa State Aviation Technical University, Bashkortostan, Russia, direct via TBD. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS. The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz. The scheduled astronaut is Oleg Novitskiy. Contact is go for Saturday, May 29, 2021 at 13:45 UTC. About Gagarin From Space. Conducting an amateur radio session with schoolchildren of Mordovia, Russia, direct via TBD The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS. The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz. The scheduled astronaut is Oleg Novitskiy. Contact is go for Sunday, June 6, 2021 at 12:25 UTC. + Successful Contacts Monaro High School, Cooma, NSW, Australia, telebridge via NA7V. The ISS callsign was NA1SS. The downlink frequency was 145.800 MHz. The scheduled astronaut was Mark Vande Hei KG5GNP. Contact was successful on Wednesday, May 5, 2021 at 09:25 UTC. The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html. [ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N for the above information.] -------------------------------------------------------------------- Shorts from All Over + No Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for April 29, 2021 No changes are noted for the current week. However, TLE's have been updated and are always available on the AMSAT website at: https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/ [ANS thanks Ray Hoad, WA5QGD for the above information.] + Arizona State University Student Satellite to Flash-Back from Ham Commands NASA has selected an Arizona State University-designed spacecraft to fly as an auxiliary payload aboard a rocket launching between 2022 and 2025. It is among 14 CubeSats, that were chosen for this opportunity through NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative. The ASU CubeSat, named LightCube, is a 1U CubeSat and will be deployed to low-Earth orbit (LEO). Its unique feature is that it can be commanded by anyone with an amateur radio license and a ham radio to set off a xenon flash from the spacecraft that will be visible from the ground. Read more at: https://news.asu.edu/20210520-asu-student-built-spacecraft-interact-public [ANS thanks ASU News for the above information.] + ESA Advances Its Plan for Satellites Around the Moon The European Space Agency is devising detailed definitions of how to provide telecommunications and navigation services for missions to the Moon, under the agency’s Moonlight initiative. Such a lasting lunar link will enable sustainable space exploration.Using a shared telecommunications and navigation service would reduce the design complexity of future individual missions and make them lighter, freeing space for more scientific instruments or other cargo, making each individual mission more cost-efficient. Read the full story at: https://tinyurl.com/ANS-143-ESA. [ANS thanks SciTechDaily for the above information.] + What are NASA's Technology Educational Satellites? NASA's TechEdSat series of technology demonstrations aims to bring small payloads back to Earth or to the surface of Mars – while pushing the state of the art in a variety of CubeSat technologies and experiments. TechEdSat is a series of collaborative projects and missions that pairs college and university students with NASA researchers to evaluate new technologies for use in small satellites, or CubeSats. Students do the hands-on work – designing, building, and testing CubeSat spacecraft systems and analyzing the results – for each flight mission, under mentorship of engineers at NASA's Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley.; Read about the history and purpose of the program at: https://www.nasa.gov/ames/techedsat. [ANS thanks NASA for the above information.] -------------------------------------------------------------------- Not an AMSAT member? Join now at https://launch.amsat.org/ 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 six post-secondary years in this status. Contact info at the amsat dot org for additional student membership information. 73, This week's ANS Editor, Frank Karnauskas, N1UW n1uw at amsat dot org Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings see https://www.amsat.org/mailing-list-faq/.

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ANS-139 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin - Call for Nominations – 2021 AMSAT Board of Directors Election
by Paul Stoetzer 19 May '21

19 May '21

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE SPECIAL BULLETIN ANS-139 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: * Call for Nominations – 2021 AMSAT Board of Directors Election SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-139.01 ANS-139 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin AMSAT News Service Bulletin 139.01 From AMSAT HQ WASHINGTON, DC DATE May 19, 2021 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-139.01 Call for Nominations – 2021 AMSAT Board of Directors Election AMSAT solicits nominations for the 2021 AMSAT Board of Directors election, to be held in the third quarter of the year. The seats of the following four incumbent Directors expire in 2021 and will be filled by this year’s election: Jerry Buxton N0JY Drew Glasbrenner KO4MA Patrick Stoddard WD9EWK Michelle Thompson W5NYV Further, up to two Alternate Directors may be elected for one-year terms. A valid nomination for Director must be written and requires either one Member Society or five current individual members in good standing to nominate an AMSAT member. Written nominations, with the nominee’s name, call sign, and contact information, as well as the nominators’ names, call signs, and contact information, should be sent to the AMSAT Secretary: Jeff Davis, KE9V 1909 S. Batavia Avenue Muncie, IN 47302-2044 ke9v at amsat.org A copy should be sent to Executive Vice President Paul Stoetzer, at n8hm at amsat.org. The AMSAT bylaws require that the nomination be written and in the form specified by the Secretary. The Secretary has elected to accept written nomination materials via mail or in electronic form, including e-mail or electronic image of a paper document. Fax transmissions cannot be accepted. No matter what means are used, petitions MUST be received by the Secretary no later than June 15th. The Secretary will verify the qualifications of candidates and nominating members or Member Societies as petitions are received, and will notify candidates whether their nominations are in order by the end of June. [ANS thanks Jeff Davis, KE9V, AMSAT Secretary, 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-136 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for May 16
