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ANS-167 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Paul Stoetzer 15 Jun '19

15 Jun '19

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-167 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 Field Day on the Satellites * Dollar-for-Dollar Match on your ARISS Donation Ends Monday! * AMSAT Operations Updates AO-85 Status / AO-92 Field Day Plans * AMSAT Engineering Slides From Ham-Com * BIRDS-3 Satellites Deploy From ISS on June 17th * IARU Region 1 Notes WRC-23 Proposals That Impact 144-146 MHz and 1260-1270 MHz Amateur Satellite Service Bands * Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for June 13, 2019 * How to Support AMSAT * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Satellite Shorts from All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-167.01 ANS-167 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 167.01 >From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. June 16, 2019 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-167.01 +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ 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/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT Field Day on the Satellites The weekend of June 22-23, 2019 is Field Day! Each year the Ameri- can Radio Relay League (ARRL) sponsors Field Day. The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT) promotes our own version of Field Day focused on operation via the amateur satellites, held concurrently with the ARRL event. The AMSAT Field Day 2019 event is open to all Amateur Radio opera- tors. Amateurs are to use the exchange as specified in ARRL rules for Field Day. The AMSAT competition is to encourage the use of all amateur satellites, both analog and digital. The congestion on FM LEO satellites is always so intense that we must continue to limit their use to one-QSO-per-FM-satellite. This includes the International Space Station. You will be allowed one QSO if the ISS is operating Voice. +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Note that no points will be credited for any contacts beyond the ONE allowed via each single-channel FM sat- ellite. Operators are encouraged NOT to make any extra contacts via the FM satellites. +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Information for the operational satellites can be found in the tables posted on-line on the AMSAT web: + FM Satellite Frequencies https://www.amsat.org/fm-satellite-frequency-summary/ + Linear satellite Frequencies https://www.amsat.org/linear-satellite-frequency-summary/ Up-to-date satellite status reports are posted by users at: https://www.amsat.org/status/ AO-92 is expected to be in L/v mode for the first part of Field Day. Details are in the Operations Update article later in this An article by Sean Kutzko, KX9X, “Get on the Satellites for ARRL Field Day”, published in the June 2018 issue of QST is reprinted with the ARRL’s permission can be accessed at: https://www.amsat.org/get-on-the-satellites-for-field-day The full set of rules (including downloadable documents) are posted at: https://www.amsat.org/field-day/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ CALL FOR AMSAT FIELD DAY PHOTOS AMSAT Journal Editor Joe Kornowski, KB6IGK, asks that Field Day participants share photos of their Field Day satellite stations for publication in an upcoming edition of The AMSAT Journal. Please email photos to journal at amsat dot org +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ [ANS thanks AMSAT Director Contests and Awards, Bruce Paige, KK5DO, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Dollar-for-Dollar Match on your ARISS Donation Ends Monday! During the ARISS Forum at the Hamvention, it was announced, that between now and June 17, that an anonymous donor will equally match one dollar for each dollar donated up to $10,000. Here is an excellent opportunity to get the most from your donations to the ARISS FundRazr. The FundRazr Project was initiated to raise $150,000 towards the ARISS Radio Upgrade on ISS. To date 100 contributors have donated $26,200 to the campaign, about 17% of the goal. Please donate today at https://fundrazr.com/arissnextgen?ref=ab_6ruVeeeNzOa6ruVeeeNzOa [ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT Operations Updates AO-85 Status / AO-92 Field Day Plans AO-85's FM repeater is still active during the current period of full illumination. Both downlink and uplink frequencies are off freq- uency low and DUV telemetry is not active. Continued operations are not guaranteed after the full illumination period ends on June 19. Work it while you can! AO-92 will be available in both U/v and L/v for Field Day this year. The current plan is to command AO-92 to L/v on the 0416Z pass on June 22, the evening before Field Day. The 24 hour timer will then run to expiration, and the satellite will revert to Mode U/v for the remainder of Field Day weekend. The planned timing should provide for at least one accessible pass for the continental US in L/v before returning to U/v. If commanding to L/v on the 0416Z pass is not successful, we will reattempt Field Day morning. Please keep the uplink clear during commanding. Additionally, requests were made to the LilacSat-2, IO-86 and PO-101 command stations for special scheduling of these FM repeaters for Field Day. Please watch for these teams’ schedule announcements on Twitter and amsat-bb prior to Field Day weekend. Note that IO-86 is only accessible to those stations below about 30 degrees of latitude, but is a very strong repeater and easily worked to the local horizon. The FM repeaters on AO-91 and SO-50 are also expected to be available as normal during Field Day. [ANS thanks AMSAT Vice President-Operations Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT Engineering Slides From Ham-Com AMSAT Vice President-Engineering presented an update on AMSAT's projects at Ham-Com 2019. Slides from the presentation are available at available at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-167-N0JY [ANS thanks AMSAT Vice President-Engineering Jerry Buxton, N0JY, for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- BIRDS-3 Satellites Deploy From ISS on June 17th JAXA has announced that the BIRDS-3 satellites, NepaliSat-1 (Nepal), Raavana-1 (Sri Lanka) and Uguisu (Japan), will deploy from ISS on June 17th. A live stream of the deployment will begin at 0835z on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrw3cMw10nQ&feature=youtu.be The three satellites operate on same frequency, 437.375MHz, with a CW beacon and 4800 bps GMSK. More info is available on the BIRDS-3 Project website. https://birds3.birds-project.com [ANS thanks Masa, JN1GKZ, for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ 2019 marks AMSAT’s 50th Anniversary of Keeping Amateur Radio in Space. To help celebrate, we are sponsoring the AMSAT 50th Anniversary Awards Program. Full details are available at https://www.amsat.org/amsat-50th-anniversary-awards-program/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ --------------------------------------------------------------------- IARU Region 1 Notes WRC-23 Proposals That Impact 144-146 MHz and 1260-1270 MHz Amateur Satellite Service Bands IARU Region 1 notes that there are two proposals under discussion in Europe as possible future Agenda Items at WRC 2023, which potentially could impact important amateur radio frequencies. The following sets out the current IARU position on these proposals. A proposal from France to consider the band 144-146 MHz as a primary allocation to the Aeronautical Mobile service, as part of a broader consideration of the spectrum allocated to that service. The band 144-146 MHz is allocated globally to the amateur and amateur satellite services on a primary basis. This is one of the few primary allocations to the amateur service above 29.7 MHz and as such is an important and widely used part of the amateur spectrum with a vast installed base of users and operational satellite stations. IARU views with grave concern any proposal to include this band in the proposed study. It will be representing this view energetically in Regional Telecommunications Organisations and in ITU to seek to obtain assurances that the spectrum will remain a primary allocation for the amateur services. A proposal to study the amateur allocation in the 1240-1300 MHz ("23cm") band following reported cases of interference to the Galileo navigation system. IARU is aware of a handful of cases where interference to the Galileo E6 signal has been reported. In all cases these have been resolved by local action with the full cooperation of the amateur stations concerned. IARU does not want the amateur service to affect the operation of the Galileo system in any way. Joint studies have been carried out to assess the true vulnerability of the system and, based on these, IARU regards the proposal to initiate an Agenda item for WRC-23 as pre- mature. The IARU position is that proper technical assessment of the issues involved should be made in the relevant CEPT study group. Proper account needs to be taken of the operational characteristics of the amateur service in order to develop sensible and proportionate measures that will facilitate the continued utility of the band for amateur experimentation whilst respecting the primary status of the GNSS service. IARU is ready to cooperate fully in any studies and shares the objective of reaching a secure and permanent solution to the issues of sharing in this band. IARU asks its Member Societies to draw this information to the attention of their members, and to refrain at this time from making speculative public comments about the situation until further progress has been made in regulatory discussions. IARU is also ready to discuss this issue with other societies not in IARU membership. [ANS thanks the IARU for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Purchase AMSAT Gear on our Zazzle storefront. 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 13, 2019 The following amateur satellite has decayed and has been removed from the AMSAT-NA TLE distribution: ZA-AeroSat - CAT ID 42713 (reentered 06-02-2019). [ANS thanks Ray Hoad, WA5QGD, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AMSAT and ARISS are currently supporting a FundRazr campaign to raise $150,000 for critical radio infrastructure upgrades on ISS. The upgrades are necessary to enable students to continue to talk to astronauts in space via Amateur Radio. We have reached a great milestone with $26,200 raised or about 17% towards our goal. This would not have been possible without your outstanding generosity!! For more information and to DONATE TODAY visit: https://fundrazr.com/arissnextgen?ref=ab_e7Htwa_ab_47IcJ9 +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ --------------------------------------------------------------------- How to Support AMSAT AMSAT relies on the support of our members and the amateur radio community to Keep Amateur Radio in Space. How can you help? * Join AMSAT Both you and AMSAT will benefit when you join. You get the AMSAT Journal bimonthly and support from AMSAT Ambassadors. Member dues and donations provide AMSAT’s primary support. Join today at https://www.amsat.org/product-category/amsat-membership/ * Become a Life Member Becoming a Life Member has never been easier. Now you can become a Life Member with 12 monthly payments of $74 through our online store. See https://www.amsat.org/product/lifetime-membership/ for details. * Donate to AMSAT Make a one time or recurring donation to AMSAT today. Even as little as one dollar a month can make a difference! Donate today at https://www.amsat.org/donate/ * Purchase AMSAT gear on our Zazzle storefront. AMSAT receives 25% of the price of each sale on AMSAT logo merchandise from our Zazzle storefront located at https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear * Support AMSAT when you make purchases from Amazon! So far, AMSAT has received $3,913.29 from AmazonSmile. Search for "Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation" https://smile.amazon.com/ref=smi_ext_twt_dshb_smi * Volunteer for AMSAT AMSAT relies on volunteers for nearly all of our activities. If you have an idea for how to help, please let us know, Details on volunteering can be found at https://www.amsat.org/volunteer-for-amsat/ [ANS thanks the AMSAT office for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Upcoming Satellite Operations + #HomewardBoundRove (DN13, DN14, DN21, DN22, DN23) – June 14-18, 2019 Casey, KI7UNJ, will be hitting a few grids on his way home. Look for DN13/DN14 line on June 14th, DN21/DN22 line June 15th, DN22 June 17th, and DN23 June 18th. FM only. Pass times expected between 1700- 2000UTC. Specific passes to be posted on Casey’s Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/KI7UNJ + Drummond Island (EN85, EN86) – June 15-18, 2019 Chris, AA8CH, will be up on Drummond Island again June 15-18, staying in EN86 and also activating EN85 as well. Open to any sked requests if someone needs either grid. May activate EN74, 75, 76 on the way there or back depending. Will try to post passes to @charliehotel10 twitter if possible. + Post Hot Rod Power Tour Rove (New York to Wyoming) – June 15-27, 2019 Following the Hot Rod Power Tour, I will be heading to FN02 for a few days and plan to work FN01/11 gridline around June 17-18. Details to follow. I will be heading as far east as FN32 and then eventually working my way back to DN71. Specifically looking for EN01/02 along the way. Details will be posted to Twitter and my QRZ page as the trip plans unfold. Follow me on APRS.fi as WY7AA-9, as he will not have Twitter access along the road. + #JosephOrBustRove (DN04, DN05, DN15) – June 28-30, 2019 Casey, KI7UNJ, will be wandering around Eastern Oregon and decided to do a little grid activating. Look for Casey on FM passes in DN04 mid- Friday, June 28th, in DN15 Friday night to Saturday evening, and DN05 Sunday morning. Specific passes to be posted on Casey’s Twitter feed https://twitter.com/KI7UNJ + Iceland (HP95 IP15 IP25 IP03 HP03) – July 13-19, 2019 Adam, K0FFY, is taking his family (and his radios) to Iceland. Tentative schedule is HP95 July 13, IP13 and IP15 July 14-15, IP25 July 16, IP03 or HP93 July 17-18, and HP94 July 19. There’s a lot to see, so passes will be best effort and announced on Twitter shortly prior. https://twitter.com/K0FFY_Radio Please submit any additions or corrections to ke4al (at) amsat.org [ANS thanks Robert Bankston, KE4AL, for the above information.] -------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts from All Over + From June 22-23, the FO-99 linear transponder will be activated over Friedrichshafen, Germany and Bangkok, Thailand. See https://twitter.com/GsNihonuniv for details. [ANS thanks the Nihon University Ground Station for the above information.] + Jim Heck, G3WGM, has announced that the AO-73 transponder will be reactivated the weekend of June 14th and will be left on continuously for the next week. [ANS thanks Jim Heck, G3WGM, for the above information.] + The FM transponder on PO-101 is activated by schedule. Updates are generally available weekly on their Twitter account. See https://twitter.com/Diwata2PH [ANS thanks the PO-101 / Diwata-2 team for the above information.] + Phase 3 launch anniversaries - Saturday was the 31st anniversary of the launch of AO-13 (Phase 3C), launched on June 15, 1988. Today (Sunday) is the 36th anniversary of the launch of AO-10, launched on June 16, 1983. [ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information.] + Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee is offering a CubeSat Research Fellowship in the Department of Physics. The successful fellow will develop and carry out a CubeSat mission with the help of undergraduate students and technical staff. Funding for the project already exists, and the department has excellent machine shop and other resources. This is a two-year position with possibility for extension. Applicants should hold a M.S. or Ph.D. in engineering, space science, or a related discipline. Please see the full posting at jobs.rhodes.edu/postings/3034. [ANS thanks Rhodes College for the above information.] + Daniel Estévez, EA4GPZ, has shared several blog posts/articles of note: A LimeSDR Mini based QO-100 Ground Station https://tinyurl.com/ANS-167-QO100 Identifying the stars shown in an image taken by the LO-94 lunar orbiting amateur satellite. https://destevez.net/2019/06/astrometry-with-dslwp-b-camera/ Report on LO-94's June imaging https://destevez.net/2019/06/report-for-dslwp-b-june-imaging/ [ANS thanks Dani Estevez, EA4GPZ, for the above information.] + A tool for interplanetary missions that calculates ballistic transfers between planets and moons: https://transfercalculator.com/ --------------------------------------------------------------------- /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 office. Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of six post-secondary years in this status. Contact Martha at the AMSAT office for additional student membership information. 73, This week's ANS Editor, Paul Stoetzer, N8HM n8hm at amsat dot org

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ANS-157 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin - AMSAT President Awarded Russian E.T. Krenkel Medal
by JoAnne K9JKM 06 Jun '19

06 Jun '19

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE SPECIAL BULLETIN ANS-157 The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and infor- mation service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. The news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor at amsat.org. You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/ans In this edition: * AMSAT President Awarded Russian E.T. Krenkel Medal SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-157.01 ANS-157 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin AMSAT News Service Bulletin 157.01 From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. DATE June 6, 2019 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-157.01 AMSAT President Awarded Russian E.T. Krenkel Medal AMSAT President and ARRL Life Member Joe Spier, K6WAO, has been awarded the Russian E.T. Krenkel Medal, a prestigious award granted to individuals and organizations for outstanding global contributions to Amateur Radio. Joe Spier, K6WAO is a long time supporter of Amateur Radio in Space and international cooperation. K6WAO is the President of the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT). He has also served AMSAT as Executive Vice President, and Vice President, Educational Relations. He is a long term supporter of Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) and scientific, technical, engineering, and mathematics education. Spier is an AMSAT Life Member. He also is a Life Member of American Radio Relay League (ARRL) and the Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers (SARA). The award's namesake, Ernst Teodorovich Krenkel, was a radio amateur who, over the years, used the call signs RAEM, U3AA, and UA3AA. Born in Poland, Krenkel was an Arctic explorer who took part in the first Soviet "drifting station," North Pole-1. He was made a "Hero of the Soviet Union" in 1938 for his exploits. Krenkel's son, T.E. Krenkel, is among the four signatories to the award certificate. The younger Krenkel, a professor at the Moscow Technical College of Telecommunication and Informatics, said his father was an avid radio amateur who served as the first chairman of the Central Radio Club in the USSR. Krenkel's image appears on postage stamps from the USSR and Russia, and he authored a biography entitled My Callsign is RAEM. In the era when all radio amateurs received QSL cards via Box 88, Moscow, Krenkel was allowed to have his own postal address on his QSLs and was issued the non-standard RAEM call sign. Information about the Krenkel Medal can be found at: http://krenkelmedal.org/index.php?id=49 [ANS thanks the Russian National Academy of Researches and Discoveries for the above information] /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive addi- tional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office.

