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ANS-358 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by E.Mike McCardel 24 Dec '17

24 Dec '17

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-358 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: * AO73 / FUNcube-1 Happy Holiday Mode * Satellite Activity Planned From Solomon Islands * AMSAT CW Activity Day 2018 In Memory Of G3IOR * Another Radio Amateur Joins ISS Crew, Three Hams Now On Board * AMSAT Officed Closed For Holiday * 13 US Schools/Groups Move Into Phase 2 of ARISS Selections * Satellite DXCC Awarded to K8YSE * Special Membership Offer Continues for RadFxSat/AO-91 Launch * Donate to AMSAT Tax-Free From Your IRA * ARISS News * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-358.01 ANS-358 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 358.01 >From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. December 24, 2017 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-358.01 AO73 / FUNcube-1 Happy Holiday Mode AO73/FUNcube-1 is now operating in full time transponder mode and will continue in this mode until the evening of Wednesday 3rd January 2018. Please enjoy the transponder during this happy holiday period! Season's greetings from the whole FUNcube team. [ANS thanks Graham, G3VZV for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Activity Planned From Solomon Islands H44, SOLOMON ISLANDS. Shane, VK4KHZ, will once again be active as H44DA from his holiday home in Busuone, Guadalcanal Island (OC-047), until sometime early January 2018. His main focus is on 6 meters, but he will also be active on various HF bands (80/40/20/15/10m) using SSB and also on the SO-50 satellite. Suggested 6m frequencies are: calling on 50.110 MHz, Shane will always QSY to 50.125 as his primary frequency and 50.135 as his secondary frequency (secondary frequency will only be used if primary is in use or too much QRM). QSL via his home callsign direct. NO Bureau. PLEASE NOTE: This is not a DXpedition, but Shane's annual holiday - he will be operating the radio only as time permits and when doing so, training the locals in the operation of the equipment so please be patient and courteous. [ANS thanks Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 1344 for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT CW Activity Day 2018 In Memory Of G3IOR You are cordially invited to participate in AMSAT's second annual CW Activity Day. It will be held from 0001 to 2400 UTC on January 1, 2018. This year's event is dedicated to the memory of Pat Gowen, G3IOR. The rules are very simple: there aren't any. Just operate CW through any amateur radio satellite. Straight keys and "bugs" are encouraged, but not required. The important thing is to get on the air and have fun. [ANS thanks Ray W2RS for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Another Radio Amateur Joins ISS Crew, Three Hams Now On Board The International Space Station crew is back to its nominal complement of six members, after Scott Tingle, KG5NZA, Anton Shkaplerov, and Norishige Kanai arrived on board early this week. Cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin is the new Expedition 54 commander. The other crew members are Mark Vande Hei, KG5GNP, and Joe Acaba, KE5DAR. On December 17, Tingle, Shkaplerov, and Kanai headed into space on board a Soyuz MS-07 vehicle from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. [ANS thanks ARRL for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT Officed Closed For Holiday The AMSAT Office is closed from Friday, Dec 22 - Friday, Jan 5th. Please check the website (amsat.org) for information. HAPPY HOLIDAYS and a VERY HAPPY HEALTHY NEW YEAR. [ANS thanks Martha for the above information --------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 US Schools/Groups Move Into Phase 2 of ARISS Selections The ARISS-US Team (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) is pleased to announce that 13 of the 25 schools or organizations submitting proposals have been selected to advance to the next stage of planning to host amateur radio contacts in July to December 2018. The contacts will be with International Space Station (ISS) crew members using the ARISS equipment on the ISS. A review team of educators from the new ARISS-US Education Committee selected proposals after the recent proposal window closed. The groups will go forward into Phase 2, the submitting of an amateur radio equipment plan to host a scheduled ARISS contact. ARISS's primary goal is to engage young people in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) activities, and involve them in activities related to space exploration, amateur radio, communications, and areas of associated study and career possibilities. ARISS anticipates that NASA will be able to provide scheduling opportunities for these US host organizations during the second half of 2018. These candidates must now complete an equipment plan that demonstrates their ability to execute the ham radio contact. Once their equipment plan is approved by the ARISS technical team, the final selected schools / organizations will be scheduled as their availability and flexibility match up with the scheduling opportunities. The schools and organizations are: Allen Park Elementary School, Lee County School District Ft. Myers FL Ashford School Ashford CT Bishop O'Connell High School Arlington VA Delcastle Technical High School Wilmington DE Hudson Memorial School Hudson NH Kopernik Observatory & Science Center Vestal NY Mendez Fundamental Intermediate School Santa Ana CA Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School Palmer MA Pearl Technology STEM Academy Peoria Heights IL Pell Elementary School Newport RI St. Catherine of Bologna School Ringwood NJ Tallmadge Community Learning Center Lancaster OH Valley High School Albuquerque NM ABOUT ARISS Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students in classrooms or informal education venues. With the help of experienced amateur radio volunteers, ISS crews speak directly with large audiences in a variety of public forums. Before and during these radio contacts, students, teachers, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org, www.amsat.org, and www.arrl.org. Find more information at www.ariss.org, and also www.amsat.organd www.arrl.org. [ANS thanks David AA4KN for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite DXCC Awarded to K8YSE Congratulations to John Papay, K8YSE, who has been awarded satellite DXCC with 101 entities verified. The satellite DXCC standings are available at http://www.arrl.org/dxcc-standings While there is no way to be certain, John's satellite DXCC is likely the first to be obtained without the use of either HEO satellites or sub-horizon Mode K propagation since prior to the launch of AO-10 in 1983. Starting on satellites in 2006, John did not even enjoy the advantage of FO-20's higher LEO apogee or RS-15's high LEO orbit in his quest to work and confirm 100 DXCCs via satellite.This is certainly a noteworthy achievement! [ANS thanks Paul N8HM for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Special Membership Offer Continues for RadFxSat/AO-91 Launch AO-91 is open to all and works great! Now is a good time to join AMSAT and receive a free digital copy of "Getting Started with Amateur Satellites"! Visit https://www.amsat.org/product-category/amsat-membership/ and help AMSAT Keep Amateur Radio in Space. AMSAT is making our "Getting Started With Amateur Satellites" book available for a limited time as a download with any paid new or renewal membership purchased via the AMSAT Store. This offer is only available with purchases completed online, and for only a limited time. A perennial favorite, Getting Started is updated every year with the latest amateur satellite information, and is the premier primer of satellite operation. The 182 page book is presented in PDF format, in full color, and covers all aspects of making your first contacts on a ham radio satellite. Please take advantage of this offer today by visiting the AMSAT store at https://www.amsat.org/shop/ and selecting any membership option. While there, check out our other items, including the M2 LEOpack antenna system, Arrow antennas, AMSAT shirts, and other swag. Thank you, and see you soon on AO-91! [ANS thanks Paul N8HM for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Donate to AMSAT Tax-Free From Your IRA Are you over 70-1/2 years of age and need to meet your IRA's Required Minimum Distribution for 2017? Consider making a donation to AMSAT! Under the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015, individuals over 70-1/2 years of age may make direct transfers of up to $100,000 per year from a traditional IRA to an eligible charity without increasing their taxable income. Consult your tax advisor or accountant to make certain you are eligible. AMSAT is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational and scientific organization whose purpose is to design, construct, launch, and operate satellites in space and to provide the support needed to encourage amateurs to utilize these resources. AMSAT's federal tax ID is 52-0888529. [ANS thanks the AMSAT Board of Directors for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS News + A Successful contact was made between Ashbury College, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and Astronaut Joe Acaba KE5DAR using Callsign NA1SS. The contact began 2017-11-27 18:39 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was Telebridge via VK4KHZ. ARISS Mentor was Steve VE3TBD. + A Successful contact was made between Huntley Centennial Public School, Carp, ON, Canada and Astronaut Paolo Nespoli IZØJPA using Callsign IR0ISS. The contact began 2017-11-28 18:46 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was Telebridge via IK1SLD. ARISS Mentor was Steve VE3TBD. + A Successful contact was made between S.G.B. De La Salle, Rome, Italy and Astronaut Paolo Nespoli IZØJPA using Callsign NA1SS. The contact began 2017-11-30 08:04 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was Telebridge via W6SRJ. ARISS Mentor was Francesco IKØWGF. + A Successful contact was made between Istituto Comprensivo Luigi Nono, Mira, Italy and Astronaut Paolo Nespoli IZØJPA using Callsign NA1SS. The contact began 2017-11-30 08:04 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was Telebridge via W6SRJ. ARISS Mentor was Gianpietro IZ2GOJ. + A Successful contact was made between Bishop Hendricken High School, Warwick, RI, USA and Astronaut Paolo Nespoli IZØJPA using Callsign IZ0ISS. The contact began 2017-11-30 17:02 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was Telebridge via IK1SLD. ARISS Mentor was John K4SQC. + A Successful contact was made between School of Telecommunications and Aerospace Engineering (EETAC), Castelldefels, Spain and Astronaut Mark Vande Hei KG5GNP using Callsign OR4ISS. The contact began 2017-12-04 15:10 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was Direct via EG3UPC. ARISS Mentors were Marcelo IKØUSO primary/ Francesco IKØWGF backup. + A Successful contact was made between Shirokawa Elementary School, Seiyo, Japan and Astronaut Paolo Nespoli IZØJPA using Callsign NA1SS. The contact began 2017-12-11 11:06 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was Direct via 8J5SS. ARISS Mentor was Satoshi 7M3TJZ. + A Successful contact was made between Antietam Elementary School, Woodbridge, VA, USA and Astronaut Mark Vande Hei KG5GNP using Callsign NA1SS. The contact began 2017-12-11 18:30 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was Direct via KM4TAY. ARISS Mentor was Dave AA4KN. + A Successful contact was made between Summa-Aldapeta, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain and Astronaut Joe Acaba KE5DAR using Callsign OR4ISS. The contact began 2017-12-12 13:01 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was Direct via EG2SMA. ARISS Mentors were Marcelo IKØUSO primary/ Francesco IKØWGF backup. + A Successful contact was made between Taipei Municipal Ximen Elementary School, Taipei, Taiwan R.O.C. and Astronaut Mark Vande Hei KG5GNP using Callsign OR4ISS. The contact began 2017-12-21 08:49:07 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was Direct via BNØSM. ARISS Mentor was Satoshi 7M3TJZ. [ANS thanks ARISS, Charlie AJ9N and David AA4KN for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + Because of current high interest, here is the link for AMSAT's list of Station and Operating hints. https://www.amsat.org/station-and-operating-hints/ + FM Satellites: Good Operating Practices for Beginning and Experienced Operators Sean Kutzko, KX9X, has written a helpful document explaining good operating practices for working FM satellites. It's been posted to the AMSAT website at https://tinyurl.com/ANS358-FMSats A PDF version is also available at https://tinyurl.com/ANS358-FMSatsPDF --------------------------------------------------------------------- /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-351 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Chris Bradley 17 Dec '17

