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ANS-119 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin - ARISS-USA Volunteer Search
by Paul Stoetzer 29 Apr '21

29 Apr '21

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE SPECIAL BULLETIN ANS-119 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: * ARISS-USA Volunteer Search SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-119.01 ANS-119 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin AMSAT News Service Bulletin 119.01 From AMSAT HQ WASHINGTON, DC DATE April 29, 2021 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-119.01 ARISS-USA Volunteer Search 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 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.… 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 at 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 ARISS-USA is an Equal Opportunity Organization and will not discriminate on the basis of gender identity, age, race, color, national origin, religion, physical handicap, disability or any other legally protected status For more information about ARISS, see ariss.org [ANS thanks ARISS-USA 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-115 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by n1uw＠gokarns.com 25 Apr '21

25 Apr '21

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-115 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 Bylaws Amendment * Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for April 22, 2021 * Smithsonian Magazine Features Amateur Radio Aboard the ISS * FO-29 Operation Schedule for May 2021 * CubeSat Developers Workshop Virtual Conference April 27–29, 2021 * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Upcoming Satellite Operations * ARISS News * Satellite Shorts from All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-115.01 ANS-115 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 115.01 From AMSAT HQ PO Box 27, Washington, DC 20044-0027 April 25, 2021 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-115.01 AMSAT Bylaws Amendment 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.p… 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%20C… 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] ---------------------------------------------------------------------+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- 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! -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for April 22, 2021 Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA (OSCAR Number Administrator) announced April 18, 2021 in AMSAT News Service Bulletin ANS-108 that SMOG-1 has been designated Magyar-OSCAR 110 or MO-110. Thus, SMOG-1 (NORAD Cat ID 47964) is now shown as MO-110 in this week's TLE distribution. The following satellite has been added to this week's AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution: GRBAlpha - NORAD Cat ID 47959 (Thanks to Nico Janssen, PA0DLO) In the Credit Where Credit Is Due Department: Ray Hoad, WA5QGD reports, "Last week David Williams, G7GQW noted that GRIFEX (NORAD Cat ID 40379) is still active after I had dropped it from the TLE distribution. I forgot to credit him for that observation. Thanks, David." As always, the current and all previous Keps elements can be viewed at https://mailman.amsat.org/hyperkitty/list/[email protected]. [ANS thanks Ray Hoad, WA5QGD for the above information.] -------------------------------------------------------------------- Smithsonian Magazine Features Amateur Radio Aboard the ISS The April issue of the Smithsonian magazine ran a feature on how ISS crew members spend their leisure time. The story began with a bit of detail on early space crews’ heavy workloads and needing time off. The writer moved to now, with space crews continuing to be more productive when schedules include relaxing—with making music being quite popular. The story cited the importance of ham radio as an engaging onboard leisure activity, as Doug Wheelock realized during his 2010 ISS mission. Speaking about the myriad of radio signals he heard from Earth’s ham operators, Doug said, “That started a trend for me where I made thousands of contacts across the world. That really became part of my connection back to the planet.” Referring to deep space missions, he said, “I can’t imagine doing a long-duration mission without that connection to the planet. It’s a huge psychological hurdle that we’re going to have to figure out.” The article is at tinyurl.com/ANS-115-Smithsonian. A post about the story was added to the ISS Ham Twitter page and to ARISS Facebook and Twitter pages. [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/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ FO-29 Operation Schedule for May 2021 The JARL has published the FO-29 operation schedule for May 2021: May 2021 (UTC) 1st 00:06- 01:50- 2nd 00:55- 02:41- 3rd 00:03- 01:45- 4th 00:50- 02:36- 5th 01:40- 03:27- 8th 23:47- 9th 01:31- 15th 01:16- 03:02- 16th 00:21- 02:06- 22nd 00:07- 01:51- 23rd 00:56- 02:42- 29th 00:42- 02:27- 23:48- 30th 01:32- 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.] -------------------------------------------------------------------- CubeSat Developers Workshop Virtual Conference April 27–29, 2021 This year's virtual workshop features a mix of pre-recorded and live events. Before Workshop begins on April 27, pre-recorded presentations from the Live Q&A panelists will be released. Registrants will have time before the Live Q&A Panels to watch the pre-recorded presentations. Then, based on the published schedule, registrants can listen and ask questions to the panelists about their presentation in real-time. There will also be dedicated times before and after Live Q&A Panels for registrants to visit and network with our amazing Exhibitors and Sponsors through virtual exhibit booths and side meetings. AMSAT will have a virtual booth and poster presentation at the workshop. The virtual booth will be staffed by Executive Vice President Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, Vice President of Engineering Jerry Buxton, N0JY, and Vice President of Operations Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA. AMSAT's poster presentation examines the impact of proposed orbital debris mitigation regulations on CubeSat development and STEM education." Registration for the 2021 Virtual CubeSat Developers Workshop is free for all interested individuals. For complete information on the conference, visit https://www.cubesatdw.org. [ANS thanks Cubesat.org 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 +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events None reported. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Upcoming Satellite Operations EM86; April 17 - May 2, 2021 WY7AA operating vacation style FM and SSB. "I plan to have a day trip to EM85, but I will plan that and advertise when I get there." DM05 - EM04; ~May 17, 2021 N6AJ will be headed to OK from CA around May 17, 2021. "DM74 AND DM75 are on the list for sure. I will be on FM and SSB. As it closer I hope to have a schedule." Please submit any additions or corrections to ke0pbr at gmail dot com. [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR for the above information.] -------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS News + Upcoming Contacts St Scholastica's College, Glebe, NSW, Australia, 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 Victor Glover, KI5BKC. Contact is go for Monday, April 6, at 08:34:51 UTC. St. Margaret's School, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, telebridge via IK1SLD. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS. The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz. The scheduled astronaut is Shannon Walker, KD5DXB. Contact is go for Monday, April 26, 2021 at 10:12:59 UTC. Watch for live stream at: www.ariotti.com. The latest information on the ISS operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html. + Completed Contacts Winmalee Public School, Blue Mountains, NSW, Australia, telebridge via ON4ISS. The ISS callsign was OR4ISS. The downlink frequency was 145.800 MHz The astronaut was Victor Glover, KI5BKC. Contact was successful: Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at 08:28:39 UTC. [ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N for the above information.] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition? Get your AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff from our Zazzle store! 25% of the purchase price of each product goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Satellite Shorts from All Over + Young Mauritians Introduced to Satellite/Space Technology The Mauritius Research and Innovation Council (MRIC) organized a series of training workshops for secondary school students on the building of a simplified antenna for satellite data reception. The aim was to initiate young Mauritians to Satellite/Space Technology and create awareness of these fields’ numerous possibilities for the Republic of Mauritius. The specific objectives were to provide hands-on training on the building of antenna for satellite data reception, data reception and communication with Low Earth Orbiting (LEO) satellites and ground-station operation using specific software. Read the complete story at https://africanews.space. [ANS thanks Space in Africa for the above information.] + International Special Events Stations on Satellites - Italy: 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. - Spain: AM500MMM draws attention to Fernando de Magellan's voyage and the explorer's death on the island Mactan. QRV between April 24 and May 1 on HF (CW, SSB, digital modes) and via satellite. - Chichi/ Haha/ Muko Islands (aka Bonin Islands): Takio/JH3QFL activates Komagari Chichijima Island between April 23 and April 30 as JD1BQA. QRV on HF and RS-44 on CW. [ANS thanks JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM and the DX Newsletter for the above information.] + Radio Amateur G3YJO on BBC Radio Professor Sir Martin Sweeting, G3YJO was the guest on the Radio 4 show The Life Scientific that was broadcast on Tuesday, April 20, 2021. Sweeting pioneered the original SmallSats revolutions with the UOSAT-1 and UOSAT-2 spacecraft that carried Amateur Radio payloads and launched in the early 1980’s. They led to the founding of Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) of which he is Executive Chairman. You can listen to an MP3 recording of the BBC show which mentions Amateur Radio and AMSAT from the BBC website at https://bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000v7pb. -------------------------------------------------------------------- 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-108 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Paul Stoetzer 18 Apr '21

18 Apr '21

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-108 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's GOLF-TEE CubeSat Manifested for Launch on ELaNa-46 * SMOG-1 Designated Magyar-OSCAR 110 (MO-110) * AMSAT FTP Site Retired * TO-108 Operational Update * CAMSAT Applies for Frequency Coordination for CAS-9 (XW-3) * Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for April 15, 2021 * ARISS News * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Satellite Shorts From All Over AMSAT News Service Bulletin 108.01 To: All RADIO AMATEURS From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation 712 H Street NE Suite 1653 Washington, DC 20002 DATE 2021 Apr 18 -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- 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! -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- AMSAT's GOLF-TEE CubeSat Manifested for Launch on ELaNa-46 AMSAT's GOLF-TEE CubeSat has been manifested for launch on NASA's ELaNa-46 mission. GOLF-TEE is the first satellite in AMSAT's "Greater Orbit, Larger Footprint" or GOLF program. The goal of the GOLF program is to work by steps through a series of increasingly capable spacecraft to learn to develop systems and skills needed to achieve successful high orbit missions. Among these are active attitude control and the ability to command attitude changes, deployable/steerable solar panels, radiation tolerance for commercial off the shelf (COTS) components in higher orbits, and propulsion. The eventual goal of the GOLF program is a satellite in Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO) similar to AO-10, AO-13, and AO-40, but at a currently affordable cost combined with significantly enhanced capabilities, which in turn will allow the use of much less complex ground stations. The -TEE designation in GOLF-TEE stands for "Technology Exploration Environment" reflecting GOLF-TEE's mission testing two primary systems needed for higher orbits. First, an Attitude Determination and Control (ADAC) system will be tested to allow active pointing of the satellites antennas, which will have significant gain. The other primary goal of GOLF-TEE is to gain initial orbit and space radiation exposure for radiation event-induced fault tolerant systems designed using COTS components. GOLF-TEE will carry an Integrated Housekeeping Unit (IHU) / command transceiver designed using the Hercules line of ARM architecture-based microcontrollers. GOLF-TEE will also evaluate a low-cost, deployable, fixed attitude, solar panel array design as part of AMSAT Engineering's exploration of fixed panel arrays that allow for outfitting a variable number of "wings" in order to best match the power requirements of various CubeSat missions. Additionally, GOLF-TEE will carry a modified commercial software-defined radio (SDR), the Ettus E310, as an experimental package to test high speed data downlink in the 10 GHz band. GOLF-TEE will also be a fully-functional LEO VHF/UHF amateur satellite carrying conventional backup systems, including a linear transponder, similar to those flown on AO-109. A significant amount of funding is necessary to complete the development and construction of the GOLF series of CubeSats. Please consider a donation today. Donations designated for the AMSAT GOLF program may be made at https://www.amsat.org/donations/amsat-golf-program-donations/ [ANS thanks AMSAT Engineering for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- SMOG-1 Designated Magyar-OSCAR 110 (MO-110) On March 22, 2021, the Budapest University of Technology and Economics SMOG-1 PocketQube was launched on a Soyuz-2-1a Fregat launch vehicle from the Baikonur, Kazakhstan. SMOG-1 carries RF spectrum monitoring and total ionizing radiation experiments. Further information is available at https://gnd.bme.hu/smog At the request of the Budapest University of Technology and Economics, AMSAT hereby designates SMOG-1 as Magyar-OSCAR 110 (MO-110). 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] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT FTP Site Retired The AMSAT File Transport Protocol (FTP) server has been retired as of 15 April 2021. Content formerly hosted on that server is now available at https://www.amsat.org/amsat/ftp/ The FTP server provided an important service for distributing software, bulletins and other information going back to at least the early 1990's when internet access started to become available to the general public. Over time the overwhelming success of the web and ubiquitous use of the web browser have evolved to provide the same capability, and today even heavy internet users are unfamiliar with FTP. The decision was made to stop spending scarce volunteer resources maintaining this seldom used service. [ANS thanks Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, AMSAT IT Team Leader, 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/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ TO-108 Operational Update TO-108 (CAS-6) was launched in December 2019 and carries a 20 kHz wide UHF/VHF linear transponder. When originally made available for amateur radio use in June 2020, the transponder operated only intermittently, approximately 2 seconds on and 5 seconds off. On April 12, 2021, EI2IP posted a video on Twitter where he calls CQ for a few minutes on the satellite. Later tests by European stations including SA2KNG and DO1AM showed that the transponder is still only operational intermittently, but now the transponder is on for minutes at a time instead of only a couple of seconds. TO-108's linear transponder's uplink passband is 435.270 MHz - 435.290 MHz and the downlink passband is 145.915 MHz - 145.935 MHz. The CW beacon is at 145.910 MHz and 4.8k GMSK telemetry at 145.890 MHz. Observations indicate that the transponder is operational when the beacon is transmitting continuously. [ANS thanks various sources for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- CAMSAT Applies for Frequency Coordination for CAS-9 (XW-3) CAMSAT has applied for frequency coordination for their CAS-9 satellite, also known as Hope-3 or XW-3. CAS-9 will be a 6U CubeSat carrying a 30 kHz VHF/UHF linear transponder. In addition to the linear transponder, there will be a UHF CW beacon and UHF 4.8k/9.6k AX.25 GMSK telemetry downlink. Launch is planned for December 15, 2021 from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center into a 770 km circular orbit with an inclination of 98.58 degrees. Application details can be found at http://www.amsatuk.me.uk/iaru/formal_detail.php?serialnum=804 [ANS thanks the IARU for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for April 15, 2021 The following satellites have been added to this week's AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution: GRIFEX - NORAD Cat ID 40379 (Reported as active and returned to TLE list.) Orbicraft-Zorkiy - NORAD Cat ID 47960 (per Nico Janssen, PA0DLO) STECCO - NORAD Cat ID 47962. (per 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. Come along for the ride. The journey will be worth it! https://tinyurl.com/ANS-GOLF +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ ARISS News Winmalee Public School, Blue Mountains, NSW, Australia, 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 Victor Glover KI5BKC Contact is go for: Tue 2021-04-20 08:28:39 UTC 81 deg 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 ND9M: I’m doing another tour on my merchant marine ship. We’ll be leaving the States (EM90) in a few days to head for the western Pacific by way of the Panama Canal. I’ve got my FT857 / FT817 with an Elk although I don’t hear RS-44’s downlink all that well. (AO-27’s downlink on the same band is great though.) I’m planning to be active on as many satellite passes that I can fit in around job duties; since I’m a staff of 1, working all seven days and being on call 24/7 can get in the way. My internet connection on board is marginal at best and will become virtually nil for several days as we approach Panama and then hit the Pacific. I’ll post likely grids a day or two in advance to the AMSAT-BB and will hit Twitter (@ND9M) when I’ve got a web connection. WY7AA: April 17th – May 2 EM86 vacation style FM and SSB. I will have a day trip to EM85, but I will plan that and advertise when I get there. 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. I, Italy: Loriano/IZ5RHU and the ARI section Grosseto commemorate the Chernobyl disaster between April 18 and May 9 as II5RCH on 80-2m (CW, SSB, digital modes) and via satellite. QSL via IZ5RHU (d/B). (via DX Newsletter DXNL 2245 Apr 14, 2021) [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 … 04/26 - Livonia, Michigan 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 + Congratulations Kell Bodholt, KI7UXT, on completing the AMSAT GridMaster Award by working all 488 maidenhead grid squares in the continental United States. Kell is the 29th recipient of this award. More information on the AMSAT GridMaster award can be found at https://www.amsat.org/gridmaster/ + A new distance record has been claimed on the ISS VHF digipeater. 9G5AR completed a 4,032 km QSO with EA3BAX on 11-Apr-2021 at 09:07 UTC. More records can be found at https://www.amsat.org/satellite-distance-records + FG8OJ has developed a quick script to display your VUCC credits on a world map. 1/ Connect to LoTW 2/ Go to your VUCC favorite award page and select "All credits" 3/ Copy the page with CTRL+A and CTRL+C 4/ Go to https://fg8oj.com/lotwgrid2map/ 5/ Paste in the form's text area CTRL+V 6/ Enjoy + The spring issue of OSCAR News is now available for download for AMSAT-UK members at https://amsat-uk.org/2021/04/13/spring-oscar-news-2/ + 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 now 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-101 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for April 11
by Mark Johns, K0JM 11 Apr '21