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ANS-153 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by JoAnne K9JKM 01 Jun '19

01 Jun '19

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-153 The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and infor- mation service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. The news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor at amsat.org. You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/ans In this edition: * Dollar-for-Dollar Match on your ARISS Donation Thru June 17, 2019 * Call for Nominations - AMSAT Board of Directors * AMSAT Field Day on the Satellites * Lightsail-2 Scheduled for Launch June 22 - Beacon on 437.025 MHz * AMSAT-EA FossaSat-1 Receives IARU Coordination * QO-100 meets HAM RADIO 2019 in Friedrichshafen * ARISS SSTV Planned Over Russia for Moscow Aviation Institute * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Send Your Name (and callsign) to Mars * RS-10 Downlink Provides Unique Troubleshooting Solution * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-153.01 ANS-153 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 153.01 From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. DATE June 2, 2019 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-153.01 +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Support AMSAT when you make purchases from Amazon! So far, AMSAT has received $3,913.29 from AmazonSmile. Search for "Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation" https://smile.amazon.com/ref=smi_ext_twt_dshb_smi +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Dollar-for-Dollar Match on your ARISS Donation Thru June 17, 2019 During the ARISS Forum at the Hamvention, it was announced, that between now and June 17, that an anonymous donor will equally match one dollar for each dollar donated up to $10,000. Here is an excellent opportunity to get the most from your donations to the ARISS FundRazr. The FundRazr Project was initiated to raise $150,000 towards the ARISS Radio Upgrade on ISS. To date 90 contributors have donated $24,840 to the campaign, about 17% of the goal. $10,000 of your dollars, donated now, will raise that total to $44,840, including the matching funds. It would be great if we could actually achieve one-third of our goal ($50,000) by mid-June. Please donate today at https://fundrazr.com/arissnextgen?ref=ab_6ruVeeeNzOa6ruVeeeNzOa [ANS thanks AMSAT 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/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Call for Nominations - AMSAT Board of Directors It's time to submit nominations for the upcoming AMSAT Board of Directors election. Four directors' terms expire this year: those of Jerry Buxton, N0JY; Clayton Coleman, W5PFG; Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA; and Paul Stoetzer, N8HM. In addition, up to two Alternates may be elected for one-year terms. A valid nomination requires either one Member Society or five current individual members in good standing to nominate an AMSAT member for Director. Written nominations, consisting of the nominee's name and call, and the nominating individuals' names, calls and individual signatures should be mailed to: AMSAT 10605 CONCORD ST STE 304 KENSINGTON MD 20895-2526 In addition to traditional submissions of written nominations, which is the preferred method, the intent to nominate someone may be made by electronic means. These include e-mail, fax, or electronic image of a petition. Electronic petitions should be sent to martha at amsat.org or faxed to +1-301-822-4371. No matter what means is used, petitions MUST arrive at the AMSAT office no later than June 15th. If the nomination is a traditional written nomination, no other action is required. If electronic means are used, a verifying traditional written petition MUST be received at the AMSAT office within 7 days following the close of nominations on June 15th. ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS WITHOUT THIS SECOND, WRITTEN VERIFICATION ARE NOT VALID UNDER THE EXISTING AMSAT BYLAWS. [ANS thanks the AMSAT Office for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT Field Day on the Satellites The weekend of June 22-23, 2019 is Field Day! Each year the Ameri- can Radio Relay League (ARRL) sponsors Field Day. The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT) promotes our own version of Field Day focused on operation via the amateur satellites, held concurrently with the ARRL event. The AMSAT Field Day 2019 event is open to all Amateur Radio opera- tors. Amateurs are to use the exchange as specified in ARRL rules for Field Day. The AMSAT competition is to encourage the use of all amateur satellites, both analog and digital. The congestion on FM LEO satellites is always so intense that we must continue to limit their use to one-QSO-per-FM-satellite. This includes the International Space Station. You will be allowed one QSO if the ISS is operating Voice. +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Note that no points will be credited for any contacts beyond the ONE allowed via each single-channel FM sat- ellite. Operators are encouraged NOT to make any extra contacts via the FM satellites. +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Information for the operational satellites can be found in the tables posted on-line on the AMSAT web: + FM Satellite Frequencies https://www.amsat.org/fm-satellite-frequency-summary/ + Linear satellite Frequencies https://www.amsat.org/linear-satellite-frequency-summary/ Up-to-date satellite status reports are posted by users at: https://www.amsat.org/status/ AO-92 may be in L/v for the first part of the event, depending on command station availability. Keep an eye on @AMSAT on Twitter for expected L/v mode change times. An article by Sean Kutzko, KX9X, “Get on the Satellites for ARRL Field Day”, published in the June 2018 issue of QST is reprinted with the ARRL’s permission can be accessed at: https://www.amsat.org/get-on-the-satellites-for-field-day The full set of rules (including downloadable documents) are posted at: https://www.amsat.org/field-day/ [ANS thanks AMSAT Director Contests and Awards, Bruce Paige, KK5DO, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Lightsail-2 Scheduled for Launch June 22 - Beacon on 437.025 MHz LightSail is a citizen-funded project from The Planetary Society. This cubesat will be propelled solely by sunlight, to Earth orbit. LightSail 2 is scheduled to launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy on June 22, 2019, and we will attempt the first, controlled solar sail flight in Earth orbit. LightSail 2 will ride to space aboard the Department of Defense Space Test Program-2 (STP-2) mission which will send 24 spacecraft to 3 different orbits. LightSail 2 itself will be enclosed within Prox-1, a Georgia Tech-designed spacecraft originally built to demon- strate close-encounter operations with other spacecraft. Prox-1 will deploy LightSail 2 seven days after launch. After a few days of health and status checks, LightSail 2's four dual-sided solar panels will swing open. Roughly a day later, four metallic booms will unfurl four triangular Mylar sails from storage. The sails, which have a combined area of 32 square meters [344 square feet], will turn towards the sun for half of each orbit, giving the spacecraft a tiny push no stronger than the weight of a paperclip. For about a month after sail deployment, this continual thrust should raise LightSail 2's orbit by a measurable amount. LightSail 2 will fly in a 24-degree inclination, 720 km, circular orbit. At latitudes of 42 degrees north it will reach a maximum elevation of 10 degrees above the horizon. Lightsail-2 has been issued an experimental radio license WM9XPA and transmit on 437.025 MHz. A morse beacon will transmit the callsign every 45 seconds. A packet beacon will transmit AX.25, FSK 9K6 bps data. Beacon information is available at: http://tinyurl.com/ANS-153-Lightsail-Morse-Beacon Documentation of the downlink telemetry data structure is posted at: http://tinyurl.com/ANS-153-Lightsail-Telemetry [ANS thanks the Planetary Society for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT-EA FossaSat-1 Receives IARU Coordination The IARU reported that AMSAT-EA FossaSat-1 satellite has received a downlink coordination to operate on 436.700 MHz with LoRa 125kHz, Chirp Spread Spectrum Modulation, 180 bps, 100mW; and, FSK RTTY 45 baud ITA2, 100mW 183hz Shift. The planned mission objectives for the 5x5x5cm 250gram satellite are: + General development of miniaturized and inexpensive satellite systems for space applications using off the shelf components. + Testing a new solar panel mechanism, making this satellite the smallest to have deployable solar arrays. These solar arrays will additionally increase the radar reflectivity significantly to that of a standard cubesat. + The promotion & involvement of students in aerospace development on an international level, giving them the opportunity to test their hardware and software experiments on the satellite. AMSAT-EA will be hosting STEM workshops & competitions for secondary stu- dents to participate in, a full section of the satellite is dedi- cated to these experiments for educational research. + The main mission of the satellite is the testing of a new experi- mental RF chirp modulation called LoRa, this new modulation hugely increases the link budget, reduces the power consumed and reduces the cost of receivers. Students & Amateurs will be able to receive telemetry from the satel- lite with inexpensive hardware, expanding & promoting the amateur satellite community among youth. Uplink challenges will also be carried out with rewards for amateurs. AMSAT-EA will provide decoding software for SDR use in order to allow anyone to decode LoRa using common existing hardware & host software for users to submit telemetry data, making all data public and reward- ing users with certificates & awards. The IARU coordination announcement can be accessed at: http://www.amsatuk.me.uk/iaru/finished_detail.php?serialnum=652 [ANS thanks AMSAT-EA and the IARU for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- QO-100 meets HAM RADIO 2019 in Friedrichshafen Peter Guelzow, DB2OS, President of AMSAT-DL invites everyone to meet members of the QARS, AMSAT-DL and also QO-100 users, face-to-face at the HAM RADIO 2019 exhibition from June 21-23 June in Friedrichshafen. A special event station DL50AMSAT will be operating live from the AMSAT-DL booth, DATV (DVB-S2) transmissions are also planned. There will be several lectures around Qatar-OSCAR 10 and you can meet the P4-A team at the QARS and AMSAT-DL stands, which are located next to each other. We also welcome members of the BATC team at our booth. For more information visit: https://amsat-dl.org/en/ham-radio-2019-qo-100-meeting/ [ANS thanks Peter Guelzow, DB2OS, President of AMSAT-DL for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS SSTV Planned Over Russia for Moscow Aviation Institute A Russian MAI-SSTV event is planned for Wednesday, June 5 from 12:00-16:00 UTC and June 6 from 11:30-15:30 UTC. Transmissions are expected to be at 145.800 MHz in SSTV mode PD120. Based on the times received, SSTV signals are not expected over N. America. This event uses a computer in the ISS Russian Segment, which stores images that are then transmitted to Earth using the ARISS Amateur Radio station located in the Service Module which employs the Kenwood TM-D710E transceiver. Amateur radio operators and other radio enthusiasts are invited to post the images they receive at http://www.spaceflightsoftware.com/ARISS_SSTV/index.php Please note that the event is dependent on other activities, schedules and crew responsibilities on the ISS and is subject to change at any time. Online WebSDR receivers can be used to receive signals from the International Space Station at SUWS WebSDR located Farnham near London http://farnham-sdr.com/ and R4UAB WebSDR located European Russia http://websdr.r4uab.ru/. For updates check Twitter at https://twitter.com/ARISS_status/status/1131945966297182210?s=03 [ANS thanks ARISS and AMSAT-UK for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Upcoming Satellite Operations See https://www.amsat.org/satellite-info/upcoming-satellite-operations/ for latest information. Pre-Hot Rod Power Tour Rove (Wyoming to Tennessee) – June 2-7, 2019 On June 2nd, RJ, WY7AA and the Elco will head South to start roving on the DM77/78 gridline, heading east working gridlines and corners along the way all the way to EM87/88 hopefully. RJ will try to be on as many FM passes as possible, with a few linears as time allows. Follow RJ on APRS.fi as WY7AA-9, as he will not have Twtter access along the road. Checkout WY7AA’s QRZ page for specific plans he will post before he leaves, and @dtabor (N6UA) will help by posting on Twitter if he has any updates from the road. EM57/EM67 Line – June 4, 2019 Michael, N4DCW, will be at the EM57/67 line on June 4, 2019. He’ll post satellite passes a week before on twitter and the -bb, but will plan for the AO-9x and SO-50 midday passes. FM only. The day of, Michael will post updates via his twitter feed: https://twitter.com/MWimages Hot Rod Power Tour Rove (North Carolina to Ohio) – June 8-14, 2019 From June 8th to 14th, WY7AA will be traveling with several thous- and other Hot Rods along a winding route from NC to OH. RJ will mostly be activating in the evenings on FM passes including grids EM95, FM06, EM86, EM78, EM69, EN71, and EN81. Checkout the event route: http://tinyurl.com/ANS-153-HotRods And if anyone is anywhere close to the route, come out and see the spectacle and let RJ know on Twitter if you are coming out. Follow RJ on APRS.fi as WY7AA-9. #HomewardBoundRove (DN13, DN14, DN21, DN22, DN23) – June 14-18,2019 Casey, KI7UNJ, will be hitting a few grids on his way home. Look for DN13/DN14 line on June 14th, DN21/DN22 line June 15th, DN22 June 17, and DN23 June 18th. FM only. Pass times expected between 1700-200 0UTC. Specific passes to be posted on Casey’s Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/KI7UNJ Post Hot Rod Power Tour Rove (New York to Wyoming) – June 15-27, 2019 Following the Hot Rod Power Tour, I will be heading to FN02 for a few days and plan to work FN01/11 gridline around June 17-18. Details to follow. I will be heading as far east as FN32 and then eventually working my way back to DN71. Specifically looking for EN01/02 along the way. Details will be posted to Twitter and my QRZ page as the trip plans unfold. Follow him on APRS.fi as WY7AA-9, as he will not have Twitter access along the road. #JosephOrBustRove (DN04, DN05, DN15) – June 28-30, 2019 Casey, KI7UNJ, will be wandering around Eastern Oregon and decided to do a little grid activating. Look for Casey on FM passes in DN04 mid-Friday, June 28th, in DN15 Friday night to Saturday evening, and DN05 Sunday morning. Specific passes to be posted on Casey’s Twitter feed https://twitter.com/KI7UNJ Iceland (HP95 IP15 IP25 IP03 HP03) – July 13-19, 2019 Adam, K0FFY, is taking his family (and his radios) to Iceland. Tenta- tive schedule is HP95 July 13, IP13 and IP15 July 14-15, IP25 July 16, IP03 or HP93 July 17-18, and HP94 July 19. There’s a lot to see, so passes will be best effort and announced on Twitter shortly prior. https://twitter.com/K0FFY_Radio Please submit any additions or corrections to ke4al (at) amsat.org [ANS Thanks Robert Bankston, KE4AL, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Send Your Name (and callsign) to Mars NASA Press Release May 21, 2019 NASA is giving the public an opportunity to send their names — etched on microchips — to the Red Planet with NASA's Mars 2020 rover, which represents the initial leg of humanity’s first round trip to another planet. The rover is scheduled to launch as early as July 2020, with the spacecraft expected to touch down on Mars in February 2021. The opportunity to send your name to Mars comes with a souvenir board- ing pass and "frequent flyer" points. From now until Sept. 30, you can add your name to the list and obtain a souvenir boarding pass to Mars here: https://go.nasa.gov/Mars2020Pass The Microdevices Laboratory at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, will use an electron beam to etch the submit- ted names onto a silicon chip with lines of text smaller than one- thousandth the width of a human hair (75 nanometers). At that size, more than a million names can be inscribed on a single dime-size microchip. The chip (or chips) will ride on the rover under a glass cover. For more information on Mars 2020, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/mars2020 For more about NASA's Moon to Mars plans, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/topics/moon-to-mars [ANS thanks NASA for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- RS-10 Downlink Provides Unique Troubleshooting Solution Terry Osborne, ZL2BAC, recalls a troubleshooting solution utilizing the downlink from the RS-10 satellite as he was resolving an HF noise problem in the radio system of New Zealand's Maritime Radio Network. (http://tinyurl.com/ANS-153-NZ-Maritime-Radio) The New Zealand network consists of a chain of VHF base stations, an HF Transmitter site and an HF Receiving site. These are all linked back to an Operations Centre in Lower Hutt (near Wellington). During commissioning, Terry was visiting the Operations Centre where the operators mentioned that the HF receivers were very noisy. This didn't sound right since the receiving site had been chosen because it was in a remote area well away from any man made noise. Terry said, "To check how well the receivers were working I gave the operators the frequency and a week of pass times for RS-10. This was on a Friday. On Saturday I turned on my receiver at home on RS-10. My receiver was a TenTec Argonaut 505 with DGFet preamp and a half wave dipole at about 10 feet. RS-10's downlink boomed in at about 5x7. The Maritime operators heard nothing on their receivers. I fed the audio down the phone line to convince them it was working." The four HF receivers are fed from a Multicoupler that has a "Low Noise" amplifier feeding a splitter. On the following Monday, the technicians from the maintenance base visited the site and at AOS of RS-10, turned off the power supply to the multicoupler. The Oper- ations Centre reported down went the HF noise and up came the signal from RS-10. Terry reported on the solution, "There were many options for the 'Low Noise' amplifier in the multicoupler ranging from a 2dB noise figure 10 dB gain version up to a 30dB gain 15dB noise figure version. Upon removing the lid from the multicoupler it revealed that the 30dB gain 15dB noise figure version had been supplied rather than the 2dB noise figure 10dB gainversion specified. It turned out that the manufacturers of the Multicoupler hadn't actually made one with a 2dB NF/10dB Gain amp before and had just supplied their standard version. Putting in the right amplifier solved the problem." In closing, Terry wrote, "Satellite operators who have worked with preamps will recognise this problem." [ANS sends an 'Ahoy' with a tip of the sailing hat and thanks Terry Osborne, ZL2BAC for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + Virgin Orbit has posted updated information about the LauncherOne initial flight which is AMSAT's RadFxSat-2 (Fox-1E) ride to orbit: http://tinyurl.com/ANS-153-Fox1E-VirginOrbital This cubesat will feature a V/u inverting analog SSB/CW transponder and a digital beacon: Uplink: 145.890 - 145.860 MHz LSB Downlink: 435.760 - 435.790 MHz USB Beacon: 435.750 MHz 1200 baud BPSK + AMSAT is pleased to offer a set of Titleist Pro V1x golf balls. One bears the GOLF-TEE logo, one the GOLF-1 logo and one the AMSAT 50th Anniversary logo. There are also a set of the same 3 golf balls with the logos that have also been signed by 3 of the AMSAT presi- dents. Keith Baker, KB1SF, has signed the GOLF-TEE ball, Barry Baines, WD4ASW, has signed the GOLF-1 ball and Joe Spier, K6WAO, has signed the AMSAT 50th Anniversary ball. The set of 3 balls is $50 plus shipping. The set of 3 balls with the 3 AMSAT President signatures is $100 plus shipping. Take care of your Father's Day shopping on-line at: https://www.amsat.org/product/2019-fundraising-golf-balls-set-of-3 + The ARISS team has posted an album of photos in memory of Keith Pugh, W5IU - SK at http://tinyurl.com/ANS-153-ARISS-W5IU-Album (facebook). Keith was an active AMSAT and ARISS volunteer. He pas- sed away on May 24. A memorial service for Keith Pugh, W5IU, will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, June 6, in the Sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church with a reception following. 1000 Penn St, Fort Worth, TX 76102. https://fpcfw.org/su-event/431761720/memorial-service-keith-pugh/ Obituary for Keith: https://www.swaimfuneralhome.com/obituary/keith-pugh + The Tico Times in Costa Rica featured an article about the ARISS contact with the Costa Rica Institute of Technology (TEC), Los Suenos, Costa Rica on May 27. http://tinyurl.com/ANS-153-ARISS-CostaRica + AMSAT-DL AMSAT Deutschland released a video of theQatar-OSCAR 100 (P4-A/ Es'hail-2) launch with a SpaceX Falcon 9 launcher from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 40 in Florida: https://youtu.be/8uQqZBIUfHY + NASA TV will provide live coverage as a SpaceX Dragon cargo space- craft is set to return to Earth from the International Space Station Monday, June 3. NASA Television and the agency’s website will pro- vide live coverage of the craft’s release beginning at 11:45 a.m. EDT. (UTC - 4) Around noon, flight controllers at mission control in Houston will deliver remote commands to the station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm to detached Dragon from the Earth-facing port of the Harmony module. https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html#public + The Science Museum's YouTube channel has a video of the first astronaut from the UK, Helen Sharman GB1MIR, who used amateur radio to talk to students in schools across the UK. In May 1991, Helen Sharman became the first Briton in space. The Soyuz TM-12 mission, which included Soviet cosmonauts Anatoly Artsebarsky, U7MIR and Sergei Krikalev U5MIR, launched on May 18, 1991 and lasted eight days, most of that time spent at the Mir space sta- tion. Watch the video at: https://youtu.be/x0-nMl0jf5E + The European Space Agency's Astro Pi Challenge which allows students to design an experiment, write the code, and then have it run by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station, enjoyed a student's success recently when one of the Astro Pi units running a Raspberry Pi 1 B+ and a Raspberry Pi Camera Module captured the approach of a Soyuz spacecraft arriving at the ISS. Check out the photos and learn more at: https://www.raspberrypi.org/blog/raspberry-pi-captures-soyuz-in-space/ + Sean Kutzko, KX9X, has written a contribution to DX Engineering’s blog “On All Bands.” In this article, he writes about the basics of VHF propagation, to help you stay active during the solar mini- mum: http://tinyurl.com/ANS-153-KX9X-VHF -and- a newly released blog entry covers the basics of satellite operation: http://tinyurl.com/ANS-153-KX9X-Satellite + Dhruv Rebba, KC9ZJX, Radio Club of America Young Achiever Award, Dave Kalter Youth DX Adventure participant, recipient of an AMSAT Presidential Award is interviewed in a webcast ‘Sankalp’ from NewView Studios: https://youtu.be/TUce-WyZPdc The Sankalp program showcases and inspires youth in the community. + The Cal Poly CubeSat Team is requesting input to fill out their survey where they are gathering information about the connectors, electrical interfaces, and communication protocols currently in use by CubeSat and payload developers. The feedback will be used to help design the XCube platform, which will create opportunities for CubeSats to fly on NASA’s high altitude aircraft for testing and calibration purposes. Access the survey at: https://forms.gle/TKxTgcZKVmfNv8F17 + Edmund Spicer, M0MNG, made a video about his visit to Hamvention 2019. The AMSAT satellite demonstration station operated by Paul, N8HM and Matt, NJ4Y is shown: https://youtu.be/nnbQbJnkxs0?t=861 + The May 2019 issue of SatMagazine is available at: http://www.satmagazine.com/ + The June 2019 issue of CQ-DATV magazine is available at: https://cq-datv.mobi/72.php [ANS thanks everyone for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive addi- tional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office. Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the stu- dent rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership information. 73 and remember to behave and to help keep amateur radio in space, This week's ANS Editor, JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM k9jkm at amsat dot org

