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ANS-025 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin - AMSAT Responds to Planned Decommissioning of IO-117 (GreenCube)
by Paul Stoetzer 25 Jan '24
by Paul Stoetzer 25 Jan '24
25 Jan '24
*AMSAT *News Service Special Bulletin*ANS-025*
*January 25, 2024*
In this edition:
- AMSAT Responds to Planned Decommissioning of IO-117 (GreenCube)
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 https://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/
------------------------------
AMSAT Responds to Planned Decommissioning of IO-117 (GreenCube)
We were saddened to learn this morning that S5Lab plans to decommission
IO-117 (GreenCube) and execute a passivation operation on February 5, 2024.
AMSAT stands ready to leverage our decades of experience and work with
S5Lab, AMSAT Italia, other AMSAT organizations, and the amateur satellite
community at large to overcome any obstacles, regulatory or otherwise, to
keeping IO-117 in service for as long as possible. This afternoon, AMSAT
President Robert Bankston, KE4AL, sent the following letter to S5Lab
expressing our desire to provide any support we can to keep the satellite
in operation.
January 25, 2024
Sapienza Space Systems and Space Surveillance Laboratory (S5Lab)
Sapienza University of Rome
Via Email
To The GreenCube Team:
Over the past 13+ months, amateur satellite operators around the world have
enjoyed the use of the digipeater on GreenCube (IO-117). As amateur radio’s
first satellite in a medium earth orbit (MEO), it has opened worldwide
long-distance contacts via amateur radio satellite that had not been
possible since the loss of AMSAT-OSCAR 40 in 2004. As this letter is being
written, a DXpedition to Clipperton Island in the Pacific Ocean has made
contact with several hundred amateur operators around the world – the first
activation of this rare location on amateur satellite in over 30 years.
AMSAT and the amateur satellite community greatly appreciate your team
making this wonderful resource available.
Not only has this satellite been a great resource to the amateur community,
but the amateur community has also assisted GreenCube’s mission by
uploading millions of frames of data received – including much data from
when the satellite is not within the primary ground station’s footprint.
Launches above low earth orbit are rarely available for amateur satellite
missions. Since the first amateur radio satellite launched in 1962, fewer
than ten have gone to orbits beyond LEO and only QO-100 (available to only
part of the world) and IO-117 remain in service.
Due to the unique orbit and capabilities, we request that S5Lab postpone
the scheduled passivation operation and keep the satellite’s digipeater in
service. Amateur satellites have a long tradition of extended lifetimes.
Amateur radio operators still utilize AMSAT-OSCAR 7 – launched nearly fifty
years ago in 1974 – for communications on a daily basis. Many other amateur
radio satellites have been actively used for ten to twenty years. AMSAT
stands ready to leverage our 55 years of experience in managing amateur
radio satellites and work with S5Lab, AMSAT Italia, other AMSAT
organizations, and the amateur satellite community at large to overcome any
obstacles, regulatory or otherwise, to keeping GreenCube in service for as
long as possible.
Sincerely,
Robert Bankston, KE4AL
President
Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT)
A PDF copy of this letter can be found at
https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Letter-from-AMSA…
*[ANS thanks AMSAT President Robert Bankston, KE4AL, for the above
information]*
------------------------------
Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/
In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to:
- Societies (a recognized group, clubs or organization).
- Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at
one-half the standard yearly rate.
- Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status
shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary
years in this status.
- Memberships are available for annual and lifetime terms.
Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional membership information.
*73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space!*
*This week's ANS Editor,*
*Paul Stoetzer, N8HM*
*n8hm [at] amsat.org <http://amsat.org>*
*ANS is a service of AMSAT, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, 712 H
Street NE, Suite 1653, Washington, DC 20002*
1
0
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-021 [RE-SENT IN PLAIN TEXT MODE]
In this edition:
* Microwave Ambitions for GOLF Satellites
* All-Ham Axiom Crew Launched for Commercial Visit to ISS
* AMSAT Argentina Celebrates 34 Years of LUSAT
* AMSAT Volunteers Needed For the Upcoming 2024 Orlando Hamcation
* IO-117 Project Group Presents the IO-117 Code of Conduct
* NASA Program Empowers Students for EZIE-Mag CubeSat Mission
* Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for Jan. 18
* ARISS News
* Upcoming Satellite Operations
* Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
* Satellite Shorts From All Over
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/
ANS-021 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
To: All RADIO AMATEURS
From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation
712 H Street NE, Suite 1653
Washington, DC 20002
DATE 2024 JAN 21
Microwave Ambitions for GOLF Satellites
Recently AMSAT News Service had the opportunity to interview Zach
Metzinger, NØZGO, AMSAT Director and Volunteer Engineer, about the work
that is being done to add microwave communication bands to the GOLF
satellites.
ANS: “Zach, I understand that AMSAT will add microwave capability to the
new GOLF CubeSat satellites, currently in design and evaluation. Is this
correct?”
ZM: “Yes, that is correct! AMSAT had microwave capabilities in earlier
satellites such as AO-10 and AO-40 and only a 1.2GHz downshifter on the
newer CubeSats, that is the Fox series of satellites.
The GOLF (Greater Orbit Larger Footprint) satellites are currently under
development.
GOLF-TEE is the first of these satellites and is the technology
demonstrator for the GOLF series, which is in turn the successor to the FOX
satellites. GOLF-TEE will have more capability as we increase the
capability and functionality of our satellites, including adding microwave
bands. “
ANS: “What is driving this increased functionality of the GOLF series?”
ZM: “Due to new orbital debris regulations, the FCC will require us to be
able to be able to move as well as deorbit satellites, so we are adding the
ability to orient and steer the satellite. While this adds complexity, it
will also help us to improve the functionality of the satellite. For
example: We will now be able to have the satellite maintain direction and
orientation which will allow us to point the antenna for improved gain.
This increased functionality is causing the increase in size. The GOLF
satellites are a 3U size satellite, that is 30 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm. (The
predecessor FOX satellites are 10 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm.) With the increase in
size, we can also add other functionality, in this case the microwave
capability we are discussing here today.”
ANS: “Can you tell us a little about how this is implemented?”
ZM: “While GOLF-TEE will have the usual 2m uplink and 70 cm downlink bands,
it will also have an X-band (10 GHz) downlink transmitter. The 10 GHz SSPA
board has already been demonstrated and works well. The 10 GHz SSPA has a
peak power of 1 watt.
“We will also use a Software Defined Radio (SDR) which we will purchase.
(For the development and demonstration, we have been using the Ettus E310
radio.) This will enable many simultaneous uplink bands, for example 1.2
GHz, 2.4 GHz, 5.7 GHz, etc. The whole system is very flexible. For example,
the microwave antenna will support frequencies from 1 GHz to 26 GHz.”
ANS: “It is very exciting to hear about these improved capabilities. What
are the next steps?”
ZM: “We continue to test the system and tweak the hardware. We will be
ready to be on GOLF-TEE, which is estimated to launch in the second quarter
of 2025. If it works well, it could be turned on for general use, but of
course we will have to see. We definitely plan to have the microwave bands
operational on succeeding GOLF satellites.
One more tidbit of information that folks may find interesting: The orbit
for GOLF-TEE will be LEO. The next satellite, GOLF-1, could be LEO or
perhaps MEO or HEO.
ANS: “This is an exciting development. How can we learn more?”
ZM: “I gave a 20-minute presentation on this at the AMSAT Annual Space
Symposium, which you can see on YouTube.”
ANS: Thank you for your time, Zach!
Link to Zach Metzinger’s presentation is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcO4-h7bbxs&t=2270s
[ANS thanks Zach Metzinger, N0ZGO, AMSAT Director and Volunteer Engineer,
and Mark Blackwood, KI5AXK, AMSAT Staff Writer, for the above information.]
All-Ham Axiom Crew Launched for Commercial Visit to ISS
With retired NASA astronaut Michael López-Alegría, KE5GTK, and Italian
co-pilot Walter Villadei, IUØRWB, at the controls, flanked by Turkish
mission specialists Alper Gezeravci, KJ5DIY, and Marcus Wandt of Sweden,
KJ5COO, a SpaceX Falcon 9 thundered to life at 21:49 UTC Thursday and
climbed away from historic pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center atop a
brilliant jet of flaming exhaust.
A Falcon 9 lifts off from Kennedy Space Center carrying an international
crew on a commercial mission to the space station. Image: Adam
Bernstein/Spaceflight Now.
Rocketing away along a trajectory paralleling the East Coast of the United
States, the 12-minute climb to space got off to a picture-perfect start,
thrilling area residents and tourists with a late-afternoon sky show
despite low clouds that limited the view.
Adding to the spectacle, the booster’s first stage, heralded by twin sonic
booms, flew itself back to a rocket-powered landing at the Cape Canaveral
Space Force Station, chalking up SpaceX’s 43rd landing in Florida and its
265th overall.
A few minutes later, the Crew Dragon capsule was released to fly on its
own. SpaceX Chief Engineer Bill Gerstenmaier radioed congratulations to the
crew “on a great ride to orbit. I think you’re demonstrating the ultimate
in reuse — a reused commander, reused Dragon and a reused Falcon.”
If all goes well, López-Alegría and Villadei will monitor an automated
approach to the space station, catching up from behind and below to set up
a docking at the lab’s forward port early Saturday.
They’ll be welcomed aboard by the station’s current seven-member crew:
Soyuz MS-24/70S commander Oleg Kononenko, RN3DX, and his two crewmates,
Nikolai Chub and NASA astronaut Loral O’Hara, KI5TOM, along with NASA
Crew-7 commander Jasmin Moghbeli, KI5WSL, European Space Agency astronaut
Andreas Mogensen, KG5GCZ, Japanese flier Satoshi Furukawa, KE5DAW, and
cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov.
At least two ARISS school contacts are scheduled with Axiom crewmembers,
and participants in previous Axiom missions have activated the ARISS
equipment on board the Space Station for casual contacts in the past.
Once their experiments are complete, López-Alegría and his crewmates will
strap back into their Crew Dragon and undock from the space station on Feb.
3 for a fiery plunge back to Earth and splashdown off the coast of Florida.
The Axiom flights are sanctioned by NASA, which is trying to encourage
private-sector development in low-Earth orbit. The company is using the
“private astronaut missions,” or PAMs, to gain experience with orbital
operations before launching its own space station modules later this decade.
[ANS thanks spaceflightnow.com for the above information]
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The 2024 AMSAT President’s Club coins are here now!
Help Support GOLF and Fox Plus
Join the AMSAT President’s Club today and help
Keep Amateur Radio in Space!
https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/
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AMSAT Argentina Celebrates 34 Years of LUSAT
On Jan-22, 34 years ago was launched LO-19, LUSAT, 1st Argentine Satellite,
till now emitting on 437.125 KHz.
During ‘LUSAT Week’, from Saturday-20 to Sunday-28 January 2024, AMSAT-LU,
several Radio Clubs and collaborators will deliver a QSL commemorative of
the 34rd anniversary of LUSAT, see: lusat33qsl.jpg, and the 34rd
anniversary silver certificate with 5 (five) contacts or gold with 15
(fifteen) contacts, it will not be mandatory to communicate with LU7AA.
This Certificate complies with all the requirements of Argentine Resolution
3635-E/2017, articles 4.5.4 and 4.6.4, and therefore having LU7AA in force
Legal Status and being recognized by ENACOM is valid for category
promotions.
It will be operated by radio means of the radio amateur service only, in
multiband/multimode, terrestrial HF/VHF/UHF and via active amateur
satellites. More information at LU7AA at qrz.com. Collaborators will be
calling: ‘LUxxx collaborating station of AMSAT Argentina, grants
Commemorative QSL for the 34rd Anniversary of LUSAT’.
Do not miss this Certificate or QSL like the previous ones, it will be a
pride to have it and for AMSAT your participation. Radio clubs and radio
amateurs were invited to operate as a collaborating station.
To sign up as a Collaborating station see:
https://forms.gle/iyEYE5F3gskmRdkQ8
Bases:
To obtain the QSL you must contact a collaborating station, or as a short
wave listener receive a QSO between stations related to the 34rd
anniversary event of LUSAT.
To obtain the Certificate, it will be necessary to contact (Radio amateurs)
or listen (Short Wave Listeners) by radio at least 5 collaborating stations
(silver), or 15 stations (gold) in any band and mode.
Finalized contacts or listening and after January 29:
For radio amateurs, go to https://forms.gle/c2RJE5LyBqz5erh7A and inform
your contacts, it is not necessary to send QSLs or images.
For Short Wave Listeners, go to https://forms.gle/pkHNsQuWRo4MB21DA and
report your listen stations, it is not necessary to send QSLs or images.
Issuance of the Certificate:
The LUSAT 34rd Anniversary Certificate will be issued free of charge,
digitally to the email of each applicant. The Certificate can be printed by
the recipient if desired.
More information and images: http://amsat.org.ar?f=34
Celebrating its permanence in space, our LUSAT continues to emit a strong
carrier after 34 years, receivable at 437.125 KHz. +/- Doppler.
See pass schedules at http://amsat.org.ar/pass?satx=LUSAT
Details: http://amsat.org.ar?f=34 http://qrz.com/db/LU7AA
https://www.qrzcq.com/call/LU7AA (also in English)
Collaborating stations registration open at
https://forms.gle/iyEYE5F3gskmRdkQ8
LUSAT could be tracked/seen thru http://amsat.org.ar/pass?satx=lusat
Deeply appreciation to AMSAT-NA than in the eighties develop AO-16 & LO-19
novel pacsat protocol and lead on design and launch.
[ANS thanks AMSAT Argentina, LU7AA, for the above information]
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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/
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AMSAT Volunteers Needed For the Upcoming 2024 Orlando Hamcation
The new year is now upon us and that means the 2024 HamCation in Orlando,
Florida (Feb. 9 – 11) is just around the corner. The hamfest began in 1946
and in 2024 celebrates its 78th year having achieved the designation as
being the 2nd largest gathering of ham operators in the world annually.
Along with a myriad of popular amateur radio vendors and enormous tailgate
area to peruse through, AMSAT will also be on hand and we could sure use
your help. If last year’s 21,800 attendees are any indication of what’s
ahead, we would greatly appreciate you sharing at least 2 to 4 hours of
your time at the AMSAT booth sometime during the three-day event,
introducing fellow hams to what amateur satellites are all about, helping
those who maybe having problems getting on the air and best of all,
connecting face to face with hams you’ve talked to on the satellites.
So if you would like to join us at the AMSAT booth or have any questions
about helping out, please contact David Jordan, AA4KN at aa4kn(a)amsat.org.
BTW, the average temp. for Orlando in February is a high 75 deg. and low 54
deg.
… hard to beat that!!
For more details on 2024 HamCation, visit https://www.hamcation.org
[ANS thanks Dave Jordan, AA4KN, AMSAT Ambassador in Central Florida for the
above information]
IO-117 Project Group Presents the IO-117 Code of Conduct
A group of amateurs who regularly work the IO-117 satellite has worked to
develop a code of conduct for using this popular digipeating resource.
The purpose of the IO-117 Code of Conduct document is to provide suggested
operational guidelines that will hopefully optimize everyone’s access to
the limited resource single channel digipeater aboard IO-117. If better
messaging discipline can be adopted as well as a better understanding of
what operating techniques improve or diminish the success of a station’s
transmission being digipeated by IO-117, then the entire group of operators
on an individual pass will benefit from implementing these standards.
Those involved in this project, in alphabetical order, are: 2MØSQL, DF2ET,
FG8OJ, IK3ITB, JH8FIH, JK2XXK, KF7R, KGØD, KH6WI, KIØKB, OZ9AAR, and W8LR.
IO-117 CODE OF CONDUCT
1. LISTEN MORE TRANSMIT LESS – Consider giving the station you are calling
several minutes to return Your call before you call again. The use of
Greencube Terminal program by OZ9AAR (GC-T) with its “yoU Heard Me” feature
(UHM — available in the latest GC-T version, 1.0.0.85) turned on may aid in
this process. The software is available for free download at:
https://www.moonbounce.dk/hamradio/greencube-terminal-program.html
2. STATIONS SHOULD USE THE MINIMAL POWER NECESSARY TO ACCESS THE SATELLITE.
3. AVOID CALLING CQ MORE THAN ONCE EVERY 5 MINUTES.
4. AVOID DUPE QSOs – Other than occasional contacts with friends and for
testing purposes we should discourage repeat contacts with stations already
confirmed in your log, particularly for uncommon or rare DX stations.
5. AVOID 2X – 3X IDENTICAL TRANSMISSIONS IN BACK TO BACK TO BACK DIGIPEATS
BY ANY MEANS. The
Use of GC-T/UHM ABSOLUTLEY helps you avoid this problem.
6. WHEN CALLING A STATION, TIME YOUR TX TO WHEN THEY WILL MOST LIKELY BE
LISTENING FOR NEW CALLS. AFTER THEY SEND A CQ OR SEND ANOTHER STATION THEIR
R73 TX.
7. KEEP MESSAGES AS SHORT AS POSSIBLE – Every millisecond saved does make a
difference. Four character grids only, not six characters.
