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ANS-213 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for Aug. 1
by Mark Johns, K0JM 31 Jul '21

31 Jul '21

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-213 The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. The news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor(a)amsat.org You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/ In this edition: * AMSAT Announces Strategic Satellite Objectives and Organization Goals * F4DXV and VE1CWJ Set Numerous Satellite Distance Records * Call For Papers For The 39Th AMSAT Space Symposium * AM1SAT International Award * Russian Lab Module Tilts Space Station With Errant Thruster Firings * The Young Ham of the Year for 2021 is a Satellite Operator * FO-29 & FO-99 Operation Schedules For August 2021 * More Slow-Scan TV Transmissions from RS0ISS Scheduled * ARISS News * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Satellite Shorts From All Over ANS-213 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins To: All RADIO AMATEURS From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation 712 H Street NE, Suite 1653 Washington, DC 20002 DATE 2021 Aug 01 AMSAT Announces Strategic Satellite Objectives and Organization Goals The AMSAT Board of Directors has adopted a set of strategic satellite objectives and organization goals. The document, adopted in early June and published in the the May/June 2021 edition of The AMSAT Journal. The plan establishes a long-term, multi-faceted vision that includes big dreams, a continued presence in space, and a development path for the scientists, engineers, and operators of tomorrow. AMSAT President, Robert Bankston, KE4AL, commented, "Anything this ambitious will undoubtedly challenge our limited human and fiscal resources. We must parallel our new plan with new ways to manage and fund projects. AMSAT has a pool of very talented volunteers, but there will be times when we require skills beyond our current capabilities. Recruitment, partnerships, collaborative efforts, and even outsourcing are options that will help us fill in the gaps." Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO) 1. Upward to HEO. Develop and deploy a series of spacecraft capable of providing wide-area and continuous coverage from highly elliptical and geostationary transfer orbits. Greater Orbit, Larger Footprint 2. GOLF. Develop and deploy a series of increasingly capable spacecraft through a program to learn skills and systems for which we do not yet have the necessary low-risk experience, including active attitude control, deployable/steerable solar panels, radiation tolerance for commercial off the shelf (COTS) components in higher orbits and propulsion. Amateur Radio on the International Space Station 3. AREx-A. Partner with ARISS and ARISS-USA to advance Amateur Radio's presence aboard NASA's International Space Station, Deep Space Gateway and Artemis missions and provide opportunities to engage with astronauts in lunar and deep space operations. Low Earth Orbit (LEO) 4. LEO. Support a stream of LEO satellites developed in cooperation with the educational community and other Amateur Radio satellite groups. 4.1 FM Operations. Develop, deploy and support a series of 1U spacecraft to support continued FM amateur satellite operations in low Earth orbit. 4.2 Partnerships. Develop a plug-and-play communications solution for educational and other Amateur Radio CubeSat programs, providing a VHF/UHF telemetry beacon, command receiver, and linear transponder or FM repeater communications module. AMSAT STEM Initiatives 5. AMSAT Education. Support science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) initiatives and training programs for satellite and ground system designers and operators. 5.1 CubeSat Simulator. Continue development of AMSAT’s CubeSat Simulator Program. 5.2 High Altitude Ballooning. Develop program to support and sponsor the use of amateur radio in high-altitude balloon (HAB) launches. 5.3 Youth Initiative. Develop an educational out reach program that encourages youth to pursue STEM interests in space science and communication technology. More details of the strategic satellite objectives and organization goals may be found at https://www.amsat.org/apogeeview/ [ANS thanks The AMSAT Journal for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Join the 2021 President's Club! Score your 2" 4-Color Accent Commemorative Coin. This gold finished coin comes with Full Color Certificate and Embroidered "Remove Before Flight" Key Tag Donate today at https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/ You won't want to miss it! +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ F4DXV and VE1CWJ Set Numerous Satellite Distance Records Jérôme LeCuyer, F4DXV, and John Langille, VE1CWJ, have spent the last couple of months using their favorable geographic locations to set a number of satellite distance records. On May 5, 2021 at 13:04 UTC, F4DXV and VE1CWJ set the initial record on JO-97 of 4,889 km. F4DXV was operating in JN04it22nt and VE1CWJ was operating in FN85ii89sk. On May 15, 2021 at 08:30 UTC, F4DXV and VE1CWJ broke the 5,000 km mark for the first time on a satellite from the September 2015 Long March 6 launch when they covered a distance of 5,005 km between FN85ii22lf and JN15jo26rq on XW-2F. F4DXV was operating from the summit of a mountain and the QSO was completed with an elevation of -1.5 degrees. On June 26, 2021 at 11:03 UTC, the pair set a record of 4,907 km on FO-99 while F4DXV was operating in JN04jr35pe and VE1CWJ was operating in FN85fo5ik. One month later, on July 26, 2021, F4DXV returned to the summit of the mountain in JN15jo26rq and the pair set a number of additional records within one half-hour, again breaking the 5,000 km threshold for the first time on several additional satellites from the September 2015 Long March 6 launch. They set the record at 5,008 km on LilacSat-2 at 08:08 UTC, XW-2D at 08:15 UTC, XW-2B at 08:21 UTC, and XW-2C at 08:33 UTC. A list of known satellite distance records is located at https://www.amsat.org/satellite-distance-records/. Please email n8hm at amsat.org if you wish to claim a new record, longer distance QSO not yet documented, or records for any other satellite/transponder not yet listed. Please note that if a satellite carries multiple transponders or supports multiple frequency bands, records on each transponder/band may be claimed, such as Mode A and B on AO-7 or Mode U/S, L/S, U/K, etc, on AO-40. This includes the ISS and records may be claimed for the packet digipeater and crossband repeater, but does not include different operating modes on the same transponder (such as CW or SSB on AO-7 Mode B). [ANS thanks Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, AMSAT Executive Vice President, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Call For Papers For The 39Th AMSAT Space Symposium This is a call for papers for the 39th AMSAT Space Symposium to be held on the weekend of October 29-31, 2021 at the Crowne Plaza AiRE hotel in Bloomington, Minnesota. Proposals for symposium presentations are invited on any topic of interest to the amateur satellite community. We request a tentative title of your presentation as soon as possible, with final copy submitted by October 18 for inclusion in the symposium proceedings. Abstracts and papers should be sent to Dan Schultz, N8FGV at n8fgv(a)amsat.org [ANS thanks Dan Schultz N8FGV, Symposium Program Chair, for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Need new satellite antennas? Purchase Arrows, Alaskan Arrows, and M2 LEO-Packs from the AMSAT Store. When you purchase through AMSAT, a portion of the proceeds goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space. https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AM1SAT International Award From September 13-19 AM1SAT will be active on the amateur radio satellites from a number of locations in Spain, diplomas will be available for contacting the stations A translation of the URE post reads: AMSAT-EA will celebrate in September, coinciding with the IberRadio Fair organized by URE in Ávila and which is the largest meeting point for radio amateurs in Spain and Portugal, the third edition of its International Competition and AM1SAT Award. To do this, AMSAT-EA operators will be in the air on all available satellites with the callsign AM1SAT between the 13th and 19th of that month, activating a minimum of 14 different locations. As part of this activity and to encourage participation, the SILVER and GOLD classifications will be available, as well as a trophy for the one who achieves the greatest number of grids and for the one who manages to work the greatest number of different satellites. In the last edition of the contest held in 2019, 727 QSOs were made, awarding 10 gold and 28 silver diplomas. The trophies for the best grid and satellite 'hunter' were awarded to F4DXV and EA3CAZ. The rules in English for this year's contest can be found at https://www.amsat-ea.org/app/download/12828633/AMSAT+EA+-+AM1SAT+2021+-+Eng… Orignal source, Union La Unión De Radioaficionados Españoles: https://tinyurl.com/IARU-Spain [ANS thanks Southgate ARC for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Russian Lab Module Tilts Space Station With Errant Thruster Firings A heavyweight Russian laboratory module that experienced a variety of problems after launch last week docked at the International Space Station Thursday, but in a moment of unexpected drama, inadvertent thruster firings briefly knocked the sprawling complex out of its normal orientation. Space station program manager Joel Montalbano said the station was maintaining its orientation, or “attitude,” using massive NASA-supplied gyroscopes when the thruster firings suddenly began at 12:34 p.m. EDT, about three hours after the 44,000-pound Nauka multi-purpose laboratory glided in for docking. The gyros were unable to counteract the unwanted push from Nauka’s jets and the space station, stretching the length of a football field with a mass of more than 930,000 pounds, began tilting away from its normal orientation. Attitude control was quickly handed off to more effective rocket motors in the Russian Zvezda module, where Nauka was attached. A few minutes later, thrusters in a Progress cargo ship docked on the other side of Zvezda kicked in with additional muscle. The space station ended up tilted up about 45 degrees from its earlier orientation, moving at one point at roughly half a degree per second. But in a little more than an hour, the station was back in its normal orientation, apparently none the worse for wear. “We haven’t noticed any damage to the ISS,” Montalbano said in an afternoon teleconference. “One of the things we do after a dynamic event like this is go ahead and sit down with our structural loads team and review all the data, go pull all the telemetry and do an assessment. And so that’ll be the next step.” A “spacecraft emergency” was declared at the outset, but that was standard procedure in such cases, giving the lab complex priority over other spacecraft using NASA’s satellite communications network. Montalbano said the station’s seven crew members were never in any danger. “There was no immediate danger at any time to the crew,” he said. “Obviously, when you have a loss of attitude control, that’s something you want to address right away. But the crew was never in any, like, immediate emergency or anything like that.” It’s not yet known what might have caused the Nauka module’s thrusters to suddenly begin firing as cosmonauts Oleg Novitskiy and Pyotr Dubrov were in the process of “integrating” the new spacecraft with the station’s computer systems. Up to 11 spacewalks will be needed to outfit the laboratory and to make multiple power and data connections with the space station. The first two excursions are planned for September. Amateurs should note that the ISS amateur radio operations, ARISS, are shut down whenever there are docking operations or EVAs (spacewalks) taking place. [ANS thanks SpaceFlightNow for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AMSAT's GOLF Program is about getting back to higher orbits, and it all begins with GOLF-TEE – a technology demonstrator for deployable solar panels, propulsion, and attitude control, now manifested for launch on NASA's ELaNa 46 mission. Come along for the ride. The journey will be worth it! https://tinyurl.com/ANS-GOLF +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ The Young Ham of the Year for 2021 is a Satellite Operator Faith Hannah Lea, KD3Z, of Palm Coast, Florida, has been selected as the 2021 Bill Pasternak WA6ITF Memorial Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year. Faith Hannah is the daughter of James, WX4TV, and Michelle, N8ZQZ, Lea. Her brother and two sisters are also hams. She credited her parents with being the biggest influences in her entry into amateur radio. She said her journey began at the age of 10 in December 2014. “I started studying for my Technician license with my brother (Zechariah WX4TVJ),” she recalled. “And we both went in and got it. And two weeks later, I had earned my General ... Then, two months later, I earned my Extra. “So that allowed me to really get into the stuff that I liked, which was working HF.” Just 18 months after being licensed, Faith Hannah was invited to join the 2016 Dave Kalter Memorial Youth DX team operating PJ6 from the Dutch island of Saba. “And that’s when I realized especially that DXing is amazing because I absolutely love those huge pileups and getting to talk to all of those different people,” she explained. Among her PJ6 achievements was a satellite contact that broke the SO-50 distance world record. She wrote an article about the event which was published in the March/April 2017 issue of The AMSAT Journal. In August 2018, Faith Hannah took part in the week-long “Youngsters on the Air” program in Johannesburg, South Africa where she participated in kit-building and antenna building projects, satellite operations and a high-altitude balloon launch. She wrote an article about her experiences in South Africa that was published in CQ magazine. On the way to South Africa, Faith Hannah and her father, James, WX4TV, had a 22-hour layover in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. They were invited by the Emirates Amateur Radio Society to visit and operate A62A and A60YOZ. In December 2018, Faith Hannah and her younger sister, Hope, ND2L, and her father organized a 36-hour mini-DXpedition to the Dry Tortugas in the Gulf of Mexico, off the southwest coast of Florida, where they activated N4T. The girls logged 1,970 HF contacts and 100 satellite contacts. Faith Hannah’s account of the N4T operation was published by CQ magazine, and she and Hope shared the April 2019 cover. These and other ham radio experiences energized her desire to actively participate in contesting with her family and she has been a regular participant in ARRL Field Day, ARRL International DX contests, CQ WW SSB, and several state QSO parties. She has participated in several special event operations as well, including National Parks on the Air (NPOTA) activations, the first SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch, the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse in Florida, a 13 Colonies station (K2G) in Georgia, and Jamboree on the Air and Boy Scout Radio merit badge weekends. She has been active in several clubs in Virginia and Florida over her brief time as an amateur radio operator, finding mentors and friends in each of them. She has served as a net control operator for Volusia, Florida ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) during Hurricanes Matthew, Irma and Dorian. Faith Hannah completed high school through home schooling. But before doing so, she enrolled in Daytona State College where she earned an Associate of Arts degree at the age of 15. Presently, she is enrolled in Stetson University in Deland, Florida, where she is recognized as a member of the junior class. She maintains a 4.0 GPA as she works toward earning two different degrees – a Bachelor of Science in molecular and cellular biology and a Bachelor of Business Administration. Faith Hannah said she is exploring two career tracks – medicine or the law, or possibly both. In 2020, she earned a $25,000 scholarship from the Foundation for Amateur Radio. And in 2021, a $16,000 scholarship in the “Voice of Democracy” essay contest sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars – finishing first in Florida and second in the national competition. As for amateur radio now and in the future, Faith Hannah says there’s always time for that. “I know this sounds weird but it doesn’t really take all of my time to do my school, to have fun and to do ham radio,” she explained. “It all just fits in perfectly because a lot of times if I’m getting on the radio and it’s not a contest, I’ll just do it in the evening when gray line is there because that’s usually when I’m free and it’s a great time to make contacts. “If it’s a weekend, we might take a radio and go out to a park or something and get on the air. And once it starts dying down, we’ll just hang around the park for a couple of hours.” The YHOTY award is traditionally presented during the Huntsville Hamfest in August at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville Alabama. However, because of the spike in the Delta variant of Covid-19, Amateur Radio Newsline will not stage a public presentation at the hamfest this year. Faith Hannah will receive a certificate of recognition and other gifts during an online presentation. The Young Ham of the Year Award was inaugurated by William Pasternak, WA6ITF, in 1986. Upon his passing in 2015, Bill’s name was added to the award as a memorial to his commitment to recognizing the accomplishments of young people to the Amateur Radio Service. Amateur Radio Newsline, CQ magazine, and Yaesu USA are primary sponsors of the award, along with Heil Sound Ltd. and Radiowavz Antenna Company. [ANS thanks Amateur Radio Newsline for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- FO-29 & FO-99 Operation Schedules For August 2021 Fuji-OSCAR 29 is switched on for selected weekend orbits over Japan and remains available for use until the low voltage protection circuit turns the satellite off once again during eclipse. FO-29 transponder ON times for Aug. 2021 (UTC) 1st 11:48- 7th 01:14- 11:33- 13:16- 8th 00:19- 10:35- 12:22- 14th 00:04- 10:20- 12:07- 23:09- 15th 11:12- 12:56- 17th 00:48- 02:35- 11:06- 12:52- 21st 00:38- 02:25- 10:56- 23:45- 22nd 09:59- 11:45- 27th 23:30- 28th 09:45- 11:30- 22:35- 29th 00:18- 10:35- Source: https://www.jarl.org/Japanese/3_Fuji/fuji3-202107.htm The August schedule for FO-99 is available at https://www.jamsat.or.jp/?p=1580 [ANS thanks JAMSAT and Hideo Kambayashi, JH3XCU, for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition? Get your AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff from our Zazzle store! 25% of the purchase price of each product goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ More Slow-Scan TV Transmissions from RS0ISS Scheduled Russian cosmonauts on board the International Space Station (ISS) will transmit slow-scan television (SSTV) images from the station Friday and Saturday, August 6 - 7. They will use SSTV mode PD-120 on 145.800 MHz FM. The transmissions are part of the Moscow Aviation Institute SSTV experiment (MAI-75) and will be sent via RS0ISS, the ham station in the Russian Zvezda (Service) module using a Kenwood TM-D710 transceiver. The announced schedule is August 6, 1050 - 1910 UTC; August 7, 0950 - 1555 UTC. Dates and times are subject to change. For stations in the ISS footprint, the RS0ISS signal should be easy to copy on a handheld transceiver and a quarter-wave whip. Use 5 kHz channel spacing, if available, to correct for Doppler shift, beginning 5 - 10 kHz above the receive frequency and tuning downward as the ISS approaches and move away once again. Free ISS software is available to download. Pass predictions are available from AMSAT. Representative images from prior ISS SSTV events are available in the ARISS SSTV Gallery. [ANS thanks ARISS and ARRL for the above information] -------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS NEWS Amateurs and others around the world may listen in on contacts between amateurs operating in schools and allowing students to interact with astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station. The downlink frequency on which to listen is 145.800 MHz worldwide. Notre Dame Jogakuin Junior and Senior High School, Kyoto, Japan, direct via 8N3ND The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Thomas Pesquet KG5FYG Contact is go for: Tue 2021-08-03 11:10:15 UTC 77 deg Next mode change is expected to take place in late August 2021. The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html [ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AMSAT, along with our ARISS partners, is developing an amateur radio package, including two-way communication capability, to be carried on-board Gateway in lunar orbit. Support AMSAT's projects today at https://www.amsat.org/donate/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Upcoming Satellite Operations EA4NF: Linear & FM satellites August 1-14, 2021. IL27, IL28, IL38 ND0C & @kylee_ke0wpa and I will be “up north” for the next few days and will operate from EN36, 46, and 47. This is a “holiday-style” rove with no specific scheduled passes at this point. Most likely pop-up with short notice. FM and linears. FN65/66: Indeed, VY2HF will be in FN65 from Thursday (7/22 – 7/29) evening this week until the following Thursday morning. As I’ll be in Fredericton proper, if there is interest I can position myself on the FN65/FN66 grid line with little trouble. Daytimes will be best, RS44 preferred, FM doable also. And on Thursday the 29th I will be driving into FN76/77 for several more days… EN56, 57, 67: N8MR will be in EN57, EN67 and EN56 from Aug 7 thru Aug 14. Using an Icom 9700, Arrow antenna and SatPC32 to control uplink and downlink for Doppler. [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT rover page manager, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events. AMSAT Ambassador Clint Bradford, K6LCS, has online Zoom presentations scheduled in coming weeks with amateur groups in New Jersey Central New Hampshire North Carolina Conejo Valley CA Sonoma County CA Massachusetts Antelope Valley CA Contact Clint to arrange other events: Clint Bradford K6LCS, AMSAT Ambassador; ARRL instructor http://www.work-sat.com Email: clintbradford AT mac DOT com (909) 999-SATS (7287) - voicemail/message [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT Events page manager, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + Congratulations to two new satellite operators who have earned the AMSAT Rover Award. Tor-Atle Sandal, LA9XGA, received award #58 and Randy Kohlwey, WI7P, received award #59. More information on the AMSAT Rover Award can be found at https://www.amsat.org/amsat-rover-award/ (Thanks to AMSAT Director of Contests and Awards Bruce Paige, KK5DO) + A solar wind stream hit Earth during the early hours of July 28th. First contact rattled Earth's magnetic field and sparked rare blue auroras over Canada. Blue is a sign of bright moonlight hitting the top of the auroras. The process is called "resonant scattering." Details and photo at https://bit.ly/3zUnCLX (ANS thanks Spaceweather and Southgate ARC for the above information) + Boeing and NASA are getting ready to make another attempt at launching its Starliner astronaut taxi to the International Space Station. The uncrewed CST-100 Starliner space capsule is now scheduled to launch to the space station on Tuesday, Aug. 3, at 1720z, lifting off from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. If that launch date holds, the capsule will arrive at the International Space Station on Wednesday, Aug. 4. Amateurs should note that the ISS amateur radio operations, ARISS, are shut down whenever there are docking operations or EVAs (spacewalks) taking place. (ANS thanks Space.com for the above information) + Another step towards space exploration from UK soil has been unlocked, with the passing of the spaceflight regulations, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced 29 July 2021. The legislation provides the framework to regulate the UK space industry and enable launches to take place from British soil for the very first time. (ANS thanks SpaceDaily for the above information) + NASA has selected SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy to launch its Europa Clipper mission to a potentially habitable moon of Jupiter, a choice that appeared inevitable once NASA was no longer required to use the Space Launch System. NASA announced July 23 that it awarded a launch services contract to SpaceX for the October 2024 launch of Europa Clipper on a Falcon Heavy rocket. The contract is valued at $178 million. (ANS thanks SpaceNews for the above information) --------------------------------------------------------------------- In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional benefits. President's Club donations may be made at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-PresClub or through the AMSAT Store. Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional student membership information. Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/ 73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space, This week's ANS Editor, Mark Johns, K0JM k0jm at amsat dot org

