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AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-099
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 March/April 2017 Apogee View Published on AMSAT.org
* AMSAT Orbital Data Request to Re-Distribute KEPs Approved 2017-2018
* March/April AMSAT Journal Sent to Printer
* Satellite DX Opportunity 09 April Yuru Gagarin Cup Contest
* New Hardware and Software Release for HamTV Reception from ISS
* K6G in DM02
* Announcement of the 9th European CubeSat Symposium, 11/29-12/01,
2017
* VUCC Awards/Endorsements for March 2017
* Amateur Radio on the International Space Station Contact Opportunity
Closes April 15
* AMSAT Events
* ARISS News
* Satellite Shorts from All Over
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-099.01
ANS-099 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 099.01
>From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD.
DATE April 9, 2017
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-099.01
---------------------------------------------------------------------
AMSAT March/April 2017 Apogee View Published on AMSAT.org
The March/April 2017 edition of Apogee View, a comprehensive bimonthly
update of AMSAT's activities written by AMSAT President Barry Baines,
WD4ASW, is now available on the AMSAT website at
http://www.amsat.org/?page_id=5850
Topics covered in this edition include:
-Fox-1Cliff/Fox-1D News
-Hamvention
-Strategic Planning
[ANS thanks Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, AMSAT Secretary
for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
AMSAT Orbital Data Request to Re-Distribute KEPs Approved 2017-2018
I am pleased to announce that AMSAT's request to re-distribute AFSPC
Keplerian elements from SpaceTrack has been approved for the period
April 1, 2017 to April 1, 2018. Our USSTRATCOM ODR
(Orbital Data Request) to distribute the KEPs was approved on April 4,
2017.
Thanks to AFSPC, Perry Klein, W3PK and Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P for their
help in this process.
AMSAT Keps updates are "good to go" for another year.
[ANS thanks Ray Hoad, WA5QGD, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager
for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
March/April AMSAT Journal Sent to Printer
The March/April 2017 issue of The AMSAT Journal has been sent to the
printer and should begin arriving in members' mailboxes shortly.
In this issue:
*AMSAT Announcement
*Apogee View
Barry Baines, WD4ASW
*Engineering Update
Jerry Buxton, N0JY
*Designing and Operating a Portable Satellite Station in an Urban
Environment
Paul Stoetzer, N8HM
*Adaptive Coding and Modulation for Phase 4 Ground
Michelle Thompson, W5NYV
*Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, Named 2017 Dayton Hamvention Amateur
of the Year
*Field Day 2017
Bruce Paige, KK5DO
*Designing a Ground Station for P4 and P5 Satellites
John P. Toscano, W0JT/5
*Building a Microwave Transceiver: The Path to My Own Five-and-Dime
Ground Station
Jonathan Brandenburg, KF5IDY
*QSL Delta Mike Three Four
Faith Hannah Lea, PJ6/AE4FH
*DIY Arduino Based Satellite Tracking Pointer
Jonathan Stockman, KC2THY
*On the Grids: Churchill MB EO23
Melvin C. Vye, W8MV
[ANS thanks Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, AMSAT Secretary
for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Satellite DX Oportunity 09 April Yuru Gagarin Cup Contest
The contest is dedicated to the memory of Yuri Gagarin, who realized
the first human flight to space, on April 12, 1961.
RULES
1. Date: from 21.00 UTC on April 08th till 21.00 UTC on April 09th, 2017.
Stations of categories A, B, D, E and F may operate 20 of the 24 hours.
Off times must be a minimum of 60 minutes during which no QSO is logged.
2. Bands: 1.8, 3.5, 7.0, 14, 21, 28 MHz and radio amateur satellites.
3. Modes: CW only.
4. Contest Call: <CQ GC> (CQ Gagarin Cup).
5. Categories:
A Single operator - Single band.
B Single operator - Multi bands.
C Multi operators - Multi bands, single transmitter.
D SWL - Multi bands.
E Single operator - Multi bands, Low power.
F Single operator - Single band, Low power.
SAT Single operator - satellite QSOs.
S Special stations: callsign with ..56GC.
During the contest:
All multi-band categories may also utilize radio amateur satellites. These
QSOs are counted as an additional band.
Categorie C must remain on the same band for at least 5 minutes after
the first QSO has been made.