17 Dec '17

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-351 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: * November/December 2017 Apogee View Column Posted on the AMSAT Web * Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2017-12-13 09:00 UTC * Special Membership Offer Continues for RadFxSat/AO-91 Launch * Donate to AMSAT Tax-Free From Your IRA * Satellite Activity From Azores Islands on Christmas * December 20 Launch for HA-1 CubeSat with FM transponder and SSTV * Information for Requesting UT1FG/MM QSL Cards * Two-Part Video Demonstration Working AO-91 from Down Under * AMSAT Awards Update * KG5CCI and F4DXV 7,634.775 km QSO Sets New Distance Record on FO-29 * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-351.01 ANS-344 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 351.01 From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. DATE December 10, 2017 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-351.01 November/December 2017 Apogee View Column Posted on the AMSAT Web The November/December 2017 edition of Apogee View, a comprehensive bimonthly update of AMSAT's activities written by AMSAT President Joe Spier, K6WAO, has been posted on the AMSAT website. https://www.amsat.org/apogeeview/ [ANS thanks Paul Stoetzer, N8HM for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2017-12-13 09:00 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Taipei Municipal Ximen Elementary School, Taipei, Taiwan R.O.C., direct via BNØSM (***) The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS The scheduled astronaut is Mark Vande Hei KG5GNP Contact is a go for: Thu 2017-12-21 08:49:07 UTC 72 deg ********************************************************************* ******* ** 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. Listen for the ISS on the downlink of 145.8Ø MHz. ********************************************************************* ******* *** All ARISS contacts are made via the Kenwood radio unless otherwise noted. ********************************************************************* ******* *** Several of you have sent me emails asking about the RAC ARISS website and not being able to get in. That has now been changed to http://www.ariss.org/ Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site. ********************************************************************* ******* Looking for something new to do? How about receiving DATV from the ISS? If interested, then please go to the ARISS-EU website for complete details. Look for the buttons indicating Ham Video. http://www.ariss-eu.org/ If you need some assistance, ARISS mentor Kerry N6IZW, might be able to provide some insight. Contact Kerry at kbanke(a)sbcglobal.net ********************************************************************* ******* ARISS congratulations the following mentors who have now mentored over 100 schools: Francesco IKØWGF with 132 Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 126 Gaston ON4WF with 123 Sergey RV3DR with 100 ********************************************************************* ******* The webpages listed below were all reviewed for accuracy. Out of date webpages were removed and new ones have been added. If there are additional ARISS websites I need to know about, please let me know. Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time. All dates and times listed follow International Standard ISO 8601 date and time format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2017-12-13 09:00 UTC. (***) Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts, and questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and instructions for any contact that may be streamed live. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.txt Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school events is 1199. Each school counts as 1 event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 1148. Each contact may have multiple schools sharing the same time slot. Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 47. A complete year by year breakdown of the contacts may be found in the file. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Please feel free to contact me if more detailed statistics are needed. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++ The following US states and entities have never had an ARISS contact: Arkansas, Delaware, South Dakota, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas Islands, and the Virgin Islands. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++ QSL information may be found at: http://www.ariss.org/qsl-cards.html ISS callsigns: DPØISS, IRØISS, NA1SS, OR4ISS, RSØISS ********************************************************************* ******* The successful school list has been updated as of 2017-12-12 18:00 UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing Doppler correction as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_cor rection .rtf Listing of ARISS related magazine articles as of 2006-07-10 03:30 UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ARISS_magazine_articles.rtf Check out the Zoho reports of the ARISS contacts https://reports.zoho.com/ZDBDataSheetView.cc?DBID=412218000000020415 ********************************************************************* ******* Exp. 52 on orbit Randy Bresnik Paolo Nespoli IZØJPA Sergey Ryazanskiy Exp. 53 on orbit Mark Vande Hei KG5GNP Alexander Misurkin Joe Acaba KE5DAR [ANS thanks Charlie Sufana AJ9N for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Special Membership Offer Continues for RadFxSat/AO-91 Launch AO-91 is open to all and works great! Now is a good time to join AMSAT and receive a free digital copy of "Getting Started with Amateur Satellites"! Visit https://www.amsat.org/product-category/amsat-membership/ and help AMSAT Keep Amateur Radio in Space. AMSAT is making our "Getting Started With Amateur Satellites" book available for a limited time as a download with any paid new or renewal membership purchased via the AMSAT Store. This offer is only available with purchases completed online, and for only a limited time. A perennial favorite, Getting Started is updated every year with the latest amateur satellite information, and is the premier primer of satellite operation. The 182 page book is presented in PDF format, in full color, and covers all aspects of making your first contacts on a ham radio satellite. Please take advantage of this offer today by visiting the AMSAT store at https://www.amsat.org/shop/ and selecting any membership option. While there, check out our other items, including the M2 LEOpack antenna system, Arrow antennas, AMSAT shirts, and other swag. Thank you, and see you soon on AO-91! [ANS thanks Paul N8HM for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Donate to AMSAT Tax-Free From Your IRA Are you over 70-1/2 years of age and need to meet your IRA's Required Minimum Distribution for 2017? Consider making a donation to AMSAT! Under the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015, individuals over 70-1/2 years of age may make direct transfers of up to $100,000 per year from a traditional IRA to an eligible charity without increasing their taxable income. Consult your tax advisor or accountant to make certain you are eligible. AMSAT is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational and scientific organization whose purpose is to design, construct, launch, and operate satellites in space and to provide the support needed to encourage amateurs to utilize these resources. AMSAT's federal tax ID is 52-0888529. [ANS thanks the AMSAT Board of Directors for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Activity From Azores Islands on Christmas Pedro, CU2ZG says he will be active on satellites from grid square HM58 on Christmas. His equipment will include an Alaskan Arrow antenna, Yaesu FT-817ND, Yaesu FT-857D, Kenwood TS-2000 and a Wouxun KG-UV9DPlus. Most of the operation will be done using the TS-2000. Expected operating days are December 23 and 24, plus December 25 during the afternoon/evening hours. Pedro says this will be a family holiday and skeds will be accepted depending on his availability. His exact location will be HM58qm, at the CU7BC QTH (check QRZ.com) Watch his twitter account (@pdsousa) for updates. [ANS thanks Pedro, CU2ZG for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- December 20 Launch for HA-1 CubeSat with FM transponder and SSTV The IARU has announced frequency coordination has been completed for HA-1, a 2U CubeSat developed by the Teenagers Amateur Radio Center of Activity in Huaian, China. HA-1 is planned for launch on December 20. HA-1 will be mainly used for teenagers in Huaian to carry out activities related with amateur radio and aerospace science education. The cubesat is equipped with amateur radio repeater and SSTV(Slow Scan Television) component, which is to validate still image transmission in narrowband voice channel. There is an SSTV beacon, which puts Date/Time/Location information/temp- erature etc on a SSTV picture. Amateurs worldwide can also use HA-1 to test SSTV via the cubesat. Uplink: 145.930 MHz FM Downlink: 436.950 MHz FM Telemetry: 437.350 MHz 9k6 BPSK [ANS thanks the IARU for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Information for Requesting UT1FG/MM QSL Cards John, K8YSE, posted a message on the amsat-bb on behalf of Yuri, UT1FG/MM currently at sea aboard the MV Seahorse, "Yuri has asked that anyone who has not received confirmations from this year and previous year's operations to prepare logsheets so that he can mail them out when he arrives in New Orleans." John has posted an Excel Spreadsheet for you to enter your log data plus an example of a completed log sheet at: http://www.papays.com/sat/ut1fgqsl.html John's web page includes instructions to prepare your logsheet of QSO's that Yuri can print, verify, sign and mail from one of his destination ports. E-mail your logsheet to John at the address he lists in his instructions. John will send an acknowledgement email when he receives your request. This way you will know that Yuri will have your logsheet. Marinetraffic.com anticipates a December 15-16 arrival in New Orleans. John requests you send your logsheet QSL request as soon as possible so Yuri will have time to get them ready for mailing. Yuri's current ship, Seahorse, is a relatively new ship and is wider than previous vessels he has captained so it cannot go through the locks in the Great Lakes. On this voyage he will be more restricted as to possible destinations than he was last season. John concluded, "Yuri has been very busy with his duties and has had little time for anything else. He sends his regards to all." [ANS thanks John Papay, K8YSE for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Two-Part Video Demonstration Working AO-91 from Down Under Peter Parker, VK3YE, has published two excellent introduction to amateur satellites videos. Note that some of the QSO customs shown are a little different than the common practice in Europe and North America, but the tips are still generally applicable. Peter, VK3YE, describes his two-part video demonstration as, "A new amateur satellite has just gone up and it's super easy to work. You just need a pair of handhelds on 2m & 70cm FM. Watch this video to find out how to make contacts through AO91 with equipment you probably already have." Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=astteV2umOg Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNB7Nc4HFYs&feature=youtu.be [ANS thanks Peter Parker, VK3YE, and Paul Stoetzer, N8HM for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT Awards Update We have a good list of recipients this time for the AMSAT Awards. This will also be the last update for 2017. With the new satellites this year and a crop of new ones coming in 2018 there will be a lot of operating going on. AMSAT Satellite Communicators Award for making their first satellite QSO Perikles Monioudis, HB9IQB Tae-Ryon Kim, DS5DNO Lawrence Witker, KE8BHX Adam Zabrowski, W8OOO Robert Twigg, KE8GDD Dan Howard, VA3MA ------ AMSAT Communications Achievement Award Ed Poccia, KC2LM, #579 ------ AMSAT Sexagesimal Award Adrian Liggins, VA3NNA, $180 Mac Cody, AE5PH, #181 ------ AMSAT Century Club Award George Carr, WA5KBH, #53 ------ AMSAT Robert W. Barbee Jr., W4AMI Award Carlo Morandi, IK4JQQ, #93 Mac Cody, AE5PH, #94 ------ Bruce Paige, KK5DO AMSAT Director Contests and Awards [ANS thanks Peter Bruce Paige, KK5DO for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- KG5CCI and F4DXV 7,634.775 km QSO Sets New Distance Record on FO-29 David Swanson, KG5CCI, and Jerome Lecuyer, F4DXV completed a 7,634.775 km QSO on December 12 via FO-29. This eclipses their previous record on that satellite by 26.62 km and greatly exceeds the theoretical maximum range of the satellite, which is calculated at 7,502 km. Video of the QSO as recorded by F4DXV can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sPe9wSOvAY&feature=youtu.be [ANS thanks Paul Stoetzer, N8HM for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + Did you know you can help AMSAT by logging into your Amazon account using http://smile.amazon.com/ch/52-0888529 to designate AMSAT-NA as the organization of your choice. When shopping on-line you must use the URL http://smile.amazon.com for AMSAT to receive the donation from your purchases. + 2017: FUNcube Status and New Developments - Wouter Weggelaar, PA3WEG walks us through the whole FUNcube family of spacecraft at the AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium in Milton Keynes, October 15th 2017. Watch on-line at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELFoLtm44Kc&feature=share + While waiting for the next satellite pass have a listen at http://www.livemeteors.com/ to hear meteor pings as they happen. The pings are a bit more frequent during the popular meteor showers. + Hackaday posted an article showing how to build your own azimuth- elevation rotor: http://tinyurl.com/ANS-344-HackadayRotor (via Bernhard, VA6BMJ) + The 3Y0Z DXpedition Team on Bouvet Island is asking the amateur radio community to help with flying costs. See the details on the web: http://www.bouvetdx.org/news-and-updates/ + European Space Agency astronaut Paolo Nespoli, IZØJPA, is compiling TimeLapseADay videos and is sharing them on-line. These can be found on his playlist posted on YouTube: http://tinyurl.com/ANS-344TimeLapseADay + The December 2017 issue of SatMagazine has been posted at: http://www.satmagazine.com/ Vytenis Buzas LY1ZY features in this issue, see pages 76-77. + Read about new analysis of the famous Hubble Deep Field images and watch a video scan across the Deep Field. Each of those blobs and dots is a galaxy. See: http://tinyurl.com/ANS-344-UniverseToday --------------------------------------------------------------------- /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. And, with that consider that bowling is more advantageous than golf since you rarely lose a bowling ball. 73, This week's ANS Editor, Chris Bradley, AA5EM aa5em at amsat dot org

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ANS-351 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Chris Bradley 17 Dec '17

