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ANS-337 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Lee McLamb 02 Dec '17

02 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 25 Nov '17

25 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 11 Nov '17

11 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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ANS-309 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE WEEKLY BULLETINS
by Chris Bradley 04 Nov '17

04 Nov '17

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-309.01 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: * QUIKCOM-1 Module Update * Update Patch for FoxTelem * New Grid Master Awarded * Countdown Continues for RadFxSat/Fox-1B Launch on November 10 * Satellite Operating Road Trip Announced - This Week * AMSAT Describes RadFxSat/Fox-1B Commissioning Plans * NASA JPSS-1 and ELaNa XIV/RadFxSat/Fox-1B Launch Briefings and Events * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-309.01 ANS-309.01 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 309.01 >From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. November 5, 2017 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-309.01 QUIKCOM-1 Module Update The QIKCOM-1 module was to be powered by 28 volts after the host spacecraft deployed its solar panels, charged its batteries and determined that power was nominal. Since QIKCOM-1 also had a completely separate QIKCOM- 11 VHF beacon and separate antenna to come on over the USA too, and neither have been heard, we assume the module has not been powered up. Both the host and QKCOM-1 were delivered about two and a half years ago and spent most of that time stored on ISS awaiting deployment. We thank everyone who listened after the deployment on Friday, but since both transmitters are on common APRS frequencies, monitored routinely in USA and around the world we will surely see it anyway if it powers up. Since it was deployed from ISS to avoid re-contact later, then it will be in essentially the same orbit but going lower. And lower orbits go faster. Deployed at 0.3 m/s or about 1kph, my guess is it will gain about 20 seconds a week.in front of ISS AOS as a wild guess. Bob Bruninga, WB4APR [ANS Bob Bruninga WB4APR for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Update Patch for FoxTelem V.1.05 Available for Download 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 patch are here: http://amsat.us/FoxTelem/windows/ http://amsat.us/FoxTelem/linux/ http://amsat.us/FoxTelem/mac/ [ANS thanks Chris, G0KLA/AC2CZ for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- New Grid Master Awarded Rick, WA4NVM and Damon, WA4HFN have teamed up to promote the use of amateur satellites and support AMSAT North America with a series of awards for satellite operators. On November 3 Damon announced, "Congrats to Al, XE2AT for earning Grid Master Award #6". The Grid Master Award is given for confirmed satellite contacts with all 488 U.S. Grids. Previous Grid Master award winners include: #1 John K8YSE 5/16/2014 #2 Doug KD8CAO 12/15/2014 #3 Rick WA4NVM 4/26/2015 #4 Glenn AA5PK 8/22/2017 #5 Clayton W5PFG 9/14/2017 In addition to the Grid Master award Rick and Damon also sponsor these satellite operating awards: + Got Grids Award - for 1 satellite contact in each of the 10 maiden head grids blocks in the US + 5 in EM55 Award - for 5 satellite contacts with operators in EM55 + These awards are available at no cost but Rick and Damon request you make a donation to AMSAT-NA. For more information visit their web site: http://www.squirtthebirds.com [ANS thanks Damon, WA4HFN for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Countdown Continues for RadFxSat/Fox-1B Launch on November 10 RadFxSat (Fox-1B) is scheduled for launch at 01:47 PST (09:47 UTC) on November 10, 2017. RadFxSat is one of four CubeSats making up the NASA ELaNa XIV mission, riding as secondary payloads aboard the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS)-1 mission. JPSS-1 will launch on a Delta II from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. 