11 Apr '21

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-101 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: * ARISS-USA Now a Non-profit Organization * Contests On QO-100 Allowed In Time For Yuri Gagarin Contest * Fun While It Lasted, Falcon 9 Telemetry Now Encrypted * AMSAT SA Call For Papers * NASA Invites Public to Take Flight With Ingenuity Mars Helicopter * Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for April 8, 2021 * Busy month of crew rotations on tap at International Space Station * ARISS News * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Satellite Shorts From All Over ANS-101 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 101.01 To: All RADIO AMATEURS From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation 712 H Street NE Suite 1653 Washington, DC 20002 DATE 2021 April 11 ARISS-USA Now a Non-profit Organization ARISS-USA, a Maryland not-for-profit corporation, is now recognized by the United States Internal Revenue Service as a Section 501(c)(3) charitable, scientific, and educational organization. ARISS-USA is the US segment of the ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) international working group. With this IRS determination, donations to ARISS-USA become tax-deductible in the US, retroactive to the ARISS-USA incorporation on May 21, 2020. This change in status allows ARISS-USA to solicit donations and grants. As a new entity, ARISS-USA will continue to promote student involvement with the astronauts on the International Space Station via amateur radio. Working with educational organizations, ARISS provides exciting opportunities to inspire, engage and educate our next generation of space explorers through STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) activities and content. ARISS-USA Executive Director, Frank Bauer, commented, “The educational scope and reach of what ARISS accomplishes has grown significantly since our beginnings in 1996. We are actively working to extend student’s reach even further. This, through the pursuit of potential student opportunities on human spaceflight missions beyond low Earth orbit, as part of our Amateur Radio Exploration (AREx) Program. First AREx destination: the Moon!” ARISS-USA continues its collaborative work with ARISS International and US sponsors, partners, and interest groups. The ARISS-USA TEAM remains deeply indebted to its partners ARRL and AMSAT, who enabled the birth of ARISS, and to its steadfast sponsors, NASA Space Communication and Navigation (SCaN) and the ISS National Lab (INL). Gifts from those wishing to support ARISS-USA goals are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law and can be made by going to the ARISS website: www.ariss.org The ARISS-USA team thanks its sustaining donors for their continuing support! (ANS thanks Dave Jordan, AA4KN, of ARISS PR 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! +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Contests On QO-100 Allowed In Time For Yuri Gagarin Contest AMSAT-DL announced, on April 4, the opening of the QO-100 NB satellite transponder to general contest operation in the upper mixed-mode range. QO-100 is a Qatari satellite, launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on November 15, 2018. It operates at 26° East longitude along a geostationary orbit, which means that the satellite's footprint covers Europe, Africa, and Asia, but excludes North America and most of South America. This weekend (April 10-11) will see the Yuri Gagarin contest. The contest area on the QO-100 geostationary satellite NB transponder for both CW and SSB is: Uplink area 2400.370 – 2400.490 MHz Downlink area 10489.870 – 10489.990 MHz Of course, the usual QO-100 NB transponder guidelines also apply here. Therefore, the bandwidth should still be limited to 2.7 kHz and the transmitting power should be reduced to the necessary level, i.e. only as much power as necessary should be used. Read the AMSAT-DL announcement at https://amsat-dl.org/en/contests-on-qo-100-allowed/ The Yuri Gagarin International DX Contest 2021 is dedicated to the memory of Yuri Gagarin, who realized the first human flight to space, on April 12, 1961. It runs from 2100 GMT on April 10 until 2100 GMT on April 11, 2021, and the categories include: • SAT Single operator – Satellite QSOs • SAT-GS Single operator – Geostationary Satellite QSOs Contest rules are at http://gc.qst.ru/en/section/32 [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/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Fun While It Lasted, Falcon 9 Telemetry Now Encrypted A few weeks back Hackaday reported that Reddit users [derekcz] and [Xerbot] had managed to receive the 2232.5 MHz telemetry downlink from a Falcon 9 upper stage and pull out some interesting plain-text strings. With further software fiddling, the vehicle’s video streams were decoded, resulting in some absolutely breathtaking shots of the rocket and its payload from low Earth orbit. Unfortunately, it looks like those heady days are now over, as [derekcz] reports the downlink from the latest Falcon 9 mission was nothing but unintelligible noise. Since the hardware and software haven’t changed on his side, the only logical conclusion is that SpaceX wasn’t too happy about radio amateurs listening in on their rocket and decided to employ some form of encryption. [ANS thanks Hackaday.com for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT SA Call For Papers AMSAT SA has announced the date for the 2021 Space Symposium. In view of the continuing uncertainty about the Covid - 19 pandemic the conference will be a virtual event on the BlueJeans platform. The date is Saturday 10 July 2021 starting at 08:00 UTC. The theme of the symposium is "Unlocking Amateur Space Technology." The symposium will focus on amateur satellites, weak signal communication, space weather and allied sciences. SARL has issued a first call for paper proposals. Prospective authors are invited to submit proposals in the form of a brief description of the subject to be covered in their paper by no later than 15 May 2021. Submit proposals in word format to admin(a)amsatsa.org.za. Authors will be advised on 20 May of the acceptance of their paper. The final paper will be required by 30 June 2021. [ANS thanks SARL and JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM 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 +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ NASA Invites Public to Take Flight With Ingenuity Mars Helicopter NASA is targeting no earlier than Sunday, April 11, for Ingenuity Mars Helicopter's first attempt at powered, controlled flight on another planet. To mark a month of Ingenuity flights, the agency will host several events to bring people along for the ride. A livestream confirming Ingenuity's first flight is targeted to begin around 3:30 a.m. EDT (07:30z) Monday, April 12, on NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency's website, and will livestream on multiple agency social media platforms, including the JPL YouTube, and Facebook channels. Ingenuity arrived at Mars' Jezero Crater Feb. 18, attached to the belly of NASA's Perseverance rover. The helicopter is a technology demonstration with a planned test flight duration of up to 31 days (30 Mars days, or sols). The rover will provide support during flight operations, taking images, collecting environmental data, and hosting the base station that enables the helicopter to communicate with mission controllers on Earth. The flight date may shift as engineers work on the deployments, preflight checks, and vehicle positioning of both Perseverance and Ingenuity. Timing for events will be updated as needed, and the latest schedule will be available on the helicopter's Watch Online webpage: https://mars.nasa.gov/technology/helicopter/#Watch-Online [ANS thanks NASA 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 +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for April 8, 2021 The following satellites have been added to this week's AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution: GuaraniSat-1 - NORAD Cat ID 47931 (per Celestrak) KSU-CubeSat - NORAD Cat ID 47954 (per Nico Janssen, PA0DLO) DIY-1 - NORAD Cat ID 47963. (per Nico Janssen, PA0DLO) SMOG - NORAD Cat ID 47964. (per Nico Janssen, PA0DLO) The following satellites have been removed from this week's AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution: TISAT - NORAD Cat ID 36799 JUGNU - NORAD Cat ID 37839 AO-71 - NORAD Cat ID 37854 HORYU-2 - NORAD Cat ID 38340 BEESAT-3 - NORAD Cat ID 39135 BEESAT-2 - NORAD Cat ID 39136 TRITON-1 - NORAD Cat ID 39427 DUCHIFAT-1 - NORAD Cat ID 40021 NANOSATCBR1 - NORAD Cat ID 40024 ANTELSAT - NORAD Cat ID 40034 VELOX-1 - NORAD Cat ID 40057 DAURIA DX 1 - NORAD Cat ID 40071 CHUBUSAT-1 - NORAD Cat ID 40300 QSAT-EOS - NORAD Cat ID 40301 GRIFEX - NORAD Cat ID 40379 DEORBITSAIL - NORAD Cat ID 40719 NUDT-PHONESAT - NORAD Cat ID 40900 LQSat - NORAD Cat ID 40958 OUFTI-1 - NORAD Cat ID 41458 Swayam - NORAD Cat ID 41607 AlSat 1N - NORAD Cat ID 41789 ScatSat - NORAD Cat ID 41790 Pegasus-1 - NORAD Cat ID 41846 UCLSat - NORAD Cat ID 42765 LituanicaSAT 2- NORAD Cat ID 42768 The above objects are inactive and have been removed. If you think a satellite is still active contact Ray Hoad, WA5QGD on AMSAT-BB. [ANS thanks Ray Hoad, WA5QGD, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Busy month of crew rotations on tap at International Space Station Seven astronauts and cosmonauts are gearing up for launches April 9 and April 22 to the International Space Station, replacing seven outgoing crew members set to land in Kazakhstan and off the coast of Florida on April 17 and April 28. The back-to-back crew rotations will make for a busy month on the orbiting research complex, and multiple instances when ARISS operation will be suspended during crew operations. Preparations for the arrival of the fresh crew members are already underway on the space station. The first step was relocation of a SpaceX Crew Dragon spaceship to a new docking port on the space station April 5. NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins, KF5LJG, commander of the Crew Dragon “Resilience” spaceship, was joined by crewmates Victor Glover, KI5BKC, Soichi Noguchi, KD5TVP, and Shannon Walker, KD5DXB, for the fully automated 45-minute relocation maneuver. The Dragon astronauts, who launched Nov. 15 as part of SpaceX’s “Crew-1” mission, were aboard the Crew Dragon Resilience spacecraft and suited up for re-entry, just in case the capsule had trouble linking up with the new docking port and needed to return to Earth. Next was the launch of a Russian Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft with commander Oleg Novitskiy, cosmonaut Pyotr Dubrov, and NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, KG5GNP. The Soyuz crew launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Friday, April 9 at 3:42 a.m. EDT (0742 GMT). The crew on the space station will temporarily swell to 10 people until the outgoing Soyuz MS-17 crew departs the research lab one week later. Undocking of the Soyuz MS-17 spacecraft with commander Sergey Ryzhikov, flight engineer Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, and NASA astronaut Kate Rubins, KG5FYJ, is scheduled for 9:33 p.m. EDT on April 16 (0133z on April 17). The Soyuz capsule is scheduled to parachute to a landing on the steppes of Kazakhstan at 12:56 a.m. EDT (0456 GMT) on April 17. Ryzhikov, Kud-Sverchkov, and Rubins launched Oct. 14 from Baikonur. Their return to Earth on April 17 will wrap up a 185-day mission. With the Soyuz crew rotation complete, SpaceX and NASA will be cleared to launch the second operational Crew Dragon mission to the space station on April 22. NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough, KE5HOD, pilot Megan McArthur, Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, KE5DNI, and French-born European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet, KG5FYG, will fly on the Crew-2 mission. Assuming the Crew-2 mission takes off April 22, Kimbrough and his crewmates will reach the space station for an automated docking at 5:29 a.m. EDT (0929 GMT) on April 23. Their arrival will start a five-day handover with the Crew-1 astronauts, when the space station will briefly host 11 crew members. The Crew-1 astronauts are scheduled to board their Crew Dragon Resilience spacecraft and undock from the space station April 28 at 5 a.m. EDT (0900 GMT). The Crew Dragon capsule will fire its Draco thrusters to target a parachute-assisted splashdown off the coast of Florida at 12:35 p.m. EDT (1635 GMT) the same day. [ANS thanks Stephen Clark of Spacefilight Now 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. Recent ARISS contacts: The School of Information Technology & Mathematical Sciences, Southern Hemisphere Space Studies Program 2021, Mawson Lakes, SA, Australia, conducted a telebridge via IK1SLD on Tuesday, April 6. Shannon Walker, KD5DXB, was the astronaut. The contact was successful. Gagarin From Space performed an amateur radio session with NILAK DOSAAF Llc in Kaluga, Kaluga Regional schools, Kaluga, Russia, direct contact via RK3X on April 6. Cosmonaut Sergey Kud-Sverchkov participated. The contact was successful. Gagarin From Space conducted a radio amateur session with students of the St. Petersburg school, St. Petersburg, Russia, direct via R1AIT on April 7. The contact was successful. Upcoming contacts: TBD The latest information on the operation mode of the ARISS modules can be found at 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 WY7AA: April 17th – May 2 EM86 vacation style FM and SSB. I will have a day trip to EM85, but I will plan that and advertise when I get there. 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. 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 … 04/26 - Livonia, Michigan 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 Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT Events page manager, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + LightCube, an educational mission by Arizona State University, Tempe, to allow a CubeSat in low-Earth orbit (LEO) to be easily operable by members of the general public, has been approved by NASA as one of the 12th CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI) projects for 2022-2025. The LightCube CubeSat will provide a platform that increases the number of individuals who can participate in space activities. Specifically, anyone with appropriate amateur radio licensing within their jurisdiction and commercial radio equipment available for purchase for less than fifty dollars will be able to telecommand LightCube. The LightCube CubeSat will respond with a flash visible to the naked eye of the commander. In the process of operating LightCube, the user will inevitably learn important science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts in areas such as telecommunications, spacecraft design, atmospheric and climate science, and orbital mechanics. (ANS thanks NASA, JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM, Harry Bloomberg, W3YJ, and Rick Lindquist, WW1ME, for the above information.) + Jean Marc Momple, 3B8DU and an AMSAT Ambassador published an article in the Institution of Engineers Mauritius (IEM) Journal, March 2021, to promoted HAM radio satellite operation worldwide, as the paper was circulated in all affiliated Engineers association globally but the focus was on the regional operation. The link to obtain the document is https://bit.ly/3uHFFCv or go to https://www.iemauritius.com and register to download the March 21 edition of the Journal. (ANS thanks Jean Marc Momple, 3B8DU, for the above information.) + GOES-T, NOAA’s latest generation geosynchronous satellite, recently completed vibration, vacuum, and acoustic testing ahead of its December launch. GOES-T packs upgraded traditional weather observation instruments (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WQAwQ0SGkc for a video intro), including the 16 channel ABI imager (up from 5 channels on the previous generation) with 0.5km - 2km resolution (4x the previous gen). This generation also includes a Geostationary Lightning Mapper, the first lightning mapping system flown in geostationary orbit, which should increase lead time for severe storm warnings and decrease false positives. See https://www.goes-r.gov/spacesegment/glm.html for an overview of the system. (ANS thanks the Orbital Index for the above information.) + SpaceX launched 60 more of the company's Starlink Internet communications satellites into orbit from Florida on Wednesday, April 7. A Falcon 9 rocket carrying the spacecraft lifted off as planned at 12:34 p.m. EDT (16:34z). SpaceX recovered the first-stage booster for the rocket by landing it on a barge in the Atlantic Ocean. The satellites deployed to their intended orbit a little more than an hour after launch. (ANS thanks Space Daily for the above information.) + A rather fascinating disassembly and analysis of the digital clock from a Soyuz spacecraft can be found at http://www.righto.com/2020/01/inside-digital-clock-from-soyuz.html The mid-1980s vintage clock was judged to be 8 to 10 years behind U.S. space technology of the time, with more that 100 integrated circuits on ten circuit boards. (ANS thanks the Orbital Index for the above information.) + Open Research Institute has posted several new YouTube videos updating their work. See https://www.openresearch.institute/ for links. (ANS thanks AMSAT Board Member Michelle Thompson, W5NYV, for the above information.) + AO-91 remains operational in COR or "repeater mode." Reminder: Please use only in sunlight and do not use while in eclipse (which "generally" means, if it's dark at your local QTH do not use!). Remember that the current status of most operational satellites can be found at https://www.amsat.org/status/ (ANS thanks AMSAT Board and Fox Command Team Member Mark Hammond, N8MH, 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-094 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by kd4iz＠frawg.org 04 Apr '21

