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AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-103
The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and infor-
mation service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite
Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space
including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur
Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building,
launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio
satellites.
The news feed on http://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.
In this edition:
* March/April 2014 AMSAT Journal is Ready
* NASA, SpaceX Officials Continue Preparations for 14 April Launch
* KickSat CubeSat to Deploy Smallest Earth-Orbiting Satellites
* AMSAT at the Dayton Hamvention - 2nd call for volunteers
* N8PK appears with students in YouTube video
* ISS HamTV moves to 2369 MHz
* FUNcube/AO-73 Transponder plans for the future
* Upcoming AMSAT Events
* ARISS News
* Satellite Shorts From All Over
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-103.01
ANS-103 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 103.01
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
DATE April 13, 2014
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-103.01
March/April 2014 AMSAT Journal is Ready
The March/April 2014 AMSAT Journal is completed. It is on its way to
the print shop and then to your mailbox. Here is what you will find
in this issue:
+ AMSAT Announcements:
Straight Key Night on OSCAR Results
Steve Coy, K8UD Joins the AMSAT Board of Directors
+ Apogee View by Barry Baines, WD4ASW
+ G. Gould Smith, WA4SXM - Thank You for Your 25 Years
of Accomplishment
+ 2014 AMSAT Board of Directors Election Notice by
Alan Biddle, AMSAT Corporate Secretary, WA4SCA
+ Anthony "Tony" J. Monteiro, AA2TX Silent Key
+ Upcoming Amateur Radio Cubesats: The Flood Has Arrived
by Bryan Klofas, KF6ZEO
+ W5PFG/P: Observations from a roving operator
by Clayton Coleman, W5PFG
+ Fox-1 Telemetry Coding and Modulation Design
by Phil Karn, KA9Q; Paul Williamson, KB5MU;
Michelle Thompson, W5NYV
+ AMSAT Field Day Announcement
+ Meet Jerry Buxton, N0JY AMSAT Vice-President of Engineering
+ AMSAT Field Operations Group Updates Events
by Patrick Stoddard, WD9EWK
+ AMSAT-NA Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
by Alan Biddle, AMSAT Corporate Secretary, WA4SCA
Please send your operating information, articles, and photos to the
AMSAT Journal mailbox: journal(a)amsat.org. Our editors are looking
forward to working with you to get your items published!
[ANS thanks the AMSAT Journal Team for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
NASA, SpaceX Officials Continue Preparations for 14 April Launch
NASA and SpaceX officials decided this morning to continue
preparations for launch of a commercial resupply run to the
International Space Station on Monday after a computer failed aboard
the complex Friday, but managers will meet again Sunday morning to
make a final decision on whether to proceed with the launch.
The failed computer, called a multiplexer-demultiplexer, or MDM,
provides redundancy for the space station's mobile transporter, part
of the outpost's robotics system that allows the Canadian-built robot
arm to move along the lab's truss backbone.
The robot arm will be used to grapple the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft
when it arrives at the space station. In a statement issued Saturday,
NASA said the Canadian-built robot arm has other backup capabilities
not affected by the failed computer.
NASA says the failed MDM is known as "EXT-2" and measures 10.5 x
14.9 x 16.4 inches and weighs 50.8 pounds. The computer failed during
a routine health check of the device, according to NASA.
"Station program officials, flight controllers and teams of
engineers are working to determine whether there is any risk to
launching the SpaceX cargo craft Monday," the statement said. "They
will evaluate whether the station has enough redundancy to permit the
launch to proceed."
NASA says a separate team is planning a contingency spacewalk to
replace the failed computer box, but no date for the spacewalk has
been set.
[ANS thanks Spaceflightnow.com for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
KickSat CubeSat to Deploy Smallest Earth-Orbiting Satellites
When the third SpaceX ISS resupply mission launches on April 14 from
Cape Canaveral, it will carry the 3U KickSat CubeSat into orbit. NASA
TV is scheduled to broadcast the launch live. If all goes according
to plan, KickSat, in turn, will release 200 "Sprite" satellites --
each about the size of a small cracker -- into orbit. They will become
the smallest Earth-orbiting satellites ever. Zac Manchester, KD2BHC --
a Cornell University PhD student in aerospace engineering -- is
heading up the project, which was funded via Kickstarter.
"Our goal is to dramatically lower the cost of spaceflight, making
it easy enough and affordable enough for anyone to explore space,"
the KickSat project website proclaims. "We can do this by shrinking
the size and mass of the spacecraft, allowing many to be launched
together."
The tiny Sprite spacecraft will be single-function, short-lifespan
units operating on 437 MHz. Each is essentially a double-sided
printed circuit board measuring 3.5 cm × 3.5 cm, incorporating a
microcontroller or two, radio, and solar cells. Each can carry single-
chip sensors, such as thermometers, magnetometers, gyroscopes, and
accelerometers.
All Sprites operate on the same frequency -- 437.240 MHz -- and use
Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA). Transmitters run 10 mW output
of minimum shift keying (MSK) modulated binary data, with each data
bit modulated as a 511 bit pseudo-random number (PRN) sequence (The
ITU emission designator is 50K0G1D).
Andy Thomas, G0SFJ, points out that the Sprites will only operate
when in sunlight. "Characteristically they have a 60 kHz bandwidth,
and so narrowband receivers are not of any use to receive them," he
explained in a tutorial that describes plans for a simple Earth
station. "Therefore, the receiver of choice is a software defined
receiver."
When KickSat reaches orbit, it will perform a "de-tumble" maneuver
and establish communication with Cornell University's ground station.
After everything has been checked out, the spacecraft will be put in
a sun-pointing attitude and spun up to maintain that attitude. Then a
command signal from the ground will trigger deployment, and the
Sprites will be released as free-flying spacecraft. The Cornell
ground station in Ithaca, New York, will monitor telemetry and sensor
measurements from the individual Sprites, with assistance from
several other Amateur Radio ground stations around the world.
Due to their low orbit, the Sprites will have short lifetimes,
perhaps as long as six weeks in a best-case scenario but possibly a
lot shorter, depending on atmospheric conditions.
KickSat is being planned as a technology demonstration mission for
the Sprite spacecraft. It's being launched through NASA's Educational
Launch of Nanosatellite (ELaNa) program. The KickSat project was
founded in 2011 by members of the Space Systems Design Studio at
Cornell University and is an outgrowth small spacecraft research that
has been conducted there since 2007.
[ANS thanks ARRL for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
AMSAT at the Dayton Hamvention - 2nd call for volunteers
The Dayton Hamvention is less than five weeks away!
It is time to be creating your shopping list and making your travel
plans. If you can stay for more than a day and you want to stay with
at the AMSAT hotel, contact Martha ASAP.
Last year, we had 41 people assist with the AMSAT booth at the
Dayton. We've had a good response so far to our call for volunteers,
but we could really use another 10-15 people. The interaction with
AMSAT members, satellite operators, designers, and builders makes the
whole experience a lot of fun. Meet or renew acquaintances, exchange
operating tips, and find out what antennas, software and equipment
other AMSAT members use. We currently expect all of the AMSAT senior
officers and 6 of the 7 board members to be there too.
The 2014 Hamvention is May 16-18. Would you consider helping AMSAT
at Dayton this year?
If you're an experienced operator, great! We can use you and your
experience.
If you've never operated a satellite before, but want to learn more,
that's OK. We can use your help too.
Whether you're available for only a couple of hours or if you can
spend the entire weekend with us, your help would be greatly
appreciated.
Please send an e-mail to Steve, n9ip at amsat dot org if you can
help.
Thank you!
[ANS thanks Steve N9IP for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
N8PK appears with students in YouTube video
Pat Kilroy, N8PK makes a brief appearance in a recently released
video on YouTube. In it, he is working with a couple of his students
working the AMSAT satellites as practice for future NASA engineers.
They get a whole minute of the seven-minute limelight starting at
about the 2:07 mark. And get a little chuckle at the tail end during
our thank you's:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AbG1ZiVi5Y
That video was shot, at the same time the follwing was recorded,
last summer and released last fall:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TQufCcxLkc
[ANS thanks Pat N8PK for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
ISS HamTV moves to 2369 MHz
The Digital Amateur TV (DATV) station in the Columbus module of the
International Space Station has changed frequency to 2369 MHz
Presently, Ham Video is transmitting permanently a "blank" image and
no audio in configuration 5:
* ARISS antenna 43
* Frequency 2369 MHz
* Symbol rate 1.3 Ms/s
Reports on reception of blank transmissions are very welcome.
Reports can be filed via this webpage:
http://www.spaceflightsoftware.com/ARISS_FSTV/submit.php
Participants using the Tutioune receiving software can record as
well as stream detailed parameters of the received signal. Please see:
http://www.vivadatv.org/
Reports are available at
http://www.vivadatv.org/viewtopic.php?f=66&t=294&p=785#p785
Thank you for your participation to the Ham Video testing campaign.
[ANS thanks Gaston Bertels, ON4WF for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
FUNcube/AO-73 Transponder plans for the future
Following the 48 hour test last weekend, we have concluded that the
battery temp does reduce slightly during full time transponder mode,
but only by a degree C or so; it remains within specification. Hence
we have decided in future to switch the satellite into 'forced
eclipse mode', ie full time transponder and low power beacon at
weekends. The aim is tosignificantly increase the availability of the
transponder to radio amateurs. We will continue with this plan until
further notice.
We plan to switch to full time transponder mode during the first
suitable pass over the UK on Friday evenings, normally between 19:30
and 22:30 UTC. If for some reason this is not possible, then the
switch will be done on the first suitable pass on Saturday, normally
between 09:30 and 12:00 UTC. We plan to switch the full time
transponder mode off during a suitable pass on Sunday evenings (UK
time), which normally occur between 1930 and 22:30 UTC. Again, if
this is not possible the switch off will be made on Monday mornings,
approx. 09:30 to 12:00 UTC.
Do PLEASE NOTE that this schedule is totally reliant on the
availability of command stations, who will do their very best to
ensure it is maintained. We will not normally announce successful
full time transponder mode on/off commands, but if it proves not
possible to make one of them, then we will make a note here and on
the FUNcube web site at
www.funcube.org.uk/news.
So please do enjoy the transponder, and use it any time you hear it
on. We are always pleased to hear of your activity, so either leave a
comment on the website, or email g3wgm -at- amsat.org.
A recent QSO made by Paulo PV8DX can be seen at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMVetMKnCMQ
Thanks for the report, Paulo!
[ANS thanks Jim G3WGM for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Upcoming AMSAT Events
Information about AMSAT activities at other important events around
the country. Examples of these events are radio club meetings where
AMSAT Area Coordinators give presentations, demonstrations of working
amateur satellites, and hamfests with an AMSAT presence (a table with
AMSAT literature and merchandise, sometimes also with presentations,
forums, and/or demonstrations).
Monday, 28 April 2014 - presentation at Franklin County Amateur
Radio Club meeting in Greenfield MA by Barry Baines WD4ASW (AMSAT
President)
Saturday, 3 May 2014 - Cochise Amateur Radio Association's Larry
Warren Hamfest in Sierra Vista AZ (southeast of Tucson) - AMSAT will
have a table at this hamfest, and satellite demonstrations are
planned.
Friday through Sunday, 16-18 May 2014 - Dayton Hamvention
AMSAT will have their usualy booth set-up with a sales area, display
of Engineering and Education activities, outside satellite
demonstrations and will present anAMSAT Forum. Set-up is Thursday 15
May 2014.
Saturday, 7 June 2014 - Kachina Amateur Radio Club's White Mountain
Hamfest in Show Low AZ (eastern Arizona, south of US-60/AZ-77/AZ-260)
- AMSAT will have a table at this hamfest, and satellite
demonstrations are planned.
Friday and Saturday, 13-14 June 2014 - Ham-Com in Plano TX (north of
Dallas)
Thursday through Sunday, 17-20 July 2014 - ARRL Centennial
Convention in Hartford CT. AMSAT will host a day-long Satellite
Workshop on Thursday, and have a booth at the convention along with
an AMSAT Forum and demonstrations throughout the convention.
Saturday and Sunday, 30-31 August 2014 - Shelby Hamfest in Shelby NC
(west of Gastonia and Charlotte) - Barry Baines WD4ASW (AMSAT
President) will host an AMSAT Forum on Saturday of this weekend
Friday through Sunday, 12-14 September 2014 - ARRL Southwestern
Division Convention 2014 in San Diego CA (north of the city center,
near Montgomery Field airport & I-805/CA-163 interchange) - AMSAT
will have a booth at this convention, there will be on-air
demonstrations using satellites throughout the convention, and a
presentation on amateur satellites and AMSAT
AMSAT maintains and updated list of known upcoming events at
http://ww2.amsat.org/?page_id=218
[ANS thanks AMSAT-NA for the above announcement]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
ARISS News
Due to Koichi Wakata's, KC5ZTA, increased work load beginning 2014-
03-11, ARISS has had to move 3 schools back to our long term waiting
list. We hope to get to them in the fall of 2014. There are also
several other schools that are on the list for possible postponement
to the fall.
>From 2014-05-12 to 2014-06-15, ARISS will be going into a period of
no contacts as there will be no hams onboard.
[ANS thanks ARISS, and Charlie AJ9N for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Satellite Shorts From All Over
+ GNURadio Code and other stuff for setting up a Sprite ground station
https://github.com/zacinaction/kicksat-groundstation
[ANS thanks Zac Manchester KD2BHC for the above information]
+ KickSat Technical Summary
http://www.bis-space.com/2013/03/09/9301/kicksat-technical-summary
[ANS thanks Andrew Vaudin and The British Interplanetary Society
for the above information]
+ Funcube's Jim Heck talks to Tx Factor about Transponder tests
Project Manager Jim Heck G3WGM has given an exclusive audio
interview to the TX Factor's Bob McCreadie, G0FGX which explains
what the tests were all about.
Will these tests lead to more time being made available to
amateurs wanting to communicate via the satellite?
Listen to the interview at www.txfactor.co.uk
(click on the link under 'TX Factor Exclusive!')
[ANS thanks Southgate ARN for the above information]
+ SatMagazine and MilsatMagazine now online
April edition of SatMagazine is now online
http://www.satmagazine.com/download.php
March edition of MilsatMagazine in now online
http://www.satmagazine.com/download.php
Free Satnews Subscriptions
Satnews allows you to choose which of our free services you wish
to receive. Our news coverage includes all aspects of the commercial
and military satellite industry. We value your privacy and will not
sell or share your email or other information with any other
company.
http://www.satnews.com/register_new.php
[ANS thanks ANS Editors for the above information]
+ Make a #GlobalSelfie with NASA on Earth Day
NASA invites you -- and everyone else on the planet -- to take
part in a worldwide celebration of Earth Day this year with the
agency's #GlobalSelfie event.
The year 2014 is a big one for NASA Earth science. Five NASA
missions designed to gather critical data about our home planet
are launching to space this year. NASA is marking this big year
for Earth science with a campaign called Earth Right Now, and as
part of this campaign the agency is asking for your help this
Earth Day, April 22.
While NASA satellites constantly look at Earth from space, on
Earth Day we're asking you to step outside and take a picture of
yourself wherever you are on Earth. Then post it to social media
using the hashtag #GlobalSelfie.
See details at
http://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/globalselfie/#.U0gmGfldWSo
[ANS thanks NASA 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 addi-
tional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT
Office.
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 stu-
dent rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status.
Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership
information.
73,
This week's ANS Editor,
EMike McCardel, KC8YLD
kc8yld at amsat dot org
1
0
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-096
The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and infor-
mation service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite
Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space
including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur
Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building,
launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio
satellites.
The news feed on http://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.
In this edition:
* Memorial Service for Anthony "Tony" J. Monteiro, AA2TX (SK) Scheduled
* W1AW/4 VA Young Operator Award
* Dayton Hotel Reservations
* Jerry Buxton, N0JY selected as AMSAT's VP-Engineering
* Steve Coy, K8UD joins the AMSAT-NA Board of Directors
* ARTSAT Project INVADER satellite Receives an OSCAR Number
* AMSAT Awards
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-096.01
ANS-082 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 096.01
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
April 6, 2014
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-096.01
Memorial Service for Anthony "Tony" J. Monteiro, AA2TX (SK) Scheduled
AMSAT has been received word from the family of Tony Monteiro, AA2TX that a
service for Tony will be held on Saturday, April 26th at 4:00 PM at the North
Parish of North Andover Unitarian Universalist Church, 190 Academy Road, North
Andover, MA 01845. During the service there will be an opportunities
for people
to share their "Tony stories". For individuals wishing to share their stories
via e-mail, they should be sent to remembertony2014(a)gmail.com They
will be read
at the service.
AMSAT VP-Engineering and BoD member Tony Monteiro of North Andover, MA passed
away on March 26, 2014 at age 55 from cancer. A special ANS Bulletin was
released on March 28th which alerted amateurs around the world of Tony's
passing.
[ANS thanks Martha at the AMSAT Office for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
W1AW/4 VA Young Operator Award
When the W1AW/4 VA operates the birds on April 8, 10. and 11, K4AMG
will offer a special certificate four young ham radio operators 19 and
under.
This certificate will be free. To qualify for this certificate just
send your QSL card to:
W1AW/4 VA / K4AMG Memorial Amateur Radio Club
721 Wood Duck Lane
Chesapeake, VA 23323
Contact info will be W1AW/4 VA K4AMG.
If you want you may email your picture operating your SAT station for
the K4AMG.org home page
This is a free bonus for young hams. We will be honored to send you
this free certificate prepared by our WEB MASTER WA9KFB.
To receive your W1AW/4 VA credit in the ARRL 100th Celebration follow
the standard ARRL procedures.
[ANS thanks Rich, W4BUE, for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Dayton Hotel Reservations
This year, AMSAT has reserved a block of rooms for the Dayton Hamvention at the
Fairborn Country Inns and Suites at a special group rate. These rooms will be
handled through the AMSAT office, rather then directly with the hotel.
Preference will be given to those volunteering for a significant time for the
AMSAT Booth operations.
While the cutoff date for group rate reservations is April 24th, 2014, most of
the rooms in our block have already been taken. If you want a room at the
special AMSAT rate, call Martha ASAP (As Soon As Possible)!
The hotel is conveniently located, with a good light breakfast. Many of the
AMSAT officers and others who are active in AMSAT will be staying
there. You can
catch up on old friendships, and bend people's ear. It is also a
great place to
catch a ride to and from the Hara Arena and other venues from those who have
driven or rented vehicles.
Please CALL the office to give Martha your name and credit card number. From
the US call toll free at (888) 322-6728. From all other locations call (301)
589-6062.
[ANS thanks Steve, N9IP, for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Jerry Buxton, N0JY selected as AMSAT's VP-Engineering
In a special AMSAT Board of Directors meeting held via GoToMeeting on Tuesday,
April 1st, the board unanimously approved the selection of Jerry
Buxton, N0JY of
Granbury, TX as AMSAT VP-Engineering. Jerry replaces Tony Monteiro, AA2TX who
passed away on March 26th.
Given the significance of completing Fox-1 for delivery on time later
this year,
the Board recognized that the Fox Program must continue under
leadership that is
focused on completing AMSAT's latest satellite. Selecting a new VP-Engineering
is an important step towards maintaining the momentum that was developed under
Tony's leadership and to avoid creating an engineering leadership vacuum as
work continues on the satellite. The Engineering Team deserves to have the new
leadership identified in order to be in position to make the appropriate
engineering decisions.