Categories A, B, C, E and F can make only one QSO with the same
station on that band.
The participants of A and F groups can make QSO outside of offset on
other bands.
Radiostations of group C and S are authorized simultaneous QSO through
satellites.
6. Exchange: RST and ITU zone number.
7. QSO points:
QSO with own <P-150-C> country count 2 points.
QSO with a different <P-150-C> country in the same continent - 3 points.
QSO with a different continent - 4 points.
Satellite`s QSO - 100 poins.
QSO points on:
1.8 MHz and 3.5MHz multiplied by 3;
7 MHz - 2;
14, 21 and 28 MHz - 1.
For SWL: Complete logging of one station only the callsign of the second
station count 1 point. Complete logging of both sides of a QSO - 3 points.
The same callsign may be logged only 1 time on each band.
8. Multipliers: each different ITU zone, QSO with special stations (..55GC)
worked on each band gives 1 point for multiplier. SWLs have no multipliers.
9. Final score:
The total number of QSO points on all bands times the total number of
multipliers worked on all bands.
10. Awards: The Special trophy will be awarded to the winner in the
B, C, E & S categories.
Different kind of medals will be awarded to the world's top three scoring
stations in the A, B, C, E, SAT and S categories.
Certificates will be awarded to top three and each country's winner in each
category.
Certificates will be awarded to all the Contest participants who log not
less
than 250 QSOs or 250 SWLs.
11. Logs:
Electronic logs are to be sent via e-mail as the enclosure to the
letter. File format -
text of the operator's contest program but Cabrillo format will be much
appreciated.
In the field "subject" of your e-mail letter it is necessary to mention
your callsign
and category (for example - ra3aaa B). In the text of the letter it is
necessary to
show your final score
calculation, rig and antennas data, as well as your comments and wishes.
E-mail address:
gc17(at)bk(dot)ru
Upload contest log:
http://ua9qcq.com/en/submit_log.php?lang=en
The final date of logs sending - May 09, 2017.
The results of <Gagarin Cup> are to the
http://gc.qst.ru and
http://www.qrz.ru/contest/
**** ***** ** ********** **** ************* *** ****** *************
QSO: 21010 CW 2004-03-20 1200 UA8AA 599 33 RL3A 599 29
QSO: 144 CW 2004-03-20 1210 UA8AA 599 33 RL3A 599 29
A. Single Op - Single Band
START-OF-LOG: 3.0
CONTEST: GC
CALLSIGN: UA8AA (???????? ???????)
CATEGORY-OPERATOR: SINGLE-OP
CATEGORY-BAND: 15M
CATEGORY-POWER: HIGH
LOCATION: 29
CLUB: ABCC
CREATED-BY: Soft v1.0
EMAIL: ua8aa(a)mail.ru
NAME:
ADDRESS:
ADDRESS:
OPERATORS: UA8AA
OFFTIME: 2013-04-13 2100 2013-04-13 2159
OFFTIME: 2013-04-14 1800 2013-04-14 2059
SOAPBOX: TNX 73
QSO: 21010 CW 2004-03-20 1200 UA8AA 599 33 RL3A 599 29
END-OF-LOG:
B. Single Op - Multi Band
START-OF-LOG: 3.0
CONTEST: GC
CALLSIGN: UA8AA
CATEGORY-OPERATOR: SINGLE-OP
CATEGORY-BAND: ALL
CATEGORY-POWER: HIGH
LOCATION: 29
CLUB: ABCC
CREATED-BY: Soft v1.0
EMAIL: ua8aa(a)mail.ru
NAME:
ADDRESS:
ADDRESS:
OPERATORS: UA8AA
OFFTIME: 2013-04-13 2100 2013-04-13 2159
OFFTIME: 2013-04-14 1800 2013-04-14 2059
SOAPBOX: TNX 73
QSO: 21010 CW 2004-03-20 1200 UA8AA 599 33 RL3A 599 29
END-OF-LOG:
C. Multi Op - Multi Band
START-OF-LOG: 3.0
CONTEST: GC
CALLSIGN: UA8XYZ
CATEGORY-OPERATOR: MULTI-OP
CATEGORY-BAND: ALL
CATEGORY-POWER: HIGH
LOCATION: 29
CLUB: ABCC
CREATED-BY: Soft v1.0
EMAIL: ua8aa(a)mail.ru
NAME:
ADDRESS:
ADDRESS:
OPERATORS: UA8AA
OPERATORS: UA8BA
OPERATORS: UA8CA
SOAPBOX: TNX 73
QSO: 21010 CW 2004-03-20 1200 UA8XYZ 599 33 RL3A 599 29
END-OF-LOG:
Satelites QSO
VO-52 - 432, FO-29 - 144.