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ANS-139 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletin
by E.Mike McCardel 19 May '19

19 May '19

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-139 The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and infor- mation service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. The news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor at amsat.org. In this edition: * AMSAT Forum at Hamvention Well Attended * ARISS at Hamvention Shares Excitement of Space Exploration and Amateur Radio * ANS Asks For Stories About Your Hamvention-AMSAT Experience * ASTRO PI Student Programs Run on ISS * Call for Nominations - AMSAT Board of Directors * How to Support AMSAT * Upcoming Satellite Operations * ARISS News * Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-139.01 ANS-139 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 139.01 >From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. May 19, 2019 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-139.01 +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AMSAT relies on your donations to Keep Amateur Radio in Space Please consider a one-time or recurring donation today at https://www.amsat.org/donate/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT Forum at Hamvention Well Attended The AMSAT Forum at the 2019 Dayton Hamvention was helod on Saturday, May 18 with a large crowd in attendance. Robert Bankston, AMSAT VP User Services moderated the forum which included these speakers: + AMSAT Status Report Joseph Spier, K6WAO, AMSAT President, highlighted recent activities within AMSAT and discussed some of our challenges, accomplishments, projects. + AMSAT Engineering Program Jerry Buxton, N0JY, AMSAT Vice President for Engineering, talked about the Fox-1 and Golf (Greater Orbit Larger Footprint) Projects. + AMSAT Education – Alan Johnston, KU2Y, AMSAT Vice President – Edu- cational Relations introduced the AMSAT CubeSat Simulator which featured a live demonstration. + AMSAT User Services – Robert Bankston, KE4AL, AMSAT Vice President User Services, discussed AMSAT’s 50 th Anniversary Operating Event and the new AMSAT Ambassadors Program. [ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS at Hamvention Shares Excitement of Space Exploration and Amateur Radio ARISS featured a display at their booth, shared with AMSAT, of the next generation hardware systems in development now. The display showed ways to discover how to maximize your opportunities to make ARISS connections and to hear the ISS crew directly from your ham shack. ARISS was excited to talk about their visionary initiative to fly ham radio on the human spaceflight lunar Gateway with NASA. The ARISS team presented an overview and status of the program and then conducted a panel with ARISS experts in operations, education, hardware, experimentation and exploration. [ANS thanks ARISS for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ANS Asks For Stories About Your Hamvention-AMSAT Experience The Editors of the AMSAT News Service are interested in hearing your testimonials about your AMSAT experience during this years Hamvention. Please forward comments to ans-editor (at) amsat.org. We hope to use these as shorts in future ANS News Bulletins to stimulate interest and promote Keeping Amateur Radio in Space. Comments will also be shared with Editors of the AMSAT Journal. Tell us about new friends, old friends, new ideas, new techniques, inspirational epiphanies, or anything else that that got you excited about operating or becoming more involved in our great hobby. Again, please submit your stories to ans-editor (at) amsat.org. [ANS thanks ANS Editors for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Share Your Apollo Story with NASA July 20, 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11, the first time humans walked on the Moon. Coming this summer, NASA Explorers: Apollo is a commemorative audio series that examines the Moon's cultural and scientific influence over the last half century, while also peering into the future of planetary exploration. Listeners will meet a Moon detective, tour a lab for space rocks and hear from scientists whose lives and work have been shaped by the Apollo program. As a part of this series, NASA invites you to contribute to an oral history project celebrating giant leaps and exploration of all kinds. You can help NASA tell the Apollo story by sharing your own perspect- ive on lunar exploration, or by interviewing a loved one who lived during the Apollo era. NASA will select some submissions to feature in the audio series, on its website and/or social media. You'll find help for interview topics, recording instructions, and how to submit your entry posted at: https://www.nasa.gov/apollostories [ANS thanks NASA for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ 2019 marks AMSAT’s 50th Anniversary of Keeping Amateur Radio in Space. To help celebrate, we are sponsoring the AMSAT 50th Anniversary Awards Program. Full details are available at https://www.amsat.org/amsat-50th-anniversary-awards-program/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ --------------------------------------------------------------------- ASTRO PI Student Programs Run on ISS ESA Education, in collaboration with the Raspberry Pi Foundation, announced that 4702 teams of students from 24 European countries successfully entered the Astro Pi 2018-2019 Mission Zero challenge and had their programs run on the International Space Station for 30 seconds each. Of those entries, 135 teams made it to Phase 3 of the Astro Pi 2018-2019 Mission Space Lab challenge. They have received back the data from their experiments, which ran for 3 hours each on board the ISS. These teams have now reached Phase 4 (Analysis) of the challenge. Each team will now analyze their data and write a short scientific report. A jury of experts from ESA and the Raspberry Pi Foundation will select the teams with the 10 best reports as the winners of Mission Space Lab. Each winning team will receive a very special prize. Complete information can be found at: https://tinyurl.com/ANS-139-AstroPi [ANS thanks the ESA for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ CLOSEOUT 2018 Symposium Proceedings now $15 + Shipping on the AMSAT Store while supplies last. https://www.amsat.org/product-category/amsat-books-and-dvds/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ --------------------------------------------------------------------- Call for Nominations - AMSAT Board of Directors It's time to submit nominations for the upcoming AMSAT Board of Directors election. Four directors' terms expire this year: those of Jerry Buxton, N0JY; Clayton Coleman, W5PFG; Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA; and Paul Stoetzer, N8HM. In addition, up to two Alternates may be elected for one-year terms. A valid nomination requires either one Member Society or five current individual members in good standing to nominate an AMSAT member for Director. Written nominations, consisting of the nominee's name and call, and the nominating individuals' names, calls and individual signatures should be mailed to: AMSAT 10605 CONCORD ST STE 304 KENSINGTON MD 20895-2526 In addition to traditional submissions of written nominations, which is the preferred method, the intent to nominate someone may be made by electronic means. These include e-mail, fax, or electronic image of a petition. Electronic petitions should be sent to martha at amsat.org or faxed to +1-301-822-4371. No matter what means is used, petitions MUST arrive at the AMSAT office no later than June 15th. If the nomination is a traditional written nomination, no other action is required. If electronic means are used, a verifying traditional written petition MUST be received at the AMSAT office within 7 days following the close of nominations on June 15th. ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS WITHOUT THIS SECOND, WRITTEN VERIFICATION ARE NOT VALID UNDER THE EXISTING AMSAT BYLAWS. [ANS thanks the AMSAT Office for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AMSAT and ARISS are currently supporting a FundRazr campaign to raise $150,000 for critical radio infrastructure upgrades on ISS. The upgrades are necessary to enable students to continue to talk to astronauts in space via Amateur Radio. We have reached a great milestone with $24,490 raised or about 16% towards our goal. This would not have been possible without your outstanding generosity!! For more information and to DONATE TODAY visit: https://fundrazr.com/arissnextgen?ref=ab_e7Htwa_ab_47IcJ9 +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ --------------------------------------------------------------------- How to Support AMSAT AMSAT relies on the support of our members and the amateur radio community to Keep Amateur Radio in Space. How can you help? * Join AMSAT Both you and AMSAT will benefit when you join. You get the AMSAT Journal bimonthly and support from AMSAT Ambassadors. Member dues and donations provide AMSAT’s primary support. Join today at https://www.amsat.org/product-category/amsat-membership/ * Become a Life Member Becoming a Life Member has never been easier. Now you can become a Life Member with 12 monthly payments of $74 through our online store. See https://www.amsat.org/product/lifetime-membership/ for details. * Donate to AMSAT Make a one time or recurring donation to AMSAT today. Even as little as one dollar a month can make a difference! Donate today at https://www.amsat.org/donate/ * Purchase AMSAT gear on our Zazzle storefront. AMSAT receives 25% of the price of each sale on AMSAT logo merchandise from our Zazzle storefront located at https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear * Volunteer for AMSAT AMSAT relies on volunteers for nearly all of our activities. If you have an idea for how to help, please let us know, Details on volunteering can be found at https://www.amsat.org/volunteer-for-amsat/ [ANS thanks the AMSAT office for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Upcoming Satellite Operations See https://www.amsat.org/satellite-info/upcoming-satellite-operations/ [ANS thanks Robert KE4AL for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Purchase AMSAT Gear on our Zazzle storefront. 25% of the purchase price of each product goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS News Successful Contacts + 2019-05-17 08:51 UTC between Nick Hague KG5TMV using ISS callsign NA1SS and Aranzadi Ikastola, Bergara, Spain Contact was telebridg via VK6MJ. ARISS Mentor was Marcelo IKØUSO. Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule Curtin Primary School, Canberra, Australia, telebridge via K6DUE The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Nick Hague KG5TMV Contact is go for: Mon 2019-05-20 08:39:42 UTC 27 deg Ufa, Russia, direct via TBD The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS The scheduled astronaut is Oleg Konenenko Contact is go for: Sun 2019-05-26 15:55 UTC [ANS thanks ARISS, Charlie AJ9N and David AA4KN for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Shorts From All Over + AMSAT Journal Call for Photos Joe Kornowski, KB6IGK, AMSAT Journal Editor sends a call for photos from the folks attending Hamvention 2019. Please send your photos (JPG format, as high resolution as feasible) to Joe at kb6igk at amsat.org [ANS thanks Joe KB6IGK for the above information] + NASA offers Open Source software resources at: https://code.nasa.gov/ : Lists 532 NASA open source projects https://software.nasa.gov/software/NPO-47703-1 : A general purpose dynamics library that can be used for the modeling of robotic plat- forms, space vehicles, molecular dynamics and such applications. http://gmatcentral.org/ : The General Mission Analysis Tool,a NASA- created Open Source version of Analytical Graphic Inc's (AGI) Sat- ellite Tool Kit (STK) [ANS thanks NASA for the above information.] + AMSAT is selling brand new and special 50th Anniversary apparel! A golf shirt as well as a T-shirt were available at Hamvention and will be available, online, at the AMSAT store after everyone returns home from Hamvention. The shirts are black and include the AMSAT 50 Amateur Radio in Space logo, in gold! https://www.amsat.org/shop/ [ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information] + Here is an interesting article on how to watch the ISS all night long, as opposed to just at dusk and dawn: https://tinyurl.com/ANS-139-WatchISSch [ANS thanks Sky and Telescope via Charlie AJ9N for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive addi- tional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office. Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the stu- dent rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership information. 73, This week's ANS Editor, EMike McCardel, AA8EM aa8em at amsat dot org