17 Dec '17

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-351 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: * November/December 2017 Apogee View Column Posted on the AMSAT Web * Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2017-12-13 09:00 UTC * Special Membership Offer Continues for RadFxSat/AO-91 Launch * Donate to AMSAT Tax-Free From Your IRA * Satellite Activity From Azores Islands on Christmas * December 20 Launch for HA-1 CubeSat with FM transponder and SSTV * Information for Requesting UT1FG/MM QSL Cards * Two-Part Video Demonstration Working AO-91 from Down Under * AMSAT Awards Update * KG5CCI and F4DXV 7,634.775 km QSO Sets New Distance Record on FO-29 * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-351.01 ANS-344 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 351.01 From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. DATE December 10, 2017 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-351.01 November/December 2017 Apogee View Column Posted on the AMSAT Web The November/December 2017 edition of Apogee View, a comprehensive bimonthly update of AMSAT's activities written by AMSAT President Joe Spier, K6WAO, has been posted on the AMSAT website. https://www.amsat.org/apogeeview/ [ANS thanks Paul Stoetzer, N8HM for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2017-12-13 09:00 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Taipei Municipal Ximen Elementary School, Taipei, Taiwan R.O.C., direct via BNØSM (***) The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS The scheduled astronaut is Mark Vande Hei KG5GNP Contact is a go for: Thu 2017-12-21 08:49:07 UTC 72 deg ********************************************************************* ******* ** 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. Listen for the ISS on the downlink of 145.8Ø MHz. ********************************************************************* ******* *** All ARISS contacts are made via the Kenwood radio unless otherwise noted. ********************************************************************* ******* *** Several of you have sent me emails asking about the RAC ARISS website and not being able to get in. That has now been changed to http://www.ariss.org/ Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site. ********************************************************************* ******* Looking for something new to do? How about receiving DATV from the ISS? If interested, then please go to the ARISS-EU website for complete details. Look for the buttons indicating Ham Video. http://www.ariss-eu.org/ If you need some assistance, ARISS mentor Kerry N6IZW, might be able to provide some insight. Contact Kerry at kbanke(a)sbcglobal.net ********************************************************************* ******* ARISS congratulations the following mentors who have now mentored over 100 schools: Francesco IKØWGF with 132 Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 126 Gaston ON4WF with 123 Sergey RV3DR with 100 ********************************************************************* ******* The webpages listed below were all reviewed for accuracy. Out of date webpages were removed and new ones have been added. If there are additional ARISS websites I need to know about, please let me know. Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time. All dates and times listed follow International Standard ISO 8601 date and time format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2017-12-13 09:00 UTC. (***) Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts, and questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and instructions for any contact that may be streamed live. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.txt Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school events is 1199. Each school counts as 1 event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 1148. Each contact may have multiple schools sharing the same time slot. Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 47. A complete year by year breakdown of the contacts may be found in the file. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Please feel free to contact me if more detailed statistics are needed. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++ The following US states and entities have never had an ARISS contact: Arkansas, Delaware, South Dakota, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas Islands, and the Virgin Islands. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++ QSL information may be found at: http://www.ariss.org/qsl-cards.html ISS callsigns: DPØISS, IRØISS, NA1SS, OR4ISS, RSØISS ********************************************************************* ******* The successful school list has been updated as of 2017-12-12 18:00 UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing Doppler correction as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_cor rection .rtf Listing of ARISS related magazine articles as of 2006-07-10 03:30 UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ARISS_magazine_articles.rtf Check out the Zoho reports of the ARISS contacts https://reports.zoho.com/ZDBDataSheetView.cc?DBID=412218000000020415 ********************************************************************* ******* Exp. 52 on orbit Randy Bresnik Paolo Nespoli IZØJPA Sergey Ryazanskiy Exp. 53 on orbit Mark Vande Hei KG5GNP Alexander Misurkin Joe Acaba KE5DAR [ANS thanks Charlie Sufana AJ9N for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Special Membership Offer Continues for RadFxSat/AO-91 Launch AO-91 is open to all and works great! Now is a good time to join AMSAT and receive a free digital copy of "Getting Started with Amateur Satellites"! Visit https://www.amsat.org/product-category/amsat-membership/ and help AMSAT Keep Amateur Radio in Space. AMSAT is making our "Getting Started With Amateur Satellites" book available for a limited time as a download with any paid new or renewal membership purchased via the AMSAT Store. This offer is only available with purchases completed online, and for only a limited time. A perennial favorite, Getting Started is updated every year with the latest amateur satellite information, and is the premier primer of satellite operation. The 182 page book is presented in PDF format, in full color, and covers all aspects of making your first contacts on a ham radio satellite. Please take advantage of this offer today by visiting the AMSAT store at https://www.amsat.org/shop/ and selecting any membership option. While there, check out our other items, including the M2 LEOpack antenna system, Arrow antennas, AMSAT shirts, and other swag. Thank you, and see you soon on AO-91! [ANS thanks Paul N8HM for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Donate to AMSAT Tax-Free From Your IRA Are you over 70-1/2 years of age and need to meet your IRA's Required Minimum Distribution for 2017? Consider making a donation to AMSAT! Under the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015, individuals over 70-1/2 years of age may make direct transfers of up to $100,000 per year from a traditional IRA to an eligible charity without increasing their taxable income. Consult your tax advisor or accountant to make certain you are eligible. AMSAT is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational and scientific organization whose purpose is to design, construct, launch, and operate satellites in space and to provide the support needed to encourage amateurs to utilize these resources. AMSAT's federal tax ID is 52-0888529. [ANS thanks the AMSAT Board of Directors for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Activity From Azores Islands on Christmas Pedro, CU2ZG says he will be active on satellites from grid square HM58 on Christmas. His equipment will include an Alaskan Arrow antenna, Yaesu FT-817ND, Yaesu FT-857D, Kenwood TS-2000 and a Wouxun KG-UV9DPlus. Most of the operation will be done using the TS-2000. Expected operating days are December 23 and 24, plus December 25 during the afternoon/evening hours. Pedro says this will be a family holiday and skeds will be accepted depending on his availability. His exact location will be HM58qm, at the CU7BC QTH (check QRZ.com) Watch his twitter account (@pdsousa) for updates. [ANS thanks Pedro, CU2ZG for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- December 20 Launch for HA-1 CubeSat with FM transponder and SSTV The IARU has announced frequency coordination has been completed for HA-1, a 2U CubeSat developed by the Teenagers Amateur Radio Center of Activity in Huaian, China. HA-1 is planned for launch on December 20. HA-1 will be mainly used for teenagers in Huaian to carry out activities related with amateur radio and aerospace science education. The cubesat is equipped with amateur radio repeater and SSTV(Slow Scan Television) component, which is to validate still image transmission in narrowband voice channel. There is an SSTV beacon, which puts Date/Time/Location information/temp- erature etc on a SSTV picture. Amateurs worldwide can also use HA-1 to test SSTV via the cubesat. Uplink: 145.930 MHz FM Downlink: 436.950 MHz FM Telemetry: 437.350 MHz 9k6 BPSK [ANS thanks the IARU for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Information for Requesting UT1FG/MM QSL Cards John, K8YSE, posted a message on the amsat-bb on behalf of Yuri, UT1FG/MM currently at sea aboard the MV Seahorse, "Yuri has asked that anyone who has not received confirmations from this year and previous year's operations to prepare logsheets so that he can mail them out when he arrives in New Orleans." John has posted an Excel Spreadsheet for you to enter your log data plus an example of a completed log sheet at: http://www.papays.com/sat/ut1fgqsl.html John's web page includes instructions to prepare your logsheet of QSO's that Yuri can print, verify, sign and mail from one of his destination ports. E-mail your logsheet to John at the address he lists in his instructions. John will send an acknowledgement email when he receives your request. This way you will know that Yuri will have your logsheet. Marinetraffic.com anticipates a December 15-16 arrival in New Orleans. John requests you send your logsheet QSL request as soon as possible so Yuri will have time to get them ready for mailing. Yuri's current ship, Seahorse, is a relatively new ship and is wider than previous vessels he has captained so it cannot go through the locks in the Great Lakes. On this voyage he will be more restricted as to possible destinations than he was last season. John concluded, "Yuri has been very busy with his duties and has had little time for anything else. He sends his regards to all." [ANS thanks John Papay, K8YSE for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Two-Part Video Demonstration Working AO-91 from Down Under Peter Parker, VK3YE, has published two excellent introduction to amateur satellites videos. Note that some of the QSO customs shown are a little different than the common practice in Europe and North America, but the tips are still generally applicable. Peter, VK3YE, describes his two-part video demonstration as, "A new amateur satellite has just gone up and it's super easy to work. You just need a pair of handhelds on 2m & 70cm FM. Watch this video to find out how to make contacts through AO91 with equipment you probably already have." Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=astteV2umOg Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNB7Nc4HFYs&feature=youtu.be [ANS thanks Peter Parker, VK3YE, and Paul Stoetzer, N8HM for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT Awards Update We have a good list of recipients this time for the AMSAT Awards. This will also be the last update for 2017. With the new satellites this year and a crop of new ones coming in 2018 there will be a lot of operating going on. AMSAT Satellite Communicators Award for making their first satellite QSO Perikles Monioudis, HB9IQB Tae-Ryon Kim, DS5DNO Lawrence Witker, KE8BHX Adam Zabrowski, W8OOO Robert Twigg, KE8GDD Dan Howard, VA3MA ------ AMSAT Communications Achievement Award Ed Poccia, KC2LM, #579 ------ AMSAT Sexagesimal Award Adrian Liggins, VA3NNA, $180 Mac Cody, AE5PH, #181 ------ AMSAT Century Club Award George Carr, WA5KBH, #53 ------ AMSAT Robert W. Barbee Jr., W4AMI Award Carlo Morandi, IK4JQQ, #93 Mac Cody, AE5PH, #94 ------ Bruce Paige, KK5DO AMSAT Director Contests and Awards [ANS thanks Peter Bruce Paige, KK5DO for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- KG5CCI and F4DXV 7,634.775 km QSO Sets New Distance Record on FO-29 David Swanson, KG5CCI, and Jerome Lecuyer, F4DXV completed a 7,634.775 km QSO on December 12 via FO-29. This eclipses their previous record on that satellite by 26.62 km and greatly exceeds the theoretical maximum range of the satellite, which is calculated at 7,502 km. Video of the QSO as recorded by F4DXV can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sPe9wSOvAY&feature=youtu.be [ANS thanks Paul Stoetzer, N8HM for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + Did you know you can help AMSAT by logging into your Amazon account using http://smile.amazon.com/ch/52-0888529 to designate AMSAT-NA as the organization of your choice. When shopping on-line you must use the URL http://smile.amazon.com for AMSAT to receive the donation from your purchases. + 2017: FUNcube Status and New Developments - Wouter Weggelaar, PA3WEG walks us through the whole FUNcube family of spacecraft at the AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium in Milton Keynes, October 15th 2017. Watch on-line at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELFoLtm44Kc&feature=share + While waiting for the next satellite pass have a listen at http://www.livemeteors.com/ to hear meteor pings as they happen. The pings are a bit more frequent during the popular meteor showers. + Hackaday posted an article showing how to build your own azimuth- elevation rotor: http://tinyurl.com/ANS-344-HackadayRotor (via Bernhard, VA6BMJ) + The 3Y0Z DXpedition Team on Bouvet Island is asking the amateur radio community to help with flying costs. See the details on the web: http://www.bouvetdx.org/news-and-updates/ + European Space Agency astronaut Paolo Nespoli, IZØJPA, is compiling TimeLapseADay videos and is sharing them on-line. These can be found on his playlist posted on YouTube: http://tinyurl.com/ANS-344TimeLapseADay + The December 2017 issue of SatMagazine has been posted at: http://www.satmagazine.com/ Vytenis Buzas LY1ZY features in this issue, see pages 76-77. + Read about new analysis of the famous Hubble Deep Field images and watch a video scan across the Deep Field. Each of those blobs and dots is a galaxy. See: http://tinyurl.com/ANS-344-UniverseToday --------------------------------------------------------------------- /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. And, with that consider that bowling is more advantageous than golf since you rarely lose a bowling ball. 73, This week's ANS Editor, Chris Bradley, AA5EM aa5em at amsat dot org

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ANS-344 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by JoAnne K9JKM 10 Dec '17