8. AVOID SENDING SUPERFLUOUS DATA – 599 is irrelevant on a digipeater.
Avoid sending operator names. Use 2-Letter ID for states; don’t include
city or regional quantifiers (ie: “SoCal”, just send “CA”). You can shorten
“UR 599, DN84fj, Sturgis South Dakota, LoTW, QSL?” to “DN84 SD” with no
loss of relevant information for the QSO.
9. CALLING FOR A SPECIFIC STATE IS UNNECESSARY AND UNPRODUCTIVE – That info
is available on GC-T and the Greencube Reporter:
https://oscarwatch.org/greencube/.
10. WHEN A STATION DECLARES “SKED” IN THE TX MESSAGE DO NOT CALL THAT
STATION UNTIL THEY HAVE FINISHED THEIR SCHEDULED CONTACT – Both stations
should use SKED GRID in message & use COSI (Callsign of Special Interest).
11. WHEN WORKING A RARE CALL/GRID STATION THAT IS USING THE GC-T MULTICALL
FEATURE THEIR “R73” TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE ADEQUATE TO FINISH THE QSO: GC
F/H Mode: similar to FT8 F/H mode.
12. FOR ROVERS, PUTTING YOUR ROVING GRID IN THE “R73” TRANMISSION IS
ACCEPTABLE, AS WELL AS BEING HELPFUL, TO ALL STATIONS COMING INTO THE
FOOTPRINT.
13. SUGGESTED MESSAGE FORMAT: FT8 Format (GC F/H Mode) and GRID Format: 4
Characters only NOT 6
Calling Message:
P5ABC CQ PM39
P5ABC 3Y0ABC PM39.
P5ABC 3Y0ABC/R/P PM39
Response 73 Message: 3Y0ABC P5ABC R73 or RR73
3Y0ABC/R/P P5ABC R73 JD15
14. AS A FORM OF COURTESY, THE R73 EXCHANGE IS USUALLY BILATERAL BUT ONE
MUST TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE CURRENT SITUATION OF THE SATELLITE, SO THE LAST
R73 MAY BE WELCOMED BUT NOT MANDATORY – The use of GC-T/UHM may aid you in
this decision process.
15. ROVERS SHOULD ATTEMPT TO PROVIDE THE BEST POSSIBLE STATION, TO INCLUDE
THE USE OF THE GC-T/UHM FEATURE WHEN INTERNET ACCESS IS AVAILABLE, IN ORDER
TO MAKE AN IO-117 ACTIVATION PRODUCTIVE AS POSSIBLE FOR ALL STATIONS
INVOLVED.
[ANS thanks Jeff Schwartz, KI0KB, and the IO-117 Project Group for the
above information.]
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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
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NASA Program Empowers Students for EZIE-Mag CubeSat Mission
The Electrojet Zeeman Imaging Explorer (EZIE) team at Johns Hopkins Applied
Physics Laboratory (APL) is extending an invitation to citizen scientists,
schools, and researchers to actively participate in NASA’s CubeSat mission
set to capture the magnetic signatures of Earth’s upper atmosphere. The
project, known as EZIE-Mag, is distributing 700 Raspberry Pi-powered
experimentation kits, providing an unprecedented opportunity for
enthusiasts to contribute valuable ground-based readings to the mission.
Dr. Nelli Mosavi-Hoyer, project manager for EZIE at Johns Hopkins APL,
emphasizes the importance of citizen scientists’ involvement, stating,
“EZIE-Mag provides the mission with a unique opportunity to engage citizen
scientists in this important research. Measurements made by these kits will
be complementary to data collected by the three EZIE spacecraft.”
The core of NASA’s Electrojet Zeeman Imaging Explorer program consists of
three CubeSats, scheduled for launch in the late stages of 2024. These
CubeSats will play a pivotal role in recording the magnetic fingerprints of
Earth’s auroral electrojets – electrical currents flowing between the outer
limits of the atmosphere and surrounding space. While the CubeSats map
these currents, the EZIE-MAG initiative aims to enhance the mission with
additional ground-based data.
Adebayo Eisape, second from left, an electrical engineering doctoral
student at Johns Hopkins University, watches as high school students with
the Lab’s ASPIRE program assemble the EZIE-Mag kit. (Image credit: Ed
Whitman/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory)
Dr. Jesper Gjerloev, EZIE project scientist, stresses the inclusive nature
of involving citizen scientists in the project, highlighting that it was
previously considered unfeasible due to the high costs of custom equipment,
ranging from $25,000 to $500,000. The innovative solution involved creating
a low-cost sensor connected to a Raspberry Pi Zero single-board computer.
EZIE ground systems engineer Rob Barnes, inspired by a science fair project
with his niece and nephew, developed prototypes for the EZIE-Mag kits.
These kits, priced at just $200, include a low-cost magnetometer sensor
paired with GPS for accurate time and location data, connected to a
Raspberry Pi Zero. The cost reduction allows the team to distribute the
kits to schools free of charge.
Barnes explains, “When we distribute EZIE-Mags, the data that’s going to
come in from all these schools and places is actually going to be included
as part of the mission database. We’re going to do real science with it.
You get all the parts and they just snap together, and you’re done.”
The EZIE team will make and freely distribute approximately 700 EZIE-Mag
kits to teachers and students across the United States, with a specific
focus on Indigenous schools. (Image credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University
Applied Physics Laboratory/Ed Whitman)
The EZIE-Mag program has also formed partnerships with the Indigenous
Education Institute and Little Singer Community School, establishing five
Indigenous-based collaborative workspaces equipped with EZIE-Mag kits. In
total, up to 700 kits will be distributed to schools in underserved
communities.
Dr. Gjerloev applauds the active participation of schools, stating,
“They’re actively participating, providing data that is used in our
solutions. As a middle schooler or high schooler, you can say, ‘I’m
actually providing data and making measurements that are important and
being used for a NASA mission.’ That’s the way it should be. It’s much more
exciting than sending out a flyer.”
For those interested in joining the EZIE-Mag project, further information
and an application form for the kit are available on the project website:
https://ezie.jhuapl.edu/outreach/ezie-mag.
[ANS thanks Gareth Halfacree, hackster.io, for the above information]
Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for Jan. 18
Two Line Elements or TLEs, often referred to as Keplerian elements or keps
in the amateur community, are the inputs to the SGP4 standard mathematical
model of spacecraft orbits used by most amateur tracking programs. Weekly
updates are completely adequate for most amateur satellites. TLE bulletin
files are updated daily in the first hour of the UTC day. New bulletin
files will be posted immediately after reliable elements become available
for new amateur satellites. More information may be found at
https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/.
This week there are no additions or deletions to the AMSAT TLE distribution.
[ANS thanks AMSAT Orbital Elements page 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.
IC Statale Villa Guardia, Villa Guardia, Italy, telebridge via ZS6JON
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS
The scheduled crewmember is Walter Villadei, IUØRWB
The ARISS mentor is IZ2GOJ
Contact is go for: Mon 2024-01-22 09:35:49 UTC 44 degrees elevation
Watch for Livestream at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMQUWMww9yE
Istituto Comprensivo “Anna Rita Sidoti”, Gioiosa Marea, Italy, direct via
IT9DBI
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be IRØISS
The scheduled crewmember is Walter Villadei, IUØRWB
The ARISS mentor is IKØWGF
Contact is go for: Wed 2024-01-24 14:37:22 UTC 40 degrees elevation
Youth Group, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, direct via TBD
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS
The scheduled crewmember is Konstantin Borisov
The ARISS mentor is RV3DR
Contact is go for Thu 2024-01-25 15:30 UTC
The crossband repeater continues to be active (145.990 MHz up {PL 67} &
437.800 MHz down). If any crewmember is so inclined, all they have to do is
pick up the microphone, raise the volume up, and talk on the crossband
repeater. So give a listen, you just never know.
The packet system Temporarily stowed. (145.825 MHz up & down). SSTV Status
is OFF.
As always, if there is an EVA, a docking, or an undocking; the ARISS radios
are turned off as part of the safety protocol.
Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own
orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed
time.
The latest information on the operation mode can be found at
https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html
The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at
https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html
[ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors
for the above information]
Upcoming Satellite Operations
None scheduled at this time.
[ANS thanks Ian Parsons, K5ZM, 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.
+ Orlando HamCation 2024
Friday February 9th through Sunday February 11th, 2024
Central Florida Fairgrounds and Expo Park
4603 West Colonial Drive
Orlando, Florida 32808
https://www.hamcation.com
+ 40th Anniversary Celebration of the Positive Impact of Amateur Radio on
Human Spaceflight
Thursday February 22nd through Saturday February 24th, 2024
Center for Space Education: Astronauts Memorial Foundation
Kennedy Space Center, M6-306 405 State Road, FL 32899
https://www.ariss.org/overview.html
+ Dayton Hamvention 2024
Friday May 17th through Sunday May 19th, 2024
Greene County Fairgrounds and Expo Center
120 Fairground Road
Xenia, OH 45385
https://hamvention.org
[ANS thanks the AMSAT Events page for the above information]
Satellite Shorts From All Over
GridMaster Plaque+ Congratulations to Lyle Hood, WB7VUF, for being awarded
GridMaster Award #63! This prestigious award, introduced by Star Comm Group
in 2014 and sponsored by Damon Runion, WA4HFN, and Rick Tillman, WA4NVM, is
now entrusted to AMSAT for the benefit of the entire AMSAT community. The
GridMaster Award recognizes amateurs worldwide who establish two-way
communication via amateur satellite with operators in all 488 Maidenhead
grids in the contiguous United States of America. More information about
this award can be found on the AMSAT website at
https://www.amsat.org/gridmaster. Well done on this remarkable achievement
Lyle! (ANS thanks Bruce Paige, KK5DO, AMSAT Director of Contests and Awards
for the above information)
+ Kudos to Tom Kenny, NJ2DX, on achieving AMSAT Century Award #60! This
distinguished recognition entails confirming satellite contacts with a mix
of one hundred USA states, Canadian provinces, or DXCC entities. Tom met
the requirements for the AMSAT Satellite Communications Achievement Award
and AMSAT Sexagesimal Award by respectively establishing satellite contacts
with twenty and sixty distinct entities from within a 40-kilometer radius
of the same location, paving the way for eligibility for this distinguished
honor. For more information about this award, please visit the AMSAT
website at https://www.amsat.org/awards. Once again, congratulations to Tom
on this exceptional accomplishment! (ANS thanks Bruce Paige, KK5DO, AMSAT
Director of Contests and Awards for the above information)
+ Astrobotic’s Peregrine moon lander was launched on January 8 under an
experimental new partnership between NASA and private industry intended to
reduce costs for American taxpayers and seed a lunar economy. But it
experienced an explosion shortly after separating from its rocket and had
been leaking fuel, making it impossible to reach its destination.
Astrobotic announced that it had lost contact with its spacecraft shortly
before 2100 GMT Thursday, January 18, indicating a “controlled re-entry
over open water” as it had predicted. Engineers had executed a series of
small engine burns to position the golf cart-sized robot over the South
Pacific to “minimize the risk of debris reaching land.” (ANS thanks Space
Daily for the above information)
+ After a leisurely, fuel-efficient trip to the Moon, the Japan Aerospace
Exploration Agency (JAXA) SLIM lander (aka “Moon Sniper”) attempted a
pinpoint landing at 15:20 UTC on Jan. 19. Pinpoint in this context means
shooting for a landing area ellipse of 100 x 100 meters after a 20-minute
autonomous descent process. That’s a smaller target area than ever
attempted by a lunar lander, though China’s Chang’e 3 lander managed to
land 89 meters from the center of its 6,000 x 6,000 meter target in 2013.
While the soft landing was a success, JAXA is still analyzing data to
determine the precision of the landing. (ANS thanks The Orbital Index and
JAXA for the above information)
+ The Chinese Academy of Sciences, ESA, and the Max Planck Institute for
Extraterrestrial Physics in Germany collaborated on the Einstein Probe, an
X-ray telescope that launched last week on a Long March 2C. The telescope
will observe X-ray bursts from energetic sources such as neutron star
mergers and black holes and will monitor how these change over time. It
will orbit Earth at 600 km and carry two instruments. The Wide-field X-ray
Telescope (WXT) uses hundreds of thousands of square fibers “inspired by
the eyes of lobsters” which can collectively image almost a tenth of the
celestial sphere at a time. Once sources are identified, they can be imaged
in more detail with the narrower but more sensitive, two-module Follow-up
X-ray Telescope (FXT). (ANS thanks The Orbital Index for the above
information)
Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/
In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to:
* Societies (a recognized group, clubs or organization).
* Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at
one-half the standard yearly rate.
* Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status
shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary
years in this status.
* Memberships are available for annual and lifetime terms.
Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional membership information.
73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space!
This week’s ANS Editor, Mark Johns, KØJM
k0jm [at] amsat.org
1
0
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-021
In this edition:
* Microwave Ambitions for GOLF Satellites
* All-Ham Axiom Crew Launched for Commercial Visit to ISS
* AMSAT Argentina Celebrates 34 Years of LUSAT
* AMSAT Volunteers Needed For the Upcoming 2024 Orlando Hamcation
* IO-117 Project Group Presents the IO-117 Code of Conduct
* NASA Program Empowers Students for EZIE-Mag CubeSat Mission
* Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for Jan. 18
* ARISS News
* Upcoming Satellite Operations
* Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
* Satellite Shorts From All Over
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 <http://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/
*ANS-021 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins*
To: All RADIO AMATEURS
From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation
712 H Street NE, Suite 1653
Washington, DC 20002
DATE 2024 JAN 21
Microwave Ambitions for GOLF Satellites
Recently AMSAT News Service had the opportunity to interview Zach
Metzinger, NØZGO, AMSAT Director and Volunteer Engineer, about the work
that is being done to add microwave communication bands to the GOLF
satellites.
ANS: “Zach, I understand that AMSAT will add microwave capability to the
new GOLF CubeSat satellites, currently in design and evaluation. Is this
correct?”
ZM: “Yes, that is correct! AMSAT had microwave capabilities in earlier
satellites such as AO-10 and AO-40 and only a 1.2GHz downshifter on the
newer CubeSats, that is the Fox series of satellites.
The GOLF (Greater Orbit Larger Footprint) satellites are currently under
development.
GOLF-TEE is the first of these satellites and is the technology
demonstrator for the GOLF series, which is in turn the successor to the FOX
satellites. GOLF-TEE will have more capability as we increase the
capability and functionality of our satellites, including adding microwave
bands. “
ANS: “What is driving this increased functionality of the GOLF series?”
ZM: “Due to new orbital debris regulations, the FCC will require us to be
able to be able to move as well as deorbit satellites, so we are adding the
ability to orient and steer the satellite. While this adds complexity, it
will also help us to improve the functionality of the satellite. For
example: We will now be able to have the satellite maintain direction and
orientation which will allow us to point the antenna for improved gain.
This increased functionality is causing the increase in size. The GOLF
satellites are a 3U size satellite, that is 30 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm. (The
predecessor FOX satellites are 10 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm.) With the increase in
size, we can also add other functionality, in this case the microwave
capability we are discussing here today.”
ANS: “Can you tell us a little about how this is implemented?”
ZM: “While GOLF-TEE will have the usual 2m uplink and 70 cm downlink bands,
it will also have an X-band (10 GHz) downlink transmitter. The 10 GHz SSPA
board has already been demonstrated and works well. The 10 GHz SSPA has a
peak power of 1 watt.
“We will also use a Software Defined Radio (SDR) which we will purchase.
(For the development and demonstration, we have been using the Ettus E310
radio.) This will enable many simultaneous uplink bands, for example 1.2
GHz, 2.4 GHz, 5.7 GHz, etc. The whole system is very flexible. For example,
the microwave antenna will support frequencies from 1 GHz to 26 GHz.”
ANS: “It is very exciting to hear about these improved capabilities. What
are the next steps?”
ZM: “We continue to test the system and tweak the hardware. We will be
ready to be on GOLF-TEE, which is estimated to launch in the second quarter
of 2025. If it works well, it could be turned on for general use, but of
course we will have to see. We definitely plan to have the microwave bands
operational on succeeding GOLF satellites.
One more tidbit of information that folks may find interesting: The orbit
for GOLF-TEE will be LEO. The next satellite, GOLF-1, could be LEO or
perhaps MEO or HEO.
ANS: “This is an exciting development. How can we learn more?”
ZM: “I gave a 20-minute presentation on this at the AMSAT Annual Space
Symposium, which you can see on YouTube.”
ANS: Thank you for your time, Zach!
Link to Zach Metzinger’s presentation is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcO4-h7bbxs&t=2270s
[ANS thanks Zach Metzinger, N0ZGO, AMSAT Director and Volunteer Engineer,
and Mark Blackwood, KI5AXK, AMSAT Staff Writer, for the above information.]
------------------------------
All-Ham Axiom Crew Launched for Commercial Visit to ISS
With retired NASA astronaut Michael López-Alegría, KE5GTK, and Italian
co-pilot Walter Villadei, IUØRWB, at the controls, flanked by Turkish
mission specialists Alper Gezeravci, KJ5DIY, and Marcus Wandt of Sweden,
KJ5COO, a SpaceX Falcon 9 thundered to life at 21:49 UTC Thursday and
climbed away from historic pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center atop a
brilliant jet of flaming exhaust.