AMSAT President Barry Baines, WD4ASW notes, "Jerry is well qualified to become
our new VP-Engineering. His overall knowledge of the Fox-1 program as Systems
Engineer under Tony Monteiro coupled with his professional experience in
managing complex technical projects will put AMSAT's engineering programs in
good hands. Just as important, his management experience and ability to lead
engineering teams is critical as our volunteers work hard to deliver the
satellite to Cal Poly later this year."
Jerry has been involved with the AMSAT Fox-1 Project as Systems Engineer since
September 2011. Recently retired following a 39 year career with Burlington
Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway, he spent the last 13 years of his career
working with the railroad's train dispatching systems. These systems are used
to control train traffic over approximately 32,000 miles of track, in a manner
similar to air traffic control. Jerry served as project manager as well as
participating in the design and development of safety-critical train
routing and
movement instruction systems, and positive train separation technology. He
successfully implemented several mission critical systems in his role as Senior
Manager, Network Control Systems and was awarded "Employee of the Year" along
with others involved in the Train Management and Dispatch System Project, in
2006.
Jerry became involved in amateur radio satellites with AO-7 and joined AMSAT in
April 1983. He currently holds an Extra Class License and is also
licensed in
Colombia, S.A. as HK5JY. An active amateur, Jerry was number 3 in
the world for
the number of telemetry frames copied from ARISSat-1. He is also active on
terrestrial HF through 1.2 GHz.
"My promotion to Vice President, Engineering is both a humbling honor and a
great challenge", notes Jerry. "Tony did much of the work and built an
excellent Team of hard working volunteers to design and build AMSAT-NA's first
CubeSat. I have every confidence that the Fox-1 Team will complete and deliver
a reliable satellite that will reflect well on Tony's legacy."
The March/April issue of AMSAT JOURNAL will have more information concerning
AMSAT's new VP-Engineering.
[ANS thanks AMSAT President Barry Baines, WD4ASW, for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Steve Coy, K8UD joins the AMSAT-NA Board of Directors
Steve Coy, K8UD of Beavercreek, OH has assumed the seat on the AMSAT Board of
Directors formerly held by Tony Monteiro, AA2TX. Steve was originally
elected by
the AMSAT membership as a Board 'alternate' in the 2013 BoD election and will
hold a voting seat through the next BoD election that takes place later this
summer.
[ANS thanks Martha at the AMSAT Office for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
ARTSAT Project INVADER satellite Receives an OSCAR Number
The following was received from Bill Tynan, W3XO, AMSAT-NA OSCAR Number
Administrator.
The ARTSAT Project, INVADER satellite meets all of the qualifications necessary
to receive an OSCAR number.
I therefore designate the ARTSAT Project INVADER satellite, Cubesat OSCAR-77 or
CO-77. Thus CO-77 joins
the earlier Japanese cubesats such as XI-IX(CO-57), XI-V(CO-58), Cute-I(CO-55),
SEEDS-II(CO-66).
Congratulations to you and the entire ARTSAT team for the launch and
operation of Amateur Radio satellite, CO-77. May its mission be a
successful one.
[ANS thanks Bill, W3XO, for the above information]
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AMSAT Awards
The following have entered into the Satellite Communicators Club for making
their first satellite QSO.
Alan Ehrenberg, N9EDV
Benjamin Gaston, KV4RH
Scott Medbury, KD5FBA
Doug Birky, KB8M
Richard Manderski, W2SKI
Eric Stapleton, VA7TU
The following have earned the AMSAT Communications Achievement Award.
Richard Manderski, W2SKI, #562
The following have earned the South Africa Satellite Communications
Achievement
Award.
Richard Manderski, W2SKI, #US190
To see all the awards visit http://www.amsat.org or
http://www.amsatnet.com/awards.html
ANS thanks Bruce, KK5DO, 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 addi-
tional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT
Office.
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 stu-
dent rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status.
Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership
information.
73,
This week's ANS Editor,
Lee McLamb, KU4OS
ku4os at amsat dot org
1
0
28 Mar '14
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-086.01
AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin - Tony Monteiro, AA2TX SK
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 086.01
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
March 27, 2014
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-086.01
Anthony "Tony" J. Monteiro, AA2TX (SK)
AMSAT VP-Engineering and Board Member Anthony J. Monteiro, AA2TX of
North Andover, MA died on Wednesday morning, March 26, 2014 while
hospitalized in Boston, MA from cancer. He was 55. He is survived
by his wife, Mary Lou and daughter, Veronica, a college freshman.
Tony was first licensed in 1973 as a Novice and subsequently held an
Extra Class Amateur Radio License. An avid operator, he described his
first contact in an AMSAT BoD Candidate's Statement in 2011: "I earned
my novice ticket in 1973 and made my first ham radio contact with a
transmitter made from parts out of an old TV set. A Heathkit HR-10B
receiver and a 65-foot piece of wire strung out of a window for an
antenna made up the rest of my station, which was pretty modest even
by 1973 standards! Even so, I will never forget the thrill of my very
first contact."
His interest in amateur radio and electronics led him to earn a BS
in Electrical Engineering from Drexel University and a MS in Com-
puter Science from Stanford University. His professional career
started at Bell Laboratories in New Jersey developing network man-
agement systems and then consumer products. After working at several
startup companies, Tony landed at Cisco Systems where he managed
the development of ADSL, voice over packet, and content networking
products. He retired from industry in 2002 and focused his efforts
working on satellite projects.
Tony joined AMSAT in 1994 and started working the satellites. He
earned ARRL VHF/UHF Century Club-Satellite #58 and worked 49 states
(only Hawaii was not logged) as well. Tony worked a number of stations
while he commuted along the I-495 corridor outside Boston. Many will
remember working him through AO-40 as he utilized his "cardboard
box horn antenna." Tony led a workshop at the 2003 AMSAT Space
Symposium where students built similar antennas, demonstrating the
ease in which one could build a 2.4 GHz S-band antenna to receive
the AO-40 downlink.
Additional technical contributions to the amateur satellite com-
munity that Tony made included "InstantTune Automatic Radio Tuning"
software, "A Simple Desense Filter for Echo", and several extremely
low cost projects such as "A $5 Mode V/S Adapter using a Sub-Harmonic
Mixer". AMSAT-UK currently offers a 70 CM Parasitic Lindenblad antenna
based upon his design.
Tony also played a significant role in space-based hardware develop-
ment. He collaborated on the NO-60 satellite. As AMSAT's VP-Engineer-
ing, he served as the software designer for the SDX (Software Defined
Transponder) on ARISSat-1/Kedr that was deployed from the Inter-
national Space Station by Russian Cosmonauts during a space walk in
August 2011. Tony led the Fox-1 Engineering Team from inception in
2009 and led AMSAT's efforts to apply for acceptance of Fox-1 in
the NASA Education Launch of NanoSat (ELaNA) in 2011 and Fox-1B in
2012. He established relationships with several universities to
secure scientific payloads for Fox-1 and Fox-1B, including student
experiments.
A strong proponent of student involvement in satellite projects,
Tony served as coordinator of AMSAT Engineering relationships with
SUNY-Binghamton, Penn State-Erie, Virginia Tech, and Rochester
Institute of Technology where students developed new technologies
to be applied in future AMSAT spacecraft as "Capstone" projects.
These projects, such as the development of storage capacitors to
replace batteries developed by SUNY-Binghamton, provided student
experiences that will ultimately be flown in space. The AMSAT
JOURNAL in recent years featured several articles concerning these
projects.
Tony was elected to the AMSAT Board of Directors in 2011 following
service for one year as a BoD alternate. Him wise counsel and focus
on finding ways to make it affordable for AMSAT to fly amateur radio
systems in space resulted in several innovative approaches. It was
Tony that convinced the NASA ELaNA program to modify their qualifi-
cation criteria to add "not for profits" to those that could apply
for launch grants. It was Tony that met with universities that were
looking for ways to fly their payloads but didn't have the experience
to build satellites, encouraging collaboration that would benefit
both AMSAT and the university.
Tony's approach to participation in the AMSAT Leadership Team reflect-
ed his approach to life. Whenever he had a thought to share with the
entire AMSAT Board of Directors and/or Senior Officers via e-mail, he
always started with "Dear Friends". As AMSAT VP-Operations Drew Glas-
brenner, KO4MA noted, "I always admired how he reminded me we were
all friends despite whatever argument was raging."
Arrangements for a service for Tony will be announced at a later
date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to
Radio Amateur Satellite Corp. (AMSAT), 850 Sligo Avenue, Suite 600,
Silver Spring, MD 20910.
Barry A. Baines, WD4ASW
President-Radio Amateur Satellite Corp. (AMSAT)
[ANS thanks AMSAT President Barry Baines, WD4ASW for the above
information]
/EX
1
0
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-061
ANS is a free, weekly, news and information service of AMSAT North
America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS 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.
Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to:
ans-editor(a)amsat.org
In this edition:
* ISS Amateur Radio CubeSats Deployed
* Successful launch of ham radio satellites
* LituanicaSAT-1 Lithuanian CubeSat
* LitSat-1 with linear transponder deployed
* ITF-1 CubeSat Team Request Reports
* AMSAT at the Dayton Hamvention -- First call for volunteers
* Free Online Course -- Space Systems Engineering 101
* Free NASA Online Course -- Teaching Tomorrow's Engineers
* Ham Video Commissioning now scheduled
* ARISS News
* Satellite Shorts From All Over
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-061.01
ANS-061 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 061.01
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
March 2, 2014
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-061.01
ISS Amateur Radio CubeSats Deployed
On Friday, February 28, 2014 at 0730 UT astronaut Koichi Wakata
KC5ZTA deployed a batch of amateur radio CubeSats from the
International Space Station (ISS).
LituanicaSAT-1, LitSat-1, ArduSat-2 (2U), UAPSAT and the 915 MHz
SkyCube were successfully ejected from a NanoRacks deployment pod.
At 0855 UT Dmitry Pashkov UB4UAD received the LituanicaSAT-1 beacon.
and received LitSat-1 at 1030 UT.
At 1022 UT Mike Rupprecht DK3WN received LitSat-1. Mike had heard
UAPSAT at 0845 UT.
The Peruvian Chasqui 1 CubeSat was also onboard the ISS. At the time
of writing it is unclear if this has also deployed.
Frequency information at
http://tinyurl.com/ANS-061-ISS-Cubes
UB4UAD website in Google English http://tinyurl.com/UB4UAD
DK3WN satellite blog http://www.dk3wn.info/p/
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Successful launch of ham radio satellites
On Thursday, February 27 at 1837 UT a cluster of Japanese amateur
radio satellites were launched from the Yoshinobu Launch Complex at
the Tanegashima Space Center
At 1948 UT Francisco Jimenez-Martin Sanchez EA1JM received the
437.325 CW (A1A) beacon from the ARTSAT1:INVADER CubeSat
Also on the first pass at 1952 UT Jan van Gils PE0SAT received
OPUSat
STARS-II (comprises Mother and Daughter satellites)
TelkyoSat-3
ShindaiSat-1
ARTSat1:INVADER
The student team that developed the ITF-1 CubeSat would appreciate
any reports of their satellite on 437.525 MHz FM Morse code, see
http://amsat-uk.org/2014/02/26/itf-1-cubesat-team-request-reports/
Frequencies and further information on these satellites is at
http://tinyurl.com/ANS-061-JapaneseHamSats
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information]
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LituanicaSAT-1 Lithuanian CubeSat
The amateur radio CubeSat LituanicaSAT-1, call sign LY5N, was
developed by Lithuanian university students and young engineers and
was deployed from the International Space Station (ISS) on
Friday, February 28.
The team ask radio amateurs and SWL’s to listen for the FM Morse
code beacon on 437.275 MHz after deployment and submit reports (see
Tracking below). They say there will be Mission emblem stickers with
signed QSL cards and for the first 10 registered reports,
LituanicaSAT-1 branded note books!
The tiny satellite is just 10x10x10 cm with a mass of 1.090 kg yet
it has a VGA camera and a 145/435 MHz FM voice transponder, designed
and built by Lithuanian radio amateurs.
The prototype of the FM repeater has been operating in the home of
its designer Žilvinas Batisa LY3H in Elektrenai, Lithuania. Further
information at http://ly3h.epalete.com/?p=303
The communications payload comprises:
• FM Morse Code Beacon 437.275 MHz LY5N
• FM Voice Repeater 145.950 MHz uplink (PL 67 Hz CTCSS) 435.180 MHz
downlink
• AX.25 Packet Radio 145.850 MHz uplink 437.550 MHz downlink 9600
baud FSK, FM
LituanicaSAT-1 uses passive magnetic attitude control system
consisting of permanent magnets that create a control torque and soft
magnets that provide dampening torque using hysteresis effect.
Following attitude sensors are implemented for attitude determination:
• PS-MPU-6000A MEMS motion sensor
• PS-MPU-9150A MEMS motion sensor
• L3GD20 MEMS three-axis digital output gyroscope
• HMC5883L three axes digital magnetometer
There are two computers in LituanicaSAT-1: the flight computer based
on ARM Cortex-M4F microcontroller and secondary (back-up) computer
based on Arduino ATMega 2560 microcontroller. These two computers and
their periphery are laid out on different sides of one shared PCB.
The flight computer is the central control unit of the satellite
responsible for maintaining the normal operating mode of the
satellite, monitoring and control of energy resources, control of
attitude determination sub-system and performance of telecommands
received from the satellite ground station in Lithuania.
The LituanicaSAT-1 team developed the secondary flight computer
based on the open source hardware and software project named Arduino.
This computer will ensure limited, however safe functionality of the
satellite in case of failure of the main onboard computer and will
also take and record the first pictures made by Lithuanians from
space as well as control the radio beacon of the satellite.
There are 4 monopole antennas on LituanicaSAT-1: three UHF antennas
and one VHF antenna. Each antenna is made of approx. 0.2 mm thick and
5 mm wide spring steel measurement tape. In deployed configuration,
all UHF antennas are pointed towards the Z+ body axis direction and
VHF antenna is pointed toward –Z body axis.
Tracking
In the days after deployment LituanicaSAT-1 will be very close to
the International Space Station (ISS). To determine when you’ll be
able to hear the 437.275 MHz FM Morse code beacon look at the
position of the ISS on either the ISS Fan Club website at
http://issfanclub.com/ or the N2YO satellite tracking site at
http://n2yo.com/ (tick the Draw footprint box).
Due to Doppler shift the beacon may appear to be +/- 10 kHz of the
nominal frequency. Submit reception reports including small audio
file or any other data online at http://www.kosmonautai.lt/en/data-
submission/
Links
• Web Google English http://tinyurl.com/KosmonautaiLituanicaSAT-1
• Wiki Google English http://tinyurl.com/WikiLituanicaSAT-1
• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Lituanicasat1
The LituanicaSAT-1 mission is specially dedicated to honor the 80th
Anniversary of the flight across the Atlantic by Lithuanian-American
pilots Steponas Darius and Stasys Girenas. Therefore the satellite
bears the name of the original aircraft used during this historic
flight – “Lituanica”.
On July 15, 1933, Steponas Darius and Stasys Girenas took off from
Floyd Bennett Field in New York in their airplane Lituanica and flew
across the Atlantic Ocean, covering a distance of 6,411 kilometers
without landing, in 37 hours and 11 minutes. Tragically they crashed
by the village of Kuhdamm, near Soldin, Germany just 650 km from
their destination of Kaunas in Lithuania.
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information]
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LitSat-1 with linear transponder deployed
The amateur radio CubeSat LitSat-1, call sign LY1LS, was deployed
from the International Space Station (ISS) on Friday, February 28 at
0730 UT. It carries a 435/145 MHz linear transponder for SSB/CW
communications.
The LitSat-1 team have issued this statement:
Our country Lithuania is heading towards a historic moment – start
of the first Lithuanian satellite in space. First ever Lithuanian
Cubesat Litsat1 was deployed from the International Space Station
(ISS) on Feb 28 at 07:30 UT from the International Space Station
(ISS).
We are very interested in getting the first data from our small
satellite as soon as possible, therefore we would like to ask your
help with that.
We will send special QSL cards for radio amateurs with first reports
about received signals from our satellite. The 3 stations first
received the signals from the LitSat1 satellite will receive QSL
cards signed by the High level officials of the Lithuanian government.
Please send your SWL reports (screen snapshots) with received packet
data of Litsat-1 beacon to Kaunas University of Technology Radio
Club. Contact point E-mail: address: litsat(a)ktu.lt
Please find below the technical data for the reception of Litsat 1:
Beacon/TLM down link 145.850 MHz
Beacon RF packets are AX.25 UI frames
https://www.tapr.org/pub_ax25.html Main parameters of the beacon
frames are: TX baud rate 9600 bps (G3RUH), repetition period ~4.5s,
beacon duration ~0.5 s, source call address – TNC, destination call
address – LY1LS.
Digital data: Telemetry
Digital communication with Litsat-1 is based on Helium 100 (HE-100)
transceiver.
The payload info field starts with the 2 header bytes “Bb”=0×4262
(Beacon broadcast), following with 2 bytes indicating further data
field length (should be 0×0087), then the sat status telemetry
structure (114 bytes) and finishing with the short text message (21
bytes).
For any other information you are very welcome to contact us:
litsat(a)ktu.lt
A linear transponder will be activated later.
Uplink 435.150 MHz LSB
Downlink 145.950 MHz USB
Bandwidth ±15 kHz from center
CW beacon 435.1375 MHz (LY1LS/B)
Normal mode – transponder, beacon OFF
73! Darius Kybartas LY3DA
Litsat-1 team
Kaunas University of Technology
Email: litsat(a)ktu.lt
LitSat-1 on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/palydovas
President Congratulates Lithuanian Amateur Radio CubeSat Builders
http://amsat-uk.org/2014/01/12/president-congratulates-amateur-radio-
cubesat-builders/
Two Lithuanian Amateur Radio CubeSats Plan 2013 Launch To ISS
http://amsat-uk.org/2013/06/26/two-lithuanian-cubesats/
The other Lithuanian CubeSat deployed from the ISS on
Friday is LituanicaSAT-1 which carries a 145/435 MHz FM transponder.
http://amsat-uk.org/2013/04/12/lituanicasat-1/
The two Lithuanian groups built the CubeSats in 2013 which was the
80th anniversary of the historic flight by Lithuanian pilots Steponas
Darius and Stasys Girenas in the airplane Lituanica. On July 15,
1933, they took off from Floyd Bennett Field in New York and flew
across the Atlantic Ocean, covering a distance of 6,411 kilometers
without landing, in 37 hours and 11 minutes. Tragically they crashed
by the village of Kuhdamm, near Soldin, Germany just 650 km from
their destination of Kaunas in Lithuania.
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information]
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ITF-1 CubeSat Team Request Reports
The amateur radio CubeSat ITF-1 (YUI) plans to launched from
Yoshinobu Launch Complex at the Tanegashima Space Center on Thursday,
February 27.
Toshihiro Kameda JJ3GRX reports: The data reception App for our
satellite ITF-1 (YUI) is now available at the Google Play Store. You
can find it with keyword “TSUMUGI” or “ITF-1?.
After deployment, the first path was right above western Europe from
7:20 pm on February 27 UT. It is before the path above Japan. We
strongly want to obtain reception data. Report via the Web Form is
greatly appreciated, but just e-mail “heard” would be very helpful.
The 1U CubeSat was built by students at the University of Tsukuba.
The formal name ITF-1 comes from the initial letter of the university
slogan “Imagine The Future”. The satellite also has a popular name
YUI which means “bond” in Japanese, it came from the project’s
concept‚ “Creating the Worldwide Human Community”.
ITF-1 has the callsign JQ1ZLO and the 437.525 MHz satellite beacon
will send telemetry by a Morse Code audio tone on an FM transmitter
running 300 milliwatts output.