by Mark Johns, K0JM 16 May '21

16 May '21

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-136 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 Server Maintenance Scheduled for May 22 * URE Satellite Telecommand Station Automated * Satellite Constellation Aimed At Next-Gen Connectivity For IoT Devices * Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for May 13, 2021 * U.S. Schools/Groups Move Into Phase 2 of ARISS Selections * ARISS News * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Satellite Shorts From All Over ANS-136 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 136.01 To: All RADIO AMATEURS From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation 712 H Street NE Suite 1653 Washington, DC 20002 DATE 2021 May 16 AMSAT Server Maintenance Scheduled for May 22 As part of our modernization efforts, AMSAT will be moving its web server to a new vendor over the weekend of 22 May 2021. This move will result in greater operational flexibility, ensure continued flow of security updates and may result in lower costs for server rental and backup services. End users may see service outages for www.amsat.org and the central telemetry server associated with FoxTelem but otherwise no observable changes are expected. Outages are expected to be brief, perhaps an hour or two, and are presently planned during the USA overnight hours, and we have confidence that we will be complete by the end of the weekend. FoxTelem users will find that any telemetry collected during an outage will be uploaded once the central telemetry server is established in its new home. Mailing lists and mail forwarding will not be affected, and the membership and events portal at launch.amsat.org will remain fully operational throughout the migration. (ANS thanks Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, AMSAT IT services team for the above information) +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Join the 2021 President's Club! Score your 2" 4-Color Accent Commemorative Coin. This gold finished coin comes with Full Color Certificate and Embroidered "Remove Before Flight" Key Tag Donate today at https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/ You won't want to miss it! +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ URE Satellite Telecommand Station Automated Spain’s national amateur radio society URE has announced their satellite ground station has been automated and is ready for the launch of GENESIS, EASAT-2 and Hades satellites. A translation of the URE post reads: The URE satellite monitoring and telecommand station, located at the Madrid headquarters, on Monte Igueldo street, has recently been completely automated, thanks to the efforts made in recent weeks. These works, which began to be carried out before the confinements due to the pandemic, have consisted of the change of the lifting rotor, which due to its long time without maintenance had been unusable, the alignment of the antennas, both VHF and UHF, of circular polarization, the installation of a Linux computer, the configuration of the reception software with SDR and the emission software using Pluto hardware, acquired by URE, as well as the automation of the rotor control with the hardware provided by EA4TX (ARS). This station will automatically record and analyze the telemetry of the twin GÉNESIS satellites, as well as EASAT-2 and Hades, all of them designed and built by AMSAT EA, as well as remote control in the event that actions are necessary on your computer from a on board, which, once in space, will be able to receive instructions from Earth to modify its operation, although the satellites themselves implement the intelligence necessary to adapt to adverse circumstances that may occur in space. The GENESIS satellites should be launched soon, once Firefly, the American company that built the launch vehicle, completes the static tests of its Alpha rocket, which is already prepared at the Vanderberg space base in California. As for Hades and EASAT-2, both are currently at the Momentus space integrator facilities in Santa Clara, also in California, and it is expected that they can be launched aboard SpaceX’s Falcon-9 rocket in late June from Cape Canaveral, once, overcome the problems of the Momentus company, which prevented its scheduled launch in January of this year. [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/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Satellite Constellation Aimed At Next-Gen Connectivity For IoT Devices Another satellite constellation prepares for launch, this one aimed at next-gen connectivity for IoT devices. 