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ANS-206 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by kd4iz＠frawg.org 24 Jul '21

24 Jul '21

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-206 The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. The news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor(a)amsat.org You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/ In this edition: * AMSAT's 39th Annual Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting To Be Held October 29-31 * 2021 AMSAT Board of Directors Election Being Held * 23cm band and Sat-Nav Coexistence: Preliminary Studies considered in ITU-R WP4C * No changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for July 22, 2021 * New operational reports on FO-29 and AO-109 * Operational notes on FO-29 and AO-109 * NEA Scout and solar sails on CUBESAT experiments. * 10th annual NASA Space Apps Challenge * ARISS News * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Satellite Shorts From All Over ANS-206 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins To: All RADIO AMATEURS From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation 712 H Street NE, Suite 1653 Washington, DC 20002 DATE 2021 July 25 AMSAT's 39th Annual Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting To Be Held October 29-31 The 39th AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting will be held Friday through Sunday, October 29-31, 2021, at the Crowne Plaza AiRE in Bloomington, Minnesota. Crowne Plaza AiRE is located at 3 Appletree Square, Bloomington, MN 55425. The Crowne Plaza AiRE is adjacent to the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and only steps away from the METRO Blue Lines American Blvd. stop. Nearby shopping and tourist attractions include Mall of America, SEA LIFE at Mall of America, Nickelodeon Universe, and the Minnesota Zoo. The Symposium includes presentations, exhibit space, and the AMSAT Annual General Meeting. The preliminary schedule is presented below. The AMSAT Board of Directors Meeting will be held before the Symposium, October 28-29, at the same hotel. You can make hotel reservations by calling the hotel directly at (952) 854-9000 or (877) 424-4188 (toll free) or online by visiting crowneplazaaire.com. The group name is Amateur Satellite Group. Registration is available on AMSAT's Member Portal at https://launch.amsat.org/Events Preliminary Schedule of Events (subject to change) Thursday, October 28, 2021 0800 1200 AMSAT Board Meeting 1200 1300 AMSAT Board Lunch Break 1300 1700 AMSAT Board Meeting 1600 1900 Registration Friday, October 29, 2021 0800 1900 Registration 0800 2100 Space Exhibit 0800 1200 AMSAT Board Meeting 1200 1300 AMSAT Board Lunch Break 1300 1700 AMSAT Space Symposium presentations 1700 1900 Dinner Break 1900 2130 AMSAT Reception, cash bar available Saturday, October 30, 2021 0800 1600 Registration 0800 2100 Space Exhibit 0800 1200 AMSAT Space Symposium presentations 1200 1300 Lunch Break 1300 1500 AMSAT Space Symposium presentations 1500 1700 AMSAT Annual General Meeting 1800 1900 Attitude Adjustment (reception) 1800 2200 Cash Bar 1900 2200 Banquet Sunday, October 31, 2021 0700 0900 AMSAT Ambassadors Breakfast NOTE: All times are Central Daylight Time (CDT), UTC 5 hours [ANS thanks the 2021 AMSAT Symposium Committee for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Join the 2021 President's Club! Score your 2" 4-Color Accent Commemorative Coin. This gold finished coin comes with Full Color Certificate and Embroidered "Remove Before Flight" Key Tag Donate today at https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/ You won't want to miss it! +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ 2021 AMSAT Board of Directors Election Being Held The nomination period for the 2021 Board of Directors Election ended on June 15, 2021. The following candidates have been duly nominated and their candidate statements can be found at link that follows: Joseph Armbruster, KJ4JIO Robert Bankston, KE4AL Jerry Buxton, N0JY Zach Metzinger, N0ZGO In accordance with our Bylaws, AMSAT must hold an election, even though we have four nominations for four open Director positions. As such, we will host electronic voting on our Member Portal this year, at no cost to the organization. Voting is now open and will close on September 15, 2021. When members click on the poll link, they will see their ballot (poll question). After choosing from the possible options, click the Submit button to cast your vote. Unlike many online polls, the results of all votes cast, up to the point of your vote, will not be displayed. AMSAT members can only vote once. If you click the poll link again after already voting, a vote submitted message will be displayed. As four seats on the Board of Directors are up for election this year, all four candidates will be seated on the Board when the voting period concludes on September 15, 2021. To read candidate biographies see: https://launch.amsat.org/2021-BoD-Election AMSAT members may access their ballots at: https://launch.amsat.org/Sys/Poll/25943 [ANS thanks Jeff Davis, KE9V, AMSAT Secretary, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- 23cm band and Sat-Nav Coexistence: Preliminary Studies considered in ITU-R WP4C During the period 513 July 2021, the preparatory work for WRC-23 agenda item 9.1b continued in ITU-R Working Party 4C (WP4C). (See Region 1 Feb 23rd news item for further background). The IARU member representatives from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Japan, Norway, UK and USA, participated in the meeting and delivered additional information on amateur activities in this key microwave band. Preliminary studies came from France based on the ongoing CEPT work to provide initial estimates of separation distances required between RNSS GALILEO receivers and a sample of amateur emissions. The European Commission GALILEO team provided a set of observations pertaining to a RNSS interference event in northern Italy. More information is on the IARU page at: https://bit.ly/3kKEmRq [ANS thanks The IARU and Barry Lewis, G4SJH for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Need new satellite antennas? Purchase Arrows, Alaskan Arrows, and M2 LEO-Packs from the AMSAT Store. When you purchase through AMSAT, a portion of the proceeds goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space. https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AO-109 (RadFxSat-2/AMSAT Fox-1E) Open For Amateur Use The AMSAT Engineering and Operations Teams are pleased to announce that AO-109 (RadFxSat-2/AMSAT Fox-1E) is now open for amateur use. Users are advised to use efficient modes such as CW or FT4 for making contacts, since issues with the satellite make SSB voice contacts challenging at best. Please see the May/June 2021 issue (Vol. 44, No. 3) of The AMSAT Journal for an article by Burns Fisher, WB1FJ, and Mark Hammond, N8MH, detailing the various attempts to characterize AO-109 and its apparent problems. On behalf of the Engineering and Operations Teams-- 73, Jerry, N0JY and Drew, KO4MA AO-109 Frequencies Inverting Linear Transponder Uplink 145.860 MHz - 145.890 MHz Downlink 435.760 MHz - 435.790 MHz 1k2 BPSK Telemetry 435.750 MHz (non-operational) [ANS thanks AMSAT Vice President - Engineering Jerry Buxton, N0JY, and AMSAT Vice President - Operations Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- New operational reports on FO-29 and AO-109 In a recent email, Hideo Kambayashi, JH3XCU has kindly translated the August 2021 operational schedule for FO-29: "FO-29 operation schedule for Aug. 2021 (UTC) 1st 11:48- 7th 01:14- 11:33- 13:16- 8th 00:19- 10:35- 12:22- 14th 00:04- 10:20- 12:07- 23:09- 15th 11:12- 12:56- 17th 00:48- 02:35- 11:06- 12:52- 21st 00:38- 02:25- 10:56- 23:45- 22nd 09:59- 11:45- 27th 23:30- 28th 09:45- 11:30- 22:35- 29th 00:18- 10:35- Source:https://www.jarl.org/Japanese/3_Fuji/fuji3-202107.htm Considerable discussion of AO-109 activity has occured on the AMSAT-NA email reflector. Chris Burns writes: "I guess our friend AO-109 must have been just waiting for us to open it up for amateur use before sending some telemetry :-) Seriously, thanks to SatNogs, we found some telemetry that was recorded on May 10 just after we cranked up the modulator gain. In addition, a SatNogs observation today, July 21, also shows signs of weak telemetry. We'd appreciate it if anyone who has a station that can receive telemetry, especially stations with good gain and tracking ability, could listen for AO-109 telemetry on 435.750. If FoxTelem is all you have that's great, but if you also have some way to capture the signal in a file (say IQ recording in HDSDR) that would be even better. Chances are the signal is weak enough that it might need some teasing by our experts before we can get any info out of it. I'll also schedule some SatNogs observations, and anyone who has a SatNogs station with similar characteristics (gain antenna etc), please schedule some of your own over the next few days!" Chris Thompson, AC2CZ/G0KLA adds: "But, let me remind everyone that the prize and glory for receiving and decoding the first telemetry is still available. I could partially decode the data that Mark supplied by turning off the Forward Error Correction and decoding the bytes between the sync words - errors and all. It is quite a challenge to receive decodable frames but it is surely possible. See if you can be the first to post decoded frames. If you are not set up to decode frames but have a good recording, then send it to me and I will attempt to decode it. The prize will be yours all the same. As an example, the ITR waterfall is just not quite decodable: https://network.satnogs.org/observations/4453728/. But it is close. If you can do better than that then the prize could be yours. Mark Jessop, VK5QI, also provides the following: "I've scheduled more observations on the ITR ground station, which is not usually schedulable by most SatNOGS users (the station is in testing). The ITR station is using a large ZCG-Scalar Cross-Yagi, phased for RHCP. Gain is approx 14 dBd. A picture of the station is here: https://network-satnogs.freetls.fastly.net/media/ground_stations/20170911_14 0358.jpg. Worth noting that only one of those cross-yagis is hooked up at the moment." [ANS thanks Hideo Kambayashi, JH3XCU of JAMSAT, Burns Fisher WB1FJ AMSAT Flight Software, Chris Thompson, AC2CZ, and Mark Jessop VK5QI for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AMSAT's GOLF Program is about getting back to higher orbits, and it all begins with GOLF-TEE a technology demonstrator for deployable solar panels, propulsion, and attitude control, now manifested for launch on NASA's ELaNa 46 mission. Come along for the ride. The journey will be worth it! https://tinyurl.com/ANS-GOLF +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ There are no changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for July 22, 2021 The current Keplerian file is available at: https://www.amsat.org/tle/current/nasa.all [ANS thanks Ray Hoad, WA5QGD, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager, for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition? Get your AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff from our Zazzle store! 25% of the purchase price of each product goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ NEA Scout and solar sails on CUBESAT experiments. Now tested at scale, first by Japans IKAROS in 2010 (196 m2 sail) and later by The Planetary Societys LightSail 2 (32 m2 sail), solar sails allow for low, continuous thrust without the use of fuel. NASAs Near-Earth Asteroid Scout mission, or NEA Scout, is a 6U CubeSat with an 86 m2 aluminized polymer solar sail planned to launch on Artemis I (e.g. probably very late this year or early next). The entire craft and sail weigh less than 14 kg. The mission will spend two years sailing on solar photon pressure (and adjusting course with cold gas thrusters) to reach 1991 VG, a very small NEA, and will then characterize the asteroids physical properties during a slow flyby (10-20 m/s; paper). If successful, the mission may be extended to another asteroid. Further out, NASA plans to launch Solar Cruiser in 2025 to the Earth-Sun L1 point where it will use the largest solar sail ever flown (1,650 m2, with built-in reflection control devices at the sails corners for attitude adjustments), to explore a novel orbit: Solar Cruiser will fly beyond L1 and use a solar sail to make its own artificial orbit closer to the Sun, but still on a straight line between the Sun and Earth as Earth revolves around the Sun. Only a solar sail can provide the forces necessary to maintain such an otherwise unstable orbit, since doing so requires constant fuel. This is a testbed for future, even more ambitious missions. [ANS thanks The Orbital Index for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- 10th annual NASA Space Apps Challenge Registration is open for the 10th annual NASA Space Apps Challenge. NASA is inviting coders, entrepreneurs, scientists, designers, storytellers, makers, builders, artists, and technologists to come together in a global, virtual hackathon the weekend of October 2-3, 2021. During a period of 48 hours, participants from around the world will come together to create virtual teams and solve challenges using NASAs open-sourced data. See https://www.spaceappschallenge.org/ for information and registration details. [ANS thanks NASA for the above information] -------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS NEWS No ARISS activities are being reported for the coming week. The ARISS status page below explains. The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html [ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AMSAT, along with our ARISS partners, is developing an amateur radio package, including two-way communication capability, to be carried on-board Gateway in lunar orbit. Support AMSAT's projects today at https://www.amsat.org/donate/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Upcoming Satellite Operations Quick Hits: DM23, DM33, DM43 Dave AD7DB will be operating holiday style on FM satellites from July 22-25 2021. DM23 will be on July 22 or 25. The other grids may be activated on any of those days depending on weather and other factors. Confirmations in LOTW. Follow @ad7db on Twitter for updates. FN65/66: Indeed, VY2HF will be in FN65 from Thursday (7/22 7/29) evening this week until the following Thursday morning. As Ill be in Fredericton proper, if there is interest I can position myself on the FN65/FN66 grid line with little trouble. Daytimes will be best, RS44 preferred, FM doable also. And on Thursday the 29th I will be driving into FN76/77 for several more days. Major Roves: WA7AA: July 25-27 DN64 holiday style July 30-31 DN63 holiday style The remaining parts of this trip will be camping in remote areas with little to no internet or Twitter. I will get info out as I can, but I wont be able to setup skeds ahead of time. Lots of POTA activations on Sats and HF as well. I will be operating as F4DXV/P from several different grids over the next 2 weeks of my vacation (holiday's style mode & weather permitting of course) From Jérôme F4DXV: My current plans for NA, look like this: JN14 on July 25th: RS-44 13utc (during the trip therefore not guaranteed with traffic) JN15 on July 26th: AO-7 08:40utc JN05 on July 28th: AO-7 08:35utc IN96 on August 01: FO-29 12:00utc IN96 on August 06: AO-7 18:12utc JN06 on August 09: RS-44 11:42utc (on my return trip so not guaranteed with traffic) IN94 on August 16: RS-44 10:40utc Please look for me ~145.938 for AO-7 , ~435.660 for RS-44 & 435.640 for FO-29 Hope to CU there Tyler Nicolas, WL7T has been busy Tweeting his roves. The latest: "Plan to be in BP42 Friday evening, BP53 Saturday evening, and the big one BP63 (a difficult grid to get to) on Sunday. Please submit any additions or corrections to Ke0pbr (at) gmail.com [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT rover page manager, Jérôme LeCuyer,F4DXV and Tyler Nicolas, WL7T for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events. No upcoming events currently scheduled. Think a 90-minute lively, informative, and fun How to Work the Easy Satellites Zoom presentation would be appropriate for your convention or club? Always includes are overviews of the ARRL, AMSAT, and ARISS and pre-presentation questions are solicited and welcome. Contact AMSAT Ambassador Clint Bradford, K6LCS, at http://www.work-sat.com or by phone at 909-999-SATS (7287) [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT Events page manager, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + NASA is also developing its ACS3 mission to test light-weight deployable booms for solar sails using composite materials that are 75% lighter and experience 100x less in-space thermal distortion than those used previously. The ACS3 sail is 9 meters on a side and deploys from a 12U CubeSat. (ANS thanks The Orbital Index for the above information) + Recently announced, joining NEA Scout on Artemis I are two CubeSats from JAXA. EQUULEUS is a 6U CubeSat that will demonstrate low-energy trajectory control technologies at the Earth-Moon L2 point, and OMOTENASHI, which will attempt a sort-of soft landing on the Moon with a small rocket motor and an airbag, all in a 12 kg, 6U spacecraft! (ANS thanks The Orbital Index for the above information) + A Tweet reminder from Mitch Ahrenstorff @AD0HJ: AMSAT-Twitter Meetup Net on DMR BrandMeister Talkgroup #98006 | YSF Reflector #11689 | Echolink *AMSAT* #101377 July 22nd 0200Z (Wednesday Night 9:00 PM CDT). Please stop by with your check-in and comments! Net Control tonight will be Mitch @AD0HJ #amsat #dmr #ysf #echolink (ANS thanks Mitch Ahrenstorff @AD0H for the above information) + A number of interesting announcements and updates to QO-100 operation have been posted by AMSAT-Deutchland. This include a lecture by Dr. K-A Eichorn, DK3ZL about the DP0POL/MM Polarstern voyage, A QO-100 linux SDR, and that contests will be allowed on the upper mixed mode range of QO-100. Details are at: https://amsat-dl.org/en/ (ANS thanks AMSAT-Deutchland for the above information) +MIR-SAT/OSCAR-112 News from Jean Marc Momple(3B8DU): "Dear All, Just to share a great achievement from a local school: MIR-SAT 1 TLM was received and decoded by Forest Side State Secondary School (Girls) team (LG89sq) today thus the 1st school in 3B8 and uploaded to Satnogs. This is great and hopefully inspire these YL to STEM. Great day for me as Radio Amateurs donated the Ground Station and I coached them. Many other schools in 3B8 were provided with Ground station kits to enable them to receive the signals from MIR-SAT 1 and hopefully we will see soon many schools doing so soon." Congratulations Jean Marc! --------------------------------------------------------------------- In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional benefits. President's Club donations may be made at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-PresClub or through the AMSAT Store. Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional student membership information. Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/ 73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space, This week's ANS Editor, Jack Spitznagel, KD4IZ, Associate Editor, AMSAT News Service KD4IZ at arrl dot net

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ANS-201 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin - AO-109 (RadFxSat-2/AMSAT Fox-1E) Open For Amateur Use
by Paul Stoetzer 19 Jul '21

19 Jul '21

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE SPECIAL BULLETIN ANS-201 The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. The news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor at amsat.org. You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/ In this edition: * AO-109 (RadFxSat-2/AMSAT Fox-1E) Open For Amateur Use SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-201.01 ANS-201 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin AMSAT News Service Bulletin 201.01 From AMSAT HQ WASHINGTON, DC DATE July 20, 2021 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-201.01 AO-109 (RadFxSat-2/AMSAT Fox-1E) Open For Amateur Use The AMSAT Engineering and Operations Teams are pleased to announce that AO-109 (RadFxSat-2/AMSAT Fox-1E) is now open for amateur use. Users are advised to use efficient modes such as CW or FT4 for making contacts, since issues with the satellite make SSB voice contacts challenging at best. Please see the May/June 2021 issue (Vol. 44, No. 3) of The AMSAT Journal for an article by Burns Fisher, WB1FJ, and Mark Hammond, N8MH, detailing the various attempts to characterize AO-109 and its apparent problems. On behalf of the Engineering and Operations Teams-- 73, Jerry, N0JY and Drew, KO4MA AO-109 Frequencies Inverting Linear Transponder Uplink 145.860 MHz - 145.890 MHz Downlink 435.760 MHz - 435.790 MHz 1k2 BPSK Telemetry 435.750 MHz (non-operational) [ANS thanks AMSAT Vice President - Engineering Jerry Buxton, N0JY, and AMSAT Vice President - Operations Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, for the above information] /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional benefits. President's Club donations may be made at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-PresClub. Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/ 73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space, This week's ANS Contributing Editor, Paul Stoetzer, N8HM n8hm at amsat dot org

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ANS-199 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for July 18
by Mark Johns, K0JM 17 Jul '21