04 Apr '21

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-094 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: * 2021 AMSAT Field Day * VUCC Awards-Endorsements for April 1 2021 * WOUB Spotlight: Broadcast Operations Supervisor Terry Douds, N8KI * NASA TV to Air First US Commercial Crew Port Relocation on ISS * Perseverance rover begins steps to deploy Mars helicopter * Launch Watch: Upcoming in April * Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for April 1, 2021 * ARISS News * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Satellite Shorts From All Over ANS-094 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 094.01 To: All RADIO AMATEURS From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation 712 H Street NE Suite 1653 Washington, DC 20002 DATE 2021 April 04 2021 AMSAT Field Day Its that time of year again; summer and Field Day! Each year the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) sponsors Field Day as a picnic, a campout, practice for emergencies, an informal contest and, most of all, FUN! The event takes place during a 23-hour period on the fourth weekend of June. For 2021 the event takes place during a 27-hour period from 1800 UTC on Saturday June 26, 2021 through 2100 UTC on Sunday June 27, 2021. Those who set up prior to 1800 UTC on June 26 can operate only 24 hours. The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT) promotes its own version of Field Day for operation via the amateur satellites, held concurrently with the ARRL event. This year should be as easy as last year since we have more than 10 transponders and repeaters available. Users should check the AMSAT status page at http://www.amsat.org/status/ and the pages at https://www.amsat.org/two-way-satellites/ for what is available in the weeks leading up to field day. To reduce the amount of time to research each satellite, see the current FM satellite table at: https://www.amsat.org/fm-satellite-frequency-summary/ and the current linear satellite table at: https://www.amsat.org/linear-satellite-frequency-summary/ Additional information is found at: https://www.amsat.org/field-day/ [ANS thanks Bruce Paige, KK5DO, AMSAT Director Contests and Awards and Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, ANS editor for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- VUCC Awards-Endorsements for April 1 2021 Here are the endorsements and new VUCC Satellite Awards issued by the ARRL for the period March 1, 2021 through April 1, 2021. Congratulations to all those who made the list this month! CALL Mar Mar N9EAT 784 843 NS3L 650 681 W7QL 510 563 KJ4EU 471 506 VA3NNA 300 504 K0JM 403 500 N1PEB (EL98) 255 500 MI6GTY 460 461 KB9STR 353 431 KC9UQR 400 427 KS1G 360 413 WA4HFN 102 413 K5TA 302 400 W8LR 353 400 VE4MM 279 304 WB7QXU 252 303 VU2LBW 260 300 W4ALF 200 300 K4RGK 214 278 NA1ME 200 225 KN2K 155 200 N7ZO 116 200 XE2YWH 137 187 LW2DAF 166 182 NK1K New 179 DL6KBG 125 150 N8MR New 115 N2CJ 100 103 AF5D New 102 W7KRS New 101 AC9DX New 100 W3FGP 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 most of the work! - Ron W5RKN [ANS thanks Ron Parsons, W5RKN 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! +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ WOUB Broadcast Operations Supervisor Terry Douds, N8KI, AMSAT-NA member is honored. ATHENS, OH During Broadcast Operations Supervisor Terry Douds nearly 16 years working at WOUB Public Media, there have been many changes in regard to technology and how the station runs. But, Douds has rolled with the changes and couldnt be more proud of the work he is doing. I was originally hired as a broadcast technician and was promoted to broadcast operations supervisor in 2008, said Douds. At that time, the Engineering Department oversaw Master Control. We worked 24/7 to insure that WOUB stayed on the air. Later that part of operations shifted to the Traffic Department, so now were doing regular engineering tasks, such as design of systems, installation of new equipment, and overseeing what we call In-House Engineering; another team within Engineering handles field work and our transmitter sites. A big part of the training for me for this job came from amateur radio. I became a Ham Operator in November 1968, when I was in 7th grade, said Douds. I later became active in amateur satellite work, another part of amateur radio where we designed satellites and have them launched into space. More at: https://bit.ly/3rKpBxI [ANS thanks Mark Johns, K0JM, AMSAT News Service Editor and WOUB.org for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- NASA TV to Air First US Commercial Crew Port Relocation on Space Station NASA's SpaceX Crew-1 astronauts aboard the International Space Station will mark another first for commercial spaceflight Monday, April 5, when the four astronauts will relocate the Crew Dragon spacecraft to prepare for the arrival of new crew members in late April and the upcoming delivery of new solar arrays this summer. Live coverage will begin at 1000z on NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency's website. NASA astronauts Mike Hopkins, KF5LJG, Victor Glover, KI5BKC, and Shannon Walker, KD5DXB, along with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Soichi Noguchi, KD5TVP, will undock Crew Dragon Resilience from the forward port of the station's Harmony module at 1029z and dock to the space-facing port at 1115z. The relocation will free Harmony's forward port for the docking of Crew Dragon Endeavour, set to carry four crew members to the station on NASA's SpaceX Crew-2 mission. NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough, KE5HOD, and Megan McArthur, JAXA astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, KE5DNI, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet, KG5FYG, are scheduled to launch to the station Thursday, April 22, from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. [ANS thanks NASA for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Perseverance rover begins steps to deploy Mars helicopter NASAs Ingenuity helicopter is being lowered from the belly of the Perseverance rover this week as ground teams run through a choreographed long-distance command sequence to safely release the $80 million rotorcraft onto the surface of Mars. The slow, step-by-step deployment is projected to take around six days, assuming everything goes as planned. The first command uplinked from engineers at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory was to release a launch lock that kept the Ingenuity helicopter firmly attached to the belly of the Perseverance rover during the journey to Mars. Additional information may be found at: https://bit.ly/3dv06vv [ANS thanks Stephen Clark of SpaceFlightNow.com 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/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Launch Watch: Upcoming in April There will be several notable launches this month. Unfortunately there are no new amateur satellites in the immediate offing. A Falcon 9/Starlink #23 launch is scheduled for April 7 from Cape Canaveral. April 9, The new command crew for the ISS will be launched from Baikonur to start Mission 65. On April 22, SpaceX/NASA commercial Crew Flight #2 is scheduled for launch on the reused Falcon 9 from the Crew-1 mission and the Crew Dragon capsule from the Endeavor Demo-2 mission. The Crew-1 astronauts will return shortly thereafter. [ANS thanks SpaceX, NASA, and ROSCOMOS 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-NA TLE Distribution for April 1, 2021 The following satellites have been added to this week's AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution: Maya-2 - NORAD Cat ID 47929. OPUSAT-II - NORAD Cat ID 47930. CubeSX-Sirius-HSE - NORAD Cat ID 47951 Thanks to Nico Janssen, PA0DLO for the identification of these satellites. The following satellites have been removed from this week's AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution: OBJECT B - NORAD Cat ID 47310 OBJECT D - NORAD Cat ID 47312 OBJECT E - NORAD Cat ID 47313 OBJECT G - NORAD Cat ID 47315 OBJECT J - NORAD Cat ID 47317 OBJECT K - NORAD Cat ID 47318 OBJECT M - NORAD Cat ID 47320 OBJECT N - NORAD Cat ID 47345 The above objects are non-amateur radio satellites associated with a launch carrying amateur radio satellites. As the amateur radio satellites have been identified from that launch, these objects are no longer of interest. [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 4, 2021 The School of Information Technology & Mathematical Sciences, Southern Hemisphere Space Studies Program 2021, Mawson Lakes, SA, Australia, telebridge via NA7V 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 Shannon Walker KD5DXB Contact is go for: Tue 2021-04-06 11:27:49 UTC 34 deg via IK1SLD. Watch for livestream at https://tinyurl.com/ISSLINKUP2021 Kaluga Regional schools, Kaluga, 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 Sergey Kud-Sverchkov. Watch for Tue 2021-04-06 13:10 UTC St. Petersburg, 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 Sergey Ryzhikov. Watch for Wed 2021-04-07 12:20 UTC [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: DN58 look for #NO7G on SSB sats over the next week (3/25 4/4) AA5PK: Thinking a trip to EM01 Saturday (4/3) is in order. N3CRT: Activating ***Delaware*** via satellite -FM and Linear- at Fort Mott State Park FM29fo this Saturday April 3rd 12z-20z and possibly later. WL7T: Had to cancel Maine. Too expensive to change flights this close to departure. EL58 is rescheduled for April 11. Will be driving from EM26 to EL59, so might be stopping along the way for a few contacts starting a day or two before April 11. 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. Please submit any additions or corrections to Ke0pbr (at) gmail.com Updated 03/31/2021 [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT rover page manager for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events From Larry Manaev, RN3AG: "We invite your members to take part in the Yuri Gagarin International DX Contest 2021. Date: from 21.00 UTC on April 10 till 21.00 UTC on April 11, 2021. Modes: CW only. Satellite categories: SAT - Single operator - Satellite QSOs. SAT-GS - Single operator - Geostationary Satellite QSOs (QO-100). Contest rules: http://gc.qst.ru/en/section/32" AMSAT Ambassador, Tom Zimmerman W9TTY, will be exhibiting at the DeKalb Hamfest, Sandwich, Illinois on May 2, 2021. This hamfest SW of Chicago will feature a presentation for hams curious about Amateur Radio in Space and how to work the easy sats. Info on Kishwaukee Amateur Radio Club Webpage www.kare-club.org AMSAT Ambassador Clint Bradford K6CLS is planning a presentation on 06/15 to a club in East Massachusetts. 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 + AMSAT Vice President - Engineering Jerry Buxton, N0JY, appeared on the April 1, 2021 episode of Ham Talk Live to discuss the latest status of AMSAT satellite development. A replay of the episode can be heard at https://www.spreaker.com/user/hamtalklive/episode-253-amsat-satellite-engine ering- [ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information] + Frank Garofalo, WA2NDV sends a thank you note to all who participated in the Last Man Standing special event. He says "I had the pleasure to work 111 contacts as W6S over the course of the week. If you made at least one contact you can download a certificate in around 4 weeks time. Just check the QRZ page for information. The official numbers are not yet in but there were approximately 60 thousand contacts made across all frequencies and modes." He continues: "I was also very careful not to interfere with any rover operations during the event." [ANS thanks Frank Garofalo, WA2NDV for the above information] + SpaceXs latest high-altitude Starship test flight ends in another explosion. SpaceXs latest Starship test flight apparently ended with another explosion Tuesday in South Texas, but dense fog obscured clear views of the launch and failed landing. The Federal Aviation Administration said late Tuesday it is working with SpaceX to determine if light debris reported in a nearby town came from the Starship test rocket. [ANS thanks Stephen Clark of SpaceFlightNow.com for the above information] +Biden administration renews mandate for National Space Council. President Biden will renew the National Space Council, a space policy group revived by the Trump White House after 25 years of dormancy, to assist in generating national space policies, strategies, and synchronizing Americas space activities, an administration spokesman said Monday. A spokesman for the National Security Council said the Biden administration is renewing the National Space Council at a time of unprecedented activity and opportunity generated by Americas activities in space. [ANS thanks Stephen Clark of SpaceFlightNow.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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ANS-087 AMSAT Weekly News Bulletin
by n1uw＠gokarns.com 28 Mar '21