5G IoT operator OQ Technology has inked a deal with satellite firm NanoAvionics to build what OQ boss Omar Qaise described as a "flying cell tower in orbit." Assuming that cell tower had a volume of 30cm x 20cm x 10cm and weighed 6kg. The 6U satellite is the second mission for NanoAvionics with OQ Technology and will be the latest addition to the latter's Low Earth Orbit constellation. The plan is to provide basic commercial IoT and Machine to Machine (M2M) services, using 5G connectivity, to customers with a focus initially on Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America. The mission, dubbed Tiger-2, will feature two payloads onboard the diminutive spacecraft; a primary payload for satellite-based IoT and M2M services using low frequencies, and a secondary payload aimed at demonstrating the use of high frequencies for IoT radio links. Qaise told The Register that three missions were expected this year, and the target was to eventually have more than 60 satellites at an altitude of 550-600km "for real-time coverage." The spacecraft are expected to last five years and, if undisturbed, de-orbit within 25 years. "We can also actively bring them down," he added. Where the likes of Starlink and Oneweb are aimed squarely at broadband services and shovelling large amounts of data around for applications such as streaming, Tiger-2 and its siblings target IoT devices. Qaise cited hardware such as sensors or tracking devices that require only short messages. "So instead of having millions of users with large amounts of data, you have billions of devices with small amounts of data." Qaise also highlighted another key difference – rather than needing a router-like device to distribute the internet service, "we use the same existing mobile and cellular devices to connect to the satellite directly. The satellite acts as a flying cell tower in orbit." It'll certainly be a challenge for 5G protestors to set on fire. Two more missions are scheduled after Tiger-2, followed by a batch of six satellites. The plan is to eventually make the coverage global, and Qaise told us that customers would be able to use the service by Q3. The company also plans to secure frequency licences and partnerships in key countries. For those groaning at the thought of yet another constellation (although one with considerably fewer satellites than something like Starlink) Qaise insisted that the chance of a collision in the selected orbits was low, and active monitoring and manoeuvring would be used if needed. As for the ride to orbit, the mission will launch as part of the SXRS-5 rideshare aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 later this year. Full article at: https://www.theregister.com/2021/05/12/oq_5g_iot/ [ANS thanks Southgate ARC 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. Come along for the ride. The journey will be worth it! https://tinyurl.com/ANS-GOLF +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for May 13, 2021 Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA (OSCAR Number Administrator) announced May 9, 2021 in AMSAT News Service Bulletin ANS-129 that DIY-1 has been designated DIY-1-OSCAR 111 or DO-111. Thus, DIY-1 (NORAD Cat ID 47963) is now shown as DO-111 in this week's TLE distribution. [ANS thanks Ray Hoad, WA5QGD, AMSAT Orbital Elements 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 +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ U.S. Schools/Groups Move Into Phase 2 of ARISS Selections Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is pleased to announce the schools/host organizations selected for the January-June 2022 contact window. A total of 9 of the submitted proposals during the recent proposal window have been accepted to move forward in the processes of planning to host a scheduled amateur radio contact with crew on the ISS. The primary goal of the ARISS program is to engage young people in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) activities and raise their awareness of space communications, radio communications, space exploration, and related areas of study and career possibilities. ARISS anticipates that NASA will be able to provide scheduling opportunities for these US host organizations. The candidates must now complete an equipment plan that demonstrates their ability to execute the ham radio contact. Once their equipment plan is approved by the ARISS technical team, the final selected schools / organizations will be scheduled as their availability and flexibility match up with the scheduling opportunities. The schools and organizations are: Bellefontaine High School, Bellefontaine, OH Carter G. Woodson Middle School, Hopewell, VA Lewis Center for Educational Research, Apple Valley, CA Matinecock District, Suffolk County NY Boy Scouts, Medford, NY McBride High School, Long Beach, CA Old St. Mary's School, Chicago, IL Salem-South Lyon District Library, South Lyon, MI Sussex County Charter School for Technology, Sparta, NJ Space Hardware Club, Huntsville, Alabama [ANS thanks David Jordan, AA4KN, ARISS PR, 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. Monaro High School, Cooma, NSW, Australia, telebridge via NA7V The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Mark Vande Hei KG5GNP Contact is go for: Wed 2021-05-19 09:25:43 UTC 61 deg Watch for live stream at: https://www.facebook.com/monarohighschool/live/ Lycée Jean Moulin, Les Andelys, France, multi-point telebridge via NA7V The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Thomas Pesquet KG5FYG Contact is go for: Thu 2021-05-20 08:38:15 UTC 88 deg Ufa, Russia, direct via TBD The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS The scheduled astronaut is Oleg Novitskiy Contact is go for Sat. 2021-05-29 13:45 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 Quick Hits: N6AJ: FROM DM05 TO EM04, I will be headed to OK from CA around May 17 , DM74 AND DM75 is on the list for sure. I will be on FM and SSB. As it closer I hope to have a schedule. EN57/67: @SeanKutzko KX9X and @Nancy_N9NCY will celebrate Sean’s birthday in the Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula July 15-19. Look for them on FM and SSB satellites, with the possibility of some Parks On The Air activity as well. W8LR: May 27. EM99/98_EM89/88 TENTATIVE schedule. Subject to change depending on obligations. Will post to twitter as needed if I have cell coverage. W7LT: EN36/37/38/46/47/48/57/58 for late May is on my radar. EA4M: : Hi guys later in June I’ll be in IN73 on holidays, probably for a week or so, I will try some birds stay tuned on tweeter for schedules Major Roves: CM93 N6DNM Journey begins on Th with stop in CM95 and SOTA, then Fr morning departure and coming back on Su. Thurs 5/13 – On the way to Ventura – stop along the way to do W6/SC-028 (will