QSO: 144 CW 2012-04-15 1045 XX9X 599 31 YY9Y 599 34
QSO: 432 CW 2012-04-15 1045 XX9X 599 31 YY9Y 599 34
See
http://gc.qst.ru/en/section/32
[ANS thanks Kerry LaDuke, and the GC Committee
for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
New Hardware and Software Release for HamTV Reception from ISS
On board the ISS Columbus module, the HamVideo transmitter
is fully operational and provides permanent DATV signals,
allowing ground stations to fine tune their receiving equipment.
When possible, ARISS school contacts are enhanced by crew
operated HamTV.
The demand for a dedicated HamTV receiver is growing. Jean-Pierre
Courjaud F6DZP developed an up-to-date receiver and wrote special
software for HamTV. He dubbed the receiver TuTiouner and the software.
Tutioune (phonetic French transcript for “You tune”).
Components for the TuTioune receiver are for sale at the BATC shop
(British Amateur Television Club). See:
https://batc.org.uk/shop/dtx1
The software is available for free at:
http://www.amsat-on.be/hamtv-summary/minitiouner-software/
Full details, including schematics, are provided on the HamTV
home page: http://www.amsat-on.be/hamtv-summary/
Occasionally, the HamVideo transmitter must be powered down, for
several reasons. The status of the transmitter is published on
the amasat-on.be webpage.
[ANS thanks Gaston Bertels, ON4WF, and ARISS-Europe
for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
K6G in DM02
It is a pleasure to announce a real activation of the much sought after
Delta Mike Zero Two. There seems to have been only two passes worked
from here in the last 11 years, that is about to change.
Activations of rare grids should be done with enough preparation to avoid
missed passes. That said, I've invited two other ops to help assure our
success and maximize linear transponder passes. Our special guests will be
none other than Wyatt AC0RA and Gabe NJ7H. I am more than confident in
their rover skill levels and ability to maintain a functional station.
They have
also proven to be capable of working through unforeseen equipment troubles.
Typical precautions apply. If you have linear capabilities please work
us on the
transponders. Our FM only friends deserve a chance at scoring a rare grid
and tying up the bird helps nobody. On linear please be cognizant of your
power level. I know at least two of us will be using our regular
portable stations
that are 5 watts max, QRO stations on the transponder will make us
difficult to
hear. Also, please be aware of the footprint for other ops. Nothing good
comes
from a left coast station getting in the middle of us trying to work the
right coast.
All QSOs will be uploaded to LoTW as promptly as possible and paper will
be sent
to shore via torpedo.
Last but not least, when is it going to happen? Due to various
environmental aspects, firm departure and arrival times are not set in
stone. However, we can say that it will be the weekend of April 28th.
When you
hear K6G you will know that 02 will be on. We will have plenty of time
to work
many passes and none of us are afraid to work any pass no matter how
shallow
it may be. I may continue normal ops leading up to departure to ensure my
station performs as expected.
[ANS thanks Mike Diehl, AI6GS for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Announcement of the 9th European CubeSat Symposium, 11/29-12/01, 2017
This year the 9th European CubeSat Symposium will take place in Belgium on
November 29th-December 1st 2017 in co-location (same time, same place)
with the European Space Weather Week.
During the European Space Weather Week, the whole Space Weather
community gathers to discuss new discoveries on space weather and
space climate. This is the perfect occasion to foster the evolution of the
CubeSats reality from a "University tool" to a "Science tool".
As usual, we have tried to organize this Symposium giving importance to
the most relevant topics in the CubeSat world, from Technology
Demonstrators and Scientific Missions to the Future Technologies and
the Space Exploration with CubeSats.