10 Dec '17

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-344 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: * November/December 2017 Apogee View Column Posted on the AMSAT Web * New Video: AO-91 Integration and Testing Before Launch * Special Membership Offer Continues for RadFxSat/AO-91 Launch * Donate to AMSAT Tax-Free From Your IRA * AMSAT Keplerian Elements Updated with AO-91 NORAD Tracking Number * New Distance Record via AO-91 5,955 km * Satellite Activity From Azores Islands on Christmas * December 20 Launch for HA-1 CubeSat with FM transponder and SSTV * Information for Requesting UT1FG/MM QSL Cards * English Edition of AMSAT-EA Newsletter * New Cuban Movie Features Ham Radio Contact With MIR * 2017 Open Source Cubesat Workshop Talks Posted On-line * Spaceflight Prepares to Launch Eleven Spacecraft on India's PSLV-C40 * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-344.01 ANS-344 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 344.01 From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. DATE December 10, 2017 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-344.01 November/December 2017 Apogee View Column Posted on the AMSAT Web The November/December 2017 edition of Apogee View, a comprehensive bimonthly update of AMSAT's activities written by AMSAT President Joe Spier, K6WAO, has been posted on the AMSAT website. https://www.amsat.org/apogeeview/ [ANS thanks Paul Stoetzer, N8HM for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- New Video: AO-91 Integration and Testing Before Launch AMSAT VP of Engineering, Jerry Buxton, NØJY has released a video report on YouTube, "The Good and the Bad with AO-91". During the 12 minute video Jerry describes what's right and what went a little wrong with AO-91: She hears very well, but she had a heck of a time learning to talk. Watch on-line at: https://youtu.be/no4pHx02lSI [ANS thanks AMSAT VP of Engineering, Jerry Buxton, NØJY for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Special Membership Offer Continues for RadFxSat/AO-91 Launch AO-91 is open to all and works great! Now is a good time to join AMSAT and receive a free digital copy of "Getting Started with Amateur Satellites"! Visit https://www.amsat.org/product-category/amsat-membership/ and help AMSAT Keep Amateur Radio in Space. AMSAT is making our "Getting Started With Amateur Satellites" book available for a limited time as a download with any paid new or renewal membership purchased via the AMSAT Store. This offer is only available with purchases completed online, and for only a limited time. A perennial favorite, Getting Started is updated every year with the latest amateur satellite information, and is the premier primer of satellite operation. The 182 page book is presented in PDF format, in full color, and covers all aspects of making your first contacts on a ham radio satellite. Please take advantage of this offer today by visiting the AMSAT store at https://www.amsat.org/shop/ and selecting any membership option. While there, check out our other items, including the M2 LEOpack antenna system, Arrow antennas, AMSAT shirts, and other swag. Thank you, and see you soon on AO-91! [ANS thanks Paul N8HM for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Donate to AMSAT Tax-Free From Your IRA Are you over 70-1/2 years of age and need to meet your IRA's Required Minimum Distribution for 2017? Consider making a donation to AMSAT! Under the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015, individuals over 70-1/2 years of age may make direct transfers of up to $100,000 per year from a traditional IRA to an eligible charity without increasing their taxable income. Consult your tax advisor or accountant to make certain you are eligible. AMSAT is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational and scientific organization whose purpose is to design, construct, launch, and operate satellites in space and to provide the support needed to encourage amateurs to utilize these resources. AMSAT's federal tax ID is 52-0888529. [ANS thanks the AMSAT Board of Directors for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT Keplerian Elements Updated with AO-91 NORAD Tracking Number AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager, Ray Hoad, WA5QGD advises that the AO-91 (FOX-1B) object number has now been updated as NORAD CAT ID 43017 based on the results of detailed orbit analysis by Nico Janssen, PA0DLO. This is expected to be the last change of object number. Ray thanks to all who have labored to finally come to this conclusion. to this point. The AMSAT Keplerian elements have added AO-91 and EcAMSat (NORAD CAT ID 43019) to the AMSAT-NA TLE distribution. The following satellites have de-orbited and have been removed from the AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution: NORAD CAT ID 40949 - GomX-3 NORAD CAT ID 41477 - NODES 1 NORAD CAT ID 41478 - NODES 2 NORAD CAT ID 41931 - TANCREDO NORAD CAT ID 42770 - INFLATESAIL Visit http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/keps to subscribe to weekly e-mail delivery of the AMSAT-NA TLE distribution [ANS thanks Ray Hoad, WA5QGD, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- New Distance Record via AO-91 5,955 km Satellite operators are continuing to push AO-91's footprint to the limit. Joel Diaz, EB1AO, and Mike Diehl, W8LID, completed a 5,955 km QSO via the satellite this morning. The maximum elevation of the pass was just 0.9° for Mike and the QSO was made at 0.5° on his end. Who will be the first to complete a 6,000 km QSO? The theoretical maximum range is 6,072 km. Visit the AMSAT Distance Record page for a complete list of all satellite records: https://www.amsat.org/satellite-distance-records/ [ANS thanks Paul Stoetzer, N8HM for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Activity From Azores Islands on Christmas Pedro, CU2ZG says he will be active on satellites from grid square HM58 on Christmas. His equipment will include an Alaskan Arrow antenna, Yaesu FT-817ND, Yaesu FT-857D, Kenwood TS-2000 and a Wouxun KG-UV9DPlus. Most of the operation will be done using the TS-2000. Expected operating days are December 23 and 24, plus December 25 during the afternoon/evening hours. Pedro says this will be a family holiday and skeds will be accepted depending on his availability. His exact location will be HM58qm, at the CU7BC QTH (check QRZ.com) Watch his twitter account (@pdsousa) for updates. [ANS thanks Pedro, CU2ZG for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- December 20 Launch for HA-1 CubeSat with FM transponder and SSTV The IARU has announced frequency coordination has been completed for HA-1, a 2U CubeSat developed by the Teenagers Amateur Radio Center of Activity in Huaian, China. HA-1 is planned for launch on December 20. HA-1 will be mainly used for teenagers in Huaian to carry out activities related with amateur radio and aerospace science education. The cubesat is equipped with amateur radio repeater and SSTV(Slow Scan Television) component, which is to validate still image transmission in narrowband voice channel. There is an SSTV beacon, which puts Date/Time/Location information/temp- erature etc on a SSTV picture. Amateurs worldwide can also use HA-1 to test SSTV via the cubesat. Uplink: 145.930 MHz FM Downlink: 436.950 MHz FM Telemetry: 437.350 MHz 9k6 BPSK [ANS thanks the IARU for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Information for Requesting UT1FG/MM QSL Cards John, K8YSE, posted a message on the amsat-bb on behalf of Yuri, UT1FG/MM currently at sea aboard the MV Seahorse, "Yuri has asked that anyone who has not received confirmations from this year and previous year's operations to prepare logsheets so that he can mail them out when he arrives in New Orleans." John has posted an Excel Spreadsheet for you to enter your log data plus an example of a completed log sheet at: http://www.papays.com/sat/ut1fgqsl.html John's web page includes instructions to prepare your logsheet of QSO's that Yuri can print, verify, sign and mail from one of his destination ports. E-mail your logsheet to John at the address he lists in his instructions. John will send an acknowledgement email when he receives your request. This way you will know that Yuri will have your logsheet. Marinetraffic.com anticipates a December 15-16 arrival in New Orleans. John requests you send your logsheet QSL request as soon as possible so Yuri will have time to get them ready for mailing. Yuri's current ship, Seahorse, is a relatively new ship and is wider than previous vessels he has captained so it cannot go through the locks in the Great Lakes. On this voyage he will be more restricted as to possible destinations than he was last season. John concluded, "Yuri has been very busy with his duties and has had little time for anything else. He sends his regards to all." [ANS thanks John Papay, K8YSE for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- English Edition of AMSAT-EA Newsletter Spain's amateur satellite group AMSAT-EA have released an English language edition of their December newsletter It covers the recently launched RADFXSAT (FOX-1B) FM transponder CubeSat and the HA-1 FM / SSTV CubeSat due to launch in December. There is an article on the satellite tracking software Orbitron and Robert KE4AL describes his experiences operating satellites during a DXpedition to St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Island. The translation was made by Fernando EC1AME. Download the newsletter from http://tinyurl.com/ANS-344-AMSATEA-News AMSAT-EA https://www.amsat-ea.org/ https://twitter.com/AmsatSpain [ANS thanks Southgate and AMSAT-EA for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- New Cuban Movie Features Ham Radio Contact With MIR The Havana, Cuba Film Festival begins on December 7. One of the movies features a cuban amateur radio operator talking to the MIR space station. Posted on tiff.net: "As the Soviet Union crumbles in 1991, an amateur radio operator in Cuba makes unexpected contact with stranded cosmo- naut Sergei Krikalev as he observes the dissolution of his nation from orbit, in Cuban director Ernesto Daranas Serrano's comedic yet poignant reflection on how big events can impact ordinary lives." Check the videos and pictures here (google translation available on the site) http://ea1uro.com/radio/peliculacubana/ [ANS thanks the Southgate Amateur Radio News site for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- 2017 Open Source Cubesat Workshop Talks Posted On-line The Open Source Cubesat Workshop which was held on November 23-24 at the European Space Operations Center (ESOC/ESA), Darmstadt, Germany co-organized by Libre Space Foundation, the Librecube initiative and ESA/ESOC Cybernetics Team (https://oscw.space) have posted a YouTube playlist of the presentations and talks at: http://tinyurl.com/ANS-344OpenSourceCubesat [ANS thanks the Libre Space Foundation for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Spaceflight Prepares to Launch Eleven Spacecraft on India's PSLV-C40 by SpaceDaily.com Staff Writers Seattle WA (SPX) Dec 05, 2017 http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Spaceflight_Prepares_to_Launch_ Eleven_Spacecraft_on_Indias_PSLV_C40_999.html http://tinyurl.com/ANS-344-SpaceflightPSLVLaunch Spaceflight, a satellite rideshare and mission management provider, has announced it will be launching 11 spacecraft in early January from India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). Spacecraft include Finland's ICEYE-X1 SAR microsatellite, Planetary Resources' Arkyd-6 6U asteroid prospecting demonstration cubesat, four Spire Global Lemur-2 cubesats, Astro Digital's Landmapper-BC3, AMSAT's Fox-1D cubesat, and others. Spaceflight performed