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ANS-132 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Paul Stoetzer 11 May '19

11 May '19

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-132 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 Activities at Hamvention 2019 * Tickets Still Available for TAPR/AMSAT Banquet * ARRL Releases Mobile App for the Dayton Hamvention * Going to Hamvention? Please Stop By and Say Thank You to Kenwood and the ARRL for ARISS Donations * Work the AMSAT Hamvention Demo Station! * Australia's ABC Commemorates 50th Anniversary of AO-5 * ARSATC 4th Birthday * GNU Radio Conference 2019 Call for Papers and Presentations * Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for May 9, 2019 * How to Support AMSAT * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Satellite Shorts from All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-132.01 ANS-132 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 132.01 >From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. May 12, 2019 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-132.01 +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AMSAT relies on your donations to Keep Amateur Radio in Space Please consider a one-time or recurring donation today at https://www.amsat.org/donate/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT Activities at Hamvention 2019 AMSAT Booth Maxim Hall (Building 1) - Booths 1007-1010 & 1107-1110 Stop by the AMSAT booth Friday 9am-6pm, Saturday 9am-5pm, Sunday 9am- 1pm to meet board members, officers, and active satellite operators. You’ll be able to ask questions and see demonstrations of AMSAT’s current and upcoming technologies. Additionally, there will be a special "OSCAR Park" display to commemorate AMSAT's 50th Anniversary. And don't miss the opportunity to renew your membership and purchase special AMSAT 50th Anniversary t-shirts, golf shirts, and hats. Amateur Satellite Demonstrations Outside Main Entrance – Maxim Hall (Building 1) Friday, Saturday, Sunday 16 – 19 May 2019, 08:00 – 16:30 EDT Amateur Satellite operation demonstrations will be held outside the main Maxim Hall (Building 1 or E1) entrance. Every day, AMSAT will be demonstrating actual contacts with the operational amateur satellites. We especially want to invite youth to make a contact via an amateur satellite. All are invited to observe, participate and ask questions. Satellite pass times will be posted at the AMSAT booth (1007-1010 & 1107-1110) and in the demo area. ARISS Forum Forum Room 3 Friday, 17 May 2019, 13:15 – 14:15 EDT Out of this World Ham Radio via ARISS–Amateur Radio on the ISS Moderators: Rosalie White, K1STO, ARISS Secretary & USA Delegate, Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, AMSAT Vice President Human Space Flight ARISS is one of the most unique and fun facets of our hobby. We inspire generations of students and hams through our International Space Station crew and radio connections. In this eye-opening forum, learn about current and future lifelong learning opportunities for hams—via SSTV, APRS, voice repeaters, radio experiments and even robots! Hear how ARISS inspires, engages and educates tens of thousands of students each year in STEAM (science, technology, engineering arts and math) and radio science. See the next generation hardware systems we have in development. Discover how to maximize your opportunities to make ARISS connections and to hear the ISS crew directly from your ham shack. And learn about our visionary initiative to fly ham radio on the human space flight lunar Gateway. Come meet the team that have enabled millions, worldwide, to experience the fun of our amateur radio hobby. The ARISS team will present an overview and status of the program and then conduct a panel/Q&A session with ARISS panel experts in operations, education, hardware, experimentation and exploration. We also hope to have some surprise guests attending! AMSAT Forum Forum Room 2 Saturday, 18 May 2019, 12:10 – 13:40 EDT Moderated by Robert Bankston KE4AL, AMSAT Vice President–User Services AMSAT Status Report – Joseph Spier, K6WAO, AMSAT President, will high- light recent activities within AMSAT and discuss some of our challenges, accomplishments, projects, and any late breaking news. AMSAT Engineering – Jerry Buxton, N0JY, AMSAT Vice President– Engineering, will talk about the Fox-1 and Golf (Greater Orbit, Larger Footprint) Projects. AMSAT Education – Alan Johnston, KU2Y, AMSAT Vice President– Educational Relations will introduce the AMSAT CubeSat Simulator. AMSAT User Services – Robert Bankston, KE4AL, AMSAT Vice President– User Services, will discuss AMSAT’s 50th Anniversary Operating Event and the new AMSAT Ambassadors Program. AMSAT “Dinner at Tickets” Tickets Pub & Eatery, Fairborn, OH Thursday, 16 May 2019, 18:00 EDT The annual AMSAT “Dinner at Tickets” party will be held Thursday at 1800 EDT at Tickets Pub & Eatery at 7 W. Main St, Fairborn, OH. Great selection of Greek and American food and great company! No program or speaker, just good conversation. Food can be ordered from the menu, drinks (beer, wine, sodas and iced tea) are available at the bar. Leave room for dessert, there’s an in-house ice cream shop! Come as you are. Bring some friends and have a great time the night before Hamvention. [ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Tickets Still Available for TAPR/AMSAT Banquet The twelfth annual TAPR/AMSAT Banquet will be held at the Kohler Presidential Center on Friday at 18:30 EDT. This dinner is always a highlight of the AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corp.) and TAPR (Tucson Amateur Packet Radio) activities during the Dayton Hamvention. Tickets ($40 each) may be purchased from the AMSAT store. The banquet ticket purchase deadline is Tuesday, May 14th. Banquet tickets must be purchased in advance and will not be sold at the AMSAT booth. There will be no tickets to pick up at the AMSAT booth. Tickets purchased on-line will be maintained on a list with check-in at the door at the banquet center. Seating is limited to the number of meals reserved with the Kohler caterers based on the number of tickets sold by the deadline. The after-dinner speaker will be Dr. P. J. Erickson, W1PJE from the MIT Haystack Observatory, who will give a presentation entitled “New Frontiers in Human Understanding of Geospace: Radio Explorations of Near-Earth Space from Top to Bottom Through Joint Amateur – Scientist Partnerships.” Link to purchase tickets: https://www.amsat.org/product/tapramsat-joint-hamvention-banquet/ TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED BY 18:00 EDT ON TUESDAY, MAY 14TH [ANS thanks the AMSAT office for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARRL Releases Mobile App for the Dayton Hamvention The ARRL has released a mobile app for Apple, Android, and Windows devices to help users navigate this year’s Dayton Hamvention®, host of the 2019 ARRL National Convention. The app will let attendees use their personal smart phone or tablet to navigate the extensive Hamven- tion program, prize drawings, activities, and exhibits. The ARRL has posted the details at: https://tinyurl.com/ANS-132-ARRL There is an introductory YouTube video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54NpMZWNl0g&feature=youtu.be [ANS thanks the ARRL for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Going to Hamvention? Please Stop By and Say Thank You to Kenwood and the ARRL for ARISS Donations If you are going to Hamvention next week, please stop by the Kenwood and the American Radio Relay League booths and say thank you for both organizations very generous donations to the ARISS Inter-Operable Radio System (IORS). The auction was completed at April 14th at 22:00 UTC. There were many bidders hoping to garner a special astronaut signed brand new JVC Kenwood TS-890S. There was similar bidding on a special astronaut signed 6-volume boxed set 2019 ARRL Handbook. Thanks to JVC Kenwood and ARRL, proceeds from the on-line auction raised over $5400 to benefit ARISS in its quest to launch a new custom-built higher-power radio system in late 2019 with its voice repeater and improved packet APRS and SSTV capability that thousands of hams can enjoy. The new system will replace the aging, problematic units currently on the ISS. ARISS also needs funding to keep intro- ducing ham radio to thousands of students, teachers, parents, and whole communities—and inspiring students about STEM and radio. Kenwood has been a super supporter of ARISS for years, and it was the company’s idea for this special radio to be an exclusive for one ham to own. The limited edition boxed set 2019 ARRL Handbook sold out fast last fall but ARRL saved back one set for ARISS's fund-raiser. AMSAT provided parts of the auction infrastructure. ARISS and I are thank- ful for all of its great sponsors and supporters! Don't forget to stop by the AMSAT and ARISS booths in Building 1. See you there! [ANS thanks Joe Spier, K6WAO, AMSAT President for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ 2019 marks AMSAT’s 50th Anniversary of Keeping Amateur Radio in Space. To help celebrate, we are sponsoring the AMSAT 50th Anniversary Awards Program. Full details are available at https://www.amsat.org/amsat-50th-anniversary-awards-program/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ --------------------------------------------------------------------- Work the AMSAT Hamvention Demo Station! As previously announced, AMSAT will have it's traditional presence at Hamvention this year, including a satellite demo station. The demo station will operate under the AMSAT club callsign W3ZM/8. We intend to be on most passes of voice satellites between 12:00 UTC and 20:30 UTC on Friday, May 17th and Saturday, May 18th and between 12:00 UTC and 16:00 UTC on Sunday, May 19th. Hamvention is located in the six digit gridsquare EM89aq. As a reward for working the AMSAT demo station, individuals working us will receive a digital certificate upon request. Please email n8hm at amsat.org with your QSO details to receive a certificate. If you are attending Hamvention, please stop by the demo station outside Building 1! [ANS thanks Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ CLOSEOUT 2018 Symposium Proceedings now $15 + Shipping on the AMSAT Store while supplies last. https://www.amsat.org/product-category/amsat-books-and-dvds/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ --------------------------------------------------------------------- Australia's ABC Radio Commemorates 50th Anniversary of AO-5 It was some 50 years ago, 1969 in June, that AMSAT's Perry Klein, K3JTE reported in their newsletter that the Australis-Oscar A satellite (the first AMSAT undertaking) had been delivered to Goddard Space Center and was undergoing final tests. Hams were advised to monitor W1AW for bulletins as the launch date approached. Move on 50 years from W1AW to our own ABC AUSTRALIS OSCAR 5, THE ABC's CONVERSATIONS & 8.4 MILLION CANE TOADS? Peter Wolfenden VK3RV, WIA Historian tellus that a book about Space Junk, recently written by Australian Space Archaeologist, Dr. Alice Gorman was reviewed and discussed in the ABC's radio program "Conversations" last month. The official definition of Space Junk is along the lines of: "Something that does not now, or in the foreseeable future, have a purpose". About half way through the 52 minute program, up popped "Australis Oscar 5" and a conversation surrounding it, Australia's first conceived, designed and built satellite. Dr. Gorman and Fidler had "done their homework" about AO-5. hey knew when and where it was built during the mid 1960's and the fact that it was ready for launch in 1967. Dr. Gorman suggested that AO-5, still orbiting the Earth is part of Australia's space heritage. It 'could' be considered as space junk, but then she went onto suggest that it does indeed have a "future foreseeable purpose", for now it also has Cultural significance: + It represents Australia. + It was a Community Amateur Volunteer Project. + It was a useful project of co-operation world wide. + And it is not a big collision risk. It is estimated between 23,000 and 29,000 bits of stuff larger than 10 cm and millions and millions of pieces smaller than 10 cm exist. A very Queensland assessment of space junk weight was: more than 8.4 million Cane Toads! The Cane Toad Index is possibly quite appropriate as cane toads are spreading out of control and effecting our Earthly environment, not unlike unwanted space junk! Keep an eye out in our journal AR Magazine for Peter, VK3RV's very interesting read. [ANS thanks VK1WIA News for May 9, 2019 for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARSATC 4th Birthday ARSATC (Amateur Radio Satellite Community) is a group dedicated to satellite amateur radio amateurs. We are a group focused on projects and activities of satellite communication, linked to one of the largest groups of DX in Brazil, CDR GROUP and also a project linked to AMSAT-BR and partnerships with AMSAT-ID and AMSAT-NA. Your membership in the group has no costs and is open to any amateur or person who has an interest in participating in the activities developed. ARSATC was founded on May 17, 2015 by amateurs: • Gustavo Nicolau, PT9BM • José Valdir de Lima, PW8PM • Hermes S. Silveira, PQ2HX ARSATC does not have its own headquarters, because it is a community of amateurs spread all over the national and international territory, as we have members from north to south of Brazil and even outside, we did the programming together with the ARSTAC director team, where we decided to distribute tasks to the members of the community. In the southern region of Brazil (Curitiba), we will have our friend and member Luciano (PY5LF), with SSTV broadcasts on the North American satellite AO-91, which was granted to us on the weekends of May for use of this purpose. In the midwestern region (Paranaíba) Mato Grosso do Sul, we will have the member and also president, Gustavo (PT9BM), transmitting SSTV on the North American AO-91 satellite which was granted to us on the weekends of May for use of this purpose, and activating several FM and SSB satellites with a special ZV9ARSATC call, in addition to activity with Scouts of the region. In the north region (Ji-Paraná) Rondônia we have the member President ARSATC Valdir (PW8PM) who will be giving lectures in municipal schools and in IFRO, talking about the history of radio amateurism, about ARSATC and Minister Marcos bridges, and not yet confirmed due to the avail- ability of the site, a lecture given by PW8PM at the tele- communications museum in Ji-Parana. Activation of the special ZV8AEB call sign on several satellites, in honor of Minister Marcos Ponte (PY0AEB). And finally the party continues on the weekends with the IO-86 Lapan, satellite of Indonesia that through a partnership formed with ARSATC, passes over the brazil connected to the Saturdays enabling contacts from north to south of Brazil with amateurs, and for celebration to the 4th Anniversary ARSATC had spent more time on Brazil especially in May to enable contacts with Africa, thus establishing new records. My phone for questions and suggestions: +55 (69) 98478-3801 Jose Valdir de Lima (PW8PM) [ANS thanks Jose Valdir de Lima, PW8PM, for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Purchase AMSAT Gear on our Zazzle storefront. 