In detail, the Symposium is covering the following topics:
- Novel Scientific Instruments/Sensors on CubeSats
- Propulsion Subsystems
- Attitude Determination and Control Subsystems
- Telecommunications, Ground Stations and Ground Station Networks
- Orbital Dynamics (e.g. de-orbiting and debris mitigation)
- CubeSat Constellations
- Scientific Missions
- Technology Demonstration on CubeSats (e.g. formation flying,
intersatellite link, sails, tethers, etc)
- Space Exploration Missions with CubeSat (i.e. beyond Earth orbit)
- Launchers and Deployers for CubeSats
- Future Technologies on CubeSats
- CubeSat Flight Experience and Lessons Learned
Renowned speakers from NASA and ESA will give talks on their
perspectives on past and future development of CubeSats.
Moreover, a special session of the Symposium is dedicated to the
outcome of the QB50 mission (lessons learned and first scientific
results).
If you are interested in contributing to this event, please submit your
abstract before June 26th 2017.
Registrations and abstract submission are open.
For more information on the venue, registration, deadlines, abstract
guidelines, sponsorship and exhibitors, please visit the symposium website
www.cubesatsymposium.eu
As in the previous years the Symposium is open to the entire CubeSat
community, so please feel free to disseminate this information further.
[ANS thanks Dr. David Masutti and the Organizing Committee
for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
VUCC Awards/Endorsements for March 2017
Here are the endorsements and new VUCC Satellite
Awards issued by the ARRL for the period March 1, 2017
through March 30, 2017. There was no update on March 31st.
Congratulations to all those who made the list this month!
CALL GRIDS
KO4MA 1510
W5PFG 990
N8HM 862
NP4JV 552
N6UK 372
KK4FEM 327
K5ND 225
AI6GS 175
NS3L 175
NJ7H 125
VE7CEW 103 (New VUCC)
This list was developed by comparing the ARRL .pdf
listings for March 1st and March 30th. It's a visual
comparison so omissions are possible. Apologies if your
call was not mentioned. Thanks to all those who are
roving to grids that are rarely on the birds. They are
doing most of the work!
[ANS thanks John, K8YSE for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station Contact Opportunity
Closes April 15
Message to US Educators
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station
Contact Opportunity
Call for Proposals
Proposal Window Closes April 15, 2017
The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Program
is seeking formal and informal education institutions and organizations,
individually or working together, to host an Amateur Radio contact with
a crew member on board the ISS. ARISS anticipates that the contact
would be held between January 1, 2018 and June 30, 2018. Crew scheduling
and ISS orbits will determine the exact contact dates. To maximize these
radio contact opportunities, ARISS is looking for organizations that will
draw large numbers of participants and integrate the contact into a
well-developed education plan.
The deadline to submit a proposal is April 15, 2017. Proposal information
and documents can be found at
www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact.
The Opportunity
Crew members aboard the International Space Station will participate in
scheduled Amateur Radio contacts. These radio contacts are
approximately 10 minutes in length and allow students to interact with
the astronauts through a question-and-answer session.
An ARISS contact is a voice-only communication opportunity via Amateur
Radio between astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the space station and
classrooms and communities. ARISS contacts afford education audiences
the opportunity to learn firsthand from astronauts what it is like to live
and work in space and to learn about space research conducted on the ISS.
Students also will have an opportunity to learn about satellite
communication, wireless technology, and radio science. Because of the
nature of human spaceflight and the complexity of scheduling activities
aboard the ISS, organizations must demonstrate flexibility to
accommodate changes in dates and times of the radio contact.
Amateur Radio organizations around the world, NASA, and space agencies
in Russia, Canada, Japan and Europe sponsor this educational opportunity
by providing the equipment and operational support to enable direct
communication between crew on the ISS and students around the world
via Amateur Radio. In the US, the program is managed by AMSAT (Radio
Amateur Satellite Corporation) and ARRL (American Radio Relay League) in
partnership with NASA and CASIS (Center for the Advancement of Science
in Space).
More Information
Interested parties can find more information about the program at
www.ariss.org and
www.arrl.org/ARISS.
For proposal information and more details such as expectations,
proposal guidelines and proposal form, and dates and times of
Information Sessions go to
http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact.
Please direct any questions to
ariss(a)arrl.org.