The Project Manager is Ms. Ayano Okamura a fourth-year student of
the College of Engineering Systems‚ School of Science and Engineering.
Preliminary Keplerian Two Line Elements (TLEs) ‘Keps’
http://yui.kz.tsukuba.ac.jp/wordpress_yui_2/wp-
content/uploads/2014/02/ITF-1.txt
Detailed information is at
http://yui.kz.tsukuba.ac.jp/?page_id=1083&lang=en
Launch of Japanese amateur radio satellites
http://amsat-uk.org/2014/02/23/launch-of-japanese-amateur-radio-
satellites/
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information]
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AMSAT at the Dayton Hamvention -- First call for volunteers
Last year, we had 41 people assist with the AMSAT booth at the
Dayton. It was the efforts of those volunteers that made the 2013
Dayton Hamvention a success for AMSAT.
The interaction with AMSAT members, satellite operators, designers,
and builders makes the whole experience for participants a lot of fun.
The 2014 Hamvention is May 16-18. Would you consider helping AMSAT
at Dayton this year?
Whether you're available for only a couple of hours or if you can
spend the entire weekend with us, your help would be greatly
appreciated.
Please send an e-mail to Steve, n9ip at amsat dot org if you can help.
[ANS thanks Steve N9IP for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Free Online Course -- Space Systems Engineering 101
Space Systems Engineering 101, a new massive open online course from
NASA and the Saylor Foundation, launches on March 3, 2014. The
six-week general-audience course is free to the public and provides a
unique opportunity to learn from and alongside NASA's engineers.
Students who participate can earn a free certificate.
The course will feature lectures from NASA scientists and engineers
and Google Plus Hangouts with NASA personnel. Winners of an optional
project competition will receive a chance to tour NASA's Goddard Space
Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.
For more information and to register for the course, visit
http://www.saylor.org/2014/02/blog-announcement-space-systems-engineer
ing-course-starts-march-3rd/.
Questions about this opportunity should be directed to
http://www.saylor.org/feedback/
[ANS thanks NASA Education Express Message -- Feb. 20, 2014 for the
above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Free NASA Online Course -- Teaching Tomorrow's Engineers
NASA Educator Professional Development and the National Science
Teachers Association have joined forces to create and offer this
first-of-its-kind online course for middle school educators.
Participants can earn a certificate acknowledging 15 hours of effort.
Graduate credit is available for a fee.
Module 1: Introduction to the Engineering Design Process
Event Dates: March 26, March 31, April 7 and April 17, 2014
Module 2 (optional): Implementing the Engineering Design Process in
Your Classroom
Event Dates: April 21 and April 28, 2014
For more information about the course and to register online, visit
http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/online_courses/NEScourse.aspx.
Questions about this series opportunity should be directed to John
Entwistle at john.d.entwistle(a)nasa.gov.
[ANS thanks the NASA Education Express Message -- Feb. 27, 2014 for
the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Ham Video Commissioning now scheduled
The Ham Video transmitter, which is stored in the Columbus module of
the International Space Station, will be installed March 6, 2014. The
transmitter will be powered on briefly, just the time needed to check
that the connection cables to the antenna, to the power supply and to
the camera are installed properly. All control LEDs nominal, the
transmitter will be considered ready for Commissioning and will be
unpowered.
The first Commissioning step is planned March 8. Michael S. Hopkins
KF5LJG will power on the Ham Video transmitter in configuration 1:
ARISS antenna 41 Frequency 2.422 GHz Symbol rate 1.3 Ms/s The
transmission will start shortly before the pass of the ISS over the
Matera ground station in south Italy at approximately 13.29 UTC.
The ground station will stream the video over the BATC server
http://www.batc.tv/ .Please select Member Streams and ISS.
During the pass, different configurations will be tested with ARISS
antenna 41.
After the pass, the Ham Video transmitter will stay powered on in
configuration 1 till the following Commissioning step, which is
planned Sunday March 9, 2014 at approximately 12.40 UTC.
For about 24 hours, the DATV signal will be transmitted permanently,
but the camera will be powered off. The reason is, that the camera is
battery powered and no provisions are made for frequent battery
replacement. This mode is called "blank" transmission.
During Commissioning step 2, different configurations will again be
tested, this time with ARISS antenna 43. The Matera ground station
will stream the video over the BATC server.
Possibly, blank transmissions will occur in the period between
Commissioning step 2 and the following step, which is not yet
planned.
We will circulate Ham TV Bulletins to inform on blank transmissions.
Reports on reception of blank transmissions are very welcome.
Reports can be filed via this webpage:
http://www.spaceflightsoftware.com/ARISS_FSTV/submit.php
http://www.spaceflightsoftware.com/ARISS_FSTV/submit.php
Participants using the Tutioune receiving software, developed by
Jean Pierre Courjaud F6DZP, can record as well as stream detailed
parameters of the received signal. Please see:
http://www.vivadatv.org/ http://www.vivadatv.org/
Thank you for your participation
[ANS thanks Gaston ON4WF, Stefan VE4NSA and HamTV Bulletin #7 the
above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
ARISS News
Succesful Contacts
+ A Successful contact was made between Exploration Place, Wichita,
KS, USA, and Astronaut Koichi Wakata KC5ZTA using callsign NA1SS.
The contact began 2014-02-28 16:24:0418:04 UTC and lasted about nine
and a half minutes.
Contact was direct via WØSOE. ARISS Mentor was W5IU.
Exploration Place offers visitors of all ages interactive
environments, hands-on experiences, Kansas' largest domed theater -
the Boeing Dome Theater and Planetarium - imaginative spaces, and
outdoor recreation, all located on a 20-acre site along the scenic
Arkansas River in downtown Wichita, Kan. www.exploration.org .
www.facebook.com/ExplorationPlace . www.Twitter.com/DiscoverAtEP
Mueller Aerospace and Engineering Discovery Magnet Elementary is
located in Wichita, Kansas. Mueller became an aerospace and
engineering magnet in 2008 and received a federal grant in 2010 to
support the magnet themes with new curriculum, professional
development, supplies and technology for teaching aerospace and
engineering with a STEM emphasis. It is the only aerospace magnet in
the state of Kansas and the first school in Kansas to identify itself
as a STEM magnet school.
The Wichita Amateur Radio Club, Inc., established in December, 1932,
is organized as a 501c3 Non Profit corporation. Its objectives and
purposes are to encourage the public to recognize the value of the
amateur radio service and enhance the voluntary noncommercial
communication service by providing emergency and other useful
communication; extend every amateur operator's ability to contribute
to the advancement of the radio art; improve the service by advancing
skills in the communication and technical areas; expand the number of
trained operators and technicians in the amateur radio corp.; and
enhance international gook will through amateur radio.
For this ARISS event these three entities are came together to
provide a unique opportunity for the students to speak to astronauts
on board the ISS. The contact would not have been possible without
technical assistance from the Wichita Amateur Radio Club, Inc.
Exploration Place has worked with Mueller Elementary for several
years on projects and is excited to once again provide this
opportunity with support from NASA.
+ A Successful contact was made between Musashino Elementary School of
Hamura-shi, Hamura, Japan, and Astronaut Koichi Wakata KC5ZTA using
callsign NA1SS. The contact began 2014-03-01 08:14:19 UTC and lasted
about nine and a half minutes. Contact was direct via 8N1MA. ARISS
Mentor was 7M3TJZ.
Hamura city is located in about 45 kilometers to west from Tokyo-to
center, and is wrapped in naturalness around the Tama River.
The area is 9.91 square kilometers. The Tama River flows to the
south from the west of city, and it's learned about as a town with an
intake of the Tamagawa water supply excavated in the Edo Period.
The Musashino elementary school was founded in 1979 and 610 students
are on the register now.
Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule
Space experiments "about Gagarin FROM SPACE"
Centre Tourism and Youth Policy Ruzaevo Municipal District, Republic
of Mordovia, direct via UB3UAD
Contact is a go for 2014-03-02 10:24 UTC
Space experiments "about Gagarin FROM SPACE"
Center of Space Communications, St. Petersburg, who are winners
of the contest "Ask your question astronaut.",direct via RA1AJN
Contact is a go for 2014-03-03 09:33 UTC
Space experiments "about Gagarin FROM SPACE"
Secondary school ? 50 YA Gagarin Kursk, direct via RW3W
Contact is a go for 2014-03-03 11:09 UTC
Central Square Middle School Amateur Radio Club, Central Square, NY,
direct via KC2ILA
Contact is go for: Mon 2014-03-03 14:05:15 UTC
Rock Bridge Elementary School, Columbia, MO, direct via KMØR
Contact is a go for: Wed 2014-03-05 14:00:13 UTC
[ANS thanks ARISS, Charlie AJ9N and David AA4KN for the above
information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Satellite Shorts From All Over
+ ITF-1 information right after deployment requested.
JJ3GRX Toshi, project member of the satellite ITF-1 "YUI" launched
on Feb.27, reports "As you may know, we have not succeeded to
receive any signal from the satellite."
We are gathering the information especially before 1st reach to
Japan.
If you monitored 437.525MHz between 19:13 - 20:15 Feb.27 (UTC),
please report the information.
"Monitored the freq. but no signal" is now very precious
information for us. If it is the case for many stations, we must
consider the power supply problem.
Providing the information is greatly appreciated.
[ANS thanks Toshihiro KAMEDA, JJ3GRX for the above information]
+ Owen Garriott (W5LFL) will speak about his experiences on Skylab at
the National Air and Space Museum on March 13. Tickets are free but
must be reserved at
http://airandspace.si.edu/events/detail.cfm?id=9565
[ANS thanks Dan Schultz N8FGV for the above information]
+ CQ-DATV 9 (March) is now available for download from
http://www.cq-datv.mobi/ebooks.php.
+ Celebrating Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin's 80th Birthday
Keep an ear open during the entire month of March for Russian
special event station UE 80 HS.
This operation is being held to celebrate the 80th anniversary of
Russia's first astronaut Yuri Gagarin who was born on March 9th
1934.
Gagarin was the first human to journey into space when his Vostok
spacecraft completed an orbit of the Earth on April 12th, 1961.
If you work UE 80 HS, please QSL via RW 6 HS.
[ANS thanks the Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin for the above information]
+ Satellite Activation Planned From Isle of Lewis
Members of the Camb-Hams will once again be active as GS3PYE/p, but
this time from the Decca cottage, on the Isle of Lewis (IOSA OH01,
SCOTIA HI21, WLOTA 1477, Outer Hebrides, between April 26th and May
3rd. Activity will be on 80-10 meters using five stations on the
air, simultaneously, and all capable of running the legal power
limit from five amplifiers. Also, look them on 6m and 4m which has
a great take-off to the UK and Europe using the legal power limit.
With the success of EME in the past years, the group plans a 2m
and 23cm EME station with a focus on 23cm. There will also be
2m/70cm Satellite activity. QSL via M1ACB. For more information and
updates, visit:
http://dx.camb-hams.com
[ANS thanks Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 1152 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 addi-
tional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT
Office.
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 stu-
dent rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status.
Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership
information.
73,
This week's ANS Editor,
EMike McCardel, KC8YLD
kc8yld at amsat dot org
1
0
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-040
The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and infor-
mation service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite
Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space
including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur
Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building,
launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio
satellites.
The news feed on http://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.
In this edition:
* Ham radio CubeSat deployment postponed
* Ham TV Commissioning Postponed until March 8
* Satellites News from the Magazines
* Can Radio Hams receive NASA's ISSE-3/ICE ?
* Send Your Name to the Asteroid Bennu!
* Outernet - Shortwave radio from space
* FCC Seeks Comments on WR-2015 Draft Rcommendations
* ARISS News
* Satellite Shorts From All Over
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-040.01
ANS-040 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 040.01
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
DATE MMMM DDDD, YYYY
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-040.01
Ham radio CubeSat deployment postponed
The deployment of amateur radio CubeSats from the International
Space Station (ISS) planned for Thursday, February 6 has been
postponed.
NASA say:
Flight Engineer Koichi Wakata KC5ZTA spent his morning working in
the Japanese Kibo module to install a deployer mechanism that will be
used in concert with the Kibo robotic arm to "launch" the first set
of NanoRacks CubeSats. Wakata, who ran into some difficulty last week
installing an electronics box that would help control the deployment
of the mini-satellites, successfully installed that box after
troubleshooting an alignment issue. The deployment of the first
batch of CubeSats, which had originally been scheduled for this week
before being postponed following last week's installation issue, has
been postponed further to make sure that the CubeSats do not fall
into the intended orbit of the Global Precipitation Measurement
satellite launching later this month. The exact date of the CubeSat
deployment is still being evaluated.
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Ham Video Commissioning postponed
ESA postponed the Ham Video Commissioning to March 8.
Possible dates for the four Commissioning steps are March 8 (step
1), March 9 (step 2), and March 16 (step 3).
Step 3 could be turned into step 4.
These dates are all on the weekend.
With this agenda, we have just 1 week of blank transmissions.
The agenda is still to be finalized.
[ANS thanks Gaston ON4WF, via HamTV Bulletin #6 for the above
information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Satellites News from the Magazines
Steve Ford, WB8IMY, mentions Mineo Wakita's, JE9PEL, list of amateur
satellite frequencies in February's QST. Check it out on page 52.
Included are the links to the list on the web and to his Excel list.
Web Satlist: http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/satslist.htm
Excel Satlist: http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/satslist.xls
February issue of CQ is their QRP Edition. On pp. 54-59 see Mike
Herr's article "Satellites and the QRPer...or Don't Worry About
Sunspots".
The Department article "vhf plus", page 88, features a Teen led ISS
contact, Victor CO6CBF/KF5YXV acquiring his US Technician license,
FUncube, and Saying Hi to Juno
There are many other articles, that even though aren't specific to
Amateur Satellites, should be of interest for portable operators.
Note that CQ's three sister magazines "Popular Communications", "CQ
VHF", and "World Radio Online" have all merged into a digital
supplement to the digital CQ to be called "CQ Plus". If you subscribe
to one of these magazines your subscriptions will be transfered to CQ.
[ANS thanks QST and CQ for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Can Radio Hams receive NASA's ISSE-3/ICE ?
A post on the Planetary Society website wonders if radio amateurs
will be able to pick up the signal from the ISSE-3/ICE spacecraft as
it passes Earth
Emily Lakdawalla says: The International Sun-Earth Explorer (ISEE-
3), a spacecraft that was launched in 1978 to study Earth's
magnetosphere and repurposed in 1983 to study two comets. Renamed the
International Cometary Explorer (ICE), it has been in a heliocentric
orbit since then, traveling just slightly faster than Earth. It's
finally catching up to us from behind, and will return to Earth in
August, 2014.
It's still functioning, broadcasting a carrier signal that the Deep
Space Network successfully detected in 2008. Twelve of its 13
instruments were working when we last checked on its condition,
sometime prior to 1999.
The 36 year-old satellite is still apparently operational but it
appears that NASA can no longer send commands to it because the
transmitters to do so were removed in 1999.
Emily sums up:
So ISEE-3 will pass by us, ready to talk with us, but in the 30
years since it departed Earth we've lost the ability to speak its
language.
I wonder if ham radio operators will be able to pick up its carrier
signal - it's meaningless, I guess, but it feels like an honorable
thing to do, a kind of salute to the venerable ship as it passes by.
The satellite carries Redundant S-band transponders, each with 5
Watt RF output
Transponder A:
2090.66 MHz RHCP uplink, command or ranging
2270.40 MHz RHCP downlink, telemetry or ranging
Transponder B:
2041.95 MHz LHCP uplink, command
2217.50 MHz LHCP downlink, telemetry
Transmit antenna: medium gain with dual inputs for simultaneous
right and left hand circular polarization downlink, 8 rows of 4
elements, 7 dBi, ±6° beamwidth, multibeam, electronically steerable,
four lobe, omni directional coverage in azimuth
Receive antenna: 2042 MHz, intermediate gain, 1 row of 4 elements, 0
dBi, ±45° beamwidth
Read the Planetary Society post at
http://tinyurl.com/ANS040-emily-lakdawalla
ISSE-3/ICE Telecommunications Summary
http://mdkenny.customer.netspace.net.au/ISEE-3.pdf
[ANS thanks The Planetary Society via Southgate ARN for the above
information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Send Your Name to the Asteroid Bennu!
NASA is inviting people around the world to submit their names to be
etched on a microchip aboard a spacecraft headed to the asteroid Bennu
in 2016.
The "Messages to Bennu!" microchip will travel to the asteroid aboard
the Origins Spectral Interpretation Resource Identification Security
Regolith Explorer, or OSIRIS-REx, spacecraft. The robotic mission will
spend more than two years at the asteroid, which has a width of
approximately 1,760 feet (500 meters). The spacecraft will collect a
sample of Bennu's surface and return it to Earth in a sample return
capsule.
The deadline to submit names online is Sept. 30, 2014. Participants
who submit their names to the "Messages to Bennu!" campaign will be
able to print a certificate of appreciation to document their
involvement.
For more information and to submit your name, visit
http://planetary.org/bennu.
Participants who "follow" or "like" the mission on Facebook
(https://www.facebook.com/OSIRISREx) will receive updates on the
location of their names in space from launch time until the asteroid
samples return to Earth in 2023. Facebook fans also will receive
mission progress and late-breaking news through regular status
updates.
For more information about the OSIRIS-REx mission, visit
http://www.nasa.gov/osiris-rex and http://osiris-rex.lpl.arizona.edu.
Questions about this opportunity should be directed to
tps(a)planetary.org.
[ANS thanks NASA Education Express Message -- Feb. 6, 2014 for the
above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Outernet - Shortwave radio from space
Outernet is described as the modern version of shortwave radio
broadcast from space
It is planned that the Outernet will consist of a constellation of
hundreds of low-cost, CubeSats in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Each
satellite receives data streams from a network of ground stations and
transmits that data in a continuous loop until new content is
received.
In order to serve the widest possible global audience, the entire
constellation utilizes UDP-based multicasting over WiFi. Although
still not common, WiFi multicasting is a proven technology,
especially when the data requires only one hop to reach the recipient.
Outernet claims to be able to bypass censorship, ensure privacy, and
offer a universally-accessible information service at no cost to
global citizens.
They say lack of an Internet connection should not prevent anyone from
learning about current events, trending topics, and innovative ideas.
Although Outernet's near-term goal is to provide the entire world with
broadcast data, the long-term vision includes the addition of two-way
Internet access for everyone - for free.
The team hope to have the first test CubeSats launched in 2015.
http://tinyurl.com/ANS040-SpaceShortwave
Outernet
https://www.outernet.is/
[ANS thanks Southgate ARC for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
FCC Seeks Comments on WR-2015 Draft Rcommendations
The FCC has invited comments by February 18 on the latest batch of
draft recommendations of its Advisory Committee for World
Radiocommunication Conference 2015 (WRC-2015).
At its January 27 meeting, the Advisory Committee (WAC) approved
draft recommendations on a number of issues that will be considered
by WRC-2015. Some items, including one which could possibly lead to
changes to 60 meters in the long term, could affect the Amateur and
Amateur-Satellite services.
Of interest to the Amateur Radio Satellite community, WRC-2015 will
consider a number of issues that could impact amateur allocations
above 420 MHz, including a possible extension of the current
worldwide allocation to the Earth Exploration-Satellite service in
the band 9300 to 9900 MHz by up to 600 MHz "within the frequency
bands 8700 to 9300 MHz and/or 9900 to 10,500 MHz"
Incumbent services in the 9900 to 10,500 MHz range include the
Radiolocation, Fixed, Mobile, Amateur, and Amateur-Satellite services.
The Amateur Service is secondary at 10,000 to 10,500 MHz worldwide,
and the Amateur-Satellite Service is secondary at 10,450 to 10,500
MHz worldwide.