*A Falcon 9 lifts off from Kennedy Space Center carrying an international
crew on a commercial mission to the space station. Image: Adam
Bernstein/Spaceflight Now.*
Rocketing away along a trajectory paralleling the East Coast of the United
States, the 12-minute climb to space got off to a picture-perfect start,
thrilling area residents and tourists with a late-afternoon sky show
despite low clouds that limited the view.
Adding to the spectacle, the booster’s first stage, heralded by twin sonic
booms, flew itself back to a rocket-powered landing at the Cape Canaveral
Space Force Station, chalking up SpaceX’s 43rd landing in Florida and its
265th overall.
A few minutes later, the Crew Dragon capsule was released to fly on its
own. SpaceX Chief Engineer Bill Gerstenmaier radioed congratulations to the
crew “on a great ride to orbit. I think you’re demonstrating the ultimate
in reuse — a reused commander, reused Dragon and a reused Falcon.”
If all goes well, López-Alegría and Villadei will monitor an automated
approach to the space station, catching up from behind and below to set up
a docking at the lab’s forward port early Saturday.
They’ll be welcomed aboard by the station’s current seven-member crew:
Soyuz MS-24/70S commander Oleg Kononenko, RN3DX, and his two crewmates,
Nikolai Chub and NASA astronaut Loral O’Hara, KI5TOM, along with NASA
Crew-7 commander Jasmin Moghbeli, KI5WSL, European Space Agency astronaut
Andreas Mogensen, KG5GCZ, Japanese flier Satoshi Furukawa, KE5DAW, and
cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov.
At least two ARISS school contacts are scheduled with Axiom crewmembers,
and participants in previous Axiom missions have activated the ARISS
equipment on board the Space Station for casual contacts in the past.
Once their experiments are complete, López-Alegría and his crewmates will
strap back into their Crew Dragon and undock from the space station on Feb.
3 for a fiery plunge back to Earth and splashdown off the coast of Florida.
The Axiom flights are sanctioned by NASA, which is trying to encourage
private-sector development in low-Earth orbit. The company is using the
“private astronaut missions,” or PAMs, to gain experience with orbital
operations before launching its own space station modules later this decade.
[ANS thanks spaceflightnow.com for the above information]
*+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+*
*The 2024 AMSAT President’s Club coins are here now!*
*Help Support GOLF and Fox Plus*
*Join the AMSAT President’s Club today and help*
*Keep Amateur Radio in Space!*
*https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/*
<https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/>
*+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+*
AMSAT Argentina Celebrates 34 Years of LUSAT
On Jan-22, 34 years ago was launched LO-19, LUSAT, 1st Argentine Satellite,
till now emitting on 437.125 KHz.
During ‘LUSAT Week’, from Saturday-20 to Sunday-28 January 2024, AMSAT-LU,
several Radio Clubs and collaborators will deliver a QSL commemorative of
the 34rd anniversary of LUSAT, see: lusat33qsl.jpg, and the 34rd
anniversary silver certificate with 5 (five) contacts or gold with 15
(fifteen) contacts, it will not be mandatory to communicate with LU7AA.
This Certificate complies with all the requirements of Argentine Resolution
3635-E/2017, articles 4.5.4 and 4.6.4, and therefore having LU7AA in force
Legal Status and being recognized by ENACOM is valid for category
promotions.
It will be operated by radio means of the radio amateur service only, in
multiband/multimode, terrestrial HF/VHF/UHF and via active amateur
satellites. More information at LU7AA at qrz.com. Collaborators will be
calling: ‘LUxxx collaborating station of AMSAT Argentina, grants
Commemorative QSL for the 34rd Anniversary of LUSAT’.
Do not miss this Certificate or QSL like the previous ones, it will be a
pride to have it and for AMSAT your participation. Radio clubs and radio
amateurs were invited to operate as a collaborating station.
To sign up as a Collaborating station see:
https://forms.gle/iyEYE5F3gskmRdkQ8
*Bases:*
To obtain the QSL you must contact a collaborating station, or as a short
wave listener receive a QSO between stations related to the 34rd
anniversary event of LUSAT.
To obtain the Certificate, it will be necessary to contact (Radio amateurs)
or listen (Short Wave Listeners) by radio at least 5 collaborating stations
(silver), or 15 stations (gold) in any band and mode.
Finalized contacts or listening and after January 29:
For radio amateurs, go to https://forms.gle/c2RJE5LyBqz5erh7A and inform
your contacts, it is not necessary to send QSLs or images.
For Short Wave Listeners, go to https://forms.gle/pkHNsQuWRo4MB21DA and
report your listen stations, it is not necessary to send QSLs or images.
*Issuance of the Certificate:*
The LUSAT 34rd Anniversary Certificate will be issued free of charge,
digitally to the email of each applicant. The Certificate can be printed by
the recipient if desired.
More information and images: http://amsat.org.ar?f=34
Celebrating its permanence in space, our LUSAT continues to emit a strong
carrier after 34 years, receivable at 437.125 KHz. +/- Doppler.
See pass schedules at http://amsat.org.ar/pass?satx=LUSAT
Details: http://amsat.org.ar?f=34 http://qrz.com/db/LU7AA
https://www.qrzcq.com/call/LU7AA (also in English)
Collaborating stations registration open at
https://forms.gle/iyEYE5F3gskmRdkQ8
LUSAT could be tracked/seen thru http://amsat.org.ar/pass?satx=lusat
Deeply appreciation to AMSAT-NA than in the eighties develop AO-16 & LO-19
novel pacsat protocol and lead on design and launch.
[ANS thanks AMSAT Argentina, LU7AA, 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/*
<https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/>
*+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+*
AMSAT Volunteers Needed For the Upcoming 2024 Orlando Hamcation
The new year is now upon us and that means the 2024 HamCation in Orlando,
Florida (Feb. 9 – 11) is just around the corner. The hamfest began in 1946
and in 2024 celebrates its 78th year having achieved the designation as
being the 2nd largest gathering of ham operators in the world annually.
Along with a myriad of popular amateur radio vendors and enormous tailgate
area to peruse through, AMSAT will also be on hand and we could sure use
your help. If last year’s 21,800 attendees are any indication of what’s
ahead, we would greatly appreciate you sharing at least 2 to 4 hours of
your time at the AMSAT booth sometime during the three-day event,
introducing fellow hams to what amateur satellites are all about, helping
those who maybe having problems getting on the air and best of all,
connecting face to face with hams you’ve talked to on the satellites.
So if you would like to join us at the AMSAT booth or have any questions
about helping out, please contact David Jordan, AA4KN at aa4kn(a)amsat.org.
BTW, the average temp. for Orlando in February is a high 75 deg. and low 54
deg.
… hard to beat that!!
For more details on 2024 HamCation, visit https://www.hamcation.org
[ANS thanks Dave Jordan, AA4KN, AMSAT Ambassador in Central Florida for the
above information]
------------------------------
IO-117 Project Group Presents the IO-117 Code of Conduct
A group of amateurs who regularly work the IO-117 satellite has worked to
develop a code of conduct for using this popular digipeating resource.
The purpose of the IO-117 Code of Conduct document is to provide suggested
operational guidelines that will hopefully optimize everyone’s access to
the limited resource single channel digipeater aboard IO-117. If better
messaging discipline can be adopted as well as a better understanding of
what operating techniques improve or diminish the success of a station’s
transmission being digipeated by IO-117, then the entire group of operators
on an individual pass will benefit from implementing these standards.
Those involved in this project, in alphabetical order, are: 2MØSQL, DF2ET,
FG8OJ, IK3ITB, JH8FIH, JK2XXK, KF7R, KGØD, KH6WI, KIØKB, OZ9AAR, and W8LR.
*IO-117 CODE OF CONDUCT*
1. LISTEN MORE TRANSMIT LESS – Consider giving the station you are calling
several minutes to return Your call before you call again. The use of
Greencube Terminal program by OZ9AAR (GC-T) with its “yoU Heard Me” feature
(UHM — available in the latest GC-T version, 1.0.0.85) turned on may aid in
this process. The software is available for free download at:
https://www.moonbounce.dk/hamradio/greencube-terminal-program.html
2. STATIONS SHOULD USE THE MINIMAL POWER NECESSARY TO ACCESS THE SATELLITE.
3. AVOID CALLING CQ MORE THAN ONCE EVERY 5 MINUTES.
4. AVOID DUPE QSOs – Other than occasional contacts with friends and for
testing purposes we should discourage repeat contacts with stations already
confirmed in your log, particularly for uncommon or rare DX stations.
5. AVOID 2X – 3X IDENTICAL TRANSMISSIONS IN BACK TO BACK TO BACK DIGIPEATS
BY ANY MEANS. The
Use of GC-T/UHM ABSOLUTLEY helps you avoid this problem.
6. WHEN CALLING A STATION, TIME YOUR TX TO WHEN THEY WILL MOST LIKELY BE
LISTENING FOR NEW CALLS. AFTER THEY SEND A CQ OR SEND ANOTHER STATION THEIR
R73 TX.
7. KEEP MESSAGES AS SHORT AS POSSIBLE – Every millisecond saved does make a
difference. Four character grids only, not six characters.
8. AVOID SENDING SUPERFLUOUS DATA – 599 is irrelevant on a digipeater.
Avoid sending operator names. Use 2-Letter ID for states; don’t include
city or regional quantifiers (ie: “SoCal”, just send “CA”). You can shorten
“UR 599, DN84fj, Sturgis South Dakota, LoTW, QSL?” to “DN84 SD” with no
loss of relevant information for the QSO.
9. CALLING FOR A SPECIFIC STATE IS UNNECESSARY AND UNPRODUCTIVE – That info
is available on GC-T and the Greencube Reporter:
https://oscarwatch.org/greencube/.
10. WHEN A STATION DECLARES “SKED” IN THE TX MESSAGE DO NOT CALL THAT
STATION UNTIL THEY HAVE FINISHED THEIR SCHEDULED CONTACT – Both stations
should use SKED GRID in message & use COSI (Callsign of Special Interest).
11. WHEN WORKING A RARE CALL/GRID STATION THAT IS USING THE GC-T MULTICALL
FEATURE THEIR “R73” TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE ADEQUATE TO FINISH THE QSO: GC
F/H Mode: similar to FT8 F/H mode.
12. FOR ROVERS, PUTTING YOUR ROVING GRID IN THE “R73” TRANMISSION IS
ACCEPTABLE, AS WELL AS BEING HELPFUL, TO ALL STATIONS COMING INTO THE
FOOTPRINT.
13. SUGGESTED MESSAGE FORMAT: FT8 Format (GC F/H Mode) and GRID Format: 4
Characters only NOT 6
Calling Message:
P5ABC CQ PM39
P5ABC 3Y0ABC PM39.
P5ABC 3Y0ABC/R/P PM39
Response 73 Message: 3Y0ABC P5ABC R73 or RR73
3Y0ABC/R/P P5ABC R73 JD15
14. AS A FORM OF COURTESY, THE R73 EXCHANGE IS USUALLY BILATERAL BUT ONE
MUST TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE CURRENT SITUATION OF THE SATELLITE, SO THE LAST
R73 MAY BE WELCOMED BUT NOT MANDATORY – The use of GC-T/UHM may aid you in
this decision process.
15. ROVERS SHOULD ATTEMPT TO PROVIDE THE BEST POSSIBLE STATION, TO INCLUDE
THE USE OF THE GC-T/UHM FEATURE WHEN INTERNET ACCESS IS AVAILABLE, IN ORDER
TO MAKE AN IO-117 ACTIVATION PRODUCTIVE AS POSSIBLE FOR ALL STATIONS
INVOLVED.
[ANS thanks Jeff Schwartz, KI0KB, and the IO-117 Project Group 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* <https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear>
*+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+*
NASA Program Empowers Students for EZIE-Mag CubeSat Mission
The Electrojet Zeeman Imaging Explorer (EZIE) team at Johns Hopkins Applied
Physics Laboratory (APL) is extending an invitation to citizen scientists,
schools, and researchers to actively participate in NASA’s CubeSat mission
set to capture the magnetic signatures of Earth’s upper atmosphere. The
project, known as EZIE-Mag, is distributing 700 Raspberry Pi-powered
experimentation kits, providing an unprecedented opportunity for
enthusiasts to contribute valuable ground-based readings to the mission.
Dr. Nelli Mosavi-Hoyer, project manager for EZIE at Johns Hopkins APL,
emphasizes the importance of citizen scientists’ involvement, stating,
“EZIE-Mag provides the mission with a unique opportunity to engage citizen
scientists in this important research. Measurements made by these kits will
be complementary to data collected by the three EZIE spacecraft.”
The core of NASA’s Electrojet Zeeman Imaging Explorer program consists of
three CubeSats, scheduled for launch in the late stages of 2024. These
CubeSats will play a pivotal role in recording the magnetic fingerprints of
Earth’s auroral electrojets – electrical currents flowing between the outer
limits of the atmosphere and surrounding space. While the CubeSats map
these currents, the EZIE-MAG initiative aims to enhance the mission with
additional ground-based data.
*Adebayo Eisape, second from left, an electrical engineering doctoral
student at Johns Hopkins University, watches as high school students with
the Lab’s ASPIRE program assemble the EZIE-Mag kit. (Image credit: Ed
Whitman/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory)*
Dr. Jesper Gjerloev, EZIE project scientist, stresses the inclusive nature
of involving citizen scientists in the project, highlighting that it was
previously considered unfeasible due to the high costs of custom equipment,
ranging from $25,000 to $500,000. The innovative solution involved creating
a low-cost sensor connected to a Raspberry Pi Zero single-board computer.
EZIE ground systems engineer Rob Barnes, inspired by a science fair project
with his niece and nephew, developed prototypes for the EZIE-Mag kits.
These kits, priced at just $200, include a low-cost magnetometer sensor
paired with GPS for accurate time and location data, connected to a
Raspberry Pi Zero. The cost reduction allows the team to distribute the
kits to schools free of charge.
Barnes explains, “When we distribute EZIE-Mags, the data that’s going to
come in from all these schools and places is actually going to be included
as part of the mission database. We’re going to do real science with it.
You get all the parts and they just snap together, and you’re done.”
*The EZIE team will make and freely distribute approximately 700 EZIE-Mag
kits to teachers and students across the United States, with a specific
focus on Indigenous schools. (Image credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University
Applied Physics Laboratory/Ed Whitman)*
The EZIE-Mag program has also formed partnerships with the Indigenous
Education Institute and Little Singer Community School, establishing five
Indigenous-based collaborative workspaces equipped with EZIE-Mag kits. In
total, up to 700 kits will be distributed to schools in underserved
communities.
Dr. Gjerloev applauds the active participation of schools, stating,
“They’re actively participating, providing data that is used in our
solutions. As a middle schooler or high schooler, you can say, ‘I’m
actually providing data and making measurements that are important and
being used for a NASA mission.’ That’s the way it should be. It’s much more
exciting than sending out a flyer.”
For those interested in joining the EZIE-Mag project, further information
and an application form for the kit are available on the project website:
https://ezie.jhuapl.edu/outreach/ezie-mag.
[ANS thanks Gareth Halfacree, hackster.io, for the above information]
------------------------------
Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for Jan. 18
Two Line Elements or TLEs, often referred to as Keplerian elements or keps
in the amateur community, are the inputs to the SGP4 standard mathematical
model of spacecraft orbits used by most amateur tracking programs. Weekly
updates are completely adequate for most amateur satellites. TLE bulletin
files are updated daily in the first hour of the UTC day. New bulletin
files will be posted immediately after reliable elements become available
for new amateur satellites. More information may be found at
https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/.
This week there are no additions or deletions to the AMSAT TLE distribution.
[ANS thanks AMSAT Orbital Elements page 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.
IC Statale Villa Guardia, Villa Guardia, Italy, telebridge via ZS6JON
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS
The scheduled crewmember is Walter Villadei, IUØRWB
The ARISS mentor is IZ2GOJ
Contact is go for: Mon 2024-01-22 09:35:49 UTC 44 degrees elevation
Watch for Livestream at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMQUWMww9yE
Istituto Comprensivo “Anna Rita Sidoti”, Gioiosa Marea, Italy, direct via
IT9DBI
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be IRØISS
The scheduled crewmember is Walter Villadei, IUØRWB
The ARISS mentor is IKØWGF
Contact is go for: Wed 2024-01-24 14:37:22 UTC 40 degrees elevation
Youth Group, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, direct via TBD
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS
The scheduled crewmember is Konstantin Borisov
The ARISS mentor is RV3DR
Contact is go for Thu 2024-01-25 15:30 UTC
*The crossband repeater continues to be active (145.990 MHz up {PL 67} &
437.800 MHz down).* If any crewmember is so inclined, all they have to do
is pick up the microphone, raise the volume up, and talk on the crossband
repeater. So give a listen, you just never know.
*The packet system Temporarily stowed. (145.825 MHz up & down). SSTV Status
is OFF.*
As always, if there is an EVA, a docking, or an undocking; the ARISS radios
are turned off as part of the safety protocol.
Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own
orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed
time.
The latest information on the operation mode can be found at
https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html
The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at
https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html
[ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors
for the above information]
------------------------------
Upcoming Satellite Operations
None scheduled at this time.