28 Mar '21

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-087 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: * Soyuz-2.1a Launch – Amateur Radio Satellites Deployed * Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for March 25, 2021 * FUNcube-1 Transponder Status * Amateur Radio Gets a Partial Reprieve on 3.5 GHz * FO-29 Operation Schedule for April 2021 * DIY-1 Argentine Pocketqube Deployed * Last Man Standing Special Event Station W6S in Space * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Upcoming Satellite Operations * ARISS News * Satellite Shorts from All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-087.01 ANS-087 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 087.01 From AMSAT HQ, 712 H Street NE, Ste 1653, Washington DC 20002 March 28, 2021 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-087.01 Soyuz-2.1a Launch – Amateur Radio Satellites Deployed The Soyuz-2.1a LV was launched from Baikonur in Kazakhstan on March 22, 2021. The following satellites, operating in frequency bands allocated to the amateur satellite service have been coordinated by the IARU Satellite Frequency Coordination Panel: • Beesat-5 • Beesat-6 • Beesat-7 • Beesat-8 • FEES • SMOG • GRBAlpha • KSU_Cubesat • DIY-1 • STECCO • CubeSX-HSE • CubeSX-Sirius-HSE • Orbicraft-Zorkiy • NanoSatC-BR2 Operating in frequency bands allocated to the Amateur Satellite Service without IARU frequency coordination is KMSL. Additional satellites may follow. Operating in frequency bands allocated to the amateur satellite service while the IARU Satellite Frequency Coordination Panel has declined coordination are UNISAT-7 and WildTrackCube-Simba. Further information including the IARU coordinated frequencies at http://amsat.org.uk/iaru/ [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! -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for March 25, 2021 The following satellites have been added to this week's AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution: RSP-01 - NORAD Cat ID 47925 (Thanks to Nico Janssen, PA0DLO). TAUSAT-1 - NORAD Cat ID 47926 (Thanks to Nico Janssen, PA0DLO). Tsuru - NORAD Cat ID 47927 (Thanks to Celestrak). STARS-EC - NORAD Cat ID 47928 (Thanks to Nico Janssen, PA0DLO). The latest and complete set of AMSAT orbital elements for Amateur satellites in NASA format are always available at: https://mailman.amsat.org/hyperkitty/list/[email protected] [ANS thanks Ray Hoad, WA5QGD for the above information.] WA5QGD -------------------------------------------------------------------- FUNcube-1 Transponder Status Dave Johnson, G4DPZ reports that the FUNcube team put FUNcube-1 (AO-73) into full time high power telemetry mode on March 9 2021. The move was made to test the response of the battery and power amplifier temperatures as the satellite starts to enter an eclipse period. This has thrown up some interesting thermal responses within the satellite, but nothing threatening. The battery temperatures have gone down in response to the power amplifier consuming and dissipating more energy. The team will be reviewing the move back to transponder mode in the next few days and will publish the timeline here and on other social media channels. Dave adds, "As always we should like to express our thanks to all those who capture data packets and upload them to the data warehouse." The data warehouse can be accessed at http://data.funcube.org.uk/ui/fc1-fm. [ANS thanks Dave Johnson, G4DPZ 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/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Amateur Radio Gets a Partial Reprieve on 3.5 GHz Pending future FCC action, amateur radio secondary use of the 3.3 – 3.45 GHz band segment may continue indefinitely. The FCC, as part of a lengthy Second Report and Order (R&O) for commercial licensing of 3.45 – 3.55 GHz adopted on March 17, agreed with ARRL that continued access by amateur radio to 3.3 – 3.45 GHz should be allowed until consideration of the 3.1-3.45 GHz spectrum in a later proceeding. The FCC action in WT Docket 19-348 represents a partial — and temporary — reprieve from the FCC’s December 2019 proposal to remove amateur radio from the entire band, and it makes available an additional 50 megahertz than an FCC proposal last fall to allow amateur temporary use of 3.3 – 3.4 GHz. This allows “amateur operations to continue in the lower portion of the band while the [FCC and federal government users] continue to analyze whether that spectrum can be reallocated for flexible use,” the FCC said. The FCC had proposed splitting the band at 3.4 GHz, permitting amateur use in 100 megahertz of spectrum “while also providing a buffer to protect flexible-use operations at the lower edge of the 3.45 GHz band.” Amateur secondary operation in the 3.45 – 3.50 GHz band must cease 90 days after public notice that the spectrum auction has closed and licensing has begun. That is expected to happen early in 2022. The FCC announced the opening of 3.45 – 3.55 GHz for auction to commercial 5G interests on March 17. “There is no expectation that such operations will be accommodated in future planning for commercial wireless operations in this spectrum, or that amateur operators will receive more than a short period of notice before their operations must cease,” the FCC said. Read the entire story at tinyurl.com/ANS-087-Reprieve. [ANS thanks the ARRL for the above information.] -------------------------------------------------------------------- FO-29 Operation Schedule for April 2021 The times shown in the table below are the start times. Due to its low battery, the transponder is activated by schedule in Japan. It remains active until the voltage drops to a safe level. April 2021 (UTC) 3rd 01:20- 03:05- 4th 00:25- 02:10- 10th 00:10- 01:55- 11th 01:00- 02:45- 17th 00:45- 02:30- 18th 01:35- 03:20- 24th 01:20- 03:05- 25th 00:25- 02:10- [ANS thanks Hideo-JH3XCU for the above information.] -------------------------------------------------------------------- DIY-1 Argentine Pocketqube Deployed Gustavo Carpignano, LW2DTZ reports that the DIY-1 pocketqube satellite was deployed from the UNISAT-7 platform on the morning of March 24, 2021. The UNISAT-7 platform was launched with a Soyuz-2 rocket on March 22,2021 from Baikonur in a rideshare mission. Currently, DIY-1 is transmitting in 437.125 MHz in RTTY 100 baud at 7N2 with a shift of 450 Hz in USB. TLE 2021-22F or 2021-22J can be used for track. Once we see its status the robot mode will be activated shortly. Telemetry reports are appreciated. [ANS thanks Gustavo Carpignano, LW2DTZ 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 +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Last Man Standing Special Event Station W6S in Space Frank Garofalo, WA2NDV will be operating W6S from FN30 as one of many special event stations for the finale of the TV show Last Man Standing. This show's main character portrayed an Amateur Radio operator and had an actual working station on the set. Amateur Radio was woven into several episodes in a positive light. The show's Executive Producer is also a ham. The event is across all bands and modes and ends on March 30, 2021 at 23:59 GMT. Certificates can be downloaded after he event concludes. Frank will be operating on linear and FM satellites. On FM sats Frank reports that he will not transmit if there is a rover active on the pass and will not make more than 5 contacts a pass as to not monopolize an FM satellite. For more info please see http://www.gsbarc.org/lms/ [ANS thanks Frank Garofalo, WA2NDV for the above information.] -------------------------------------------------------------------- Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events Want to see AMSAT in action or learn more about amateur radio in space? 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 has the following presentation scheduled: 04/01 – Orem, Utah For more information contact Clint Bradford, K6LCS http://www.work-sat.com 909-999-SATS (7287) [ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information.] -------------------------------------------------------------------- Upcoming Satellite Operations EL58 - April 1, 2021 W7LT: EL58 on April 1 then more to come. Thinking Maine for the first weekend in April. Taking requests. EM96 - March 29, 2021 K4DCA:If anyone needs EM96, he’ll be there the week of March 29 operating vacation style. Linear and FM with Twitter updates. EN01 - April 3, 2021 KE0WPA and ND0C: There is a rumor going around that they (@kylee_ke0wpa and I) may do a quick rove down to EN01 on Saturday, April 3. Linears and FM. I know some of our friends need that one and it is sitting at 46%. DN58 – March 25 - April 4, 2021 #NO7G will be on SSB sats over the next week [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 + Upcoming Contacts Republic of Tatarstan, 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 Sergey Kud-Sverchkov. Contact is go for Sunday, March 28 at 15:30 UTC. Ufa, 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 Sergey Ryzhikov. Contact is go for Monday, March 29, 2021 at 14:40 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 scheduled astronaut is Sergey Kud-Sverchkov. Contact is go for Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at 15:25 UTC. Amur State University, Blagoveshchensk, 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 Sergey Ryzhikov. Contact is go for Wednesday, March 31, 2021 at 08:25 UTC. High School in Kaluga, Kaluga, 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 Sergey Kud-Sverchkov. Watch for Monday, April 5, 2021 at 12:20 UTC. Kaluga Regional schools, Kaluga, 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 Sergey Kud-Sverchkov. Watch for Tuesday, April 6, 2021 at 13:10 UTC. St. Petersburg, 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 Sergey Ryzhikov. Watch for Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at 12:20 UTC. + Previously Scheduled Contacts Oakwood School, Morgan Hill, CA, Multi-point Telebridge via IK1SLD. The ISS callsign was scheduled to be OR4ISS. The downlink frequency was scheduled to be 145.800 MHz. The scheduled astronaut was Shannon Walker KD5DXB. Contact was successful on Monday, March 22, 2021 at 18:27:49 UTC. The School of Information Technology & Mathematical Sciences, Southern Hemisphere Space Studies Program 2021, Mawson Lakes, SA, Australia, telebridge via NA7V. The ISS callsign scheduled was NA1SS. The downlink frequency was scheduled to be 145.800 MHz. The scheduled astronaut was Mike Hopkins KF5LJG. Contact was unsuccessful on Wednesday, March 24, 2021 at 07:51:16 UTC. This was due to unavailability of Mike at the last minute as he had to attend to operational matters. The contact will be rescheduled. A multi-point telebridge contact means that each student will be on the telebridge from their own home. 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-EA English Language Newsletter Available Spain's amateur satellite organization AMSAT-EA has released the English language PDF version of their newsletter for March 2021 for free download. It features: o UVSQ-SAT o EASAT-2 and HADES satellites o 3D modeling of a satellite tracking system o First EA-SM contact on FT4 via RS-44 satellite You can download the PDF from: https://amsat-ea.org/app/download/12682823/AMSAT-EA-Newsletter_03-2021.pdf. [ANS thanks Southgate ARC for the above information.] + Ham Radio Live! Show 163 on Amateur Radio Satellite Service Larry Deyoe, K7HN hosts a podcast on YouTube targeted at potential hams and new hams and his latest episode is focused on Amateur Radio satellites. He includes a video of Larry Shaunce, WD0AKX working astronaut Serena Auñón-Chancellor on the ISS as well as a video of a hamfest demo in which John Brier, KG4AKV made 18 QSOs over AO-91. Watch the complete video at: https://youtu.be/QF_HaMBEOLM?t=1318 [ANS thanks John Brier, KG4AKV for the above information.] + RSGB Radio Surfer Award Includes Space Challenges The RSGB has announced its new Radio Surfer Award aimed at young people but open to everyone regardless of age, there's no need to even be an RSGB member. The idea is to pick challenges from a list and gain sufficient points to match your age. Among the space related challenges are: - Get a message from space (satellite, EME, ISS) - Pull images off a satellite / ISS Find out more about the Radio Surfer Award at: https://rsgb.org/main/operating/amateur-radio-awards/youth-award/radio-surf… [ANS thanks JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM and the RSGB for the above information.] + K0FFY Interactive QSL for FalconSAT-3 Adam Whitney, K0FFY, has posted an "Interactive QSL" to the FalconSAT-3 BBS in the form of a Commodore 64 binary suitable for running on emulators or real vintage hardware. For a screen shot of the program running see the following tweet from Scott Chapman, K4KDR: (https://twitter.com/K0FFY_Radio/status/1375169922469396480) Download your copy from the FalconSAT-3 BBS today! [ANS thanks Paul Stoetzer, N8HM for the above information.] + Astroscale Sends its First Space-Sweeper to Orbit Astroscale, the Japanese startup that wants to remove dangerous clutter from an already congested space environment, reached a critical milestone with the successful launch of its ELSA-D debris removal spacecraft early Monday morning. Once in orbit and activated, the ELSA-D will conduct a six-month “End-of-Life” on-orbit servicing demonstration. Astroscale said the mission, which is licensed by the UK Space Agency, is the world’s first commercial mission to demonstrate the core technologies necessary for space debris docking and removal. Read the full story at: tinyurl.com/ANS-087-Sweeper. [ANS thanks SatteliteToday.com 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-080 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Paul Stoetzer 21 Mar '21