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. See: https://www.amsat.org/countdown-to-launch-radfxsat-fox-1b/ Satellite and experiment telemetry will be downlinked via the "DUV" subaudible telemetry stream and can be decoded with the FoxTelem software. Existing users of FoxTelem will get an upgrade notice and a download link when they next re-launch FoxTelem. If you have not tried FoxTelem before then you can download it from here: http://amsat.us/FoxTelem/windows/ http://amsat.us/FoxTelem/linux/ http://amsat.us/FoxTelem/mac/ (see related news item below for software patch information0 Launch updates are available via the United Launch Alliance web: http://www.ulalaunch.com/delta-ii-to-launch-jpss1.aspx and also at: http://tinyurl.com/ANS-309-Spaceflightnow-Launch [ANS thanks the AMSAT Engineering and Operations Teams for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Operating Road Trip Announced - This Week On Friday Dave, KG5CCI revealed plans for road trip with the goal of activating grids via satellite from Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, North and South Dakota. Dave wrote, "I'll go north on Nov 5th, and try to activate at least a few grids in the state of Missouri (since that's a needed WAS entity) and once in EN21 I'll likely rove around the local area (Iowa and Nebraska) and hit up EN20/11/10 while there." On November 9th, 10th, and 11th, he plans to meet up with Wyatt, ACORA. The dynamic duo will go blasting thru the frozen plains of South and North Dakota hoping activating numerous grids on Satellites and 6m MSK144. The planlooks generally like this: http://druidnetworks.com/K0D-Plan.png Watch Dave's twitter @KG5CCI for alerts. In conclusion, Dave said, "Unfortunately the only way to make a trip like this work, is with a tight schedule, and we both have to get back to our real lives after only a few days off. This means we will likely only do 1 or maybe 2 passes from each grid. Emphasis will be on grid lines when possible, and high, US wide footprints when available." [ANS thanks Dave, KG5CCI for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT Describes RadFxSat/Fox-1B Commissioning Plans AMSAT Vice-President Engineering, Jerry Buxton, NØJY wrote what to initially expect when the AMSAT RadFxSat/Fox-1B cubesat is launched as a passenger on NASA's ELaNa XIV mission on Friday, Nov. 10, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. Liftoff will be aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket from Space Launch Complex 2 and is targeted for 1:47 a.m. PT (4:47 a.m. ET, 9:47 am UTC) at the opening of a 65-second launch window. Launch cov- erage will begin on NASA Television and the agency’s website at 1:15 a.m. PT. RadFxSat/Fox-1B will automatically come up in Beacon Mode, transmitting a beacon and voice ID (Veronica saying "RadFxSat Safe Mode") every two minutes, starting about 50 minutes after deployment. The AMSAT command stations will want to see voltage and current data to determine that it's healthy and conduct various tests before opening it up for general use. Telemetry makes the engineering and operations teams very happy, starting ASAP after startup (~55 minutes after deployment) and for the next 72-96 hours at least as we look for successful startup, watch the general health and function as the satellite begins to acclimate to space, and perform the on orbit checkout. Ground stations are also invited to continue uploading received telemetry for the life of the satellite. If you are capturing telemetry with FoxTelem please be sure that "Upload to Server" is checked in your settings, and 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. In the initial Beacon Mode, the transmitter is limited to 10 seconds on time then does the two minutes off cycle as Paul pointed out. For those of you capturing telemetry, that means that you will only see Current frames and no High or Low frames because the High and Low are truncated as it takes just over 10 seconds to send two frames. Veronica may also be cut off before she gets to say her whole ID string. If Veronica is speaking, "RadFxSat Fox-1B Safe Mode" which is the full ID, if it's cut off then we're still in Beacon Mode. If we are seeing good data from user telemetry data, it is likely when it comes over the U.S. for the first good pass we will command it from Beacon Mode to normal Safe Mode, which then puts RadFxSat in full (still Safe Mode though) operation and transmits a full two frames of telemetry which is 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. YOUR HELP IS NEEDED! -------------------- Jerry, NØJY commented further ... Help your friends and all of our satellite ham friends get on the air and have fun sooner by being polite and patient! The on orbit checkout procedure is similar to Fox-1A/AO-85 and could be completed in as little as a few days if we have the cooperation of the users. It is very important, not to mention just plain good Amateur Operating Practice, to refrain from using the transponder uplink so we can do the on orbit tests, including when we turn on transponder mode for testing. I can't stress enough, the importance of this cooperation not just for us but for all users, simply having a little patience so we can conduct the tests as quickly and accurately as possible. 