[ANS thanks ARISS-NA for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
AMSAT Events
Information about AMSAT activities at other important events around
the country. Examples of these events are radio club meetings where
AMSAT Area Coordinators give presentations, demonstrations of working
amateur satellites, and hamfests with an AMSAT presence (a table with
AMSAT literature and merchandise, sometimes also with presentations,
forums, and/or demonstrations).
*Saturday, 6 May 2017 – Cochise Amateur Radio Association hamfest in
Sierra Vista AZ
*19-21 May 2017, HamVention in the Greene County Fairgrounds and
Expo Center, Dayton, Ohio
*Friday and Saturday, 9-10 June 2017, HAM-COM in Irving TX
*Saturday, 10 June 2017 – Prescott Hamfest in Prescott AZ
[ANS thanks AMSAT-NA for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
ARISS News
Successful Contacts
* A telebridge contact via LU1CGB with students from the Brahma
Kumaris Educational Society, Rajasthan, India was unsuccessful
Mon. 2017-04-03 08:19:38 UTC 53 deg.
ARISS is rescheduling the contact.
* A direct contact with students at Tolyatti, Russia School was
successful 2017-04-01 17:09 UTC with astronaut Sergey Ryzhikov.
* A telebridge contact via IK1SLD with individuals from the Council of
State Science Supervisors, Los Angeles, CA, was successful Wed.
2017-03-29 18:03:38 UTC 21 deg. with
Astronaut Shane Kimbrough KE5HOD.
* A telebridge contact via W6SRJ with students at “School of Trois
Paletuviers”, Saint-Georges de l'Oyapock, French Guyana, was
successful Thu 2017-03-23 12:42:26 UTC 61 deg.
Upcoming Contacts
* College Roger Martin Du Gard, Bellême, France, direct via F6KCO
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be FXØISS
The scheduled astronaut is Thomas Pesquet KG5FYG
Contact is a go for: Fri 2017-04-14 15:20:44 UTC 48 deg
Roger Martin du Gard is a middle school in Bellême, France. Located
in Normandy, in the heart of the regional natural park of le Perche,
this village of approximately two thousand inhabitants sits on a hill
dominating the Perche area.
Roger Martin du Gard was constructed in the 1970s and was totally
rebuilt on the same location in 1994. It got its name from Literature
Nobel Prize, Roger Martin du Gard, a writer who lived the last part
of his life nearby, in Le Château du Tertre. The number of students
has been stable for the past four years, with about three hundred
children in twelve different classes (3 in each level, from grades 7
through 10). It welcomes students from age 11 to 15.
This school project, ARISS, aims at having the students succeed in their
different education paths. The ARISS project is the one opportunity to
show the students that being in a rural area does not limit their
possibilities and their capacities to do things. It is a way to help them
find a possible future in such an important field. Complementing their
physics program, it also offers a magical moment to all the students in
the school, while showing that working serves a real motivation.
* A direct contact via W6SRJ with students at Brook Haven School in
Sebastipol, CA is being planned for the week of April 17.
More details will follow.
**********************************************************************
ARISS is always glad to receive listener reports for the above contacts.
ARISS thanks everyone in advance for their assistance. Feel free to send
your reports to aj9n(a)amsat.org or aj9n(a)aol.com.
Listen for the ISS on the downlink of 145.8Ø MHz.
**********************************************************************
All ARISS contacts are made via the Kenwood radio unless otherwise
noted.
**********************************************************************
Several of you have sent me emails asking about the RAC ARISS website
and not being able to get in. That has now been changed to
http://www.ariss.org/
Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site.
**********************************************************************
Looking for something new to do? How about receiving
DATV from the ISS?
If interested, then please go to the ARISS-EU website for complete
details. Look for the buttons indicating Ham Video.
http://www.ariss-eu.org/
If you need some assistance, ARISS mentor Kerry N6IZW, might be
able to provide some insight. Contact Kerry at
kbanke(a)sbcglobal.net
**********************************************************************
ARISS congratulations the following mentors who have now
mentored over 100 schools:
Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 123
Gaston ON4WF with 123
Francesco IKØWGF with 119
**********************************************************************
The webpages listed below were all reviewed for accuracy. Out of date
webpages were removed and new ones have been added. If there are
additional ARISS websites I need to know about, please let me know.
Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your
own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the
listed time.