[ANS thanks Ian Parsons, K5ZM, 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.
+ Orlando HamCation 2024
Friday February 9th through Sunday February 11th, 2024
Central Florida Fairgrounds and Expo Park
4603 West Colonial Drive
Orlando, Florida 32808
https://www.hamcation.com
+ 40th Anniversary Celebration of the Positive Impact of Amateur Radio on
Human Spaceflight
Thursday February 22nd through Saturday February 24th, 2024
Center for Space Education: Astronauts Memorial Foundation
Kennedy Space Center, M6-306 405 State Road, FL 32899
https://www.ariss.org/overview.html
+ Dayton Hamvention 2024
Friday May 17th through Sunday May 19th, 2024
Greene County Fairgrounds and Expo Center
120 Fairground Road
Xenia, OH 45385
https://hamvention.org
[ANS thanks the AMSAT Events page for the above information]
------------------------------
Satellite Shorts From All Over
[image: GridMaster Plaque]
+ Congratulations to Lyle Hood, WB7VUF, for being awarded GridMaster Award
#63! This prestigious award, introduced by Star Comm Group in 2014 and
sponsored by Damon Runion, WA4HFN, and Rick Tillman, WA4NVM, is now
entrusted to AMSAT for the benefit of the entire AMSAT community. The
GridMaster Award recognizes amateurs worldwide who establish two-way
communication via amateur satellite with operators in all 488 Maidenhead
grids in the contiguous United States of America. More information about
this award can be found on the AMSAT website at
https://www.amsat.org/gridmaster. Well done on this remarkable achievement
Lyle! (ANS thanks Bruce Paige, KK5DO, AMSAT Director of Contests and Awards
for the above information)
+ Kudos to Tom Kenny, NJ2DX, on achieving AMSAT Century Award #60! This
distinguished recognition entails confirming satellite contacts with a mix
of one hundred USA states, Canadian provinces, or DXCC entities. Tom met
the requirements for the AMSAT Satellite Communications Achievement Award
and AMSAT Sexagesimal Award by respectively establishing satellite contacts
with twenty and sixty distinct entities from within a 40-kilometer radius
of the same location, paving the way for eligibility for this distinguished
honor. For more information about this award, please visit the AMSAT
website at https://www.amsat.org/awards. Once again, congratulations to Tom
on this exceptional accomplishment! (ANS thanks Bruce Paige, KK5DO, AMSAT
Director of Contests and Awards for the above information)
+ Astrobotic’s Peregrine moon lander was launched on January 8 under an
experimental new partnership between NASA and private industry intended to
reduce costs for American taxpayers and seed a lunar economy. But it
experienced an explosion shortly after separating from its rocket and had
been leaking fuel, making it impossible to reach its destination.
Astrobotic announced that it had lost contact with its spacecraft shortly
before 2100 GMT Thursday, January 18, indicating a “controlled re-entry
over open water” as it had predicted. Engineers had executed a series of
small engine burns to position the golf cart-sized robot over the South
Pacific to “minimize the risk of debris reaching land.” (ANS thanks Space
Daily for the above information)
+ After a leisurely, fuel-efficient trip to the Moon, the Japan Aerospace
Exploration Agency (JAXA) SLIM lander (aka “Moon Sniper”) attempted a
pinpoint landing at 15:20 UTC on Jan. 19. Pinpoint in this context means
shooting for a landing area ellipse of 100 x 100 meters after a 20-minute
autonomous descent process. That’s a smaller target area than ever
attempted by a lunar lander, though China’s Chang’e 3 lander managed to
land 89 meters from the center of its 6,000 x 6,000 meter target in 2013.
While the soft landing was a success, JAXA is still analyzing data to
determine the precision of the landing. (ANS thanks The Orbital Index and
JAXA for the above information)
+ The Chinese Academy of Sciences, ESA, and the Max Planck Institute for
Extraterrestrial Physics in Germany collaborated on the Einstein Probe, an
X-ray telescope that launched last week on a Long March 2C. The telescope
will observe X-ray bursts from energetic sources such as neutron star
mergers and black holes and will monitor how these change over time. It
will orbit Earth at 600 km and carry two instruments. The Wide-field X-ray
Telescope (WXT) uses hundreds of thousands of square fibers “inspired by
the eyes of lobsters” which can collectively image almost a tenth of the
celestial sphere at a time. Once sources are identified, they can be imaged
in more detail with the narrower but more sensitive, two-module Follow-up
X-ray Telescope (FXT). (ANS thanks The Orbital Index for the above
information)
------------------------------
Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/
In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to:
* Societies (a recognized group, clubs or organization).
* Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at
one-half the standard yearly rate.
* Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status
shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary
years in this status.
* Memberships are available for annual and lifetime terms.
Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional membership information.
73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space!
This week’s ANS Editor, Mark Johns, KØJM
k0jm [at] amsat.org
1
0
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-014
In this edition:
* ARISS Announces NASA Astronaut Tony England WØORE as Speaker for 40th Anniversary Celebration
* AMSAT Seeks Volunteers to Assist with AMSAT Booth at 2024 HamCation in Orlando Florida
* Vulcan Centaur Triumphs in Maiden Voyage, Peregrine Lander Faces Lunar Setback
* GridMasterMap Satellite Top 100 Rovers January 2024 Rankings
* Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for January 12, 2024
* ARISS News
* Upcoming Satellite Operations
* Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
* Satellite Shorts from All Over
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 https://www.amsat.org<https://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<http://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
ANS-014 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
To: All RADIO AMATEURS
From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation
712 H Street NE, Suite 1653
Washington, DC 20002
DATE 2024 Jan 14
________________________________
ARISS Announces NASA Astronaut Tony England WØORE as Speaker for 40th Anniversary Celebration
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has announced NASA astronaut Tony England WØORE as the latest addition to the esteemed lineup for the "40th Anniversary Conference: Celebrating the Positive Impact of Amateur Radio on Human Spaceflight" event at Kennedy Space Center, set to occur from February 22 to 24, 2024. Tony England will be the third astronaut speaker at the event, in addition to Richard Garriott, W5KQW, and Bill McArthur, KC5ACR.
Tony England, the second astronaut to make ham radio contacts from space and the first to engage in Slow-Scan Television (SSTV) transmissions from orbit, brings a wealth of experience to the event. Selected as a scientist-astronaut by NASA in August 1967 at the age of 25, he holds the distinction of being the youngest candidate selected up to that time. England completed rigorous academic and flight training, earning his wings with distinguished honors in April 1969.
His contributions to space missions include serving as a support crewman for Apollo 13 and 16 flights. Notably, England played a crucial role during the Apollo 16 mission as the Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) Capcom, providing instructions to astronauts exploring the lunar surface. His expertise also extended to the development and communication of instructions for constructing lithium hydroxide canisters on Apollo 13.
In the summer of 1985, England was a part of the STS-51-F mission, which carried a seven-man crew and Spacelab-2. This mission marked the first pallet-only Spacelab mission and the debut of the Spacelab Instrument Pointing System (IPS). England's responsibilities included activating and operating Spacelab systems, operating the IPS and the Remote Manipulator System, assisting with experiment operations, and being prepared for a contingency Extra-Vehicular Activity if needed. The mission successfully completed 126 orbits of the Earth.
Richard Garriott W5KQW, a second-generation space traveler, ARISS veteran, and entrepreneur, has been announced as the keynote conference speaker. The 40th Anniversary Celebration event will also feature other distinguished speakers, including Bill McArthur, KC5ACR, a NASA Astronaut with experience on the Shuttle, Mir, and the International Space Station (ISS), and Mike Kincaid, NASA Associate Administrator for the Office of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Engagement.
The 40th Anniversary Conference is scheduled to occur at the Center for Space Education, located next to the NASA Kennedy Space Center Visitor's Center in Florida. This event is not only a reflection on past achievements but also a platform to showcase the exciting potential of amateur radio in future human spaceflight endeavors. The discussions will encompass potential operations on commercial space stations, lunar exploration, and even ventures toward Mars. The celebration is poised to offer a retrospective of notable achievements and delve into the evolving role of amateur radio in shaping the trajectory of human space exploration. More details can be found on the ARISS website at https://www.ariss.org/overview.html.
[ANS thanks Amateur Radio on the International Space Station for the above information]
________________________________
AMSAT Seeks Volunteers to Assist with AMSAT Booth at 2024 HamCation in Orlando Florida
As the new year unfolds, the spotlight shifts to HamCation 2024, scheduled for February 9th to 11th in Orlando, Florida. Celebrating its 78th year since its establishment in 1946, HamCation proudly holds the distinction of being the second-largest annual gathering of ham operators globally.
Hosted at the Central Florida Fairgrounds and Expo Park, the 87-acre lakefront fairground transforms into a bustling center for radio-centric activities during HamCation. This cornerstone event in the amateur radio community is sponsored by the Orlando Amateur Radio Club and supported by volunteers from radio clubs across the region. For a detailed itinerary and logistical information about the 2024 HamCation, interested individuals are encouraged to visit the official website at https://www.hamcation.org<https://www.hamcation.org/>.
One of the standout features of HamCation is the rich variety of attractions it offers. Participants have the opportunity to navigate through a vast tailgate area, browse exhibits presented by well-known amateur radio vendors, participate in informative forums, and establish connections with individuals who share similar interests. Beyond merely showcasing equipment, the event places a strong emphasis on fostering connections, exchanging knowledge, and celebrating the collective passion for radio communication.
AMSAT extends a warm invitation to all attendees to visit their booth, where the fascinating world of amateur radio satellites can be discovered. With last year's attendance reaching an impressive 21,800 participants, AMSAT is actively seeking volunteers from their membership to dedicate at least two to four hours of their time during the three-day event. Volunteer tasks include introducing fellow hams to the world of amateur radio satellites, assisting those facing challenges in getting on the air, and best of all, connecting face to face with hams that you have talked to on the satellites.
Robert Bankston, KE4AL, President of AMSAT, will be presenting information on Saturday, February 10th at 1:00 PM EST. His presentation, titled "AMSAT - Shaping the Amateur Radio Satellite World of Tomorrow," will involve an open discussion on designing the next generation of amateur radio satellites. The HamCation Forums and Speakers Guide are continually being updated with the latest information and can be viewed online at https://www.hamcation.com/forums-speakers.
For those eager to be part of AMSAT's presence at HamCation or request more information about volunteering, David Jordan, AA4KN, serves as the point of contact. Interested individuals can drop him an email at aa4kn [at] amsat.org to express their interest or seek clarification on any questions they may have. Your involvement goes beyond contributing to the event; it's an opportunity to contribute to the vibrant community spirit that defines amateur radio.
[ANS thanks Dave Jordan, AA4KN for the above information]
________________________________
The 2024 AMSAT President's Club coins are here now!
Help Support GOLF and Fox Plus
[https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2024-Coin-Both_5…]
Join the AMSAT President's Club today and help
Keep Amateur Radio in Space!
https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/
________________________________
Vulcan Centaur Triumphs in Maiden Voyage, Peregrine Lander Faces Lunar Setback
Vulcan Centaur, a new heavy-lift booster developed by United Launch Alliance (ULA), successfully completed its inaugural flight. However, the mission took a bittersweet turn as the Peregrine lander, set to be the first American spacecraft to touch down on the lunar surface since 1972, faced significant challenges shortly after separation from the Centaur upper stage.
United Launch Alliance (ULA), known for its 100% mission success rate with the Atlas V and Delta IV rockets since 2006, faced a changing commercial launch landscape by the early 2010s. SpaceX's Falcon 9 was offering cheaper alternatives, prompting ULA to develop a more cost-effective and agile solution. The result was the Vulcan Centaur, a combination of a new first stage and an evolved Centaur III second stage.
Originally planned for launch in 2019, the Vulcan program encountered delays, primarily due to the slower-than-expected development of the BE-4 engines by Blue Origin. Despite setbacks and an explosion during Centaur upper stage testing in March 2023, the January 8th launch marked a significant achievement for ULA. Powered by liquid methane and liquid oxygen (methalox), the Vulcan Centaur demonstrated successful flight, a milestone for American orbital rockets using this propellant combination.
ULA's CEO Tory Bruno expressed satisfaction with the launch, labeling it one of the smoothest in his career. The successful flight positions ULA to compete more effectively in the evolving space launch market.
While the Vulcan Centaur celebrated success, the fate of the Peregrine lander took a dramatic turn. Developed by Astrobotic Technology, Peregrine had ambitious plans, including bringing memorials, time capsules, scientific instruments, the Iris rover, and small robots to the lunar surface.
Initial reports suggested a promising start when Peregrine separated from the Centaur and established communications with ground control. However, soon after enabling its propulsion systems, the lander faced difficulties maintaining its orientation, leading to a rapid depletion of its batteries. Astrobotic attempted to stabilize the craft, but it was confirmed that a leak was destabilizing Peregrine and draining essential propellants needed for a lunar landing.
Astrobotic ruled out any possibility of a lunar landing, and as of the latest update, the team faces the challenge of navigating Peregrine as close to the Moon as possible before its propellant runs out. With communication uncertain, the fate of the lander remains uncertain.
January 8th showcased both success and setbacks in space exploration. The Vulcan Centaur's triumphant launch demonstrated progress in rocket technology, while the Peregrine's struggles highlighted the inherent difficulties of space missions. As technology advances, the moon remains an enticing destination, with the upcoming Nova-C lander's launch in February offering renewed hope for successful lunar exploration. The events of this day remind us that despite the challenges, the pursuit of space exploration continues unabated.
[ANS thanks Tom Nardi, Hackaday.com, for the above information]
________________________________
GridMasterMap Satellite Top 100 Rovers January 2024 Rankings
The January 2024 rankings for the Top 100 Rovers (Mixed LEO/MEO/GEO) in satellite operations, as determined by @GridMasterMap on Twitter, has been released. The ranking is determined by the number of grids and DXCC entities activated, taking into account only those grids where a minimum number of QSOs logged on the GridMasterMap website have been validated by a third party. Grid numbers do not directly reflect the exact number of activations. Satellite operators are encouraged to upload their LoTW satellite contacts to https://gridmaster.fr<https://gridmaster.fr/> in order to provide more accurate data.
Updated: 2024-01-01
1
ND9M
26
K8BL
51
F4DXV
76
DF2ET
2
NJ7H
27
KE4AL
52
KE9AJ
77
WA9JBQ
3
N5UC
28
LU5ILA
53
JL3RNZ
78
W8LR
4
JA9KRO
29
DL2GRC
54
KM4LAO
79
OE3SEU
5
DL6AP
30
KI7UNJ
55
VE1CWJ
80
VE3GOP
6
WI7P
31
VE3HLS
56
PA3GAN
81
KJ7NDY
7
UT1FG
32
KB5FHK
57
VK5DG
82
KB2YSI
8
HA3FOK
33
LA9XGA
58
N4UFO
83
K0FFY
9
N9IP
34
N7AGF
59
KI7QEK
84
CU2ZG
10
N6UA
35
F4BKV
60
SM3NRY
85
N0TEL
11
WY7AA
36
XE3DX
61
N8RO
86
DL4EA
12
K5ZM
37
N6DNM
62
PT2AP
87
W8MTB
13
AD0DX
38
KE0PBR
63
W1AW
88
KG4AKV
14
W5PFG
39
KE0WPA
64
VA7LM
89
VE6WK
15
DP0POL
40
JO2ASQ
65
XE1ET
90
VE7PTN
16
AK8CW
41
PR8KW
66
AA8CH
91
HB9GWJ
17
AD0HJ
42
AC0RA
67
M1DDD
92
AF5CC
18
WD9EWK
43
K7TAB
68
VA3VGR
93
DK9JC
19
ON4AUC
44
W7WGC
69
VE1VOX
94
PT9ST
20
KG5CCI
45
EB1AO
70
FG8OJ
95
JM1CAX
21
KX9X
46
JK2XXK
71
PT9BM
96
KI0KB
22
ND0C
47
EA4NF
72
KI7UXT
97
VO2AC
23
N5BO
48
AA5PK
73
LU4JVE
98
LW2DAF
24
F5VMJ
49
SP5XSD
74
YU0W
99
N4AKV
25
DJ8MS
50
AD7DB
75
N4DCW
100
N6UTC
[ANS thanks @GridMasterMap 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
[https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/cm/LEO-Pack1-300x298.png]
Keeping Amateur Radio in Space.
https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware
________________________________
Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for January 12, 2024
Two Line Elements or TLEs, often referred to as Keplerian elements or keps in the amateur community, are the inputs to the SGP4 standard mathematical model of spacecraft orbits used by most amateur tracking programs. Weekly updates are completely adequate for most amateur satellites. TLE bulletin files are updated daily in the first hour of the UTC day. New bulletin files will be posted immediately after reliable elements become available for new amateur satellites. More information may be found at https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/.
The following satellites have been removed from this week's AMSAT-NA TLE distribution:
DELFI-PQ NORAD Cat ID 51074 Decayed from orbit on or about 06 January 2024
Pegasus NORAD Cat ID 42784 Decayed from orbit on or about 07 January 2024
[ANS thanks AMSAT Orbital Elements page 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.
No contacts have been scheduled from 2023-12-21 to 2024-01-14. The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2023-12-21 05:00 UTC.