see if any sat pass fits). Then few sat passes from CM95xa late in the day for few folks who need/want it, but all are welcome. [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT rover page manager, for the above information] International: Members of AMSAT Italia commemorate Gagarin's flight into space until the end of the year with the callsign II0SAT on HF and via satellite. [ANS thanks DX Newsletter DXNL 2246 April 21, 2021, and JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM, 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 and ARRL registered instructor Clint Bradford, K6LCS, is certainly keeping busy! He reports an upcoming satellite presentation on 06/15 – East Massachusetts … and more being scheduled. Think a 90-minute lively, informative, and fun “How to Work the Easy Satellites” Zoom presentation would be appropriate for your convention or club? Always includes are overviews of the ARRL, AMSAT, and ARISS and pre-presentation questions are solicited and welcome. Send Clint an email or call! Clint Bradford K6LCS http://www.work-sat.com 909-999-SATS (7287) [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT Events page manager, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + The RSGB has announced that their popular GB2RS news broadcast will now be available on the QO-100 amateur radio transponder on the geostationary satellite Es'hail-2. QO-100 provides continuous coverage from eastern Brazil to as far west as Thailand. There are two amateur transponders, one for Narrowband modes such as SSB and FT8 and the other for digital amateur television (DATV). (ANS thanks AMSAT-UK and Southgate ARC for the above information) + The SpaceX SN15 flew, landed, and failed to explode, unlike its predecessors. Starship SN15 ascended through low lying cloud cover, performed a nominal climb to 10 km, then belly-flopped, and finally completed a successful two-Raptor soft landing. A small methane fire at the base of the vehicle was again visible after landing, possibly due to a thermal protection blanket coming loose and catching fire. But, unlike previous tests, the fire did not appear to be caused by structural damage and there was no unplanned return to flight. (ANS thanks The Orbital Index for the above information) + A few days ago, AMSAT's web servers were under attack from multiple malicious IP addresses. This forced a shutdown of the Fox Telemetry server as well as general slowdowns of our web server. As a result, we upgraded to a paid premium version of Wordfence to better defend our web presence against attacks. Hopefully this will improve the reliability of the AMSAT website. (ANS thanks Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, Executive Vice President, for the above information) + SpaceX has revealed the flight plan for the first orbital test launch of the company’s huge stainless steel Starship rocket, a 90-minute, around-the-world mission that will originate from South Texas and culminate with a controlled re-entry and splashdown in the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii. When fully assembled, the gigantic reusable rocket will stand nearly 400 feet (120 meters) tall, making the Starship stack the largest launcher ever built.The company expects the un-crewed demonstration mission to occur some time between June 20 and Dec. 20.(ANS thanks Spaceflight Now for the above information) + A Rocket Lab Electron rocket failed to reach orbit May 15 when its second stage engine shut down seconds after ignition, the second launch failure in less than a year for the company. The Electron lifted off from Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand at 1111z. The liftoff was delayed by a little more than an hour because of upper-level winds. The first stage of the vehicle appeared to perform as expected. The second stage then separated and ignited its single Rutherford engine. However, video from the rocket broadcast on the company’s webcast of the mission showed that engine shutting down seconds later. (ANS thanks SpaceNews for the above information) + Blue Origin plans to begin crew flights of its suborbital New Shepard spacecraft on July 20, launching the highest bidder in an online auction out of the atmosphere and into space for a few minutes of weightlessness and an out-of-this world view before returning to Earth. (ANS thanks Spaceflight Now for the above information) + The United States now has company on Mars. A Chinese spacecraft descended through the thin Martian atmosphere and landed safely on a large plain on Friday, May 14 at 2318z, state media reported, accomplishing a feat that only two other nations had before. The Tianwen-1 mission launched from Earth last July, consists of an orbiter, a lander and a rover. The rover is intended roll off the lander, but China has not released a schedule for when that will occur. (ANS thanks The New York Times for the above information) + JAMSAT reports limited operation for the FO-99 transponder, primarily on weekend orbits over east Asia. See https://www.jamsat.or.jp/ for a schedule of operation. Email ja0fkm(a)gmail.com with questions. (ANS thanks JAMSAT 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. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Store. Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional student 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-129 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Paul Stoetzer 09 May '21

09 May '21