17 Jul '21

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-199 The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. The news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor(a)amsat.org You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/ In this edition: * AMSAT's 39th Annual Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting To Be Held October 29-31 * First call for papers for 2021 AMSAT Space Symposium * 2021 AMSAT Board of Directors Election Being Held * May/June 2021 Issue of The AMSAT Journal Now Available * ISS SSTV 145.800 MHz FM June 21-26 * Youth on the Air Campers Enjoy Successful ISS Contact, Busy with Other Activities * Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for July 15, 2021 * NASA TV to Air Crew Dragon Port Relocation on Space Station * NASA TV to Air Launch of Space Station Module, Departure of Another * ARISS News * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Satellite Shorts From All Over ANS-199 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins To: All RADIO AMATEURS From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation 712 H Street NE, Suite 1653 Washington, DC 20002 DATE 2021 July 18 AMSAT's 39th Annual Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting To Be Held October 29-31 The 39th AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting will be held Friday through Sunday, October 29-31, 2021, at the Crowne Plaza AiRE in Bloomington, Minnesota. Crowne Plaza AiRE is located at 3 Appletree Square, Bloomington, MN 55245. The Crowne Plaza AiRE is adjacent to the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and only steps away from the METRO Blue Line’s American Blvd. stop. Nearby shopping and tourist attractions include Mall of America, SEA LIFE at Mall of America, Nickelodeon Universe, and the Minnesota Zoo. The Symposium includes presentations, exhibit space, and the AMSAT Annual General Meeting. The preliminary schedule is presented below. The AMSAT Board of Directors Meeting will be held before the Symposium, October 28-29, at the same hotel. You can make hotel reservations by calling the hotel directly at (952) 854-9000 or (877) 424-4188 (toll free) or online by visiting crowneplazaaire.com. The group name is Amateur Satellite Group. Registration is available on AMSAT's Member Portal at https://launch.amsat.org/Events Preliminary Schedule of Events (subject to change) Thursday, October 28, 2021 0800 – 1200 AMSAT Board Meeting 1200 – 1300 AMSAT Board Lunch Break 1300 – 1700 AMSAT Board Meeting 1600 – 1900 Registration Friday, October 29, 2021 0800 – 1900 Registration 0800 – 2100 Space Exhibit 0800 – 1200 AMSAT Board Meeting 1200 – 1300 AMSAT Board Lunch Break 1300 – 1700 AMSAT Space Symposium presentations 1700 – 1900 Dinner Break 1900 – 2130 AMSAT Reception, cash bar available Saturday, October 30, 2021 0800 – 1600 Registration 0800 – 2100 Space Exhibit 0800 – 1200 AMSAT Space Symposium presentations 1200 – 1300 Lunch Break 1300 – 1500 AMSAT Space Symposium presentations 1500 – 1700 AMSAT Annual General Meeting 1800 – 1900 Attitude Adjustment (reception) 1800 – 2200 Cash Bar 1900 – 2200 Banquet Sunday, October 31, 2021 0700 – 0900 AMSAT Ambassadors’ Breakfast NOTE: All times are Central Daylight Time (CDT), UTC – 5 hours [ANS thanks the 2021 AMSAT Symposium Committee for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Join the 2021 President's Club! Score your 2" 4-Color Accent Commemorative Coin. This gold finished coin comes with Full Color Certificate and Embroidered "Remove Before Flight" Key Tag Donate today at https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/ You won't want to miss it! +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ First call for papers for 2021 AMSAT Space Symposium This is the first call for papers for the 39th AMSAT Space Symposium to be held on the weekend of October 29-31, 2021 at the Crowne Plaza AiRE hotel in Bloomington, Minnesota. Proposals for symposium presentations are invited on any topic of interest to the amateur satellite community. We request a tentative title of your presentation as soon as possible, with final copy submitted by October 18 for inclusion in the symposium proceedings. Abstracts and papers should be sent to Dan Schultz, N8FGV at n8fgv(a)amsat.org [ANS thanks Dan Schultz, N8FGV, Symposium Program Committee, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- 2021 AMSAT Board of Directors Election Being Held The nomination period for the 2021 Board of Directors Election ended on June 15, 2021. The following candidates have been duly nominated and their candidate statements can be found at link that follows: Joseph Armbruster, KJ4JIO Robert Bankston, KE4AL Jerry Buxton, N0JY Zach Metzinger, N0ZGO In accordance with our Bylaws, AMSAT must hold an election, even though we have four nominations for four open Director positions. As such, we will host electronic voting on our Member Portal this year, at no cost to the organization. Voting is now open and will close on September 15, 2021. When members click on the poll link, they will see their ballot (poll question). After choosing from the possible options, click the Submit button to cast your vote. Unlike many online polls, the results of all votes cast, up to the point of your vote, will not be displayed. AMSAT members can only vote once. If you click the poll link again after already voting, a vote submitted message will be displayed. As four seats on the Board of Directors are up for election this year, all four candidates will be seated on the Board when the voting period concludes on September 15, 2021. To read candidate biographies see: https://launch.amsat.org/2021-BoD-Election AMSAT members may access their ballots at: https://launch.amsat.org/Sys/Poll/25943 [ANS thanks Jeff Davis, KE9V, AMSAT Secretary, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- May/June 2021 Issue of The AMSAT Journal Now Available The May/June 2021 issue of The AMSAT Journal is now available to members on AMSAT’s Member Portal. The AMSAT Journal is a bi-monthly digital magazine for amateur radio in space enthusiasts, published by the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT). Each issue is your source for hardware and software projects, technical tips, STEM initiatives, operational activities, and news from around the world. AMSAT members may download their copy at: https://launch.amsat.org/ Inside the Current Issue * Apogee View – Robert Bankston, KE4AL * AMSAT Strategic Plan: A Roadmap for Success – Robert Bankston, KE4AL * Educational Relations Update – Alan Johnston, KU2Y * AMSAT Board of Directors Election – Jeff Davis, KE9V * Debugging AO-109 (RadFxSat-2, Fox-1E) – Burns Fisher, WB1FJ and Mark Hammond, N8MH * Working Portable with the Icom IC-9700 – Paul Philip, AC9O * A Really Cheap Portable Satellite Mount – Keith Baker, KB1SF / VA3KSF * Building a Tiny Satellite Ground Station – Mike Spohn, N1SPW [ANS thanks The AMSAT Journal for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Need new satellite antennas? Purchase Arrows, Alaskan Arrows, and M2 LEO-Packs from the AMSAT Store. When you purchase through AMSAT, a portion of the proceeds goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space. https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ ISS SSTV 145.800 MHz FM June 21-26 Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) logoARISS report there will be an “Amateur Radio on Shuttle, Mir and ISS” Slow Scan TV (SSTV) event from June 21-26. Transmissions from the International Space Station will be on 145.800 MHz FM using PD120. The ARISS team will be transmitting SSTV images continuously from June 21 until June 26. The images will be related to some of the amateur radio activities that have occurred on the Space Shuttle, Mir space station and the International Space Station. The schedule start and stop times are: Monday, June 21 – Setup is scheduled to begin at 09:40 UTC (transmissions should start a little later). Saturday, June 26 – Transmissions are scheduled to end by 18:30 UTC. Downlink frequency will be 145.800 MHz and the mode should be PD120. Those that recently missed the opportunity during the limited period of MAI transmissions should have numerous chances over the 6 day period to capture many (if not all 12) of the images. Check the ARISS SSTV blog for the latest information http://ariss-sstv.blogspot.com/ ARISS SSTV Award https://ariss.pzk.org.pl/sstv/ The signal should be receivable on a handheld with a 1/4 wave whip. If your rig has selectable FM filters try the wider filter for 25 kHz channel spacing. You can get predictions for the ISS pass times at https://www.amsat.org/track/ Useful SSTV info and links https://amsat-uk.org/beginners/iss-sstv/ [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Youth on the Air Campers Enjoy Successful ISS Contact, Busy with Other Activities The first Youth on the Air (YOTA) camp for young radio amateurs in the Americas is under way in West Chester, Ohio. Among other activities, the campers have been operating special event station W8Y from both the National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting and from the camp hotel. The camp wraps up with an hour-long closing ceremony on Friday, July 16. "Things are going really well," said Camp Director Neil Rapp, WB9VPG. The earlier launch of a balloon carrying a ham radio payload was successful, he said, and -- after pinpointing where the payload landed some 3 hours away -- the campers were able to retrieve the package, thanks to some understanding landowners. Rapp said the balloon reached approximately 100,000 feet. Rapp said that campers have gotten along well from the first day, and problems in general have been few and minor. Several of the approximately two dozen campers got to ask questions of ISS crew member Akihiko Hoshide, KE5DNI, during a Tuesday Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact. Responding to a query posed by Graham, KO4FJK, Hoshide said the most interesting things he's seen from space included flying through an aurora and looking down at shooting stars from the ISS. He also said the ISS crew was able to view a partial lunar eclipse from space. Another camper, Adam, KD9KIS, wanted to know how often the ISS crew members use the onboard ham station. Hoshide said individual crew members may get on the radio every couple of weeks or so, or as the opportunity arises. "This ARISS contact is intended to inspire these young hams to learn more about communication using amateur satellites and making ARISS radio contacts," ARISS said in announcing the contact date. ARISS team member John Sygo, ZS6JON, in South Africa, served as the telebridge relay station for the late-morning event, which was streamed live via YouTube. Rapp said he's hoping this pilot camp venture will provide the information needed to replicate the camp over multiple locations for years to come. "We also hope this brings a more robust community of young hams into amateur radio," he added. The long-anticipated summer camp for up to 30 hams, aged 15 through 25, was set for last June, but it had to be rescheduled until summer 2021 because of COVID-19 pandemic concerns. The camp for young hams in the Americas took its cue from the summer Youngsters on the Air camps held for the past few years in various IARU Region 1 countries. The Region 2 camp is aimed at helping participants to take their ham radio experience to the next level by exposing them to a variety of activities and providing the opportunity to meet other young hams. Activities include kit building, antenna building, transmitter hunting and direction finding, operating with digital modes, and launching a high-altitude balloon. Amateur satellite operation is one of the workshops provided. Others include effective radio communication, local ham radio history, and using amateur radio during emergencies. The YouTube channel features daily highlight videos. W8Y has been on the air as campers complete projects, between sessions, and during free time, although some late-evening slots have been on the schedule. The camp's opening observance on Sunday featured keynote speaker Tim Duffy, K3LR, who told the campers, "Amateur radio is the best hobby in the world." Campers also saw a video presentation by International Amateur Radio Union Region 1 Youth Working Group chair Philipp Springer, DK6SP. ARRL and The Yasme Foundation donated project kits for the campers. XTronics provided temperature-controlled soldering stations. The brochure on the Youth on the Air website includes more details about the camp. -- Thanks to ARISS for some information [ANS thanks ARISS and ARRL for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AMSAT's GOLF Program is about getting back to higher orbits, and it all begins with GOLF-TEE – a technology demonstrator for deployable solar panels, propulsion, and attitude control, now manifested for launch on NASA's ELaNa 46 mission. Come along for the ride. The journey will be worth it! https://tinyurl.com/ANS-GOLF +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for July 15, 2021 The name of the following satellite has been changed in this week's AMSAT TLE Distribution as follows: The satellite owner actually uses a dash in the satellite name rather than a blank. The name of CubeBel 1 has been changed to CubeBel-1 (NORAD Cat ID 43666) to correct the satellite name. [ANS thanks Ray Hoad, WA5QGD, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager, for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition? Get your AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff from our Zazzle store! 25% of the purchase price of each product goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ NASA TV to Air Crew Dragon Port Relocation on Space Station NASA’s SpaceX Crew-2 astronauts on the International Space Station will relocate their Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft Wednesday, July 21, setting the stage for a historic first when two different U.S. commercial spacecraft built for crew will be docked to the microgravity laboratory at the same time. Live coverage will begin at 6:30 a.m. EDT (10:30z) on NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency’s website. NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough, KE5HOD, and Megan McArthur, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, KE5DNI, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet, KG5FYG, will board the Crew Dragon spacecraft about 4:30 a.m. and undock from the forward port of the station’s Harmony module at 6:45 a.m. The spacecraft will dock again at the station’s space-facing port at 7:32 a.m. The relocation will free up Harmony’s forward port for the docking of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft, scheduled for launch Friday, July 30, as part of NASA’s Boeing Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2) mission. The flight will test the end-to-end capabilities of Starliner from launch to docking, atmospheric re-entry, and a desert landing in the western United States. The uncrewed mission will provide valuable data about Boeing’s crew transportation system, and help NASA certify Starliner and the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket for regular flights with astronauts to and from the space station. This will be the second port relocation of a Crew Dragon spacecraft. NASA’s SpaceX Crew-2 mission lifted off April 23 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida and docked to the space station April 24. Crew-2, targeted to return in early-to-mid November, is the second of six certified crew missions NASA and SpaceX have planned as a part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. [ANS thanks NASA for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- NASA TV to Air Launch of Space Station Module, Departure of Another NASA will provide live coverage of a new Russian science module’s launch and automated docking to the International Space Station, and the undocking of another module that has been part of the orbital outpost for the past 20 years. Live coverage of all events will be available on NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency’s website. The uncrewed Multipurpose Laboratory Module (MLM), named Nauka, the Russian word for “science,” is scheduled to launch at 10:58 a.m. EDT (14:58z) Wednesday, July 21 on a three-stage Proton rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Live launch coverage will begin at 10:30 a.m. Two days later, on Friday, July 23, the uncrewed ISS Progress 77 spacecraft will undock from the Russian segment of the station while attached to the Pirs docking compartment. With Pirs attached, Progress 77 is scheduled to undock at 9:17 a.m. (13:17z) Live coverage of undocking will begin at 8:45 a.m. A few hours later, Progress’ engines will fire in a deorbit maneuver to send the cargo craft and Pirs into a destructive reentry in the Earth’s atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean. Deorbit and reentry will not be covered on NASA TV. After Nauka completes eight days in free-flight to allow Russian flight controllers to evaluate its systems, the 43-foot long, 23-ton module will automatically link up to the port on the Earth-facing side of the Russian segment station, vacated by the departure of Pirs. Docking is scheduled for 9:25 a.m. Thursday (13:25z), July 29, with live coverage beginning at 8:30 a.m. Nauka will serve as a new science facility, docking port, and spacewalk airlock for future operations. Pirs has been part of the space station since September 2001, functioning as a docking port for Russian visiting spacecraft and an airlock for Russian spacewalks. For more than 20 years, astronauts have continuously lived and worked on the space station, testing technologies, performing science, and developing the skills needed to explore farther from Earth. Through NASA’s Artemis program, the agency will send the first woman and the first person of color to the Moon’s surface, and eventually expand human exploration to Mars. Inspiring the next generation of explorers – the Artemis Generation – ensures America will continue to lead in space exploration and discovery. [ANS thanks NASA for the above information] -------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS NEWS Amateurs and others around the world may listen in on contacts between amateurs operating in schools and allowing students to interact with astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station. The downlink frequency on which to listen is 145.800 MHz worldwide. YOTA 2021, West Chester, OH, telebridge via ZS6JON The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Akihiko Hoshide KE5DNI Contact is go for: Wed 2021-07-14 15:03:16 UTC 58 degrees max elevation TBD, Russia, direct via TBD The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS The scheduled astronaut is Pyotr Dubrov Contact is a go for Wed 2021-07-14 20:10 UTC SpaceKids Global, Winter Park, FL, multi-point telebridge via IK1SLD The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be TBD The scheduled astronaut is Shane Kimbrough KE5HOD Contact is go for: Wed 2021-07-21 17:47:21 UTC 51 degrees max elevation Seinan Gakuin Junior Senior High School, Fukuoka, Japan, direct via 8N6SW The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Akihiko Hoshide KE5DNI Contact is go for: Thu 2021-07-22 09:14:25 UTC 31 degrees max elevation The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html [ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AMSAT, along with our ARISS partners, is developing an amateur radio package, including two-way communication capability, to be carried on-board Gateway in lunar orbit. Support AMSAT's projects today at https://www.amsat.org/donate/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Upcoming Satellite Operations Quick Hits: DM23, DM33, DM43 – Dave AD7DB will be operating holiday style on FM satellites from July 22-25 2021. DM23 will be on July 22 or 25. The other grids may be activated on any of those days depending on weather and other factors. Confirmations in LOTW. Follow @ad7db on Twitter for updates. Major Roves: WA7AA: July 13-16 DN28 holiday style July 17 DN38 holiday style July 18 DN47/48 daytime passes July 21-23 DN54 holiday style July 25-27 DN64 holiday style July 30-31 DN63 holiday style July 7, 10, 11, 18 will all be planned trips just for Sat passes FM and SSB. I will try to publish passes ahead of time on Twitter and QRZ. The remainder of the trip will be camping in remote areas with little to no internet or Twitter. I will get info out as I can, but I won’t be able to setup skeds ahead of time. Lots of POTA activations on Sats and HF as well. Please submit any additions or corrections to Ke0pbr (at) gmail.com [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT rover page manager, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events. No upcoming events currently scheduled. Think a 90-minute lively, informative, and fun “How to Work the Easy Satellites” Zoom presentation would be appropriate for your convention or club? Always includes are overviews of the ARRL, AMSAT, and ARISS … and pre-presentation questions are solicited and welcome. Contact AMSAT Ambassador Clint Bradford, K6LCS, at http://www.work-sat.com or by phone at 909-999-SATS (7287) [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT Events page manager, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + NASA awarded a $935 million contract to Northrop Grumman to build and integrate the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO) module for the lunar Gateway, based off their Cygnus cargo craft, targeting a launch on a Falcon Heavy in late 2024. This module will house astronauts and provide command, control and power, plus three docking ports and mounting hardware for Canadarm3 [and very likely, an amateur radio station!]. (ANS thanks The Orbital Index for the above information). + Duct tape is really important in space. Among other things it was used by the crew of Apollo 13 to build their improvised carbon monoxide scrubber (called “gray tape” in the transcript). Amazingly, up until 2021 astronauts on the ISS just stuck it to the wall and had to remember where it was; SpaceX Crew-1 finally brought a duct tape dispenser which can be operated with one hand, allowing an astronaut to stabilize themselves with the other. Even more amazingly, the dispenser was designed by high school students as part of NASA HUNCH, a program that farms out tactical engineering problems to high schoolers. (ANS thanks The Prepared blog and The Orbital Index for the above information) + China launched five small satellites designed to detect and monitor global radio transmissions Friday, July 9, 2021 on top of a Long March 6 rocket, joining five similar spacecraft deployed in orbit in 2019. The five satellites belong to a fleet owned by Ningxia Jingui Information Technology Co. Ltd., a company that provides radio spectrum monitoring services to commercial and Chinese government customers. (ANS thanks SpaceFlightNow for the above information) + A record number of satellites were launched into orbit in 2020, according to the Satellite Industry Association’s (SIA) State of the Satellite Industry Report. By the end of 2020, there were 3,371 satellites orbiting Earth, an increase of 37% from 2019. The commercial satellite industry dominates the $371 billion global space economy, making up $271 billion, or nearly 73% of its revenue. (ANS thanks SatelliteToday for the above information) + NASA is announcing its 2021 Entrepreneurs Challenge to invite fresh ideas and new participants that will lead to new instruments and technologies with the potential to advance the agency’s science mission goals. To encourage entrepreneurs to participate in the challenge, the Science Mission Directorate will award finalists as much as $90,000 through a two-stage process. Details at https://www.nasa-science-challenge.com (ANS thanks Southgate ARC for the above information) + The Atmosphere–Space Interactions Monitor, or ASIM, installed outside the European space laboratory Columbus module on the ISS, has detected a ‘blue jet’—upward shooting lighting—that climbed to the interface between the stratosphere and the ionosphere. These have previously been associated with 10- to 30-microsecond pulses of intense radiation across the 3 to 300 MHz radio spectrum. More study is necessary to determine effects related to radio propagation. (ANS thanks The Orbital Index and ESA for the above information) + Virgin Galactic owner Richard Branson rocketed into space Sunday, an edge-of-the-seat sub-orbital test flight intended to demonstrate his company’s air-launched spaceplane is ready for passengers who can afford the ultimate thrill ride. Whether the view and a couple of minutes of microgravity are worth the $250,000 (which purportedly 600+ people are signed up to pay) is entirely a matter of opinion. But if you sign up, and plan to take along your hand-held ham transceiver, please let us know! --------------------------------------------------------------------- In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional benefits. President's Club donations may be made at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-PresClub or through the AMSAT Store. Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional student membership information. Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/ 73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space, This week's ANS Editor, Mark Johns, K0JM k0jm at amsat dot org