25% of the purchase price of each product goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ --------------------------------------------------------------------- GNU Radio Conference 2019 Call for Papers and Presentations GNU Radio Conference celebrates and showcases the substantial and remarkable progress of the world's best open source digital signal processing framework for software-defined radios. In addition to presenting GNU Radio's vibrant theoretical and practical presence in academia, industry, the military, and among amateurs and hobby- ists, GNU Radio Conference 2019 will have a very special focus. Summer 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of NASA's Apollo 11 mission, which landed the first humans on the Moon. GNU Radio Conference selected Huntsville, AL, USA as the site for GNU Radio Conference 2019 in order to highlight and celebrate space exploration, astro- nomical research, and communication. Space communications are challenging and mission critical. Research and development from space exploration has had and continues to have far-reaching effect on our communications gear and protocols. Please join us September 16-20, 2019 at the "Huntsville Marriott at the Space & Rocket Center" hotel for the best technical confer- ence of the year. Registration and an online and mobile-friendly schedule will be posted at the conference web site: https://www.gnuradio.org/grcon/grcon19/ Call for All! We invite developers and users from the GNU Radio Community to pre- sent your projects, presentations, papers, posters, and problems at GNU Radio Conference 2019. Submit your talks, demos, and code! Please share this Call for All with anyone you think needs to read it. To submit your content for the conference, visit our dedicated conference submission site at: https://openconf.org/GRCon19/openconf.php First round closes 1 July 2019. If accepted, your content will be immediately scheduled. Final round closes 1 September 2019. Space permitting. Pun intended. If you have questions or need assistance with OpenConf, or have content that doesn't quite fit and you want to talk it over, please write grcon(a)gnuradio.org Topics may include but are not limited to: + Space (including ground stations) with special focus awards given to all accepted work with Space as a topic + Amateur radio + Radio astronomy + Atmospheric research + Theoretical work + Practical applications + Aviation + Biomedical + Citizen Science + Digital Signal Processing + Education + Radio Interface + Machine Learning + Cognitive Radio + Transportation + Wireless security [ANS thanks GRCon19 GNU Radio Conference 2019 for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for May 9, 2019 The following amateur satellites have decayed and have been removed from the AMSAT-NA TLE distribution: PHOENIX - CAT ID 42706 (reentered 05-08-2019). BIRD-J - CAT ID 42820 (reentered 05-03-2019). BIRD-B - CAT ID 42823 (reentered 05-06-2019) [ANS thanks Ray Hoad, WA5QGD, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AMSAT and ARISS are currently supporting a FundRazr campaign to raise $150,000 for critical radio infrastructure upgrades on ISS. The upgrades are necessary to enable students to continue to talk to astronauts in space via Amateur Radio. We have reached a great milestone with $24,490 raised or about 16% towards our goal. This would not have been possible without your outstanding generosity!! For more information and to DONATE TODAY visit: https://fundrazr.com/arissnextgen?ref=ab_e7Htwa_ab_47IcJ9 +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ --------------------------------------------------------------------- How to Support AMSAT AMSAT relies on the support of our members and the amateur radio community to Keep Amateur Radio in Space. How can you help? * Join AMSAT Both you and AMSAT will benefit when you join. You get the AMSAT Journal bimonthly and support from AMSAT Ambassadors. Member dues and donations provide AMSAT’s primary support. Join today at https://www.amsat.org/product-category/amsat-membership/ * Become a Life Member Becoming a Life Member has never been easier. Now you can become a Life Member with 12 monthly payments of $74 through our online store. See https://www.amsat.org/product/lifetime-membership/ for details. * Donate to AMSAT Make a one time or recurring donation to AMSAT today. Even as little as one dollar a month can make a difference! Donate today at https://www.amsat.org/donate/ * Purchase AMSAT gear on our Zazzle storefront. AMSAT receives 25% of the price of each sale on AMSAT logo merchandise from our Zazzle storefront located at https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear * Volunteer for AMSAT AMSAT relies on volunteers for nearly all of our activities. If you have an idea for how to help, please let us know, Details on volunteering can be found at https://www.amsat.org/volunteer-for-amsat/ [ANS thanks the AMSAT office for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Upcoming Satellite Operations + FN13/FN14 Gridline – May 11-12, 2019 Michael, K2MTS will be in FN13/14 May 11-12, 2019, operating holiday style. Keep an eye on Michael’s Twitter feed https://twitter.com/k2mts for specific pass announcements. + Pennsylvania (FN00) – May 13-15, 2019 Tanner, W9TWJ, will be back in FN00 May 13th-15th, if anyone still needs it. Possible he will also do the 15th in EN90 again. FM evening passes. Will look into FN01 to see if it’s possible. Watch Tanner’s Twitter feed for pass details https://twitter.com/twjones85. + NE SD WY CO TX Roadtrip (DN81, DN83, DN74, DN71, DM77, DM95, DM85) – May 18-28, 2019 Clayton, W5PFG is hitting the road and bringing his AMSAT gear with him. May 18 DN91 (NE) May 19-23 DN83 (SD) May 23-24 DN74 (WY) May 24-26 DN71 (WY) May 26-27 DM77 (CO) May 27-28 DM95/DM85 (TX). All FM/SSB satellites, holiday-style. Open to schedules with EU. Watch Twitter feed for more updates: https://twitter.com/w5pfg + Pennsylvania (FN11,FN21) – May 19, 2019 Steve, NS3L, will activate the FN11/FN21 gridline mid-morning to early afternoon of May 5th. In addition, he might go to FN12 after- ward. FM & SSB Linear birds. Note, fair weather trip only. If heavy rain is forecast, he might postpone & reschedule. During the trip, Steve will be beaconing on APRS NS3L-9. See Steve’s Twitter feed for further updates https://twitter.com/NS3L + Texas (EM13, EM22, EM23) – May 19-21, 2019 Ryan, AI6DO, has an upcoming business trip for fried pies and a sat- ellite rove: Planning EM13 5/20 & 5/21, EM22/23 grid line 0000-0300 5/20 & 5/22 UTC (5/19 & 5/21 local). Probably FM & APRS only. Updates via Twitter https://twitter.com/AI6DO + Point Pelee National Park, Canada (EN81, EN82) – May 25, 2019 KM4LAO, Ruth, will head north of the border to activate Point Pelee National Park in Ontario EN81, Saturday, May 25th. Ruth may also do a pass or two from EN82 as time allows. Plan is for FM and linear sat- ellite passes, as well at QRP HF. Call sign for this activation and subsequent LoTW upload will be KM4LAO/VE3. This will also be a CNPOTA activation, so please upload your log to the CNPOTA website https://cnpota.ca/. Further announcements will be posted on Ruth’s Twitter feed https://twitter.com/KM4Ruth as we get closer to the activation date. + Memorial Day Weekend on the Queen Mary – May 25-27, 2019 Satellite operating will make a return to the RMS Queen Mary during the upcoming Memorial Day weekend (25-27 May 2019), as part of the “Memorial Day Salute to Service” by the Queen Mary. W6RO will be on the satellites, as well as the HF bands, during these 3 days. The Queen Mary will be honoring those who have served in the armed forces, and in particular the Queen Mary’s use as a troopship during World War II. The Queen Mary, along with other cruise ships, were pressed into service to ferry Allied soldiers around the world. Along with the other activities planned on the ship, some of which are already listed on the Queen Mary’s web site at: https://www.queenmary.com/calendar-of-events/memorial-day/home/ + Pacific Northwest (CN85, CN83/CN84, CN76/CN86) – May 31 to June 2, 2019 Casey, KI7UNJ, will be on in CN83/84 Friday, May 31st, CN85 Saturday, June 1st, and CN76/86 Sunday, June 2nd. Pass list to come in next few weeks. + EM57/EM67 Line – June 4, 2019 Michael, N4DCW, will be at the EM57/67 line on June 4, 2019. FM only. Specific pass times to be posted to Michael’s Twitter feed and AMSAT- BB as the day gets closer. https://twitter.com/MWimages + #HomewardBoundRove (DN13, DN14, DN21, DN22, DN23) – June 14-18,2019 Casey, KI7UNJ, will be hitting a few grids on his way home. Look for DN13/DN14 line on June 14th, DN21/DN22 line June 15th, DN22 June 17th, and DN23 June 18th. FM only. Pass times expected between 1700- 2000UTC. Specific passes to be posted on Casey’s Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/KI7UNJ + #JosephOrBustRove (DN04, DN05, DN15) – June 28-30, 2019 Casey, KI7UNJ, will be wandering around Eastern Oregon and decided to do a little grid activating. Look for Casey on FM passes in DN04 mid- Friday, June 28th, in DN15 Friday night to Saturday evening, and DN05 Sunday morning. Specific passes to be posted on Casey’s Twitter feed https://twitter.com/KI7UNJ + Iceland (HP95 IP15 IP25 IP03 HP03) – July 13-19, 2019 Adam, K0FFY, is taking his family (and his radios) to Iceland. Tentative schedule is HP95 July 13, IP13 and IP15 July 14-15, IP25 July 16, IP03 or HP93 July 17-18, and HP94 July 19. There’s a lot to see, so passes will be best effort and announced on Twitter shortly prior. https://twitter.com/K0FFY_Radio Please submit any additions or corrections to ke4al (at) amsat.org [ANS Thanks Robert Bankston, KE4AL, for the above information.] -------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts from All Over + Four AMSAT CubeSat Simulators are ready for "launch" at Hamvention. See them at the AMSAT Education table at the AMSAT booth next week! https://twitter.com/alanbjohnston/status/1126955948755554304 The CubeSat Simulator runs on a digital transceiver board for the Raspberry Pi designed by Jonathan Brandenburg. The Villanova CubeSat Club has assembled six Digital Transceiver boards for the Raspberry Pi and they will be available for a donation at the AMSAT Booth at Hamvention. Designs are also available on Github at https://github.com/BrandenburgTech/DigitalTxRxRPi/tree/master/kicad [ANS thanks Alan Johnston, KU2Y, AMSAT Vice President for Educational Relations for the above information.] + The weekly schedule for PO-101's FM repeater is generally posted after ANS has been published each week. Check @Diwata2PH on Twitter for schedule updates. https://twitter.com/Diwata2PH [ANS thanks PHL-Microsat for the above information.] + Social media users are invited to register to attend the next SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket launch, carrying nearly two dozen satellites to space from historic Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Registration opens May 6 and closes at 12 p.m. EDT on May 16. Full NASA press release posted at: https://www.nasa.gov/social/spacex-falcon-heavy-launch Two amateur radio satellites are known to be manifest on this mission: PSAT-2 and BRICSAT-2 See http://aprs.org/psat2.html and http://aprs.org/bricsat-2.html for further information [ANS thanks NASA for the above information.] + ESA's 2019 Space Debris Environment Report is now online, providing the latest facts and figures on the space junk surrounding our planet. The report includes recommendations on the policy and regulatory frameworks for space activities, the safety of space operations, rules of engagement for international cooperation, capacity-building and awareness, and scientific and technical research and development. Read the entire document at: https://tinyurl.com/ANS-132-ESA [ANS thanks ESA for the above information.] + The Super VHF Conference 2019 Proceedings CD is now available to be ordered at: http://newsvhf.com/SuperconfCD2019.html [ANS Thanks W1GHZ via the Microwave List for the above information] + The Vintage News features story on LES-1 resuming transmissions after 46 years. https://www.thevintagenews.com/2019/05/09/us-satellite/ [ANS thanks The Vintage News 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 office. Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of six post-secondary years in this status. Contact Martha at the AMSAT office for additional student membership information. 73, This week's ANS Editor, Paul Stoetzer, N8HM n8hm at amsat dot org