The FCC said comments provided by interested parties will assist it
in its consultations with the US Department of State and NTIA in the
development of US positions for WRC-2015. "The recommendations...may
evolve in the course of interagency discussions as we approach WRC-15
and, therefore, do not constitute a final US Government position on
any issue," the FCC Public Notice stressed.
Comments should reference IB Docket 04-286 and specific
recommendations by WAC document number. Interested parties may file
comments via the FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) at
http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/ . The ARRL plans to file comments in this
proceeding.
[ANS thanks Southgate ARN for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
ARISS News
Successful ARISS Contacts
+ A Successful contact was made between Takatsuki Dai 1 Junior High
School, Takatsuki, Osaka, Japan, and Astronaut Koichi Wakata KC5ZTA
using callsign NA1SS. The contact began 2014-02-08 09:11:01 UTC and
lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was direct via 8N3T.
ARISS Mentor was 7M3TJZ.
The Dai 1 Junior High School Area Education Council is the
organization where many organizations, such as a school, a local
resident, etc. of the Dai 1 Junior High School Division, have
participated.
The Dai 1 Junior High Schoolarea education council is in the center
of Takatsuki city.
A secretariat is located in the Dai 1 Junior High School.
The 10th anniversary of foundation will be celebrated this
year.Their reason for a ARISS contact was to give their children a
dream as a commemorative event.
The Dai 1 Junior High School opened April 22, 1947. It is the oldest
Junior High School in the Takatsuki city and has a long history. Its
centrally located and is next to the old castle foundation. There are
now 404 students in attendance. They all study hard abd pursue sports
actively.
Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule
Chuuou Elementary School, Toyoake, Japan, direct via 8N2TCES
Contact is a go for: Sun 2014-02-09 08:22:48 UTC
Escola Estadual "Gonçalves Dias" , Boa Vista, Brazil, direct via
PV8DX
Contact is a go for: Thu 2014-02-13 17:19:54 UTC
ITIS Giovanni Caramuel, Vigevano, Italy, telebridge via AH6NM
Contact is a go for: Sat 2014-02-15 10:11:54 UTC
[ANS thanks ARISS, Charlie AJ9N and David AA4KN for the above
information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Satellite Shorts From All Over
+ Nh6Y Operating as W1AW/KH6 for one week starting on February 5.
DX Newsletter DXNL 1870 - February 5, 2014
KH6, Hawaii:
Tom, NH6Y, is going to cover the satellite operations of
W1AW/KH6 for one week starting on February 5.
[ANS thanks DX Newsletter for the above information]
+ DC Area Technician Class
The Montgomery Amateur Radio Club has scheduled a free amateur radio
Technician class for six Saturday mornings starting March 1st. These
will be held at Montgomery College, in Rockville, MD. The schedule
and location can be found via
http://www.marcclub.org/mweb/exam_classes.html
We have a classroom, a schedule and instructors, but we need more
students at this time. Please spread the word to help us to get
students for this free class.
In addition, they have posted their scheduled public exam sessions.
The details are at
http://www.marcclub.org/mweb/exam_details.html
[ANS thanks David, W2LNX and AMSAT-DC for the above information]
+ Heavens-Above adds AO-73
Chris Peat, who runs Heavens-Above states that FUNcube-1 has been
added to the list of Amateur Satellites.
http://www.heavens-above.com/AmateurSats.aspx
[ANS thanks David G4DPZ for the above information]
+ Video: Deploying CubeSats from the Space Station
http://tinyurl.com/ANS040-DeployCubes
[ANS Thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information]
+ FUNcube Fitter Messages
A text file which contains ALL the Fitter Messages that have been
captured by groundstations can be downloaded using the link on the
Fitter Messages page on the FUNcube Warehouse at:
http://warehouse.funcube.org.uk/fitter.html
The process to generate this file is executed once per day at
midnight UTC.
The live page will show that Fitter Messages captured during the
past 7 days.
+ AMSAT at ARRL Centennial July 17
AMSAT will offer a day long session on the basics of Amateur
Satellites. The following is from the ARRL Centennial site.
https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/tab2.aspx?EventID=1248082
Amateur Satellites: The Basics - Barry Baines, WD4ASW
Since Amateurs heard the first transmissions of Sputnik and
OSCAR-1, they have asked, "How can I do that?" This daylong session
will provide best practices and helpful hints that will allow even
the modest station to be used to communicate with the amateur "birds
in space."
[ANS Thanks ARRL 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 addi-
tional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT
Office.
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 stu-
dent rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status.
Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership
information.
73,
This week's ANS Editor,
EMike McCardel, KC8YLD
kc8yld at amsat dot org
1
0
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-019
The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and infor-
mation service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite
Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space
including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur
Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building,
launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio
satellites.
The news feed on http://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.
In this edition:
* ARRL Features Bringing Space into the Classroom
* The Pragmatic Guide for Using the FUNCube Materials Science
Experiment in the Classroom
* SA AMSAT Invites Educational Payload Proposals
* PhoneSat 2.4 Ham Radio CubeSat
* UK CubeSat programme in New Electronics
* Peter Portanova W2JV To be Active on Satellites as W1AW/2
* Deorbitsail CubeSat
* 2014 Eastern VHF-UHF-Microwave Conference -- April 11-13
* FUNcube-1 in Practical Wireless Magazine
* ARISS News
* Satellite Shorts From All Over
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-019.01
ANS-019 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 019.01
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
DATE January 19, 2014
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-019.01
ARRL Features "Bringing Space into the Classroom"
Bringing space into the classroom is an incredibly powerful learning
experience for students. The marriage between wireless technology
literacy and space literacy is a strong one that produces a portfolio
of activities that can engage virtually all students at some ability
and interest level.
The portfolio of activities can range from simply having a satellite
prediction software package running in the back of the classroom on
an old, salvaged computer, a simple receiver to collect telemetry
data from orbiting satellites, to a full-up ground station to
communicate with other hams via satellites, or even with the
astronauts in the International Space Station through the ARISS
(Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) program.
New Resources for Classroom Instruction
For an overview of recent additions of classroom resources designed
to help teachers instruct students about research projects to be
launched by AMSAT on its Fox satellites, view a video of a
presentation by Mark Spencer, WA8SME at the 2013 AMSAT Symposium.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kl8HCBEGv4Q
This library is a collection of resources designed for teachers who
want to explore satellite communications with students. There are
also instructional resources designed for classroom exploration of
satellite telemetry data used to understand satellite engineering and
research deployed on satellites. The classroom resources are
manipulatives that can prepare students to understand and utilize
live telemetry data that can be captured from orbiting satellites.
The collection includes
+ Satellite Antenna Rotor Simulator
+ CubeSat Classroom Simulator
+ Study Satellite "Wobble" Using Telemetry Data
+ Managing Satellite Power: A Study in Maximum Power Point Tracking
+ MAREA: Mars Lander Simulation
+ Using FUNCube to do Materials Science in the Classroom
+ Studying Satellite Rotation
In the interest of supporting teachers who want to bring space into
the classroom by actively engaging students with amateur radio
satellite communications, the Education Technology Program has
developed some equipment resources designed with utility to support
ham radio satellite operations for classroom use.
+ Satellite Tracker Interface
+ ISS Minimalist Antenna
+ ISS Minimalist Antenna, UHF Version
+ Inexpensive Broadband Preamp for Satellite Work
+ Inexpensive “WRAPS” Rotor for Satellite Work
For more information visit
http://www.arrl.org/classroom-library-satellite-communications
This information nicely supplements other ARRL Educational
Information.
The ARRL Educational & Technology Program Curriculum Guide
http://www.arrl.org/curriculum-guide
Reports on classroom activities
http://www.arrl.org/reports-on-classroom-activities
Amateur Radio Curriculum Connections
http://www.arrl.org/curriculum-connections-and-benchmarks
and other articles and stories that describe the classroom
activities of students
http://www.arrl.org/articles-and-stories
[ANS thanks Debra Johnson K1DMJ and the ARRL for the above
information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
The Pragmatic Guide for Using the FUNCube Materials Science
Experiment in the Classroom
A guide to supplement the FUNCube Handbook
(http://funcube.org.uk/), produced by AMSAT-UK, has been authored to
provide some practical advice to interested hams and classroom
teachers on how to access and use the Materials Science Experiment
(MSE) on-board the satellite. "The Pragmatic Guide for Using the
FUNCube Materials Science Experiment in the Classroom" was prepared
by ARRL Education & Technology Program Director
Mark Spencer WA8SME
"The Guide" can be downloaded by visiting this web page on the ARRL
web site:
http://www.arrl.org/classroom-library-satellite-communications
On this page you will find the Guide and other useful information
that has been developed for teachers interested in using space
technology in their classrooms.
There are six chapters included in the Guide, this article provides
only a summary glimpse of the material. If this summary peaks your
interests, or you think the Guide may contain material that your club
or local teacher could use, take a closer look.
The first chapter of the Guide includes a brief overview of the MSE
and a basic refresher of thermodynamics. The primary mission of the
FUNCube is education and the MSE is the focus of that mission. There
are actually two different experiments included in the MSE, one using
the thermally isolated aluminum bars mounted on one of the satellite
faces, the other using four aluminum bars mounted as part of the
satellite body in the corners of the cube. The data collected by the
MSE is transmitted via a two-meter data link and decoded and
displayed by an AMSAT-UK software package called the Dashboard.
Collecting the data is only part of the education mission, the other
and more meaningful part is interpreting the data. Interpreting data
starts with a thermodynamics refresher. In the broadest terms,
thermodynamics is the study of how heat moves from one place to
another. The amount of heat energy that is absorbed by, or radiated
from, a material depends on material’s temperature, the temperature
of the surroundings, and the emissivity of the material. The purpose
of the FUNCube MSE is to allow students to witness heat transfer by
radiation first hand in an environment (space) where convection and
conduction are not present.
The second chapter discusses how to access the FUNCube telemetry
using a typical VHF all-mode receiver (the FUNCube Dongle (SDR) is
not covered in the Guide). A simple interface circuit between the
receiver audio and the sound card is illustrated. There is a lengthy
discussion of the minimum antenna required to receive usable FUNCube
telemetry data. It is suggested that a minimum of 50 frames of
telemetry data are required to develop a usable data set from
directly received telemetry. The performances of various simple
antennas, with and without preamps, are compared against this goal of
receiving 50 frames of telemetry data.
The third chapter presents an affordable Leslie’s Cube experiment
set up that you can duplicate. The Leslie’s Cube experiment allows
students to explore the concept of emissivity and how that property
affects the ability of a material to radiate heat energy (MSE is a
space borne equivalent of the Leslie’s Cube experiment).
Alternatively, the fourth chapter presents an inexpensive MSE In-
class Simulator experiment that can be easily and affordably
duplicated for demonstrating the thermodynamics of heat absorption.
The simulator uses simple aluminum bars that are coated with black
paint and shiny aluminum foil to simulate the MSE panel bars in the
FUNCube. Thermistors are mounted in the bars to measure the
temperatures of the bars as they are exposed to a heat source, and
then as they cool when the heat source is removed. By manipulating
the heat source (i.e., turning it on and off at different rates),
conditions on orbit can be simulated in the classroom and the
students can evaluate the results. This installment produced the
greatest surprise results of the whole Guide effort and proved to be
instrumental in interpreting the real FUNCube MSE data.
The fifth chapter presents a number of examples how to interpret the
MSE data, and this is the most important section of the Guide. There
is a disconnect between the whole-orbit-data that is received from
the FUNCube and what is expected when considering basic
thermodynamics. This disconnect is evaluated, discussed, and
speculated on at length in this section. Data generated from the
Leslie’s Cube presented in installment three, and from the MSE In-
class Simulator presented in installment four are used to speculate
about and try to explain the observed behavior of the MSE bars on-
orbit. The content of the fifth chapter will be controversial, but at
the same time thought provoking and could possibly stimulate a lot of
classroom discussion.
The final chapter simply presents additional ideas and explorations
that could be used in the classroom to take the FUNCube MSE to a
whole new, and unintended level.
On the ARRL web page where the Guide is located, you will also find
some additional material that might be of interest. For example,
there are some video clips and other graphic materials that you can
use to help explain how passive, fixed magnets are used in a cubesat
to align the Z-axis of the satellite along the lines of the Earth’s
magnetosphere to optimize antenna orientation toward Earth. These
visual aids might encourage students take a closer look at the
telemetry data from FUNCube to see if they can detect the effects of
these magnets in action.
“I know there is an ongoing discussion of the value of cubesat
telemetry when compared to transponder operations,” Spencer says.
“[Y]ou just might find that an occasional look at the telemetry will
help you better understand satellites and make you a better satellite
operator.” He goes on to state that the FUNcube MSE is “an
exceptional educational resource,” and he praised AMSAT-UK’s efforts.
“It’s now our turn to gain as much as we can from their efforts, and
I hope the Guide will help you get started.”
The guide can be directly downloaded at the following link
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/ETP/FUNCube%20Guide.pdf
[ANS thanks Mark Spencer WA8SME and the ARRL for the above
information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
SA AMSAT Invites Educational Payload Proposals
The South African Amateur Radio Satellite Association SA AMSAT is
inviting schools and universities to submit proposals for an education
project for inclusion in their CubeSat satellite current being
developed.
SA AMSAT is building a small satellite with a 20 kHz transponder to
offer amateur radio enthusiasts on the African continent an
opportunity to experience space communications. "We believe this is
an ideal opportunity to include an educational project that will be of
interest to learners to promote Science and Technology based
activities", Hannes Coetzee who leads the project said.
"Space is a magical subject and attracts the attention of many young
people even those who may not have shown an interest in science as a
subject at school or as a past time. Combining Amateur Radio with
Space doubles the attraction."
"While the satellite will carry a telemetry beacon which report on the
health of the satellite and provides interesting opportunities for
learners to acquire more knowledge about space, we believe that a
student designed project will add the additional magic."
Proposals for a project are invited from high Schools and
Universities. The most interesting proposal received will be
considered for inclusion in the satellite. The criteria for judging
includes originality and once operating from space the amount of
interest it is likely to draw from young people.
"It should also be noted that the project needs to be small enough to
fit in with the rest of the equipment of the 10x10x10 cm CubeSat and
draw as little as power as possible."
"I believe this an ideal opportunity for a school's science club to
take a project into space and to be able to monitor information about
their project included in the spacecraft telemetry string."
Proposals should be documented as comprehensively as possible and be
emailed to SA AMSAT at saamsat(a)intekom.co.za. The closing date for
proposals is 28 February 2014.
[ANS thanks SARL News in English for 1/18/2014 for the above
information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
PhoneSat 2.4 Ham Radio CubeSat
Jan Stupl provides an update on PhoneSat 2.4 which was part of the
ORS3 / Elana 4 launch from the Wallops Flight Facility on November
19, 2013
By now there are TLEs at space-track for all 29 objects of that
launch (NORAD ID 39380 – 39409), but only five of them have been
identified on space-track.
The PhoneSat team thinks that 39381 is theirs, but 39402, 39400 and
39397 are also (less likely) possibilities. Because the satellites
are still close, using the radio beacon for identification is
somewhat ambiguous. Getting more observations would be very helpful
for everybody on that launch.
You find all information about the 437.425 MHz PhoneSat 2.4 on the
phonesat.org website and people can submit received packets as well,
and comment which TLE they used. The latter is obviously important to
gain confidence on the assigned TLEs.
PhoneSat 2.4
http://www.phonesat.org/
Minotaur-1 ELaNa-4 Satellites
http://amsat-uk.org/satellites/elana-4-cubesats/
[ANS thanks Southgate ARN for the above information]
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UK CubeSat programme in New Electronics
"New Electronics" has a feature on the UK CubeSat programme and the
amateur radio UKube-1 satellite which it says should be launched from
Kazakhstan on March 27, 2014
The article says:
Caroline Harper is a programme manager at the UK Space Agency and
one programme that comes under her wing is UKube-1.
CubeSats can also have a role in education, as Harper pointed out.
“We have a payload called FUNCube, which will allow kids in schools
to download real housekeeping data from the spacecraft almost in real
time and to do their own experiments on that data. We hope that will
encourage interest in STEM subjects.”
FUNcube was developed entirely by volunteers at the amateur radio
organisation AMSAT-UK. TOPCAT, meanwhile, is a payload that will
measure the regions of space just beyond the Earth’s atmosphere – the
ionosphere and plasmasphere – in order to help GPS users by
monitoring and subsequently reacting to variable space weather
conditions that adversely affect the Global Positioning System. The
payload will consist of a specialised dual frequency GPS receiver
that is suitable for operation in the space environment. The
development has been led by a postgraduate at the University of Bath,
with support from Chronos Technology, RAL and MSSL.
Read the article at
http://tinyurl.com/ANS019-emerging-opportunities
In addition to the educational telemetry beacon the FUNcube boards
on UKube-1 will also provide a 435/145 MHz linear transponder for
SSB/CW communications.
UKube-1 communications subsystem:
• Telemetry downlink 145.840 MHz
• FUNcube subsystem beacon 145.915 MHz 1200 bps BPSK
• 400 mW inverting linear transponder for SSB and CW
- 435.080 -435.060 MHz Uplink
- 145.930 -145.950 MHz Downlink
• 2401.0 MHz S Band Downlink
• 437.425-437.525 MHz UKSEDS myPocketQub Downlink
March launch for UKube-1 and TechDemoSat-1
http://tinyurl.com/ANS019-UKube-1
The UK CubeSat Forum
http://amsat-uk.org/2013/12/19/announcing-the-uk-cubesat-forum/
[ANS thanks Southgate ARN for the above information]
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Peter Portanova W2JV To be Active on Satellites as W1AW/2
Peter Portanova W2JV will be active on all the amateur satellites
from 1/22 - 1/28 as W1AW/2 as part of the W1AW Portable Operations,
ARRL Centennial QSO Party
The ARRL Centennial "W1AW WAS" operations are taking place
throughout 2014 from each of the 50 states, relocating each Wednesday
(UTC) to a new pair of states (this week, Nebraska and Delaware.
Listen for W1AW/0 and W1AW/3). During 2014 W1AW will be on the air
from every state at least twice and from most US territories, and it
will be easy to work all states solely by contacting W1AW portable
operations.
[ANS thanks Peter W2JV former WB2OQQ for the above information]
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Deorbitsail CubeSat
Students and researchers at the Surrey Space Centre (SSC) in the
University of Surrey, Guilford, are developing the 3U CubeSat
Deorbitsail. It is planned to launch on a Dnepr rocket into a 600 km
Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
The aims of the mission are:
(1) Deploy a large (5-by-5-metre) square Kapton sail.
(2) Deorbitsail is equipped with 3-axis-stabilizing attitude
determination and control system. A novel capability of this system
is pointing via Centre-Of-Mass / Centre-Of-Pressure (COM/COP) offset.
(3) The satellite will deorbit much more quickly than otherwise due
to its deployable sail. Satellite pointing will be optimized by the
attitude control system for maximum drag.
(4) The satellite will provide beacons which radio amateurs will be
able to receive. The ISIS UHF/VHF radio will provide a 9600 bps BPSK
downlink on 145.975 MHz.