The crossband repeater continues to be active (145.990 MHz up {PL 67} & 437.800 MHz down). If any crewmember is so inclined, all they have to do is pick up the microphone, raise the volume up, and talk on the crossband repeater. So give a listen, you just never know.
The Service Module radio is temporarily stowed. Targeting return to service once a new computer has been delivered for SSTV use with this system.
As always, if there is an EVA, a docking, or an undocking; the ARISS radios are turned off as part of the safety protocol.
The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html
The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html
[ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors for the above information]
________________________________
Upcoming Satellite Operations
No scheduled operations are listed at this time.
A growing number of satellite rovers are currently engaged in sharing their grid square activations on https://hams.at<https://hams.at/>. By visiting the website, you gain easy access to comprehensive information about the operators responsible for activating specific grid squares. Additionally, you have the ability to assess the match score between yourself and a particular rover for a given pass, while also being able to identify the upcoming satellite passes that are accessible from your location.
[ANS thanks Ian Parsons, K5ZM, 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.
+ Orlando HamCation 2024
Friday February 9th through Sunday February 11th, 2024
Central Florida Fairgrounds and Expo Park
4603 West Colonial Drive
Orlando, Florida 32808
https://www.hamcation.com<https://www.hamcation.com/>
+ 40th Anniversary Celebration of the Positive Impact of Amateur Radio on Human Spaceflight
Thursday February 22nd through Saturday February 24th, 2024
Center for Space Education: Astronauts Memorial Foundation
Kennedy Space Center, M6-306 405 State Road, FL 32899
https://www.ariss.org/overview.html
+ Dayton Hamvention 2024
Friday May 17th through Sunday May 19th, 2024
Greene County Fairgrounds and Expo Center
120 Fairground Road
Xenia, OH 45385
https://hamvention.org<https://hamvention.org/>
[ANS thanks the AMSAT Events page 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!
[https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/AMSAT-Car-Flag-2…]
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
+ Liftoff of Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) is scheduled for 22:11 UTC Wednesday, Jan. 17, from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The crew will travel to the orbiting outpost aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft after launching on the company's Falcon 9 rocket. The Ax-3 crew members are Commander Michael López-Alegría, KE5GTK, Pilot Walter Villadei, IU0RWB, of Italy, Mission Specialist Alper Gezeravcı, KJ5DIY, of Turkey, and ESA (European Space Agency) project astronaut Marcus Wandt, KJ5COO, of Sweden. Watch live coverage of prelaunch and launch activities, as well as docking operations on the NASA+ streaming service at https://plus.nasa.gov<https://plus.nasa.gov/>. (ANS thanks NASA for the above information.)
+ ARISS is calling for proposals from U.S. educational institutions to host an Amateur Radio contact with ISS crew members between July 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024. They seek organizations drawing large participation to integrate the contact into an education plan. Proposals are due by February 29, 2024, with details at https://www.ariss.org<https://www.ariss.org/>. A 10-minute Q&A session with astronauts provides students a firsthand experience of space life and research. Amateur Radio organizations worldwide, with support from NASA and international space agencies, facilitate these contacts. An ARISS Introductory Webinar on January 17, 2024, at 7 PM ET via Zoom is available for those interested. Inquiries can be directed to education [at] ariss-usa.org. ARISS aims to promote STEM exploration through radio contacts between ISS crew members and students. (ANS thanks Dave Jordan, AA4KN, ARISS Public Relations, for the above information)
+ India has marked another significant milestone in space exploration with the successful placement of the Aditya L-1 spacecraft into a periodic Halo orbit approximately 1.5 million kilometers from Earth. This accomplishment follows India's pioneering achievement of landing an unmanned spacecraft on the moon's southern polar region four months earlier. Named after the Hindu god of the sun, Aditya-L1 is strategically positioned at Lagrange Point 1, providing an uninterrupted five-year study of the sun's outer layer. This achievement underscores India's unique capability to travel vast distances in space, setting it apart as the first in Asia to do so. With a focus on understanding space weather, the spacecraft is equipped with seven scientific instruments to monitor solar wind particles and magnetic fields. (ANS thanks Anjana Pasricha, Voice of America, for the above information)
+ NASA has announced delays to its Artemis program, pushing back the anticipated return of astronauts to the moon to 2026. The Artemis 2 mission, originally scheduled for November 2024, is now set for September 2025, while the Artemis 3 moon-landing mission, initially targeted for late 2025, is rescheduled for September 2026. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson emphasized that safety is the top priority, allowing more time for teams to address challenges with first-time developments, operations, and integration. Jim Free, NASA's associate administrator, underscored the decision's focus on crew safety. Various new systems and technologies, such as facilities at Kennedy Space Center and improvements to the Orion capsule, are still being tested ahead of Artemis 2. Despite setbacks, NASA remains enthusiastic about Artemis 2, seeing it as a representation of national and global achievements in space exploration. (ANS thanks Brett Tingley, Space.com, for the above information)
+ The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has successfully inserted the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) into lunar orbit on December 25, 2023, at 16:51 (JST). SLIM's elliptical lunar orbit, connecting the Moon's north and south poles, has a 6.4-hour period, ranging from approximately 600km at perilune (closest point to the Moon) to 4,000km at apolune (furthest point). The orbit adjustment proceeded as planned, and the spacecraft is currently in normal condition. Over the next few weeks until mid-January 2024, SLIM's apolune point will be lowered, transitioning the orbit to a circular one at around 600km altitude. Subsequently, preparations for landing will commence, with the perilune point scheduled to be lowered to 15km on January 19, initiating the descent towards the lunar surface around 00:00 AM (JST) on January 20, and landing expected at approximately 00:20 AM (JST) on the same day. (ANS thanks Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for the above information)
________________________________
Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org<https://launch.amsat.org/>
In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to:
* Societies (a recognized group, clubs or organization).
* Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate.
* Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half-time status shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status.
* Memberships are available for annual and lifetime terms.
Contact info [at] amsat.org<http://amsat.org/> for additional membership information.
73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space!
This week's ANS Editor, Mitch Ahrenstorff, ADØHJ
ad0hj [at] amsat.org<http://amsat.org/>
1
0
*AMSAT *News Service*ANS-007*
*January 7, 2024*
In this edition:
- Welcome to the New Look AMSAT News Service
- 2024 President's Club Coins Now Available
- W2RS Memorial AMSAT CW Activity Day Summary
- VUCC & DXCC Satellite Standing as of January 1, 2024
- Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for January 5, 2024
- ARISS and Amateur Radio Featured on the TODAY Show
- Assistance Requested With CubeSat History Project
- ARISS News
- Upcoming Satellite Operations
- Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
- Satellite Shorts From All Over
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 https://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/
------------------------------
Welcome to the New Look AMSAT News Service
For over 30 years, the AMSAT News Service has been a text only service.
Initially, ANS was distributed via dial-up modems and packet networks. As
technology has moved on, the text only format has become a significant
limitation. In particular, the text only format was often not responsive on
mobile devices in many email clients. We hope this new format improves the
readability for our users and makes the content more engaging. We do plan
to continue tweaking this format as the year goes on.
We welcome feedback on this change at ans-editor [at] amsat.org
*[ANS thanks the AMSAT News Service Team for the above information]*
------------------------------
2024 President's Club Coins Now Available
The 2024 President's Club coins are now available! This year's coin
features an image of AMSAT's next satellite - GOLF-TEE.
At all levels of membership - beginning with annual donations of $120 or
more - President's Club donors receive the following recognition:
- Listing in the AMSAT News Service and The AMSAT Journal
- Commemorative Coin – A unique 2” metal coin with a highly polished
gold finish and four-color accents. Each year’s coin will feature a
different color scheme and different OSCAR satellite.
- Membership Certificate – An 8.5” x 11” full-color personalized
certificate.
Donors at the Silver or higher levels receive even more benefits such as a
handsome personalized acrylic desk plaque, tickets to the annual AMSAT
Symposium, luncheons and dinners. See the table below for complete
details. (Note that recognition items are provided by an anonymous donor
and no member dues are used. 100% percent of your donation is used for
AMSAT activities.)
For persons or clubs wanting to make a contribution by check or electronic
transfer, please contact Frank Karnauskas, VP-Development at f.karnauskas
[at] amsat.org. Remember, AMSAT is a 501(c)3 corporation and your
contribution may be tax deductible. Check with your tax advisor.
For more information and to donate today, visit the AMSAT President's Club
<https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/>.
*[ANS thanks Frank Karnauskas, N1UW, AMSAT Vice President - Development,
for the above information]*
------------------------------
*The 2024 Coins Are Here Now!Help Support GOLF and Fox Plus.**Join
<https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/> the AMSAT
President’s Club today!*
<https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/2024-coin-both_586/#ma…>
------------------------------
W2RS Memorial AMSAT CW Activity Day Summary
*N6UA operating during the 2024 W2RS Memorial AMSAT CW Activity Day*
The W2RS Memorial AMSAT CW Activity Day occurred on January 1st. Reports of
activity were received on the AMSAT-BB from several stations. Steve
Nordahl, NS3L, in Nazareth, PA reported making 13 CW QSOs on RS-44 and
JO-97:
RS-44: W3AVP, W0BZ, KD4O, N6UA, NU1U, KE8RJU/7, NM3B, VA3NNA, N8MR. NA1ME,
KN2K
JO-97: WA8FXQ, WB2TQE
Steve Greene, KS1G, in northern Virginia, reported that he worked NM3B,
N8MR, and WA3FIR on the 1350Z pass of RS-44. He did hear NS3L work NM3B,
but didn't find him later in the pass to work him too.
Scott Davis, K5TA, reported working N6UA and KA0WKQ on RS-44 and WA8FXQ on
AO-7.
Doug Tabor, N6UA, operated portable with a key attached to his leg. He
operated on two passes of RS-44 - one from the back deck and one from the
driveway. He worked NS3L, K5TA, and NA1ME and heard both WB7VUF and
KE8RJU/7.
Thanks to all for participating in this annual event!
*In March 2022, the AMSAT community lost one of our pioneers when Ray
Soifer, W2RS, became a silent key. In addition to his numerous
contributions to AMSAT and the worldwide amateur satellite community, Ray
was also the long time organizer of AMSAT’s CW Activity Day – previously
AMSAT Straight Key Night – held in conjunction with the ARRL’s event on New
Year’s Day. In recognition of Ray’s long time service to AMSAT and his keen
interest in CW operating via satellite, AMSAT’s CW Activity Day is now
known as the W2RS Memorial AMSAT CW Activity Day.*
*[ANS thanks Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, AMSAT Executive Vice President, for the
above information]*
------------------------------
VUCC & DXCC Satellite Standing as of January 1, 2024VUCC Satellite
Award/Endorsement Change Summary
December 01, 2023 to January 01, 2024
Call 1-Dec 1-Jan
K8DP 1581 1629
WC7V 1426 1451
AA5PK 1404 1426
N8RO 1384 1401
DL2GRC 1108 1166
N0JE 1057 1075
KC9ELU 254 1056
DG7RO 285 1005
AC9O 836 1001
XE1L 860 915
EA2AA 856 875
KG0D 700 801
JN2QCV 507 726
KJ7DZ 600 700
KK4YEL 589 674
N8MR 617 658
KB1HY 604 648
W8MTB 600 620
KC4CJ 126 602
JA1QJI 253 600
A65BR 532 554
EA3TA 400 503
JS1LQI 436 500
HP2VX 481 496
N3CAL 471 480
HB9GWJ 450 476
JA1GZK 350 435
KP3V 310 402
AG7NR 350 400
N9ZTS 302 400
DL8GAM 351 375
N6PAZ 342 350
N7ZO 304 350
AL7ID 261 320
K8BL 300 310
N7UJJ 250 308
ZS2BK 244 305
W6AER 201 302
HL1WP New 300
KH6WI 252 300
K6VHF 250 276
K9AQ 200 250
WD9EWK (DM41) 225 229
WA8ZID 202 226
KG4AKV (FM14) New 217
YV1DIG 200 213
JS2GGD 157 204
WD9EWK (DM23) 195 200
JL3OUW 123 187
AK2S New 152
N6UTC (DM15) 126 150
K9MU 100 129
N6UTC (DM14) 110 128
KB4DSL New 127
WD9EWK (DM13) 109 116
N8XHF New 106
EA3HAH New 100
WA1JAY New 100
Congratulations to the new VUCC holders!
HL1WP is first VUCC Satellite holder from PM37
N8XHF is first VUCC Satellite holder from FM16
DXCC Satellite Award/Endorsement Change Summary
December 01, 2023 to January 01, 2024
Call 1-Dec 1-Jan
S57NML 125 175
OE6MDF 143 169
VU2LBW 152 162
YO3APJ 149 162
SV8CS 150 153
LA6OP 136 143
HB9RYZ 139 141
SP3AU 136 137
KB1HY 131 135
YO9HP 108 131
F6AOJ 125 129
IK6GZM 101 124
IK4DRY 107 122
IW7DOL 116 122
K8DP 112 122
A65BR 104 112
CT1EEB 111 112
KC9ELU 101 112
AA5PK 100 110
LA7XK New 106
TF1A 102 103
LA0FA 100 102
UW8SM New 102
EA5RM 100 101
W8LR New 100
Congratulations to the new DXCC Satellite holders!
UW8SM is first DXCC Satellite holder from KN59
*[ANS thanks Jon Goering, N7AZ, for the above information]*
------------------------------
Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for January 5, 2024
Two Line Elements or TLEs, often referred to as Keplerian elements or keps
in the amateur community, are the inputs to the SGP4 standard mathematical
model of spacecraft orbits used by most amateur tracking programs. Weekly
updates are completely adequate for most amateur satellites. TLE bulletin
files are updated Thursday evenings around 2300 UTC, or more frequently if
new high interest satellites are launched. More information may be found at
https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/
The following satellite has been added to this week's AMSAT-NA TLE
distribution:
*BeliefSat-0* NORAD Cat ID 58695 IARU coordinated downlink on 145.980 MHz
The following satellite has been removed from this week's AMSAT-NA TLE
distribution:
*VENTA 1* NORAD Cat ID 42791 Decayed from orbit on or about 03 January 2024
*[ANS thanks Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager, for the
above information]*
------------------------------
*Need new satellite antennas? Purchase an M2 LEO-Pack from the **AMSAT
Store! <https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/>**When you purchase
through **AMSAT, a portion of the proceeds goes towards **Keeping Amateur
Radio in Space.*
------------------------------
ARISS and Amateur Radio Featured on the TODAY Show
On January 5, 2024, the TODAY Show featured Harry Smith of NBC News going
behind the scenes of last month's QSO between Harbor Creek School in
Pennsylvania and the ISS. Video of the segment can be seen on YouTube.
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Gn1UKszRNY>
ARISS International Chair Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, said of the segment: "What a
phenomenal story of a breathtaking ARISS educational experience. Our
heartiest congratulations to the Harbor Creek School: the Advanced
Technology Group students, educators, families and Leader/Assistant
Principal/ARISS Educator Drew Mortensen. WOW!!"
*[ANS thanks the TODAY Show and ARISS for the above information]*
------------------------------
Assistance Requested With CubeSat History Project
A general announcement to the AMSAT community!
Prof. Robert "Bob" Twiggs KE6QMD and Dr. Aaron Zucherman KM6CHY (a former
student of his) are working on gathering and publishing a series on the
history of the creation and adoption of the CubeSat, including its direct
SmallSat forebears (AMSAT, WeberSat, OPAL, etc.) and educational picosat
successors (CanSats, PocketQubes and ThinSats). While outstanding technical
accounts have been written on the subject, we plan on focusing on the
underreported human stories and drama during this early history.
You can see our announcement here:
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/bob-twiggs-b6163125_cubesat-smallsat-smallsa…
The project was also mentioned in Aviation Week:
https://aviationweek.com/aerospace/commercial-space/cubesats-how-accidental…
We specifically wanted to reach out to the AMSAT community to find those
who worked on the early educational smallsat missions and AMSAT members who
were mentors to many of the earliest (pre-2010) CubeSat mission teams.
However, if you feel you have something else to contribute to CubeSat's
history, we want to hear about it!
A list of missions we are hoping to find AMSAT members from includes:
- WeberSAT (Weber-OSCAR 18, WO-18, Microsat-3)
- OPAL (OPAL-OSCAR 38, OO-38, StenSat,)
- JAWSAT (Weber-OSCAR 39, WO-39)
- SSETI-Express (XO-53, eXpress-OSCAR 53)
- CUTE-1 (CO-55, CubeSat-OSCAR 55)
- CUTE-1.7 (CO-56, CubeSat-OSCAR 56)
- CUBESAT XI-IV (CO-57, CubeSat-OSCAR 57)
- CUBESAT XI-V (CO-58, CubeSat-OSCAR 58)
- Delfi-C3 (DO 64, Delfi-OSCAR 64)
Please feel free to contact azucherman [at] gmail.com if you are interested
in contributing.
*[ANS thanks Aaron Zucherman, PhD, KM6CHY, 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.
No contacts have been scheduled from 2023-12-21 to 2024-01-14. The complete
schedule page has been updated as of 2023-12-21 05:00 UTC.
The Service Module radio is temporarily stowed.
As always, if there is an EVA, a docking, or an undocking; the ARISS radios
are turned off as part of the safety protocol.