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ANS-118 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by E.Mike McCardel 27 Apr '19

27 Apr '19

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-118 The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and infor- mation service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. The news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor at amsat.org. In this edition: * AMSAT 50th Anniversary Issue of AMSAT Journal Available For All * PHL-Microsat Issues Diwata-2 Amateur Radio Unit Service Announcement * Coronation Station HS10KING/mm On Geostationary Satellite * SatNOGS Satellite Ground Station Article in HackSpace Magazine * AMSAT South Africa Developing AfriCUBE SDR-based CubeSat * Interview with Peter Gülzow, AMSAT-DL President * PSAT2, ISS Sat Gate needed in Central America * Upcoming Satellite Operations * ARISS News * Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-118.01 ANS-118 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 118.01 >From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. April 28, 2019 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-118.01 AMSAT 50th Anniversary Issue of AMSAT Journal Available For All We have made our special 50th Anniversary Edition of The AMSAT Journal available to all. If you enjoy this issue, please consider joining AMSAT today! https://tinyurl.com/ANS-118-Journal [ANS thanks AMSAT-NA Office for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- PHL-Microsat Issues Diwata-2 Amateur Radio Unit Service Announcement On April 26 Philippines PHL-Microsat announced that Diwata-2's ARU or ham radio is now ready for service. While Diwata-2 is classified as an Earth-observing microsatellite - with 4 optical payloads or cameras tasked to gather data from space in the form of satellite images - it also carries an Amateur Radio Unit (ARU). The ARU introduced in Diwata-2 is a spaceborne module designed and manufactured in the Philippines. It is targeted for amateur radio communication, emergency and disaster response, and wireless experi- mentation and training. Operating modes will include: + FM voice repeater Uplink: 437.500 MHz FM (CTCSS 141.3) Downlink: 145.900 MHz FM + APRS message digipeater Uplink: 437.500 MHz 1K2 AFSK Downlink: 145.900 MHz 1K2 AFSK Callsign: DW4TA-1 By default, the ARU will operate as an APRS digipeater once a week on Sunday and can be changed as necessary via command link. + Morse-based beacon Downlink: 145.900 MHz + APRS-based beacon Downlink: 145.900 MHz 1K2 AFSK The ARU will send different beacon formats according to its scheduled/ announced operation. Morse-coded CW beacons are sent when ARU operates as FM voice repeater. Morse-coded CW beacons will be transmitted on a 2 minute cycle with 1 minute of transmission followed by a 1 minute pause. APRS beacons are sent when it operates as APRS digipeater. APRS beacon packets will be transmitted every 30 seconds, with a packet duration of 1-2 seconds. For schedule updates, follow @Diwata2PH on Twitter or via the publicly accessible web page at: https://twitter.com/Diwata2PH On April 11, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT) desig- nated Diwata-2 as Philippines-OSCAR 101 (PO-101). For more info on Diwata-2 ARU usage and schedules, follow us on Twitter: @Diwata2PH -or- follow their blog on-line at: https://blog.phl-microsat.upd.edu.ph/tagged/amateur-radio http://phl-microsat.upd.edu.ph/diwata2 [ANS thanks PHL-Microsat and the Diwata-2 Team for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Coronation Station HS10KING/mm On Geostationary Satellite To mark the Coronation of King Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun (King Rama X) from May 4-6, 2019 the Radio Amateur Society of Thailand under the Patronage of His Majesty the King will be operating a special event station The station will be operated from the Royal Thai Navy aircraft carrier, the Chakri Narubet, in the Gulf of Thailand from May 3-6 using the callsign HS10KING/mm. This station will be making QSOs in the 40, 20, 15 and 10 metre HF bands, on 2 metres VHF and also using amateur radio satellites, including the Es’hail-2 / QO-100 satellite. Consequently, the May meeting of RAST will be postponed to the second Sunday of the month, and will take place on Sunday May 12 at Sena Place Hotel when applications to take the upcoming Intermediate Class examination will be available As usual all RAST members are welcome to attend this meeting and hopefully they will be able to have a QSO with HS10KING/mm. [ANS thanks Tony Waltham, HS0ZDX via AMSAT-UK for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- SatNOGS Satellite Ground Station Article in HackSpace Magazine The May edition of HackSpace magazine, issue 18, featuring articles by radio amateur Jo Hinchliffe MW6CYK is available as a free PDF. On pages 34-47 is his special feature on Space, which explains how you can build a SatNOGS satellite ground station to receive amateur radio satellites. Jo’s article Make a Slim Jim Antenna appears on pages 110-111. Also in the magazine, on pages 96-99, Ben Everard explains how to build an ISS count-down timer. You can download the free HackSpace magazine PDF from https://hackspace.raspberrypi.org/issues/18 Direct link to the PDF https://tinyurl.com/ANS-118-HackSpace [ANS thanks Jo Hinchliffe MW6CYK via AMSAT-UK for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT South Africa Developing AfriCUBE SDR-based CubeSat AMSAT SA has announced that parallel to its analogue Kletskous Cube- Sat, the group is working on a digital project featuring a Software defined transponder. Called AfriCUBE, the CubeSat will use the same space frame as KLETSKOUS. Anton Janovsky is current building a proto- type transponder. AMSATSA is inviting persons interested in becoming part of the development team to send their details to: admin(a)amsatsa.org.za. Meanwhile the development and final construction of the AMSAT SA KLETSKOUS is plagued by electronic component obsolescence. This forces unwanted design changes to be made to ensure that when the time comes to construct the final launch unit, the main components are still available. The KLETSKOUS team decided to freeze the design of KLETSKOUS and pur- chase a quantity of devices to proactively mitigate future obsolesce. This decision will also speed up the process of putting a final satel- lite on the table. "Every time we change designs to mitigate for the discontinued components, it is like starting the design a fresh, often creating new problems that have to be solved", Hannes Coetzee, ZS6BZP said. "By freezing the design, in other words making a final decision on the main specialised devices to be used, we will be able to speed up the process of putting a flight ready unit on the table." KLETSKOUS is not a textbook design. Most of the sub-components that will make up KLETSKOUS are designed and being built by the volunteer team. "We do not have the finances to go out and purchase sub-units and simply wire them up.", Coetzee said. Access the original posting, with photo, at: http://www.amsatsa.org.za/ [ANS thanks AMSAT South Africa for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Interview with Peter Gülzow, AMSAT-DL President On the occasion of the 4th Radio Day in Kassel, which is organized by DARC for the fourth time, an interview was conducted by the video portal Fascination Amateur Radio with Peter Gülzow, DB2OS, President of AMSAT Deutschland e.V., on the topic of QO-100/Es´hail-2. The video which is in German can be viewed at: https://tinyurl.com/ANS118-ON4WF AMSAT-UK suggests doing the following to support Closed Caption of this German Piece: "Select Closed Caption (CC) then in Settings Auto-Translate->English " [ANS thanks AMSAT-DL for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- PSAT2, ISS Sat Gate needed in Central America In a recent email via the AMSAT-BB Bob Bruninga wrote: PSAT2, ISS Sat Gate needed in Central America. See the coverage map for the APRS satellites on 145.825. There is a hole in Central America where the telemetry from these satellites can go for almost three full orbits and not be captured. All the rest of the world is covered. Coverage Map: http://aprs.org/psat2.html We'd like to fill that hole! Contact wb4apr (at) amsat.org [ANS Thanks Bob, WB4APR for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Upcoming Satellite Operations Isles of Scilly (IN69) – April 20-27, 2019 A team consisting G4EDG, G4ELZ and G4GSA will be active from St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly EU-011 as GB5SM during April 20-27, 2019. QRV on HF bands, CW/SSB/Digi. Possible satellite activity too. QSL via LZ1JZ. Logs will be uploaded to LoTW & Club Log Vera Cruze State, Mexico (EK19) – April 25-28, 2019 Ismael, XE1AY, will activate Veracruz State, grid EK19wc, from 25 to 28 April. This will be a portable FM-only activation. Central and Northern Maine (FN53, FN54, FN55, FN56, FN57, FN65, FN66, FN67) – POSTPONED Join Matt, W1PY and Sean, KX9X as they team up for a weekend of ham radio through the Pine Tree State! Follow them as they activate the Potato Field grids of central and northern Maine for the satellite community, and hit some state parks on HF for the Parks on the Air and WWFF communities. There will also be spontaneous activations of curious roadside attractions as they roll through. Grids to be activated on satellite: FN53 – 54 – 55 – 56 – 57 – 65 - 66 – 67. A special effort will be made to activate the grid intersection of FN56-57-66-67 in the potato field north of Caribou. Detailed satellite operations schedule to be announced ASAP. For more information, check out https://t.co/2irvAUBvAu and keep an eye on Sean’s Twitter feed https://twitter.com/SeanKutzko. EM61 – April 26 or 27, 2019 Jeff (WE4B), Marissa (W4AQT) and “Little Sister” will make a quick run to EM61 sometime during the weekend of April 26th/27th for anyone who needs the grid. Watch for specific date/pass announcements on Jeff’s Twitter feed https://twitter.com/WE4Bravo Parque Estadual Canions do Rio Poty (Grid GI94) – April, 26 to 28, 2019 DXPedition ZV8FF will be active April 26th to 28th. Operators PS8RV, PS8ACM, PS8NF, and PS8BR announce HF bands in SSB, CW, FT8. In addition there is the possibility of Satellites FM, SSB and CW, so stay tuned. California (DM15) – April 27, 2019 Dave, AD7DB, will be in DM15 in the high desert town of North Edwards CA, just outside Edwards AFB. Planned passes are AO-91, AO- 92 and SO-50. More exact details on Twitter https://twitter.com/ad7db as the time approaches. Northern MI+ (EN84, EN92, EN93 – April 27-28, 2019 AA8CH and WW8W will be activating EN84 for the afternoon/evening of Saturday April 27th tentatively starting 1800UTC, then EN92/EN93 Sunday April 28th morning/early afternoon (AO7 looking for EU at 1700UTC). FM an linears. Watch Twitter feed for further updates https://twitter.com/charliehotel10. Waco, TX (EM11) – April 28, 2019 Brian, KG5GJT, will be visiting Waco, TX on Sunday, April 28th, and possibly Saturday night. No planned passes at this time, but keep an eye on Brian’s Twitter feed for further announcements https://twitter.com/KG5GJT. Northern Border Security Check (Minnesota to Washington) – April 29 to May 4 or 5th, 2019 Alex, N7AGF, is all set for his semiannual rover trip to activate rare and somewhat rare grids, from April 29th to May 4th or 5th (or longer depending on how things go). Alex will fly into Minneapolis and drive back to his home grid CN88, activating as many ENx8,ENx7,DNx8,and DNx7 grids as possible along the route. The hope is to hit many corners and lines. Alex will be on both linear and FM birds. As always, activations and route details will be posted to his Twitter @N7AGF at https://twitter.com/N7AGF . Alex will also be on APRS at https://aprs.fi/N7AGF-10 . In areas of limited cell service, he’ll be using inReach. Email or hit Alex on twitter with grid requests, route suggestions, or hot tourist attractions in Minot. Northeast North Dakota (EN06/EN07/EN08/EN16/EN17/EN18) – May 2-5, 2019 Mitch, AD0HJ, is heading out to the Grand Forks, ND Hamfest on May 4th, but also just goofing off for a few days in the general area. Mitch will be limited to working the FM Satellites only (SO-50, AO- 91, AO-92). Plans are to work EN17/18 on May 2, EN07/08 on May 3, EN17/18 again on May 4 (day of hamfest), and then EN06/16 on May 5. A full pass schedule will be viewable on the Twitter announcement https://twitter.com/KE4ALabama/status/1116524856781230080, and up-to- date pass info on Mitch’s Twitter feed https://twitter.com/AD0HJ. Upstate NY (FN14, FN24) – May 3, 2019 Robert, KE2QI, activating the FN14/24 gridline Friday evening, May 3rd. Watch for updates on Rober’s Twitter feed https://twitter.com/skyguydx Pennsylvania (FN11,FN21) – May 5, 2019 Steve, NS3L, will activate the FN11/FN21 gridline mid-morning to early afternoon of May 5th. In addition, he might go to FN12 afterward. FM & SSB Linear birds. Note, fair weather trip only. If heavy rain is forecast, he might postpone & reschedule. During the trip, Steve will be beaconing on APRS NS3L-9. See Steve’s Twitter feed for further updates https://twitter.com/NS3L FN13/FN14 Gridline – May 11-12, 2019 Michael, K2MTS will be in FN13/14 May 11-12, 2019, operating holiday style. Keep an eye on Michael’s Twitter feed https://twitter.com/k2mts for specific pass announcements. Pennsylvania (FN00) – May 13-15, 2019 Tanner, W9TWJ, will be back in FN00 May 13th-15th, if anyone still needs it. Possible he will also do the 15th in EN90 again. FM evening passes. Will look into FN01 to see if it’s possible. Watch Tanner’s Twitter feed for pass details https://twitter.com/twjones85. Southwest South Dakota (DN83++) – May 19-23, 2019 Clayton, W5PFG, will be operating from DN83 on all FM/SSB satellites holiday-style , May 19-23. Open to schedules with EU. In the days proceeding he’ll be on from DN91 and in the days following from DN74, DN71, potentially DN70, and lastly DM99. Twitter @w5pfg Texas (EM13, EM22, EM23) – May 19-21, 2019 Ryan, AI6DO, has an upcoming business trip for fried pies and a satellite rove: Planning EM13 5/20 & 5/21, EM22/23 grid line 0000- 0300 5/20 & 5/22 UTC (5/19 & 5/21 local). Probably FM & APRS only. Updates via Twitter https://twitter.com/AI6DO Point Pelee National Park, Canada (EN81, EN82) – May 25, 2019 KM4LAO, Ruth, will head north of the border to activate Point Pelee National Park in Ontario EN81, Saturday, May 25th. Ruth may also do a pass or two from EN82 as time allows. Plan is for FM and linear satellite passes, as well at QRP HF. Call sign for this activation and subsequent LoTW upload will be KM4LAO/VE3. This will also be a CNPOTA activation, so please upload your log to the CNPOTA website https://cnpota.ca/. Further announcements will be posted on Ruth’s Twitter feed https://twitter.com/KM4Ruth as we get closer to the activation date. Pacific Northwest (CN85, CN83/CN84, CN76/CN86) – May 31 to June 2, 2019 Casey, KI7UNJ, will be on in CN83/84 Friday, May 31st, CN85 Saturday, June 1st, and CN76/86 Sunday, June 2nd. Pass list to come in next few weeks. Iceland (HP95 IP15 IP25 IP03 HP03) – July 13-19, 2019 Adam, K0FFY, is taking his family (and his radios) to Iceland. Tentative schedule is HP95 July 13, IP13 and IP15 July 14-15, IP25 July 16, IP03 or HP93 July 17-18, and HP94 July 19. There’s a lot to see, so passes will be best effort and announced on Twitter shortly prior. https://twitter.com/K0FFY_Radio Please submit any additions or corrections to ke4al (at) amsat.org Updated April 26, 2019 See https://www.amsat.org/satellite-info/upcoming-satellite-operations/ [ANS thanks Robert KE4AL for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS News Recent successful ARISS Contacts + 2019-04-24 17:46 UTC between David St-Jacques KG5FYI, using ISS callsign NA1SS and Hidden Oaks Middle School, Prior Lake, MN, USA Contact was direct via N9CHA. ARISS Mentor was Ryan W4NTR. + 2019-04-18 18:04 UTC between David St-Jacques KG5FYI using ISS callsign NA1SS and École internationale de Saint-Sacrement, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada Contact was direct via VE2GHO. ARISS Mentor was Steve VE3TBD. Editor's Note: Hidden Oaks Middle School ARISS contact with David Saint-Jacques aboard the International Space Station, April 24, 2019. This video highlights the conversation and efforts of the teachers and ham radio operators who shared the excitement. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEf7yURjZg8&feature=player_embedded [ANS thanks Greg N9CHA for the above information.] Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule Quick list of scheduled contacts and events as of 2019-04-26 20:30 UTC: Observatorio Astronómico de Mallorca (OAM), Costitx (Mallorca-Islas Baleares-España), Spain, telebridge via W6SRJ Participating schools: Colegio San José Obrero, Palma de Mallorca(Islas Baleares-España), Spain and Colegio Luis Vives, Palma de Mallorca(Islas Baleares-España), Spain The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Nick Hague KG5TMV Contact is go for: Mon 2019-04-29 11:48:40 UTC Watch for live stream at https://www.youtube.com/user/LuisVivesTV/live Mildred Hall School, Yellowknife, NT, Canada, telebridge via LU8YY The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is David St-Jacques KG5FYI Contact is go for: Fri 2019-05-03 18:32:19 UTC [ANS thanks ARISS, Charlie AJ9N and David AA4KN for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Shorts From All Over + F5UII documents receiving the 10 GHz downlink from Qatar Oscar 100 with SDR Console: https://tinyurl.com/ANS-118-F5UII [ANS thanks F5UII via Twitter for the above information) + What Are CubeSats? Space Daily present a look at the brief history of Cube Sats. Access here: http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/What_Are_CubeSats_999.html [ANS thanks Space Daily for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive addi- tional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office. Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the stu- dent rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership information. 73, This week's ANS Editor, EMike McCardel, AA8EM aa8em at amsat dot org

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ANS-104 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Paul Stoetzer 13 Apr '19