For further information read DeOrbitSail Nanosatellite Mission
http://tinyurl.com/ANS019-deorbitsail
DeorbitSail: A Spacecraft Mission to deploy sails in Space
http://www.athena-spu.gr/projects/DeOrbit
Kapton https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kapton
Deorbitsail: a deployable sail for de-orbiting by Olive R. Stohlman,
University of Surrey and Vaios Lappas, University of Surrey
http://arc.aiaa.org/doi/abs/10.2514/6.2013-1806
Inspection of a co-orbital solar sail using a microthruster attitude
control system
http://tinyurl.com/ANS019-microthruster-attitude
Open access to latest research output from Surrey Space Centre
http://amsat-uk.org/2013/06/19/open-access-to-ssc-research/
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information]
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2014 Eastern VHF-UHF-Microwave Conference -- April 11-13
The 40th Eastern VHF-UHF-MW Conference will be held the weekend
before Easter. The 2014 event will be held at the same hotel as it
was in 2013.
On-line Registration will be available very soon at:
http://www.newsvhf.com/vhfconf.html
40th ANNUAL EASTERN VHF/UHF/MICROWAVE CONFERENCE
Fri./Sat./Sun. April 11-12-13 2014
BAYMONT INN & SUITES,
20 Taylor St., Manchester, CT 06042
(just a few miles northeast of Hartford, CT off I-84, at Exit 63)
FRIDAY--6pm to ?--SUPER HOSPITALITY ROOM & INDOOR SWAP
SATURDAY--8am to 5pm--Presentations & Indoor Vendors
7pm-- BANQUET BUFFET, Tom Kirby Award Presentation,
Banquet Speaker, Trivia Quiz by Dave Olean K1WHS, Door Prizes
SUNDAY
8am--SWAP/TAILGATE in Parking Lot
The Baymont Room rates will be the same as last year
......Double $69.00, Suites $99.00
Registration $25 before April 1, $30 after April 1 and at the door
Banquet $28. Must order banquet before April 1.
On-line Registration will be available very soon at:
http://www.newsvhf.com/vhfconf.html
We are still looking for your interesting presentation!
Want to give a Presentation and/or have something for the Proceedings?
Please email Paul Wade, W1GHZ, W1GHZ at arrl dot net
Sponsored by: North East Weak Signal Group (NEWS)
Questions?
Email Mark, K1MAP: map1(a)mapinternet.com
or Contact one of the Conference Co-Chairs:
Mark K1MAP, (hospitality, hotel, swaps/vendors)
Ron, WZ1V, (registration, website, test session)
Paul, W1GHZ, (presentations, proceedings)
Check: www.newsvhf.com for updates--MORE TO COME!
[ANS thanks Eastern VHF/UHF Society and the North East Weak Signal
Group for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
FUNcube-1 in Practical Wireless Magazine
In the February issue of Practical Wireless, the Data Modes column,
written by Mike Richards G4WNC, devotes three pages to describing how
to receive the signals from the FUNcube-1 (AO-73) satellite
The World of VHF column by Tim Kirby G4VXE also covers FUNcube-1 and
what is believed to be the first contact between Cuba and the UK on
the FO-29 satellite. The contact took place on October 19, 2013
between Hector Martinez CO6CBF and Peter Atkins G4DOL.
It is understood that postal copies of Practical Wireless can be
purchased using a Debit or Credit card, by ringing +44 (0)1202 751611
Monday – Thursday 8.30am – 4.00pm.
Practical Wireless
http://www.pwpublishing.ltd.uk/?page_id=632
G4WNC Data Modes Yahoo Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/datamodes
[ANS thanks Southgate ARN for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
ARISS News
+ A Successful contact was made between Istituto Tecnico Industriale
"Galileo Ferraris", San Giovanni Valdarno, Italy and Astronaut
Koichi Wakata KC5ZTA using callsign IOR4ISS. The contact began
Wed 2014-01-08 12:21 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes.
Contact was direct via IQ5GX. ARISS Mentor was IKØWGF.
The Technical Institute "Galileo Ferraris" is active on the
territory of the Arno Valley since 1979 and has trained over the
years the engineers of the many industrial enterprises in the area.
The technical institute in fact offers a solid general education and
training of scientific and technical basis necessary for both a rapid
entry into the world of work and the professions and for the
continuation of studies at university . In particular, enables the
student to face the entrance test for the various scientific
disciplines . Its strength lies in teaching laboratory accompanied by
a solid theoretical and scientific .
Branches of study offered the institute is currently divided into
the following specializations:
o Electronics and electrical engineering.
o Chemistry, Materials and Biotechnology
o Data processing and telecommunications
The time is for all specializations of 32 hours per week , spread
over four days per week of five hours (from 8.10 am to 13.10) and two
days a week for six hours (from 8.10 am to 14.10 ).
The school is equipped with several laboratories and a large gym.
Among these, for the two years, we have the laboratories of
Physics, Chemistry, Drawing- CAD, Computer Science, for the three
years, Chemistry, Electronics, Electrical Engineering, Computer
Science, Mathematics, Technology Design and Planning, Automatic
Systems, Information systems .
In addition, the active school every year internships at companies
in the area and technical projects in cooperation with such companies.
+ A Successful contact was made between Zespól Szkól Technicznych,
Ostrów Wielkopolski, Poland and Astronaut Koichi Wakata KC5ZTA using
callsign OR4ISS. The contact began Wed 2014-01-08 10:43:57 UTC
and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was direct via
SP3POW. ARISS Mentors were SP3QFE and IN3GHZ.
The Centre of Technical Schools in Ostrów Wielkopolski is a school
which educates future electronics and mechatronics engineers,
computer scientists and renewable energy specialists.
Their school has been cooperating with Polish universities, electronic
and mechatronic industrial plants and schools in Germany and the UK,
which brings very good results. Thanks to the participation in the
ARISS program their school has partnered with the Space Research
Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw.
Their students participate in various forms of extra-curricular
activities which develop their passions and interests. As a result,
they have created many interesting electronic and mechatronic
devices. For example, some of the recent constructions include fpv
plane, a quadrocopter, a stratospheric balloon capsule, some amateur
radio equipment and many more.
Currently, the school has 800 students aged 16 - 19 years.
The Center of Technical Schools has invited its younger mates
(students 13 - 15 years old) from Junior High School No. 1 named of
Polish Nobel laureates in Ostrów Wielkopolski and 10 - 12 year-old
students from Pope John Paul II Primary School in Lamki so that they
all can participate in the ARISS program.
Preparations for the ARISS contact began in late 2011. A series of
amateur radio classes were carried out so that students could learn
the rules of work on the radio. It was a very interesting experience
to carry out radio communications through amateur radio satellites
and to take photos from NOAA satellites. In addition, we monitored
other radio signals from space. Most emotions were from the radio
contact with the ISS in the APRS system and from listening to ARISS
contacts of other schools in Poland and Europe.
The schools participating in the ARISS program organized a series of
events to promote various fields of science, particularly those that
are the most relevant for the development of astronautics.
+ A Successful contact was made between Berkeley Middle School,
Williamsburg, VA, USA and Astronaut Michael S. Hopkins KF5LJG using
callsign NA1SS. The contact began 2014-01-08 18:33 UTC and lasted
about nine and a half minutes. Contact was direct via K4RC. ARISS
Mentor was K4SQC.
Berkeley Middle School, Williamsburg, VA is one of three middle
schools. There are thirty-six core teachers, sixteen elective
teachers, a gifted and talented teacher, reading specialist, math
specialist, and ten special education teachers. Additionally, there
are three administrators, two school counselors, a Student
Advancement Coach, and media specialist along with support staff.
The student to teacher ratio is 28:1.
Uniquely, the school is one of two located in the City of
Williamsburg, serving students in the city and county. Over the past
few years, enrollment has steadily increased, which is a direct
reflection of the growth within the community. At the end of
September 2013, the enrollment was 913 with an even distribution
among its three grade levels (6-8). Berkeley's student population is
approximately 60 percent white, 30 percent black, and 10 percent
identify as other ethnicities such as American Indian, Asian,
Hispanic, etc. Nearly 30 percent of the student population receives
special education services, close to 20 percent are identified as
gifted and talented, and less than 5 percent identify as English
Language Learners (ELL). At Berkeley, 41 percent of the students
qualify for federal free or reduced lunch.
In partnership with parents and community members, Berkeley strives
to foster a safe, caring and supportive learning environment that: a)
knows its population, b) maintains a culture of continuous
improvement, c) maximizes learning time, and d) remains focused and
determined to close the achievement gap.
+ A Successful contact was made between Collège Les Gondoliers, La
Roche sur Yon, France and Astronaut Koichi Wakata KC5ZTA using
callsign OR4ISS. The contact began 2014-01-17 09:51 UTC and lasted
about nine and a half minutes. Contact was direct via F6KUF/p.
ARISS Mentor was F6ICS.
Les Gondoliers Secondary School, with its 500 pupils -aged 11-15- is
located in Vendée, 70 km south of the city of Nantes, where famous
Jules Verne author was born . At the end of the last year, the pupils
take an exam called "Diplôme National du Brevet". Their Astronomy Club
has resumed its activities this year with the objective to enter in
contact with the ISS. The starting point has been the visit of the
exhibition "Voyages planétaires" (Planetary spaceflights), in Nantes,
during the International Planetary Science Congress. Various
astronomy and amateur radio activities were organized, with the
help of members of the association of "radioamateurs of Vendée", who
came to their school to display their activities and provide students
with the tools that were necessary to get in contact with the ISS.
+ A Successful contact was made between Wallingford STEM
Academy/Town of Wallingford, Wallingford, CT, USA and Astronaut
Koichi Wakata KC5ZTA using callsign NA1SS. The contact began 2014-01-
18 15:18 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was
telebridged via K6DUE. ARISS Mentor was W2CYK.
Wallingford STEM Academy is a community based and family oriented
organization that excites students about science, technology,
engineering and mathematics. This program, previously known as the
Young Astronaut Club of Wallingford and founded in 2000, has been
providing STEM enrichment for students in grades 4 through 8 for over
thirteen years through Wallingford Youth and Social Services.
The Wallingford STEM Academy is a collaborative partnership between
the Spanish Community of Wallingford (SCOW), the Town of Wallingford
Youth and Social Services Department (WYSS), the Wallingford
Education Association (WEA). STEM Academy branches in Wallingford,
and Hamden, are the flagship programs for CEA's STEM Education
Initiative. They currently serve the Spanish Community of Wallingford
(SCOW) and the general population. 40% of their STEM Enrichment
Academy is comprised of students from the Spanish community and 40%
of our students are girls interested in STEM education. Their weekly
meetings are conducted at the Spanish Community of Wallingford Great
Room and in their STEM Education Classroom next to SCOW.
Since 2005, a companion project to Wallingford STEM Enrichment
Academy is the Wallingford Family Science and STEM Night Series. At
least twice a month, they organize and implement family oriented
Science and STEM Family Nights in Wallingford. These events range
from evening programs, daytime vacation programs, hands-on
investigations, assembly style programs, and night sky observations.
The purpose of this organization is to deepen student, and family,
understanding of STEM concepts as a compliment to an existing inquiry
based STEM curriculum in Wallingford. Their major funders for both
STEM Academy and Wallingford Family STEM Nights are the Wallingford
Rotary Club's Wallingford Foundation, 3M Charitable Contributions and
the Connecticut Education Association.
Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule
Marymount University (Fort Belvoir Elem.), Arlington, VA,
telebridge via W6SRJ
Contact is a go for: Fri 2014-01-24 15:06:04 UTC
[ANS thanks ARISS, Charlie AJ9N and David AA4KN for the above
information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Satellite Shorts From All Over
+ Cyber-security: Small satellite dish systems called ripe for hacking
Thousands of small satellite dish-based computer systems that
transmit often-sensitive data from far flung locations worldwide –
oil rigs, ships at sea, banks, and even power grid substations – are
at high risk of being hacked, including many in the United States, a
new cyber-security report has found.
Read the full Christian Science Monitor article at:
http://tinyurl.com/ANS019-cybersecurity
VSAT terminals are opened for targeted cyber attacks
http://intelcrawler.com/about/press05
[ANS thanks Stephen G7VFY and Southgate ARN for the above
information]
+ Japan to test 'magnetic net' that can fish out floating space junk
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Jaxa) is teaming up with a
company that manufactures fishing equipment to create a net that
will sweep the heavens of the man-made debris orbiting our planet.
See story at
http://tinyurl.com/ANS019-magnetic-net
[ANS thanks South China Morning Post for the above information]
+ SatMagazine January 2014 Edition features The Small Satellite
Surge... Note AMSAT's own Nick Pugh's picture on page 30.
SatMagazine is available online http://www.satmagazine.com/
+ January 2014 Edition of MilsatMagazine is now online
http://www.milsatmagazine.com/
+ Andy Thomas G0SJF describes lessons learned about using dashboard
software etc. from the perspective of an interested science teacher
using an AMSAT-UK FUNcube Dongle Software Defined Radio (SDR).
He says: For those of us about to receive the Kicksat Sprites (when
launched), and others using RTL dongles, the experience may be
useful.
https://sites.google.com/site/andythomasorg/funcube
[ANS thanks Andy G0SJC and AMSAT-UK for the above information]
+ January 432 and Above EME Newsletter
The January issue of the free amateur radio 432 MHz and Above EME
Newsletter is now available
The Word and PDF formats the newsletter can be downloaded from
http://www.nitehawk.com/rasmit/em70cm.html
Previous newsletters are at
http://www.nitehawk.com/rasmit/em70cm_arc.html
[ANS thanks Southgate ARN for the above information]
+ "Wake Up, Rosseta"
Want to be one of those who helps to "wake up" a sleeping
comet-chasing ESA space probe?? Well you can. See information
at link below:
http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/17/tech/rosetta-comet-chaser/
[ANS thanks Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF and ARNewsline 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 addi-
tional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT
Office.
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 stu-
dent rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status.
Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership
information.
73,
This week's ANS Editor,
EMike McCardel, KC8YLD
kc8yld at amsat dot org
1
0
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-363
The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and infor-
mation service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite
Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space
including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur
Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building,
launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio
satellites.
The news feed on http://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.
In this edition:
* FUNcube-1: One Month in Space
* CQ to Realign Publications, Launch New CQ Plus Digital Supplement
* Updated Dashboard Software now available for FUNcube
* FUNcube-1 High Resolution Graphs Available
* Popular Magazine Reports
* ISS ham video commissioning
* HamRadioNow: Low Cost Mobile APRS
* AMSAT-UK Announces Availability of the G0MRF 144 MHz Pre-amp Kit
* New Ham Radio Educational Video
* Star Comm Amateur Satellite Group Announces New "Got Grids? Award"
* Changes to FUNcube Data Warehouse Upload
* ARISS News
* Satellite Shorts From All Over
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-363.01
ANS-363 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 363.01
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
DATE December 29, 2013
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-363.01
FUNcube-1: One Month in Space
The FUNcube-1 (AO-73) spacecraft has now been in orbit and fully
operational for one month.
We are very happy and VERY grateful to all the stations who have
committed their time and effort into regularly receiving the
telemetry and uploading it to our Data Warehouse. We really want to
say a BIG THANK YOU and please keep it coming.
Dave G4DPZ is still busy refining the operation of the Warehouse and
is promising more features over the next few days/weeks. Further
updates to the Dashboard are also expected soon.
If anyone knows of potential additional stations that could be
established in some of the remoter parts of the globe we would be
grateful to have your ideas and introductions. “Simple” stations with
omnidirectional antennas, dongles and internet connected laptops
would be all that is needed.
We intend to keep the present operating schedule in place for the
time being whilst various on board parameters continue to be
characterized by the team.
The present low internal temperatures being experienced by the
spacecraft, at least in the northern hemisphere, are causing some
frequency shifting to take place – especially on the uplink
frequencies – roll on summer!
We are not yet 100% certain that Object 2013-066AE is FUNcube-1 but
it is looking the most likely candidate.
As the launch was more than 30 days ago, the record for this object
has now moved to the
http://celestrak.com/NORAD/elements/cubesat.txt
file and the object is now referred to as DNEPR OBJECT AE.
The page has been updated to match.
http://funcube.org.uk/working-documents/latest-two-line-elements/
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK and the FUNCube Team for the above information]
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CQ to Realign Publications, Launch New CQ Plus Digital Supplement
Hicksville, NY (December 23, 2013) -- CQ Communications, Inc. today
announced plans to realign its roster of publications and to launch
an exciting new online supplement to its flagship magazine, CQ
Amateur Radio.
"The hobby radio market is changing," said CQ Communications
President and Publisher Dick Ross, K2MGA, "and we are changing what
we do and how we do it in order to continue providing leadership to
all segments of the radio hobby." CQ Communications is currently the
only publisher in the United States serving the broad radio hobby,
from broadcast band DXing to amateur radio moonbounce and satellite
communications. CQ itself has been amateur radio's leading
independent voice for seven decades.
Effective with the February 2014 issue of CQ, said Ross, content
from the magazine's three sister publications, Popular
Communications, CQ VHF and WorldRadio Online, will be incorporated
into CQ's digital edition as a supplement to be called "CQ Plus."
With this change, hobby radio enthusiasts of all types will be able
to go to a single source - CQ - for articles on the broader aspects
of hobby radio, from shortwave listening and scanner monitoring to
personal two-way services and Internet radio, as well as amateur
radio. Richard Fisher, KI6SN, currently Editor of both Popular
Communications and WorldRadio Online, will be Editor of CQ Plus.
"Our primary audience is ham radio operators," explained Ross,
"but very few hams began their radio involvement as amateurs. Most of
us started out as shortwave listeners, broadcast band DXers, CBers or
scanning enthusiasts. Many continue to be involved in many different
aspects of the radio hobby in addition to amateur radio."
"By consolidating four specialized publications into one," Ross
continued, "we will be better able to keep these multidimensional
readers informed on all aspects of the radio hobby while
simultaneously exposing those who are not hams to all the excitement
and opportunities that amateur radio has to offer. We see this as a
win-win for all of our readers and our advertisers, who will now be
able to reach a wider and more diverse audience."
The expanded material will be an integral part of the digital
edition of CQ, and will be included as part of a standard digital
subscription. Each month's digital edition will simply continue
beyond where the print edition ends, offering supplemental material
on all aspects of hobby radio communication and will include selected
columns carried over from the other magazines. The added digital
content will make full use of the multimedia opportunities presented
by digital publications.
Current subscriptions to Popular Communications, CQ VHF and
WorldRadio Online will be converted to CQ subscriptions - and receive
CQ Plus at no additional charge! Details will be posted on each
magazine website.
There's no need to wait to see the great variety of articles
that will be featured each month in the new CQand CQ Plus. A preview
of the February issue's Table of Contents is available right now on
the CQ website at http://bit.ly/19mzbOK
[ANS thanks Richard A. Ross K2MGA for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Updated Dashboard Software now available for FUNcube
The FUNcube Team are pleased to announce the latest version of the
Dashboard Software.
Version 814 can be downloaded from
http://funcube.org.uk/working-documents/funcube-telemetry-dashboard/
We thank everyone for their interest and reports of the success of
FUNcube-1 (AO-73) and we look forward to continued operations.
Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK and the FUNCube Team for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
FUNcube-1 High Resolution Graphs Available
There is now a facility to view the latest FUNcube-1 (AO-73) High
Resolution Data uploaded to the Data Warehouse. The link can be found
in the Navigation Bar on the warehouse.
Following on from this will be making Hi-Res data available to
download via .csv files, in a similar way we do for Whole Orbit Data.
Watch this space.
Dashboard App – Telemetry Decoder
http://funcube.org.uk/working-documents/funcube-telemetry-dashboard/
Data Warehouse – Telemetry Archive
https://warehouse.funcube.org.uk/
Satellite Tracking Apps
http://amsat-uk.org/beginners/satellite-tracking/
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK and the FUNCube Team for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Popular Magazine Reports
+ World Radio Online December 2013
Terry Doud's N8KI Amateur Satellites Department article covers
Digital ATV aboard the ISS, as well as SSTV. Other tidbits include
getting off center on the transponder satllites, FUNCube and finding
your Satellite MoJo. He ends his article with a thank you to the
"tireless editors of the AMSAT News Service". On behalf of Lee, Joe
and myself, you are welcome, Terry.