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 don't assume that it is open for general use - check the AMSAT website, Facebook, Twitter, to be sure you're not accidentally jumping in with and unwittingly interfering with the commissioning process. Lots of hams put thousands of volunteer hours of their time into making RadFxSat happen. Just like any ham radio project you might undertake, we build satellites. We do it because we like to, and when we're done we freely share our project with hams everywhere as is the spirit of amateur radio. I am asking all satellite hams to contribute just a little bit of your time to the fun now, by being patient and just gathering telemetry, not using the transponder uplink, and helping us complete the last few days of getting RadFxSat in orbit and operating for all of you. Thank you very much, see you on the bird! [ANS thanks AMSAT Vice-President Engineering, Jerry Buxton, NØJY, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- NASA JPSS-1 and ELaNa XIV/RadFxSat/Fox-1B Launch Briefings and Events AMSAT RadFxSat/Fox-1B will be launched as a passenger on NASA's ELaNa XIV mission. The primary payload for this flight is the Joint Polar Satellite System-1 (JPSS-1), the first in a new series of four highly advanced NOAA polar-orbiting satellites, which will help increase weather forecast accuracy from three to seven days out. JPSS-1 and ELaNa XIV (including RadFxSat/Fox-1B) is scheduled to launch on Friday, Nov. 10, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. Liftoff aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket from Space Launch Complex 2 is targeted for 1:47 a.m. PT (4:47 a.m. ET, 9:47 am UTC) at the opening of a 65-second launch window. Launch coverage will begin on NASA Television and the agency’s website at 1:15 a.m. PT. Visit the NASA JPSS-1 Briefings and Events page for a full description of the JPSS-1 mission and a timeline of press and launch events: https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/jpss-1-briefings-and-events The ELaNa missions generally get discussed on the L-2 Day Prelaunch News Conference and Science Briefing followed by CubeSat owner inter- views. As AMSAT approaches the launch of RadFxSat/Fox-1B, Jerry Buxton, NØJY, Vice-President Engineering, compiled a playlist of the streaming and recorded videos he made as we went through the final testing and qual- ification of the flight model: http://tinyurl.com/ANS-288-Fox1B-YouTube On a related topic the next AMSAT-NA CubeSat of the Fox Team is Fox-1Cliff. Here are links to videos showing Fox-1Cliff's "ride": http://tinyurl.com/ANS-288-Spaceflight-Video-1 http://tinyurl.com/ANS-288-Spaceflight-Video-2 [ANS thanks AMSAT Vice-President Engineering, Jerry Buxton, NØJY, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + D-Star One is a 3U CubeSat, designed for technology demonstration. It will qualify a novel EPS and a new OBC, developed and built by GOS in Berlin. Among other payloads, the satellite will have four D-Star communication modules onboard. Two of these modules will be fully dedicated to the amateur radio community. The other two modules will be used for TT&C. **A downlink frequency of 435.700 MHz has been coordinated** [ANS thanks AMSAT UK for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- + Page 12 of the November issue of SatMagazine features an article on the Jordanian JY1-SAT CubeSat which will carry an Amateur Radio linear transponder. Download the magazine PDF from http://www.satmagazine.com/ (via AMSAT-UK) [ANS thanks JoAnne, K9JKM for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- + The new version of the VHF handbook is available in the "Resources" section of the iaru website and can be accessed at: http://www.iaru-r1.org/index.php/vhfuhsshf/1737-vhf-manager-handbook-versio… [ ANS thanks IARU Region 1 and AMSAT-UK for the above] --------------------------------------------------------------------- + 5K0, SAN ANDRES ISLAND (Update). Members of the Grupo Yaguarete DX, whopostponed their DXpedition (which was scheduled between October and November) to Sint Martin due to the extreme damage by hurricane Irma, have now re-scheduled to be active as 5K0T from San Andres Island (NA-033) between November 12-26th. Operators mentioned are Joe/LU1FM (Team Leader), Dan/LU9FHF, Andy/LU2JCW, Wally/LU3FMD, Fer/LU6FOV and Bob/KK6EK. Activity will be on 160-10 meters, using CW, SSB, Digital modes (PSK31 and FT8) and the Satellites. They plan to have 3 HF stations and one satellite station on the air. Complete list of equipment is available on QRZ.com. QSL via LU1FM. The 5K0T DXpedition will be officially supported by the Cordell Expedition's DXA3 logging system <www.dxa3.org>. For more details and updates, see: http://tarjetasqsl.com.ar/5k0t/index.html [ANS thanks Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 1333 for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- + FalconSAT-3, CAS-4A, CAS-4B Now Supported in LoTW. The ARRL released TQSL configuration file version 11.2. FalconSAT-3, CAS-4A, and CAS-4B are now supported in LoTW. Note that FalconSAT-3 is abbreviated FS-3. (via ARRL) [ANS thanks A.R.R.L. 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, Chris Bradley, AA5EM aa5em at amsat dot org _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