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-129 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: * JO-97 Linear Transponder Active * DIY-1 Designated DIY-OSCAR 111 (DO-111) * NO-104 (PSAT2) Update * Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for May 6, 2021 * ARISS News * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Satellite Shorts From All Over AMSAT News Service Bulletin 129.01 To: All RADIO AMATEURS From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation 712 H Street NE Suite 1653 Washington, DC 20002 DATE 2021 May 9 -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- Join the 2021 President's Club! Score your 2" 4-Color Accent Commemorative Coin with Polished Gold Finish, Full Color Certificate and Embroidered "Remove Before Flight" Key Tag By donating today at https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/ You won't want to miss it! -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- JO-97 Linear Transponder Active On May 1, 2021, PV8DX reported that the JO-97 (JY1-SAT) telemetry beacon stopped transmitting at 12:57 UTC during a pass over Brazil. After a few days of silence, the U/v linear transponder was reported active over Europe on the morning of May 4th. The telemetry beacon remains inactive. JO-97's inverting linear transponder has an uplink of 435.100 MHz - 435.120 MHz and a downlink of 145.855 MHz - 145.875 MHz. The transponder has remained active in both eclipse and sunlight since May 4th. W2RTV observed frequency jumping while the satellite apparently rebooted in eclipse. JO-97 is a project of the Crown Prince Foundation of Jordan and was launched on Spaceflight's SSO-A mission aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 on December 3, 2018 contains an AMSAT-UK/NL FUNcube linear transponder and telemetry beacon that can also transmit stored SSDV digital images. [ANS thanks various satellite operators for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- DIY-1 Designated DIY-OSCAR 111 (DO-111) On March 22, 2021, the DIY Satellite Group DIY-1 PocketQube was launched on a Soyuz-2-1a Fregat launch vehicle from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. DIY-1 carries a deorbiting device experiment, and a CW/RTTY/FSK beacon. Further information is available at http://diysatellite.com/ At the request of the DIY Satellite Group, AMSAT hereby designates DIY-1 as DIY-OSCAR 111 (DO-111). We congratulate the owners and operators, thank them for their contribution to the amateur satellite community, and wish them a long mission and continued success on this and future projects. More information about OSCAR numbers can be found at https://www.amsat.org/oscar-numbers-policy/ [ANS thanks Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, OSCAR Number Administrator, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- NO-104 (PSAT2) Update Looks like PSAT2-1 DTMF log shows first 2-way DTMF contact between N3CRT and KN2X QSO numbers 86 and 87. And a total of 17 unique DTMF users: LW2EE,KI6TSF,KE4AZZ,N3CRT,NN2K,N6AJ,PY5LF,PI6TSF,KK4YEL, K3CRT,KN2K,YD0NXX,P3CRT,F5VKV,KE6BLR,2E0CRV,AB8SA Though N3CRT, P3CRT and K3CRT are probably the same person. Since recovery on 26 April, PSAT2 appears completely healthy. http://aprs.org/psat2.html [ANS thanks Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, 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/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for April 15, 2021 The following satellite has been added to this week's AMSAT TLE Distribution: CubeSX-HSE - NORAD Cat ID 47952 (Thanks to Nico Janssen, PA0DLO) [ANS thanks Ray Hoad, WA5QGD, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager, 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 Green Bank Elementary Middle School, Green Bank, WV, direct via N8RV The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz The scheduled astronaut is Mark Vande Hei KG5GNP Contact was successful: Fri 2021-05-07 12:35:51 UTC 30 deg (***) Congratulations to the Green Bank Elementary Middle School and Mark! (***) This was Mark’s first ARISS contact! (***) Collège Descartes, Atony, France, telebridge via NA7V The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz The scheduled astronaut is Thomas Pesquet KG5FYG Contact is go for: Tue 2021-05-11 10:54:35 UTC 35 deg Current Status of ISS Stations IORS (Kenwood D710GA) – STATUS - ACTIVE. supporting cross band repeater operation (145.990 up [67 Hz tone] /437.800 down MHz). Next mode change to packet operations targeting mid-June. Supporting USOS scheduled voice contacts, packet and voice repeater ops. Service Module radios: Kenwood D710E – STATUS - Radio usually off. Supporting ROS scheduled voice contacts and SSTV. 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] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ 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 +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Upcoming Satellite Operations N6AJ: FROM DM05 TO EM04, I will be headed to OK from CA around May 17 , DM74 AND DM75 is on the list for sure. I will be on FM and SSB. As it closer I hope to have a schedule. N9NCY and KX9X will be celebrating my birthday in style in Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula, grids EN57 & EN67. Look for us on the birds from July 15-19. Maybe some POTA, too. W7LT: EN36/37/38/46/47/48/57/58 for late May is on my radar. Major Roves: CM93 Possibility: N6DNM Very long shot, but might want to put it on your calendar for May 15th, if you can figure out where it is and for #SOTA folks, that would be W6/SC-336, Santa Rosa Island, activated only once before. [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT rover page manager, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events AMSAT Ambassador Clint Bradford, K6LCS, reports these upcoming presentations scheduled for … 05/18 - Puget Sound 05/26 - South New Jersey 06/01 - University of Arizona 06/09 - San Jose 06/15 - East Massachusetts 10/21 - Conejo Valley CA … and dates for Roseland NJ, Austin TX, Maine, and NH to be firmed up! Think a lively, entertaining, AND educational 75-minute presentation to YOUR club or organization on “Working the Easy Sateliites” would be appropriate for your club? Send me a message or call! Clint Bradford K6LCS AMSAT Ambassador, ARRL instructor http://www.work-sat.com k6lcs AT work-sat DOT info (909) 999-SATS (7287) [ANS thanks Clint Bradford, K6LCS, AMSAT Ambassador, and Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT Events Page Manager, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + Please keep your (radio) ears open for AO-109 beacon on 435.750 +/- doppler. The AMSAT Engineering and Operations teams have been slowly & methodically bringing it to a state where it should be sending a weak beacon, though it has not been heard. Reports welcome! Use FoxTelem to receive telemetry and send to the server. (via WB1FJ) + UVSQ-SAT's FM transponder is scheduled to be activated over North America on Monday evening. Check https://twitter.com/uvsqsat for more details (via F6KRK Radio Club) + Satellite DXCC league tables are now live on Club Log. See https://clublog.org/satleague.php. Do let me know if any data appears in the wrong columns! A special thank you for the excellent help getting this bootstrapped on Twitter, much appreciated. (via G7VJR) + Amateur Radio on the International Space Station, Inc. (ARISS-USA) is seeking volunteers to support their mission. Details at https://www.amsat.org/ariss-usa-volunteer-search/ + Arduino's Project Hub has published details of an antenna turret project that points in the direction of the ISS or any other satellite. Details at https://create.arduino.cc/projecthub/viorelracoviteanu/antenna-turret-toy-w… + Several new products are available on the AMSAT Zazzle store, including a set of coasters, a watch, a t-shirt featuring the AMSAT round logo, and more. Check out the new items! 25% of the purchase price goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space. https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear + All issues of The AMSAT Journal dating back to 2014 are now available to AMSAT members on AMSAT’s new membership portal. The 1969-2013 archive will be added at a later date. All editions of AMSAT’s Symposium Proceedings are also available for members. If you’re a current AMSAT member, get logged on today. If you are not yet a member, consider joining today at https://launch.amsat.org/ + The 2020 edition of AMSAT’s Getting Started with Amateur Satellites is available on the AMSAT store. A perennial favorite, Getting Started is updated every year with the latest amateur satellite information, and is the premier primer of satellite operation. The book is presented in DRM-free PDF format, in full color, and covers all aspects of making your first contacts on a ham radio satellite. The digital download is available for $15 at https://tinyurl.com/2020GettingStarted. The print edition is $30 plus shipping and is available at https://tinyurl.com/GS2020Print --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/ 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 Editor, Paul Stoetzer, N8HM n8hm at amsat dot org

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ANS-122 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletin
by kd4iz＠frawg.org 01 May '21

01 May '21

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-122 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: * PSAT2 (NO-104) VHF is alive! * ND9M/mm daily postings to AMSAT-BB opens rare grid opportunities * ARISS-USA Volunteer Search Underway * AMSAT Bylaws Amendment (REPEAT POST) * Space Oddity? WISA Woodsat to launch by end of year * No Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for April 30, 2021 * ARISS News * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Satellite Shorts From All Over ANS-122 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 122.01 To: All RADIO AMATEURS From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation 712 H Street NE Suite 1653 Washington, DC 20002 DATE 2021 May 02 PSAT2 (NO-104) VHF is alive! Bob Bruninga writes: PSAT2 VHF awoke from an 8 month slumber on 26 Apr 2021. We have no idea why. Its telemetry looks fine. Volts between 6.2 and 7.0 volts (5 NiCds). Exterior temps between -18 and +22 C. See http://aprs.org/psat2.html PSAT2 will NOT be in APRS mode but a brand new experimental mode for DTMF uplink and VOICE downlink. So you preload your grid and callsign into a 16 digit DTMF memory in your radio and when the satellite hears this it will assign a QSO number and QSL the grid by voice and then also generate an APRS packet for collection by APRS operators. There is even a way to send back a DTMF QSL so you can make it a 2-way DTMF. contact. Successful DTMF grids and messages will appear on a special URL on the PSAT2 page (above). To QSL, you key in that stations 2 digit QSL number and then dump your pre-loaded QSL DTMF message. Since this is the first time this transponder is on the air and because a DTMF uplink takes maybe 4 seconds, we don't want the uplink saturated by a bunch of newbees initially until we see if it actually works. So read the docs and be sure you know what you are doing. There is a user operating manual available on the PSAT2 web page: http://aprs.org/psat2.html [ANS thanks Bob Bruninga, WB4APR for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ND9M/mm daily postings to AMSAT-BB has opened rare grid opportunities Jim Clary, ND9M is operating maritime mobile during a supply cruise from Florida to the Western Pacific. He has been regularly posting the grids he may be able to activate to AMSAT-BB as he travels. Since he is traveling though some rarely activated grids on the way, he is activating as many as his shipboard duties will allow. Jim has been active on SSB and CW through a number of satellites. He is currently in the Pacific and headed toward Saipan. Many of the mid-Pacific grids are only in the satellite footprints for KH6, so he most likely will not be QRV for the mainland. His daily narrative on the AMSAT-BB has been interesting to follow. [ANS thanks Jim Clary, ND9M for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Join the 2021 President's Club! Score your 2" 4-Color Accent Commemorative Coin. This gold finished coin comes with Full Color Certificate and Embroidered "Remove Before Flight" Key Tag Donate today at https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/ You won't want to miss it! +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ ARISS-USA Volunteer Search Underway