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ANS-192 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Paul Stoetzer 10 Jul '21

10 Jul '21

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-192 The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. The news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor(a)amsat.org You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/ In this edition: * AMSAT CubeSatSim First Official Release – v1.0 * AMSAT FoxTelem Version 1.11 Released * AMSAT Pacsat Ground Station Version 0.43 Released * FalconSat-3 Status * Field Day Score Deadline - Friday, July 16th * MIR-SAT1 Gold Award Winners * Long Live PCSAT (NO-44) (and PCSAT-11) * Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for July 8, 2021 * ARISS News * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Satellite Shorts From All Over AMSAT News Service Bulletin 192.01 To: All RADIO AMATEURS From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation 712 H Street NE Suite 1653 Washington, DC 20002 DATE 2021 Ju1 11 -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- Join the 2021 President's Club! Score your 2" 4-Color Accent Commemorative Coin with Polished Gold Finish, Full Color Certificate and Embroidered "Remove Before Flight" Key Tag By donating today at https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/ You won't want to miss it! -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- AMSAT CubeSatSim First Official Release – v1.0 I am very pleased to announce the first software release of the CubeSatSim software v1.0! Along with the first hardware release v1.0 last month, this is an important milestone for this AMSAT educational project. All the CubeSatSim software and hardware is fully open source. The v1.0 release info is available on GitHub here: https://github.com/alanbjohnston/CubeSatSim/releases/tag/v1.0 and the v1.0 hardware info including gerber files is available here: https://github.com/alanbjohnston/CubeSatSim/tree/v1.0/hardware/v1.0 Thanks to Bruce Paige, KK5DO, we have CubeSatSim blank PCB sets and CubeSatSim Raspberry Pi SD cards available on the AMSAT Store. For the moment, they are only available to ship to US addresses. In a post-COVID future, we hope to offer worldwide shipping. The CubeSatSim Raspberry Pi SD Card is a 16 GB micro SD card with Raspberry Pi OS Lite and all the CubeSatSim software installed and configured on it. It is available at the AMSAT Store for $20 https://www.amsat.org/product/amsat-cubesatsim-raspberry-pi-sd-card/ You can also download the image and flash it to your own SD card using these instructions https://github.com/alanbjohnston/CubeSatSim/wiki/2.-Software-Install Here is the readme file for the CubeSatSim software https://cubesatsim.org/download/cubesatsim-readme.pdf With the 3 board sets of blank PCBs, you can order the parts and solder your own CubeSatSim. They are available at the AMSAT Store for $35 https://www.amsat.org/product/amsat-cubesatsim-pcb/ I want to take this opportunity to thank the team that has been working on the CubeSatSim Project including Pat Kilory, N8PK, Jim McLaughlin, KI6ZUM, and David White, WD6DRI. In addition, Chris Thompson, G0KLA/AC2CZ has been instrumental in helping me get the FSK/BPSK transmit code working and has added support for the CubeSatSim to FoxTelem. Yesterday's release of FoxTelem v1.11 has full CubeSatSim support. And of course, thank you to the AMSAT Board of Directors and the AMSAT membership who have supported this project for many years. P.S. AMSAT has CubeSatSim Loaners available to ship to your event or presentation or STEM outreach activity - just contact me if you have an upcoming event. [ANS thanks Alan Johnston, KU2Y, AMSAT Vice President - Educational Relations, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT FoxTelem Version 1.11 Released I am releasing version 1.11 of FoxTelem. This primarily supports new features needed for GOLF-TEE development and the CubeSatSim. If you are using FoxTelem in the lab or classroom then this release should be installed. It also fixes several bugs that will help with live decoding of AO-95. It is not a mandatory upgrade but it is recommended. Specifically it addresses the following: * Fixes a bug where Costas decoding can stop if audio is being monitored * Supports all the latest features needed for the CubeSatSim * Better warnings for tracking and Find Signal errors * Supports all the latest GOLF-TEE layouts * Fixes a bug where strong signals may not be tracked correctly * Supports math expressions in telemetry conversions * Better handles USB device errors You can download FoxTelem here: http://amsat.us/FoxTelem/windows/FoxTelem_1.11g_windows.zip http://amsat.us/FoxTelem/linux/FoxTelem_1.11g_linux.tar.gz http://amsat.us/FoxTelem/mac/FoxTelem_1.11g_mac.tar.gz Feel free to reach out to me with questions or comments. [ANS thanks Chris Thompson, G0KLA/AC2CZ, AMSAT FoxTelem Developer, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT Pacsat Ground Station Version 0.43 Released I'm releasing an update to the Pacsat Ground Station. This version - Parses the MO-112 FailSafe beacons and saves them for analysis. - Fixes a bug where FalconSat-3 telemetry data could not be downloaded from the server - Defaults FalconSat-3 to not check Pacsat File Header checksums. This was annoying for partially downloaded files. You can download it here: https://www.g0kla.com/pacsat/index.php [ANS thanks Chris Thompson, G0KLA/AC2CZ, AMSAT Pacsat Ground Station Developer, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- FalconSat-3 Update I had sufficient WiFi to check out FalconSat-3 thisvaround 1200 UTC 8 July 2021. Thankfully, only the TX had gone off and a reload right now isn't necessary.vIf I can make the time, I'll look over the telemetry logs and see if we had a low voltage trip or something, but not sure. Users---until further notice, please limit the size of your uploaded files to around 10k or less. Just before the bird went silent, numerous large files were being uploaded and downloaded. I cannot say for sure if this is related to the recent issue, but let's call it a hunch. In the meantime, FalconSat-3 is again open for BBS and digipeater use - please limit file upload size to 10K or less. [ANS thanks Mark Hammond, N8MH, AMSAT Director and Command Station, for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Need new satellite antennas? Purchase Arrows, Alaskan Arrows, and M2 LEO-Packs from the AMSAT Store. When you purchase through AMSAT, a portion of the proceeds goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space. https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Field Day Score Deadline - Friday, July 16th The deadline for submission of AMSAT Field Day scores is 11:59 P.M. Central Time on Friday, July 16, 2021. I am going to be out of town the week of July 12th. I will still try to acknowledge when I get your score in my inbox. It would be nice to get some pictures and a short note about how your Field Day was. I always like to share the stories in the AMSAT Journal article. The submission form is located at https://www.amsat.org/field-day/ [ANS thanks Bruce Paige, KK5DO, AMSAT Director of Contests and Awards, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- MIR-SAT1 Gold Award Winners On behalf of the Mauritius Amateur Radio Society (MARS) I am pleased to inform you that the MIR-SAT1 Gold Award winners are: WO3T SatNOGS# 2134 / WesternMA Yagi VU2LBW PA5OXW JA6PL KB6LTY 1062-CCERES Ground Station 3B8FA SP7THR-UHF / 2012 EU1XX JH4DHX/3 PY2SDR BX1AD MAUFOX F6HDW W7KKE KC9ELU LU1KCQ VK2PET YC5ABK Congratulations to them all. Now there are 30 Silver Awards at stake, to remind the rules: one must have uploaded at least one full valid MO-112 frame to Satnogs and apply for the award by submitting their participation to MARS (link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdCAAKTMtTmARDwrjIE_Coai1WR9b2zUFj… ). Good luck to all for the Silver Award. Thanking all for sending to Satnogs the TLM’s which is really appreciated and really useful to us. [ANS thanks Jean-Marc Momple, 3B8DU, MIR-SAT1 (MO-112) Team, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Long Live PCSAT (NO-44) (and PCSAT-11) Some (current) APRS Amateur Satellite history: CONSTRUCTION: For what it is worth, After 20 years, both PCSAT side A and B transponders (digipeaters) remain semi-operational as the longest running student project satellites in space. Further they were built desk-top style using simple off-the-shelf Kantronics KPC-9612 TNC's and Hamtroncs kit TX/RX boards. All parts are COTS and chips are in sockets. Batteries are AA NiCd's. There are no CPU's on board. All command/control/telemetry is just what is inherent in the TNC's. Only thing we did was replace all electrolytic caps with tantalums. Having no clean room, we just used kem wipes and alcohol to wipe off all the fingerprints and dust before bagging for delivery. NOTE: No one should be so cavalier if their mission is REAL and costing great amounts of expectations and money. Back then it was just a free ride with no expectations other than student involvement. SAFE MODE (NOT): The only thing wrong was stupid thinking on the power budget. As our first satellite, we put on dual A/B systems AND additional 9600 baud DUAL UHF backup link receivers so that we had QUAD backup command RX capabilities in case of failures. The problem was we decided that all systems must come up on power-up in order to have access to all the redundant backup reset and command capabilities if needed and (DUH!), if all was OK, we would turn off the unnecessary backup-UHF receivers and un-crossconnect the transmitters. TOO-COMPLEX LOGON: That is what kills it (on every orbit). If the reason it reset is because of low battery, then the last thing you want is for EVERYTHING to be ON when you are coming into the sun and trying to charge back up. There is not yet enough power to get the command in to command off the unnecessary systems! Further, the commands required a full two-way AX.25 connection requiring 5 packets to exchange the password challenge and password response. All of which fully loaded the cross-connected XMTRs while trying to recover power. NO CPU or OPERATING SYSTEM: PCSAT had no programmable CPU. Just two-dual-port TNCs and 2 VHF XMTrs and 2 VHF RCVRS, and 2 UHF 9600 baud RCVRS. There was nothing in which to put SMART-safe-mode power-up thinking. Hence the fatal flaw to just power up everything and command later... duh... WITH LUCK: But luckily, the orbit occasionally has short eclipses and longer sun side (about 1 hour) which gives it enough time to sometimes have enough power to do a few user digipeats. Though after only a few, that usually kills the battery for the rest of the orbit. We long since gave up trying to go through the entire secret logon process to try to turn off the extra UHF receivers, only to have it last another' 10 minutes or so until the next eclipse and so that is why it just does its thing and sometimes people are successful, or not. MISSION: Side A of PCSAT (AKA W3ADO-1) remains operational on 145.825 digipeating when power permits. Same for side B which has a digipeater with a 144.39 MHz downlink for use over North America which at the time was thought would be useful for communicating *TO* normal 144.39 travelers who may be traveling outside of range of the terrestrial network for a while. TODAY (June 8, 2021), one of our sysops tested the side "B" and confirmed it remains operational. That is why you might occasionally see PCSAT-11 in the APRS logs. Although within the rules at the time of launch, in the last decade, the IARU has officially made notice that operation of satellite downlinks in the old 144.30-144.40 range are no longer authorized. Besides, we never came up with a good use of the side B anyway. (Broadcast an APRS message to all North American mobiles, or special traffic to a specific mobile). Of course, we learned those lessons and had 6 successful followon APRS satellites with only the last two (PSAT and PSAT2) had programmable CPUs (BASIC Stamps). See http://aprs.org/sats.html [ANS thanks Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for July 8, 2021 The following satellite has been added to this week's AMSAT TLE Distribution: TUBIN - NORAD Cat ID 48900 (Thanks to Nico Janssen, PA0DLO for the identification.) The following satellite has been deleted from this week's AMSAT TLE Distribution: STAR-Me Mother - NORAD Cat ID 43640 (Decayed June 26, 2021) Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA (OSCAR Number Administrator) announced July 3, 2021 in AMSAT News Service Bulletin ANS-185 that MIR-SAT1 has been designated MIRSAT-OSCAR 112 or MO-112. Thus, MIRSAT1 (NORAD Cat ID 48868) is now shown as MO-112 in this week's TLE distribution. [ANS thanks Ray Hoad, WA5QGD, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager, for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AMSAT's GOLF Program is about getting back to higher orbits, and it all begins with GOLF-TEE – a technology demonstrator for deployable solar panels, propulsion, and attitude control, now manifested for launch on NASA's ELaNa 46 mission. Come along for the ride. The journey will be worth it! https://tinyurl.com/ANS-GOLF +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ ARISS News TBD, Russia, direct via TBD The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz The scheduled astronaut is Pyotr Dubrov Contact is a go for 2021-07-14 20:10 UTC Watch for possible operation mode change sometime after ARRL Field Day. Exact date and time TBD but it will probably be after the week of 2021-07-12 to 2021-07-18. Current Status of ISS Stations IORS (Kenwood D710GA) – STATUS - ACTIVE. supporting cross band repeater operation (145.990 up [67 Hz tone] /437.800 down MHz). Next mode change to packet operations targeting after Field Day. Supporting USOS scheduled voice contacts, packet and voice repeater ops. Service Module radios: Kenwood D710E – STATUS - Radio usually off. Supporting ROS scheduled voice contacts and SSTV. The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html [ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors, for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition? Get your AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff from our Zazzle store! 25% of the purchase price of each product goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Upcoming Satellite Operations Quick Hits: VP2V/K3TRM: I will be operating from Tortola, BVI as VP2V/K3TRM on July 4-17, 2021. Activity will be on 40-6M SSB & digital, and satellite. EN57/67: @SeanKutzko KX9X and @Nancy_N9NCY will celebrate Sean’s birthday in the Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula July 15-19. Look for them on FM and SSB satellites, with the possibility of some Parks On The Air activity as well. They will also hit EN57/67 on 7/14&19 on the Yooper Rove. K0JM, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday (July 12-14) I’ll be on the north shore of Lake Superior. I hope to get in at least one pass in each of the grids: EN36, EN46, EN47, EN48, EN57 and EN58. But this will be holiday style, so no guarantees. Mostly linears, but some FM perhaps. Major Roves: WY7AA: July 11 DN25 daytime passes July 12 DN27 with a guest Gridmaster hopefully July 13-16 DN28 holiday style July 17 DN38 holiday style July 18 DN47/48 daytime passes July 21-23 DN54 holiday style July 25-27 DN64 holiday style July 30-31 DN63 holiday style July 11 & 18 will all be planned trips just for Sat passes FM and SSB. I will try to publish passes ahead of time on Twitter and QRZ. The remainder of the trip will be camping in remote areas with little to no internet or Twitter. I will get info out as I can, but I won’t be able to setup skeds ahead of time. Lots of POTA activations on Sats and HF as well. Please submit any additions or corrections to Ke0pbr (at) gmail.com [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT rover page manager, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events AMSAT is pleased to announce that the 39th Annual AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting will be held in late October at the Crowne Plaza Suites: MSP Airport - Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. The Crowne Plaza Suites is conveniently located adjacent to the American Blvd station on the Metro Blue Line, providing easy access to the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, downtown Minneapolis, and the Mall of America. The AMSAT Board of Directors will meet prior to the Symposium. Further details, including final dates, hotel reservation details, tours, and other events will be shared in the coming months. Want to see AMSAT in action or learn more about amateur radio in space? AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events. AMSAT Ambassador and ARRL registered instructor Clint Bradford, K6LCS, is certainly keeping busy! He reports a long list of completed online presentations. Think a 90-minute lively, informative, and fun “How to Work the Easy Satellites” Zoom presentation would be appropriate for your convention or club? Always includes are overviews of the ARRL, AMSAT, and ARISS … and pre-presentation questions are solicited and welcome. Send Clint an email or call! Clint Bradford K6LCS http://www.work-sat.com 909-999-SATS (7287) Tom Schuessler, N5HYP, has put out a call for assistance for an upcoming event: Hi all, In person events are back! The Frontiers of Flight Museum in Dallas, TX is this year returning to their in-person “Moon Day” space themed STEM event on July 24th. I have signed up for AMSAT and Amateur Radio in Space as an exhibito, as we have in past years. I will have the AMAT Cubesat Simulator and the Fox Engineering model to show off to the kids attending and will use iPad apps and SatPC32 to show orbits/footprints and such. There even are a couple AO-91 passes during the event. I have already a few volunteers for the event but if you live in the DFW area and enjoy communicating with young people, I would love to hear from you. Event details: Location: Frontiers of Flight Museum, Love Field, Dallas, TX Time: Setup 7:30-9:45AM, Event 10:00AM through 3PM, teardown to follow. Drop me an email, and I will give you more details. 73 Tom Schuessler, N5HYP at amsat.org [ANS thanks the AMSAT Symposium Committee, Tom Schuessler, N5HYP, and Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT Events Page Manager, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + Congratulations to Mike McCoy, KC9ELU, on completing the AMSAT GridMaster Award for working and confirming QSOs with all 488 grid squares in the continental United States. Mike is the 32nd recipient of AMSAT's GridMaster Award. More details about the GridMaster Award can be found at https://www.amsat.org/gridmaster/ [Thanks to Bruce Paige, KK5DO, AMSAT Director of Contests and Awards] + Several new products are available on the AMSAT Zazzle store, including a set of coasters, a watch, a t-shirt featuring the AMSAT round logo, and more. Check out the new items! 25% of the purchase price goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space. https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear + All issues of The AMSAT Journal dating back to 2014 are now available to AMSAT members on AMSAT’s new membership portal. The 1969-2013 archive will be added at a later date. All editions of AMSAT’s Symposium Proceedings are also available for members. If you’re a current AMSAT member, get logged on today. If you are not yet a member, consider joining today at https://launch.amsat.org/ + The 2020 edition of AMSAT’s Getting Started with Amateur Satellites is available on the AMSAT store. A perennial favorite, Getting Started is updated every year with the latest amateur satellite information, and is the premier primer of satellite operation. The book is presented in DRM-free PDF format, in full color, and covers all aspects of making your first contacts on a ham radio satellite. The digital download is available for $15 at https://tinyurl.com/2020GettingStarted. The print edition is $30 plus shipping and is available at https://tinyurl.com/GS2020Print --------------------------------------------------------------------- In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President’s Club. Members of the President’s Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional benefits. President’s Club donations may be made at https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/ Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/ 73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space, This week’s ANS Editor, Paul Stoetzer, N8HM n8hm at amsat dot org

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ANS-185 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for July 4
by Mark Johns, K0JM 03 Jul '21