+ CQ December 2013
This is CQ's Technology Issue edition. VHF Plus Department covers
"lunar Dust Experiment Under Way." It also reports on Three
Satellites of Amateur Radio Interest Launche from Vandenberg AFB
September 29. Other articles of interest are two on Maker's Fairs and
in their Technology Special "Inexpensive Four-Wire Measurments for
the Radio Amateur by Gary Geissinger WA0SPM/AAR8GI om measuring high
currents and low resistance without a fancy (and expensive)
instrument.
+ QST January 2014
Read WRAPS: A Portable Satellite Antanna Rotator System by Mark
Spencer WA8SME (page 43). Mark presented on WRAPS at the Symposium
this past November. See W7LRD's "Antenna for the Birds on page 20.
Also find hints on surface mount soldering (pg 67), using modern SDR
tools to boost you weak signal work (pg 65).
[ANS thanks the respective Publications for the above information]
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ISS ham video commissioning
As announced August 21, 2013 the Ham Video transmitter is onboard
the International Space Station and stored in the Columbus module.
September 10, 2013 we informed about the Experiment Sequences Test
(EST) and the Simulations performed by the European Space Agency in
collaboration with ARISS.
September 20, 2013 we announced the Ham Video Launch Campaign and
described a simple station for Ham Video reception.
The Commissioning of the Ham Video transmitter needs to cover
different configurations involving 2 antennas, 4 frequencies and 2
symbol rates. As announced earlier, the signals transmitted during
the Commissioning steps will be received by the Matera ground
station, located in south Italy (see HamTV Bulletin #2).
Moreover, during the Commissioning period, the Ham Video transmitter
will transmit permanently for several days (weeks). This will allow
ground stations to test their equipment and to provide useful
information concerning the efficiency of the transmitter.
For these transmissions, no camera will be used. The so-called
“blank” transmissions will nevertheless provide a complete DVB-S
signal, as described hereafter.
We hoped that the Commissioning of the Ham Video transmitter would
be planned October 2013. It appeared that the “Flight Rules”
regarding ARISS activities, which cover VHF and UHF transmissions,
needed to be updated for S-band. Writing Flight Rules and having them
verified, accepted and signed by all parties involved is a process
that takes time. ARISS matters have low priority among the countless
activities that populate the International Space Station. Unforeseen
events, such as the recent failing of a cooling system, evidently
cause further delay.
Finally, the January - February 2014 time frame seems a reasonable
guess for the Ham Video Commissioning.
HamTV Bulletins are available at www.ariss-eu.org
See left side column : HamTV Bulletin 4 (with annexes)
[ANS thanks Gaston Bertels, ON4WF, ARISS-Europe chairman and
Southgate ARN for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
HamRadioNow: Low Cost Mobile APRS
Episode 114 of HamRadioNow covers the Raspberry Pi Applications in
Digital Communications presentation given at the TAPR-ARRL Digital
Communications Conference
>From the ARRL and TAPR 2013 DCC. John Hansen W2FS brings something
interesting every year. This year he built an APRS mobile complete
with map display for $1. OK, a little more than that. But a lot less
than, say, a Kenwood D710 with an AVMap (nice as that would be).
HamRadioNow Episode 114 from the DCC: RazPi + Xastir = APRS Mobile
Ham Radio Now http://HamRadioNow.tv/
APRS http://www.aprs.org/
[ANS thanks Southgate ARN for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
AMSAT-UK Announces Availability of the G0MRF 144 MHz Pre-amp Kit
The G0MRF 144 MHz filtered pre-amp kitThe kit from AMSAT-UK contains
all the parts and hardware necessary to build the G0MRF 2m filtered
preamplifier. With all the nuts and washers and mounting hardware,
there are over 60 individual parts to this project.
The connectors supplied are a high quality PTFE insulated reduced
flange Ntype for the connection to the antenna and a chassis mounted
female BNC for the RF output to the receiver, this also carries the 5
V DC input from a FUNcube dongle or the DC supply from an external
bias tee or radio.
Links to the Measurement Report and Construction Notes are posted on
the AMSAT-UK web:
http://amsat-uk.org/info/g0mrf-144-mhz-pre-amp-kit/
Buy the 144 MHz pre-amp kit from the AMSAT-UK shop at
http://shop.amsat.org.uk/shop/category_11/G0MRF-Filtered-PreAmps.html
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
New Ham Radio Educational Video
(This excellent video covers all aspects of amateur radio and also
includes examples of amateur radio in space and ARISS. - Ed.)
Amateurs interested in spreading the good word about their hobby now
have a new tool. A video entitled "Discovering Amateur radio" has just
been released.
Written and narrated by David Anderson, K1AN, the production describes
an extraordinary technology that in just 100 years has transformed our
lives in, as Anderson says, "the most amazing ways."
Available in a condensed version as well as a half hour program, the
well-paced video can be viewed on line or used in group presentations.
The producers say it was created for anyone who wishes to encourage
youths and adults to discover amateur radio.
The production is one of many educational programs administered under
the auspices of
UNESCO, the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural
Organization through partnership with the World Genesis Foundation.
"Discovering Amateur Radio" is on the project website at
www.radioqrv.com.
[ANS thanks Amateur Radio Newsline for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Star Comm Amateur Satellite Group Announces New "Got Grids? Award"
Effective January 1, 2014 your CW/SSB amateur satellite contacts
can be used to earn the new Got Grids? award. To qualify you must
log one contact in each of the 10 grid fields of the lower 48
United States: CN, CM, DN, DM, DL, EN, EM, EL, FN, FM. Only two-way
contacts completed via a linear transponder satellite can be used
for this award. This award will be effective January 1, 2014, all
contacts must be made on or after this date.
Send your log to Rick Tillman, WA4NVM or Damon Runion, WA4HFN for
checking, along with your call, name, and current mailing address
to either: wa4nvm(a)comcast.net or wa4hfn(a)comcast.net. This award is
sponsored by the Star Comm Satellite Group so do not send your logs
to AMSAT.
An example of the award certificate is available on-line at:
http://www.starcommgroup.org, then check the awards tab.
This award is free. If you would like to make a donations to the
AMSAT satellite program please send it to:
AMSAT, 850 Sligo Ave. Suite 600, Silver Spring. MD. 20910.
[ANS thanks Damon Runion, WA4HFN for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Changes to FUNcube Data Warehouse Upload
We are extremely grateful to all the groups and individuals who have
uploaded FUNcube-1 (AO-73) data to the warehouse and the totals on
the upload ranking page are quite amazing.
Since launch we have been monitoring the service which receives,
processes and stores that data and now are about to make some changes
to it to improve it performance and reliability.
The first change is to introduce an acceptance time window for
packets uploaded from the Dashboard. This restricts packets to those
whose sequence numbers are within +/- 48 hours of the latest sequence
number stored in the Data Warehouse. We are doing this for two
reasons:
We have received erroneous packets whose sequence numbers are
significantly different to the latest value. To reduce the chance of
double scoring of points when we release stored data back to the user
community
The second change, which will not affect normal operation but will
improve scoring:
We currently process packets immediately they arrive at the server.
Under load, this can cause us to lose a few packet scores because of
contention in the database. To alleviate this problem, we are going
to change the processing slightly to process packets through a
buffer. This buffer will be processed every 5 seconds, so there will
be a slight delay before packets are acknowledged on the ranking.
73 Dave, G4DPZ
Dashboard App – Telemetry Decoder http://funcube.org.uk/working-
documents/funcube-telemetry-dashboard/
[ANS thanks Dave, G4DPZ, AMSAT-UK, and the FUNCube Team for the
above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
ARISS News
+ A Successful contact was made between Scouting Burgemeester
Welschen Meerhove, Eindhoven, The Netherlands and Astronaut Koichi
Wakata KC5ZTA using callsign OR4ISS. The contact began 2013-12-28
13:08:43 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was
direct via PE6SBW. ARISS Mentor was PE1KEH.
Scouting Meerhoven was set up in 2003. Their first official turnout
was 10 years ago during the JOTA JOTI. During the last 10 years they
have had several activities which were connected with transmitting
(each year during the JOTA JOTI) and also with technic, air and space
travel, as their scouts cabin is near Eindhoven airport.
Now, 10 years on, they celebrate our Jubilee. One of their Lustrum
activities is the JOTA JOTI, by which they use FM frequency. For a
whole weekend the scouting room was transformed to a real radio
station. The broadcasts’ are made by their youth and staff members.
In the framework of the Jubilee they made a request to NASA, to have
radio contact with one of the astronauts from the ISS. They are very
supportive of space travel and during the preparation period they
engaged in a couple of activities to get ready for a contact with
ISS.
The Friday evening group (cubs and scouts) visited an observatory,
made rockets from lemonade bottles and fired them off. The room of
the beavers was transformed to a cosmos with rockets and planets. The
scouts made these themselves. The Saturday group (cubs and scouts)
built an ISS station. During the past weeks their activities were all
in the light of space travel. The groups goal was that the children
will make their acquaintance with the JOTA JOTI (transmission) as
well as space travel.
Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule
Ritsumeikan Moriyama Junior High School, Moriyama, Japan, direct via
8N3RM Contact is a go for: Sun 2013-12-29 09:30:37 UTC
[ANS thanks ARISS, Charlie AJ9N and David AA4KN for the above
information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Satellite Shorts From All Over
+ ARISS has rolled out their new web presence...
http://www.ariss.org/
(Source Debra Johnson, K1DMJ, ARRL Education Services Manager)
+ EA, SPAIN (Satellites). Mark, N8MH, will be active as EA4/N8MH
from Madrid (WW Loc. IN80) between December 24th and January 2nd,
while on a family holiday. It is possible that he will be active on
FO-29, VO-52, AO-73, SO-50, and AO-7 (?) satellites. He states,"
This is a very low priority part of the trip, and I can't predict
when I'll be able to get on the air (limitations of being in the city
with poor view to sky, etc.). But I am going to try at least a few
passes one way or another! .... My station will be very simple--FT-
817, Elk antenna, and a hand mic. Working half-duplex on the SSB
birds will be very challenging for me! I am spoiled by fully
automated station operations."
(Source Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 1142)
+ Ham Radio Industry Changes
- DaySaver Power Systems is in merger with Elk Antennas. Elk will
continue to offer DaySaver Power Systems products. The merger enables
Elk to expand its products for emergency communications and remote or
portable operating.
- DX Engineering is now the sole distributir of Hi-Z Antenna
Products.
- Small Wonder Labs, a QRP kit-maker has ceased operation.
(Source CQ magazine December 2013)
+Request for Announcements and Articles
Are you putting on a Demo, Representating AMSAT at a Hamfest or
Convention, Reaching out to Schools, Scouts Youth Groups, Putting on
a satellite related Special Events Station, Supporting a Kid's Day
Event? PLEASE, LET US KNOW.
ANS will be glad to promote your efforts in advance and to report
your successes after the fact. To meet our publication deadline, in a
timely fashion, please forward your announcements at least 10 days in
advance of your event. Typically before the Thursday before the
Sunday we
publish - the week before your event.
Forward your announcement and reports to
ans-editor at amsat dot org
(Source, The ANS Editors)
+ AMSAT Coordinator for Georgia, John Kludt, K4SQC, will be
representing AMSAT at TechFest in Lawrenceville GA on Saturday,
January 11, 2014. Make sure you stop by, or even better, contact
John and offer to lend a hand.
(Source John K4SQC)
+ SkySat-1 satellite sends first HD video
Skybox Imaging was founded in 2009 by radio amateur Julian Mann
KI6OSO along with Ching-Yu Hu, Dan Berkenstock and John Fenwick.
Many of the Skybox Imaging executives worked on CubeSat projects
while students at Stanford University under Professor Bob Twiggs
KE6QMD.
SkySat-1, the first in a planned constellation of 24
microsatellites, was launched on a Dnepr from Dombarovsky near Yasny
on November 21, 2013. It is believed to be the smallest satellite
ever flown that is capable of capturing imagery at better than 1
meter resolution and the 1080p HD camera can capture up to 90 second
video clips at 30 frames per second.
See a preview at http://www.firstimagery.skybox.com/
Skybox Imaging http://www.skyboximaging.com/
(Source AMSAT-UK)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
/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 addi-
tional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT
Office.
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 stu-
dent rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status.
Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership
information.
73,
This week's ANS Editor,
EMike McCardel, KC8YLD
kc8yld at amsat dot org
1
0
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-356
The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and infor-
mation service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite
Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space
including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur
Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building,
launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio
satellites.
The news feed on http://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.
In this edition:
* Saudisat 1C, SO-50, Eleven Years in Orbit
* NASA Space Life Sciences Training Program Applications Open
* ISS Cooling Pump Repair Delays Cubesat Missions
* Delfi-N3XT Update
* AMSAT SKN on OSCAR 2014 in Memory of W2LV
* Satellite Shorts
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-356.01
ANS-356 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 356.01
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
December 22, 2013
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-356.01
Saudisat 1C, SO-50, Eleven Years in Orbit
Now known as SO-50, Saudisat 1C is a Saudi Arabian picosatellite that
was launched by a Dnepr rocket from Baikonur at 17:00 UT on December 20,
2002. SO-50 features a "Mode J" FM amateur repeater operating on a 2M
uplink and a 440 downlink.
"Most hams already own the necessary equipment to work SO-50," reports
long time AMSAT Area Coordinator Clint Bradford, K6LCS.
"It is preferable to work SO-50 in true, full-duplex mode - so you
can hear the
downlink as you transmit. This means - for most - using a second radio or
the Kenwood TH-D72A and its true full-duplex capability.
SO-50's repeater is available to amateurs worldwide, and it uses a 67.0 Hertz
PL tone on the uplink. SO-50 also has a 10 minute timer that must be armed
before use. If you know the satellite is there - but there is nothing heard -
you may need to shoot it a PL tone of 74.4 to turn it ON!
The repeater consists of a miniature VHF receiver with sensitivity of -124dBm,
with an IF bandwidth of 15 KHz. The receive antenna is a 1/4 wave vertical
mounted in the top corner of the spacecraft. Its UHF transmitter is a mere 250
mW, and downlink antenna is a 1/4 wave mounted in the bottom corner of the
spacecraft and canted at 45 degrees inward.
"Hams just with Technician licenses can work the satellite," Clint continues.
"We are talking about weak signals from 500 miles away - so improving
both your
TX and RX antennas is critical for success on this satellite."
"Do not forget to accommodate for the Doppler phenomenon on the 440 receive
side."
[ANS thanks Clint, K6LCS, for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
NASA Space Life Sciences Training Program Applications Open
The Space Life Sciences Training Program (SLSTP) provides undergraduate
students entering their junior or senior years with professional experience
in space life science disciplines. This challenging ten-week summer program
is held at NASA's Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley. The
primary goal of the program is to train the next generation of scientists
and engineers, enabling NASA to meet future research and development
challenges in the space life sciences.
For more information, visit: http://spacebiosciences.arc.nasa.gov/slstp
The SLSTP is an equal opportunity program. Admission is by competitive
application process. U.S. Citizen undergraduate students who maintain a 3.2
or higher grade point average are invited to apply. Past student
participants were selected for their merit, passion for space and desire to
study space life science.
Applications for the SLSTP will be submitted through NASA's One Stop
Shopping Initiative (OSSI) website. Prospective applicants must pre-register
for a student account and create an interest profile on the OSSI student
login page. Links to the OSSI website are included on the SLSTP page
(above).
Although the application period for summer 2014 student internships closes
on March 15, 2014, offers for positions may be made as early as Feb. 2,
2014. Students are encouraged to submit their applications early. Details
about the 2014 SLSTP internship opportunities will be posted on the SLSTP
website in December.
[ANS thanks the NASA Ames Research Center for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
ISS Cooling Pump Repair Delays Cubesat Missions
The ARRL reports Expedition 38 Astronauts Mike Hopkins, KF5LJG, and Rick
Mastracchio, KC5ZTE, will leave the confines of the International Space Station
(ISS) December 21, 23, and 25 to repair a faulty cooling system pump.
The malfunction has already caused the postponement of one Amateur Radio on the
International Space Station (ARISS) school contact. It's unclear if the ISS
problem will affect additional ARISS school contacts.
Planet Labs CubeSat Constellation
Also postponed is the shipment of four amateur radio 1U CubeSats
LituanicaSAT-1,
LitSat-1, ArduSat-2, UAPSat-1, the 915 MHz CubeSat SkyCube and 28 CubeSats (3U)
from the company Planet Labs. The CubeSats were to have been sent to the ISS on
an Orbital Sciences Antares-120 rocket on December 18 but this launch will not
now take place until January.
LituanicaSAT-1 with amateur radio FM transponder to deploy from ISS
http://amsat-uk.org/2013/04/12/lituanicasat-1/
LitSat-1 amateur radio frequencies announced
http://amsat-uk.org/2013/09/11/litsat-1-amateur-radio-frequencies-announced/
ArduSat Open Source Ham Radio CubeSats
http://amsat-uk.org/2013/08/09/ardusat-open-source-ham-radio-cubesats/
UAPSat-1 http://www.amsatuk.me.uk/iaru/finished_detail.php?serialnum=210
SkyCube to use 915 MHz CubeSat Ground Station Network
http://amsat-uk.org/2012/08/25/skycube-to-use-915-mhz-cubesat-ground-statio…
network/
In the United States and a number of other countries 915 MHz is an
Amateur Radio
allocation. In the UK the regulator Ofcom plan to make 915-921 MHz license
exempt http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/short-range-devices/
[ANS thanks ARRLL and AMSAT-UK for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Delfi-N3XT Update
Delfi Nanosatellite Program Manager, Jasper Bouwmeester PC4JB, provides this
update on the Delfi-n3Xt amateur radio satellite which was launched November 21
and carries a 435/145 MHz linear transponder.
Dear radio amateurs,
Today, December 19, we have switched from the ISIS transmitter (ITRX) to the
Primary Transmitter (PTRX). This radio seems to have a significantly stronger
signal, so it should be easier to receive telemetry. The frequency is a bit
higher, 145.930 MHz so you will have to retune. I hope this will help some of
the radio amateurs who had trouble in decoding Delfi-n3Xt.
We have also put the S-band transmitter (STX) back in beacon mode on 2405.000
MHz. As the onboard patch antenna is however pointing in arbitrary
direction, it
is a matter of luck if it is pointed towards a ground station. In about 10% of
the passes it should in theory be possible to receive the signal with a >2.5m
dish, but I have to admit that it is only going to be fun to try to receive the
signal for those people who like to be the first and have the proper equipment.
Unfortunately we have not yet been able to make a new update of the
DUDe client.
The first issue we want to tackle for the new version is the frequency freeze.
After a while, DUDe seems to lock itself at an edge of the band. Currently this
means, that DUDe needs to be restarted before a pass. As temporary solution in
case you want to track the satellite automatically, you may use an auto-mouse
clicker to close and re-open DUDe. But I hope we will be able to fix this issue
early next year.
Finally, I would like to state that you may replay your SDR recordings a few
times to increase packet decoding as our server can handle more load. Our
statistics page however currently does not exclude doubles from a single radio
amateur, so please keep in mind that the packet counts for the
competition (more
details early next year) will eventually be corrected for this. It will take a
while though before we upgrade the statistics to exclude doubles from a single
radio amateur. We are very happy if we receive more telemetry packets, but
please don't exaggerate the amount of replays as there is not much more to be
gained after a few attempts.
Have a nice holidays and a prosperous 2014!