April 29, 2021 - Amateur Radio on the International Space Station, Inc. (ARISS-USA) is seeking volunteers to support our mission: To provide and operate Amateur Radio systems on the International Space Station (ISS) and elsewhere to inspire, educate, and engage youth and communities in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) and to support ISS backup communications. ARISS-USA, is a 501(c)(3) charitable, educational and scientific non-profit that was recently incorporated in the state of Maryland in the USA. We are seeking volunteers with a can-do, collaborative attitude who can work effectively as part of a team to support a variety of functions and roles. We have volunteer openings in several senior leadership roles, including: Associate Director Treasurer Secretary Director of Business Development Director of Volunteer Resources Director of Public Engagement Director of Engineering We also have openings for volunteers who would support functions within the above teams as well as openings within the ARISS-USA Operations, Engineering and Education teams. Descriptions of each of these roles are given in Article 8.6 of the ARISS-USA bylaws that can be referenced at: https://ariss-usa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ARISS-USA-Bylaws-Web-Site.p df Candidates accepted into senior leadership positions will be required to first serve in a six-month probationary period. All candidates for senior leadership positions must be U.S. citizens. If you are interested in making a difference as an ARISS-USA team member, please send your resume or CV to candidates(a)ariss-usa.org. Include a cover letter that explains what position you are interested in supporting. We thank everyone for your interest and support to ARISS! Ad Astra! (To the Stars!) Frank H. Bauer, KA3HDO ARISS-USA Executive Director [ANS thanks David Jordan, AA4KN, ARISS PR for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT Bylaws Amendment (REPEAT POST) The AMSAT Board of Directors approved an amendment to our Bylaws on March 2, 2021. As required by our Bylaws, a notice of the amendment was mailed to all members. AMSAT members may also view the documents by logging on to the Member Portal. Along with a copy of the Bylaws Committee Report to our Board of Directors, members will find a "red-line" version of the changes that will allow you to see exactly what has been added and what has been removed. To view each document, please click the following links: "Red-Line" version of our Bylaws, as approved by the AMSAT Board of Directors during a Special Meeting, held on March 2, 2021. https://launch.amsat.org/resources/Documents/Bylaws_Amended_Draft_Redline.pd f Report of the AMSAT Bylaws Committee: Recommended Revisions to the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation Bylaws https://launch.amsat.org/resources/Documents/Report%20of%20the%20Bylaws%20Co mmittee.pdf In accordance with Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation Bylaws, as amended in 1989, Article IV requires AMSAT to provide written notice to all members of the approved amendments to our Bylaws. This approved amendment will be effective thirty days from the mailing of this letter, unless written objection is received from at least ten percent of the Members, in which case a vote shall be conducted by the Secretary in the manner specified for election of Directors. Written notice was mailed on April 9, 2021. As such, any objection should be sent to AMSAT, PO Box 27, Washington, DC 20044-0027 and must be received by May 9, 2021. I apologize for requiring you to mail in your objections, but this is a requirement of our Bylaws (as amended in 1989) and exactly why we feel it is necessary to bring our Bylaws into the 21st Century. As part of our modernization efforts, we felt a review and update of our Bylaws was essential to ensure AMSAT's continued success. A summary of those changes is listed below. * The Bylaws have been amended to allow for electronic communications with our members, voting in our elections, and the conduct of meetings. * The Bylaws have been amended to clarify the member application process, the grace period for lapses in membership, and the membership inclusion date for establishing election roles. * The Bylaws have been amended to further define the duties and responsibilities of the Officers. * The Bylaws have been amended to require three years of continuous membership for nominees for the position of Director and that Directors be required to remain in good standing throughout their elected term. [ANS thanks Robert Bankston, KE4AL, AMSAT President, 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/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Space Oddity? WISA Woodsat to launch by end of year The WISA Woodsat project, which is being sponsored by a plywood supplier in an unconventional PR drive, could place a wooden satellite in orbit by the end of the year, testing the suitability of treated wood as a cheap space material. The wooden satellite is based on a basic, versatile CubeSat format, Kitsat, which is designed with educational use in mind. It retails for just $1,500. The Woodsat project, based in Finland, began with students across the country contributing parts to a CubeSat launched by balloon. See https://bit.ly/3eEmV0h for more information in the press release from WISA on the E&T Engineering and Technology website. The IARU posting for Woodsat indicates that there are several amateur radio experiments on board including photo downlinking. See https://bit.ly/3aPrp2X for additional infoprmation [ANS thanks JoAnne Maenpaa K9JKM, the staff of E&T, and the IARU 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. Come along for the ride. The journey will be worth it! https://tinyurl.com/ANS-GOLF +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ No Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for April 29, 2021 No changes are noted for the current week however, Keplarians have been updated and are available on the AMSAT website at: https://bit.ly/3xChPtT [ANS thanks Ray Hoad, WA5QGD, AMSAT Orbital Elements 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 +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ -------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS NEWS: Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of April 29, 2021 Green Bank Elementary Middle School, Green Bank, WV, direct via N8RV. 