21 Mar '21

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-080 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: * January/February 2021 Issue of The AMSAT Journal Now Available * Apogee View - January/February 2021 * AMSAT Vice President - Engineering Jerry Buxton, N0JY, Presents at JAMSAT Symposium * ARISS Columbus Radio Station Once Again Operational! * Houston AMSAT Net #1400 and 28 Years * Soyuz Launch Carrying Several Amateur Radio Payloads Delayed * Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for March 18, 2021 * ARISS News * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Satellite Shorts From All Over AMSAT News Service Bulletin 080.01 To: All RADIO AMATEURS From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation 712 H Street NE Suite 1653 Washington, DC 20002 DATE 2021 Mar 21 -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- 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! -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- January/February 2021 Issue of The AMSAT Journal Now Available The January/February 2021 issue of The AMSAT Journal is now available to AMSAT members on AMSAT’s Member Portal. The AMSAT Journal is a bi-monthly digital magazine for amateur radio in space enthusiasts, published by the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT). Each issue is your source for hardware and software projects, technical tips, STEM initiatives, operational activities, and news from around the world. Inside the Current Issue: * Apogee View – Robert Bankston, KE4AL * For Beginners — Amateur Radio Satellite Primer IX – Keith Baker, KB1SF/VA3KSF * The Yolinda Lindenblad: A Wideband Omnidirectional Circularly-polarized Antenna – Lapo Pieri, IK5NAX * Martha Saragovitz Retires – Keith Baker, KB1SF/VA3KSF & Joe Kornowski, KB6IGK AMSAT members can access the Journal at https://launch.amsat.org/The_AMSAT_Journal. Not a member? Join today at https://launch.amsat.org/ [ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Apogee View - January/February 2021 These past two months have certainly been an emotional rollercoaster, with the launch and then silence from RadFxSat-2 (Fox-1E). Getting a front row seat at Virgin Orbit’s virtual launch event was a thrilling event for me. I only wish they would have allowed us to share that opportunity with all of you. The excitement of another AMSAT satellite in space, however, faded quickly, with each passing orbit and no beacon reception report. As disheartening as this was, I was never more proud of our Engineering and Operations teams, working together in an attempt to command RadFxSat-2. While all this was going on, Brad Schumacher, W5SAT, reported hearing his own CW signal through RadFxSat-2’s transponder, on January 27th. Our Engineering and Operations team were able to duplicate Brad’s efforts and confirm that RadFxSat-2’s transponder was partially functioning, although at an extremely reduced power. Having satisfied the requirements for OSCAR designation, RadFxSat-2 (Fox-1E) was designated AMSAT-OSCAR 109 (AO-109). Our attempts to determine what is keeping AO-109 from functioning properly continues to this day. Receiving the beacon is still our top priority, as one frame of telemetry will give us a much needed look on the health of each subsystem. We know the signal is going to be weak and will require a big antenna system to hear it. Any assistance you can provide would be greatly appreciated; however, we continue to ask that amateur satellite operators not attempt to use the transponder until further notice, as this may draw available power away from the beacon. I want to personally thank all of our volunteers on the engineering and operations team for all of their hard work, our friends at Vanderbilt University’s Institute for Space and Defense Electronics for sharing this dream with us, and each of you for your patience and understanding as we seek to overcome this challenge. Will There Be a Fox-2? AO-109 (RadFxSat-2/Fox-1E) marks the last of the planned Fox-1 series of CubeSats. At the same time, while SO-50 continues to operate in LEO, AMSAT finds itself without a continuously operational FM-mode satellite in space. Since AO-51, the so-called “EasySats,” have been the most popular amateur satellites. AO-85, AO-91, and AO-92 have proven that offering an easy-to-use and easily accessible satellite, requiring only a handheld transceiver and a small, handheld directional beam, is essential both for those just getting started on amateur satellites and seasoned operators. In addition, these EasySats play a critical role in introducing amateur satellite communication and extending our educational outreach. It is imperative that we find a way to provide a sustained presence of FM crossband repeaters in low Earth orbit, without taking away from our current plans to return to high Earth orbits, and I will be making such a proposal to our Board of Directors in the coming months. If the challenges and shortened lives of AMSAT’s Fox-1 series of satellites has taught us anything, it is that trying to shoehorn all of the required subsystems and experiments into a spacecraft no bigger than a softball is no easy feat. We must simplify our designs yet add robustness and redundancy. By chance, AO-7 rose from the dead when its batteries shorted. We need this capability designed into our electrical power system, so, when the batteries fail, the radios are still powered by the solar panels when the satellite is not in eclipse. In addition, we need to ensure no single point of failure jeopardizes our mission. Including redundancy and failsafes in our design will provide added assurance. Another challenge for us is that AMSAT does not have another FM crossband repeater in its inventory to use for a future satellite, because the necessary components have been discontinued. AMSAT is working on procuring a new, open design for not only our needs but to share with the rest of the world. More information on our plans to accomplish this will follow in a few months. Running more than one satellite project at the same time will be challenging. With limited volunteer and financial resources, we must make smart decisions. GOLF-TEE and GOLF-1 are still our primary projects, as we continue our march upward to HEO, so we must find ways to recruit additional volunteer engineers, use commercial, off-the-shelf components, outsource construction, and/or a combination thereof. We have a great opportunity before us, but it is only possible with your support. Your continued membership in AMSAT, purchases in the AMSAT Store, and generous donations, combined with the cost-cutting measures I have recently enacted will help us get there. Please join us in our journey Onward and Upward. [ANS thanks Robert Bankston, KE4AL, AMSAT President, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT Vice President - Engineering Jerry Buxton, N0JY, Presents at JAMSAT Symposium AMSAT Vice President Jerry Buxton, N0JY, gave a presentation detailing some of the challenges and work being done to return to HEO at the 2021 JAMSAT Symposium on March 20th. A replay of the presentation can be viewed at https://youtu.be/b8K3k1RnJMQ?t=3440 [ANS thanks Jerry Buxton, N0JY, AMSAT Vice President - Engineering for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Need new satellite antennas? Purchase Arrows, Alaskan Arrows, and M2 LEO-Packs from the AMSAT Store. When you purchase through AMSAT, a portion of the proceeds goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space. https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ ARISS Columbus Radio System Once Again Operational! The ARISS Columbus Radio is back on-the-air! This, after it was rendered non-operational following a January 27 EVA (spacewalk) which was conducted to install a cable for the Bartolomeo commercial platform. During the January 27 spacewalk, the Bartolomeo HMU-601 cable, described in the March 10 ARISS Press conference ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hm4h4rBE9k&t=2214s), was installed in series with the ARISS antenna cable (HMU-895). As part of a spacewalk conducted yesterday, March 13, Astronaut Michael Hopkins successfully completed the installation of three PAPOS connectors for the new Bartolomeo platform on the Columbus Module. After this task, Hopkins started the ARISS task. He moved to the opposite side of Columbus, where he removed the HMU-601 cable from the APCU J02 connector and reinstalled the ARISS antenna cable (HMU-895) connector back into the APCU J02 connector. This returned the ARISS system back to its pre-January 27 configuration. At around 1200 UTC today, the astronauts turned on the ARISS radio system in Columbus. It was placed in PM3, or Packet Mode. PM3 employs a downlink frequency of 145.825 MHz. Shortly after radio startup, APRS signals were heard in California, Utah, and Idaho as the ISS passed along the USA West Coast. ARISS Team member, Christy Hunter, KB6LTY, confirmed she digipeated through the ARISS radio system, NA1SS, during this pass. With confirmation from additional stations in South America and the Middle East, the ARISS team has declared the radio system again operational. On behalf of the ARISS International Team, our heartfelt thanks to all that helped ARISS work through the cable anomaly investigation, troubleshooting and ultimate repair. Special shout-outs go to the ISS crew, the operations and engineering teams at NASA, ESA and Airbus, and ARISS-Russia leader Sergey Samburov, RV3DR, whose quick actions allowed ARISS to maintain our school contact operations via the ARISS Service Module radio system. Our deepest appreciation also goes out to the ARISS International hardware and operations teams that worked so diligently to analyze, troubleshoot, develop operations procedures, move school contact operations, and inform the team and the public. The ARISS team would also like to congratulate the ESA/Airbus Bartolomeo team! With the successful installation of 3 of the PAPOS connectors, as part of yesterday’s spacewalk, Bartolomeo is now operational! Yesterday was a great day for all! Ad Astra! [ANS thanks Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, ARISS International Chair and ARISS-USA Executive Director, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Houston AMSAT Net #1400 and 28 Years It has been some 28 years since I first became involved with the Houston AMSAT Net. Andy, W5ACM, (then WA5ZIB), Marty, WV5Y, (then WD5DZC) and I were staples on the net. Ed, N5EM, was the host back then. Ed backed off and Andy took over. Andy and Marty were doing the net many years prior to my joining. I started numbering the nets in 1993. If you missed this special net, you can stream it from my website http://www.amsatnet.com click on Our Audio and select Net #1400. You can also listen as a podcast at the iTunes store by searching for KK5DO or AMSAT. Andy has been under the weather and not able to join us for this net. We have had fun