73,
Jasper, PC4JB
Telemetry reception
http://www.delfispace.nl/operations/delfi-n3xt-telemetry-reception
Delfi-n3Xt http://www.delfispace.nl/operations/radio-amateurs
Dnepr Yasny launch http://amsat-uk.org/satellites/dnepr-november-2013/
[ANS thanks Jasper, PC4JB, for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
AMSAT SKN on OSCAR 2014 in Memory of W2LV
You are cordially invited to participate in Straight Key Night on OSCAR 2014,
sponsored by AMSAT for all radio amateurs throughout the world.
Operate CW through any amateur satellite from 0001 through 2400 UTC
on 1 January
2014, using a manual, non-electronic key. Note that bugs are now allowed, as
they are in similar ARRL and SKCC events.
There is no need to send in a log, but please nominate someone you worked for
Best Fist. Your nominee need not have the best fist of those you
heard, just of
those you worked. Send your nomination to w2rs(a)amsat.org.. A list of those
nominated will be published in early February.
This year's event is being held in memory of Robert Morris (1902-1997), W2LV.
Bob's amateur and professional career in radio literally spanned the era from
spark to satellite. One of the first to work across the Atlantic in 1923, he
also received Satellite DXCC No. 2 in 1979. Bob was featured in the PBS-TV
documentary, "Empire of the Air."
[ANS thanks Ray, W2RS, for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Satellite Shorts
+ LITHUANIA, LY. Vilmantas, LY3BY is QRV as LY2013SAT until December
24 to commemorate the first Lithuanian nano-satellite
LituanicaSAT-1. QSL via LY3BY. (ARLD050 DX news)
+ Tochigi Science Lion Project was successful.
15 students asked their question to Koichi. Koichi answered all equations.
2 or 3 answers were very weak signal.
280 people where in the audience including media representatives from TV,
Radio and Newspapers (ARISS)
+ Roland PY4ZBZ reports that the CAPE-2 amateur radio CubeSat responded to a
"Send Text to Speech" command with "Hello P Y 4 Z B Z" in the voice of Darth
Vader. Listen to the recording at
http://tinyurl.com/PY4ZBZ-Cape-2-Darth-Vader
[ANS thanks Everyone 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 addi-
tional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT
Office.
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 stu-
dent rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status.
Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership
information.
73,
This week's ANS Editor,
Lee McLamb, KU4OS
ku4os at amsat dot org
1
0
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-181
The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and infor-
mation service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite
Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space
including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur
Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building,
launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio
satellites.
The news feed on http://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.
In this edition:
* ESA Education Office announce six CubeSats chosen for Phase 1 Initiative
* 13 Colonies Special Event Includes Satellite Operations
* 2013 AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium Starts July 19, 2013
* Two Lithuanian Amateur Radio CubeSats Plan 2013 Launch To ISS
* July Space Station Spacewalks To Be Previewed And Broadcast On NASA TV
* Upcoming ARISS Contacts
* Satellite Shorts From All Over
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-181.01
ANS-181 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 181.01
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
June 30, 2013
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-181.01
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESA Education Office announce six CubeSats chosen for Phase 1 Initiative
Six student teams and their supervisors have gathered at ESA's ESTEC
centre in The Netherlands for the kick-off of the new Fly Your Satellite!
Programme under the ESA Education Office.
On June 26-28, ESA experts will introduce the objectives and present
the activities to be performed during the first phase of the programme.
In January, ESA's Education Office announced the 'Fly Your
Satellite!' initiative. This is aimed at offering student teams the
opportunity to become familiar with good engineering practice to
build and perform satellite testing in order to increase the chances
of a successful mission. The 2013 edition of the programme is however
only focusing on testing selected university-built satellites that
are already at an advanced stage of development.
'Fly Your Satellite!' builds on the success of the 'CubeSats for the
Vega Maiden Flight' pilot programme. This culminated in 2012 with the
launch of seven student-built CubeSats on the first flight of the new
ESA Vega launcher.
The focus of the kick-off meeting will consist of coordinating the
activity to be performed during the first phase of Fly Your
Satellite! enabling the teams to complete the construction of their
satellite. This will include extensive satellite testing in ambient
conditions under the supervision of ESA specialists who will decide
which satellites should participate in the next phase of the
programme.
The second phase will see the satellites tested in the simulated
conditions of outer space and in those the satellites will experience
at launch. These will include vibration and thermal-vacuum tests.
The six CubeSats chosen for Phase 1 are:
Robusta-1B from France will validate a radiation test methodology
for specific transistor components.
Oufti-1 from Belgium will demonstrate the D-STAR digital
communication protocol and validate high-efficiency solar cells.
ConSat-1 from Canada will analyse radiation characteristics in the
South-Atlantic Anomaly, and test technology payloads.
e-st@r-II from Italy will test an Active-Attitude Determination
Control System.
AAUSAT4 from Denmark will test an improved version of student built
AIS (Automated Identification System) receivers.
Politech.1 from Spain will carry a student built C-band
communication system, a "GEODEYE" Earth Observation camera for
academic purposes, and solar wind experiments.
Read the full ESA article at
http://www.esa.int/Education/ESA_and_student_teams_kick-off_Fly_Your_Satell…
Fly Your Satellite! initiative
http://www.esa.int/Education/Students_are_you_ready_to_fly_your_satellites_…
space
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13 Colonies Special Event Includes Satellite Operations
The 13 Colonies Special Event Stations will be active on the air
for Independence Week, July 1-6, 2013. Get all of the details at
http://www.13colonies.info/
On the high frequency amateur bands the 13 Colonies stations will
operate from 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Savings Time (1300Z), on
July 1st, to 12:00 PM (midnight) Eastern Daylight Savings Time,
July 6 (0400Z, July 7).
The 13 Colonies Satellite Stations will be active as shown in
the table below:
STATE SE CALL STATION CALL OPERATOR
----- ------- ------------ --------
NY K2A WB2OQQ Pete
VA K2B NL7VX Steve
CT K2D WA8SME Mark
DE K2E KB2M Jeffrey
MD K2F WA3SWJ Bruce
MA K2H KB1PVH David
NJ K2I KB2M Jeffrey
NC K2J N8MH Mark
SC K2L K4YYL Art
PA K2M WB3U Elizabeth (FM Birds Only)
K3BFS Richard (Linear Birds Only)
Any satellite station can work the 13 Colonies states off the birds.
Please indicate your contacts are Satellite. More information can be
found at http://www.13colonies.info/Satellites.htm
[ANS thanks the 13 Colonies Special Event for the above information]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2013 AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium Starts July 19, 2013
The 2013 AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium will start late
afternoon on Friday, July 19 and will run through until the afternoon
on Sunday, July 21 at the Holiday Inn, Guildford, GU2 7XZ, UK.
It will be preceded by a "Hands-on" CubeSat Workshop. This free
workshop will take place at the nearby University of Surrey on Friday,
July 19 and this will be followed, at the hotel, by the usual
Colloquium "Beginners Session" in the late afternoon.
It is anticipated that both the FUNcube-1 and FUNcube-2 missions will
be launched later this year and the FUNcube team will be on hand to
talk about the missions and the planned educational outreach. A full
demonstration of the Engineering Model, which has been performing
flawlessly for almost a year, will also be provided.
Further details and booking information at
http://amsat-uk.org/colloquium/colloquium-2013/
[ANS thanks Trevor, M5AKA for the above information]
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Two Lithuanian Amateur Radio CubeSats Plan 2013 Launch To ISS
It is hoped that two Lithuanian satellites will be among the
CubeSats sent by Nanoracks LLC to the International Space Station
(ISS) on the SpaceX CRS-3 mission in November, 2013. They will be
deployed from the ISS by the JEM Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (J-
SSOD) of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
The Kaunas University of Technology is developing LituanicaSAT-1
while the Lithuanian Space Federation is working on LitSat-1.
2013 is the 80th anniversary of the historic flight by Lithuanian
pilots Steponas Darius and Stasys Gire.nas in the airplane Lituanica.
On July 15, 1933, they took off from Floyd Bennett Field in New York
and flew across the Atlantic Ocean, covering a distance of 6,411
kilometers without landing, in 37 hours and 11 minutes. Tragically
they crashed by the village of Kuhdamm, near Soldin, Germany just 650
km from their destination of Kaunas in Lithuania.
LituanicaSAT-1 plans to carry a VGA camera, GPS receiver, 9k6 AX25
FSK telemetry beacon and a 150 mW V/U FM voice transponder.
Links:
• Google English web http://tinyurl.com/KosmonautaiLituanicaSAT-1
• Google English Wiki http://tinyurl.com/WikiLituanicaSAT-1
• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Lituanicasat1
LitSat-1 is understood to be planning a U/V linear transponder for
SSB/CW communications.
Links:
• Lithuanian Space Association in Google English
http://tinyurl.com/LithuanianSpaceAssociation
• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/palydovas
• Google English article http://tinyurl.com/LitSat-1-Article
Google English article on the two Lithuanian CubeSats
http://tinyurl.com/LithuanianCubeSats
1933 Lituanica flight http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithuanica
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information]
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JULY SPACE STATION SPACEWALKS TO BE PREVIEWED AND BROADCAST ON NASA TV
WASHINGTON -- Two Expedition 36 astronauts will venture outside the
International Space Station twice in July on spacewalks to prepare
for a new Russian module and perform additional installations on the
station's backbone.
NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston will host a NASA Television
briefing to preview the spacewalks at 2 p.m. EDT Tuesday, July 2.
Reporters may attend the briefing at Johnson and other participating
NASA centers, or ask questions by calling Johnson's newsroom at
281-483-5111 no later than 1:45 p.m. Tuesday.
Briefers will include:
-- David Korth, NASA spacewalk flight director
-- Ernest Bell, Spacewalk 22 spacewalk officer
-- Karina Eversley, Spacewalk 23 spacewalk officer
Flight Engineers Chris Cassidy of NASA and Luca Parmitano of the
European Space Agency will conduct the spacewalks July 9 and July 16
from the station's Quest airlock. Each spacewalk is scheduled to last
6 1/2 hours. Cassidy and Parmitano will replace a space-to-ground
communications receiver and wireless video equipment and install
power and cables for a Russian multipurpose laboratory module that
will be launched later this year. The new module will serve as a
research facility, docking port and airlock for future Russian
spacewalks and will replace the Pirs module.
Cassidy, who is designated EV1 for the spacewalks, will wear a U.S.
extravehicular mobility suit bearing red stripes. The spacewalks will
be the fifth and sixth of Cassidy's career. Parmitano, who is
designated EV2, will wear a spacesuit with no stripes and will be
making the first two spacewalks of his career. He will become the
first Italian astronaut to walk in space. Both spacewalkers will wear
helmet cameras to provide up close views of their work.
NASA TV coverage of the spacewalks will begin at 7 a.m. on both July 9
and July 16. Both spacewalks are scheduled to begin at 8:10 a.m.
For NASA TV streaming video, schedule and downlink information, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/ntv
For more information about the International Space Station and its
crew, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/station
[ANS thanks NASA for the above information]
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Upcoming ARISS contact with Scuola Secondaria grado "Arturo Toscanini",
Capiago Intimiano, Italy and Scuola Media Massimiliano Kolbe, Vercurago,
Lecco, Italy
An International Space Station school contact has been planned with
participants at Scuola Secondaria 1? grado "Arturo Toscanini",
Capiago Intimiano, Italy and Scuola Media Massimiliano Kolbe,
Vercurago, Lecco, Italy on 29 June. The event is scheduled to begin
at approximately 11:50 UTC.
The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30
seconds. The contact will be a combination of direct and telebridge
with the contact starting with IK1SLD, then proceeds to IZ2WLC and
finishes back with IK1SLD . The contact should be audible over Italy.
Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz
downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in Italian.
Scuola Secondaria 1? grado "Arturo Toscanini", Capiago Intimiano,
Italy
The school is located in Capiago Intimiano, a small town in the
north part of Italy, 7 km far from Como. Como and the surrounding
area can be clearly seen from space due to the unique shape of Lario
lake (like a Y upside down). It tooks the name from "Arturo
Toscanini", a famous musician and conductor lived across the end of
19th century and early 20th.
There are 10 classes and the students are from 11 years old to 14.
Scuola Media Massimiliano Kolbe, Vercurago, Lecco, Italy
Local secondary school with students aged from 10 to 14. It's
located in a building, built in 1950 by the government, originally
used as a sanatorium converted into school in late 1970.
Vercurago is a small town not far from Lecco, built on the shores of
Garlate's lake (as it comes out of Lario lake and become Adda river).
Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time
allows:
1. Why did you decide to become an astronaut?
2. How do you recycle water?
3. How did you feel on your first day in space?
4. What are the main characteristics of the Earth seen from space?
5. What was your first impression of the ISS?
6. How the northern lights appear from space?
7. How is life in space for six months with only five other people?
8. What is the most difficult activity you've carried out in space?
9. When you see the Earth from the space, what do you think?
10. How do you treat waste?
11. Is the Sun different seen from the space?
12. How do you shave in space?
13. What do you usually do in your free time?
14. How does life in orbit influence vital functions?
15. When you'll come back to the Earth, what will be the first thing
you'll do?
16. When the Earth is in the dark, which are the brightest cities?
17. Can you see pollution on the Earth from the ISS?
18. What kind of studies did you attend to become an astronaut?
19. Which was the strongest emotion you felt when you passed quickly
from the Earth to space?
20. What is the human construction visible from the space station?
21. How hard was the training before departure?
22. What do you eat in space?
23. What did you miss more from the earth?
24. Have you ever experimented how spiders build webs in space?
25. Have you ever had any serious technical problems on the ISS?
26. What kind of experiments are you carrying out?
27. What do you like most about your job?
28. What is the most ambitious project for the future?
PLEASE CHECK THE FOLLOWING FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ARISS UPDATES:
Information about the upcoming ARISS contacts can be obtained by
subscribing to the SAREX maillist. To subscribe, go to
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/tools/maillist/ and choose "How to
Subscribe".
Visit ARISS on Facebook. We can be found at Amateur Radio on the
International Space Station (ARISS).
To receive our Twitter updates, follow @ARISS_status
Next planned event(s):
1. Association Intercultura Onlus, Frascati, Italy, telebridge
Sat, 06July2013, 17:02 UTC 40 deg via W6SRJ
ARISS is an international educational outreach program partnering
the participating space agencies, NASA, Russian Space Agency, ESA,
CNES, JAXA, and CSA, with the AMSAT and IARU organizations from
participating countries.
ARISS offers an opportunity for students to experience the
excitement of Amateur Radio by talking directly with crewmembers on-
board the International Space Station. Teachers, parents and
communities see, first hand, how Amateur Radio and crewmembers on ISS
can energize youngsters' interest in science, technology, and
learning. Further information on the ARISS program is available on
the website http://www.ariss.org/ (graciously hosted by the Radio
Amateurs of Canada).
(ANS thanks David Jordan, AA4KN for this ARISS update)
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Satelite Shorts From All Over
Kevin, N4UFO reported on June 25 he was able to work three
transatlantic contacts via AO-7. The stations he contacted included
EA8HB, CT3FM, and G7BTA. Kevin noted, "I must say... three QSOs in one
pass, WOW! That was a lot of fun! AO-7 is a grand old bird, long may
she live! I just had to share how exciting it was!" (via N4UFO on
starcomm-bb)
In the July 2013 edition of the ARRL publication of QST, ARRL Chief
Executive Officer, David Sumner, K1ZZ, presents a feature on CubeSats.
Steve Ford, WB8IMY, presents a column, Eclectic Technology, titled
"More Satellites on the Way", a listing of the 7 satellites due to be
launched in 2013. (via www.arrl.org )
A CubeSat presentation was given by AMSAT Francophone to a
scientific conference held by the Radio Club of Paris F6KVP on May
29, 2013.
A video of the presentation has been made available on the web.
AMSAT-Francophone site in Google English:
http://tinyurl.com/AMSAT-Francophone
Radio Club of Paris F6KVP in Google English:
http://tinyurl.com/RadioClubParis
F6KVP on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/F6KVP
(via AMSAT-UK)
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/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 addi-
tional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT
Office.
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 stu-
dent rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status.
Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership
information.
73,
This week's ANS Editor,
Joe Spier, K6WAO
k6wao at amsat dot org
1
8
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-342
The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and infor-
mation service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite
Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space
including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur
Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building,
launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio
satellites.
The news feed on http://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.
In this edition:
* WD9EWK releases videos of working AO-73
* AO-73 added to LoTW list of recognized satellites
* South Africa ZACube-1 Tshepisosat Telemetry Requested
* New Award from The Star Comm Group
* Listening Help Requested for Trailblazer and DragonSat
* CAPE-2 Tracking Information Updated
* Successful Launch of NROL-39 CubeSats
* NASA Enhances 'Space Station Live' and Launches New Weekly Web
Series
* NASA Education and Virginia Space Grant Opportunities Available
* See What You Are Missing if You Don't Receive Your Own AMSAT
Journal
* ARISS News
* Satellite Shorts From All Over
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-342.01
ANS-342 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 342.01
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
DATE December 8, 2013
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-342.01
WD9EWK releases videos of working AO-73
Patrick Stoddard WD9EWK has been working the new AO-73 satellite
from his back yard. Most of the time, he has been using his normal
portable all-mode satellite station - two Yaesu FT-817NDs, Elk
handheld 2m/70cm log periodic antenna. On November 30 he replaced one
of the FT-817NDs with a Kenwood TH-F6A - using its all-mode receiver
to copy the downlink. December 1 he used an Icom IC-R20 receiver for
the downlink. He's used these radios in the past on other
satellites, and for some hamfest demonstrations on VO-52 Patrick had
used the FT-817ND/TH-F6A combination. He has made a series of videos
(satellite audio combined with slideshows) from several AO-73 passes
he has worked.
They are available at:
http://www.youtube.com/va7ewk
One of the AO-73 videos contains audio from two passes, and is about
twice as long as the others which have audio from a single pass.
After working these passes, he is convinced that this new satellite
performs as well as VO-52, for both its uplink and downlink. This is
a very good thing! AO-73 hears very well, as long as you're careful
to match the polarization of the satellite's antennas. The downlink
is strong enough to allow the use any of these radios as the receiver
on higher passes. For lower passes, he will probably use his second
FT-817ND for the downlink receiver. It is good to know that, at
least on the higher passes, there are lots of options for a downlink
receiver. On the same higher passes, he learned that he can cut the
power down from 5W to 1W and even 500mW. High power is not necessary
to be heard through the transponder.
Patrick's next project with AO-73 will be using a FUNcube
Dongle Pro+ as the downlink receiver, for both the transponder and
telemetry, while working the transponder with an FT-817ND as his
transmit radio. He reinstalled HDSDR and its ExtIO DLL for the Pro+
dongle on his 64-bit Windows 7 laptop, and it is working well. He
will be installing the FUNcube-1 dashboard software. Patrick has an
old netbook running Linux, and is curious to see how the dongle
works with that operating system. His hope is to be able to use the
dongle and a laptop as the downlink receiver, without being wiped out
by the 5W signals from an FT-817ND.
If all is successful, he believs he will have a new combination for
his all-mode satellite station that he can use for upcoming
demonstrations. Using the dongle and dashboard software during
daytime AO-73 passes at hamfests would be something different, and a
great thing to show off to the hamfest crowds.
Patrick thanks all who worked on getting this satellite built and
launched. "Even with the transponder on only for the nighttime
passes, it has been fun to be on a new satellite so soon after its
launch."