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ANS-302 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by E.Mike McCardel 29 Oct '17

29 Oct '17

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-302 The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and infor- mation service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. The news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor at amsat.org. In this edition: * AMSAT-NA Announces GOLF CubeSat Program * AMSAT-NA Board of Directors Elects Joe Spier, K6WAO, President * Jordan’s first satellite – JY1-SAT * APRS Satellites QIKCOM-1 Deployed * FalconSat-3 Video w/ WiSP File Upload/Download * Special Membership Offer for RadFxSat Launch * Pope Asks Spacemen Life's Big Questions In ISS Live Chat * AMSAT-NA Board of Directors Elects Joe Spier, K6WAO, President * ARISS News * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-302.01 ANS-302 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 302.01 >From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. October 28, 2017 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-302.01 AMSAT-NA Announces GOLF CubeSat Program At the AMSAT-NA Annual General Meeting in Reno, NV, AMSAT-NA President Joe Spier, K6WAO, announced the next phase of AMSAT’s CubeSat program: GOLF. GOLF, an acronym for “Greater Orbit, Larger Footprint,” is a crucial step towards fulfilling AMSAT’s strategic goals involving high altitude, wide access satellite missions. As an initial step in the GOLF program, the AMSAT-NA Board of Directors approved the submission of a NASA CubeSat Launch Initiative proposal for the GOLF-T satellite project. The GOLF-T project will serve as a rapidly deployable Low Earth Orbit (LEO) testbed for technologies necessary for a successful CubeSat mission to a wide variety of orbits, including LEO, Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), Geosynchronous Orbit (GEO), Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO), or beyond. AMSAT-NA Vice-President Engineering Jerry Buxton, N0JY, said “The GOLF-T project tees off the next phase of our CubeSat program. GOLF-T provides AMSAT hardware and knowledge for Attitude Determination and Control (ADAC) capability and the opportunity to develop a 3U spaceframe with deployable solar panels that can be used in LEO or HEO missions, two of the major systems required in future GOLF and HEO missions.” In addition, GOLF-T provides the opportunity for rapid deployment and on orbit testing of the AMSAT’s Advanced Satellite Communications and Exploration of New Technology (ASCENT )program’s technology, including radiation tolerant transponder and Integrated Housekeeping Unit (IHU) technologies that will lead the way for low cost commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) systems that can function in the MEO and HEO radiation environments. GOLF-T will also provide for the development of “Five and Dime” Field-Programmable Gate Array Software Defined Radio (FPGA SDR) transponders for use on a variety of missions and orbits. [ANS thanks the AMSAT-NA Board of Directors and our Engineering Team for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT-NA Board of Directors Elects Joe Spier, K6WAO, President At it’s annual meeting, held at the Silver Legacy Resort Hotel in Reno, NV, the AMSAT-NA Board of Directors elected Joe Spier, K6WAO, of Reno, NV, President, succeeding Barry Baines, WD4ASW, who has retired after nine years of service as AMSAT’s President. Joe is a Life Member of AMSAT-NA and has previously served as Executive Vice President and Vice-President Educational Relations. He also has Life Memberships in the ARRL, SARA (Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers) and the AFA (Air Force Association). He holds an Extra Class license as well as commercial licenses. Immediate Past President Barry Baines, WD4ASW, said “It has been an honor to serve as President for the past nine years and as a board member since 1999. I’m confident that the successes of the past nine years while serving as President will lead to new opportunities in AMSAT’s future as Joe assumes the helm working with the new Senior Leadership Team. I’m also thrilled that Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, and Clayton Coleman, W5PFG, are new voting members on the Board, including the assumption of my former slot. I’m excited that the new Board combined with the new Senior Leadership Team will bring insight, enthusiasm, energy and commitment to