The crossband repeater continues to be active (145.990 MHz up {PL 67} &
437.800 MHz down), If any crewmember is so inclined, all they have to do
is pick up the microphone, raise the volume up, and talk on the crossband
repeater. So give a listen, you just never know.
Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own
orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed
time.
The latest information on the operation mode can be found at
https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html
The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at
https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html
*[ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors
for the above information]*
------------------------------
Upcoming Satellite Operations
No scheduled operations are listed at this time.
A growing number of satellite rovers are currently engaged in sharing their
grid square activations on https://hams.at. By visiting the website, you
gain easy access to comprehensive information about the operators
responsible for activating specific grid squares. Additionally, you have
the ability to assess the match score between yourself and a particular
rover for a given pass, while also being able to identify the upcoming
satellite passes that are accessible from your location.
*[ANS thanks Ian Parsons, K5ZM, AMSAT Rover Page Manager, for the above
information]*
------------------------------
* Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition?*
Get an AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff from our Zazzle store
<https://www.zazzle.com/store/amsat_gear>!
25% of the purchase price of each product goes towards Keeping Amateur
Radio in Space
------------------------------
Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through
amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests,
conventions, maker faires, and other events.
AMSAT Ambassador Clint Bradford, K6LCS, says,
"Think a 75-minute presentation on "working the easy satellites" would be
appropriate for your club or event? Let me know by emailing me at
k6lcsclint (at) gmail (dot) com or calling me at 909-999-SATS (7287)!"
Clint has NEVER given the exact same show twice: EACH of the 150+
presentations so far has been customized/tailored to their audiences.
Scheduled EventsARISS 40th Anniversary Conference: Celebrating the Positive
Impact of Amateur Radio on Human Spaceflight
Center for Space Education, Adjacent to NASA Kennedy Space Center Visitor’s
Center, Florida, USA
February 22-24, 2024
More information is available at https://www.ariss.org/overview.html
*[ANS thanks Clint Bradford, K6LCS, and AMSAT for the above information]*
------------------------------
Satellite Shorts from All Over
+ The ARRL has published Logbook of the World configuration file version
11.27, adding support for QSOs made through SO-121.
+ The SaxaVord Spaceport on the Scottish island of Unst in the Shetland
Islands was approved to launch rockets in 2024, the first fully licensed
orbital spaceport in Western Europe. (ANS thanks The Orbital Index for the
above information)
+ China launched 4 weather satellites and a pair of Beidou satellites… but
again dropped a booster full of highly toxic hypergols on someone’s house.
Video at https://bit.ly/3vo9mhu (ANS thanks The Orbital Index for the above
information)
------------------------------
Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/
In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to:
- Societies (a recognized group, clubs or organization).
- Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at
one-half the standard yearly rate.
- Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status
shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary
years in this status.
- Memberships are available for annual and lifetime terms.
Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional membership information.
*73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space!*
*This week's ANS Editor,*
*Paul Stoetzer, N8HM*
*n8hm [at] amsat.org <http://amsat.org>*
*ANS is a service of AMSAT, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, 712 H
Street NE, Suite 1653, Washington, DC 20002*
1
0
ANS-365 - AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for December 31, 2023
by Frank Karnauskas (N1UW) 31 Dec '23
by Frank Karnauskas (N1UW) 31 Dec '23
31 Dec '23
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-365
In this edition:
* W2RS Memorial AMSAT CW Activity Day to be Held January 1st
* Amateur Satellites to be Featured at Ham Radio University
* Six US Schools Moved Forward in ARISS Selection Process
* Only Two Days Left to Get 2023 AMSAT President's Club Coins
* Student-Led ARISS Contact a Success
* Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for December 29, 2023
* ARISS News
* Upcoming Satellite Operations
* Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
* Satellite Shorts From All Over
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 [dot] 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/
ANS-365 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
To: All RADIO AMATEURS
From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation
712 H Street NE, Suite 1653
Washington, DC 20002
DATE 2023 DEC 31
W2RS Memorial AMSAT CW Activity Day to be Held January 1st
In March 2022, the AMSAT community lost one of our pioneers when Ray Soifer, W2RS, became a silent key. In addition to his numerous contributions to AMSAT and the worldwide amateur satellite community, Ray was also the long time organizer of AMSAT's CW Activity Day - previously AMSAT Straight Key Night - held in conjunction with the ARRL's event on New Year's Day. In recognition of Ray's long time service to AMSAT and his keen interest in CW operating via satellite, AMSAT's CW Activity Day is now known as the W2RS Memorial AMSAT CW Activity Day.
The rules are simple - operate CW through any amateur satellite between 0000 UTC and 2359 UTC on January 1, 2024. Straight keys and bugs are encouraged, but not required. Logs are not required, but operators are encouraged to submit a report of their activity to the AMSAT-BB. Photos and video clips of activity are also encouraged - post them on X or other social media networks and tag @AMSAT or #amsat.
Remember to use the minimum power required for communication as constant carrier modes, including CW, can disrupt transponder operation for other users.
[ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information.]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Amateur Satellites to be Featured at Ham Radio University
AMSAT Member Peter Portanova, W2JV, will present an Amateur Radio Satellite forum- "Orbiting the Earth" - A beginners guide to operating the FM Satellites at the upcoming Ham Radio University. The Ham Radio University (HRU) educational conference will be a live event only with over 20 forums, held on Saturday, January 6, 2024 from 9:00 AM EST to 4:00 PM EST at the Hillwood Commons Student Center on the campus of LIU Post college, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville, NY 11548. Now in its 25th consecutive year, Ham Radio University is free to attend and no preregistration is necessary. Complete information on HRU can be found at https://hamradiouniversity.org/.
[ANS thanks Peter Portanova, W2JV, for the above information.]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Six US Schools Moved Forward in ARISS Selection Process
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) announced the schools/host organizations selected for the July-December 2024 window. A total of 6 of the submitted proposals during the recent proposal window have been accepted to move forward in the processes of planning to host a scheduled amateur radio contact with crew on the ISS. The primary goal of the ARISS program is to engage young people in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) activities and raise their awareness of space communications, radio communications, space exploration, and related areas of study and career possibilities.
The schools and host organizations are:
- Coastal Community School
Satellite Beach, FL
- Computer Museum of America
Roswell, GA
- Kopernik Observatory
Vestal, NY
- Immaculate Heart of Mary School
Wayne, NJ
- Magnet Innovation Center
Inlet Beach, FL
- Midlands STEM Charter School
Winnsboro, SC
The ARISS program anticipates that NASA will be able to provide scheduling opportunities for the 6 US host organizations during the July-December 2024 time period. They are now at work completing an acceptable equipment plan that demonstrates their ability to execute the ham radio contact. Once their equipment plan is approved by ARISS, the final selected schools/organizations will be scheduled as their availability and flexibility match up with the scheduling opportunities offered by NASA.
[ANS thanks Dave Jordan, AA4KN, ARISS PR for the above information.]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Only Two Days Left to Get 2023 AMSAT President's Club Coins
Thanks to the generosity of AMSAT members, the 2023 President's Club has raised over $49,000 to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space! And there are still two days to go! Membership levels begin at $120. All 2023 contributors receive a full-color certificate, AMSAT logo cork beverage coasters and, of course, the stunning membership coin. To commemorate the 40th anniversary of its launch on June 16, 1983, this year's coin features an image of AMSAT-OSCAR 10. Complete information on the AMSAT President's Club can be found at https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/.
But, hurry - there is only a handful of 2023 coins left and they will no longer be available once the new year begins. Become at member today at the AMSAT Store https://www.amsat.org/shop/.
[ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information.]
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
Need new satellite antennas? Purchase 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/
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
* Student-Led ARISS Contact a Success
A student-led contact with astronauts through the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program was a great success that earned significant media attention. On Monday, December 11, students at Harbor Creek High School in Harborcreek, Pennsylvania, used amateur radio to talk with Astronaut Andreas Mogensen, KG5GCZ.
The students are part of the Advanced Technologies Group, KC3SGV, an after-school club at Harbor Creek. Fifteen of the students are licensed radio amateurs. As ARRL News reported last week, their faculty advisor, Assistant Principal Drew Mortensen, AC3DS, is a graduate of the ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology. He utilized what he learned in the program and brought it back to the school. The ARISS contact is just one of the many successes the program has had.
ARRL Education and Learning Manager Steve Goodgame, K5ATA, was on hand for the contact, and he was impressed by the skills demonstrated by the students.
Goodgame recalled, "From antenna assembly and installation to the actual control operator function of the radio during the contact itself, students were at the helm. Every student who asked a question of Commander Mogensen was a licensed amateur radio operator. When I asked what they had planned next, the response was, 'Well, the logical step would be to build and get a CubeSat launched.' This is exactly the type of program we hope to help create as an outcome of the Teachers Institute," said Goodgame.
Local, regional, and national media took note of the students' success. Local television newscasts (see Amateur Radio in the News below) featured the event, and NBC Journalist Harry Smith and a crew from NBC's TODAY were at the event to tell the story about the young hams.
This type of exposure for amateur radio is key to growing the hobby, according to ARRL Public Relations and Outreach Manager Sierra Harrop, W5DX. "The passion of these teenage operators led to this success story. Who doesn't love the story of young minds doing extraordinary things in STEM through amateur radio?" she exclaimed. ARRL Director of Development Kevin Beal, K8EAL, mentioned that the media coverage demonstrates the impact that the donors who have funded the Teachers Institute have on the future of amateur radio. Beal said, "The reach goes far beyond the one-week training institute and ripples out farther than we can see."
The ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology is funded by the ARRL Education and Technology Fund. If you are interested in supporting STEM education through the Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology, visit www.arrl.org/GiveToSTEM.
[ANS thanks ARRL News for the above information.]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for December 29, 2023
Two Line Elements or TLEs, often referred to as Keplerian elements or keps in the amateur community, are the inputs to the SGP4 standard mathematical model of spacecraft orbits used by most amateur tracking programs. Weekly updates are completely adequate for most amateur satellites. Elements in the TLE bulletin files are updated daily. TLE bulletin files are updated to add or remove satellites as necessary Thursday evenings around 2300 UTC, or more frequently if new high interest satellites are launched. More information may be found at https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/
HADES-D has been renamed Spain-OSCAR 121
[ANS thanks Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager for the above information.]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
+ ARISS NEWS
Upcoming Contacts
No contacts have been scheduled from December 21, 2023 to January 14, 2024.
[ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors for the above information.]
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Upcoming Satellite Operations
No scheduled operations are listed at this time.
A growing number of satellite rovers are currently engaged in sharing their grid square activations on https://hams.at. By visiting the website, you gain easy access to comprehensive information about the operators responsible for activating specific grid squares. Additionally, you have the ability to assess the match score between yourself and a particular rover for a given pass, while also being able to identify the upcoming satellite passes that are accessible from your location.
[ANS thanks Ian Parsons, K5ZM, 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.
Ham Radio University
January 6, 2024
LIU-POST
Hillwood Commons Student Center
720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville, NY 11548
https://hamradiouniversity.org/
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Satellite Shorts From All Over
+ Think a 75-minute presentation on "working the easy satellites" would be appropriate for your club or event? Send email an to Clint at k6lcsclint (at) gmail (dot) com. Already booking dates for 2024! From a club recently: "Thank you for the well-done presentation this evening. After the Zoom session had ended, my members would not go home: They just wanted to keep talking about your presentation. Again, well done and thank you." - Phil N2EDX, VP Daytona Beach ARA [ANS thanks Clint Bradford, K6LCS, AMSAT Ambassador for the above information.]
+ The presentations from the 50th Anniversary AMSAT-DL. Anniversary Satellite Meeting on September 16, 2023 in Bochum are available on the YouTube channel at https://bit.ly/3RYfqWP. Subtitles are available and can be enabled in YouTube, with automatic translation into other languages. [ANS thanks AMSAT-DL for the above information.]
+ The 2024 CubeSat Developers Workshop, an annual conference hosted by the Cal Poly CubeSat Laboratory, will be held April 23–25, 2024. The event will be held at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo Performing Arts Center in-person as it has in years past. The conference draws more than 500 industry professionals, small satellite developers and students who will take part in three days of live presentations, Q&A panels, exhibit booths, and more. This conference is particularly useful to new members of the CubeSat community with invaluable opportunities to meet and talk to industry veterans. If you are interested in hearing more about this year’s conference, click the link below! For more information go to https://www.cubesat.org/. [ANS thanks cubesat.org for the above information.]
+A piece of America's space history is now on the ocean's floor. During its return voyage to Port Canaveral in Central Florida, a SpaceX Falcon 9 first stage booster toppled over and broke in half. This particular booster, tail number B1058, was coming back from its record-breaking 19th mission when it had its fatal fall. The rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Dec. 23 carrying 23 Starlink satellites. The booster made a successful landing eight and a half minutes after launch on the drone ship 'Just Read the Instructions' which was stationed east of the Bahamas. SpaceX said in a statement on social media that it succumbed to "high winds and waves." [ANS thanks SpaceNews for the above information.]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/
In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to:
* Societies (a recognized group, clubs or organization).
* Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate.
* Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status.
* Memberships are available for annual and lifetime terms.
Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional membership information.
73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space!
This week's ANS Editor, Frank Karnauskas, N1UW
n1uw [at] amsat [dot] org
1
0
ANS-363 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin - W2RS Memorial AMSAT CW Activity Day to be Held January 1st
by Paul Stoetzer 30 Dec '23
by Paul Stoetzer 30 Dec '23
30 Dec '23
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE SPECIAL BULLETIN
ANS-363
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:
* W2RS Memorial AMSAT CW Activity Day to be Held January 1st
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-363.01
ANS-363 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 363.01
From AMSAT HQ WASHINGTON, DC
DATE December 30, 2023
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-363.01
W2RS Memorial AMSAT CW Activity Day to be Held January 1st
In March 2022, the AMSAT community lost one of our pioneers when Ray
Soifer, W2RS, became a silent key. In addition to his numerous
contributions to AMSAT and the worldwide amateur satellite community, Ray
was also the long time organizer of AMSAT’s CW Activity Day – previously
AMSAT Straight Key Night – held in conjunction with the ARRL’s event on New
Year’s Day. In recognition of Ray’s long time service to AMSAT and his keen
interest in CW operating via satellite, AMSAT’s CW Activity Day is now
known as the W2RS Memorial AMSAT CW Activity Day.
The rules are simple – operate CW through any amateur satellite between
0000 UTC and 2359 UTC on January 1, 2024. Straight keys and bugs are
encouraged, but not required. Logs are not required, but operators are
encouraged to submit a report of their activity to the AMSAT-BB. Photos and
video clips of activity are also encouraged – post them on X or other
social media networks and tag @AMSAT or #amsat.
Remember to use the minimum power required for communication as constant
carrier modes, including CW, can disrupt transponder operation for other
users.
[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.
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
1
0
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-358
In this edition:
* Happy Holidays from AMSAT News Service
* HADES-D Designated SO-121, Active For General Use
* ClarkSat-1 Deployed from ISS
* WRC-23 Concludes with Wins for Amateur Radio
* Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution
* ARISS News
* Upcoming Satellite Operations
* Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
* Satellite Shorts From All Over
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/
ANS-358 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
To: All RADIO AMATEURS
From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation
712 H Street NE, Suite 1653
Washington, DC 20002
DATE 2023 Dec 24
Happy Holidays from AMSAT News Service
Your AMSAT News Service editors wish all of our readers a merry Christmas
and a happy season to all traditions celebrating holidays at this end of
the year.
We look forward to continuing to provide you with the most pertinent
amateur satellite news and information in the coming year in a new and
updated format beginning in January.
73 from
Mark Johns, K0JM, Senior Editor, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, Editor and AMSAT Executive Vice President, Washington,
DC
Frank Karnauskas, N1UW, Editor and AMSAT Vice President - Development,
Tucson, Arizona
Mitch Ahrenstorff, AD0HJ, Editor, Jackson, Minnesota
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
LAST CALL for 2023 AMSAT President's Club Coins!
The year is almost over and, when it is,
the 2023 coins will no longer be available.
To commemorate the 40th anniversary of its launch
on June 16, 1983, this year's coin features
an image of AMSAT-OSCAR 10.
Join the AMSAT President's Club today and help
Keep Amateur Radio in Space!
https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
HADES-D Designated SO-121, Active For General Use
HADES-D satellite has been commissioned. After a trial period in which its
behavior has been tested at the radioelectric, systems, and energy
performance levels, the FM repeater is left active for general use.
At the request of AMSAT-EA, AMSAT has designated HADES-D as Spain-OSCAR 121
(SO-121). AMSAT congratulates AMSAT-EA, thanks them for their contribution
to the amateur satellite community, and wishes them continued success on
this and future projects.
The repeater works with FM/FSK (MSK144 has been tested too) with an uplink
frequency of 145,875 MHz and a downlink frequency of 436,663.5 MHz (a bit
lower than the 436.666 MHz expected). We have been able to verify that the
modulation is more appropriate by narrowing the bandwidth, so it is
recommended to use NFM in those devices allowing it.
AMSAT-EA is drafting a use and operation manual, which will be published
shortly and which will indicate in detail some of the characteristics of
the satellite and its working modes. Although it is not definitive,
Amsat-EA is considering some special operating options such as reserving a
day of the week exclusively for digital communications following the
example we know with the AO-92.