[ANS thanks Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK the above information]
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AO-73 added to LoTW list of recognized satellites
New version (Ver. 2.7) of configuration file config.xml now
available on Logbook server
Changed in config.xml version 2.7: Added entry for AO-73 (FunCube)
to list of recognized satellites
Please log into your LoTW account, click on YOUR ACCOUNT - Your
Certificates - download latest configuration file.
This will update the satellite list and accept AO-73.
You should be able to sign the QSOs with TQSL to make a TQ8 file
with those QSOs.
[ANS thanks Kathy Allison KA1RWY, ARRL LoTW Specialist for the above
information]
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South Africa ZACube-1 Tshepisosat Telemetry Requested
South Africa's ZACube-1 F'SATI Satellite team at the Cape Peninsula
University of Technology is looking for your support to collect
telemetry. They request radio amateurs to listen for the UHF beacon on
437.345 MHz. It will be a great help if they can log the raw data from
the TNC and send it to Leon at ldutsteenkamp at gmail dot com.
ZACube-1 will be going through a commissioning process for the next
two weeks to make sure everything works fine. Then the satellite will
be commanded into a spin, where after the HF antenna will be rolled
out. Only then will the team turn on the HF beacon on 14.099 MHz.
So far the team has tested the downlink and uplink, checked system
status, uploaded command scripts with nominal Results. Battery voltage
varies between 7.6 and 8.2 V, and on-board temperature between 12 and
about 26 degrees C. The telemetry also shows that the ISIS antennas
deployed on the first try.
The AMSAT keplerian elements bulletin released this week noted that
ZACube-1 is currently using Cat # 39417 KEPs (the same as AO-73).
[ANS thanks SARL NEWS Sunday 1 December 2013 for the above
information]
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New Award from The Star Comm Group
The Star Comm Group has a new satellite award called Got Grids?
that will be effective 1 Jan 2014. The award can be seen along with
the rules at
http://www.starcommgroup.org/gotgrids.html
The rules for the 5in EM55 award have been changed to make it a
little easier.
http://www.starcommgroup.org/5in55.html
This award is open to the world with the new rules. Example you can
work 5 stations that have the award anywhere, without working anyone
in EM55 or any combination, say 2 stations in em55 and 3 stations
that have the award from any other state or country.
A 3rd award is in the planning stages , GRID MASTERS rules and
design to come soon.
These awards are free. Donations to Amsat are welcomed. Please note
on your check STAR Comm Group Award
We hope to increase activity on the birds.
Comments or questions contact
wa4hfn at comcast dot net Damon
wa4nvmat comcast dot net Rick
[ANS thanks Damon WA4HFN for the above information]
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Listening Help Requested for Trailblazer and DragonSat
Have you heard Trailblazer or DragonSat?
Jin KB3UKS and Craig KE5VSH launched two CubeSats a week or so ago.
The first is Trailblazer and the second is DragonSat. Trailblazer is
from the Configurable Space Research at the University of New Mexico
(KE5VSH) and DragonSat is Drexel University. Our problem is that we
haven’t heard from our satellites yet. There could be a variety of
different reasons. First, the satellite didn’t survive delivery.
Second, our antennas didn’t deploy or third, we have poor ground
stations. As you can imagine, I am hoping for the third. I pasted
the TLE which is openly available on space-track and celestetrack,
below. It is very close (I believe) to our birds. If you have a
chance, could you please keep your ears open in case you might hear
us.
Please email any packets for Trailblazer to myself here at
craig.kief at cosmiac dot org and for DragonSat to Jin Kang at
kang at usna dot edu.
Thanks again most sincerely,
Craig
Trailblazer 437.425MHz, AX.25, 9,600 (there is another satellite
with the same tx freq as mine there as well).
On my packets, if you see C0 00 A8 84…. You will provide me with a
wonderful gift. I beacon every 50 seconds
DragonSat 145.870MHz, AX.25, 9,600. Beacons every 30 seconds.
Trailblazer Maybe
1 39382U 13064C 13325.87382098 .00041511 00000-0 18318-2 0 39
2 39382 40.5103 239.5017 0004316 318.4599 41.5592 15.20995117 275
[ANS thanks Craig KE5VSH for the above information]
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CAPE-2 Tracking Information Updated
Here is a link to all information the CAPE Team currently has for
tracking the Satellite (Updated 12/02/2013). A program will be
released in the next few days to decode data.
http://ulcape.org/cape-2-tracking-update-12022013/
Frequency: 145.825 (varies due to Doppler shift)
Modulation: FM/CW
Beacon Interval: Varies Based on Modes (alternating ax25and CW)
Green Mode Interval: 2 Minutes
Orange Mode Interval 4 Minutes
Red Mode Interval 6 Minutes
Current TLEs
1 39380U 13064A 13330.07541444 .00010598 00000-0 47292-3 0 199
2 39380 40.5199 215.0588 0005267 335.2591 24.7901 15.21214750 922
* TLE is unconfirmed as official TLE for CAPE-2, but has yielded our
best results thus far.
On behalf of the CAPE-2 Team, we would really appreciate any data
you can relay to us on the satellite.
[ANS thanks Rizwan Merchant KF5BNL for the above information]
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Successful Launch of NROL-39 CubeSats
At 07:14:30 UT on Friday, December 6 a United Launch Alliance Atlas
5 rocket lifted off from Space Launch Complex 3-East (SLC-3E) at
Vandenberg Air Force Base on California’s Central Coast.
In addition to a classified satellite for the US spy satellite
agency the National Reconnaissance Office it carried 12 CubeSats four
of which have amateur radio payloads.
Justin Foley KI6EPH has made available this TLE for the CubeSats:
1 99991U 00000 13340.43204282 0.00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 0006
2 99991 120.5031 227.3464 0297856 339.9554 93.2232 14.64196995000009
Further information on the CubeSats on the Atlas V GEMSat Launch
2013 can be found at http://tinyurl.com/ANS342-NROL-39-Cubesats
Space Flight Now story
http://spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av042/131206launch/
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information]
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NASA Enhances 'Space Station Live' and Launches New Weekly Web Series
Starting in December, NASA will show the public the International
Space Station in new ways that will highlight all the scientific
research, cutting-edge technology testing and even the wonder of
living and working in space.
NASA is enhancing its daily NASA Television "Space Station Live"
program and beginning a new weekly web series called "Space to
Ground."
"Space Station Live" will continue to air weekdays at 11 a.m. EST
and now will be in a 30-minute format beginning Dec 2. It will
feature live views from the International Space Station, updates on
the crew's daily activities, enhanced content and interviews on space
station science and features on how that science benefits life on
Earth.
The "Space to Ground" web series will be available every Friday
beginning Dec. 6. This series will be a short wrap-up of the week's
activities aboard the space station that will showcase the diversity
of activities taking place aboard the world's only orbiting
laboratory. This video also will be posted to the agency's social
media accounts and can be shared and downloaded by the public.
The International Space Station remains the springboard to our next
great leap in exploration. The space station is a convergence of
science, technology and human innovation that is helping us learn
what it means to be a spacefaring people by demonstrating new
technologies and making research breakthroughs not possible on Earth.
To view "Space to Ground" beginning Dec. 6, visit:
http://go.nasa.gov/spacetoground
For NASA TV streaming video, downlink and scheduling information,
visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/nasatv
For media b-roll and resources on the International Space Station,
visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/stationnews
For more information about the International Space Station, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/station
[ANS thanks Joshua Buck, Josh Byerly and NASA for the above
information]
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NASA Education and Virginia Space Grant Opportunities Available
+ 2014-15 Virginia Space Grant Consortium Undergraduate STEM
Research Scholarship
The Virginia Space Grant Consortium is offering undergraduate
research scholarships of up to $8,500 to encourage talented
individuals to conduct research in science, technology, engineering
or mathematics, or STEM, fields.
Applicants must participate in an active faculty-mentored research
experience that aligns with the aerospace sector and meets NASA's
mission. Student stipends and research support totaling $4,000 during
the academic year and $4,500 during a summer semester are available.
These one-year awards are nonrenewable and based on student academic
merit, quality of the research proposal and alignment of research
with the goals of NASA and the aerospace sector. Underrepresented
minority students, female students and students with disabilities are
encouraged to apply. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and enrolled at
one of the five Virginia Space Grant member universities: The College
of William and Mary, Hampton University, Old Dominion University,
University of Virginia and Virginia Tech.
The deadline for submitting applications is Feb.10, 2014.
For more information, visit http://vsgc.odu.edu/sf/undergrad/.
+ Virginia Space Grant Consortium Graduate STEM Research Fellowship
The Virginia Space Grant Consortium's Graduate STEM Research
Fellowship Program provides fellowships of $5,000 in add-on support
to graduate students to supplement and enhance basic research
support. The objective of this science, technology, engineering and
mathematics, or STEM, research fellowship opportunity is to encourage
talented individuals to pursue careers in STEM industries that
support NASA's mission.
Participants in the Graduate STEM Research Fellowship Program must
take part in an active faculty-mentored research experience that
aligns with the aerospace sector and meets NASA's mission. Awards are
made annually and are renewable for one year for students making
satisfactory academic and research progress.
This is a competitive fellowship program, and awards are based on
merit recognizing high academic achievement and promise.
Underrepresented minority students, female students and students with
disabilities are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be U.S.
citizens and enrolled at one of the five Virginia Space Grant member
universities: The College of William and Mary, Hampton University,
Old Dominion University, University of Virginia and Virginia Tech.
The deadline for submitting applications is Feb.10, 2014.
For more information about this opportunity and to apply online,
visit http://vsgc.odu.edu/sf/gradfellow/.
+ 2014-15 Virginia Space Grant Consortium STEM Bridge Scholarship
The Virginia Space Grant Consortium, or VSGC, is offering renewable
scholarships to sophomore undergraduate students studying science,
technology, engineering or mathematics, or STEM. The STEM Bridge
Scholarships are $1,000 and are available to students who are U.S.
citizens from any federally recognized minority group enrolled
fulltime at one of the five VSGC member universities: The College of
William and Mary, Hampton University, Old Dominion University,
University of Virginia and Virginia Tech.
The STEM Bridge Program bridges students to future opportunities by
mentoring and guiding them to future VSGC scholarships and NASA-
related paid internships. The program encourages students to explore
how their majors can apply to NASA’s Mission.
This is a competitive program, and awards are based on student
academic merit, quality of interest essay as well as letters of
recommendation from current college faculty who can attest to
students' interest in STEM areas.
The deadline for submitting applications is March 17, 2014.
For more information, visit http://vsgc.odu.edu/sf/Bridge/.
+ 2014-15 Virginia Space Grant Consortium Community College STEM
Scholarship
The Virginia Space Grant Consortium, or VSGC, encourages
academically talented individuals to pursue studies and careers in
science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM. The VSGC
is offering a limited number of scholarship opportunities to students
majoring in STEM fields at any campus in the Virginia Community
College System, or VCCS.
These $2,000 scholarships are competitive awards based on academic
merit for students demonstrating an interest in NASA's missions and
STEM-related careers. The VSGC strongly supports students in
technical career pathways who are preparing to transfer to
institutions of higher learning while developing the essential skills
for a competitive global workforce.
Underrepresented minority students, female students and students
with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be U.S.
citizens and enrolled in the VCCS.
The deadline for submitting applications is March 17, 2014.
For more information, visit http://vsgc.odu.edu/sf/ccstem/.
Please email any questions about these four opportunities to
rkashiri at odu dot edu.
[ANS thanks NASA Education for the above information]
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See What You Are Missing if You Don't Receive Your Own AMSAT Journal
Membership includes the AMSAT Journal and discounts on purchases
made through the AMSAT store. You can see representative articles
available only to our members here.
To download your own copy of the sample AMSAT Journal articles
... go to http://www.amsat.org -->
... then Mouse over the 'AMSAT' Tab in the top row
... then select 'Join AMSAT' which brings you to:
http://ww2.amsat.org/?page_id=1095
When you click on the blue highlighted link 'here' you will land
on a page to choose from two sample articles in PDF format.
These are brand new just released articles in the November/December
2013 issue of the AMSAT Journal. Other sample issues plan to be
made available from upcoming issues of The AMSAT Journal.
Follow the Join AMSAT links to sign up to receive your very own
copy of the AMSAT Journal - this is an exclusive membership benefit
in AMSAT.
While you navigate around http://www.amsat.org take a look at the
expanding content and updated pages. Hint: Click on the graphic
across the top of each page to jump back 'home'.
[ANS thanks the AMSAT Journal Team and Alan Biddle, WA4SCA for the
above information]
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ARISS News
+ A Successful contact was made between Salisbury Middle Schools
Salisbury, New Brunswick, Canada and Astronaut Michael S. Hopkins
KF5LJG using callsign NA1SS. The contact began 2013-11-20 17 UTC and
lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was telebridged via
W6SRJ. ARISS Mentor was VE1WPH.
For the past several months, students and staff of Salisbury Middle
School have been working hard in anticipation of this wonderful
opportunity. Most obvious was how the students continued to learn
and their excitement as they came together toward this common goal,
of which they are all proud. In anticipation of the actual ARISS
contact, the students asked that it be proclaimed as “A Day to Space
Out”. Activities began with the official launch showcasing a video
created by the students providing information regarding the event.
Also created by the students were weekly special segments featuring
the School's PodCast News Show which include short space related
videos, ISS News and current expedition Astronaut biographies. The
students also enjoyed informative presentations from the Astronomical
Society of New Brunswick and the Science East Planetarium . The
Moncton Area Amateur Radio Club will be transmitted from SMS on
November 15th, in conjunction with space related “Theme Day”. One
creative student submitted an event logo which will be printed on tee-
shirts and worn by students as they ask their questions.
+ A Successful contact was made between Primary and Junior High
Schools Complex, Stobierna, Poland and Astronaut Koichi Wakata KC5ZTA
using callsign NA1SS. The contact began 2013-11-27 09:26 UTC and
lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was telebridged via
VK5ZAI. ARISS Mentors were SP3QFE and IN3GHZ.
School Complex in Stobierna is composed of two main school levels:
primary school and junior high school. The primary school attendants'
are six-year-old to twelve-year-old students, whereas, the junior
high school's students are thirteen to sixteen years old. The second
type of school puts more emphasis on Science (including Physics and
Mathematics). The students of these schools are interested in
astronomical observations, thus they are eager to take part in
special classes concerning such issues. Schools organized special
classes associated with the astronomical observations of the sky. We
organised a series of educational trips to places from which students
observed the sky: in the stars, planets and satellites. These
activities were integrated into daily school activities in the field
of physics and astronomy. Because many schools participated in the
project, we organized interschool competitions. Moreover school
organized a series of competitions related to astronautics!
For the youngest students there was a drawing contest, a contest for
older students, multimedia presentations related to space flight and
the history of the ISS.
+ A Successful contact was made between Primary and Junior High
Schools Complex, Brzeznica, Poland and Astronaut Michael S. Hopkins
KF5LJG using callsign NA1SS. The contact began 2013-12-03 08 UTC and
lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was telebridged via
K6DUE. ARISS Mentors were SP3QFE and IN3GHZ.
Students from the Primary and Junior High Schools Complex in
Brzeznica are interested in Science, mainly Physics. They attend many
additional lessons and educational projects connected with
Mathematics, Physics, Astronomy, amateur radio communications and
satellite communications. They participate in educational trips and
tours. Teachers prepare lessons for students interested in astronomy.
The school organizes additional activities with the support of the
European Union, such as special classes involving astronomical sky
observation.
Moreover, the school prepared a series of activities related to
astronautics: amateur radio communications with the ISS, astronomy
classes and observation of the passing Space Station, art
competitions related to the cosmos and the space station, activities
for senior students concerning the life of astronauts aboard the
space station.
Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule
+ Rakuyo Technical High School, Kyoto, Japan, direct via 8N3LR
Contact is a go for: Thu 2013-12-12 08:44:10 UTC
+ Tochigi Science Lion Project, Utsunomiya, Japan, direct via 8N1ISS
Contact is a go for: Sat 2013-12-14 07:07:42 UTC
The episode of Ice Pilots (Ice Pilots NWT Season 5, Episode 1, (Cold
Start)), which begins with an ARISS contact, can be viewed at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuY0IJDhnwY
[ANS thanks ARISS, Charlie AJ9N and David AA4KN for the above
information]
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Satellite Shorts From All Over
+ AO-73 is now be active on oscar.dcarr.org.
(Source David KD5QGR)
+ FUNCube-1 / AO-73 Radio Communications Subsystem
• 145.935 MHz BPSK Telemetry 30 or 300 mW
• Inverting SSB/CW transponder 300 mW PEP
- 435.150 – 435.130 MHz Uplink LSB
- 145.950 – 145.970 MHz Downlink USB
Source AMSAT-UK
+ Live Video Streaming from the ISS
The N2YO satellite tracking website provides live video streaming
from the International Space Station (ISS) alongside a track
showing the position of the ISS over the Earth.
The Ustream video from the station is available only when the
complex is in contact with the ground through its high-speed
communications antenna and NASA’s Tracking and Data Relay Satellite
System. During “loss of signal” periods, you will see a blue screen.
Since the station orbits the Earth once every 90 minutes, it sees a
sunrise or a sunset every 45 minutes. When the station is in
darkness, external camera video may appear black, but also may
provide spectacular views of city lights below.
Live streaming from the ISS http://www.n2yo.com/space-station/
(Source AMSAT-UK)
+ December Issue of SatMagazine is now online
http://www.satmagazine.com/download.php
(Source SatMagazine.com)
+ Radio Astronomy Magazine Available Online
The Vol 1 Issue 2, Dec 2013 issue of RAGazine is now available
The publication by the British Astronomical Association Radio
Astronomy Group (BAA-RAG) can be downloaded in both hi-res and
lo-res versions.
Lo-res 4 MB
http://tinyurl.com/ANS342-LowResRAGazine
Hi-res 9 MB
http://tinyurl.com/ANS342-HiResRAGazine
Issue 1 is on the BAA-RAG site at
http://www.britastro.org/radio/downloads.html
Join the BAA-RAG Yahoo Group at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/baa-rag
(Source Southgate ARN)
+ MCubed-2 heard, telemetry captured
MCubed-2 is in orbit and working! Packets captured as the command
team turned on beacons.
http://exploration.engin.umich.edu/blog/?page_id=1830
http://exploration.engin.umich.edu/blog/?page_id=1933
(Source N8MH and DK3WN)
+ While representing AMSAT at the Tampa Hamfest in Plant City,
Florida, 7 Dec 2013, Drew Glasbrenner KO4MA, was able to complete
a QSO via FO-29 with Patrick Stoddard WD9EWK, who was representing
AMSAT at the Superstition ARC Hamfest in Queen Creek, Arizona.
(Source Drew KO4MA)
+ European Radio Amateurs' Organization Winter Newsletter now
0nline.
http://eurobureauqsl.org/newsletter/
Newsletter comes out quarterly, either in pdf format and as a
website.
(Source EuroBureauQSL)
+ December is YOTA Month
After the success of the Youngsters On The Air events in the
summer we decided that it’s time to do some more action !
During the whole month of December several country’s will become
active with YOTA as suffix for callsign.
The idea for this is to break the ice for some youngsters and take
the microphone in the hand. As seen over the years the YOTA-group
is growing fast and every week more youngsters are asking to
participate.
Let us all make YOTA populair in HAM radio and let us all help to
put youngsters on the HAM radio train!
You want to hear us on the air? Listen for Youngsters On The Air
callsigns in the whole month of December!
For more information
http://www.ham-yota.eu
(Source ham-yota.eu)
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/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 addi-
tional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT
Office.
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 stu-
dent rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status.
Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership
information.
73,
This week's ANS Editor,
EMike McCardel, KC8YLD
kc8yld at amsat dot org
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