03 Jul '21

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-185 The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. The news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor(a)amsat.org You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/ In this edition: * "Clean Sweep" on Satellites Possible in 2021 13 Colonies Event * MIR-SAT1 Designated as MIRSAT-OSCAR 112 (MO-112) * Youth on the Air Camp 2021 to be On the Satellites * The AMSAT-SA Space Symposium on 10 July * VUCC Awards-Endorsements for July 1, 2021 * Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for June 30, 2021 * NASA to Air Departure of SpaceX Cargo Dragon from Space Station * ARISS News * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Satellite Shorts From All Over ANS-185 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 185 To: All RADIO AMATEURS From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation 712 H Street NE, Suite 1653 Washington, DC 20002 DATE 2021 July 4 "Clean Sweep" on Satellites Possible in 2021 13 Colonies Event The 2021 edition of the annual 13 Colonies special event is July 1, 2021-1300 UTC to July 8, 2021-0400 UTC. This year, a "clean sweep" (working stations in all 13 states that were the original 13 U.S. Colonies) is possible via satellite! Yes, one or more stations in each state have volunteered to be active on the satellites this year. More info on 13 Colonies is at http://www.13colonies.us/ including information on the exchange, logging, individual state QSLs, and certificates. DXsummit is recommended for spotting, and many of the satellite ops are active on Twitter and self-spot there as well. The special event stations will identify with special calls as follows: K2A - New York K2B - Virginia K2C - Rhode Island K2D - Connecticut K2E - Delaware K2F - Maryland K2G - Georgia K2H - Massachutsets K2I - New Jersey K2J - North Carolina K2K - New Hampshire K2L - South Carolina K2M - Pennsylvania WM3PEN - Philadelphia bonus station GB13COL - Great Britain bonus station TM13COL - France bonus station [ANS thanks Steve Greene, KS1G (one of the K2B/Virginia activators) for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- MIR-SAT1 Designated as MIRSAT-OSCAR 112 (MO-112) On June 22, 2021, MIR-SAT1 was deployed from the International Space Station by JAXA. MIR-SAT1 is a project of the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council and carries a digipeater and camera experiment. Further information is available at https://spacemauritius.com. At the request of the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council, AMSAT hereby designates MIR-SAT1 as MIRSAT-OSCAR 112 (MO-112). We congratulate the owners and operators, thank them for their contribution to the amateur satellite community, and wish them a long mission and continued success on this and future projects. ANS thanks Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, AMSAT VP Operations / OSCAR Number Administrator, for the above information. +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Join the 2021 President's Club! Score your 2" 4-Color Accent Commemorative Coin. This gold finished coin comes with Full Color Certificate and Embroidered "Remove Before Flight" Key Tag Donate today at https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/ You won't want to miss it! +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Youth on the Air Camp 2021 to be On the Satellites The first Youth on the Air (YOTA) camp for young radio amateurs in North, Central, and South America begins on July 11 in West Chester, Ohio. Among other activities, campers will be operating special event station W8Y from both the National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting in West Chester Township and from the camp hotel. The camp will run until July 16. "We are at 23 campers," said Camp Director Neil Rapp, WB9VPG. "We are very excited to finally bring this program to the Americas. Our young people are bringing an incredible lineup of hands-on sessions for their peers. We hope this pilot gives us the information we need to replicate this camp over multiple locations for years to come. We also hope this brings a more robust community of young hams into amateur radio." The long-awaited summer camp for up to 30 hams aged 15 through 25 had been set to take place in June 2020, but it had to be rescheduled until summer 2021 because of COVID-19 pandemic concerns. The camp for young hams in the Americas took its cue from the summer Youngsters on the Air camps held for the past few years in various IARU Region 1 countries. W8Y will be on the air as campers complete projects, between sessions, and during free time. Dedicated operating times on HF will be Monday, July 12, 0100 - 0330 UTC; Tuesday, July 13, 0000 - 0330 UTC and 1800 - 2130 UTC. Dedicated satellite station operating times will be Thursday, July 15, 1400 - 1700 UTC, and Friday, July 16, 1500 - 1700 UTC. An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact is currently set for either Wednesday, July 14, at 1503 UTC, or KM4BUN operates as K8O during YOTA Month 2020. Thursday, July 15, at 1416 UTC. It will be streamed live on the Youth on the Air YouTube channel. The camp opening observance on Sunday, July 11, 2100 - 2230 UTC, will feature keynote speaker Tim Duffy, K3LR. The hour-long closing ceremony on Friday, July 16, will get under way at 1700 UTC. The YouTube channel will also feature a daily video highlighting the activities of the previous day. ARRL and The Yasme Foundation donated project kits for the campers. X Tronics provided temperature-controlled soldering stations. The brochure on the Youth on the Air website includes more details about the camp. For additional information, contact Camp Director Neil Rapp, WB9VPG. [ANS thanks ARRL for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Need new satellite antennas? Purchase Arrows, Alaskan Arrows, and M2 LEO-Packs from the AMSAT Store. When you purchase through AMSAT, a portion of the proceeds goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space. https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ The AMSAT-SA Space Symposium on 10 July The programme for the 2021 AMSAT SA Space Symposium has been published on the SARL and AMSAT SA websites. Attendance for AMSAT SA and SARL members is free. There is a small charge for non-members. The symposium will be held on the BlueJeans platform starting at 08:00 UTC on Saturday 10 July 2021. The keynote address will be delivered by Val Munsami, the CEO of the South African National Space Agency. Dr Gary Immelman ZS6YI will talk about a novel way to get going on QO-100, amateur radios first geostationary satellite. Dr Pierre Cilliers will talk about space weather activities at SANSA in Hermanus, Dr Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF, lead of the HAMSci in the USA will present a paper entitled "The Ionosphere from your Backyard", Hannes Coetzee, ZS6BZP and Anton Janovsky, ZR6AIC will review the development of AfriCUBE and Burns Fisher, WB1FJ of AMSAT NA will talk about Raspberry Pi in my shack, a push-button user interface". More details about the presentation will be released in the coming week. Keep an eye on http://www.amsatsa.org.za/ [ANS thanks Southgate ARC for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AMSAT's GOLF Program is about getting back to higher orbits, and it all begins with GOLF-TEE – a technology demonstrator for deployable solar panels, propulsion, and attitude control. Come along for the ride. The journey will be worth it! https://tinyurl.com/ANS-GOLF +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ VUCC Awards-Endorsements for July 1, 2021 Here are the endorsements and new VUCC Satellite Awards issued by the ARRL for the period June 1, 2021 through July 1, 2021. Congratulations to all those who made the list this month! Congratulations to Christy KB6LTY on achieving the AMSAT GridMaster! CALL June July K8YSE/7 842 872 KK5DO 781 793 NS3L 695 697 WD9EWK (DM43) 650 655 N9IP 635 640 PS8ET 550 600 VE6WK 404 512 VE1VOX 400 507 KF6JOQ 453 503 WB7VUF 404 455 W8LR 425 453 AK8CW DM37 425 451 KS1G 427 451 K5TA 400 450 KC7JPC New 399 VE4MM New 350 VE1CWJ New 335 KN2K 253 300 N7ZO 275 300 AB1OC 267 285 EA2AA 251 280 N8URE (FM19) 263 279 KK4CF 100 200 K3HPA 150 176 RA3DNC 142 156 N8MR 115 154 KC1MMC New 150 N1KM New 150 VE3KY 128 150 WA7HQD 149 150 WD9EWK (DM54) 125 145 KC2JED New 132 DL1DUO New 130 HC2FG New 130 WD9EWK (DM45) 106 127 DF2PI New 116 N2VAJ New 103 KE7RTB New 100 If you find errors or omissions. please contact me off-list at <mycall>@<mycall>.com and I'll revise the announcement. This list was developed by comparing the ARRL .pdf listings for the two months. It's a visual comparison so omissions are possible. Apologies if your call was not mentioned. Thanks to all those who are roving to grids that are rarely on the birds. They are doing a lot of the work! [ANS thanks Ron Parsons, W5RKN, for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition? Get your AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff from our Zazzle store! 25% of the purchase price of each product goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for June 30, 2021 MIR-SAT1 (Mauritian Infra-Red Satellite 1) was launched from the Japanese ISS Kibo module at 10:55 UTC on 6-22-2021. MIR-SAT1 has been identified as NORAD Cat ID 48868 as per Pierros Papadeas, SV1QVE and Nico Janssen, PA0DLO. The current TLE for MIR-SAT1 per Space-Track are as follows: MIR-SAT1 1 48868U 98067SP 21179.69602259 .00013025 00000-0 23878-3 0 9995 2 48868 51.6439 285.7711 0003006 182.6608 177.4342 15.49640979 1031 [ANS thanks Ray Hoad, WA5QGD, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- NASA to Air Departure of SpaceX Cargo Dragon from Space Station NASA’s SpaceX Dragon cargo freighter, loaded with approximately 5,000 pounds of scientific experiments and other cargo from the International Space Station, will depart Tuesday, July 6, bound for a splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean Thursday, July 8, completing the company’s 22nd commercial resupply services mission for NASA. Live coverage of the departure will begin at 14:45z Tuesday, July 6, on NASA Television, the agency’s website, and the NASA app. NASA will not provide coverage of the splashdown. Ground controllers at SpaceX in Hawthorne, California, will command Dragon to undock from the space-facing port on the station’s Harmony module at 15:00z, with NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough monitoring aboard the station. The cargo craft will physically separate from the station five minutes later before firing its thrusters to move a safe distance away prior to a deorbit burn that will begin its re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere. Dragon is expected to make its parachute-assisted splashdown around 04:00z Thursday, July 8. Splashing down off the coast of Florida enables quick transportation of the science aboard the capsule to NASA’s Space Station Processing Facility at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and back into the hands of the researchers. This shorter transportation time frame allows researchers to collect data with minimal sample exposure to gravity. Dragon launched June 3 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy, arriving at the station a little less than 16 hours later. The spacecraft delivered more than 7,300 pounds of research investigations, crew supplies, and vehicle hardware to the orbiting outpost. Dragon’s external cargo “trunk” carried six new ISS Roll-Out Solar Arrays (iROSAs), two of which Expedition 65 crew members Kimbrough and Thomas Pesquet, an ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut, installed during three spacewalks June 16, 20, and 25. Some of the scientific investigations Dragon will return to Earth include: * Lyophilization-2 examines how gravity affects freeze-dried materials and could result in improved freeze-drying processes for pharmaceutical and other industries. Freeze-drying also has potential use for long-term storage of medications and other resources on future exploration missions. * Molecular Muscle Experiment-2 tests a series of drugs to see whether they can improve health in space, possibly leading to new therapeutic targets for examination on Earth. * Oral Biofilms in Space studies how gravity affects the structure, composition, and activity of oral bacteria in the presence of common oral care agents. Findings could support development of novel treatments to fight oral diseases such as cavities, gingivitis, and periodontitis. Learn more about SpaceX missions for NASA at: https://www.nasa.gov/spacex [ANS thanks NASA for the above information] -------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS NEWS Amateurs and others around the world may listen in on contacts between amateurs operating in schools and allowing students to interact with astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station. The downlink frequency on which to listen is 145.800 MHz worldwide. Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2021-07-01 04:30 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: TBD, Russia, direct via TBD The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz The scheduled cosmotronaut is Pyotr Dubrov Contact is a go for 2021-07-14 20:10 UTC Watch for possible operation mode change sometime after ARRL Field Day. Exact date and time TBD but it will probably be after the week of 2021-07-12 to 2021-07-18. The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html [ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AMSAT, along with our ARISS partners, is developing an amateur radio package, including two-way communication capability, to be carried on-board Gateway in lunar orbit. Support AMSAT's projects today at https://www.amsat.org/donate/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Upcoming Satellite Operations Upcoming Roves: Quick Hits: WY7AA: FI will be in FN02 starting 6/6 for a few weeks. Operating Sats. holiday style. If you need FN01, FN02, FN03, FN12 please let me know and we can try to set something up. FN01,03, and 12 will likely each be one day roves. FM and SSB ND0C and KE0WPA: In June @kylee_ke0wpa and I, along with our resident photojournalist (Mom/Amy), will be taking a family excursion to the southwest and working some sats as time permits. Here are the less commonly worked grids from which we plan to operate. We will hit other grids too. DM67 6/15 – 6/17, DM56 6/18, DM45 6/19, DN63 7/2, DN64 7/2 & 7/3 N5LEX: CN98 last week of June. VP2V/K3TRM: I will be operating from Tortola, British Virgin Islands as VP2V/K3TRM on July 4-17, 2021. Activity will be on 40-6M SSB & digital, and satellite. DM62: K5TA, tentatively planning for DM62 ~9-July, when there are are several good passes mid-day, making it a doable day-trip. EN57/67: @SeanKutzko KX9X and @Nancy_N9NCY will celebrate Sean’s birthday in the Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula July 15-19. Look for them on FM and SSB satellites, with the possibility of some Parks On The Air activity as well. Major Roves: WA7AA: July 6-7 DN43 with a daytime rove to DN42/43/52/53 corner on 7/7 July 10 DN24 daytime passes July 11 DN25 daytime passes July 12 DN27 with a guest Gridmaster hopefully July 13-16 DN28 holiday style July 17 DN38 holiday style July 18 DN47/48 daytime passes July 21-23 DN54 holiday style July 25-27 DN64 holiday style July 30-31 DN63 holiday style July 7, 10, 11, 18 will all be planned trips just for Sat passes FM and SSB. I will try to publish passes ahead of time on Twitter and QRZ. The remainder of the trip will be camping in remote areas with little to no internet or Twitter. I will get info out as I can, but I won’t be able to setup skeds ahead of time. Lots of POTA activations on Sats and HF as well. Please submit any additions or corrections to Ke0pbr (at) gmail.com [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT rover page manager, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events Want to see AMSAT in action or learn more about amateur radio in space? AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events. AMSAT Ambassador and ARRL registered instructor Clint Bradford, K6LCS, is certainly keeping busy! He reports a long list of completed online presentations. Think a 90-minute lively, informative, and fun “How to Work the Easy Satellites” Zoom presentation would be appropriate for your convention or club? Always includes are overviews of the ARRL, AMSAT, and ARISS … and pre-presentation questions are solicited and welcome. Send Clint an email or call! Clint Bradford K6LCS http://www.work-sat.com 909-999-SATS (7287) [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT Events page manager, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + AMSAT is pleased to announce that the 39th Annual AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting will be held in late October at the Crowne Plaza Suites: MSP Airport - Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. The Crowne Plaza Suites is conveniently located adjacent to the American Blvd station on the Metro Blue Line, providing easy access to the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, downtown Minneapolis, and the Mall of America. The AMSAT Board of Directors will meet prior to the Symposium. Further details, including final dates, hotel reservation details, tours, and other events will be shared in the coming months. (ANS thanks the 2021 Symposium Committee for the above information) + D-Orbit, a European launch services company, has announced that they have launched the first "amateur" satellite from the nation of Kuwait. The launch was carried out on June 30 by a SpaceX Falcon 9 launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. The satellite, named “QMR-KWT” means “Moon of Kuwait”, translated from Arabic, appears to have been built commercially. It will transmit 9600 bps GMSK, as well as Morse ID of LZ0KWT, and a recording of the Kuwait National Anthem on 436.5 MHz. There is no record of international frequency coordination with the IARU. More information at https://www.orbitalspace.org/qmr-kwt (ANS thanks D-Orbit for the above information) + On the same June 30 SpaceX launch, which carried a total of 88 small satellites into orbit, was Painani-II, a 3U cubesat built by the University of the Mexican Army and Air Force. It will transmit telemetry, images, and AX25 packet on IARU-coordinated frequencies of 437.475 and 2410.300 MHz. (ANS thanks Spaceflight.com and IARU for the above information) + The ANS search engines have turned up myriad references to amateur satellites across the news media this week. Small town papers around the country picked up news releases from ham groups who were anxious to get the media contact bonus points added to their Field Day logs. It appears that many of these releases mention satellites for the "cool factor," even when no satellite operation actually took place. Misinformation was abundant in the published articles. But as they say, any publicity is good publicity! (ANS thanks Mark Johns, K0JM, for the above information) + The Mauritius Amateur Radio Society (MARS) is still anxious for telemetry reports from the MIR-SAT 1 satellite launched on June 22. MIR-SAT 1 transmits on 436.925 MHz and decoders are available for download at https://github.com/daniestevez/gr-satellites/blob/master/python/telemetry/m… (Thanks to Daniel Estevez, EA4GPZ) or https://www.g0kla.com/pacsat/index.php (Thanks to Chris Thompson, AC2CZ). All received data should be uploaded to Satnogs.org, and award certificates may be received in exchange by applying to https://bit.ly/3qKyb0Q (ANS thanks Jean Marc Momple, 3B8DU, for the above information) + The first three "taikonauts" (as Chinese astronauts are often known) aboard China's Tiangong space station are enjoying a menu of more than 120 dishes. Meals include shredded pork in garlic sauce, kung pao chicken, black pepper beef, pickled cabbage and many more. The foods are usually solid, boneless, in small pieces and selected to meet the astronauts' personal tastes. CCTV also reports that astronauts use condiments such as pork sauce and Sichuan pepper sauce to help adjust to the temporary loss of sense of taste experienced in microgravity. The space agency also boasted that the station is equipped with a microwave oven, so that the crew can enjoy their food hot. (ANS thanks space.com for the above information) + Wally Funk, age 82, a pilot with more than 19,600 flight hours and best known as one of the "Mercury 13" group of women who passed NASA astronaut medical exams in the 1960s, will be on the first crewed New Shepard flight July 20, along with billionaire Jeff Bezos. NASA made no effort to fly the Mercury 13 women, and did not formally select any female astronauts until Sally Ride became the first American woman in space in June 1983. Funk will now be the oldest person yet to fly into space. (ANS thanks Spacenews.com for the above information) --------------------------------------------------------------------- /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Store. Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional student membership information. 73 and Remember to help keep amateur radio in space, This week's ANS Editor, Mark Johns, K0JM k0jm at amsat dot org

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ANS-178 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for June 27
by Mark Johns, K0JM 26 Jun '21