Finally, please, remember that, as far as we know, HADES-D is the first
satellite with FM repeater service mounted on a pocketqube platform. This
standard is the smallest in terms of normalized satellite sizes. HADES-D
size is 8x5x5 cm. Its panel surface and battery size are much smaller than
the rest of the satellite repeaters in use, so HADES-D is not comparable to
most of them either in radiated power or signal strength. HADES-D should be
considered a QRP satellite.
[ANS thanks Félix Páez, EA4GQS, of the HADES-D team, and Drew Glasbrenner,
KO4MA, AMSAT Vice President - Operations and OSCAR Number Administrator,
for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
ClarkSat-1 Deployed from ISS
ClarkSat-1 was one of two cubesats deployed from the International Space
Station (ISS) via the Japanese "Kibo" module on Monday, December 18. Also
known by the name "AMBITOUS," and by the callsign JS1YLT, the satellite was
described as follows in frequency coordination applications:
ClarkSat-1 is a 1U size satellite, and about 22 students of Clark Memorial
International High School having amateur radio qualification or intending
to obtain it will be engaged in the development of the satellite, and
operate it by using the amateur radio band.
+ Optical Camera Mission To take pictures of the Earth and downlink them in
430 MHz band (GMSK, 4,800 bps). The pictures are to be received at control
station and general amateur stations are also expected to receive them and
report to us as the downlink schedule will be published on our website and
social media.
+ Digi-talker Mission 40 to 120 seconds long Digi-talker signal (Voice or
SSTV pictures in Robot 36 format recorded before launch) including the call
sign and school name will be transmitted from the satellite and be expected
that the general amateur stations will receive the signal and report back
to us.
High school students with amateur radio license will be engaged in the
development of the satellite, and high school students will operate the
satellite. These activities will improve the amateur radio and satellite
communication skills of the students. The project will also serve as a
model case for the development of amateur satellites by the younger
generation, and stimulate the interest of the younger generation in amateur
radio and satellite communications. The satellite information, such as
orbital position and operation time, will be actively disseminated to the
world through the website and social media, so that radio amateurs all over
the world will have an opportunity to receive image data and digi-talker
signals transmitted from the satellite.
A downlink on 435.130 MHz has been coordinated by the International Amateur
Radio Union (IARU) for ClarkSat-1. The ClarkSat-1 team requests signal
reports sent to "clarksat-1(a)clark.ed.jp". Satellite status reports will be
posted on X.com @sat1_AMBITIOUS
[ANS thanks JAXA, Masanobu Tsuji, JA1DAO, and IARU for the above
information]
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
Need new satellite antennas? Purchase Arrows, Alaskan Arrows,
and M2 LEO-Packs from the AMSAT Store. When you purchase through
AMSAT, a portion of the proceeds goes towards
Keeping Amateur Radio in Space.
https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
WRC-23 Concludes with Wins for Amateur Radio
After four hectic weeks of the 2023 World Radiocommunication Conference
(WRC-23), and a preceding week of Radiocommunication Assembly meetings,
WRC-23 concluded on Friday, December 15. Amateur radio fared very well
overall, despite the enormous pressures across the radio spectrum from LF
to terahertz. This is a tribute to the effort of the International Amateur
Radio Union (IARU) team, who at times had to work from 8:00 a.m. to as late
as 2:00 a.m. the next morning, as well as on the weekends.
At the top of the amateur radio priority list was Agenda Item (AI) 9.1b,
regarding the coexistence of the secondary amateur and amateur-satellite
allocation with the primary radionavigation satellite service in the 1240 -
1300 MHz band. This had seen 4 years of strenuous effort prior to WRC and
resulted in a recommendation being agreed upon at the Radiocommunication
Assembly, followed by WRC-23 participants agreeing to mention the
recommendation in a new footnote for the allocation. Both the
recommendation and the footnote are an excellent outcome for the amateur
services.
Other items were relevant to the amateur service and were prioritized
beforehand:
AI 1.12: 40 - 50 MHz radar sounders. These are now largely limited to
the polar area.
AI 1.14: 231.5 - 252 GHz re-allocations for Earth sensing. Fortunately,
our secondary 241 - 248 GHz allocation is unchanged, and the primary
allocation of 248 - 250 GHz is unaffected.
AI 9.1a: Space weather sensors was an item of major interest. A clear
definition for such sensors was confirmed, with frequency protection being
agreed upon as an agenda item for WRC-27.
AI 1.2: More broadband in the 3.3 GHz and 10 GHz bands (in Region 2).
This is a difficult challenge, as the amateur services are secondary with
numerous (mainly South American) countries allocating mobile broadband by
way of footnotes. Instead of a region-wide designation for IMT at 10.0 -
10.5 GHz in Region 2, there is a footnote limited to a dozen countries.
WRC-23 agreed to an agenda for the next conference under AI 10. This AI had
an unprecedented number of proposals for WRC-27 and preliminary ones for
WRC-31. Following the relatively quick agreement on AI 9.1b, the IARU team
switched most of its efforts to the following future proposals to reduce
the impact on the amateur services, as numerous amateur bands were under
consideration.
WRC-27
The WRC-27 agenda will have 19 items. The following are the most relevant
to the amateur services:
1300 - 1350 MHz: A previous proposal for this band, adjacent to 23
centimeters, was suppressed, providing certainty for our secondary
allocation.
Space Weather: This potential AI was initially very concerning, as the
0.1 - 20 MHz and 28 and 50 MHz bands were initially under consideration,
until concerns were raised, and a team effort resulted in these allocations
being removed from the topic.
Lunar Communications: This future agenda item initially included 70
centimeters and other bands where Earth-moon-Earth could be restricted.
Fortunately, the UHF aspect of this AI was modified to exclude 430 - 440
MHz.
10 GHz: We were fortunate that this band was withdrawn from another
round of consideration for mobile broadband, especially in Region 1.
WRC-31
A record number of preliminary item resolutions were agreed on. The
following two are especially relevant:
Wireless Power Transmission (WPT): Both near-field and beamed are being
considered as part of the International Telecommunication Union radio
regulations, whilst minimizing the impact from interference.
275 - 325 GHz Allocations: This will include an opportunity for the
amateur and amateur-satellite service.
The IARU team worked effectively to minimize the amateur bands from future
studies, which is a great result for amateur radio.
IARU is very pleased with the overall result of WRC-23. The IARU team has
already started to discuss and consider how to engage and resource for the
next cycle leading up to WRC-27. IARU WRC Coordinator and Vice President
Ole Garpestad, LA2RR, expressed his pleasure with the results and
complimented the extraordinary effort of the dedicated team of IARU
volunteers who worked long hours to achieve the results that will benefit
all amateurs.
The IARU team includes ARRL Technical Relations Specialist Jon Siverling,
WB3ERA. WRC-23 ran from November 20 – December 15, 2023.
[ANS thanks International Amateur Radio Union Secretary Joel Harrison,
W5ZN, and ARRL News 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 Dec. 22
Two Line Elements or TLEs, often referred to as Keplerian elements or keps
in the amateur community, are the inputs to the SGP4 standard mathematical
model of spacecraft orbits used by most amateur tracking programs. Weekly
updates are completely adequate for most amateur satellites. TLE bulletin
files are updated daily in the first hour of the UTC day. New bulletin
files will be posted immediately after reliable elements become available
for new amateur satellites. More information may be found at
https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/.
HADES-D/SO-121 has been positively identified with NORAD Cat 58567
The following satellite has been added to this week's AMSAT-NA TLE
distribution:
Clark sat-1 (AMBITIOUS) NORAD Cat ID 58613 IARU coordinated downlink on
435.130 MHz
[ANS thanks AMSAT Orbital Elements page 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.
No contacts have been scheduled from 2023-12-21 to 2024-01-14. The complete
schedule page has been updated as of 2023-12-21 05:00 UTC.
SSTV from the ISS was to be sent on 145.800 MHz using the PD120 format. The
event was scheduled for Sat 2023-12-16 at 10:15 UTC through Tue 2023-12-19
around 18:00 UTC. Unfortunately there is an issue that is still attempting
to be resolved, so no signals were received. Hopefully the event can be
rescheduled in the near future. The Service Module radio is temporarily
stowed.
As always, if there is an EVA, a docking, or an undocking; the ARISS radios
are turned off as part of the safety protocol.
The crossband repeater continues to be active (145.990 MHz up {PL 67} &
437.800 MHz down), but operation has been interrupted due to undocking
maneuvers this past week. If any crewmember is so inclined, all they have
to do is pick up the microphone, raise the volume up, and talk on the
crossband repeater. So give a listen, you just never know.
Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own
orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed
time.
The latest information on the operation mode can be found at
https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html
The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at
https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html
[ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors
for the above information]
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Upcoming Satellite Operations
None scheduled at this time.
[ANS thanks Ian Parsons, K5ZM, 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.
+ ARISS 40th Anniversary Conference: Celebrating the Positive Impact of
Amateur Radio on Human Spaceflight
Center for Space Education, Adjacent to NASA Kennedy Space Center Visitor's
Center, Florida, USA
February 22-24, 2024
[ANS thanks the AMSAT Events page for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Satellite Shorts From All Over
+ NASA has released a three minute video retrospective of its
accomplishments in 2023. The video may be viewed at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQWespzOtzI (ANS thanks NASA for the above
information)
+ NASA’s Deep Space Optical Communications experiment beamed an ultra-high
definition streaming video on Dec. 11 from a record-setting 19 million
miles away (31 million kilometers, or about 80 times the Earth-Moon
distance). The demo transmitted the 15-second test video via a cutting-edge
instrument called a flight laser transceiver. Uploaded before launch, the
short ultra-high definition video features an orange tabby cat named Taters
chasing a laser pointer. Taters is the pet of an employee of NASA’s Jet
Propulsion Laboratory, and the cat is reported to be totally unimpressed by
the accomplishment. (ANS thanks NASA for the above information)
+ December 6 marked the 25th anniversary of the International Space
Station. On Dec. 6, 1998 the first two elements of the station, Unity and
Zarya, were mated by the crew of space shuttle Endeavour’s STS-88 mission.
Since then, 273 people from 21 countries have visited the station. (ANS
thanks The Orbital Index and NASA for the above information)
+ NASA's Mars Rover, Perseverance, recently marked 1,000 "sols" (Martian
days) on the red planet, after landing at Jezero Crater on February 18,
2021. It's companion Mars helicopter, Ingenuity, the first robot ever to
explore the skies of a world beyond Earth, made its 70th flight on Friday,
Dec 22. (ANS thanks The Orbital Index and NASA for the above information)
+ Voyager 1 has stopped returning useful data to Earth due to a problem
with the spacecraft's Flight Data System (FDS) computers. It could take
several weeks for engineers to develop a new plan to remedy the issue.
Launched in 1977, the spacecraft and its twin, Voyager 2, are the two
longest-operating spacecraft in history [behind AO-7, that is]. In
addition, commands from mission controllers on Earth take 22.5 hours to
reach Voyager 1, which is exploring the outer regions of our solar system
more than 15 billion miles (24 billion kilometers) from Earth. That means
the engineering team has to wait 45 hours to get a response from Voyager 1
and determine whether a command had the intended outcome. (ANS thanks NASA
for the above information)
+ A French small rocket project, aptly-named “Baguette-One”, received more
funding from the French government to continue developing a low-cost hybrid
rocket engine. Baguette One should take flight in the beginning of 2026 and
aims to put small satellites up to 250 kilograms into orbit. (ANS thanks
The Orbital Index and LeMonde for the above information)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/
In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to:
* Societies (a recognized group, clubs or organization).
* Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at
one-half the standard yearly rate.
* Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status
shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary
years in this status.
* Memberships are available for annual and lifetime terms.
Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional membership information.
73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space!
This week's ANS Editor, Mark Johns, KØJM
k0jm [at] amsat.org
1
0
ANS-355 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin - HADES-D Designated Spain-OSCAR 121 (SO-121)
by Paul Stoetzer 21 Dec '23
by Paul Stoetzer 21 Dec '23
21 Dec '23
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE SPECIAL BULLETIN
ANS-355
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:
* HADES-D Designated Spain-OSCAR 121 (SO-121)
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-355.01
ANS-355 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 355.01
From AMSAT HQ WASHINGTON, DC
DATE December 21, 2023
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-355.01
HADES-D Designated Spain-OSCAR 121 (SO-121)
On November 11, 2023, the HADES-D satellite was launched on a Falcon 9
launch vehicle from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Developed by
AMSAT-EA, the satellite carries an FM and digital repeater payload to
provide services to amateur radio enthusiasts around the world. The
satellite has been commissioned and the repeater is currently active.
At the request of AMSAT-EA, AMSAT hereby designates HADES-D as Spain-OSCAR
121 (SO-121). We congratulate AMSAT-EA, thank them for their contribution
to the amateur satellite community, and wish them continued success on this
and future projects.
[ANS thanks Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, AMSAT Vice President - Operations and
OSCAR Number Administrator, 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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AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-351
In this edition:
* ARISS Marks 40th Anniversary of STS-9 with Special Slow Scan Television Event
* HADES-D Satellite: Successful Telecommand Response and FM Repeater Tests Ongoing
* WRC-23 Reaches Acceptable Conclusion on 23-Centimeter Issue
* How the 18th Space Defense Squadron Averts Catastrophe at 17,000 Miles Per Hour
* CubeSat Technology and 3D Printing Combine for Emergency Broadband in Disaster Zones
* Satellite Top 100 Rovers December 2023 Rankings
* Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for December 15, 2023
* ARISS News
* Upcoming Satellite Operations
* Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
* Satellite Shorts From All Over
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 https://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/
ANS-351 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
To: All RADIO AMATEURS
From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation
712 H Street NE, Suite 1653
Washington, DC 20002
DATE 2023 Dec 17
ARISS Marks 40th Anniversary of STS-9 with Special Slow Scan Television Event
In a collaborative effort spanning ARISS teams worldwide, a special Slow Scan Television (SSTV) event is currently underway to mark the 40th Anniversary of NASA Space Shuttle mission STS-9. SSTV transmissions from the International Space Station (ISS) are being broadcast on 145.800 MHz using the PD120 format. The scheduled times for the event are from December 16 at 10:15 UTC | 5:15 AM ET through December 19 around 1800 UTC | 1:00 PM ET.
On November 28, 1983, the Space Shuttle Columbia carried Owen Garriott, W5LFL (SK), into orbit. He was equipped with a specially customized Motorola MX-340 two-meter handheld radio and an antenna attached to the shuttle's window. The first amateur radio contact from space took place shortly before crossing the west coast on December 1, 1983, when Columbia executed a roll maneuver exposing the antenna toward Earth. W5LFL began calling CQ, and at 02:38 UTC, Lance Collister, WA1JXN, in Frenchtown, MT, answered the call, marking the first amateur radio QSO with a human in space.
A flurry of QSOs followed over the next several days before Columbia returned to Earth on December 8th. Notable amateur operators in the log included Senator Barry Goldwater, K7UGA, and King Hussein of Jordan, JY1. Slow Scan Television has also been an integral part of Amateur Radio in Human Spaceflight since its early days, with Tony England, WØORE, paving the way by sending ten images via Slow Scan Television on Space Shuttle Challenger mission STS-51F in the summer of 1985.
Answers to your Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about this ISS Slow Scan Television Event, such as how to decode SSTV images and track the ISS, can be found at https://www.spaceflightsoftware.com/ARISS_SSTV/faq.php. You can apply for the ARISS SSTV Award by uploading your decoded image and completing the Application Form using the information provided at https://ariss.pzk.org.pl/sstv. Don't forget that you can receive a QSL Card from the International Space Station by receiving and decoding a SSTV image. More information about how to obtain a QSL Card can be found at https://www.ariss.org/qsl-cards.html.
ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) hopes that you can participate in another exciting International Space Station SSTV event. This is a great opportunity to share the magic of amateur radio with your friends and family. Watch for event updates to be posted on X (formerly Twitter) at https://twitter.com/ARISS_Intl. Remember to have fun and best of luck with your SSTV image decoding attempts!
[ANS thanks ARISS for the above information]
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HADES-D Satellite: Successful Telecommand Response and FM Repeater Tests Ongoing
The HADES-D satellite, launched aboard SpaceX's Transporter-9 (TR-9) mission on November 11, 2023, has successfully completed a month in orbit. AMSAT-EA reports that, following its separation from the ION SCV-013 Orbital Transfer Vehicle two weeks ago, HADES-D is responding well to telecommands from the ground control station.
Current tests on the FM voice repeater show promising results, demonstrating its effectiveness. However, adjustments to the squelch level are under consideration due to the current configuration requiring increased power for activation. HADES-D's health status has been confirmed through telemetry, CW, and FM voice beacon receptions from various Earth locations.
Telemetry signals in FSK, CW, and FM voice beacon, operating at 436.666 MHz downlink, transmit to Earth at 0.25 Watts. Demodulation and decoding software for satellite telemetry are available on AMSAT-EA's website under the Project tab (https://www.amsat-ea.org/proyectos). The FM repeater, with a 40mW power output, may require a robust antenna for optimal receive performance.