the cubesat integration at its Seattle Inte- gration Facility and is in the process of shipping the spacecraft to India for the PSLV-C40 mission. The PSLV rocket is scheduled to lift off from India's Satish Dhawan Space Center in early January 2018 with the Cartosat-2ER navigation satellite, in addition to Space- flight's rideshare customers. "PSLV-C40 is a perfect example of how our flexible, full-service rideshare model is enabling new commercial space businesses to exist while expanding into new markets," said Curt Blake, president of Spaceflight. "This mission brings new customers from outside the industry into space while continuing partnerships with existing customers for their ongoing satellite constellations." One first-time customer on the mission is Finland's ICEYE with the country's first commercial satellite, ICEYE-X1. ICEYE developed its own synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) sensor technologies suitable for satellites under 100kg in weight, making it one of the bigger payloads on the PSLV-C40 mission. This is ICEYE's first proof-of-concept microsatellite mission with a SAR sensor as its payload and also the world's first SAR satel- lite in this size, enabling radar imaging of the Earth through clouds and even in total darkness. Potential use-cases for the data are monitoring sea ice movements or marine oil spills, and preven- tion of illegal fishing. "Working together with Spaceflight to schedule and make this launch a reality has been an outstanding experience for ICEYE, and it has given us the necessary opportunities for scaling up operations for our constellation of micro-SAR satellites as planned," said Rafal Modrzewski, CEO and co-founder at ICEYE. Spaceflight offers customers the most options for getting to space, working with nearly every global launch vehicle provider, including the Falcon 9, PSLV, Antares, Cygnus, Electron, Soyuz and others. Much like buying an airline ticket that is valid on multiple airlines, Spaceflight can ensure organizations have flexibility to move vehicles if changes or delays occur. Additionally, the smallsat rideshare service model helps organizations reach a desired orbit at a much lower cost than buying their own launch vehicle. Spaceflight has negotiated the launch of more than 120 satellites on behalf of its customers and has contracts to deploy nearly 200 more through 2018. The company plans to coordinate and deploy its largest launch to date in 2018 with its first dedicated rideshare mission aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9. [ANS thanks SpaceDaily.com for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + Did you know you can help AMSAT by logging into your Amazon account using http://smile.amazon.com/ch/52-0888529 to designate AMSAT-NA as the organization of your choice. When shopping on-line you must use the URL http://smile.amazon.com for AMSAT to receive the donation from your purchases. + 2017: FUNcube Status and New Developments - Wouter Weggelaar, PA3WEG walks us through the whole FUNcube family of spacecraft at the AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium in Milton Keynes, October 15th 2017. Watch on-line at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELFoLtm44Kc&feature=share + While waiting for the next satellite pass have a listen at http://www.livemeteors.com/ to hear meteor pings as they happen. The pings are a bit more frequent during the popular meteor showers. + Hackaday posted an article showing how to build your own azimuth- elevation rotor: http://tinyurl.com/ANS-344-HackadayRotor (via Bernhard, VA6BMJ) + Wyatt, AC0RA plans to be active from the Carnival Sunshine cruise between December 9-16. He will use the callsign C6AWD/MM. He will operate in semiduplex mode with his FT817 and Arrow antenna. More info at the callsign listing for C6AWD on qrz.com + The 3Y0Z DXpedition Team on Bouvet Island is asking the amateur radio community to help with flying costs. See the details on the web: http://www.bouvetdx.org/news-and-updates/ + European Space Agency astronaut Paolo Nespoli, IZØJPA, is compiling TimeLapseADay videos and is sharing them on-line. These can be found on his playlist posted on YouTube: http://tinyurl.com/ANS-344TimeLapseADay + The December 2017 issue of SatMagazine has been posted at: http://www.satmagazine.com/ Vytenis Buzas LY1ZY features in this issue, see pages 76-77. + Read about new analysis of the famous Hubble Deep Field images and watch a video scan across the Deep Field. Each of those blobs and dots is a galaxy. See: http://tinyurl.com/ANS-344-UniverseToday --------------------------------------------------------------------- /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. And, with that consider that bowling is more advantageous than golf since you rarely lose a bowling ball. 73, This week's ANS Editor, JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM k9jkm at amsat dot org

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ANS-337 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Lee McLamb 03 Dec '17

03 Dec '17

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-337 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: * ISS Global Testing SSTV December 5-6 Prior to MAI-75 Over Moscow * Soyuz Launch Anomaly Results in Loss of D-Star ONE Cubesat * AMSAT-SM Supports ARISS With New Donationn * IARU Frequency Coordination for China's Juvenile 3U Cubesats * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-337.01 ANS-337 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 337.01 From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. DATE December 3, 2017 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-337.01 ISS Global Testing SSTV December 5-6 Prior to MAI-75 Over Moscow http://ariss-sstv.blogspot.com/ published an update to the December MAI-75 SSTV testing schedule: **UPDATE - Nov 28** Seems the system will be put through some extended testing from December 5 starting around 15:00 UTC and running until 09:00 UTC on December 6. Test images will be used during this period. This will provide near global coverage if all works well. The MAI-75 schedule over Moscow remains unchanged at this point. The times correlate to a small number of passes each day in range of Moscow. Dec 6, 2017 Setup and power on – 13:40-14:20 UTC Power off – 17:05-17:15 UTC Dec 7, 2017 Power on – 13:45-13:55 UTC Power off – 17:30-17:40 UTC Dec 8, 2017 Power on – 14:05-14:15 UTC Power off and stow – 17:00-17:10 UTC [ANS thanks ARISS for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Soyuz Launch Anomaly Results in Loss of D-Star ONE Cubesat A new Russian weather observatory and the first prototype for Telesat’s planned network of 100-plus broadband communications satellites in low Earth orbit were among 19 spacecraft lost after a Fregat rocket stage ran into trouble soon after liftoff aboard a Soyuz booster Tuesday. The Fregat rocket pack was supposed to place the 19 satellites into four different orbits Tuesday in a four-hour flight sequence following launch on a Soyuz rocket from the Vostochny Cosmodrome, a new spaceport in the Amur region of Russia’s Far East. A report published by Russia’s Interfax news agency Tuesday quoted a Russian space industry source who attributed the apparent failure to human error. The source said a mistake uploaded to the Fregat’s flight computer caused the upper stage to be in the wrong orientation for the main engine’s first burn, which was scheduled to last 77 seconds to reach a temporary parking orbit a few hundred miles above Earth. Billed as the first German commercial CubeSat, the D-Star One spacecraft had four communications modules on-board, two of which were to be used by the amateur radio community. Developed by German Orbital Systems in Berlin in cooperation with the Czech company iSky Technology, officials hope to build follow-on satellites to construct a low Earth orbit communications network. [ANS thanks SpaceFlightNow for the above information --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT-SM Supports ARISS With New Donation AMSAT-SM is proud to announce a donation to ARISS (via AMSAT-NA) of $285. We hope that this small donation will help ARISS further work with amateur radio from ISS. AMSAT-SM is the Swedish section of AMSAT with approximately 220 members. One of their objectives is to inform Swedish hams about the fun with amateur satellites! Not many SM hams are active via satellite at the moment. With the help from our Swedish webpage and HF-net we hope that more Swedish hams should be using amateur satellites. The AMSAT-SM annual meeting is held every spring. Some weeks on Sundays we have a HF-net on 80 meters with lots of news about satellites and space. [ANS thanks AMSAT-SM for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- IARU Frequency Coordination for China's Juvenile 3U Cubesats The IARU Amateur Satellite Frequency Coordination Status pages, hosted by AMSAT-UK as a service to the world wide Amateur Satel- lite Community, report on an updated coordination for the Juvenile project from China. Juvenile is a 3U CubeSat project led by China Soong Ching Ling Youth Science and Culture Center for school education and amateur radio. The amateur radio station onboard will provide telecommand, tele- metry and FM repeater functions: 1. A VHF uplink and UHF downlink data control board with loop back function, which can act as an FM repeater. 2. A VHF uplink and UHF downlink 9k6 BPSK data control back up board, with a trigger to take a photo from a camera, and transmit SSTV image through NBFM modulation. 3. A 2.4 GHz band with 2 MHZ bandwidth multiple frequency up and down link communication experiment. Planning a launch from Jiuquan Space Center into a 500km Sun Synchronous Orbit. The IARU reports a November 30 revised coordination has been provided. Frequency coordination for Juvenile 1B, 1D and 1F Uplink 435.290 MHz FM Downlink 145.840 MHz FM Telemetry 145.930 MHz 9K6 BPSK Frequency coordination for Juvenile 1A, 1C, 1E and 1G Uplink 145.965 MHz FM Downlink 436.250 MHz FM Telemetry 437.475 MHz 9K6 BPSK Source: http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru/ (frequencies which have been coordinated) [ANS thanks the IARU for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + GALAPAGOS ISLANDS, HC8. A group of operators are QRV as HC8LUT from San Cristobal Island, IOTA SA-004, until December 8. Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using all modes and satellites. QSL via IK2DUW. (via ARLD048 DX News) + Year-Long NASA On The Air Event Kicks off on December 11 The Amateur Radio clubs at National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) centers around the US have invited the Amateur Radio community to join the NASA On The Air (NOTA) special event. NOTA gets under way in December 2017 and continues through December 2018. https://nasaontheair.wordpress.com/ + Astronaut Joe Acaba made an historic contact with the Maria Montessori Institute Educational Unit in San Cristobal, Venezuela: the first-ever educational ham radio contact in that country’s history. Video posted at: https://twitter.com/ISS_Research/status/935901182811238400 (via ARISS) + Hackaday article shows how AMSAT teamed up with students from Rochester Institute of Technology to create a Maximum Power Point Tracker, attached to a Fox-1B CubeSat. https://hackaday.com/2017/11/27/amsat-mppt-goes-to-infinity-and-beyond/ /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive addi- tional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office. Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the stu- dent rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership information. 73, This week's ANS Editor, Lee McLamb, KT4TZ kt4tz at amsat dot org