26 Jun '21

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-178 The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. The news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor(a)amsat.org You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/ In this edition: * AMSAT Announces Candidates for 2021 Board of Directors Election * 39th Annual AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting Announced * MIR-SAT1 released into orbit from the ISS on June 22, 2021 * MIR-SAT1 Platinum Award Winners * ARRL Field Day: Active satellites listing * FO-29 operation schedule for July 2021 (UTC) * Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for June 24, 2021 * ARISS News * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Satellite Shorts From All Over ANS-178 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 178.01 To: All RADIO AMATEURS From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation 712 H Street NE Suite 1653 Washington, DC 20002 DATE 2021 June 27 AMSAT Announces Candidates for 2021 Board of Directors Election The nomination period for the 2021 Board of Directors Election ended on June 15, 2021. The following candidates have been duly nominated: Joseph Armbruster, KJ4JIO Robert Bankston, KE4AL Jerry Buxton, N0JY Zach Metzinger, N0ZGO To comply with AMSAT's Bylaws, an election will be held via AMSAT's Wild Apricot membership system. Instructions for voting will be emailed by July 15, 2021 to all members who are in good standing as of July 1, 2021. As four seats on the Board of Directors are up for election this year, all four candidates will be seated on the Board when the voting period concludes on September 15, 2021. To ensure that they receive their voting instructions, members should make sure their current email address is up to date in AMSAT's records. Members should log into the AMSAT Membership Portal at https://launch.amsat.org/ and check their account for their current email address. If a member has moved or changed their email address, they are encouraged to update their contact information at this time. (Note: If they have not already done so, members can instantly create their membership account at that same page so they can inspect their record. A membership account is not the same as an AMSAT Store account.) [ANS thanks Jeff Davis, KE9V, AMSAT Secretary for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- 39th Annual AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting Announced AMSAT is pleased to announce that the 39th Annual AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting will be held in late October at the Crowne Plaza Suites: MSP Airport - Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. The Crowne Plaza Suites is conveniently located adjacent to the American Blvd station on the Metro Blue Line, providing easy access to the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, downtown Minneapolis, and the Mall of America. The AMSAT Board of Directors will meet prior to the Symposium. Further details, including final dates, hotel reservation details, tours, and other events will be shared in the coming months. [ANS thanks the 2021 Symposium Committee for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- MIR-SAT1 released into orbit from the ISS on June 22, 2021 From Jean Marc Momple, 3B8DU: "Deployment of MIR-SAT1 into orbit from the ISS on June 22, 2021 at 10:55 UTC was broadcast live on JAXA Youtube channel starting at 10:35 UTC (14:35hrs local time). URL: A video clip is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqXMy3NDZn0 Awards are offered by the Mauritius Amateur Society (MARS) see URL: https://mars3b8.wordpress.com/news/ good luck and good hunt. Daniel Estévez, EA4GPZ, adds: For those interested in decoding this satellite, I have put up a short video in collaboration with UNOOSA showing how to use gr-satellites and GQRX to decode MIR-SAT1: https://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourwork/access2space4all/index.html https://spacemauritius.com/ Chris Thompson G0KLA/AC2CZ adds: "I have released an updated version of the Pacsat Ground station which now does a better job displaying the decoded beacons from Mir-Sat-1. It also fixes several small bugs in the conversions and in decodes. This also fixes a bug that impacts FalconSat-3 file downloads in some cases. Download it from here: https://www.g0kla.com/pacsat/index.php" Let me know any issues or problems you see. Please continue to download telemetry for Mir-Sat-1 during their commissioning period. All telemetry is sent to SatNogs assuming you check "Send Server Telemetry" on the File. You can see that your Mir-Sat-1 telemetry was uploaded here: https://dashboard.satnogs.org/d/TaZh29gnz/mir-sat1?orgId=1&refresh=30s" A post launch comment by Jean Marc: "We got a superb media coverage in 3B8 and FR on TV about MIR-SAT1 promoting amateur radio role and contribution to the project. I confirm that MIR-SAT1 is alive and TLM has been received by many stations, the firsts being by US stations, I also decoded well the TLM with Chris PsatGroundstation V0.41b which was successfully uploaded to Satnogs. I wish to thanks all who sent me personal messages or through Twitter that they received the first MIR-SAT1 signals, it was a great joy to have confirmation that the birds was alive. I also wish to thanks many HAMs to have supported the project from its initial stage, just to name a few which have been instrumental to make it happen, namely Chris Thompson, AC2CZ, Daniel Estevez, EA4GPZ, Graham Shirville, G3VZV, Hans Blondel-Timmerman, PB2T, Pierros Papadeas, SV1QVE, and Patrick Dohmen, DL4PD, of Satnogs, but also many others worldwide and 3B8 peers who contributed in one way or another to make it happen. I confirm that for the moment MIR-SAT1 is on TLM mode only and will keep all posted about progress. As a personal note, today is a great day for me, just a childhood dream becoming true inspired by Neil Armstrong little step and well before obtaining my HAM licence at the age of 16 and making my firsts satellite QSO on AO-07/AO—08 in 1980, thus enjoying the champagne right now writing. He adds: "1) Thanks to all to who captured the signals of MIR-SAT1 and uploaded data to Satnogs DB, this is really useful to the MIR-SAT1 team. 2) 10 successful participants for the Platinum Award have been selected for having successfully uploaded at least a valid frame to Satnogs DB and applied for same, certificates will be issued and announcement of the winners will be published soon. 3) However, many have uploaded data to Satnogs but have not applied for the Award, they can still do so for the Gold certificate and their past upload data still valid, it a first come first serve game. 4) The telemetry frequency which was 4 minutes actually made it harder to decode particularly on low elevation, it is just a coincidence that it was set to 50 seconds for testing purposes when the Gold Award opens today (Platinum closed today). 5) The satellite is in good health and commissioning tests are being performed presently by the MIR-SAT1 team. 6) Digipeater and image broadcast activation date not yet decided as 5) above must be completed successfully and also having some more data about power available for same. Will keep you informed" ANS thanks Jean Marc Momple, 3B8DU, Daniel Estévez, EA4GPZ, and Chris Thompson G0KLA/AC2CZ for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Join the 2021 President's Club! Score your 2" 4-Color Accent Commemorative Coin. This gold finished coin comes with Full Color Certificate and Embroidered "Remove Before Flight" Key Tag Donate today at https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/ You won't want to miss it! +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ MIR-SAT1 Platinum Award Winners Winners of MIR-SAT1 Awards are: S59ZM PY4ZBZ K4OZS N6RFM G8AFC DK3WN N8MH JA0CAW PU7ORD 3B8GL Congratulations to them. Their certificate has been sent by MARS a few minutes ago. To note that the award criteria is based on following: First that one received telemetry of MIR-SAT1 and second the participation form on the MARS WEB has been submitted. There are a few who successfully received MIR-SAT1 telemetry (even before the winners above) and uploaded same to Satnogs but have not submitted the participation form. They are still eligible for the Gold Award if they request same by filing their application on URL: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdCAAKTMtTmARDwrjIE_Coai1WR9b2zUFj… Good luck for the Gold Award. ANS thanks Jean Marc Momple, 3B8DU, for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AMSAT's GOLF Program is about getting back to higher orbits, and it all begins with GOLF-TEE – a technology demonstrator for deployable solar panels, propulsion, and attitude control. Come along for the ride. The journey will be worth it! https://tinyurl.com/ANS-GOLF +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ ARRL Field Day: Active satellites listing Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, has posted a list of the satellites likely to be active on Field Day at: https://www.amsat.org/satellites-likely-to-be-active-on-field-day-2021/ ARRL Field Day stations are reminded that only one satellite contact is admissable for the satellite "bonus" of 100 points. To assist as many stations as possible in their effort to make a contact, please make just a single contact and go to other modes. Please remember that satellites AO-7 and AO-91 HAVE POWER LIMITATIONS and should be accessed with care. Please note the limitations in the posted page and use those as operation guidelines. Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, adds: "APRS operators, please note any errors on the operational status of APRS satellites as shown on this page: http://aprs.org/sats.html I just updated it, so it will be a good resource for APRS satellites for Field Day" [ANS thanks Paul Stoetzer, AMSAT Executive Vice President, N8HM, and Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- FO-29 operation schedule for July 2021 (UTC) Hideo Kambayashi, JH3XCU has posted the July operational schedule for FO-29 on the JARL website: July 3rd 00:06- 10:20- 4th 00:55- 13:00- 10th 00:41- 10:57- 23:46- 11th 11:48- 13:32- 17th 01:15- 13:17- 18th 00:20- 12:23- 24th 00:05- 10:20- 23:12- 25th 12:58- 31st 00:39- 10:50- 23:44- Aug. 1st 11:48- Source: https://www.jarl.org/Japanese/3_Fuji/fuji3-202106.htm [ANS thanks Hideo Kambayashi, JH3XCU, for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Need new satellite antennas? Purchase Arrows, Alaskan Arrows, and M2 LEO-Packs from the AMSAT Store. When you purchase through AMSAT, a portion of the proceeds goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space. https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for June 24, 2021 The following satellite was deployed from ISS on 6-14-2021 and has been added to this week's AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution: MIR-SAT1 (Mauritian Infra-Red Satellite 1) was launched from the Japanese ISS Kibo module at 10:55 UTC on 6-22-2021. The NORAD Cat ID has not yet been determined. However, SatNOGS generated keps can be found on the Libre Space Community web site at: https://bit.ly/3vWRqF6 TLE (KEPS) have been updated and are available on the AMSAT website at: https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/ [ANS thanks Ray Hoad, WA5QGD, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager, for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition? Get your AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff from our Zazzle store! 25% of the purchase price of each product goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ ARISS NEWS: Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of June 27, 2021 No new sessions have been announced for the coming week. However the session for Ecole publique de Bellême in Bellême, Pôle scolaire Igé/Le Gué de la Chaine in Belforêt en Perche, and Ecole de Nocé in Perche en Nocé, was rescheduled for June 26, 2021 at 11:25 am CEST (Bellême, France) (9:25 am UTC, 5:25 am EDT, 4:25 am CDT, 3:25 am MDT, 2:25 am PDT). Three schools in France will participate in this ARISS contact: Ecole de Nocé, Pôle scolaire Igé/Le Gué de la Chaine and Ecole publique de Bellême. These are rural schools about 90 miles west of Paris and will involve about 360 students, age 6 – 15 years old. The schools have partnered with the amateur radio club (callsign F4KLQ) in preparation for this contact. Student-members of the ham club receive training from the adult members who have knowledge in the fields of radio, aeronautical, and the space sciences. Ham radio workshops include the topics: Orne Sky Sat, the Yaourtocom 2000, SSTV, Morse code, radio communication, and radio directional finding. [ANS thanks Dave Jordan, AA4KN, ARISS PR for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AMSAT, along with our ARISS partners, is developing an amateur radio package, including two-way communication capability, to be carried on-board Gateway in lunar orbit. Support AMSAT's projects today at https://www.amsat.org/donate/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Upcoming Satellite Operations Quick Hits: WY7AA: I will be in FN02 starting 6/6 for a few weeks. Operating Sats. holiday style. If you need FN01, FN02, FN03, FN12 please let me know and we can try to set something up. FN01,03, and 12 will likely each be one day roves. FM and SSB EA4M: : Hi guys later in June I’ll be in IN73 on holidays, probably for a week or so, I will try some birds stay tuned on tweeter for schedules. ND0C and KE0WPA: In June @kylee_ke0wpa and I, along with our resident photojournalist (Mom/Amy), will be taking a family excursion to the southwest and working some sats as time permits. Here are the less commonly worked grids from which we plan to operate. We will hit other grids too. DN63 7/2, DN64 7/2 & 7/3 WA5RR: I’m looking at doing a rove in DL98 with an overnight stay in Eagle Pass, TX around the last week in June. Details to follow. VP2V/K3TRM: I will be operating from Tortola, BVI as VP2V/K3TRM on July 4-17, 2021. Activity will be on 40-6M SSB & digital, and satellite. N5LEX: CN98 last week of June. DM62: K5TA, I’m tentatively planning for DM62 ~9-July, when there are are several good passes mid-day, making it a doable day-trip for me…. EN57/67: @SeanKutzko KX9X and @Nancy_N9NCY will celebrate Sean’s birthday in the Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula July 15-19. Look for them on FM and SSB satellites, with the possibility of some Parks On The Air activity as well. [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT rover page manager for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events Satellites on Field Day: Seth Kutzko, KX9X, made an outstanding presentation to the RATPAC group on Satellites and Field Day. The session was held on Thursday May 27 during a weekly RATPAC meeting. Seth presented more than just a "how to", his tips and tricks were very valuable for new entrants and his cautions were particularly well taken. This presentation is a must for any Field Day group that is contemplating chasing the 100-point bonus. Dan Marler, K7REX has made the presentation, documents, and the video available: To View Video: https://vimeo.com/556034517 To Download Video: https://vimeo.com/user107547861/download/556034517/954b837d38 To Retrieve Documents: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/cktvhfz1lhvv8hr/AADzoAi0HiGccLLG6IdnY24Aa?dl=0Ra… AMSAT Ambassador Clint Bradford K6CLS is planning the following presentations: Conejo Valley (CA) - October 21 Think a 90-minute lively, informative, and fun “How to Work the Easy Satellites” Zoom presentation would be appropriate for your convention or club? Always includes are overviews of the ARRL, AMSAT, and ARISS … and pre-presentation questions are solicited and welcome. Send Clint an email or call! Clint Bradford K6LCS, http://www.work-sat.com. Tel:909-999-SATS (7287) [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT Events page manager, AMSAT Italia, Dan Marler, K7REX RATPAC Leader and ARRL Idaho Section Manager, and Clint Bradford, K6CLS AMSAT Ambassador for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + A number of questions have been asked about the operation status of Falconsat-3. Mark Hammond N8MH reports: "I suspect that FS-3 has just "crashed" and needs some attention. Usually that involves getting it back to a primitive level of operation and testing, and then reloading all of the spacecraft's software. So, it'll take some time. But I really do think we can recover it. Last reload was over 3.5 years ago! It takes a lot of preparation and sometimes multiple attempts to get all software loaded and running. Keep the hope :). Probably a couple weeks. [ANS thanks Mark Hammond, N8MH, AMSAT Director and Command Station for the above information] + Tiangong has a crew, and China has a vision. Shenzhou-12 launched three Chinese astronauts on a Long March-2F from the Gobi Desert and ferried them to Tiangong (here’s a video of the docking). This means there are now two long-duration crewed habitats in Earth orbit for the first time since the 1970s when Skylab and Salyut stations both hosted humans on-orbit (Mir’s last crew departed just a few months before Expedition-1 arrived at the ISS). The three astronauts are slated to stay in the new station’s Tianhe core module for up to three months, breaking China’s 30-day record set during their last crewed spaceflight five years ago. [ANS thanks the Orbital Index for the above information] + A history of US research, development, and production of solar photovoltaic cells, which was driven by space applications early on. “In 1958, the U.S. Navy bolted solar panels to Vanguard 1, the second American satellite in space.” A commentary: https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2021/06/why-the-us-doesnt-reall… [ANS thanks the Orbital Index for the above information] + CubeSat developments: Some interesting work in the CubeSat arena is documented at several links. Here are some discussions of: Deployable mirrors: https://bit.ly/2TZNrdT Wooden satellite construction: http://n.pr/2T3UqCd Flexible tapemeasure antennas: https://bit.ly/3wSSmvH [ANS thanks the Orbital Index for the above information] + A reminder for ARRL/AMSAT Field Day: JAMSAT has posted the FO-99 operating schedule for June at https://www.jamsat.or.jp/?p=1438 (ANS thanks JAMSAT for the above information) + Congratulations to Christy Hunter, KB6LTY, on working and confirming her 488th grid square in the continental United States. Christy worked John Brier, KG4AKV, operating portable in FM25 for the last grid she needed on June 11th. Christy is the 31st recipient of AMSAT's GridMaster Award. More details about the GridMaster Award can be found at https://www.amsat.org/gridmaster/ [Thanks to Bruce Paige, KK5DO, AMSAT Director of Contests and Awards] + Congratulations to Jim Clary, ND9M. Jim is the 57th recipient of the AMSAT Rover Award. Jim applied for and received this award after working from numerous wet grids during his recent journey on the USNS Sgt. William R. Button through the Panama Canal to Saipan. More details about the AMSAT Rover Award can be found at https://www.amsat.org/amsat-rover-award/ [Thanks to Bruce Paige, KK5DO, AMSAT Director of Contests and Awards] + A new distance record has been claimed on TO-108. F4DXV completed a QSO with A65GC on 18-Jun-2021 at 08:55 UTC, covering a distance of 5,298.6 km. Also, a new distance record has also been claimed on the ISS crossband repeater. G0ABI worked VE1PK on 29-May-2020. This transatlantic QSO covered a distance of 4,403 km. All claimed satellite distance records can be found at https://amsat.org/satellite-distance-records/ [Thanks to Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, AMSAT Executive Vice President] --------------------------------------------------------------------- /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Store. Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional student membership information. 73 and Remember to help keep amateur radio in space, This week's ANS Editor, Jack Spitznagel, KD4IZ kd4iz at frawg dot org

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ANS-171 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for June 20, 2021
by n1uw＠gokarns.com 19 Jun '21