move AMSAT forward.” Other officers elected by the Board were: * Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, of Washington, DC, as Executive Vice President * Jerry Buxton, N0JY, of Granbury, TX, as Vice-President Engineering * Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, of New Port Richey, FL, as Vice-President Operations * Clayton Coleman, W5PFG, of Granbury, TX, as Secretary * Keith Baker, KB1SF/VA3KSF, of Corunna, ON, as Treasurer * Martha Saragovitz of Silver Spring, MD, as Manager [ANS thanks the AMSAT-NA Board of Directors for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Jordan’s first satellite – JY1-SAT During the final satellite integration training for Jordan’s first satellite, JY1-SAT, the team was supported for the final stages of integration by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II. The spacecraft has been given to students of the Masar Initiative at the Jordan University of Science and Technology as part of the JY1- SAT mission support and training program under the Crown Prince Foundation given by ISIS – Innovative Solutions In Space and AMSAT-UK and AMSAT Netherlands. The JY1-SAT mission was proposed by Jordanian students who participated in the first batch of the cooperation program with NASA, after which the interns had suggested the design and launch of the first Jordanian satellite CubeSat. To build up the capability to design and develop such a first mission, the Crown Prince Foundation signed a support agreement with ISIS – Innovative Solutions In Space and the AMSAT Radio Amateur Societies of the UK and the Netherlands, for hardware and training support, building on ISIS’ and AMSAT’s experience with FUNcube radio amateur transponder missions. As a special development for the JY1-SAT mission, AMSAT has expanded the capabilities of the FUNcube transponder to be able to transmit stored images reflecting the Jordanian culture and its historical heritage, along with a voice message recorded by the Crown Prince to be transmitted in space to receivers around the world. The launch of the JY1-SAT, scheduled during the first half of next year, is in memory of His Majesty the late King Hussein, the first founder of the HAM Radio in Jordan and holder of call sign JY1. JY1-SAT will have a linear, inverting, transponder downlinking between 145.855 & 145.875 MHz with the uplink between 435.100 & 435.120 MHz. The telemetry downlink will be on 145.840 MHz and be FUNcube compatible. A new Dashboard will be made available before the launch of JY1-SAT. The Jordan Times – Crown Prince puts final touch on mini satellite project http://tinyurl.com/ANS302-JY1-Sat [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- APRS Satellites QIKCOM-1 Deployed QIKCOM-1 was deployed from the ISS Friday at 0915 UTC attached to the SIMPL spacecraft. It is an APRS digipeater just like the ISS. Whereas it also supports the same ARISS alias as the ISS digipeater, please use the ALIAS of APRSAT on your uplinks instead of ARISS so that you only hit QIKCOM-1 for these first few passes with your test uplinks (once a minute).. Or you can be specific via QIKCOM-1 callsign. At 4 Watts, it will be 10 dB stronger than PSAT(84) and about the same power level as ISS and should be easy to receive on the 145.825 downlink. We ask all potential IGates to check your ground stations and make sure they are ready to IGate packets during those initial orbits from all over the globe. If you do not have an IGate, just capture packets and email them to qikcom1 at gmail.com until we see that everything is making it to the APRS-IS. The downlink should be available on the original http://pcsat.findu.com and also on http://59.167.159.165/satreporter/index2.html Being released from ISS, QIKCOM-1 will of course have the same Elements and tracking info as ISS until they begin to separate. This means passes over the USA every 90 minutes beginning at 0630 EDT in the Southeast and ending after 1440 PDT in Southern California. Web page: http://aprs.org/qikcom-1.html As usual, QIKCOM-1 is not intended for UNATTENDED BEACONS. It is designed for Live Operations and experiments only. For the initial passes, do not attempt 2-way contacts. Just set your STATUS text to indicate your TX power and antenna type and transmit at 1m intervals ATTENDED as described on the web page during these first few orbits. So we can get sttistices on uplink quality. [ANS thanks Bob, WB4APR for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- FalconSat-3 Video w/ WiSP File Upload/Download If anyone would like to see how the WiSP software handles uploading & downloading files to FalconSat-3, I made a video of the highest elevation pass tonight: https://youtu.be/9spO1e8NVj0 ... I don't understand it all yet, but am seeing some uploads & downloads. I keep UISS open and ready in case anyone is active w/ APRS packets, but on this pass I didn't transmit from UISS to give the MSPE program from WiSP maximum time to work. There's a little explanation in the notes below the video on YouTube if you click "SHOW MORE" on that page. Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, has scanned and posted the chapter on WISP from Gould Smith's 2005 Digital Satellite & Telemetry Guide to the FalconSAT-3 page on amsat.org. He hopes it is helpful to everyone diving back into this excellent program from the past. It can be found near the bottom of the page at https://www.amsat.org/falconsat-3/ [ANS thanks Scott, K4KDR and Drew KO4MA 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] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Pope Asks Spacemen Life's Big Questions In ISS Live Chat Pope Francis chatted with six astronauts at the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday, kicking off the rare interview with a philosophical question on "man's place in the universe". Italian Paolo Nespoli, 60, admitted that despite the bird's eye view of Earth he too remained "perplexed", while American Mark Vande Hei said seeing the planet from space made them "realise how fragile we are". The Argentine pontiff sat at a Vatican desk, facing a wide-screen television on which the astronauts from America, Russia and Italy could be seen floating together in their blue suits. "Good afternoon... or good evening. I imagine time passes differently at the space station, right?" the pope quipped. "Astronomy makes us think about the universe's boundless horizons, and prompts questions such as 'where do we come from, where are we going?'" he mused. A 30-second delay in the satellite feed gave Nespoli, Vande Hei, Americans Randolph (Randy) Bresnik and Joseph Acaba, and Russians Sergej Nikolaevic Rjazanskij and Alexandr Misirkin time to weigh up life's biggest questions. "Our aim here is to spread knowledge, (but) the more we learn, the more we realise we do not know," admitted Nespoli, who is on his third trip into space. "I would like people like you, theologians, philosophers, poets, writers, to come to space to explore what it means to be a human in space," he said, as Francis nodded and smiled. US mission commander Bresnik told the Argentine that from the visible thinness of the planet's atmosphere shows how fragile life is on earth. - 'Future of humanity' - But the pope had not finished: what, he wanted to know, was their opinion of love as a force that moves the universe? What was their source of joy up in the space station, and how did a life without gravity change their view of the world? The crew took it in turns to get their philosophical caps on, and not even a technical hitch which temporarily interrupted the interview, or the lack of a Russian translator, could throw the space travellers off course. "I get the most joy by looking outside every day and seeing God's creation, maybe a little bit from his perspective," Bresnick said. Far from wars, famines, pollution or human folly, he said "the future of humanity looks better from up here". Bresnik, 50, a former Marine Corps aviator who goes by the nickname "Komrade", made his fifth career excursion outside the space station this month to carry out crucial repairs to the ISS's robotic arm with NASA colleague Acaba. Acaba, 50, the first person of Puerto Rican heritage to become an astronaut, cheerfully said hello to the pope in Spanish before tackling the question on how the men deal with 'up' and 'down' losing their meaning in space. Francis is not the only Roman Catholic leader to have put in a call to the star-covered heavens. The first pope to get on the line to space was Benedict XVI in 2011, who rang the ISS -- which has been continuously occupied since 2000 -- when Nespoli was once again among the crew. [ANS thanks Ella IDE via Space Daily for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS News + A Successful contact was made between Istituto Scolastico Comprensivo “Nardi”, Porto San Giorgio, Italyand Astronaut Paolo Nespoli IZØJPA using Callsign IRØISS. The contact began 2017-10-21 09:31 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was Direct/Telebridge via I6KZR and IQ5VR.HamTV was active. ARISS Mentor was Francesco IKØWGF. + A Successful contact was made between I.C. Michelangelo Buonarroti, Marina di Carrara, Italyand Astronaut Paolo Nespoli IZØJPA using Callsign IRØISS. The contact began 2017-10-21 09:31 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was Direct/Telebridge via I6KZR and IQ5VR. HamTV was active. ARISS Mentor was Francesco IKØWGF. + A Successful contact was made between Istituto Comprensivo “Tauro Viterbo”, Castellana Grotte (Ba), Italy and Astronaut Paolo Nespoli IZØJPA using Callsign IRØISS. The