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ANS-330 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by E.Mike McCardel 26 Nov '17

26 Nov '17

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-330 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: * AO-91 Commissioned - Declared Open for Amateur Use! * Fox-1B/AO-91 Facts * Special AMSAT Membership Offer Celebrating RadFxSat/AO-91 Launch/Commissioning * FUNcube-1 Celebrates 4th Anniversary * Video of Launches of the Currently Orbiting FUNcube Satellites * EcAMSat Deployed From ISS - 1200 baud Telemetry & QSL Card for Reports * MAI-75 SSTV Over Moscow from ISS Planned for December 6-8 * UT1FG/MM Now Active * Support AMSAT on Cyber Monday * Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for 11-21-2017, Object Comment * ARISS News * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-330.01 ANS-330 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 330.01 >From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. November 26, 2017 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-330.01 AO-91 Commissioned - Declared Open for Amateur Use! At 06:50 UTC November 23, 2017 @AMSAT Engineering officially commissioned AO-91 (RadFxSat/Fox-1B) Satellite. AMSAT VP of Engineering, Jery Buxton N0JY turned over operation to Mark Hammond N8MH and AMSAT Operations in a QSO on the AO-91 repeater during the pass over the Eastern U.S. N8MH responded and declared AO-91 open for amateur use! [ANS thanks AO-91 Ops Team for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Fox-1B/AO-91 Facts Name(s): AO-91 Fox-1B (RadFxSat) NASA catalog number: TBD Launch: Not Earlier Than 21 Sept 2017 NASA ElaNa XIV Mission JPSS-1 Delta II, Vandenberg AFB, CA Orbit: LEO (Low Earth Orbit) Inclination: 97.6908 (Assuming it is Object 43016) Eccentricity: 0259769 (Assuming it is Object 43016) Period: Approx. 95 minutes Estimated orbital lifetime: 5+ years Size: 10 x 10 x 10 cm (4 inch cube) Weight: 1.3 kg (~3 pounds) Transmit power: 400 mW (Minimum) Downlink: 145.960 MHz FM voice AFSK digital data up to 9600 bps Uplink: 435.250 MHz FM voice (67.0 Hz CTCSS tone) >From a communications standpoint Fox-1B has two major changes from AO-85. First, it will fly with a more sophisticated power control system which utilizes a Maximum Power Point Tracker to insure optimum charging of the batteries under all illuminations. This will be largely transparent to the typical user but will significantly increase the available battery life. Second, the detection of the 67.0 Hz tone has been enhanced, which will also help accommodate ground stations whose CTCSS tones may be slightly off frequency. The combination will make accessing the satellite easier and also decrease the likelihood of dropouts. Doppler Shift Correction for Fox-1B Correcting for Doppler shift will involve the same techniques as for AO-85, with slightly different frequencies to prevent mutual spacecraft interference: Receive Frequency Transmit Frequency (67.0 Hz Tone) Satellite Position 145.960 MHz 435.240 MHz (Mem #1) AOS 145.960 MHz 435.245 MHz (Mem #2) Approaching 145.960 MHz 435.250 MHz (Mem #3) Passing 145.960 MHz 435.255 MHz (Mem #4) Departing 145.960 MHz 435.260 MHz (Mem #5) LOS Note that the AFC on the receiver may be working hinting that making the above adjustments may not be necessary. AMSAT VP of Engineering Jerry Buxton N0JY states "... in ground testing with Fox-1A. We could be +/- 10 kHz and not even know it (that's how it was tested, one guy programmed the wrong frequency in his HT)." He adds the caveat, "One station on the uplink is not the same situation as real life though." Fox-1B Telemetry Subaudible Telemetry Except for a different downlink frequency, the low speed subaudible telemetry will be the same as for AO-85. It will be supported by the same FoxTelem software released for AO-85. High Speed AFSK telemetry There are no experiments on Fox-1B which will require the use of high speed telemetry. [ANS thanks "Getting Started With Amateur Satellites 2107" By G. Gould Smith WA4SXM and Friends and other sources for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Special AMSAT Membership Offer Celebrating RadFxSat/AO-91 Launch/Commissioning As part of the preparations for the launch of RadFxSat on November 10th and the successful commissioning of AO-91 (RadFx/Fox-1B)opening it for Amateur use on November 23, AMSAT is making our “Getting Started With Amateur Satellites” book available for a limited time as a download with any paid new or renewal membership purchased via the AMSAT Store. This offer is only available with purchases completed online, and for only a limited time. A perennial favorite, Getting Started is updated every year with the latest amateur satellite information, and is the premier primer of satellite operation. The 182 page book is presented in PDF format, in full color, and covers all aspects of making your first contacts on a ham radio satellite. Please take advantage of this offer today by visiting the AMSAT store at https://www.amsat.org/shop/ and selecting any membership option. While there, check out our other items, including the M2 LEOpack antenna system, Arrow antennas, AMSAT shirts, and other swag. Thank you, and hear you soon on RadFxSat! --------------------------------------------------------------------- FUNcube-1 Celebrates 4th Anniversary November 21st 2017, marked the fourth aniversary for FUNcube-1 in orbit. FUNcube-1 was launched at 07:10 UTC on November 21st 2013 and its first signals were received immediately after deployment over the Indian Ocean by amateurs in South Africa. Since then it has been operating continuously in either its education mode or, with the transponder active, in amateur mode when in eclipse and at weekends. The spacecraft has spent the four years in space orbiting the earth at between 640 and 580 km and has now travelled around the earth more than 20,000 times. That represents a distance travelled of approaching 500 million miles. Up to now, each of the orbits has been spilt approximately 65% in sunlight and 35% in eclipse. This has resulted in the temperatures inside the small spacecraft varying by about 25o C during each orbit. During the recent AMSAT Colloquium, Wouter, PA3WEG, during his presentation about the FUNcube project mentioned that the power available from the solar panels has been slowly increasing since launch. This observation led the team to do some further investigations as to the cause. Although the launch was into a nominally Sun Synchronous orbit, over time this has drifted and the spacecraft is now entering a period when it will be in the sun for longer periods during each orbit. The exact details are still being determined, but it seems likely that, starting from January 2018, there will be periods when the spacecraft will be in the sun for all, or almost all, of its orbits. Of course, this means that the on-board temperatures will be much higher than we have previously experienced in flight, although we have some test records from pre-flight thermal air testing that were undertaken after integration. The key will be to discover what the equilibrium temperature will be internally. For comparison, AO85 has already "enjoyed" periods of full sun and its internal temperatures have reached up to around 55o C. So the next few months will be quite an exciting time for the team! We remain extremely grateful to everyone is using the spacecraft for both its educational and amateur missions. Of course we are also very very grateful to those who are downloading the telemetry and uploading the data to the Data Warehouse. It continues to provide a unique record of "life on board" a 1U CubeSat in space. FUNcube-1 / AO-73 details TLM down link freq 145.935 MHz BPSK Transponder: Nominal Uplink 435.150 - 435.130 MHz LSB (Inverting) The passband may be up to 15kHz higher depending on on-board temps. Low temperature gives higher freqs! Downlink 145.950 - 145.970 MHz USB Please use a maximium uplink power of 5 watts to a 7 dBi gain antenna. More power is not needed to use the transponder! Currently operating full power TLM beacon (300 mW) when in sunlight, and Transponder, plus low power (30mW) TLM beacon when in eclipse. Normally switches to Transponder over weekends and holidays [ANS thanks Funcube.org for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Video of Launches of the Currently Orbiting FUNcube Satellites Wouter Weggelar, PA3WEG, released a composite video showing all currently orbiting FUNcube family satellites being launched: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLevT3C5v6c&feature=youtu.be [ANS thanks Wouter PA3WEG and AMSAT-UK for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- EcAMSat Deployed From ISS - 1200 baud Telemetry & QSL Card for Reports The E. coli AntiMicrobial Satellite (EcAMSat) mission will investigate space microgravity effects on the antibiotic resistance of E. coli, a bacterial pathogen responsible for urinary tract infection in humans and animals. EcAMSat is being developed through a partnership between NASA’s Ames Research Center and the Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. A.C. Matin is the Stanford University Principal Investigator. EcAMSAT was deployed from the ISS on November 20, 2017. EcAMSat will investigate spaceflight effects on bacterial antibiotic resistance and its genetic basis. Bacterial antibiotic resistance may pose a danger to astronauts in microgravity, where the immune response is weakened. Scientists believe that the results of this experiment could help design effective countermeasures to protect astronauts’ health during long-duration human space missions. Operating at 437.100 MHz FM, the EcAMSat beacon sends an AX.25 packet every 5 seconds, similar to the format of the GeneSat-1, PharmaSat, O/OREOS, and SporeSat beacons; the packet contains data about the spacecraft systems operation. A tracking screen, mission information, and mission status are dis- played on the EcAMSat Mission Dashboard: http://ecamsat.engr.scu.edu/ Links to beacon decoding and packet uploading instructions are also included on the Dashboard. An example of the EcAMSat QSL card is displayed at: https://yc3bvg.blogspot.com/2017/11/ecamsat-qsl-cards.html [ANS thanks the EcAMSat Team and NASA for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- MAI-75 SSTV Over Moscow from ISS Planned for December 6-8 The MAI-75 folks have scheduled some SSTV activity during specific periods each day from Dec 6-8. The times correlate to a small number of passes each day in range of Moscow. Dec 6, 2017 Setup and power on - 13:40-14:20 UTC Power off - 17:05-17:15 UTC Dec 7, 2017 Power on - 13:45-13:55 UTC Power off - 17:30-17:40 UTC Dec 8, 2017 Power on - 14:05-14:15 UTC Power off and stow - 17:00-17:10 UTC See: https://ariss-sstv.blogspot.com/ [ANS thanks ARISS for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- UT1FG/MM Now Active Yuri, UT1FG/MM, is back to sea on the Vessel Seahorse. It is currently sailing from Algiers to Morocco where it will load cargo. The plan is to sail to a USA port in the Gulf to be determined. There are quite a few ships named Seahorse. The MMSI number is 538007572. Yuri is using the Elk antenna but only has RG58 coax feeding it. Even so he reports working K3SZH on AO-7 today. If he doesn't find coax in Morocco, perhaps we can get some coax to him when he arrives in a USA port. So he is likely to do better on a Mode B satellite rather than one with a UHF downlink. He has keps for AO-91, AO-85 and CAS-4B. Please wait for a while before sending your logsheets. He will likely be able to mail qsl's when he docks in the USA. [ANS thanks John K8YSE for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Support AMSAT on Cyber Monday With Cyber Monday approaching, please keep AMSAT in mind while making purchases on Amazon.com through AmazonSmile. AmazonSmile is a simple way to support your favorite non-profit organizations, including AMSAT. To get started, go to https://smile.amazon.com and designate AMSAT as the recipient of a percentage of your purchases by selecting “Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation.” After selecting AMSAT, and when making purchases at Amazon, be sure to navigate to https://smile.amazon.com. [ANS thanks AMSAT Office for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for 11-21-2017, Object Comment Due to Thanksgiving being on Thursday, the AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for this week will be today, November 21, 2017. Next week we will continue with the normal TLE distribution on each Thursday of the week. Note that, per comments below, AO-91 is most likely object 43016. It appears that AO-91 is in the group of cubesats launched on 11-18- 17 that include objects 43016, 43017, and 43018. The object 43015 that we were using for AO-91 has separated enough to be confirmed as Buccaneer RRM by 18th Space Control Squadron at Vandenburg AFB, CA. One of 18 SPCS many missions is launch analysis. Therefore, based analysis (by Nico Janssen, (PA0DLO) and discussion by Alan Biddle (WA4SCA), Jerry Buxton (N0JY), Nico Janssen (PA0DLO), Paul Stoetzer (N8HM) and myself AO-91 is most likely object 43016. Note that these objects are still very close together and one more change could be needed. The process of identification is one of waiting for a group of objects to separate enough to isolate the one you are interested in and positively identify it's signal as matching a certain TLE set. Simple, right! For comparison, Buccaneer (object 43015, not AO-91) is now at least 26 seconds from objects 43016, 43017, and 43018. Objects 43016, 43017, and 43018 are still about 2 seconds apart. (Analysis by Nico,PA0DLO) [ANS thanks Ray Hoad for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- [ANS thanks ******** for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS News + A Successful contact was made between I.C. Villasanta, Villasanta Italy and College Pierre de Fermat, Toulouse, France and Astronaut Paolo Nespoli IZØJPA using Callsign NA1SS. The contact began Wed 2017-11-22 08:43:37 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was telebridge via K6DUE. ARISS Mentor was Gianpietro IZ2GOJ backed up by Joseph F6ICS. Quantity of questions answered: 18 Quantity of people in attendance: approximatelt 200 Quantity of media present: local newspapers + A Successful contact was made between I.C. “Pascoli Forgione”, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy and Astronaut Paolo Nespoli IZØJPA using Callsign NA1SS. The contact began 2017-11-15 11:36 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was telebridge via K6DUE. ARISS Mentor was Francesco IKØWGF. + A Successful contact was made between Carmelita Manara, Milano, Italy and Astronaut Paolo Nespoli IZØJPA using Callsign NA1SS. The contact began 2017-11-15 11:36 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was telebridge via K6DUE. ARISS Mentor was Gianpietro IZ2GOJ. Quantity of questions answered: 23 Quantity of people in attendance: 270 Quantity of media present: Newspaper and TV Additional information: Raoul Nespoli (Paolo's brother) was a guest at Milano. + A Successful contact was made between TX-801st Air Force JROTC at Burleson High, Burleson, Texas, USA and Astronaut Paolo Nespoli IZØJPA using Callsign NA1SS. The contact began 2017-11-13 14:50 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was telebridge via W6SRJ. ARISS Mentor was Keith W5IU. Quantity of questions answered: All 19 Quantity of people in attendance: 225 Quantity of media present: local newspaper + A Successful contact was made between Liceo Scientifico “Valdemaro Vecchi”, Trani, Italy and Astronaut Paolo Nespoli IZØJPA using Callsign NA1SS. The contact began 2017-11-11 11:16 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was telebridge via VK4KHZ. ARISS Mentor was Francesco IKØWGF. Quantity of questions answered: 14 Quantity of people in attendance: about 200 Quantity of media present: none reported + A Successful contact was made between I.I.S.S. “T.Fiore-C.Sylos”, Terlizzi, Italy and Astronaut Paolo Nespoli IZØJPA using Callsign NA1SS. The contact began 2017-11-11 11:16 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was telebridge via VK4KHZ. ARISS Mentor was Francesco IKØWGF. Quantity of questions answered: 14 Quantity of people in attendance: about 200 Quantity of media present: none reported + A Successful contact was made between Liceo Statale “Ilaria Alpi”, Rutigliano, Italy from the University of Bari and Astronaut Paolo Nespoli IZØJPA using Callsign NA1SS. The contact began 2017-11-11 11:16 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was telebridge via VK4KHZ. ARISS Mentor was Francesco IKØWGF]. Quantity of questions answered: 14 Quantity of people in attendance: about 200 Quantity of media present: none reported + A Successful contact was made between South Florida Science Center and Aquarium, West Palm Beach, FL, USA and Astronaut Paolo Nespoli IZØJPA using Callsign NA1SS. The contact began 2017-11-06 16:17 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was Direct via WS4FSC. ARISS Mentors were Steve W1HQL and Ryan W4NTR. Quantity of questions answered: All 12. Quantity of people in attendance: 100 Quantity of media present: TV and newspaper + A Successful contact was made between Istituto di Istruzione Superiore “Leonardo Da Vinci”, Lanusei, Italy and Astronaut Paolo Nespoli IZØJPA using Callsign OR4ISS. The contact began 2017-11-04 10:12 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was direct via ISØBWM and incorporated Ham TV. ARISS Mentor was Francesco IKØWGF. + A Successful contact was made between Liceo Artistico Melotti, Lomazzo, Italy and Astronaut Paolo Nespoli IZØJPA using Callsign IR0ISS. The contact began 2017-11-03 09:27 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was telebridge via IQ5LI. ARISS Mentor was [NAME, Gianpietro IZ2GOJ. Quantity of questions answered: 15 Quantity of people in attendance: 300 Quantity of media present: Local TV and newspapers + A Successful contact was made between Liceo Scientifico ‘Francesco Cecioni”, Livorno, Italy and Astronaut Paolo Nespoli IZØJPA using Callsign IR0ISS. The contact began 2017-11-03 09:27 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was direct via IQ5LI and incorporated Ham TV. ARISS Mentor was Francesco IKØWGF. Quantity of questions answered: 15 Quantity of people in attendance: 300 Quantity of media present: Local TV and newspapers. + A Successful contact was made between Asociación Civil Instituto Maria Montessori, San Cristóbel, Venezuela and Joe Acaba KE5DAR using Callsign IR0ISS. The contact began 2017-10-31 18:23 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was direct via YY2CMR. ARISS Mentor was Brian VE6JBJ. Quantity of questions answered: 15 Quantity of people in attendance: 650 Quantity of media present: 44 press media representatives, regional, national, and international Additional information: It was wonderful. The signal was 9+40dB. + A Successful contact was made between Primaria e Secondaria di primo grado Istituto comprensivo Via XVI settembre, Civitavecchia, Italy and Astronaut Joe Acaba KE5DAR using Callsign NA1SS. The contact began 2017-10-30 11:20 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was direct via IK0WGF and incorporated Ham TV. ARISS Mentor was Francesco IKØWGF. Quantity of questions answered: 16 Quantity of people in attendance: About 200 Quantity of media present: Video streaming was on BATC.TV Additional information: https://youtu.be/nhWL4xLroKU Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2017-11-22 07:00 UTC I.C. Villasanta, Villasanta Italy and College Pierre de Fermat, Toulouse, France, telebridge via K6DUE The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Paolo Nespoli IZØJPA Contact is a go for: Wed 2017-11-22 08:43:37 UTC 45 deg K6DUE Ashbury College, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, telebridge via VK4KHZ The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Joe Acaba KE5DAR Contact is a go for: Mon 2017-11-27 18:39:58 UTC Huntley Centennial Public School, Carp, ON, Canada, telebridge via IK1SLD The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be IRØISS The scheduled astronaut is Paolo Nespoli Contact is a go for: Tue 2017-11-28 18:46:37 UTC S.G.B. De La Salle, Rome, Italy and Istituto Comprensivo Luigi Nono, Mira, Italy, telebridge via W6SRJ The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be IRØISS The scheduled astronaut is Paolo Nespoli IZØJPA Contact is a go for: Thu 2017-11-30 08:04:20 UTC Bishop Hendricken High School and its sister school, St. Mary Academy - Bay View, Warwick, RI, telebridge via IK1SLD The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be IRØISS The scheduled astronaut is Paolo Nespoli Contact is a go for: Thu 2017-11-30 17:02:09 UTC The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be IRØISS The scheduled astronaut is Paolo Nespoli Contact is a go for: Thu 2017-11-30 17:02:09 UTC [ANS thanks ARISS, Charlie AJ9N and David AA4KN for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + EagleSat-1 Requests Help Listening for Beacon RadFxSat-1/Fox-1B AO-91's P-POD mate on the ELaNa XIV, EagleSat-1: their team is having trouble hearing their beacon on 437.645MHz. The beacon transmission timing is 1 minute. Please send reception reports to Deborah Jackson (jacksd40 at my.erau.edu) and Steven Buck (bucks2 at my.erau.edu) ... via [ANS thanks Jerry N0JY for the above information] + RSGB Space Posters Several of @theRSGB posters promoting Amateur Radio feature Space Communications. PDF Posters are available for free download from http://tinyurl.com/ANS330-RSGB-Posters [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information] + New URL for Farnham WebSDR The SUWS LF/VHF/UHF/uW WebSDR based at Farnham near London has a new URL: http://farnham-sdr.com/ The antennas on 2m and 70cm are optimized for Satellite and High Altitude Balloon reception. [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK 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-327 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletins - AO-91 Commissioned Declared Open for Amateur Use
by E.Mike McCardel 23 Nov '17