over the years and we have done many different things. I did a little history from the beginning until today. If you have a chance take a listen. [ANS thanks Bruce Paige, KK5DO, AMSAT Director, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Soyuz Launch Carrying Several Amateur Radio Payloads Delayed A Soyuz rocket carrying several amateur payloads was scrubbed from its planned launch at 06:07 UTC on March 20, 2021. The launch is now planned for 06:07 UTC on March 22, 2021. This launch carries several amateur radio payloads. Details below are compiled from AMSAT-BB posts over the past several days. DIY-1: On 03/22/2021 between 11:55 and 11:58 UTC, three radio amateur pocketqubes will be deployed from the mothership UNISAT-7: DIY-1, SMOG-1 and STECCO. DIY-1 / ARDUIQUBE (ARGENTINA): Frequency: 437.125 MHz USB/CW Power: 25/50/100 mW. Telemetry: RTTY 100BD 7N2, 15 ppm CW. ROBOT CW autotransponder, (like RS-5 / RS-7 / RS10-11 soviet satellites) Antenna: dipole At the time of deployment DIY will be in low power until verifying the status of the battery and will be sending only telemetry in an RTTY sentence. It is recommended to receive it with the FLDIGI-HAB program. Once the operation and battery charge are verified, the ROBOT will be activated and we hope it will be the delight of the CW enthusiasts. Much more info once in orbit. I appreciate the reception reports. (Gustavo Carpignano, LW2DTZ) BCCSAT-1: Editor's Note: BCCSAT-1 has not been coordinated by the IARU. BCCSAT-1 is an educational multi-spectral Cubesat 1U developed by the cooperation between Bangkok Christian College and the King’s Mongkut university of technology north Bangkok. http://bccsat.bcc.ac.th/ Schedule When our cubesat is completely finished it will be launched into space in March 22,2021 06.07 AM UTC at Russia with the Soyuz-2.1 rocket by UNISAT-7 GAUSS SRL to the low earth orbit at 575 km. http://en.roscosmos.ru/21973/ and https://www.roscosmos.ru/30285/ Downlink Frequency Beacon 435.635 MHz CW https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPpSTEf3PUI Slow Scan Digital Video SSDV Data 435.635 MHz AFSK 1.2 kbps Telemetry Data 435.635 MHz GMSK 9.6 kbps After launch into space if AMSAT member receives the CW signal of BCCSAT-1 satellite. please send information to our team directly an email to: bccsat1(a)gmail.com BCCSAT-1 is a technology demonstration satellite in Thailand. High school students in Bangkok Cristian College in collaboration with King Mongkut’s University of Technology (KMUTNB) and the Radio Amateur Society of Thailand (RAST) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEcg5q7ZBw0 are building the satellite. The project aims to build capacity on systems engineering, space education, and radio communication technology to students. During the project, students will learn about communication technology through amateur radio activities. It also encourages other interested people to receive the satellite signal. The main missions of BCCSAT-1 include: (1) testing in-house developed satellite transceiver and antenna in orbit (2) experiment of Slow-Scan Digital Video (SSDV) transmission from the satellite (3) take pictures of Earth by cameras onboard satellite BCCSAT-1 communication subsystem is an in-house developed transceiver and antennas. It has the capability to transmit GMSK modulation signal at 9.6 kbps, FSK for SSDV at 1.2 kbps and receive AFSK signal at 1.2 kbps. The transceiver will send its parameter such as RSSI and temperature to the ground station. BCCSAT-1 will carry four cameras onboard the satellite and aim to capture images of the Earth in different wavelengths: red, green, blue, NIR, and Red Edge band. We hope to process the images acquired for the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and widely used in Science education. The images will be widely distributed among amateur radio community via the experiment of SSDV transmission system and GMSK packets downlink. Moreover, BCCSAT-1 will be able to transmit pre-stored images chosen by high school students. BCCSAT-1 will provide the multi spectral images by having the total of 5 cameras on board; Red, Green, Blue, NIR, and Red Edge bands. The images we get from these cameras will be used to process for the Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), that will significantly provides huge advantage on analyzing the terrain of the country. (Tanan Rangseeprom, HS1JAN) STECCO: In July 2020 AMSAT Italy and the School of Aerospace Engineering (SIA) of the University "La Sapienza" in Rome, represented respectively by Dr. Emanuele D'Andria and Dr. Paolo Teofilatto, signed an agreement to collaborate in a synergic way to achieve common objectives including the development of satellites and the study of related disciplines in the space field. And it is within this agreement that was born the collaboration for the development of the STECCO satellite, acronym for Space Travelling Egg-Controlled Catadioptric Object. The satellite aims to test an innovative attitude control device and at the same time to implement an amateur radio digipeater. The repeater will be always active simultaneously with the other functions of the satellite. STECCO will operate both in uplink and downlink at the frequency of 435.800 Mhz, 9600 baud FSK modulation, G3RUH coding, AX.25 protocol. Beacon and telemetry info are available on the project web site [1] STECCO will be launched together with other satellites on March 22, 2021 at 6:07 am GMT from the Bajkonur cosmodrome, Kazakistan, on a Soyuz-2 rocket, in heliosynchronous orbit. Preliminary TLEs calculated on the estimated launch parameters are available on the same project web site. [1] The amateur radio community is also invited to share the satellite telemetry sending the data to the AMSAT Italia secretariat [segreteria] at [ amsat.it]. IARU coordination info are available at http://www.amsatuk.me.uk/iaru/formal_detail.php?serialnum=782 [1] https://sites.google.com/uniroma1.it/stecco-sia/radio-amateurs?authuser=0 (Fabrizio IU5GEZ on behalf of AMSAT Italia) [ANS thanks the sources listed for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for March 18, 2021 The following satellite has been added BACK to this week's AMSAT TLE Distribution: Delfi-N3xt - NORAD Cat ID 39428. This satellite has come back to life after seven years of silence. (Remember AO-07 coming back after 21 years of silence?) Thanks to AMSAT News Service Bulletin 073 (Mark Johns, K0JM) for this very good news. The following satellite has decayed from orbit and has been removed from this week's AMSAT TLE Distribution: Delphini - NORAD Cat ID 44030 (Decayed 3-14-2021 per Space-Track). (I am pretty sure it won't come back!) [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. Come along for the ride. The journey will be worth it! https://tinyurl.com/ANS-GOLF +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ ARISS News The next contacts are probably going to be via the Kenwood TM-D710E radio located in the Service Module. You may or may not notice a difference in signal when compared to the Kenwood TM-710GA that is in the Columbus module. Goodwood Primary School, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, telebridge via NA7V 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 Shannon Walker KD5DXB (***) Contact was successful: Wed 2021-03-17 08:32:31 UTC 33 deg (***) Oakwood School, Morgan Hill, CA, 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 Shannon Walker KD5DXB Contact is go for: Mon 2021-03-22 18:27:49 UTC 66 deg The School of Information Technology & Mathematical Sciences, Southern Hemisphere Space Studies Program 2021, Mawson Lakes, SA, Australia, telebridge via NA7V 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 Shannon Walker KD5DXB Contact is go for: Wed 2021-03-24 07:51:16 UTC 45 deg 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 ****Watch Twitter, there are lots pop-up roves happening lately, and I can’t keep this page updated with all of them.**** EL58: WL7T: EL58 happening April 1 … more to come. And then thinking Maine for the first weekend in April. Taking requests … EA5GX: Hi guys in 22/3/21 I will be in the RS44 7:41 in the morning pass and in afternoon 13:22 UTC around 345.645 from IM99 to Anyone want try qso. he will also be: Hi guys in 22/3/21 I will be in the RS44 7:41 in the morning pass and in afternoon 13:22 UTC around 345.645 from 4 grid IM99, JN00, JM09, IN90 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. 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, is certainly keeping busy! He reports these upcoming satellite presentation dates … 04/01 - Orem, Utah 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 Clint Bradford, K6LCS, AMSAT Ambassador, and Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT Events Page Manager, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + AMSAT congratulates long-time satellite operator John Papay, K8YSE, on 60 years of being a licensed radio amateur. He has been operating as K8YSE/60 to celebrate the milestone. (Via Bob Liddy, K8BL) + Some hams in Europe were able to receive Falcon 9 launch telemetry at 2232.5 MHz with a HackRF and 1.2m dish and then demodulate it with GNU Radio. Impressive work, and somewhat surprising that the data isn’t encrypted. They were able to decode live video streams from the upper stage’s engineering cameras, including one of free-floating fuel in the LOX tank, which SpaceX livestream editors tend to switch away from. (ANS thanks The Orbital Index and reddit for the above information) + A published paper by a pair of actual physicists at Cornell University, handily entitled “Warp drive basics,” theorizes about warp drives (as in Star Trek). Their calculations require hypothetical negative mass-energy, but at least the ship as a whole can have positive finite mass. Unfortunately, the necessary relativistic bubble would isolate the ship from the outside world, so the ship cannot create or control its own warp bubble—this would have to be done externally. Meanwhile, a second paper by another Cornell physicist, proposes a warp drive solution that avoids the negative-mass problem, but currently still requires an “astronomical amount of energy.” Who says that science fiction can't be a serious catalyst for actual research? (ANS thanks The Orbital Index for the above information) + A SpaceX bid on a NASA CubeSat launch appeared to offer a vehicle other than Falcon 9 or Falcon Heavy (Perhaps Starship). More details at https://spacenews.com/spacex-bid-on-launch-of-nasa-cubesat-mission/ + The rtl-sdr.com blog features an article on receiving the SMOG-P and ATL-1 nanosatellites with an rtl-sdr. Check it out at https://www.rtl-sdr.com/receiving-smog-p-and-atl-1-nano-satellites-with-an-… + 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 now 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-073 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for March 14
by Mark Johns, K0JM 14 Mar '21