contact began 2017-10-21 14:23 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was Direct via IZ7RTN. HamTVC was active. ARISS Mentor was Francesco IKØWGF. Event location: Cittadella Mediterranea della Scienza, Bari, Italy + A Successful contact was made between “A.Gramsci-N.Pende”, Noicattaro, Italy and Astronaut Paolo Nespoli IZØJPA using Callsign IRØISS. The contact began 2017-10-21 14:23 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was Direct via IZ7RTN. ARISS Mentor was Francesco IKØWGF. HamTVC was active. Event location: Cittadella Mediterranea della Scienza, Bari, Italy + A Successful contact was made between Chiddix Junior High School, Normal, IL, USA and Astronaut Joe Acaba KE5DAR using Callsign NA1SS. The contact began 2017-10-23 15:31 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was Direct via W9AML ARISS Mentor was Joe K6WAO. + A Successful contact was made between Beaconsfield State School, Mackay, Queensland, Australia and Astronaut Paolo Nespoli IZØJPA using Callsign IRØISS. The contact began 2017-10-26 08:23 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was Telebridge via IK1SLD ARISS Mentor was Shane VK4KHZ. + A Successful contact was made between Colegiul National Calistrat Hogas Piatra Neamt, Piatra Neamt, Romania and Astronaut Joe Acaba KE5DAR using Callsign OR4ISS. The contact began 2017-10-26 09:55 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was Telebridge via EI1ISS. ARISS Mentor was Armand SP3QFE. + A Successful contact was made between Glanmire Community College, Cork, Ireland and Astronaut Joe Acaba KE5DAR using Callsign OR4ISS. The contact began 2017-10-26 09:55 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was Direct via EI1ISS. ARISS Mentor was Seamus EI8BP. + A Successful contact was made between Istituto Tecnico Tecnologico “Enzo Ferrari”, Borgo A Mozzano, Italy and Astronaut Paolo Nespoli IZØJPA using Callsign IRØISS. The contact began 2017-10-28 08:13:31 UTC. Contact was Direct via IQ5LU and IQ1SM. ARISS Mentor was Francesco IKØWGF. + A Successful contact was made between Liceo Statale “G. D. Cassini”, Sanremo, Italy and Astronaut Paolo Nespoli IZØJPA using Callsign IRØISS. The contact began 2017-10-28 08:13:31 UTC. Contact was Direct via IQ5LU and IQ1SM. ARISS Mentor was Gianpietro IZ2GOJ. Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule + Primaria e Secondaria di primo grado Istituto comprensivo Via XVI settembre, Civitavecchia, Italy direct via IKØWGF The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be IRØISS The scheduled astronaut is Paolo Nespoli IZØJPA Contact is a go for: Mon 2017-10-30 11:20:34 UTC Watch for HamTV to be operative. + Asociación Civil Instituto Maria Montessori, San Cristóbel, Venezuela, direct via YY2CMR The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Joe Acaba KE5DAR Contact is a go for: Tue 2017-10-31 18:23:28 UTC + Liceo Scientifico ‘Francesco Cecioni”, Livorno, Italy and Liceo Artistico Melotti, Lomazzo, Italy, direct via IQ5LI. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be IRØISS The scheduled astronaut is Paolo Nespoli IZØJPA Contact is a go for: Fri 2017-11-03 09:27:26 UTC Watch for HamTV to be operative. + Istituto di Istruzione Superiore “Leonardo Da Vinci”, Lanusei, Italy, direct via ISØBWM The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS The scheduled astronaut is Paolo Nespoli IZØJPA Contact is a go for: Sat 2017-11-04 10:12:16 UTC Watch for HamTV to be operative. [ANS thanks ARISS, Charlie AJ9N and David AA4KN for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + Daylight saving time 2017 in the United Kingdom ends at 02:00 on Sunday, 29 October [ANS thanks Southgate ARN for the above information.] + Curious about when Daylight Savings time begins and ends around the world? Thank goodness for UTC. Visit https://www.timeanddate.com/time/dst/2017.html [ANS thanks EMike AA8EM for the above information] + RUSSIAN WAR GAMES SPARK 'BLUE AURORAS' Around the Arctic Circle, people see green auroras almost every night. It's nothing to write home about. Blue auroras, on the other hand, are very unusual. Photos and more information are highlighted on Spaceweather.com. [ANS thanks Spaceweather.com via Southgate ARN 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-301.01 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin - AMSAT-NA Announces GOLF CubeSat Program
by JoAnne K9JKM 28 Oct '17

28 Oct '17