13 Apr '19

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-104 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: * TAPR/AMSAT Banquet Speaker Announced * Seats Still Available for AMSAT Academy * AMSAT Activities at Hamvention 2019 * N8HM to Appear on Ham Talk Live April 18th * Last Chance to Bid in ARISS Auction * ARISS SSTV Event Continues Through 18:00 UTC April 14th * Diwata-2 Designated Philippines-OSCAR 101 (PO-101) * March/April 2019 Edition of Apogee View Posted * How to Support AMSAT * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Satellite Shorts from All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-104.01 ANS-104 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 104.01 >From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. April 14, 2019 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-104.01 +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AMSAT relies on your donations to Keep Amateur Radio in Space Please consider a one-time or recurring donation today at https://www.amsat.org/donate/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ --------------------------------------------------------------------- TAPR/AMSAT Banquet Speaker Announced TAPR has announced that the after-dinner speaker at this year's TAPR/AMSAT Banquet on Friday, May 17th will be Dr. P. J. Erickson, W1PJE, from the MIT Haystack Observatory. Dr. Erickson will will give a presentation entitled “New Frontiers in Human Understanding of Geospace: Radio Explorations of Near-Earth Space from Top to Bottom Through Joint Amateur – Scientist Partnerships.” Tickets for the 2019 TAPR/AMSAT Banquet are $40 and can be purchased at https://www.amsat.org/p…/tapramsat-joint-hamvention-banquet/ Tickets must be purchased by 18:00 EDT / 22:00 UTC on May 14th. [ANS thanks TAPR for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Seats Still Available for AMSAT Academy Come join us the day before Hamvention for AMSAT Academy – a unique opportunity to learn all about amateur radio in space and working the FM, linear transponder, and digital satellites currently in orbit. AMSAT Academy will be held Thursday, May 16, 2019, from 9:00am to 5:00pm, at the Dayton Amateur Radio Association (DARA) Clubhouse, located at 6619 Bellefontaine Rd, Dayton, Ohio. Registration Fee includes: +Full day of instruction, designed for both beginners and advanced amateur radio satellite operators, and taught by some of the most accomplished AMSAT operators. +Digital copy of Getting Started with Amateur Satellites, 2019 Edition ($15 value) +One-Year, AMSAT Basic Membership ($44 value) +Pizza Buffet Lunch +Invitation to the Thursday night AMSAT get together at Ticket Pub and Eatery in Fairborn AMSAT Academy 2019 Registration Fee: $85.00. Registration closes May 10, 2019. No sign ups at the door. No refunds, No cancellations. Registration may be purchased on the AMSAT Store. https://www.amsat.org/product/amsat-academy-registration/ [ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT Activities at Hamvention 2019 For a complete list of AMSAT activities at the 2019 Hamvention, see www.amsat.org/other-events/amsat-activities-at-hamvention-2019/ Below, two of these activities are highlighted: AMSAT Forum, Forum Room 2 Saturday, 18 May 2019, 12:10 – 13:40 EDT Moderated by Robert Bankston KE4AL, AMSAT Vice President–User Services AMSAT Status Report – Joseph Spier, K6WAO, AMSAT President, will high- light recent activities within AMSAT and discuss some of our challenges, accomplishments, projects, and any late breaking news. AMSAT Engineering – Jerry Buxton, N0JY, AMSAT Vice President– Engineering, will talk about the Fox-1 and Golf (Greater Orbit, Larger Footprint) Projects. AMSAT Education – Alan Johnston, KU2Y, AMSAT Vice President– Educational Relations will introduce the AMSAT CubeSat Simulator. AMSAT User Services – Robert Bankston, KE4AL, AMSAT Vice President– User Services, will discuss AMSAT’s 50th Anniversary Operating Event and the new AMSAT Ambassadors Program. Amateur Satellite Demonstrations Outside Main Entrance – Maxim Hall (Building 1) Friday, Saturday, Sunday 16 – 19 May 2019, 08:00 – 16:30 EDT Amateur Satellite operation demonstrations will be held outside the main Maxim Hall (Building 1 or E1) entrance. Every day, AMSAT will be demonstrating actual contacts with the operational amateur satellites. We especially want to invite youth to make a contact via an amateur satellite. All are invited to observe, participate and ask questions. Satellite pass times will be posted at the AMSAT booth (1007-1010 & 1107-1110) and in the demo area. [ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- N8HM to Appear on Ham Talk Live April 18th It's almost time for the Dayton Hamvention! Be sure to tune in at HamTalkLive.com for a preview each week until Hamvention! On Thursday, April 18th, AMSAT Executive Vice President Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, will appear on the show to discuss the AMSAT Academy and the other exciting activities AMSAT has planned for the 2019 Hamvention. Ham Talk Live! is live every Thursday night at 9 pm EDT, and on your favorite podcast app or on demand at HamTalkLive.com. And, HTL! is rebroadcast on Saturdays on WTWW 5085 AM at about 6:30 pm EDT. [ANS thanks Ham Talk Live for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ 2019 marks AMSAT’s 50th Anniversary of Keeping Amateur Radio in Space. To help celebrate, we are sponsoring the AMSAT 50th Anniversary Awards Program. Full details are available at https://www.amsat.org/amsat-50th-anniversary-awards-program/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ --------------------------------------------------------------------- Last Chance to Bid in ARISS Auction Bidding continues in the ARISS Auction! Bidders are moving fast hoping to garner a special astronaut signed brand new JVC Kenwood TS-890S! Visit http://www.ebay.com/itm/323770952171 to bid on the TS-890S. Bidding ends at 13:22 UTC on Monday, April 15th. A special astronaut signed 6-volume boxed set 2019 ARRL Handbook is also up for bid. Visit http://www.ebay.com/itm/323770952890 to bid on the ARRL Hand- book. Bidding ends at 13:23 UTC on Monday, April 15th. Thanks to JVC Kenwood and ARRL, proceeds from the on-line auction will benefit ARISS in its quest to launch a new custom-built higher- power radio system in late 2019 with its voice repeater and improved packet APRS and SSTV capability that thousands of hams can enjoy. The new system will replace the aging, problematic units currently on the ISS. ARISS also needs funding to keep introducing ham radio to thousands of students, teachers, parents, and whole communities — and inspiring students about STEM and radio. Kenwood has been a super supporter of ARISS for years, and it was the company’s idea for this special radio to be an exclusive for one ham to own. The limited edition boxed set 2019 ARRL Handbook sold out fast last fall but ARRL saved one set for ARISS's fundraiser. AMSAT, ARISS's sponsoring 501(c)(3) corporation, provided the auction infrastructure. If auctions aren't your thing, please consider a one-time or recurring donation to ARISS at https://www.amsat.org/donations/ariss-donations/ [ANS thanks ARISS for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ CLOSEOUT 2018 Symposium Proceedings and Getting Started Guides, now $15 + Shipping on the AMSAT Store while supplies last. https://www.amsat.org/product-category/amsat-books-and-dvds/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS SSTV Event Continues Through 18:00 UTC April 14th In commemoration of human spaceflight, the ISS is currently transmitting SSTV pictures in PD-120 format. The event is scheduled to continue until 18:00 UTC on April 14th. The downlink frequency is 145.800 MHz FM. Any standard SSTV program for computers or smartphones should be able to decode the PD-120 transmissions. Participants may share their received pictures at https://www.spaceflightsoftware.com/ARISS_SSTV/index.php Participants may also receive a special award for participating. See https://ariss.pzk.org.pl/sstv/ for details. [ANS thanks ARISS for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Diwata-2 Designated Philippines-OSCAR 101 (PO-101) On October 29, 2018, the Diwata-2 microsatellite was launched on a H-IIA launch vehicle from the Tanegashima Space Center, Tanegashima, Japan. Diwata-2 was developed by the University of the Philippines Dillman (UPD) and the Advanced Science and Technology Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-ASTI) under the PHL- Microsat program (now succeeded by the STAMINA4Space program), and in cooperation with Tohoku University and Hokkaido University. The project was funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and monitored by the DOST-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD). The satellite carries an amateur radio payload that has been tested and is now ready for service. At the request of the STAMINA4Space program, AMSAT hereby designates Diwata-2 as Philippines-OSCAR 101 (PO-101). We congratulate the owners and operators of PO-101, thank them for their contribution to the amateur satellite community, and wish them continued success on this and future projects. 73, Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA AMSAT VP Operations / OSCAR Number Administrator PO-101 frequency information can be found at at https://www.amsat.org/fm-satellite-frequency-summary/ Stay tuned to ANS and the AMSAT-BB for operational information. [ANS thanks Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, AMSAT VP Operations / OSCAR Number Administrator for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Purchase AMSAT Gear on our Zazzle storefront. 25% of the purchase price of each product goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ --------------------------------------------------------------------- March/April 2019 Edition of Apogee View Posted The March/April 2019 edition of Apogee View, a comprehensive update on AMSAT's activities from AMSAT President Joe Spier, K6WAO, has been posted to the AMSAT website. https://www.amsat.org/apogeeview/ [ANS thanks AMSAT the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AMSAT and ARISS are currently supporting a FundRazr campaign to raise $150,000 for critical radio infrastructure upgrades on ISS. The upgrades are necessary to enable students to continue to talk to astronauts in space via Amateur Radio. We have reached a great milestone with $24,045 raised or about 16% towards our goal. This would not have been possible without your outstanding generosity!! For more information and to DONATE TODAY visit: https://fundrazr.com/arissnextgen?ref=ab_e7Htwa_ab_47IcJ9 +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ --------------------------------------------------------------------- How to Support AMSAT AMSAT relies on the support of our members and the amateur radio community to Keep Amateur Radio in Space. How can you help? *Join AMSAT Both you and AMSAT will benefit when you join. You get the AMSAT Journal bimonthly and support from AMSAT Ambassadors. Member dues and donations provide AMSAT’s primary support. Join today at https://www.amsat.org/product-category/amsat-membership/ *Become a Life Member Becoming a Life Member has never been easier. Now you can become a Life Member with 12 monthly payments of $74 through our online store. See https://www.amsat.org/product/lifetime-membership/ for details. *Donate to AMSAT Make a one time or recurring donation to AMSAT today. Even as little as one dollar a month can make a difference! Donate today at https://www.amsat.org/donate/ *Purchase AMSAT gear on our Zazzle storefront. AMSAT receives 25% of the price of each sale on AMSAT logo merchandise from our Zazzle storefront located at https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear *Volunteer for AMSAT AMSAT relies on volunteers for nearly all of our activities. If you have an idea for how to help, please let us know, Details on volunteering can be found at https://www.amsat.org/volunteer-for-amsat/ [ANS thanks the AMSAT office for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Upcoming Satellite Operations +Utah (DM48, DM58) – April 14-19, 2019 Bob, N6REK, will be roving in Utah from April 13 to the 19th. He plans to be on from DM58 from April 14-17, and then DM48 from April 17-19. Bob will be FM satellites only, using the call sign N6REK/7, and he will post the specific passes on the amsat-bb when we get closer to those dates. +Liechtenstein (JN47) – April 17-19, 2019 Phillippe, EA4NF, is off on another DXpedition. This time, he is heading to HB0/Lichtenstein. Phillippe will operate under the callsign HB0/EA4NF from Leichtenstein and HB9/EA4NF from Switzerland (JN47s, on both FM and SSB satellites. QSL via LoTW. Updated info & Pass announcements (Time+Frequencies) available on Twitter: https://twitter.com/EA4NF_SAT +Arizona to West Virginia – April 18-21, 2019 Chris. K7TAB, is heading towards WV April 18th to 21st, a 2200-mile sprint. The priority is to cover distance, but he’ll need to take some breaks to rotate coffee and work satellite passes. Grids along I-40 in AZ/NM/TX/OK, I-44 in OK/MO, I-70 in IL/IN/OH/PA are all fair game! FM + Linears. Chris has a nice grid map with his route posted on his Twitter feed and will post pass availability when he can. https://twitter.com/K7TABravo +Central and Northern Maine (FN53, FN54, FN55, FN56, FN57, FN65, FN66, FN67) – April 26-28, 2019 Join Matt, W1PY and Sean, KX9X as they team up for a weekend of ham radio through the Pine Tree State! Follow them as they activate the Potato Field grids of central and northern Maine for the satellite community, and hit some state parks on HF for the Parks on the Air and WWFF communities. There will also be spontaneous activations of curious roadside attractions as they roll through. Grids to be activated on satellite: FN53 – 54 – 55 – 56 – 57 – 65 – 66 – 67. A special effort will be made to activate the grid intersection of FN56-57-66-67 in the potato field north of Caribou. Detailed satellite operations schedule to be announced ASAP. For more information, check out https://t.co/2irvAUBvAu and keep an eye on Sean’s Twitter feed https://twitter.com/SeanKutzko. +California (DM15) – April 27, 2019 Dave, AD7DB, will be in DM15 in the high desert town of North Edwards, CA, just outside Edwards AFB. Planned passes are AO-91, AO-92 and SO-50. More exact details on Twitter https://twitter.com/ad7db as the time approaches. +Northern Border Security Check (Minnesota to Washington) – April 29 to May 4 or 5th, 2019 Alex, N7AGF, is all set for his semiannual rover trip to activate rare and somewhat rare grids, from April 29th to May 4th or 5th (or longer depending on how things go). Alex will fly into Minneapolis and drive back to my home grid CN88, activating as many ENx8,ENx7,DNx8,and DNx7 grids as possible along the route. The hope is to hit many corners and lines. Alex will be on both linear and FM birds. As always, activations and route details will be posted to his Twitter @N7AGF at https://twitter.com/N7AGF . Alex will also be on APRS at https://aprs.fi/N7AGF-10. In areas of limited cell service, he’ll be using inReach. Email or hit Alex on twitter with grid requests, route suggestions, or hot tourist attractions in Minot. +Northeast North Dakota (EN06/EN07/EN08/EN16/EN17/EN18) – May 2-5, 2019 Mitch, AD0HJ, is heading out to the Grand Forks, ND Hamfest on May 4th , but also just goofing off for a few days in the general area. Mitch will be limited to working the FM Satellites only (SO-50, AO-91, AO-92). Plans are to work EN17/18 on May 2, EN07/08 on May 3, EN17/18 again on May 4 (day of hamfest), and then EN06/16 on May 5. A full pass schedule will be viewable on the Twitter announcement https://twitter.com/KE4ALabama/status/1116524856781230080, and up-to-date pass info on Mitch’s Twitter feed https://twitter.com/AD0HJ. +Southwest South Dakota (DN83++) – May 19-23, 2019 Clayton, W5PFG, will be operating from DN83 on all FM/SSB satellites holiday-style , May 19-23. Open to schedules with EU. In the days proceeding he’ll be on from DN91 and in the days following from DN74, DN71, potentially DN70, and lastly DM99. Twitter @w5pfg +Pacific Northwest (CN85, CN83/CN84, CN76/CN86) – May 31 to June 2, 2019 Casey, KI7UNJ, will be on in CN83/84 Friday, May 31st, CN85 Saturday, June 1st, and CN76/86 Sunday, June 2nd. Pass list to come in next few weeks. +Iceland (HP95 IP15 IP25 IP03 HP03) – July 13-19, 2019 Adam, K0FFY, is taking his family (and his radios) to Iceland. Tentative schedule is HP95 July 13, IP13 and IP15 July 14-15, IP25 July 16, IP03 or HP93 July 17-18, and HP94 July 19. There’s a lot to see, so passes will be best effort and announced on Twitter shortly prior. https://twitter.com/K0FFY_Radio [ANS Thanks Robert Bankston, KE4AL, for the above information] -------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts from All Over + FUNcube on ESEO Payload Activated On April 12th, the FUNcube on ESEO 145.895 MHz 1k2 BPSK beacon was briefly activated, confirming the functionality of the payload. The FUNcube on ESEO payload consists of a 1k2/4k8 BPSK telemetry beacon and an L/v FM repeater with an uplink of 1263.500 MHz and a downlink of 145.895 MHz. Stay tuned for further information. (ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information) + FO-99 (NEXUS) Twitter The Nihon University Ground Station twitter account (@GsNihonuniv) is now posting operational updates for FO-99 in English. Check https://twitter.com/GsNihonuniv for FO-99 operational information. + AO-85 Keplerian Elements No Longer Restricted 18 Space Control Squadron has removed the NEA status for an additional 43 objects, including AO-85. This means entities other than AMSAT, including Celestrak, may distribute the Keplerian elements for AO-85. They should appear in Celestrak's amateur.txt file shortly (ANS thanks T.S. Kelso of Celestrak for the above information) + Australian CubeSat to use 76 GHz Amateur Satellite Band An Australian CubeSat, CUAVA-1, is expcted to include a downlink on 76 GHz. Details at https://amsat-uk.org/2019/04/12/australian-cubesat-to-use-76-ghz/ (ANS thanks the IARU Satellite Coordination Panel and AMSAT-UK) + The Orbital Index The Orbital Index is a newsletter written by Andrew Cantino and Ben Lachman. We strive to keep it focused, technical, and enjoyable. Basically you should be able to read it over lunch and learn something you didn’t know before. Subscribe or check out the archives at http://orbitalindex.com/ (ANS thanks The Orbital Index for the above information) + AD0DX Completes Satellite WAS Congratulations to AD0DX on receiving Satellite Worked All States #377. His last QSO for WAS was with N8HM in Washington, DC. For WAS, the District of Columbia counts as Maryland. (ANS thanks AD0DX and N8HM for the above information) (Editor's note - while DC is definitely not Maryland, I am happy to assist anyone who needs MD for WAS while this rule remains in place) --------------------------------------------------------------------- /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 office. Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of six post-secondary years in this status. Contact Martha at the AMSAT office for additional student membership information. 73, This week's ANS Editor, Paul Stoetzer, N8HM n8hm at amsat dot org

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ANS-101 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin - Diwata-2 Designated Philippines-OSCAR 101 (PO-101)
by Paul Stoetzer 11 Apr '19

11 Apr '19

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE SPECIAL BULLETIN ANS-101.01 In this Special Bulletin: * Diwata-2 Designated Philippines-OSCAR 101 (PO-101) SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-101.01 ANS-101 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin 101.01 From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD DATE April 11, 2019 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-101.01 On October 29, 2018, the Diwata-2 microsatellite was launched on a H-2A launch vehicle from the Tanegashima Space Center, Tanegashima, Japan. Diwata-2 was developed by the PHL-Microsat program now succeeded by the STAMINA4Space program, and in cooperation with Tohoku University and Hokkaido University. The satellite carries an amateur radio payload that has been tested and is now ready for service. At the request of the STAMINA4Space program, AMSAT hereby designates Diwata-2 as Philippines-OSCAR 101 (PO-101). We congratulate the owners and operators of PO-101, thank them for their contribution to the amateur satellite community, and wish them continued success on this and future projects. 73, Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA AMSAT VP Operations / OSCAR Number Administrator [ANS thanks AMSAT VP Operations / OSCAR Number Administrator Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, for the above information.] /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers life memberships, and sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office. Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership information. 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-096 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Mark D. Johns 06 Apr '19