Developed alongside the URESAT Antonio de Nebrija, both utilizing the pocketQubes 1.5P platform, HADES-D features advanced solar panels and increased processing capacity. These advancements enable the satellite to transmit telemetry and repeat signals at higher speeds. The incorporation of an FM transponder for voice communications also allows for message retransmission in FSK. Efforts are ongoing to confirm the final Two-Line Elements for streamlined operations.
[ANS thanks AMSAT-EA for the above information]
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The 2023 AMSAT President's Club coins are here now!
To commemorate the 40th anniversary of its launch
on June 16, 1983, this year's coin features
an image of AMSAT-OSCAR 10.
Join the AMSAT President's Club today and help
Keep Amateur Radio in Space!
https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/
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WRC-23 Reaches Acceptable Conclusion on 23-Centimeter Issue
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC-23) continues through December 15, 2023, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU)'s primary effort focused on Agenda Item 9.1 topic b to address amateur use of the 23-centimeter band and co-frequency use by several radionavigation satellite service (RNSS) systems in the 1240 - 1300 MHz band.
IARU's work that began four years ago with a preparatory study in the ITU Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) to address this agenda item has finally come to a close. Our concerted engagement in the ITU-R working parties, study groups, and WRC preparatory meetings ensured that the amateur services were properly represented during the development of two published ITU-R reports: M.2513 and M.2532. An ITU-R Recommendation, M.2164, followed these, which formed the basis for the discussions at WRC-23.
During the WRC-23 deliberations, strong positions were expressed by all parties involved.
The result is a well-supported compromise for a footnote in the Radio Regulations regarding amateur and amateur satellite service operation in the 1240 -1300 MHz range. The footnote reminds administrations and amateurs of the need to protect the primary RNSS from interference, and it provides guidance for administrations to allow both services to continue to operate in this portion of the spectrum.
Administrations are the bodies that govern amateur radio in their respective countries, such as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States.
The Conference Plenary compromise was formally adopted on December 8 and is not subject to further consideration during the final week of WRC-23. The IARU team continues its work on other WRC issues, including developing agendas for future conferences.
IARU President Tim Ellam, VE6SH, noted, "This is a very good result for the amateur services. The decision reached at WRC-23 on this agenda item makes no change to the table of allocations nor incorporates by reference M.2164 into the Radio Regulations. The addition of a footnote that provides guidance to administrations in the event of interference to the RNSS is a good regulatory outcome for amateurs and the primary users of this band."
The WRC also agreed to suppress Resolution 774, which closes the issue and satisfies the agenda item. Read more in ARRL News at https://www.arrl.org/news/wrc-23-reaches-acceptable-conclusion-on-23-centim…
[ANS thanks ARRL for the above information]
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How the 18th Space Defense Squadron Averts Catastrophe at 17,000 Miles Per Hour
In the vast expanse of space, where countless manmade objects hurtle through Low Earth Orbit at speeds exceeding 17,000 miles per hour, a dedicated group of guardians stands watch to prevent potential collisions that could disrupt crucial communication, navigation, and scientific satellites. The 18th Space Defense Squadron (SDS), part of the Space Force, operates from its headquarters at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, employing advanced technology and surveillance systems to track and identify potential collision risks in real-time.
The 18th SDS, often referred to as the "lighthouse of space," utilizes the U.S. Space Surveillance Network (SSN) to monitor over 45,000 objects in Earth's orbit. Ground-based sensors, including the Ground-Based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance System, capture rapid digital photos of the night sky, revealing satellites as tiny streaks. Computers analyze these streaks to calculate the satellites' positions, providing vital data for collision risk assessments, as explained in a recent press release from the Space Operations Command.
Key components of the SSN include ground-based radar systems such as the AN/FPS-85 and AN/FYS-3 Phased Array Radars, capable of tracking hundreds of targets simultaneously. The 'Space Fence,' located in the Marshall Islands, employs an array system that broadcasts constant bands of energy, tracking objects passing through its coverage. On-orbit platforms like the Space-Based Space Surveillance satellite ensure year-round tracking above earthly obstructions like weather and daylight.
Maintaining an ever-growing catalog of space objects on Space-Track.org, the 18th SDS collaborates with its counterpart, the 19th SDS, to predict satellite trajectories and avert potential collisions. In the crowded expanse of low Earth orbit, the squadron remains vigilant, recognizing the heightened risk posed by unexpected satellite fragments that could lead to disastrous collisions.
Space Operations Command (SpOC) recently outlined four categories of fragmentation events: anomalous debris-causing events, breakup events, collisions, and mission-related events. Anomalous events occur due to factors like corrosion or fatigue, leading to slow-speed fragment dispersal. Breakup events, generating large amounts of rapidly spreading debris, can be unintentional or intentional, as seen in anti-satellite missile tests. Collisions, exemplified by the 2009 incident involving a Russian military satellite and a commercial Iridium satellite, prompt heightened awareness and response. Mission-related events involve the fragmentation of payloads or unintentional separation of non-payload components.
Members of the 18th SDS remain vigilant for changes in orbital parameters, indicators of potential satellite stress or gas release, which could precede fragmentation events. Specialized software assists in tracking satellite trajectories and determining the origin and trajectory of debris in case of fragmentation. Timely warnings to affected satellite operators enable them to make necessary adjustments, minimizing collision risks.
Despite the 18th SDS's capabilities, over a million objects under 10 cm remain untrackable but pose significant collision threats. The act of maneuvering to avoid collisions consumes satellite fuel and shortens their lifespan. Recognizing the limitations, a recent call by the research group RAND advocates for an international space traffic management system (STM) to enhance coordination and communication among satellite operators.
The current state of managing space objects is described by RAND researchers as "informal, ad hoc, and often ill-coordinated," approaching a tipping point. Urging proactive governance structures, the researchers emphasize the need for the space community to build systems ensuring the safety and sustainability of critical space assets, services, and activities before a crisis necessitates action.
[ANS thanks David Roza, Senior Editor, Air & Space Forces Magazine for the above information]
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CubeSat Technology and 3D Printing Combine for Emergency Broadband in Disaster Zones
Researchers from the Centre Tecnològic de Telecomunicacions de Catalunya (CTTC), the University of Luxembourg, and the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) have developed a nanosatellite technology aimed at delivering swift emergency broadband connectivity to disaster-stricken regions. This innovative solution combines CubeSat technology with 3D printing, allowing for rapid deployment to enhance communication for emergency services in complex situations.
Professor Carlos Monzo Sánchez of the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya emphasizes the project's significance, stating, "Our project provides a solution that means a communications network to provide help in emergency situations can be established quickly." The core technology is the CubeSat standard for nanosatellites, known for their cost-effectiveness and small size, manufactured on a 3D printer in just 90 minutes.
The CubeSats are then elevated above disaster zones using balloons, utilizing LoRa (low-power long-range radio) communication with the ground. Raúl Parada, a researcher at CTTC and the paper's first author, explains, "Our solution enables communication over long distances and provides a scalable system for a large number of users that is reusable anywhere and at any time."
The team's prototypes leverage the Semtech SX1278 LoRa transceiver, connected to a simple metal ruler antenna. The 1U CubeSat, housing the transceiver, is equipped with a sensor package comprising a Bosch Sensortec BME280 environmental sensor, a TDK InvenSense MPU-9250 inertial measurement unit (IMU), a Hanwei MQ-135 air quality sensor, and a Roithner LaserTechnik GUVA-S12SD ultraviolet light sensor. These sensors are linked to an Arduino Nano microcontroller, with a GPS receiver added later to facilitate satellite recovery.
Emphasizing the practicality of their design, Monzo explains, "Our solution is designed to provide a rapid service in complex scenarios, and as such, we have prioritized its ease of deployment over its use as a telecommunications solution in normal situations." The researchers aim to refine the infrastructure further, focusing on minimizing deployment times and ensuring adaptability to a wide range of situations.
The team's work has been published in the journal Aerospace under open-access terms, marking a significant stride in leveraging technology to enhance emergency response capabilities in disaster-stricken areas.
[ANS thanks Gareth Halfacree, Technical Author, writing for hackster.io, for the above information]
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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/
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Satellite Top 100 Rovers December 2023 Rankings
The December 2023 rankings for the Top 100 Rovers (Mixed LEO/MEO/GEO) in satellite operations, as determined by @GridMasterMap on Twitter, has been released. The ranking is determined by the number of grids and DXCC entities activated, taking into account only those grids where a minimum number of QSOs logged on the gridmaster.fr website have been validated by a third party. Grid numbers do not directly reflect the exact number of activations. Satellite operators are encouraged to upload their LoTW satellite contacts to https://gridmaster.fr in order to provide more accurate data.
Updated: 2023-12-12
1 ND9M 26 K8BL 51 F4DXV 76 DF2ET
2 NJ7H 27 KE4AL 52 KE9AJ 77 WA9JBQ
3 N5UC 28 LU5ILA 53 JL3RNZ 78 W8LR
4 JA9KRO 29 DL2GRC 54 VE1CWJ 79 K0FFY
5 DL6AP 30 KI7UNJ 55 KM4LAO 80 VE3GOP
6 WI7P 31 VE3HLS 56 PA3GAN 81 OE3SEU
7 HA3FOK 32 KB5FHK 57 VK5DG 82 KJ7NDY
8 N9IP 33 LA9XGA 58 N4UFO 83 KB2YSI
9 N6UA 34 N7AGF 59 SM3NRY 84 CU2ZG
10 WY7AA 35 F4BKV 60 KI7QEK 85 N0TEL
11 AD0DX 36 XE3DX 61 VA7LM 86 DL4EA
12 W5PFG 37 N6DNM 62 N8RO 87 VE6WK
13 K5ZM 38 KE0PBR 63 PT2AP 88 VE7PTN
14 DP0POL 39 KE0WPA 64 W1AW 89 AF5CC
15 AK8CW 40 JO2ASQ 65 XE1ET 90 HB9GWJ
16 UT1FG 41 K7TAB 66 AA8CH 91 PT9ST
17 AD0HJ 42 AC0RA 67 M1DDD 92 DK9JC
18 WD9EWK 43 W7WGC 68 VE1VOX 93 JM1CAX
19 ON4AUC 44 PR8KW 69 VA3VGR 94 KG4AKV
20 KG5CCI 45 JK2XXK 70 FJ8OJ 95 VO2AC
21 KX9X 46 EA4NF 71 PT9BM 96 LW2DAF
22 ND0C 47 SP5XSD 72 KI7UXT 97 KI0KB
23 N5BO 48 AA5PK 73 LU4JVE 98 KC7JPC
24 DJ8MS 49 AD7AB 74 N4DCW 99 AB5SS
25 F5VMJ 50 EB1AO 75 YU0W 100 N6UTC
[ANS thanks @GridMasterMap for the above information]
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Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for December 15, 2023
Two Line Elements or TLEs, often referred to as Keplerian elements or keps in the amateur community, are the inputs to the SGP4 standard mathematical model of spacecraft orbits used by most amateur tracking programs. Weekly updates are completely adequate for most amateur satellites. TLE bulletin files are updated daily in the first hour of the UTC day. New bulletin files will be posted immediately after reliable elements become available for new amateur satellites. More information may be found at https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/.
This week there are no additions or deletions to the AMSAT TLE distribution.
[ANS thanks AMSAT Orbital Elements page for the above information]
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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.
+ Recently Completed
Harbor Creek School, Harborcreek, PA, direct via KC3SGV
The ISS callsign was NA1SS
The scheduled crewmember was Andreas Mogensen KG5GCZ
The ARISS mentor is KD8COJ
Contact was successful: Mon 2023-12-11 13:45:04 UTC
Congratulations to the Harbor Creek School students, Andreas, and mentor KD8COJ!
Primary School of Zipari Kos, Zipari, Greece, direct via SV5BYR
The ISS callsign was OR4ISS
The scheduled crewmember was Andreas Mogensen KG5GCZ
The ARISS mentor is IKØWGF
Contact was successful: Thu 2023-12-14 13:17:31 UTC
Watch the Livestream at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzRrMguN-VI
+ Upcoming Contacts
No upcoming school contacts are scheduled.
The crossband repeater continues to be active (145.990 MHz up {PL 67} & 437.800 MHz down). If any crewmember is so inclined, all they have to do is pick up the microphone, raise the volume up, and talk on the crossband repeater. So give a listen, you just never know.
The packet system is listed as temporarily stowed. Look for SSTV transmissions on 145.800 MHz between December 16th through December 19th.
As always, if there is an EVA, a docking, or an undocking; the ARISS radios are turned off as part of the safety protocol.
Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time.
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]
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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
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Upcoming Satellite Operations
Jonathan N4AKV will be operating FM, linear, and GreenCube satellite passes in maidenhead grids EM75/76/85/86 (Tennessee) from December 18th through December 20th. Check for passes listed on http://hams.at and watch Jonathan's Twitter feed for any updates (https://twitter.com/N4AKV_).
A growing number of satellite rovers are currently engaged in sharing their grid square activations on https://hams.at. By visiting the website, you gain easy access to comprehensive information about the operators responsible for activating specific grid squares. Additionally, you have the ability to assess the match score between yourself and a particular rover for a given pass, while also being able to identify the upcoming satellite passes that are accessible from your location.
[ANS thanks Ian Parsons, K5ZM, AMSAT rover page manager, for the above information]
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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.
+ 40th Anniversary Celebration of the Positive Impact of Amateur Radio on Human Spaceflight
Thursday February 22nd through Saturday February 24th, 2024
Center for Space Education: Astronauts Memorial Foundation
Kennedy Space Center, M6-306 405 State Road, FL 32899
https://www.ariss.org/overview.html
[ANS thanks the AMSAT Events page for the above information]
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Satellite Shorts From All Over
+ AO-73 (FUNcube-1), managed by AMSAT-UK and AMSAT-NL, has reactivated its transponder after a meticulous year of battery management. Launched a decade ago, the satellite faced challenges with its battery struggling to reach the nominal 8.3V charge. Recent efforts, including strategic transmitter shutdowns during eclipse periods, have improved the situation. The battery voltage now varies between 8.13V in sunlight and 7.8V at the end of an eclipse, a significant improvement. AO-73 is currently transmitting low-power BPSK telemetry on 145.935MHz, featuring an inverting mode U/V transponder uplink ranging from 435.130 to 435.150 MHz, with a downlink set at 145.970 to 145.950 MHz. The satellite maintains a high spin rate of approximately 30 rpm, requiring manual tuning for the 70 cm input due to the receiver's temperature drift. This development reopens exciting opportunities for radio operators interested in exploring AO-73's capabilities after its temporary hiatus. (ANS thanks David Bowan, G0MRF, AMSAT-UK for the above information)
+ NASA's Voyager 1 probe, now in interstellar space, is experiencing a communication glitch, preventing the transmission of scientific or systems data. The 46-year-old spacecraft can receive commands, but its flight data system (FDS) is no longer communicating as expected with the telecommunications unit (TMU). The FDS compiles data into a package for transmission, but it's currently stuck in a repeating pattern of ones and zeros. Voyager's engineering team is investigating, but a solution may take weeks. The spacecraft's age and technology from the 1970s present unique challenges, and previous malfunctions required creative software workarounds. Despite past issues, finding solutions for Voyager's challenges is a slow process, involving consultation of decades-old documents. (ANS thanks Josh Dinner, Content Manager & Writer, Space.com, for the above information)
+ Blue Origin is set to resume New Shepard suborbital launches no earlier than December 18th, marking the vehicle's first potential flight in over 15 months. The uncrewed mission, NS-24, will follow a mishap in September 2022 when a structural failure in the BE-3PM engine led to a capsule landing safely while the propulsion module crashed. The Federal Aviation Administration closed its investigation in September 2023, outlining 21 corrective actions for Blue Origin, including technical modifications and organizational changes. The delay in resuming flights prompted speculation about the company's priorities, but it has since won a NASA contract for a lunar lander, introduced an orbital transfer vehicle, and progressed with the New Glenn orbital launch vehicle and Orbital Reef space station projects. During this hiatus, Virgin Galactic began commercial service with its SpaceShipTwo, VSS Unity, but announced plans to shift to quarterly flights in 2024 and eventually halt operations to focus on new suborbital vehicles. (ANS thanks Jeff Foust, writing for SpaceNews, for the above information)
+ NASA astronaut Frank Rubio grew tomatoes in space using hydroponic techniques to demonstrate space agricultural methods on the International Space Station (ISS). After harvesting one of the first tomatoes grown in space, Rubio misplaced it during a public event with school kids, sparking a humorous search on the ISS. In the microgravity environment, anything unanchored can float away, and despite spending hours searching, Rubio never found the tomato. The mystery ended when the remaining ISS crew announced they had located the tomato, clearing Rubio of suspicions that he had eaten it. Rubio's historic mission on the ISS, lasting over a year, set a record for the longest a US astronaut has spent in microgravity, initially planned for six months. (ANS thanks Jackie Wattles, Space & Science Writer, CNN, for the above information)
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Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/
In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to:
* Societies (a recognized group, clubs or organization).
* Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate.
* Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status.
* Memberships are available for annual and lifetime terms.
Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional membership information.
73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space!
This week's ANS Editor, Mitch Ahrenstorff, ADØHJ
ad0hj [at] amsat.org
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