19 Jun '21

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-171 The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. The news feed on http://amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in space as soon as our volunteers can post it. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to ans-editor at amsat dot org. In this edition: * AMSAT Announces Candidates for 2021 Board of Directors Election * ARISS Slow Scan Television Event set for June 21-26, 2021 * PSAT2 Improved Coverage Is Here (Updated) * MIR-SAT1 Schedule for Deployment from the ISS * The IARU Participating in the CEPT Working Groups * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Upcoming Satellite Operations * ARISS News * Satellite Shorts from All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-171.01 ANS-171 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 171.01 From AMSAT HQ PO Box 27, Washington, DC 20044-0027 June 20, 2021 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-171.01 AMSAT Announces Candidates for 2021 Board of Directors Election The nomination period for the 2021 Board of Directors Election ended on June 15, 2021. The following candidates have been duly nominated: Joseph Armbruster, KJ4JIO Robert Bankston, KE4AL Jerry Buxton, N0JY Zach Metzinger, N0ZGO To comply with AMSAT's Bylaws, an election will be held via AMSAT's Wild Apricot membership system. Instructions for voting will be emailed by July 15, 2021 to all members who are in good standing as of July 1, 2021. As four seats on the Board of Directors are up for election this year, all four candidates will be seated on the Board when the voting period concludes on September 15, 2021. To ensure that they receive their voting instructions, members should make sure their current email address is up to date in AMSAT's records. Members should log into the AMSAT Membership Portal at https://launch.amsat.org/ and check their account for their current email address. If a member has moved or changed their email address, they are encouraged to update their contact information at this time. (Note: If they have not already done so, members can instantly create their membership account at that same page so they can inspect their record. A membership account is not the same as an AMSAT Store account.) [ANS thanks Jeff Davis, KE9V, AMSAT Secretary for the above information] -------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS Slow Scan Television Event set for June 21-26, 2021 ARISS reports there will be an “Amateur Radio on Shuttle, MIR and ISS” Slow Scan TV (SSTV) event from June 21-26, 2021. Transmissions from the International Space Station will be on 145.800 MHz FM using the PD120 format. The ARISS team will be transmitting SSTV images continuously from June 21 until June 26. The images will be related to some of the Amateur Radio activities that have occurred on the Space Shuttle, MIR space station and the International Space Station. The scheduled start and stop times are: Monday, June 21 – Setup is scheduled to begin at 09:40 UTC (transmissions should start a little later). Saturday, June 26 – Transmissions are scheduled to end by 18:30 UTC. The signal should be receivable on a handheld with a 1/4 wave whip. If your rig has selectable FM filters try the wider filter for 25 kHz channel spacing. Those that recently missed the opportunity during the limited period of MAI transmissions should have numerous chances over the six day period to capture many, if not all 12, of the images. Check the ARISS SSTV blog for the latest information at http://ariss-sstv.blogspot.com/. Pass predictions for the ISS pass times are available at https://www.amsat.org/track/. Useful SSTV info and links https://amsat-uk.org/beginners/iss-sstv/ [ANS thanks AMSAT UK for the above information.] -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- Join the 2021 President's Club! Score your 2" 4-Color Accent Commemorative Coin with Polished Gold Finish, Full Color Certificate and Embroidered "Remove Before Flight" Key Tag By donating today at https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/ You won't want to miss it! -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- PSAT2 Improved Coverage Is Here (Updated) Bob Bruninga, WB4APR reports, WPSAT2 (NO-104) has been in a great operating period from June 10-22, 2021 in the northern hemisphere due to its highly elliptical orbit. Passes have been in the evening but moving earlier each day. Conversely, for the two weeks following, it will be low on the horizon for northern hemisphere mid-latitudes stations and favor the southern hemisphere. "Normally its low inclination orbit (28 degrees) favors lower latitude locations. But the elliptical orbit assures that there are times, two weeks out of every month, when the elevation angle rises as much as 20 degrees to bring higher latitude stations into the footprint. "PSAT2 has been enabled for APRS on 145.825 and it should be 4 times stronger (+6 dB) than PSAT. PSAT2 requires your radio to be in narrow band mode. "Also it has the APRS-to-Voice enabled for your enjoyment. See http://aprs.org/psat2.html for how to use the A2V feature. "Also enabled is the PSAT (NO84) digipeating. And its HF to UHF transponder is always on for PSK31. See http://aprs.org/psat.html for further information. [ANS thanks Bob Bruninga, WB4APR for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Need new satellite antennas? Purchase Arrows, Alaskan Arrows, and M2 LEO-Packs from the AMSAT Store. When you purchase through AMSAT, a portion of the proceeds goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space. https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ MIR-SAT1 Scheduled for Deployment from the ISS Jean Marc Momple, 3B8DU reports it now official that MIR-SAT1, the first Mauritius Amateur Radio 3B8 satellite, will be deployed from the ISS on June 22, 2021 at 10:55 UTC. The deployment will be made using the robotic arm on the Japanese Experiment Module nicknamed Kibo. MIR-SAT1 is a 1U CubeSat mission with the following objectives: 1. Verify the performance of the on-board subsystems by receiving telemetry from the satellite and establish communication to and from the satellite (command and control). 2. Collect images of Mauritius and the Mauritian EEZ for capacity, building, experiment and research. 3. Experimental communication with other islands via the satellite (for scientific and/or emergency purposes), through a Radio Amateur digipeater payload. 4. V/U 9600bps GMSK digipeater may be open for Radio Amateur communication worldwide when the satellite not used for all above. Further details can be found at https://spacemauritius.com. Experimental decoders are already available: + AMSAT Pacsat Ground Station Software by Chris Thompson, G0KLA/AC2CZ is a decoder for the PacSat protocol, designed for FalconSat-3 now with support for Mir-Sat1. More information and the download is available at: https://www.g0kla.com/pacsat/index.php. + GR-Satellites by Daniel Estévez, EA4GPZ is a collection of GNU Radio decoders. More information and the download is available at: https://github.com/daniestevez/gr-satellites/blob/master/python/telemetry/m…. These decoder will be used by local schools and Universities to capture the signals from the bird and hopefully create inspiration for our 3B8 youngsters to space science and STEM per AMSAT Ambassador program goals. Jean Marc remarks, "It is so great to have the support of above experts. I wish to put on record my appreciation for the all the advice they provided to the 3B8 team and their fully unconditional support in the Ham spirit of brotherhood. 'Grand merci Chris et Dani.' Without you we ham's will not have a clue about what is the status of the bird." In addition, the Mauritius Amateur Radio Society (MARS) is creating special awards open to all participating Hams/SWL's worldwide. These awards will be issued to those decoding MIR-SAT1 telemetry and forwarding same to SatNOGS. - A Platinum award will be issued to the first 10 ground station applying for MIR-SAT1 Award after having forwarded the telemetry to SatNOGS. - A Gold award will be issued to the next 20 ground station applying for MIR-SAT1 Award after having forwarded the telemetry to SatNOGS. - A Silver award will be issued to the next 30 ground station applying for MIR-SAT1 Award after having forwarded the telemetry to SatNOGS. - A Bronze award will be issued to the next 50 ground station applying for MIR-SAT1 Award after having forwarded the telemetry to SatNOGS. Complete information on the awards program can be found at https://mars3b8.wordpress.com/2021/06/19/mir-sat1-special-award/. [ANS thanks Jean Marc Momple, 3B8DU for the above information.] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AMSAT's GOLF Program is about getting back to higher orbits, and it all begins with GOLF-TEE - a technology demonstrator for deployable solar panels, propulsion, and attitude control, now manifested for launch on NASA's ELaNa 46 mission. Come along for the ride. The journey will be worth it! https://tinyurl.com/ANS-GOLF +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ The IARU Participating in the CEPT Working Groups IARU volunteers have been participating in the CEPT FM and SE Working Groups looking after the Amateur Radio and Amateur Satellite Service interests. CEPT WG-SE #88 took place during April and WG-FM #99 took place at the end of May. The report from the IARU Region 1 site says: WG-FM’s project teams tackle a wide range of civil spectrum applications and are developing important regulatory deliverables relating to wireless power transfer and the 23cm band RNSS coexistence topic amongst other things. Work on both these topics is ongoing. The CEPT Radio Amateur Forum Group (RAFG) is hosted by WG-FM and is chaired by the IARU for the time being. Its main task is maintenance of the CEPT Recommendations TR61-01 and TR61-02. A proposal to merge the activities of the RAFG into project team FM58 (Maritime) has been made but the final decision has been held over until the next WG-FM meeting. The RAFG was tasked at this meeting with a new work item to consider the feasibility of developing an electronic database of CEPT wide amateur licensing documentation. This was supported by six administrations. https://cept.org/ecc/groups/ecc/wg-fm/fm-radio-amateur-fg/client/introducti… In WG-SE technical spectrum sharing studies are taking place covering; • Wireless power transfer including consideration of electric vehicle charging (WPT- EV). • UWB radiodetermination in 116 – 250 GHz. • Vehicular radar systems in 77 – 81 GHz. • Security Scanners in the range 60 – 90 GHz. • 23cm band RNSS coexistence (related to the WRC item and reported in detail elsewhere) https://www.iaru.org/spectrum/iaru-and-itu/wrc-23/agenda-item-9-1-topic-b/ Amateur service frequency bands are within the scope of all these studies and fall under the remit of the IARU R1 SRLC https://www.iaru-r1.org/about-us/committees-and-working-groups/srlc/ A summary report of the WG-SE meeting is at https://www.iaru-r1.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/CEPT-WGSE88-April-2021-r… The WG-FM meeting is at https://www.iaru-r1.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/WGFM-99-May2021-Report.p… Working Group FM Meeting 99 documents https://cept.org/ecc/groups/ecc/wg-fm/client/meeting-documents/?flid=28918 [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information.] -------------------------------------------------------------------- Upcoming Satellite Operations EM72, June 21-25, 2021 N4DCW be there all week. Operating vacation style, but DM him if you need a sked. He’ll have a decent Eastern horizon for those on the other side of the Atlantic. IN73, Later June EA4M will be in IN73 on holidays, probably for a week or so. He will try some birds. Check Twitter for schedules. DL98, Last week in June WA5RR is looking at doing a rove in DL98 with an overnight stay in Eagle Pass, TX. Details to follow. CN98, Last week of June N5LEX DN63, July 2, 2021; DN64, July 3, 2021 ND0C and KE0WPA along with their resident photojournalist (Mom/Amy) will be taking a family excursion to the southwest and working some sats as time permits. Among the less commonly worked grids from which they plan to operate are DN63 7/2, DN64 7/2 & 7/3. Check @kylee_ke0wpa for info. Tortola, BVI, July 4-17, 2021 VP2V/K3TRM will be operating from Tortola, BVI on 40-6M SSB & digital, and satellite. DM62, ~July 9, 2021 K5TA is tentatively planning when there are several good passes mid-day, making it a doable day-trip for him. [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR for the above information.] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition? Get your AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff from our Zazzle store! 25% of the purchase price of each product goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ ARISS News + Completed Contacts Gagarin From Space. Performing a radio amateur session with school children in the city of Great Ustyug, Velikiy Ustyug, Russia, direct via UB1QBM. The ISS callsign was RSØISS. The downlink frequency was 145.800 MHz. The astronaut was Oleg Novitskiy Contact was successful on Saturday, June 12, 2021 at 09:15 UTC. Collège Albert Camus, La Norville, France and Université Paris-Saclay, Saint-Aubin, France multi-point telebridge via ON4ISS. The ISS callsign was FXØISS. The downlink frequency was 145.800 MHz. The astronaut was Thomas Pesquet KG5FYG. Contact was successful on Thursday, June 17, 2021 at 11:40:45 UTC. + Upcoming Contacts Ecole publique de Bellême, Bellême, France, Pôle scolaire Igé/Le Gué de la Chaine, Belforêt en Perche, France, and Ecole de Nocé, Perche en Nocé, France, multi-point telebridge via ON4ISS. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be FXØISS. The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 437.525 MHz. The scheduled astronaut is Thomas Pesquet KG5FYG. Contact is go for: Friday, June 25, 2021 at 08:34:42 UTC. A multi-point telebridge contact means that each student will be on the telebridge from their own home. + Current Status of ISS Stations IORS (Kenwood TM-D710GA) - STATUS - ACTIVE. supporting cross band repeater operation (145.990 up [67 Hz tone] /437.800 down MHz). Next mode change to packet operations targeting after Field Day. Supporting USOS scheduled voice contacts, packet and voice repeater ops. Service Module radios: Kenwood TM-D710E - STATUS - Radio usually off. Supporting ROS scheduled voice contacts and SSTV. Watch for possible operation mode change sometime after ARRL Field Day. Exact date and time TBD. The latest information on the operation mode can be found at: https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html [ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N for the above information.] -------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts from All Over + AMSAT Receives $403 from AmazonSmile AMSAT has received its quarterly notification from AmazonSmile that it has made a charitable donation to the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, in the amount of $403.32 as a result of qualifying purchases made by its members who have selected AMSAT. Thanks to AMSAT shoppers at smile.amazon.com, their everyday purchases have generated $7,097.98 in donations to the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation so far. [ANS thanks AmazonSmile for the above information.] * Where are the Women in STEM? Do you have a young lady in the family who is looking for ways to get involved in the world of science? When it comes to science influencers, Emily Calandrelli is a household name for a new generation of space enthusiasts. If you have kids, you may know her from “Emily’s Wonder Lab” on Netflix, which brought DIY science experiments into viewers’ homes during the pandemic lockdown. She’s also the long-running host of “Xploration Outer Space,” and a speaker and the author of the Ada Lace children’s book series. While Emily’s communication style is fun and accessible, she has a rigorous science and engineering background underpinning her work, with two master’s degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Check out Emily's website, The Space Gal at http://www.thespacegal.com/women-in-stem for ideas on how to engage your youngster in the adventures of space. [ANS thanks Via Satellite for the above information.] + Fly the SpaceX ISS Docking Simulator! "Now arriving at Docking Port #1..." Think you have "all the right stuff"? The SpaceX ISS Docking Simulator lets you try your hand at safely docking your Dragon space capsule to the ISS. In fact, they say it is the exact same interface that astronauts use on the job. Be sure to check the instructions tab for a quick overview of how the controls work. It's fun! Test your piloting skills at https://iss-sim.spacex.com/. [ANS thanks SPACEX for the above information.] + Chinese Astronauts Enter Tiangong Space Station for First Time Three Chinese astronauts floated into the country’s new Tiangong space station Thursday, becoming the first people to board China’s outpost in orbit after a successful launch from a military base in the Gobi Desert to start a three-month mission. The three astronauts will spend the next three months testing systems on-board the station, three times longer than any previous Chinese human spaceflight mission. In total, China has now launched 12 astronauts into orbit on seven crewed Shenzhou missions since 2003. Read the complete story at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-171-Tiangong. [ANS thanks Spaceflight Now for the above information.] -------------------------------------------------------------------- Not an AMSAT member? Join now at https://launch.amsat.org/ In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional benefits. President's Club donations may be made at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-PresClub. Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half-time status shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of six post-secondary years in this status. Contact info at the amsat dot org for additional student membership information. 73, This week's ANS Editor, Frank Karnauskas, N1UW n1uw at amsat dot org Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings see https://www.amsat.org/mailing-list-faq/.

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ANS-164 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Paul Stoetzer 12 Jun '21

12 Jun '21

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-164 The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. The news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor(a)amsat.org You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/ In this edition: * Call for Nominations – 2021 AMSAT Board of Directors Election * CHESS CubeSats Will Not Carry Amateur Transponders * ARISS Offers More Fun to ARRL/AMSAT Field Day Operators * FUNcube Dongle Stock Update * Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for May 6, 2021 * ARISS News * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Satellite Shorts From All Over AMSAT News Service Bulletin 164.01 To: All RADIO AMATEURS From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation 712 H Street NE Suite 1653 Washington, DC 20002 DATE 2021 Jun 13 -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- Join the 2021 President's Club! Score your 2" 4-Color Accent Commemorative Coin with Polished Gold Finish, Full Color Certificate and Embroidered "Remove Before Flight" Key Tag By donating today at https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/ You won't want to miss it! -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- Call for Nominations – 2021 AMSAT Board of Directors Election AMSAT solicits nominations for the 2021 AMSAT Board of Directors election, to be held in the third quarter of the year. The seats of the following four incumbent Directors expire in 2021 and will be filled by this year’s election: Jerry Buxton N0JY Drew Glasbrenner KO4MA Patrick Stoddard WD9EWK Michelle Thompson W5NYV Further, up to two Alternate Directors may be elected for one-year terms. A valid nomination for Director must be written and requires either one Member Society or five current individual members in good standing to nominate an AMSAT member. Written nominations, with the nominee’s name, call sign, and contact information, as well as the nominators’ names, call signs, and contact information, should be sent to the AMSAT Secretary: Jeff Davis, KE9V 1909 S. Batavia Avenue Muncie, IN 47302-2044 ke9v at amsat.org A copy should be sent to Executive Vice President Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, at n8hm at amsat.org. The AMSAT bylaws require that the nomination be written and in the form specified by the Secretary. The Secretary has elected to accept written nomination materials via mail or in electronic form, including e-mail or electronic image of a paper document. Fax transmissions cannot be accepted. No matter what means are used, petitions MUST be received by the Secretary no later than June 15th. The Secretary will verify the qualifications of candidates and nominating members or Member Societies as petitions are received, and will notify candidates whether their nominations are in order by the end of June. [ANS thanks Jeff Davis, KE9V, AMSAT Secretary, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- CHESS CubeSats Will Not Carry Amateur Transponders Two CHESS CubeSats had been planned to carry amateur radio linear transponders, however, it was announced on June 10, 2021, there will not be any amateur payload on the satellites. A translation of the press release reads: The CHESS project management, due to funding constraints, had to move the project towards a commercial cubesat platform. Space is scarce on this new platform to accommodate another payload. Subsequently, there is no longer an opportunity to carry a ham radio transponder on board. The CHESS project management has correctly decided not to use frequencies in the amateur satellite service and to use earth exploration or experimental UHF- and X- band frequencies. The ham community, who assured the funding of the transponder, is very disappointed by this decision, but must accept it. Such projects always carry risks of one partner changing its mind. That is what happened here. Many thanks to all who have actively supported the transponder project, especially the AMSAT-UK and AMSAT-NL team. AMSAT-HB announcement https://www.amsat-hb.org/2021/06/10/chess-fliegt-ohne-amateurfunknutzlast/ January 2021 project announcement https://amsat-uk.org/2021/01/14/chess-cubesat-constellation-funcube/ [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK, AMSAT-HB, and AMSAT-NL for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS Offers More Fun to ARRL/AMSAT Field Day Operators Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has decided to keep its ARISS InterOperable Radio System (IORS) in crossband repeater mode until after ARRL Field Day ends. The IORS ham station is located in the Columbus Module of the International Space Station. ARRL Hq Contest Program Manager Paul Bourque, N1SFE, has confirmed that successful radio contacts made through the ARISS IORS, in crossband repeater mode, will count for an ARRL Field Day QSO point, but also for Field Day bonus points! Another fun opportunity for points. Don’t forget the rule limiting stations to 1 QSO per any single channel FM satellite. On-orbit astronauts always have very busy schedules, but if a voice contact were to be made with them, it would count for QSO credit but not for satellite bonus points. Only an ARISS crossband repeater QSO qualifies for the bonus. Crossband repeater contacts are also valid for AMSAT Field Day for satellite operations, held concurrently with the ARRL event. Frequencies for ARISS crossband repeater operation are as follows: 145.990 MHz up, 67 Hz tone and 437.800 MHz down. If you haven’t used the ISS repeater yet, be sure to practice with it before Field Day (June 26-27, 2021). These contacts can be tricky, but hams can practice right now…can you do it? ARISS had planned a mode switch to APRS packet during the second week of June. Now, ARISS is targeting the switch by the astronauts to packet after the first ARISS school contact following ARRL Field Day. In more news for ARISS supporters: the astronauts will power down the ARISS radio station during USA spacewalks on June 16 and June 20, 2021. [ANS thanks ARISS for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Need new satellite antennas? Purchase Arrows, Alaskan Arrows, and M2 LEO-Packs from the AMSAT Store. When you purchase through AMSAT, a portion of the proceeds goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space. https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ FUNcube Dongle Stock Update Over the past month it’s proven difficult to keep stock, but we look forward to having stock ready within the next few days. During the pandemic, we’ve seen a significant uptick in sales of the FUNcube Dongle, and this trend continues. While we’ve managed to maintain stock for most of the past twelve months, it’s not been easy, and for the last month or so unfortunately we’ve been running on empty. The perfect storm combination of increased demand, logistics delays due to the pandemic, and more recently the global parts shortages, have all impacted our ability to maintain stock. On June 10th, it was announced that a limited stock was available for purchase at https://funcubedongle.3dcartstores.com/checkout_one.asp [ANS thanks the FUNcube Dongle Team for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for June 10, 2021 Rather than continue to send a "No amateur satellite additions or deletions..." report each week, I have decided to send an update message only when an addition or deletion has actually occurred. It seems a waste of bulletin space to send a message when there is really no new news. Please assume that if there is no change message, that means no additions or deletions have occurred. [ANS thanks Ray Hoad, WA5QGD, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager, for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AMSAT's GOLF Program is about getting back to higher orbits, and it all begins with GOLF-TEE – a technology demonstrator for deployable solar panels, propulsion, and attitude control, now manifested for launch on NASA's ELaNa 46 mission. Come along for the ride. The journey will be worth it! https://tinyurl.com/ANS-GOLF +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ ARISS News Collège Albert Camus, La Norville, France and Université Paris-Saclay, Saint-Aubin, France multi-point telebridge via ON4ISS The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be FXØISS The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz The scheduled astronaut is Thomas Pesquet KG5FYG Contact is go for: Thu 2021-06-17 11:40:45 UTC 84 deg Current Status of ISS Stations IORS (Kenwood D710GA) – STATUS - ACTIVE. supporting cross band repeater operation (145.990 up [67 Hz tone] /437.800 down MHz). Next mode change to packet operations targeting after Field Day. Supporting USOS scheduled voice contacts, packet and voice repeater ops. Service Module radios: Kenwood D710E – STATUS - Radio usually off. Supporting ROS scheduled voice contacts and SSTV. The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html [ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors, for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition? Get your AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff from our Zazzle store! 25% of the purchase price of each product goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Upcoming Satellite Operations WY7AA: FI will be in FN02 starting 6/6 for a few weeks. Operating Sats. holiday style. If you need FN01, FN02, FN03, FN12 please let me know and we can try to set something up. FN01,03, and 12 will likely each be one day roves. FM and SSB EA4M: Hi guys later in June I’ll be in IN73 on holidays, probably for a week or so, I will try some birds stay tuned on tweeter for schedules. VE6WK: DN49: – I’m planning a SOTA rove to DN49 on June 12 and may hit some other grids on the way there/back. AD0DX: FN15/25 FM & SSB ND0C and KE0WPA: In June @kylee_ke0wpa and I, along with our resident photojournalist (Mom/Amy), will be taking a family excursion to the southwest and working some sats as time permits. Here are the less commonly worked grids from which we plan to operate. We will hit other grids too. DM67 6/15 – 6/17, DM56 6/18, DM45 6/19, DN63 7/2, DN64 7/2 & 7/3 AD0DX (VA3IIR) :Long Range Rover plans: VA3IIR in FN15/25 June 18 FM and SSB WA5RR: I’m looking at doing a rove in DL98 with an overnight stay in Eagle Pass, TX around the last week in June. Details to follow. VP2V/K3TRM: I will be operating from Tortola, BVI as VP2V/K3TRM on July 4-17, 2021. Activity will be on 40-6M SSB & digital, and satellite. N5LEX: CN98 last week of June. DM62: K5TA, I’m tentatively planning for DM62 ~9-July, when there are are several good passes mid-day, making it a doable day-trip for me…. EN57/67: @SeanKutzko KX9X and @Nancy_N9NCY will celebrate Sean’s birthday in the Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula July 15-19. Look for them on FM and SSB satellites, with the possibility of some Parks On The Air activity as well. Please submit any additions or corrections to Ke0pbr (at) gmail.com [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT rover page manager, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events AMSAT Ambassador Clint Bradford, K6LCS, reports these upcoming presentations scheduled for … 06/15 - East Massachusetts 10/21 - Conejo Valley CA … and dates for Roseland NJ, Austin TX, Maine, and NH to be firmed up! Think a lively, entertaining, AND educational 75-minute presentation to YOUR club or organization on “Working the Easy Sateliites” would be appropriate for your club? Send me a message or call! Clint Bradford K6LCS AMSAT Ambassador, ARRL instructor http://www.work-sat.com k6lcs AT work-sat DOT info (909) 999-SATS (7287) [ANS thanks Clint Bradford, K6LCS, AMSAT Ambassador, and Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT Events Page Manager, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + FO-99's operating schedule for June can be found at https://www.jamsat.or.jp/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/nexus202106.j… Note that times are listed in Japan Standard Time (UTC +9), so subtract nine hours to get the UTC time for the activations. The transponder is generally active for Friday evening passes over the Eastern United States according to this schedule. + Thanks to Gordon Scannell, KD8COJ, and the Livonia Amateur Radio Club, the AMSAT CubeSat Simulator Loaner ison display at the Livonia, MI Public Library for month of June. https://qrz.com/db/kd8coj + AMSAT Director Patrick Stoddard, WD9EWK, appeared on the June 3, 2021 episode of the ARRL's Eclectic Tech podcast to discuss amateur satellites and provide advice for ARRL/AMSAT Field Day. The episode can be downloaded at http://www.arrl.org/eclectic + Minutes of the March 2, 2021 AMSAT Board of Directors Teleconference are available at https://www.amsat.org/minutes-of-the-board-of-directors/ + Several new products are available on the AMSAT Zazzle store, including a set of coasters, a watch, a t-shirt featuring the AMSAT round logo, and more. Check out the new items! 25% of the purchase price goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space. https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear + All issues of The AMSAT Journal dating back to 2014 are now available to AMSAT members on AMSAT’s new membership portal. The 1969-2013 archive will be added at a later date. All editions of AMSAT’s Symposium Proceedings are also available for members. If you’re a current AMSAT member, get logged on today. If you are not yet a member, consider joining today at https://launch.amsat.org/ + The 2020 edition of AMSAT’s Getting Started with Amateur Satellites is available on the AMSAT store. A perennial favorite, Getting Started is updated every year with the latest amateur satellite information, and is the premier primer of satellite operation. The book is presented in DRM-free PDF format, in full color, and covers all aspects of making your first contacts on a ham radio satellite. The digital download is available for $15 at https://tinyurl.com/2020GettingStarted. The print edition is $30 plus shipping and is available at https://tinyurl.com/GS2020Print --------------------------------------------------------------------- In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President’s Club. Members of the President’s Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional benefits. President’s Club donations may be made at https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/ Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/ 73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space, This week’s ANS Editor, Paul Stoetzer, N8HM n8hm at amsat dot org