14 Mar '21

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-073 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: * Spacewalk Addresses ARISS Equipment Issue * Eight Amateur Radio Satellites to Deploy From ISS On March 14 * Delfi-N3xt Back To Life After 7 Years Of Silence * First Contact Via UVSQ-Sat FM Transponder * Another Achievement For Explorer Richard Garriott * Renewal of Orbital Data Request for TLE Redistribution by AMSAT * News Conference Details ARISS Efforts * ARISS News * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Satellite Shorts From All Over ANS-073 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 073.01 To: All RADIO AMATEURS From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation 712 H Street NE Suite 1653 Washington, DC 20002 DATE 2021 Mar 14 Spacewalk Addresses ARISS Equipment Issue International Space Station Expedition 64 U.S. Spacewalk #73 to Continue Station Upgrades took place on Saturday, March 13 beginning at approximately 12:30z. Astronaunts Victor Glover, KI5BKC, and Mike Hopkins, KF5LJG, undertook a number of tasks left incomplete when a previous spacewalk had to be terminated early. One of those tasks was a re-connection of four cables on the Bartolomao platform which is attached to the Columbus Module of the space station. Columbus is the home of the primary ARISS amateur radio station, which is used for school contacts and other ARISS activities. After an extended effort to complete some cable connections on the Bartolomao platform, Hopkins moved on to the ARISS VHF/UHF antenna on the "Earth side" of the Columbus Module at approximately 18:15z, roughly five hours into the spacewalk, and successfully removed a jumper cable between Columbus and the antenna. Hopkins raised a question concerning a sharp bend in the cable near the connector. However, no adjustments were possible. Because NASA safety protocols require the ARISS radios to be powered down during spacewalks, there will be no opportunity to check the success of the cable re-configurations until Sunday, March 14. The Columbus Module ARISS radios are expected to be powered up in the VHF packet mode at about 12:00z on that day. [ANS thanks NASA TV and Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, ARISS Chair, 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! +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Eight Amateur Radio Satellites to Deploy From ISS On March 14 Eight satellites, all coordinated by the IARU Satellite Frequency Coordination Panel, are planned to be deployed from the International Space Station on Sunday, March 14. The deployment should be streamed live on YouTube, watch from 09:15 GMT at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLltILh8SLw The CubeSats being deployed are: • OPUSAT-II • GuaraniSat-1 (BIRDS-4) • Maya-2 (BIRDS-4) • Tsuru (BIRDS-4) • RSP-01 • WARP-01 • TAUSAT-1 • STARS-EC It is understood the BIRDS-4 satellites are carrying digipeaters and TAUSAT-1 has an FM transponder. Further information including the IARU coordinated frequencies are at http://amsat.org.uk/iaru/ [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Delfi-N3xt Back To Life After 7 Years Of Silence Recently, a signal was picked up from the Delfi-n3Xt, the satellite of the TU Delft with which contact was lost in 2014. This came as a big surprise to all involved. Delfi-n3Xt is the second satellite launched by TU Delft, as part of the Delfi Program, which develops very small satellites. Now that the satellite is transmitting again, steps are being taken to further the mission. The first Delfi satellite, Delfi-C3, is still working as well. The Delfi-n3Xt project started in 2007 and the satellite was launched in November 2013. The satellite operated successfully for three months, fulfilling its main mission objectives and achieving mission success. Unfortunately, in February 2014 contact with the satellite was lost after an experiment with the linear transponder. The satellite was not heard since and was considered silent. Three weeks ago, on February 9th, an automatic email notification was received from the satellite's ground station, indicating that a signal from the Delfi-n3Xt had been picked up. “I always considered the possibility that the satellite might still be working but just not transmitting for some unknown reason. I programmed the ground station software such that it would still continue to track Delfi-n3Xt every single day and send me an email notification if it ever would come back to life,” says Nils von Storch, student and operator on the project in 2013 and technical responsible at the ground station since. Carrying out relevant checks and analysing the received telemetry frames prove the satellite is transmitting again. The cause of the sudden silence has never been determined, and now the big question is how Delfi-n3Xt could come ‘back to life.' There are hypotheses: the software might have caused the problem and a bit may have ‘flipped’ recently. This can occur when charged high energy particles hit electronic components in space. Or perhaps a component caused a short circuit, and after being exposed to the extreme conditions in space for years it may have broken off. “Of course, in the past we have looked for all kinds of explanations, and we also had theories about how the contact could ever come back. But after so long, I hadn't counted on it anymore. Whether we will ever find out exactly how it happened, I doubt it,” says Jasper Bouwmeester, project manager of the mission since 2007. Bouwmeester is confident that the satellite can still be of use to science. “We can learn how the satellite and its technologies and systems have held up after seven years in space. Testing systems such as the propulsion system, is relevant too, and using the Delfi-n3Xt for educational purposes is another possibility.” Before any research can be carried out, a number of steps have to be taken. A lot depends on whether the satellite can still be controlled. Also, the ground station at the EEMCS faculty is temporarily inaccessible and some of the software from 2014 no longer works on modern computers. At the same time, a formal process is necessary, as permits and insurance have expired. "But I am sure that we will be able to find solutions," says Stefano Speretta, managing operations. "If we don't lose the signal again, there are interesting times ahead." [ANS thanks Delft University of Technology for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- First Contact Via UVSQ-Sat FM Transponder The first contact was made via the FM transponder on the UVSQ-Sat CubeSat on Friday, March 5, 2021. Michel Mahé, F4DEY, of the F6KRK radio club carried out the transponder test from the Latmos ground station near Paris. The first contact was with Peter Goodhall, 2M0SQL, in Elgin, Scotland. After the contact Michel tweeted "Very happy to have been able to operate the Latmos station and do #F6KRKR/P validate the transponder #UVSQSat "on #space" after validation of the satellite at the Lab of #Latmos in October 2020!" Peter tweeted "Fantastic to be QSO #1 on UVSQ-SATs FM transponder wish the @uvsqsat good luck in their commissioning and it being available more often :)" UVSQ-Sat http://uvsq-sat.projet.latmos.ipsl.fr/?ong=Ham-Radio https://twitter.com/uvsqsat Michel Mahé F4DEY https://twitter.com/F4DEY_78 Peter Goodhall 2M0SQL https://www.2m0sql.com/ https://twitter.com/2m0sql As part of the ham radio mission, the UVSQ-SAT one-unit CubeSat embeds a radio transponder which will be accessible to the community in parallel of the other scientific objectives according to the power budget. The UVSQ-SAT team will provide an availability of the transponder up to 20% (schedule 7 to 15 days in advance with a distribution via the project's website and / or Twitter account). [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK and LATMOS 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/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Another Achievement For Explorer Richard Garriott British-born Richard Garriott, W5KWQ, has become the first explorer to have been to both poles, orbited the Earth and reached the bottom of the deepest ocean. On February 28, 2021, he traveled to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, at 11,034 metres (36,201 ft) the deepest oceanic trench on the planet. He is not the first astronaut to make the descent to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, former-NASA astronaut Kathy Sullivan ex-N5YYV did that in 2020 but Richard is the first person to also have visited the North Pole (2018) and the South Pole (2000). Richard's US amateur radio callsign W5KWQ recently expired but in a tweet sent March 7 he said he would be renewing his license as soon as possible https://twitter.com/RichardGarriott/status/1368523553881006082 He made many amateur radio contacts during his space mission in 2008 including one to pupils at Budbrooke Primary School in Warwick, UK. You can watch the video of that contact at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNIct1g26DQ Richard's father was astronaut Owen K. Garriott W5LFL who in 1983, during the STS-9 Columbia mission, made the first amateur radio contacts from space, see https://amsat-uk.org/2012/05/09/vintage-video-of-sts-9-columbia-mission-and… 2008 Richard Garriott, W5KWQ, Gets Busy from Space http://www.arrl.org/news/richard-garriott-w5kwq-gets-busy-from-space Richard Garriott https://richardgarriott.com/ [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 +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Renewal of Orbital Data Request for TLE Redistribution by AMSAT I am pleased to announce that AMSAT-NA's request to re-distribute TLE elements from Space-Track website has been approved for the period April 1, 2021 to April 1, 2022. Our ODR (Orbital Data Request) to distribute the Space-Track TLEs was approved by Air Force 18 SPCS, Vandenburg AFB on March 12, 2021. Thanks to Air Force 18 SPCS, Perry Klein (W3PK), Paul Stoetzer (N8HM) and Joe Fitzgerald (KM1P) for their help in this yearly process. We are "good to go" for another year. [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 +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ News Conference Details ARISS Efforts to Return ISS Ham Station to the Air At a March 10 news conference, Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) reported that, so far, all efforts to determine what's keeping the ham station in the ISS Columbus module off the air have been unsuccessful. It appears that the radio equipment is working, but no signal appears to be reaching the external ARISS antenna. The station, typically operated as NA1SS, has not been usable since new RF cables were installed during a January 27 spacewalk (EVA) to support the commissioning of the Bartolomeo payload hosting platform installed last spring. During the January EVA, the coax feed line installed 11 years ago was replaced with another built by the European Space Agency (ESA) and Airbus. Responding to a question during the news conference, ARISS International Chair Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, did not rule out a fault in the radio equipment. "There is still that possibility that there might be a problem with the radio," he said. Bauer listed three possible problem areas: The HMU-898 cable inside the cabin may have a break due to a previous tight turn, a connector may be installed improperly, or an HMU-601 cable installation or workmanship anomaly. During the January 27 EVA, the HMU-601 cable was installed in series with the ARISS antenna cable. During a March 13 spacewalk (EVA), astronauts Mike Hopkins, KF5LJG, and Victor Glover, KI5BKC, plan to return the ARISS antenna feed line cabling to its configuration prior to the January 27 spacewalk. The news conference covered details of the cable troubleshooting already conducted. Bauer said the ARISS team has been working closely with NASA and the ESA to identify what may have caused the "radio anomaly" keeping the ISS Columbus module ham station off the air. He thanked ARISS-Russia's Sergey Samburov, RV3DR, for allowing ARISS to use the ham station in the service module to continue its contact schedule. This past week, astronauts on the ISS performed troubleshooting tests on all four new feed lines installed on the Columbus module. One cable was earmarked for the ARISS station, while the other three are for Bartolomeo. ARISS reported over the weekend, however, that it was unable to establish communication using any of the feed line cables connected to the ARISS radio system, which was tested in APRS mode. The plan to return the ARISS cabling to its original configuration was a "contingency task" for a March 5 spacewalk, but the astronauts ran out of time. ARISS became aware of the station problem after a contact with a school in Wyoming, between ON4ISS on Earth and Hopkins at NA1SS, had to abort when no downlink signal was heard. For the time being, ARISS school and group contacts with crew members have been conducted using the ham station in the ISS service module. A recording of the news conference is available for viewing on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hm4h4rBE9k [ANS thanks ARRL and Dave Jordan, AA4KN, ARISS operation team member, 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. A contact with Goodwood Primary School, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, is scheduled for Wed 2021-03-17 08:32:31 UTC. The scheduled astronaut is Victor Glover KI5BKC, using the space station callsign of NA1SS. This will be a telebridge contact via NA7V, so it will be heard over North America. Maximum elelvation will be 33 degrees. 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, ARISS operation team member, 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: ****Watch Twitter, there are lots pop-up roves happening lately, and I can’t keep this page updated with all of them.**** EN55/EN56: KC9BKA Hoping to hit up the EN55/56 grid line on Friday, March 19 for mid day passes. I haven’t checked the pass lineup yet. Would anyone need EN55/56 @AK7DD and Ledger: We will be headed to DN41 on the 14th of March. My plan is to hit DN30 on the way up. Our plans are to be in the area there until around the 24th of March, and we will hit a few of our normal activation grids on the way home, DN30, DM39 & DM49, etc. Anyhow, once we have landed in DN41, we will be doing a handful of roves in Utah and Idaho as time allows. EL58: W7LT: EL58 happening April 1 … more to come. And then thinking Maine for the first weekend in April. Taking requests … EM68/68: WB9VPG: Upcoming trip to EM67/68 and 58/68 possible on Wednesday, March 17. I’ll post more when I know more. FN44: N1AIA I plan to operate from FN44 Thu 11 March 1400-1500z. SO-50, maybe AO-27, RS-44 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. 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 Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events. One of the AMSAT Ambassadors, and an ARRL registered instructor, is Clint Bradford, K6LCS. Clint has the following presentations scheduled, with more on the way: 03/16 – Palm Springs, CA 03/20 – Bonham, Texas 04/01 – Orem, Utah 06/15 – East Massachusetts If a 90-minute lively, informative, and fun “How to Work the Easy Satellites” Zoom presentation would be appropriate for your convention or club, contact Clint, or one of the other Ambassadors: 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 + If you enjoy seeing things blow up (and who doesn't like good fireworks?) there is a glorious slow-motion video of the "Rapid Unplanned Disassembly" of the SpaceX SN10 test flight at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIZOcsu8tWk&t=120s The explosion, which occurred after what appeared to be a successful landing, was probably caused by malfunctioning landing legs on the rocket. But fear not, SpaceX already has SN11 on the pad for another attempt. If at first you don't succeed.... (ANS thanks The Orbital Index for the above information). + Continuing a high-tempo launch cadence, a SpaceX Falcon 9 launched a new set of Starlink satellites and landed the booster March 11. The launch brings the total number of Starlink satellites launched to 1,265, although more than 60 of them have since deorbited. In a Feb. 22 filing with the Federal Communications Commission, SpaceX requested to modify its FCC license, allowing it to move satellites into lower orbits. Several other satellite operators oppose the request, primarily on concerns that the modified constellation will interfere with their systems. The FCC has not indicated when it will rule on SpaceX’s request. (ANS thanks SpaceNews.com and SpaceflightNow.com for the above information) + NASA has assigned astronaut Mark Vande Hei, KG5GNP, to an upcoming mission to the International Space Station as a flight engineer and member of the Expedition 64/65 crew. Vande Hei, along with cosmonauts Oleg Novitskiy and Pyotr Dubrov of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, are scheduled to launch Friday, April 9, on the Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. They will be joined on the ISS by astronauts Shane Kimbrough, KE5HOD, Megan McArthur, Akihiko Hoshide, KE5DNI, and Thomas Pesquet, KG5FYG, who will arrive on the SpaceX Crew Dragon “Endeavour” spacecraft now scheduled for launch on April 22. (ANS thanks NASA for the above information) + NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope resumed observations March 11 after a software error placed it in a protective safe mode several days earlier, but the incident is a reminder of the telescope’s mortality. The spacecraft was launched in April 1990 and serviced by the space shuttle five times, most recently in May 2009. With the shuttle long since retired, astronomers know that, at some point, Hubble will suffer an unrecoverable failure that will end its historic mission. (ANS thanks SpaceNews.com for the above information) + Three residents of the International Space Station will take a spin around their orbital neighborhood in the Soyuz MS-17 on Friday, March 19, relocating the spacecraft to prepare for the arrival of the next set of crew members. Live coverage on NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency’s website will begin at 16:15 UTC. Expedition 64 Flight Engineer Kate Rubins of NASA and Commander Sergey Ryzhikov and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, both of the Russian Space Agency Roscosmos, will undock from the Earth-facing port of the station’s Rassvet module at 16:38z and dock again at the space-facing Poisk docking port at 17:07z (ANS thanks NASA for the above information) + The largest asteroid predicted to pass by our planet in 2021 will be at its closest on March 21, providing astronomers a rare opportunity to get a good look at a rocky relic that formed at the dawn of our solar system. Called 2001 FO32, the near-Earth asteroid will make its closest approach at a distance of about 1.25 million miles (2 million kilometers) - or 5 1/4 times the distance from Earth to the Moon. There is no threat of a collision with our planet, even though that distance is "close" in astronomical terms. (ANS thanks Space 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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ERRATA: ANS-066 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by kd4iz＠frawg.org 07 Mar '21

07 Mar '21

I apologize for missing an ARISS news item that was repeated from a past edition of the ANS news #066. The item for the ANS News should be as follows: -------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS NEWS: Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of March 3, 2021 Avoca State School, Bundaberg, QLD, Australia, direct via VK4BW (Mike Hopkins KF5LJG). Thu 2021-03-11 07:56:51 UTC 60 deg 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. [ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors for the above information] -------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks for your patience. Jack Spitznagel - KD4IZ Assistant Editor - AMSAT News Service kd4iz(a)arrl.net

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ANS-066 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by kd4iz＠frawg.org 07 Mar '21