06 Apr '19

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-096 The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and infor- mation service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. The news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor at amsat.org. You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/ans In this edition: * AMSAT India AISAT APRS Payload Operational on 145.825 MHz * Upcoming Satellite Operations * UT1FG/MM QSL Procedure Announced * Hamvention Booth Announcement * AMSAT Activities at Hamvention 2019 * The Case of the Unknown Satellites * Upcoming ARISS Contacts * International Space Station Astronauts are Calling CQ Students * VUCC Awards-Endorsements for March 2019 * Raspberry Pi magazine MagPi Features Ham Radio * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-096.01 ANS-096 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 096.01 >From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. DATE YYY To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-096.01 AMSAT India AISAT APRS Payload Operational on 145.825 MHz An APRS payload from AMSAT INDIA was successfully launched on April 1, 2019 at 03:57 GMT on the PSLV-C45 mission. The payload was powered up on schedule over Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Poland and Moscow. AMSAT India requested stations at these locations to report the first signals on 145.825 MHz from the payload. The first beacon from AISAT-1 was received by R4UAB and DK3WN was able to digipeat through the satellite. Mike posted information on his blog at: http://www.dk3wn.info/p/?p=94180 AMSAT India requests that the Amateur Radio fraternity worldwide use the payload and Satgates to feed the traffic. More details about this unique project as well as the pre-launch TLE are available at http://www.amsatindia.org/ Their twitter feed is at https://twitter.com/amsatindia AMSAT Argentina's web-based satellite pass page passes at http://amsat.org.ar/pass?satx=aisa1 provides use- ful tracking information based on the pre-launch TLE. The 4th stage of the PSLV rocket (PS4) will become an orbital plat- form in a 485 km orbit hosting three payloads: + Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS) digipeater from AMSAT INDIA + Automatic Identification System (AIS) from ISRO + Advanced Retarding Potential Analyzer for Ionospheric Studies (ARIS) from the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST). https://www.isro.gov.in/launcher/pslv-c45-emisat-mission [ANS thanks Nitin, VU3TYG, Secretary, AMSAT INDIA for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT relies on your donations to Keep Amateur Radio in Space. Please consider a donation to the AMSAT General Fund, the GOLF Program, or ARISS today at https://www.amsat.org/donate/ --------------------------------------------------------------------- Upcoming Satellite Operations Defrosting Trip (EM90, EL99) – April 7-9, 2019 Paul, KE0PBR, has plans to escape the Land of the 10,000 Frozen Lakes and head down to Florida, to enjoy a little Global Warming. Will most likely be FM only, and holiday style. Paul will post announcements on his Twitter account: https://twitter.com/KE0PBR Utah (DM37, DM48, DM58) – April 13-19, 2019 Bob, N6REK, will be roving in Utah from April 13 to the 19th. He plans to be in DM37 April 13, DM58 from April 14-17, and then DM48 from April 17-19. Bob will be FM satellites only, and he will post the specific passes on the amsat-bb when we get closer to those dates. Liechtenstein (JN47) – April 17-19, 2019 Phillippe, EA4NF, is off on another DXpedition. This time, he is heading to HB0/Lichtenstein. Phillippe will operate under the call sign HB0/EA4NF from Leichtenstein and HB9/EA4NF from Switzerland (JN47s, on both FM and SSB satellites. QSL via LoTW. Updated info & Pass announcements (Time+Frequencies) available on Twitter: https://twitter.com/EA4NF_SAT Northern Border Security Check (Minnesota to Washington) – April 29 to May 4 or 5th, 2019 Alex, N7AGF, is all set for his semiannual rover trip to activate rare and somewhat rare grids, from April 29th to May 4th or 5th (or longer depending on how things go). Alex will fly into Minneapolis and drive back to my home grid CN88, activating as many ENx8,ENx7,DNx8,and DNx7 grids as possible along the route. The hope is to hit many corners and lines. Alex will be on both linear and FM birds. As always, activations and route details will be posted to his Twitter @N7AGF at https://twitter.com/N7AGF Alex will also be on APRS at https://aprs.fi/N7AGF-10 In areas of limited cell service, he’ll be using inReach. Please submit any additions or corrections to ke4al (at) amsat.org [ANS thanks KE4AL for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- UT1FG/MM QSL Procedure Announced Yuri, UT1FG/mm, is headed to Kalningrad (UA2) and according to marinetraffic.com, he will be there around 16April. Yuri will leave the ship there and go on vacation until next season. Yuri would like those who want to confirm their contacts, to do so by following the procedure to create a .pdf file that he can print, confirm and mail out from Kaliningrad. Instructions for creating the .pdf file are on papays.com/sat Please do not forget to include your mailing address in the header per the example. He would like to receive the qsl logsheets about one week before he arrives in port. You can send them to me later than that, but he may not have time to process them as he approaches port. That decision is up to you. I will forward them to Yuri as long as he is still underway. Send your logsheets to my qrz.com email address. Yuri was in HL90 on the 1818z 04April pass of AO-7. [ANS thanks John Papay, K8YSE for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Hamvention Booth Announcement Join us as AMSAT celebrates our Golden Jubilee at the 2019 Hamvention with a 1969 theme and an "OSCAR Park" display. The satellite lineup includes appearances by OSCAR-1, AO-7, Phase-3A, ARISSat, Fox, and GOLF. Join up or renew your AMSAT membership. Updated for 2019, AMSAT's book, "Getting Started With Amateur Satellites" is available. Get one-on-one guidance on setting up your satellite station and making contacts at our "Beginner's Corner". Participate in live demon- strations of contacts through FM and linear satellites with station and operating tips from some of the best satellite operators in the country. [ANS thanks the AMSAT Hamvention Team for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT Activities at Hamvention 2019 For a complete list of AMSAT activities at the 2019 Hamvention, see www.amsat.org/other-events/amsat-activities-at-hamvention-2019/ Below, two of these activities are highlighted: AMSAT Forum, Forum Room 2 Saturday, 18 May 2019, 12:10 – 13:40 EDT Moderated by Robert Bankston KE4AL, AMSAT Vice President–User Services AMSAT Status Report – Joseph Spier, K6WAO, AMSAT President, will high- light recent activities within AMSAT and discuss some of our challenges, accomplishments, projects, and any late breaking news. AMSAT Engineering – Jerry Buxton, N0JY, AMSAT Vice President– Engineering, will talk about the Fox-1 and Golf (Greater Orbit, Larger Footprint) Projects. AMSAT Education – Alan Johnston, KU2Y, AMSAT Vice President–Education- al Relations will introduce the AMSAT CubeSat Simulator. AMSAT User Services – Robert Bankston, KE4AL, AMSAT Vice President– User Services, will discuss AMSAT’s 50th Anniversary Operating Event and the new AMSAT Ambassadors Program. Amateur Satellite Demonstrations Outside Main Entrance – Maxim Hall (Building 1) Friday, Saturday, Sunday 16 – 19 May 2019, 08:00 – 16:30 EDT Amateur Satellite operation demonstrations will be held outside the main Maxim Hall (Building 1 or E1) entrance. Every day, AMSAT will be demonstrating actual contacts with the operational amateur satellites. We especially want to invite youth to make a contact via an amateur satellite. All are invited to observe, participate and ask questions. Satellite pass times will be posted at the AMSAT booth (1007-1010 & 1107-1110) and in the demo area. [ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- The Case of the Unknown Satellites On December 3, 2018, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket took off from California, lofting the largest haul of individual satellites the vehicle had ever transported. All 64 satellites deployed into space as designed. But nearly four months later, more than a dozen satellites from the launch have yet to be identified in space. We know that they’re up there, and where they are, but it’s unclear which satellites belong to which satellite operator on the ground. They are, truly, unidentified flying objects. An article by Loren Grush details the difficulties presented to the Air Force in sorting out objects from multiple launches. To read the full article, see https://tinyurl.com/y6rgkfn6 [ANS thanks The Verge for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Upcoming ARISS Contacts 58th Hamilton Scout Group, Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada, direct via VE3DC The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is David St-Jacques KG5FYI Contact is go for: Sat 2019-04-06 18:31:06 UTC 38 deg Shaftesbury High School, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, telebridge via VK6MJ The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is David St-Jacques KG5FYI Contact is go for: Wed 2019-04-10 15:57:13 UTC 37 deg École des Charmilles, Thyez, France, telebridge via ON4ISS The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS The scheduled astronaut is David St-Jacques KG5FYI Contact is go for: Thu 2019-04-11 12:55:18 UTC 64 deg Listen for the ISS on the downlink of 145.8Ø MHz. ARISS is always glad to receive listener reports for the above contacts. ARISS thanks everyone in advance for their assistance. Feel free to send your reports to aj9n(a)amsat.org or aj9n(a)aol.com. [ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- International Space Station Astronauts are Calling CQ Students The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program is seeking proposals from April 1, through May 15, 2019, from US schools, museums, science centers and community youth organizations (working individually or together) to host radio contacts with an orbiting crew member aboard the International Space Station (ISS) between January 1, 2020 and June 30, 2020. Each year, ARISS provides tens of thousands of students with learning opportunities about space technologies, communications, and much more through the exploration of Amateur Radio and space. The ARISS program connects students to astronauts on the ISS through a partnership between NASA, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, the American Radio Relay League, other Amateur Radio global organizations and the worldwide space agencies. The program's goal is to inspire students to pursue interests and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and in Amateur Radio. Educators report regularly that student participation in the ARISS program stimulates interest in STEM subjects and STEM careers. One educator wrote, "Many of the middle school students who took part in and attended the ARISS contact have selected science courses in high school as a result of that contact." Educators are setting up ham radio clubs in schools and learning centers because of students' interest. ARISS is looking for organizations that will draw large numbers of participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed, exciting education plan. Students can learn about satellite communications, wireless technology, science research conducted on the ISS, radio science, and other STEM subjects. Students learn to use Amateur Radio to talk directly to an astronaut and ask their STEM- related questions. ARISS will help educational organizations locate Amateur Radio groups who can assist with equipment for a once-in-a- lifetime opportunity for students. The proposal window opens April 1, 2019 and the proposal deadline is May 15, 2019. For proposal guidelines and forms and more details, go to: http://ariss-proposal-webinar-spring-2019.eventbrite.com Proposal webinars for guidance and getting questions answered will be offered April 11, 2019 at 7 pm Eastern Time and April 16, 2019 at 9 pm Eastern Time. Advance registration is necessary. To sign up, go to https://ariss-proposal-webinar-spring-2019.eventbrite.com [ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- VUCC Awards-Endorsements for March 2019 Here are the endorsements and new VUCC Satellite Awards issued by the ARRL for the period March 1, 2019 through April 1, 2019. Congratula- tions to all those who made the list this month! CALL 01 Mar 01 Apr WI7P 835 858 N4UFO 729 730 AA8CH 451 500 N3GS 370 409 K9UO 225 265 N6RFM 201 226 WW8W 152 181 PU8RFL 151 157 PS8MT 150 156 K5CIS New 150 K4RGK 133 145 LW2DAF 115 120 KF0QS New 115 KJ4EU 100 101 PP2CC New 101 AD7DB New 100 N7AME New 100 [ANS thanks Ron Parsons, W5RKN for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Raspberry Pi magazine MagPi Features Ham Radio The Raspberry Pi magazine MagPi issue 80 is an Amateur Radio Special that features articles by Dave Honess M6DNT and Rob Zwetsloot. The PDF is available free. The amateur radio articles appear on pages 62-75: . Pictures from Space via Ham Radio - Have you ever wanted to receive a radio signal from space? It's fun and a lot easier than you might think! . What is Ham Radio? . Using Ham Radio with Raspberry Pi . Amazing Ham Radio Projects - 7 projects Download the Free MagPi magazine issue 80 PDF at https://www.raspberrypi.org/magpi/issues/80/ The MagPi editorial team say - Got an amazing ham radio project of your own? Tweet us your photos! @TheMagPi Previous issues of MagPi are at https://www.raspberrypi.org/magpi/issues/ [ANS thanks raspberrypi.org for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + AMSAT has filed comments in the FCC Orbital Debris Mitigation Pro- ceeding. For details, see ANS special bulletin 095 or visit: https://tinyurl.com/yywq5jyt + From precision GPS to batteries for one of the world’s first com- mercial all-electric airplanes, NASA technology turns up in nearly every corner of modern life. The latest edition of NASA’s Spinoff publication features dozens of commercial technologies that were developed or improved by the agency’s space program and benefit people everywhere. The publication provides nearly 50 examples of how NASA benefits various industries and people around the world. Print and digital versions of the latest issue of Spinoff are avail- able at: https://spinoff.nasa.gov/Spinoff2019/index.html (ANS thanks NASA HQ News for the above information) + XLGTa is a new Excel app which can calculate the antenna Gain/Temper- ature ratio, similar to the TANT program but with many more features. It can read 3D pattern data generated by EZNEC, AutoEZ, 4nec2, A.M. (Teri Software Antenna Model), or MMANA-GAL. In addition to G/Ta the app will calculate Average Gain, RDF (aka Directivity), and DMF (aka Rear Hemisphere Mean Sidelobe Level). XLGTa is free but requires Excel 2000 or later. For complete details and downloads see: https://ac6la.com/xlgta.html (ANS thanks Dan, AC6LA, for the above information) + Rocket Lab Electron launch vehicle successfully lifted the R3D2 satellite for DARPA from Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula at 23:27, March 28th UTC (12:27, 29 March NZDT). The mission launched a prototype reflect array antenna to orbit for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. (ANS thanks satmagazine.com for the above information) + Lockheed Martin has announced a new generation of space technology that will launch this year that will allow satellites to change their missions in orbit. This new tech, called SmartSat, is a software-defined satellite architecture that will boost capability for payloads on several testbed satellites. (ANS thanks satmagazine.com for the above information) + The Northern Arizona DX Association will celebrate the 50th anniversary of landing men on the moon with the special callsign K7M from various locations including the the "Meteor Crater National Natural Landmark" where astronaut training took place. http://www.nadxa.com/ (ANS thanks DX Newsletter for the above information) + Congratulations to Mike, W8LID for completing his Worked All States Satellite with his AO-91 contact with RJ, WY7AA roving in South Dakota. (W8LID via Twitter) + Former NASA astronauts Jim Buchli and Janet Kavandi were inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame Class of 2019 during a ceremony on April 6, 2019, inside the Space Shuttle Atlantis attraction at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. They unveiled their plaques, which will be placed in the Hall of Fame at the visitor complex. (ANS thanks NASA for the above information) + After a long process of testing and judging experiments, the Euro- pean Space Agency and Raspberry Pi Foundation are happy to announce that a record number of 135 teams have been granted ‘flight status’ for Mission Space Lab 2018/2019! Full release at: https://tinyurl.com/y3bdqwp3 (ANS thanks the European Space Agency for the above information) --------------------------------------------------------------------- /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive addi- tional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office. Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the stu- dent rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership information. 73 and Remember to help keep amateur radio in space, This week's ANS Editor, K0JM at amsat dot org

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ANS-095 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin - AMSAT Files Comments in FCC Orbital Debris Mitigation Proceeding
by Paul Stoetzer 05 Apr '19

05 Apr '19

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE SPECIAL BULLETIN ANS-095.01 In this Special Bulletin: * AMSAT Files Comments in FCC Orbital Debris Mitigation Proceeding SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-095.01 ANS-095 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin 333.01 From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD DATE April 5, 2019 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-095.01 AMSAT Files Comments in FCC Orbital Debris Mitigation Proceeding The Federal Communications Commission has proposed several rules changes related to the amateur satellite service as part of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) related to the mitigation of orbital debris. AMSAT believes several of these rule changes would have an extremely detrimental affect on the amateur satellite service and AMSAT's ability to launch and operate new satellites, including AMSAT's upcoming GOLF satellites. Today, AMSAT filed comments on the proposed rulemaking. In the comments, AMSAT argues that amateur satellites often have longer mission lifespans than other small satellite missions and that the Commission should take a mission duration of 5 to 10 years into account when determining whether or not an amateur satellite will meet the orbital debris regulations by transferring to a parking orbit or re-entering the atmosphere within 25 years of mission completion. The current practice is to assume a "zero year" mission and to require that amateur satellites either transfer to a parking orbit or re-enter within 25 years following launch. AMSAT also urged the Commission to consider alternatives to a proposed rule that would restrict satellites in Low Earth Orbit that plan to meet the orbital debris mitigation guidelines through atmospheric re-entry to altitudes of 650 km or less. AMSAT noted that, had this rule been in place, AO-85 and AO-91 would not have been able to be deployed in their current ellipitcal orbits with apogees of approximately 800 km, despite the fact that both of these satellites will re-enter within 25 years due to their low perigees. Additionally, AMSAT noted that current plans for the GOLF-1 satellite are to meet orbital debris mitigation guidelines through atmospheric re-entry by deploying a drag device that will ensure re-entry within 25 years despite deployment at an altitude of above 1,000 km. This proposed rule would prohibit GOLF-1's deployment at that altitude. The Commission's proposed rules would also require that amateur satellite licensees indemnify the government against any claims made against the United States due to the operation of the satellite. AMSAT believes this proposal would end the ability of AMSAT, or any other entity in the United States, to launch and operate amateur satellites and urges the Commission to consider alternatives, such as establishing a fund to pay any such claims, noting that the likelihood of such a claim is low. For amateur satellites with propulsion, the Commission proposes a rule that would require any command links as well as satellite telemetry be encrypted. While AMSAT understands and agrees that a satellite carrying a propulsion system must have an encrypted command link, the proposal to require all satellite telemetry be encrypted is unnecessary and counter to the spirit of the amateur service. AMSAT notes that open access to telemetry is expected of amateur satellites and is critical to the educational component of amateur radio satellites. Finally, AMSAT proposes that the Commission exempt amateur space stations co-located on other spacecraft from the orbital debris mitigation regulations, including any indemnification rule. Noting that AMSAT has pursued opportunities to fly a payload as a rideshare aboard government or commercial satellites, AMSAT argues that, as the satellite's owner will need to meet orbital debris mitigation requirements to obtain the license in the primary mission's service, requiring the amateur licensee to meet the orbital debris mitigation requirements as well is redundant. AMSAT proposes that Part 97 be amended to state that amateur space stations co-located on spacecraft with space stations authorized under Part 25 of the Commission's regulations (for commercial spacecraft) or by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) (for government spacecraft) are exempt from these regulations. AMSAT's comments as filed may be downloaded at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-095-Comments The NPRM is International Bureau Docket #18-313 and is available at https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-18-159A1.pdf Interested parties may file reply comments by May 5th at https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/ [ANS thanks AMSAT Executive Vice President Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, for the above information] /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers life memberships, and sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office. Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership information. 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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