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 astronaut is Mark Vande Hei KG5GNP Contact is go for: Fri 2021-05-07 12:35:51 UTC 30 deg ISS Status Update as of 28 April Noting the change to cross-band repeater on May 7: Current Status of ISS Stations as of 04/26/2021 Columbus Module radios: IORS (Kenwood D710GA) - STATUS - ACTIVE. supporting packet operation (145.825 MHz). Next mode change to cross band repeater targeting May 7. Supporting USOS scheduled voice contacts, packet and voice repeater ops. OFF from May 5 - May 6 to support ISS communications testing. Service Module radios: Kenwood D710E - STATUS - Radio usually off. Supporting ROS scheduled voice contacts and SSTV. OFF from May 5 - May 6 to support ISS communications testing. https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.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: N6AJ: FROM DM05 TO EM04, I will be headed to OK from CA around May 17 , DM74 AND DM75 is on the list for sure. I will be on FM and SSB. As it closer I hope to have a schedule. KX9X & N9NCY: Happy to announce @Nancy_N9NCY and I will be celebrating my birthday in style in Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula, grids EN57 & EN67. Look for us on the birds from July 15-19. Maybe some POTA, too. W7LT: EN36/37/38/46/47/48/57/58 for late May is on my radar. Major Roves: See the article on ND9M/mm Pacific operations in this newletter above. CM93 Possibility: N6DNM Very long shot, but might want to put it on your calendar for May 15th, if you can figure out where it is and for #SOTA folks, that would be W6/SC-336, Santa Rosa Island, activated only once before. Please submit any additions or corrections to Ke0pbr (at) gmail.com Updated 04/25/2021 [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT rover page manager for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events On the Air event: AMSAT Italia: Members of AMSAT Italia commemorate Gagarin's flight into space until the end of the year with the callsign II0SAT on HF and via satellite. AMSAT Ambassador Clint Bradford K6CLS is planning the following presentations: Austin ARC - May 4 University of Arizona - June 1 Conejo Valley (CA) - October 21 Saratoga ARC - May 5 MICROHams - May 18 Wellesley ARC - June 15 White Mountain ARC - June 2 West Valley (CA) ARC - June 9 Think a 90-minute lively, informative, and fun "How to Work the Easy Satellites" Zoom presentation would be appropriate for your convention or club? Always includes are overviews of the ARRL, AMSAT, and ARISS . and pre-presentation questions are solicited and welcome. Send Clint an email or call! Clint Bradford K6LCS, http://www.work-sat.com. Tel:909-999-SATS (7287) [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT Events page manager, Larry Manaev, RN3AG, and Clint Bradford, K6CLS AMSAT Ambassador for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + CubeSat for under $1,000? A post on Hackaday looks at building a low cost satellite - a CubeSat Want to build your own CubeSat but have been put off by the price? There may be a solution in the works - [RG Sat] has challenged himself to design and build one for less than $1,000. His idea isn't just a pipe dream, either. In the the fifteen months since he began the project, [RG Sat] has designed and built the avionics and electrical power system circuit boards, and is currently testing his sun tracker design. For additional information see: https://bit.ly/2Rc5lbW [ANS thanks Southgate Amateur Radio News for the above information] + Recent activity on the 23cm band RNSS Coexistence Studies The Chair of IARU Region 1 Spectrum Affairs, Barry Lewis G4SJH, reports on the work being done in defending the interests of the Amateur Services in the 1240-1300 MHz band. For details, see https://bit.ly/3eFI4XJ [ANS thanks AMSAT UK for the above information] +100 Million Dataframes for the SatNOGS DB. SatNOGS is the largest network of open-source satellite ground stations and works to identify and track satellites worldwide. SatNOGS is developed and maintained by the Libre Space Foundation, which supports the creation of open-source space technologies based on the Libre Space Manifesto principles. Recently, the project reached a significant milestone with the SatNOGS DB storing its 100 millionth dataframe. The frame was captured from FALCONSAT-3 (a previously DARPA-, now amateur-, controlled picosatellite for testing ambient plasma and micro propulsion attitude control systems). More at: https://bit.ly/3xyXOEx [ANS thanks The Orbital Index for the above information] +China launches Tianhe space station core module into orbit HELSINKI - China successfully launched a 22-metric-ton module April 28, beginning an intense period of missions for constructing the nation's own space station. A Long March 5B heavy-lift rocket lifted off from the coastal Wenchang spaceport at 11:23 p.m. Eastern. The Tianhe space station core module separated from the first stage after 490 seconds of flight. Solar array deployment occurred just over an hour after launch. Li Shangfu, chief commander of the China Manned Spaceflight Program, announced launch success shortly after. More at: https://bit.ly/32XRQir [ANS thanks Andrew Jones of Spacenews.com 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. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Store. Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional student membership information. 73 and Remember to help keep amateur radio in space, This week's ANS Editor, Jack Spitznagel, KD4IZ kd4iz at frawg dot org

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