All dates and times listed follow International Standard ISO 8601 date
and time format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS
The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2017-04-06 07:00 UTC.
Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts, and
questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and
instructions for any contact that may be streamed live.
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.txt
Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school events is 1129.
Each school counts as 1 event.
Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 1090.
Each contact may have multiple schools sharing the same time slot.
Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 47.
A complete year by year breakdown of the contacts may be found in the
file.
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf
Please feel free to contact me if more detailed statistics are needed.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The following US states and entities have never had an ARISS contact:
Arkansas, Delaware, South Dakota, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam,
Northern Marianas Islands, and the Virgin Islands.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
QSL information may be found at:
http://www.ariss.org/qsl-cards.html
ISS callsigns: DPØISS, IRØISS, NA1SS, OR4ISS, RSØISS
**********************************************************************
The successful school list has been updated as of 2017-04-04 06:00 UTC.
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf
Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing
Doppler correction as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_
correction.rtf
Listing of ARISS related magazine articles as of 2006-07-10 03:30 UTC.
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ARISS_magazine_articles.rtf
Check out the Zoho reports of the ARISS contacts
https://reports.zoho.com/ZDBDataSheetView.cc?DBID=412218000000020415
**********************************************************************
Exp. 49 on orbit
Shane Kimbrough KE5HOD
Andrei Borisenko
Sergey Ryzhikov
Exp. 50 on orbit
Peggy Whitson
Thomas Pesquet KG5FYG
Oleg Novitskiy
**********************************************************************
Watch
http://www.ariss.org/upcoming-contacts.html
for information about upcoming contacts as they are scheduled.
[ANS thanks ARISS and Charlie, AJ9N for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Satellite Shorts from All Over
amsat.org.ar online again
Site amsat.org.ar had been recovered and is online again.
Web available at http://amsat.org.ar
Satellite Passes at http://amsat.org.ar/pass
SAm Satellite logs http://lu7aa.org.ar/log.html
Lusex Logs at http://lusex.org.ar
Latest Keplerians http://lu7aa.org.ar/text/keps.txt
WSPR PicoBalloon http://lu7aa.org.ar/wspr.asp
Calculations at http://amsat.org.ar/calcule.html
QSL Factory at http://lu7aa.org.ar/qsl.asp
In Spanish:
ENACOM Ham exams http://amsat.org.ar/examen/examen?p=n
Amsat-LU Balloons http://amsat.org.ar/globo12.htm
Balloon tracking http://lu7aa.org.ar/vor.asp
LUSAT web site http://lusat.org.ar
Local Weather Sats http://amsat.org.ar/wx
South Am. Sat Award http://amsat.org.ar/certsat.html
Users upload area http://amsat.org.ar/index.php
[ANS thanks LU7AA, AMSAT Argentina for the above information]
VP2E Anguilla Island Satellite Activation
VP2E, ANGUILLA. Ira, KD4SLM, is now active as VP2EIH from "The Valley".
The length of his stay is not known at this time. He was heard on the
satellites which is rare from VP2E-land. Ira informed OPDX that he is
"currently working on getting the Satellite station up and running"
and "has been testing using a dis-cone omni-directional for both uplink
& downlink". He states, "This isn't the best setup." Ira adds, "I'm also
on HF and not a big DX or Contester . I'm available as Net control Fri
0600-0700 on 7.188 -- 'The friendly Net'. Sometimes I take up the
1830-1900 Thursday, Caribbean Wx net 3.815 MHz." His rig is a Yaesu
FT-857 with 100 watts using a Off Center Fed home brewed wire antenna.
The N.E leg is 40 ft. sloping down to center 30 ft. and S. Leg is 15 ft.
into a nearby tree. He is also using MFJ tuner. QSL via his home callsign.
[ANS thanks Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin #1311 for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
/EX
In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the
President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining
donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional
benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT
Office.
Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership
at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students
enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the stu-
dent rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status.
Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership
information.
73,
This week's ANS Editor,
Joe Spier, K6WAO
k6wao at amsat dot org
1
0
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-092
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:
* ITF-2 Team Begins Normal Operations and Offers Awards
* TAPR Announces SDR Presentations at Hamvention
* California Students to Speak to NASA Astronauts on ISS
* NASA Releases Searchable Image, Video, Audio Library
* Free Tours of Facilities at NASA's Glenn Research Center
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-092.01
ANS-092 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 092.01
From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD.