07 Mar '21

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-066 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 Ambassadors to Speak at QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo * Revised QO-100 WB Transponder Bandplan and Operating Guidelines * Rubins and Noguchi assemble solar array fixtures outside ISS. * VUCC Awards-Endorsements for March 1 2021 * India, Brazil Launch Amazônia-1 On PSLV Rocket * IARU Region 1 Participates in ITU WRC-23, Prep for 23cm Allocations * Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for February 4, 2021 * ARISS News * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Satellite Shorts From All Over ANS-066 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 066.01 To: All RADIO AMATEURS From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation 712 H Street NE Suite 1653 Washington, DC 20002 DATE 2021 March 07 AMSAT Ambassadors to Speak at QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo Several AMSAT Ambassadors are scheduled to speak at the QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo on Saturday, March 13, 2021. The QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo to be held on March 12-14, 2021 features many speakers over a wide range of technical and operating topics. Among the speakers will be two AMSAT Ambassadors presenting in the Space Auditorium on Saturday March 13, 2021: Working the Easy FM Amateur Satellites Clint Bradford, K6LCS 1200-1300 EST From getting licensed to finding local clubs to working the easy FM amateur satellites with minimal investment! Well cover all the basics for you with plenty of ways to submit any questions you may have afterwards. Let's get you working the birds ASAP! Clint Bradford has been a ham since 1994, and is also involved in the commercial side of the communications industry. His How to Work the Amateur Satellites With Your HT presentation has informed and delighted more than 100 audiences over the past few years - clubs, conventions, and hamfests not only in Southern California, but also clubs across North America and Canada. He is an ARRL educator, AMSAT Ambassador, and member of several AMSAT chapters across the planet. Getting on the air with Amateur Radio Satellites Tom Schuessler, N5HYP 1700-1800 EST Tom will provide an introduction to what you need to know to become active on FM satellites and beyond. Tom was licensed in 1985. Although he was aware of Amateur Radio space communications, he thought it was just too far beyond the means of the average ham. In 2009, he caught the bug from the late Keith Pugh, W5IU. The realization that he already had a radio that would work with the then existing FM satellites was all he needed. He now not only actively enjoys communicating through the current fleet of Amateur Radio satellites, but loves to communicate his passion and experience to those who have never yet experienced the thrill. Professionally, Tom Has worked in the broadcast television and video fields as a production and systems engineer. Also scheduled to present are AMSAT's Human Space partners at ARISS: How to Enjoy Amateur Radio Contacts with the International Space Station Frank Bauer, KA3HDO & Rosalie White, K1STO 1600-1700 EST You can enjoy ham radio contacts through the ARISS radios on the International Space Station. Well explain how you can have fun trying ARISS packet, SSTV and repeater mode. Intermediate level & even beginners learn how to try off-the-planet hamming. Frank H. Bauers aerospace career spans over 40 years within NASA and private industry. Mr. Bauers primary research interests include space borne applications of the Global Positioning System (GPS) and space vehicle formation flying. He was the principal investigator of 4 spaceflight GPS and formation flying experiments including the AMSAT-OSCAR-40 GPS experiment, investigating the use of GPS above the constellation. His hobbies include astronomy, amateur radio, and flying. Hes the founder of ARISS-USA, which enables amateur radio on the ISS. Rosalie White is an ARISS-US Delegate to the International Space Station (supported by NASA). Her specialties are STEM, Aerospace, NASA, Amateur Radio, and Aviation. Complete information is available at https://www.qsotodayhamexpo.com. [ANS thanks QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo 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! +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ QO-100 WB Transponder Bandplan and Operating Guidelines Version 3 February 2021 The following updated DATV (DVB-S2) bandplan and guidelines are designed to enable the most efficient use of the QO-100 wideband transponder (WB) for all amateur radio satellite users. Please make sure that you understand the guidelines and follow them accordingly. The use of DVB-S2 as the most efficient transmission mode is advised. Additional information and graphics may be found at: https://bit.ly/2NXQYqm [ANS thanks Peter Gülzow, DB2OS of AMSAT-DL for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Rubins and Noguchi assemble solar array support fixtures outside ISS. NASA astronaut Kate Rubins and Soichi Noguchi, a Japanese astronaut who last walked in space more than 15 years ago, ventured outside the International Space Station Friday and completed assembly of two solar array support fixtures, part of a $100 million power system upgrade. After handling multiple struts and bolts, Rubins reported a small pin-prick hole in one of her gloves and while there was no leakage and no emergency, she expressed concern about moving too far from Noguchi for additional work. Theres a hole in my right index finger through the RTV (insulation), she told astronaut Frank Rubio in mission control. Its unchanged in appearance. And we have a middle finger peeling, my right middle finger, and gaps in the RTV on my left middle finger. With installation of the solar array support fixtures complete, Rubio asked how she felt about leaving Noguchi, moving back to the space station airlock to drop off tools and then heading out to the European Columbus laboratory module to complete electrical connections for a recently installed experiment platform. This is kind of a pinprick hole versus RTV peeling, Rubins replied. So Im mildly concerned about going real far from Soichi. Rubins suit maintained the proper pressure throughout, but given time lost earlier assembling the solar array supports, flight controllers opted to call it a day without pressing ahead with work to finish wiring up the experiment platform. Additional Information at:https://bit.ly/3bmvUmf [ANS thanks William Harwood of SpaceflightNow.com for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- VUCC Awards-Endorsements for March 1 2021 Here are the endorsements and new VUCC Satellite Awards issued by the ARRL for the period February 1, 2021 through March 1, 2021. Congratulations to all those who made the list this month! CALL Feb Mar XE2AT 899 946 W5RKN 739 740 N3GS 679 687 NS3L 625 650 N1AIA 494 604 PS8ET 450 550 N5BO 500 525 AF5CC 461 477 N4DCW 450 476 AK7DD 390 400 VE1VOX 170 400 W8LR 328 353 KE0WPA 229 345 N6RFM 276 302 VE4MM 263 279 K8BL 274 278 AB1OC 264 267 DF2ET 129 250 F6GLJ 103 220 N8URE (FM19)186 214 F4BKV 100 200 WD9EWK(DM23)152 166 KN2K New 155 N8URE (EL95)113 134 DL6KBG 111 125 M0SKN New 108 KC5TT New 100 N2CJ 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 most of the work! Ron W5RKN [ANS thanks Ron Parsons, W5RKN 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/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ India, Brazil Launch Amazônia-1 On PSLV Rocket The Indian Space Research Organization has launched their first mission of 2021 with a flight of their Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) to deliver Brazils Amazônia-1 satellite, along with 18 co-passengers, into Sun-synchronous orbit. Liftoff from First Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, India, occurred Sunday, 28 February at 10:24 IST at the launch site which is 04:54 UTC, or Saturday, 27 February at 23:54 EST. Amazônia-1 is the first Earth observation satellite designed, built, tested, and operated completely by Brazil and is the first of three such satellites planned by the National Institute of Space Research (INPE), a Brazils space research and exploration company. The 18 co-passengers, included 12 SpaceBEEs, SAI-1 Nanoconnect-2, Sindhu Netra, UNITYsat, and SDSat. The SpaceBEEs satellites, developed by Swarm Technologies Inc., will be used for two-way satellite communication and data relay while the SAI-1 Nanoconnect-2 satellite, developed and funded by the Space Instrumentation Laboratory of the National University of Mexico, will examine the use of the GlobalStar satellite phone network as a secondary communication channel for nano-satellites. Sindhu Netra is an Indian-developed AIS-based (automatic identification system) marine traffic monitoring satellite built by students at the Peoples Education Society Universitys Crucible for Research and Innovation wing. Funding was provided by the Defense Research and Development Organization of India. Joining its other co-passengers is the UNITYSat mission which itself contains the JITsat, GHRCESat, and SriShakthiSat satellites. The trio of satellites will form an amateur radio and IoT (Internet of Things) service satellite. The mission was developed by the Jeppiaar Institute of Technology, G. H. Raisoni College of Engineering, and the Sri Shakthi Institute of Engineering and Technology. [No amateur frequency coordination records appear in the IARU satellite database for these satellites -- Ed.] SDSat (Satish Dhawan Satellite), named after the Chairman and founding father of the Indian Space Program, was developed by SpaceKidz India to measure magnetic fields and space radiation. The satellite also carries 25,000 names designed to create awareness and educate the general public about space sciences. This was the 53rd mission for the PSLV rocket and marks the first dedicated PSLV commercial mission for New Space India Limited, an Indian government company under the Department of Space and the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organization. [ANS thanks Spaceflight.com for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- IARU Region 1 Participates in ITU WRC-23 Preparation for 23cm Allocations The Chair of IARU Region 1 Spectrum Affairs, Barry Lewis, G4SJH reports a meeting of the ITU-R Working Party 4C (WP4C) was held between February 15 and 19 which discussed the amateur radio allocation at 1240 1300 MHz. During the week 15 to 19 February, the preparatory work for WRC-23 agenda item 9.1b continued in ITU-R Working Party 4C (WP4C). The WRC agenda item has initiated technical studies on coexistence between the radio navigation satellite service (RNSS) and the amateur services in the 23 cm band. As usual, the IARU participated in the meeting and delivered key information on amateur activities in this important microwave band. This information is vital to ensure the amateur services are realistically represented in the studies as they move forward. To assist with this the IARU Region 1 is developing supporting material that Member Societies can refer to when addressing the topic with their National Regulator. The work on this topic will continue throughout the year and beyond, both in ITU-R and in the regional telecommunications organisations, and the IARU is committed to ensure every organisation understands the amateur position on this important microwave band. [ANS thanks JoAnne Maenpaa and the South African Radio League SARL News 28 February 2021 for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- JAMSAT Symposium 2021 Information Posted: March 2, 2021 From Google Translate: JAMSAT will hold the annual meeting and JAMSAT Symposium 2021 as follows. This year, due to the influence of the new corona, it will be held online. The annual general meeting is for members only, and the symposium and the social gathering after the symposium are open to anyone who is interested in satellite communications. We posted the "Symposium 2021 Holding Information" earlier, but we will post it again, including the social gathering. Date and time: Saturday, March 20th, General Assembly (members only) Saturday, March 20th, 9: 00-9: 45 (Reception: Posted in newsletter) Symposium: Saturday, March 20th, 10:00 ~ 17: 45 Social gathering: Saturday, March 20th, 18: 00 ~ Venue: ZOOM, ZOOM, free of charge, symposium More information in Japanese available at: https://bit.ly/3uUlXEf [ANS thanks Nao Goto of JAMSAT 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-NA TLE Distribution for March 4, 2021 The following satellite has decayed from orbit and has been removed from this week's AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution: TW-1C - NORAD Cat ID 40926 (Decayed 2-27-2021 per Space-Track). [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 2021-03-01 22:00 UTC Sterling MS, Ashburn, VA, multi-point telebridge via ON4ISS 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 Shannon Walker KD5DXB. Contact is go for: Tue 2021-02-09 14:44:48 UTC 66 deg Watch for live stream at https://youtu.be/qVhBweqjCo4 Red Hill Lutheran, Tustin, CA, telebridge via NA7V 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 Mike Hopkins KF5LJG. Contact is go for: Wed 2021-02-10 18:26:15 UTC 65 deg. 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. [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: Spring Training Rove! KX9X will be heading down to Ft Myers, FL the week of March 7 for some sun and baseball. Will activate EL86 & 96 holiday style for sure, possibly a couple other grids as well. Linear/FM. Details soon. @K8BL will be in EM54 3/4 3/7. @AK7DD and Ledger: We will be headed to DN41 on the 14th of March. My plan is to hit DN30 on the way up. Our plans are to be in the area there until around the 24th of March, and we will hit a few of our normal activation grids on the way home, DN30, DM39 & DM49, etc. Anyhow, once we have landed in DN41, we will be doing a handful of roves in Utah and Idaho as time allows. Major Roves: W7LT: DN04/05/14/15/24/25/27/28/34/35/37/38/47/48 schedule subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances. Will try to stick to it as best I can. Click here for details: https://bit.ly/3q783ew 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 03/3/2021 [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT rover page manager, and JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events Want to see AMSAT in action or learn more about amateur radio in space? 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 registered ARRL instructor Clint Bradford K6LCS AMSAT Ambassador and ARRL registered instructor Clint Bradford, K6LCS, is certainly keeping busy! 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. Cliff reports these upcoming satellite presentation dates: 03/10 Trenton, New Jersey 03/11 Clearwater, Florida 03/13 QSO TODAY 2021 Virtual Convention. See: https://bit.ly/2OkDRiV 03/16 Palm Springs, CA 03/20 Bonham, Texas 04/01 Orem, Utah 06/15 East Massachusetts Send Clint an email message, and book a date! Contact: Clint Bradford K6LCS k6lcs at ham-sat dot info 909-999-SATS (7287) [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT Events page manager, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over +Getting It Right: JAGSAT CubeSat Sponsor Last week's ANS-059 AMSAT Weekly Bulletin incorrectly reported that the 2U Cubesat JAGSAT was a project of the University of Alabama. Everyone who knows the difference between Southern grits and Minnesota lutefisk can tell you that the University of Alabama's mascot is an elephant named "Big Al." JAGSAT is a project of the University of Southern Alabama whose mascot is, of course, a Jaguar named Southpaw. ANS-059 Rotating Editor Frank Karnauskas, N1UW apologizes for the error. [ ANS thanks John Klingelhoeffer, WB4LNM for catching this error.] + Humor and News... + Rocket Labs CEO eats his hat because he once said he would not fly a reusable rocket. Then came Neutron... Watch on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3c2ErtA [ANS thanks Orbital Index and Rocket Lab for the above information] + SpaceX ends 3rd Starship landing attempt in flaming success before exploding minutes later Third time's a charm? Not so for SpaceX, whose unmanned rocket exploded on the ground Wednesday after carrying out what had seemed to be a successful flight and landing -- fresh on the heels of two fiery crashes. It was yet another flub involving a prototype of the Starship rocket, which SpaceX hopes one day to send to Mars. "A beautiful soft landing," a SpaceX commentator said on a live broadcast of the test flight, although flames were coming out at the bottom and crews were trying to put them out. The rocket exploded a few minutes later, lurching into the air and crashing back to the ground. More information may be found at: https://bit.ly/3v0x4vJ [ANS thanks to the SpaceDaily.com staff writers for the above information] +SpaceX sticks 75th Falcon rocket landing after launching 60 more Starlink satellites March 4, 2021 Launching through a blanket of low-hanging clouds and light mist, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket thundered into the sky over Floridas Space Coast early Thursday and delivered 60 more Starlink internet satellites to orbit. The rockets first stage touched down on SpaceXs floating landing platform in the Atlantic Ocean to complete its eighth trip to space and back. Additional information at: https://bit.ly/3uTFSmX [ANS thanks to Stephen Clark of SpaceFlightNow.com for the above information] AMSAT Thanks AmazonSmile Shoppers AmazonSmile shoppers who designated Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation as their charity have made a difference during the past holiday shopping season. AmazonSmile reports that it has deposited a total of $498.31 to the AMSAT coffers for purchases made between October 1 and December 31, 2020. You can join the crowd and help AMSAT earn even more. Go to https://smile.amazon.com to create your account and designate "Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation" as your charity. Just remember, when you go shopping start with AmazonSmile so your purchases are credited to AMSAT. Thank you, shoppers! [ANS thanks AMSAT 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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