23 Nov '17

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE SPECIAL BULLETIN ANS-327 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: * AO-91 Commissioned - Declared Open for Amateur Use! SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-327.01 ANS-327 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletins - AO-91 Commissioned Declared Open for Amateur Use AMSAT News Service Bulletin 327.01 >From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. Month Day, 2017 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-327.01 AO-91 Commissioned - Declared Open for Amateur Use! At 06:50 UTC November 23, 2017 @AMSAT Engineering officially commissioned AO-91 (RadFxSat/Fox-1B) Satellite. AMSAT VP of Engineering, Jery Buxton N0JY turned over operation to Mark Hammond N8MH and AMSAT Operations in a QSO on the AO-91 repeater during the pass over the Eastern U.S. N8MH responded and declared AO-91 open for amateur use! [ANS thanks AO-91 Ops Team 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-323 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Lee McLamb 19 Nov '17

19 Nov '17

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-323 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: * RadFxSat (Fox-1B) Launched, Designated AMSAT-OSCAR 91 (AO-91) * ESA Announcement for CubeSat Team Concurrent Engineering Workshop * Australian Amateurs do first HamTV Telebridge outside of Europe * UPDATE - Polish Amateur Radio Union Award for ARISS SSTV Reception * December 20 Launch for HA-1 CubeSat with FM transponder and SSTV * HamSCI Announces Workshop - Posts Survey * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-323.01 ANS-323 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 323.01 From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. DATE November 19, 2017 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-323.01 RadFxSat (Fox-1B) Launched, Designated AMSAT-OSCAR 91 (AO-91) The Delta II rocket carrying RadFxSat (Fox-1B) launched at 09:47:36 UTC on November 18, 2017 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. Following a picture-perfect launch, RadFxSat was deployed at 11:09 UTC. Then the wait began. At 12:12 UTC, the AMSAT Engineering team, watching ZR6AIC's WebSDR waterfall, saw the characteristic "Fox Tail" of the Fox-1 series FM transmitter, confirming that the satellite was alive and transmitting over South Africa. Shortly after 12:34 UTC, the first telemetry was received and uploaded to AMSAT servers by Maurizio Balducci, IV3RYQ, in Cervignano del Friuli, Italy. Initial telemetry confirmed that the satellite was healthy. After confirmation of signal reception, OSCAR Number Administrator Bill Tynan, W3XO, sent an email to the AMSAT Board of Directors designating the satellite AMSAT-OSCAR 91 (AO-91). Bill's email stated: "RadFxSat (Fox-1B) was launched successfully at 09:47 UTC today November 18, 2017 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California and has been received by several amateur stations. RadFxSat (Fox-1B), a 1U CubeSat, is a joint mission of AMSAT and the Institute for Space and Defense Electronics at Vanderbilt University. The Vanderbilt package is intended to measure the effects of radiation on electronic components, including demonstration of an on-orbit platform for space qualification of components as well as to validate and improve computer models for predicting radiation tolerance of semiconductors. AMSAT constructed the remainder of the satellite including the spaceframe, on-board computer and power system. The amateur radio package is similar to that currently on orbit on AO-85 with an uplink on 435.250 MHz (67.0 Hz CTCSS) and a downlink on 145.960 MHz. Experiment telemetry will be downlinked via the DUV subaudible telemetry stream, which can be decoded using the FoxTelem software. RadFxSat (Fox-1B) was sent aloft as a secondary payload on the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta II rocket that transported the JPSS-1 satellite to orbit. RadFxSat (Fox-1B) is one of five CubeSats making up this NASA Educational Launch of Nanosatellites (ELaNa) XIV mission, riding as secondary payloads aboard the JPSS-1 mission. Since RadFxSat (Fox-1B) has met all of the qualifications necessary to receive an OSCAR number, I, by the authority vested in me by the AMSAT President, do hereby confer on this satellite the designation AMSAT-OSCAR 91 or AO-91. I join amateur radio operators in the U.S. and around the world in wishing AO-91 a long and successful life in both its amateur and scientific missions. I, along with the rest of the amateur community, congratulate all of the volunteers who worked so diligently to construct, test and prepare for launch the newest amateur radio satellite. William A. (Bill) Tynan, W3XO AMSAT-NA OSCAR Number Administrator" AMSAT Engineering reminds stations that the satellite will not be available for general use until the on-orbit checkouts are complete. Please continue to submit telemetry to assist the Engineering team in completing the commissioning process. [ANS thanks Paul, N8HM, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ESA Announcement for CubeSat Team Concurrent Engineering Workshop Dreaming of flying a satellite into space but not sure how? Wonder no more! The ESA Education Office and ESA's Systems and Concurrent Engineering Section have the perfect workshop for you. We are currently looking for university students who would like to participate in ESA Academy's first Concurrent Engineering Workshop dedicated to CubeSats. The 4-day workshop will be organised between 16 and 19 January 2018 at the Training and Learning Centre in ESEC, Belgium. In concurrent design, all stages of a satellite design take place simul- taneously, through the direct collaboration of engineers and scientists from different disciplines in a dedicated and specially equipped facility. The "CubeSats Concurrent Engineering Workshop" will introduce student teams to the concurrent design of a CubeSat mission. The workshop can help to better prepare those universities that are planning to embark on a Cube- Sat project or are at the early stages of one. Teams wishing to participate do not need to be at an advanced stage in their CubeSat project. They can be at a conceptual and/or preliminary phase of their CubeSat design. The deadline for applications is 4 December 2017, 23:59 CET. Application requirements, program overview, and more information can be found on-line at: http://tinyurl.com/ANS-316-ESA-Workshop (http://www.esa.int) [ANS thanks the European Space Agency for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Australian Amateurs do first HamTV Telebridge outside of Europe Led by Shane, VK4KHZ in Queensland who handled the audio on 2m. and video for a telebridge contact between the ISS and 3 Italian schools on 11 Nov. Four stations across Australia joined together to "chain" the live video coming down from the ISS on 2.4 Ghz. As the ISS approached Australia from the west Martin VK6MJ in West Australia was the first to receive the video signal down from Paolo, IZ0JPA and held the signal till Joe VK5EI in Adelaide picked it up then onto Tony VK5ZAI in Kingston SE South Australia finally as the ISS headed N-E over Queensland Shane picked up the video signal in Glenden while he was handling the audio for the linkup. The video from the 4 Australian hams was streamed live to the BATC site in GB. where it was patched together to form one long video transmission so the public could watch as Paolo answered the Italian students questions. The URL for the British Amateur Radio Club is: https://ariss.batc.tv/hamtv/ [ANS thanks Tony, VK5ZAI, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- UPDATE - Polish Amateur Radio Union Award for ARISS SSTV Reception UPDATE November 5 - Armand SP3QFE advises that the deadline to apply for your ARISS SSTV Reception Award has been extended to December 30, 2017 at 23:59 UTC. (see below for text of Armand's original bulletin for details of the award). Armand, SP3QFE reported the Polish Amateur Radio Union (PZK), in cooperation with ARISS and S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation ENERGIA, offer an electronic Award to Amateurs who received and decoded at least one SSTV series 7 image during the 20th Anniversary of ARISS commemorative 2017 a Slow Scan Television (SSTV) event from the ISS between July20 and July 24. The SSTV pictures transmitted during this event were series #7 of 12 of images covering the history of Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) over the last 20 years. To apply for the award first upload your image(s) to the ARISS SSTV Gallery at: http://www.spaceflightsoftware.com/ARISS_SSTV/index.php The Award rules and a link to the on-line application form are on-line at: http://ariss.pzk.org.pl/sstv/ The deadline to apply is September 30, 2017 at 23:59 UTC. Note: If you have already uploaded images to the ARISS SSTV Gallery you do not need to re-submit the image and only need to complete the application form. [ANS thanks Armand, SP3QFE for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- December 20 Launch for HA-1 CubeSat with FM transponder and SSTV The IARU has announced frequency coordination has been completed for HA-1, a 2U CubeSat developed by the Teenagers Amateur Radio Center of Activity in Huaian, China. HA-1 is planned for launch on December 20. HA-1 will be mainly used for teenagers in Huaian to carry out activities related with amateur radio and aerospace science education. The cubesat is equipped with amateur radio repeater and SSTV(Slow Scan Television) component, which is to validate still image transmission in narrowband voice channel. There is an SSTV beacon, which puts Date/Time/Location information/temp- erature etc on a SSTV picture. Amateurs worldwide can also use HA-1 to test SSTV via the cubesat. Uplink: 145.930 MHz FM Downlink: 436.950 MHz FM Telemetry: 437.350 MHz 9k6 BPSK [ANS thanks the IARU for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- HamSCI Announces Workshop - Posts Survey HamSCI - the Amateur Radio citizen science initiative - has announced a 2-day workshop February 23-24 at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) in Newark. HamSCI's Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF, has posted a survey to gauge interest and potential attendance. "We are inviting all hams and scientists interested in ham radio science," Frissell said. "This aim of this workshop is to foster collaborations between the ham radio and the space science and space weather research communities through presentations, discussions, and demonstrations. This year's meeting will focus on solar eclipse analysis, ham radio data sources and databases, and the development of a 'personal space weather station.'" Full details and access to the survey are available on-line: http://tinyurl.com/ANS-316-HamSCI-Workshop (arrl.org) [ANS thanks the ARRL and HamSCI for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + Amateur-Satellite Service mentioned in article by @IARU_President Tim Ellam VE6SH about International Amateur Radio Union #IARU and CCIR/ITU-R. Download PDF of latest #ITU News Magazine 04/2017 (see page 55): http://www.itu.int/en/itunews/Pages/default.aspx (via AMSAT-UK) + Jose, PW8PM, posted a YouTube video of his satellite operation from The four-corner grid square at FH88/89/98/99 on November 12. Jose worked several stations in South and North America via AO-7 Mode B. The direct YouTube link is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5IfFbb48qk + Damon, WA4HFN, says interest is growing in the satellite operating awards offered by the Squirt-The-Birds Group. This week Damon says congratulations are due to Adrian Liggins, VA3NNA, for earning Got Grids? #18. These awards are free and we at Squirt the Birds support AMSAT NA. Go to www.squirtthebirds.com for more info. + Amateur-Satellite Service mentioned in article by @IARU_President Tim Ellam VE6SH about International Amateur Radio Union #IARU and CCIR/ITU-R. Download PDF of latest #ITU News Magazine 04/2017 (see page 55): http://www.itu.int/en/itunews/Pages/default.aspx (via AMSAT-UK) /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive addi- tional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office. Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the stu- dent rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership information. 73, This week's ANS Editor, Lee McLamb, KT4TZ kt4tz at amsat dot org

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ANS Special Bulletin RadFxSat (Fox-1B) Launched
by Lee McLamb 18 Nov '17

18 Nov '17

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE SPECIAL BULLETIN SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-322.01 RadFxSat (Fox-1B) Launched, Designated AMSAT-OSCAR 91 (AO-91) AMSAT News Service Bulletin 322.01 From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. DATE November 18, 2017 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-322.01 RadFxSat (Fox-1B) Launched, Designated AMSAT-OSCAR 91 (AO-91) The Delta II rocket carrying RadFxSat (Fox-1B) launched at 09:47:36 UTC on November 18, 2017 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. Following a picture-perfect launch, RadFxSat was deployed at 11:09 UTC. Then the wait began. At 12:12 UTC, the AMSAT Engineering team, watching ZR6AIC's WebSDR waterfall, saw the characteristic "Fox Tail" of the Fox-1 series FM transmitter, confirming that the satellite was alive and transmitting over South Africa. Shortly after 12:34 UTC, the first telemetry was received and uploaded to AMSAT servers by Maurizio Balducci, IV3RYQ, in Cervignano del Friuli, Italy. Initial telemetry confirmed that the satellite was healthy. After confirmation of signal reception, OSCAR Number Administrator Bill Tynan, W3XO, sent an email to the AMSAT Board of Directors designating the satellite AMSAT-OSCAR 91 (AO-91). Bill's email stated: "RadFxSat (Fox-1B) was launched successfully at 09:47 UTC today November 18, 2017 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California and has been received by several amateur stations. RadFxSat (Fox-1B), a 1U CubeSat, is a joint mission of AMSAT and the Institute for Space and Defense Electronics at Vanderbilt University. The Vanderbilt package is intended to measure the effects of radiation on electronic components, including demonstration of an on-orbit platform for space qualification of components as well as to validate and improve computer models for predicting radiation tolerance of semiconductors. AMSAT constructed the remainder of the satellite including the spaceframe, on-board computer and power system. The amateur radio package is similar to that currently on orbit on AO-85 with an uplink on 435.250 MHz (67.0 Hz CTCSS) and a downlink on 145.960 MHz. Experiment telemetry will be downlinked via the DUV subaudible telemetry stream, which can be decoded using the FoxTelem software. RadFxSat (Fox-1B) was sent aloft as a secondary payload on the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta II rocket that will transport the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS)-1 mission. RadFxSat (Fox-1B) is one of four CubeSats making up this NASA Educational Launch of Nanosatellites (ELaNa) XIV mission, riding as secondary payloads aboard the JPSS-1 mission. Since RadFxSat (Fox-1B) has met all of the qualifications necessary to receive an OSCAR number, I, by the authority vested in me by the AMSAT President, do hereby confer on this satellite the designation AMSAT-OSCAR 91 or AO-91. I join amateur radio operators in the U.S. and around the world in wishing AO-91 a long and successful life in both its amateur and scientific missions. I, along with the rest of the amateur community, congratulate all of the volunteers who worked so diligently to construct, test and prepare for launch the newest amateur radio satellite. William A. (Bill) Tynan, W3XO AMSAT-NA OSCAR Number Administrator" AMSAT Engineering reminds stations that the satellite will not be available for general use until the on-orbit checkouts are complete. Please continue to submit telemetry to assist the Engineering team in completing the commissioning process. [ANS thanks Paul, N8HM, for the above information] /EX

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ANS-316 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by JoAnne K9JKM 12 Nov '17