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE SPECIAL BULLETIN ANS-301.01 In this Special Bulletin: * AMSAT-NA Announces GOLF CubeSat Program SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-301.01 ANS-301 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin 301.01 From AMSAT SYMPOSIUM, RENO, NV DATE October 28, 2017 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-301.01 At the AMSAT-NA Annual General Meeting in Reno, NV, AMSAT-NA President Joe Spier, K6WAO, announced the next phase of AMSAT’s CubeSat program: GOLF. GOLF, an acronym for “Greater Orbit, Larger Footprint,” is a crucial step towards fulfilling AMSAT’s strategic goals involving high altitude, wide access satellite missions. As an initial step in the GOLF program, the AMSAT-NA Board of Directors approved the submission of a NASA CubeSat Launch Initiative proposal for the GOLF-T satellite project. The GOLF-T project will serve as a rapidly deployable Low Earth Orbit (LEO) testbed for technologies necessary for a successful CubeSat mission to a wide variety of orbits, including LEO, Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), Geosynchronous Orbit (GEO), Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO), or beyond. AMSAT-NA Vice-President Engineering Jerry Buxton, N0JY, said “The GOLF-T project tees off the next phase of our CubeSat program. GOLF-T provides AMSAT hardware and knowledge for Attitude Determination and Control (ADAC) capability and the opportunity to develop a 3U spaceframe with deployable solar panels that can be used in LEO or HEO missions, two of the major systems required in future GOLF and HEO missions.” In addition, GOLF-T provides the opportunity for rapid deployment and on orbit testing of the AMSAT’s Advanced Satellite Communications and Exploration of New Technology (ASCENT )program’s technology, including radiation tolerant transponder and Integrated Housekeeping Unit (IHU) technologies that will lead the way for low cost commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) systems that can function in the MEO and HEO radiation environments. GOLF-T will also provide for the development of “Five and Dime” Field-Programmable Gate Array Software Defined Radio (FPGA SDR) transponders for use on a variety of missions and orbits. [ANS thanks the AMSAT-NA Board of Directors and our Engineering Team for the above information] /EX

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ANS-299 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin - AMSAT-NA Board of Directors Elects Joe Spier, K6WAO, President
by JoAnne K9JKM 26 Oct '17

26 Oct '17

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE SPECIAL BULLETIN ANS-299 The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and infor- mation service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. The news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor at amsat.org. In this edition: * AMSAT-NA Board of Directors Elects Joe Spier, K6WAO, President SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-299.01 ANS-299 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin 299.01 From AMSAT SYMPOSIUM, RENO, NV DATE October 26, 2017 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-299.01 AMSAT-NA Board of Directors Elects Joe Spier, K6WAO, President At it’s annual meeting, held at the Silver Legacy Resort Hotel in Reno, NV, the AMSAT-NA Board of Directors elected Joe Spier, K6WAO, of Reno, NV, President, succeeding Barry Baines, WD4ASW, who has retired after nine years of service as AMSAT’s President. Joe is a Life Member of AMSAT-NA and has previously served as Executive Vice President and Vice-President Educational Relations. He also has Life Memberships in the ARRL, SARA (Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers) and the AFA (Air Force Association). He holds an Extra Class license as well as commercial licenses. Immediate Past President Barry Baines, WD4ASW, said “It has been an honor to serve as President for the past nine years and as a board member since 1999. I’m confident that the successes of the past nine years while serving as President will lead to new opportunities in AMSAT’s future as Joe assumes the helm working with the new Senior Leadership Team. I’m also thrilled that Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, and Clayton Coleman, W5PFG, are new voting members on the Board, including the assumption of my former slot. I’m excited that the new Board combined with the new Senior Leadership Team will bring insight, enthusiasm, energy and commitment to move AMSAT forward.” Other officers elected by the Board were: * Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, of Washington, DC, as Executive Vice President * Jerry Buxton, N0JY, of Granbury, TX, as Vice-President Engineering * Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, of New Port Richey, FL, as Vice-President Operations * Clayton Coleman, W5PFG, of Granbury, TX, as Secretary * Keith Baker, KB1SF/VA3KSF, of Corunna, ON, as Treasurer * Martha Saragovitz of Silver Spring, MD, as Manager [ANS the AMSAT-NA Board of Directors for the above information] /EX

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