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ANS-157 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for June 6
by Mark Johns, K0JM 05 Jun '21

05 Jun '21

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-157 The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. The news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor(a)amsat.org You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/ In this edition: * Call for Nominations – 2021 AMSAT Board of Directors Election * EASAT-2 and Hades Launch Delayed Again * Satellite Controllers Announce Schedule Changes * VUCC Awards-Endorsements for June 1, 2021 * The AMSAT SA Dual Band 70cm/2M Yagi Mark II Now Available * No Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for June 3 * Amicalsat 6 June S-band Transmission * ARISS News * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Satellite Shorts From All Over ANS-157 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 157 To: All RADIO AMATEURS From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation 712 H Street NE, Suite 1653 Washington, DC 20002 DATE 2021 June 6 Call for Nominations – 2021 AMSAT Board of Directors Election AMSAT solicits nominations for the 2021 AMSAT Board of Directors election, to be held in the third quarter of the year. The seats of the following four incumbent Directors expire in 2021 and will be filled by this year’s election: Jerry Buxton N0JY Drew Glasbrenner KO4MA Patrick Stoddard WD9EWK Michelle Thompson W5NYV Further, up to two Alternate Directors may be elected for one-year terms. A valid nomination for Director must be written and requires either one Member Society or five current individual members in good standing to nominate an AMSAT member. Written nominations, with the nominee’s name, call sign, and contact information, as well as the nominators’ names, call signs, and contact information, should be sent to the AMSAT Secretary: Jeff Davis, KE9V 1909 S. Batavia Avenue Muncie, IN 47302-2044 ke9v at amsat.org A copy should be sent to Executive Vice President Paul Stoetzer, at n8hm at amsat.org. The AMSAT bylaws require that the nomination be written and in the form specified by the Secretary. The Secretary has elected to accept written nomination materials via mail or in electronic form, including e-mail or electronic image of a paper document. Fax transmissions cannot be accepted. No matter what means are used, petitions MUST be received by the Secretary no later than June 15th. The Secretary will verify the qualifications of candidates and nominating members or Member Societies as petitions are received, and will notify candidates whether their nominations are in order by the end of June. [ANS thanks Jeff Davis, KE9V, AMSAT Secretary, for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Join the 2021 President's Club! Score your 2" 4-Color Accent Commemorative Coin. This gold finished coin comes with Full Color Certificate and Embroidered "Remove Before Flight" Key Tag Donate today at https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/ You won't want to miss it! +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ EASAT-2 and Hades Launch Delayed Again Spain's URE reports the launch of EASAT-2 and Hades satellites have suffered another delay A translation of the URE post reads: EASAT-2 and Hades, the communications satellites for radio amateurs built by AMSAT-EA, will not be able to be launched in June with SpaceX as planned, as the FAA (the American Aviation Administration) has rejected the license to the integrator Momentus Space, on whose orbital transfer vehicle Vigoride was to be mounted the AlbaPOD ejector from Alba Orbital, within which are the satellites of AMSAT EA, as well as other organizations and universities. The reasons for the FAA's rejection stem from the company's capital structure, which, according to the American agency, could endanger the national security of the United States. The next launch opportunity could come in December. EASAT-2 and Hades were to have been launched in January this year aboard a SpaceX Falcon-9 rocket, but the Momentus license was also rejected by the FAA at the time. Both satellites are FM and FSK voice repeaters, also having digitized voice recordings. Hades also incorporates an SSTV camera developed by the University of Brno in the Czech Republic and EASAT-2 incorporates as an experimental load a basaltic material from Lanzarote, similar to lunar basalts, provided by the research group on meteorites and planetary geosciences of the CSIC in the Institute of Geosciences, IGEO (CSIC-UCM) and that it could be used as a construction material on the Moon. This project was promoted and has the collaboration of the ETSICCP (UPM). The frequencies coordinated with the IARU for both satellites are the following: EASAT-2 • 145.875 MHz uplink, Modes: FM voice (without sub-tone) and FSK 50 bps • 436.666 MHz downlink, Modes: FM voice, CW, FSK 50 bps, FM voice beacon with AM5SAT callsign HADES • 145.925 MHz uplink, Modes: FM voice (without sub-tone) and FSK 50 bps • 436.888 MHz downlink, Modes: FM voice, CW FSK 50 bps, SSTV Robot 36, FM voice beacon with callsign AM6SAT Source URE https://tinyurl.com/IARU-Spain Read the May 2021 AMSAT-EA newsletter in English at https://www.amsat-ea.org/app/download/12773993/AMSAT-EA-Boletin_05-2021.pdf [ANS thanks Southgate ARC for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Need new satellite antennas? Purchase Arrows, Alaskan Arrows, and M2 LEO-Packs from the AMSAT Store. When you purchase through AMSAT, a portion of the proceeds goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space. https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Satellite Controllers Announce Schedule Changes AO-73 After several months of being in full Sunlight, AO-73 has now entered a period of eclipses. The transponder was commanded "on" on May 30, and the team will evaluate performance over the coming days. An initial check of telemetry suggests the Lithium Ion cells are functioning well and satellite power budget is nominal. [ANS thanks David Bowman, G0MRF for the above information] IO-86 Effective immediately the activation of FM voice repeater on IO-86 (the amateur payload on LAPAN-A2/ORARI satellite) will be reduced, to preserve the life of the repeater (already more than 5 years old) while waiting for the successor , the LAPAN-A5. If required for emergency communication, we will activate the repeater full as usual. [ANS thanks Yono Adisoemarta, YD0NXX of the AMSAT Indonesia Technical Team for the above information] NO-104 and NO-84 PSAT2(NO-104) will enter about 2 weeks of good USA coverage between about 10 to 22 June. Normally its low inclination orbit favors the southern USA. But the orbit is also elliptical and so there are times when the elevation angle to more northern stations rises as much as 20 degrees, bringing higher latitude stations into the footprint. Currently it's VHF Xponder has been in DTMF & APRS-to-Voice (A2V) mode but with the ISS digipeater being inactive, we will enable PSAT2 for normal APRS operations plus the A2V feature. Its HF/UHF transponder will remain in linear operation for PSK31 SSTV and Voice. See http://aprs.org/psat2.html for how to use the A2V feature. We also note that PSAT(NO-84) has awakened from poor sun angles and we will try to activate its digipeater. [ANS thanks Bob Bruninga, WB4APR for the above information] FO-99 JAMSAT has published an updated operating schedule for NEXUS, FO-99, at https://www.jamsat.or.jp/ [ANS thanks JAMSAT for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- VUCC Awards-Endorsements for June 1, 2021 Here are the endorsements and new VUCC Satellite Awards issued by the ARRL for the period May 1, 2021 through June 1, 2021. Congratulations to all those who made the list this month! CALL May June WC7V 1232 1250 AA5PK 1074 1115 N8RO 1080 1096 N3GS 687 705 NS3L 681 695 K7TAB 627 656 WD9EWK (DM43) 640 650 N5BO 525 580 AC9O 475 549 AF5CC 477 525 K5IX 450 489 KS1G 413 427 W8LR 400 425 KJ4M 171 357 IK0WGF 258 324 DF2ET 250 300 N7ZO 250 275 N8URE (FM19) 243 263 KN2K 200 253 EA2AA 153 251 N3CAL 181 204 RA3DNC 110 142 AC9DX 100 141 N2ZN 120 135 VE3KY 103 128 DG9MA New 125 KP4RV 105 125 SQ5NRY New 105 NR1Z New 104 KC1MEB New 102 W4IPA New 101 NU1U New 100 XE1MYO New 100 If you find errors or omissions. Please contact me off-list at <mycall>@<mycall>.com and I'll revise the announcement. This list was developed by comparing the ARRL .pdf listings for the two months. It's a visual comparison so omissions are possible. Apologies if your call was not mentioned. Thanks to all those who are roving to grids that are rarely on the birds. They are doing a lot of the work! [ANS thanks Ron Parsons, W5RKN for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AMSAT's GOLF Program is about getting back to higher orbits, and it all begins with GOLF-TEE – a technology demonstrator for deployable solar panels, propulsion, and attitude control. Come along for the ride. The journey will be worth it! https://tinyurl.com/ANS-GOLF +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ The AMSAT SA Dual Band 70cm/2M Yagi Mark II Now Available AMSAT SA has launched Mark II of its dual band 70 cm/2 m handheld beam antenna with a new, easier to hold handle and improved coaxial terminations. The Yagi has been retuned for maximum performance in the amateur radio 2 m and 70 cm satellite bands. The coax cable is terminated crimped brass lugs instead of being soldered making it environmentally more robust. The driven element has been adjusted to accommodate the change in the connection. More about the Yagi. The antenna has a 50-ohm designed driver. The Yagi has a unique element called an 'Open Sleeve' which is a director very close to the driven element. The driven element is sized for 2 m. When operating on 70 cm the 'Open Sleeve' acts as part of the driven element on 70 cm (the third harmonic of 2 m). The original concept was developed in 1946 by Dr J T Bolljahn of the Stanford Research institute but was not introduced into amateur radio until the 1950s. The AMSAT SA version is based on a design by DK7ZB with modifications by WB5CXC. The first South African version was a collaboration between Guy Eales, ZS6GUY and Gary Immelman, ZS6YI. It was developed for YOTA 2018 where young people successfully used the antenna operating satellites using hand-held transceivers. The mechanical structure was redesigned by Gary Immelmann ZS6YI. A choke around the boom was added to isolate the antenna from the coax and reduce the effect human contact has on the antenna. A handle was added on the boom end which makes it more comfortable to hold and further isolates the antenna from the handler. The AMSAT SA Yagi is manufactured in one of Gary Immelmann's factories in Vereeniging. It has two elements on 145 MHz and 3 elements on 435 MHz. For its size, the antenna has excellent gain: 145 MHZ: 4.12 dBd or 6.3 dBi and 435 MHz: 6.23 dBd or 8.4 dBi. The Yagi is broadband with measured SWR being almost flat over the entire bands. The antenna is plug and play, no tools are needed except for soldering on a connector to suit the application. It comes complete in a carry bag with full instructions. This antenna can be assembled and dissembled in minutes. The price of the MKII Yagi is R400 for AMSAT SA and SARL members. Non-members pay R500 (approximately $36.75 US). The courier charge is R120 (approximately $9 US, Postnet to Postnet). Ask for a quote for other courier options. Find more details and order forms on http://www.amsatsa.org.za/ [ANS thanks AMSAT SA for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition? Get your AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff from our Zazzle store! 25% of the purchase price of each product goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ No Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for June 3 No amateur satellite additions or deletions have occurred in this week's distribution. However, TLE (KEPS) have been updated and are available on the AMSAT-NA website at: https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/ or to receive a weekly TLE (KEPS) email, subscribe to the Keplerian Elements Mailing list (page 2) by clicking on "Keps" at: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/?page=2 [ANS thanks Ray Hoad, WA5QGD, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Amicalsat 6 June S-band Transmission The 6 June amicalsat will transmit a picture above Europe, US and Asia. Here is when a transmission will start : 09:35 UTC 05:58 UTC 3:18 UTC First CW is transmitted during one second, and then the frames follow. The RTC onboard is not very accurate due to high temperature change, allow up to two minutes drift on the time given. (because this is a planned task in the satellite) The transmission will occur on the S-band coordinated frequency: 2415.300 MHz. Due to temperature and hardware limitation the frequency might be a little lower. The modulation of the S-band downlink is GFSK 1Mbps. The downlink signal is RHCP. A picture transmission is about 3-5 minutes long. [ANS thanks Christophe Mercier and Julien Nicolas, F4HVX, for the above information] -------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS NEWS Amateurs and others around the world may listen in on contacts between amateurs operating in schools and allowing students to interact with astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station. The downlink frequency on which to listen is 145.800 MHz worldwide, unless otherwise noted. The Father's House Christian School (Home Education Provider: Roots), Morinville, Alberta, Canada, multi-point telebridge via VK4KHZ. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS. The scheduled astronaut is Akihiko Hoshide KE5DNI Contact was successful: Wed 2021-06-02 14:28:53 UTC 44 deg Congratulations to the he Father's House Christian School students and Akihiko Watch livestream at https://youtu.be/S0_-QFkXdi4 About Gagarin From Space. Conducting an amateur radio session with school children of Mordovia, Russia, direct via TBD. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS The scheduled astronaut is Oleg Novitskiy Contact is go for: Sun 2021-06-06 12:25 UTC College Maurice Genevoix, Couzeix, France, multi-point telebridge via ON4ISS. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be FXØISS The scheduled astronaut is Thomas Pesquet KG5FYG Contact is go for: Mon 2021-06-07 13:07:41 UTC 70 deg MAI-75 SSTV Events: MAI-75 will be conducting their experiment of transmitting SSTV images over specific orbits that overfly Moscow on June 9 and 10. Amateurs along the ground track of these orbits should have the opportunity to receive these images as well. Modes and targeted transmission periods are listed below. SSTV images will be transmitted at 145.800 MHz using a Kenwood TM-D710 transceiver. They are expected to use the PD-120 SSTV format. Wed 2021-06-09: 09:35 to 13:50 UTC Thu 2021-06-10: 08:55 to 15:50 UTC St. Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Bombala, NSW, Australia, telebridge via IK1SLD. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 437.525 MHz The scheduled astronaut is Shane Kimbrough KE5HOD Contact is go for: Thu 2021-06-10 10:45:26 UTC 80 deg Lipetsk, Russia, direct via TBD. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS The scheduled astronaut is Pyotr Dubrov Contact is go for: Fri 2021-06-11 11:40 UTC Velikiy Ustyug, Russia, direct via TBD. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS The scheduled astronaut is Oleg Novitskiy Contact is go for: Sat 2021-06-12 09:15 UTC Lipetsk, Russia, direct via TBD The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS The scheduled astronaut is Pyotr Dubrov Contact is go for Sat 2021-06-12 10:55 UTC The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html [ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AMSAT, along with our ARISS partners, is developing an amateur radio package, including two-way communication capability, to be carried on-board Gateway in lunar orbit. Support AMSAT's projects today at https://www.amsat.org/donate/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Upcoming Satellite Operations Upcoming Roves: Quick Hits: WY7AA: FI will be in FN02 starting 6/6 for a few weeks. Operating Sats. holiday style. If you need FN01, FN02, FN03, FN12 please let me know and we can try to set something up. FN01,03, and 12 will likely each be one day roves. FM and SSB EA4M: : Hi guys later in June I’ll be in IN73 on holidays, probably for a week or so, I will try some birds stay tuned on tweeter for schedules. VE6WK: DN49: – I’m planning a SOTA rove to DN49 on June 12 and may hit some other grids on the way there/back. ND0C and KE0WPA: In June @kylee_ke0wpa and I, along with our resident photojournalist (Mom/Amy), will be taking a family excursion to the southwest and working some sats as time permits. Here are the less commonly worked grids from which we plan to operate. We will hit other grids too. DM67 6/15 – 6/17, DM56 6/18, DM45 6/19, DN63 7/2, DN64 7/2 & 7/3 AD0DX (VA3IIR) :Long Range Rover plans: VA3IIR in FN15/25 June 18 FM and SSB WA5RR: I’m looking at doing a rove in DL98 with an overnight stay in Eagle Pass, TX around the last week in June. Details to follow. VP2V/K3TRM: I will be operating from Tortola, BVI as VP2V/K3TRM on July 4-17, 2021. Activity will be on 40-6M SSB & digital, and satellite. N5LEX: CN98 last week of June. DM62: K5TA, I’m tentatively planning for DM62 ~9-July, when there are are several good passes mid-day, making it a doable day-trip for me…. EN57/67: @SeanKutzko KX9X and @Nancy_N9NCY will celebrate Sean’s birthday in the Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula July 15-19. Look for them on FM and SSB satellites, with the possibility of some Parks On The Air activity as well. Please submit any additions or corrections to Ke0pbr (at) gmail.com [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT rover page manager, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events AMSAT Ambassador and ARRL registered instructor Clint Bradford, K6LCS, has a presentation scheduled for 06/15 in East Massachusetts. See http://www.work-sat.com for details. [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT Events page manager, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + The International Space Station’s robotic arm, Canadarm2, was struck by a piece of space debris. But luckily, it appears to be only a flesh wound, and the arm has been cleared for nominal operations while analysis on the strike continues. NASA and Canadian Space Agency officials don’t know exactly when the arm was hit – or what hit it — but the damage was noticed on May 12 during a routine inspection. The hole is quite small, approximately 5 mm (.2 inches) in diameter. (ANS thanks Universe Today for the above information) + An absolutely mesmerizing and very instructional video graphic on the problem of orbital debris (ie. space junk), created by the European Space Agency, may be viewed at: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2019/02/Distribution_of_space_deb… (ANS thanks Zach Metzinger, N0ZGO for the above information) + A Cargo Dragon capsule took off at 1729z Thursday, June 3, on top of a Falcon 9 rocket to begin a two-day trip to the space station. This was the: • 120th Falcon 9 flight • 17th SpaceX launch of 2021 • 22nd SpaceX cargo flight to ISS • 130th launch from pad 39A This mission is set to deliver experiments, food, spare parts, a NASA-sponsored CubeSat built by middle school students in Tennessee, and other equipment to the space station’s seven-person crew. The Dragon’s entire cargo load, including pressurized and unpressurized sections, weighs in at 7,337 pounds (3,328 kilograms). That makes it the heaviest supply shipment SpaceX has ever sent to the space station. (ANS thanks Spaceflight Now for the above information) + Among the equipment sent to ISS on the Cargo Dragon launch, above, was the first satellite to be built by the island nation of Mauritius. It will be deployed in June by the KIBO robotic arm. The callsign is 3B8MIR (MIR-1 meaning Mauritius Imagery & Radio-communication Satellite 1). Payloads are a camera and a digipeater (bent tube) which will be made available to the HAM community worldwide when satellite is not downloading images or used for experimental purposes, the uplink will be on 145.9875 MHz and the downlink on 436.925 MHz, 9K2 GMSK, as coordinated with IARU. More information will be available on (https://spacemauritius.com) soon. (ANS thanks Jean Marc Momple, 3B8DU, for the above information) + China’s robotic Tianzhou 2 cargo ship launched Saturday on top of a Long March 7 rocket and docked with the core module of the country’s space station eight hours later, delivering fuel, crew supplies, extravehicular spacesuits, and other gear in preparation for the arrival of three astronauts in June. (ANS thanks Spaceflight Now for the above information) + American intelligence officials have found no evidence that aerial phenomena witnessed by Navy pilots in recent years are alien spacecraft, but they still cannot explain the unusual movements that have mystified scientists and the military, according to senior administration officials briefed on the findings of a highly anticipated government report. While a forthcoming unclassified version, expected to be released to Congress by June 25, will present few other firm conclusions, senior officials briefed on the intelligence conceded that the very ambiguity of the findings meant the government could not definitively rule out theories that the phenomena observed by military pilots might be alien spacecraft. (ANS thanks The New York Times for the above information) + The team behind NASA's InSight Mars lander has come up with an innovative way to boost the spacecraft's energy at a time when its power levels have been falling. The lander's robotic arm trickled sand near one solar panel, helping the wind to carry off some of the panel's dust. The result was a gain of about 30 watt-hours of energy per sol, or Martian day. (ANS thanks Mars Daily for the above information) --------------------------------------------------------------------- /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Store. Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional student membership information. 73 and Remember to help keep amateur radio in space, This week's ANS Editor, Mark Johns, K0JM k0jm at amsat dot org

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