12 Nov '17

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-316 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 RadFxSat/Fox-1B Launch Delay - New Plan NET November 14 * FoxTelem V.1.05 Available for Download - Including Update Patch * RadFxSat Telemetry Reception Challenge * Special Membership Offer for RadFxSat Launch * Fox-1D Integrated, Ready for Launch * NASA ELaNa XX Mission Launching RadFxSat-2/Fox-1E Set for NET End of Q1 2018 * Donate to AMSAT Tax-Free From Your IRA * November 15 Deadline for U.S. Proposals for ARISS Contacts * D-Star ONE Launch on November 28 * November Satellite Activity Planned for HC8 Galapagos DXpedition * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-316.01 ANS-316 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 316.01 From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. DATE November 12, 2017 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-316.01 AMSAT RadFxSat/Fox-1B Launch Delay - New Plan NET November 14 United Launch Alliance (ULA) announced on November 6 that the launch of the Delta II rocket carrying RadFxSat has been delayed due to a faulty battery on the booster. The launch is now scheduled for Tuesday, November 14th at 09:47 UTC. NASA TV coverage begins at 09:15 UTC. Web streaming will be available on www.nasa.gov/ntv - launches are also often streamed at http://www.ulalaunch.com and spaceflightnow.com Continue reading for what you can expect after the launch and how you can help ... INTRODUCTION RadFxSat is a partnership with Vanderbilt University ISDE and hosts four payloads for the study of radiation effects on commercial off the shelf components. RadFxSat features the Fox-1 style FM U/v repeater with an uplink on 435.250 MHz (67.0 Hz CTCSS) and a downlink on 145.960 MHz. Satellite and experiment telemetry will be downlinked via the "DUV" subaudible telemetry stream and can be decoded with the FoxTelem software: https://www.amsat.org/foxtelem-software-for-windows-mac-linux/ . LAUNCH AND EARLY ORBIT PHASE (LEOP) At this time, pre-launch Keplerian elements are not expected to be available. However, based on the Local Time of the Ascending Node (LTAN) of the primary payload, 13:30, stations should expect to have their initial ascending passes starting around noon local time. The estimated time of "First Veronica," the initial beacon after deployment, is 12:07 UTC. Due to the tight constraints on the primary payload deployment, the secondary payloads may be delayed slightly, so this should be considered the soonest the transmitter will be enabled. Orbital elements will be published as soon as they are available on the AMSAT website. Stations in Europe, South America, and North America should point your beams south and have FoxTelem running while awaiting the initial post-launch Keplerian elements. Participation in telemetry collection by as many stations in as many parts of the world as possible is essential as AMSAT Engineering looks for successful startup and indications of the general health and function of the satellite as it begins to acclimate to space. If you are capturing telemetry with FoxTelem please be sure that "Upload to Server" is checked in your settings, and that your "Ground Station Params" are filled in as well. You can help AMSAT and everyone waiting to get on the air with RadFxSat tremendously by capturing RadFxSat telemetry. About 60 minutes after deployment, or 140 minutes after launch, the satellite will start up in Beacon Mode. In this initial mode, the transmitter is limited to 10 seconds on time and then will be off for two minutes. For those of you capturing telemetry, that means that you will only see Current frames and no High or Low frames. The High and Low frames are truncated as it takes just over the 10 second limit to send two frames. Veronica may also be cut off before she gets to say her whole ID string as the full ID, "RadFxSat Fox-1B Safe Mode," is a bit longer than the approximately 3.5 seconds she has in Beacon Mode. If the voice ID is cut off, the satellite is still in Beacon Mode. If AMSAT Engineering is seeing nominal values from the telemetry you gather, the satellite will be commanded from Beacon Mode to Safe Mode on the first good pass over the United States. In Safe Mode, the satellite transmits a full two frames of telemetry (one Current frame followed by, and alternating each ID cycle, a High or a Low frame). Veronica now has time to make the whole ID announcement in Safe Mode. The on-orbit checkout procedure for RadFxSat is similar to Fox-1A/AO-85 and could be completed in as little as a few days if users cooperate. It is very important, and good amateur operating practice, to refrain from using the transponder uplink so the on-orbit tests can be performed, including when the satellite is switched into Transponder Mode for testing. AMSAT will make it broadly known when the tests are complete and the transponder is available for all to use. If you hear someone on the transponder, please do not assume that it is open for general use - check AMSAT's website, Facebook, and Twitter before transmitting to be sure you do not interfere with testing. AMSAT asks all satellite operators to contribute just a little bit of your time by gathering telemetry, not using the transponder uplink, to help complete the last few days of getting RadFxSat operating for the amateur radio community. Lots of hams put thousands of volunteer hours of their time into making RadFxSat happen. Just like any ham radio project you might undertake, AMSAT builds satellites. AMSAT volunteers do it because they like to, and when they are done, AMSAT freely shares their project with hams everywhere as is the spirit of amateur radio. Thank you very much and see you on the bird! RADIO PROGRAMMING CHART RadFxSat (Fox-1B) Doppler Shift Correction Memory 1 (AOS) - TX 435.240 MHz (67.0 Hz Tone), RX 145.960 MHz Memory 2 (Rise) - TX 435.245 MHz (67.0 Hz Tone), RX 145.960 MHz Memory 3 (TCA) - TX 435.250 MHz (67.0 Hz Tone), RX 145.960 MHz Memory 4 (Descend) - TX 435.255 MHz (67.0 Hz Tone), RX 145.960 MHz Memory 5 (LOS) - TX 435.260 MHz (67.0 Hz Tone), RX 145.960 MHz Frequencies are subject to change post-launch. [ANS thanks AMSAT Vice-President Engineering, Jerry Buxton, NØJY, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- FoxTelem V.1.05 Available for Download - Including Update Patch Given the United Launch Alliance Delta II launch delay to November 14 you have time to download and install AMSAT's FoxTelem Version 1.05 telemetry capture, decoding, and data warehousing software so your ground station can participate and assist during the commissioning of RadFxSat/Fox-1B. If you have already installed FoxTelem Version 1.05w in preparation for RadFxSat it is recommended that you install an update patch. This will upgrade you to 1.05x. This patch fixes the following bugs with v1.05w or earlier 1.05 releases: * When two spacecraft are tracked and "When Above Horizon" is set to start and stop the decoder, the decoder NEVER starts. * If the matched filter is selected for DUV then FoxTelem crashes * When a spacecraft is being decoded, the position is not updated on the screen * When the decoders is automatically stopped/started, then the FunCube Dongle becomes disconnected To apply this patch simply copy the jar file into your Version 1.05 installation directory and overwrite the existing file. If you are running FoxTelem Version 1.04f or earlier, you should install the full release for Version 1.05x The files for the full release and the update patch are here: http://amsat.us/FoxTelem/windows/ http://amsat.us/FoxTelem/linux/ http://amsat.us/FoxTelem/mac/ The download package includes the latest version of the FoxTelem User Guide. [ANS thanks Chris, G0KLA/AC2CZ for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- RadFxSat Telemetry Reception Challenge Get FoxTelem set up and ready to go on Tuesday! The first amateur radio operator that successfully receives RadFxSat (Fox-1B) telemetry and uploads it to the AMSAT server will receive a commemorative 3D printed QSL card. RadFxSat is scheduled for launch at 1:47am PST (09:47 UTC) on Tuesday, November 14th from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. The first transmission from RadFxSat is expected to occur around 12:07 UTC. Due to a lack of prelaunch Keplerian elements, it is not known exactly where the satellite will be when it makes it's first transmission. For further details regarding the Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP) of RadFxSat operations, please see: https://www.amsat.org/getting-ready-for-radfxsat-fox-1b/ [ANS thanks Paul N8HM for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Special Membership Offer for RadFxSat Launch As part of the preparations for the launch of RadFxSat on November 10th, AMSAT is making our "Getting Started With Amateur Satellites" book available for a limited time as a download with any paid new or renewal membership purchased via the AMSAT Store. This offer is only available with purchases completed online, and for only a limited time. A perennial favorite, Getting Started is updated every year with the latest amateur satellite information, and is the premier primer of satellite operation. The 182 page book is presented in PDF format, in full color, and covers all aspects of making your first contacts on a ham radio satellite. Please take advantage of this offer today by visiting the AMSAT store at https://www.amsat.org/shop/ and selecting any membership option. While there, check out our other items, including the M2 LEOpack antenna system, Arrow antennas, AMSAT shirts, and other swag. Thank you, and see you soon on RadFxSat! [ANS thanks Paul N8HM for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Fox-1D Integrated, Ready for Launch While RadFxSat (Fox-1B) is just days from launch, preparations for the launch of the next Fox-1 satellite are already underway. On Monday, November 6th, AMSAT Vice-President Engineering Jerry Buxton, N0JY, delivered Fox-1D to Spaceflight, Inc. in Seattle, WA where it was integrated into its Innovative Solutions in Space QuadPack for delivery to India. Fox-1D will launch on the next ISRO Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) flight, sched- uled to take place by the end of December. In addition to the Fox-1 U/v FM transponder, Fox-1D carries several univer- sity experiments, including a MEMS gyro from Pennsylvania State University– Erie, a camera from Virginia Tech, and the University of Iowa’s HERCI (High Energy Radiation CubeSat Instrument) radiation mapping experiment. Fox-1D also carries the AMSAT “L-Band Downshifter” giving the option of utilizing a 1.2 GHz uplink for the FM transponder. Fox-1D ------ Uplink: 435.350 MHz FM / 1267.350 FM MHz * (67 Hz CTCSS) Downlink: 145.880 MHz FM * Switchable by command station. Not operational simultaneously. Read the full article, including photos, on the AMSAT web: https://www.amsat.org/fox-1d-integrated-ready-for-launch/ [ANS thanks Paul Stoetzer, N8HM for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- NASA ELaNa XX Mission Launching RadFxSat-2/Fox-1E Set for NET End of Q1 2018 AMSAT has been informed that the launch for the NASA Educational Launch of Nanosatellites (ELaNa) XX mission carrying RadFxSat-2 (Fox-1E) is now scheduled "No Earlier Than" (NET) the end of Q1, 2018. In addition to RadFxSat-2, the ELaNa XX mission will carry 12 CubeSats constructed both by NASA and several universities around the United States. The mission will be launched by Virgin Galactic on their LauncherOne air launch to orbit system from Mojave, CA RadFxSat-2, like RadFxSat (Fox-1B), is a partnership opportunity between the Vanderbilt University Institute for Space and Defense Electronics and AMSAT and will carry a similar radiation effects experiment, studying new FinFET technology. RadFxSat-2 will be the fifth Fox-1 satellite built by AMSAT. Fox-1A, now AMSAT-OSCAR 85 (AO-85), was launched on October 8, 2015 and is fully operational, providing science data from it's onboard experi- ments and FM transponder service for the amateur radio community. Fox-1Cliff and Fox-1D are scheduled for launch soon. RadFxSat/Fox-1B is scheduled to launch November 10, 2017. The RadFxSat-2 spacecraft bus will be built on the Fox-1 series but will feature a linear transponder "upgrade" to replace the standard FM transponder in Fox-1A through D. In addition, the uplink and down- link bands will be reversed from the previous Fox satellites in a Mode V/u (J) configuration using a 2 meter uplink and 70 cm downlink. The downlink will feature a 1200 bps BPSK telemetry channel to carry the Vanderbilt science data in addition to a 30 kHz wide transponder for amateur radio use. [ANS thanks the AMSAT Engineering and Operation Teams for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Donate to AMSAT Tax-Free From Your IRA Are you over 70-1/2 years of age and need to meet your IRA's Required Minimum Distribution for 2017? Consider making a donation to AMSAT! Under the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015, individuals over 70-1/2 years of age may make direct transfers of up to $100,000 per year from a traditional IRA to an eligible charity without increasing their taxable income. Consult your tax advisor or accountant to make certain you are eligible. AMSAT is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational and scientific organization whose purpose is to design, construct, launch, and operate satellites in space and to provide the support needed to encourage amateurs to utilize these resources. AMSAT's federal tax ID is 52-0888529. [ANS thanks the AMSAT Board of Directors for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- November 15 Deadline for U.S. Proposals for ARISS Contacts Reminder - November 15 deadline! The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program is seeking proposals from U.S. schools, museums, science centers and community youth organizations to host radio contacts with an orbiting crew member aboard the International Space Station (ISS) between July 1 and December 31, 2018. See ARISS website for additional details on expectations, proposal guidelines, and the proposal form: http://www.ariss.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact-in-the-us.html [ANS thanks ARISS for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- D-Star ONE Launch on November 28 D-Star ONE is the first private German CubeSat and the first D-Star communication spacecraft wordwide. D-Star ONE will be launched on November 28, 2017 from Vostochny launch site jointly with the Meteor-M ?2-1 mission of the Russian State Space Corporation ROSCOSMOS. Final launch preparations are currently being performed. D-Star repeater & beacon frequencies: Uplink: 437.325MHz Downlink: 435.525MHz RF-Power: 800mW Additional information will be posted at: http://www.d-star.one/ Spaceflightinsider.com published an article about successful final testing on D-Star ONE: http://tinyurl.com/ANS-316-Spaceflightinsider www.spaceflightinsider.com) [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK and the D-Star ONE team for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- November Satellite Activity Planned for HC8 Galapagos DXpedition HC8, GALAPAGOS ISLANDS. An Argentinian group will be active as HC8LU from San Cristobal Island in the Galapagos Islands between November 29 to December 8, 2017. Operators include Alejandro/LU8YD, Alejandro/LU9VEA, Mario/LU7VB, and Patricio/LU3YK. Pilot stations are Sergio/LU7YS and Javier/ LU5FF. Activity will be on 160-10 meters using mainly SSB and Digital modes (WSPR, JT65, FT8, PSK31). Also operations on the satellites (LEO, FM and SSB). QSL via IK2DUW. Visit their Blog page for updates, at: https://hc8lu.blogspot.com.ar [ANS thanks the Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 1331 for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + Ever since the launch of OSCAR I in 1961, it has been traditional for amateur radio satellites to carry the name OSCAR, for "Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio." At the request of the original Project OSCAR organization, AMSAT-NA now administers the numbering of OSCAR satellites. In anticipation of adding a new OSCAR on Tuesday, a listing of all 90 satellites that have received OSCAR designations has been posted to the AMSAT website at: https://www.amsat.org/orbiting-satellites-carrying-amateur-radio/ + During launch and early operations phases of a cubesat deployment many satellite operators participate in an unofficial Internet Relay Chat (IRC) #cubesat channel on the Freenode network. IRC clients in- clude Nettalk, mIRC, the ChatZilla plugin for Firefox browser. A web based connection is available at: https://webchat.freenode.net (Nickname = Callsign; Channels = #cubesat) More information about the Freenode network is posted at: https://freenode.net + Damon, WA4HFN says congratulations are due to Al, XE2AT for his triple award winner for earning the following Squirt the Birds awards: o Grid Master #6 o 5 in EM55 #61 o Got Grids? #18 These awards are free and we at Squirt the Birds support AMSAT NA Go to www.squirtthebirds.com for more info. + An article, "CubeSats are challenging" by Charles Phillips on 'The Space Review' at http://www.thespacereview.com/article/3364/1 offers university cubesat teams advice we already know ... "One good resource could be the busy amateur community that likes to listen for the down- link of satellites: a developer probably should have some amateurs lined up to listen just in case they are needed." + The Sun-Sentinel newspaper printed an article about the November 6 ARISS contact with the South Florida Science Center in West Palm Beach with Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli: http://tinyurl.com/ANS-316-SunSentinelARISS (www.sun-sentinel.com) + The Chertsey Radio Club got some good publicity for both amateur radio and the FUNcube-1 (AO-73) satellite in the Heathrow Villager newspaper published on November 4, 2017. During the JOTA event the FUNcube-1 sat- ellite transmitted a special Fitter Message from Space that the Scouts successfully decoded: http://tinyurl.com/ANS-316-AMSATUK-Scouts (www.amsat-uk.org) + The November edition of the AMSAT-EA newsletter (in Spanish) is now available for download https://www.amsat-ea.org/contenidos/ -and, a PDF file in English: http://tinyurl.com/ANS-316-AMSATEA-English (amsat-ea.org) + Masa, JN1GKZ, informs us from Tokyo that JAXA is preparing for the deployment of NRCSD#13 from the ISS in the November 16-17 timeframe. NRCSD#13 includes the ELaNa XXII CubeSats: ASTERIA, Dellingr/RBLE, and OSIRIS-3U. OSIRIS-3U will transmit on 437.505 MHz with GMSK data rates up to 38k4. The cubesats were delivered by Dragon CRS-12 in August, 2017. + On November 13, Venus and Jupiter will rise together in the morning sky shortly before sunrise. Venus and Jupiter will come within a mere 17 arcminutes of each other, and remain close for a day before and after the conjunction itself. (Reminder: Your fist held at arm's length measures about 10 degrees across. There are 60 arcminutes in 1 degree.) The two planets will be visible in the constellation Virgo, west of the waning crescent moon, which will be higher in the sky. Observers should look just south of east; the planets will be rising almost exactly ahead of the sun. https://www.space.com/33792-venus-jupiter-conjunction.html --------------------------------------------------------------------- /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. And, with that consider the tale of the superconductor who walks into a bar. The bartender says, "Get out! We don't serve your kind here." The superconductor left without resistance. 73, This week's ANS Editor, JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM k9jkm at amsat dot org

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