DATE April 2, 2017
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-092.01
ITF-2 Team Begins Normal Operations and Offers Awards
ITF-2 (YUI-2) entered normal operation phase on Mar 25th JST.
Telemetry information and messages will be transmitted in this phase for
the achievement of main mission.
The details of the AWARD and SWL cards are as below,
AWARD:
With reference to the message on Jan 15th UTC,
the First 100 Reports from overseas stations are qualified for this award.
Only ten overseas stations sent report so far. Still enough award can be
issued.
Additionally, a souvenir, a sticky screen cleaner, will be given with this
award.
The design motif is the small antenna of ITF-2.
Design of the cleaner:
https://twitter.com/yui_tsukuba/status/841096655046758400
SWL cards:
Five designs are prepared. The stations which report more than five times
can receive all designs.
Also, the specially designed card will be presented to the stations which
received a signal from the small antenna,
because the reports are valuable to demonstrate the antenna in space. So
far, two stations succeeded in the reception.
Designs of SWL cards:
https://twitter.com/yui_tsukuba/status/846219342190555136
Further special events are planned for the promotion of receptions by more
stations.
There were some reception reports by very simple equipment,
for example, Dipole or 5/8 wave length whip with USB tuner dongle (RTL2832).
Reception reports can be submitted at:
https://operationitf-2.blogspot.jp/p/blog-page_58.html
Operation information of ITF-2:
http://operationitf-2.blogspot.jp/
[ ANS thanks Atsushi, JI1OEH, for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
TAPR Announces SDR Presentations at Hamvention
TAPR Announces SDR Presentations at the Dayton Hamvention by Carl Laufer who
is an electronics, software & radio enthusiast from New Zealand and operates
the RTL-SDR.com blog specializing in news, projects & products related to
ultra low cost software defined radio & the RTL-SDR dongle.
TAPR Digital Forum
- Introduction to RTL-SDR: Ultra cheap software defined radio
Digital Modes Now and in the Future Forum
- Introduction to low cost HF monitoring with RTL-SDR
AMSAT/TAPR Joint Banquet
- The world of low cost software defined radio
http://www.tapr.org/dayton.html
[ANS thanks TAPR for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
California Students to Speak to NASA Astronauts on ISS
Students from Betsy Ross Elementary School in Anaheim, California, will
speak with NASA astronauts living and working aboard the International Space
Station at 11:40 a.m. EDT Monday, April 3. The 20-minute, Earth-to-space
call will air live on NASA Television and the agency's website. (n.b. - this
is not an ARISS contact via amateur radio)
Expedition 50 Commander Shane Kimbrough and Flight Engineer Peggy Whitson,
both of NASA, will answer questions from students in several grades.
Students at Betsy Ross Elementary School have been hard at work exploring
the space program, NASA and the space station leading up to the downlink.
They have conducted research through virtual field trips while also
designing realistic models of the space station. With each engaging
activity, the students' knowledge of NASA and the space program has been
greatly enhanced.
Kimbrough launched to the space station Oct. 19, 2016, and will return April
10. Whitson launched to the space station Nov. 17, 2016, and is scheduled to
return to Earth later this spring.
Media interested in covering the event should contact Keith Sterling,
director of communications & public information, Anaheim Elementary School
District, at 714-600-0952 or ksterling(a)anaheimelementary.org. Ross
Elementary is at 535 S. Walnut Street in Anaheim.
Linking students directly to astronauts aboard the space station provides
unique, authentic experiences designed to enhance student learning,
performance and interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics
(STEM). This in-flight education downlink is an integral component of NASA
Education's STEM on Station activity, which provides a variety of space
station resources and opportunities to students and educators.
Get NASA TV streaming video, schedules and downlink information at:
http://www.nasa.gov/nasatv
Learn about videos and lesson plans highlighting research on the
International Space Station at: http://www.nasa.gov/stemonstation
[ANS thanks NASA for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
NASA Releases Searchable Image, Video, Audio Library
NASA officially has launched a new resource to help the public
search and download out-of-this-world images, videos and audio
files by keyword and metadata searches from NASA.gov. The NASA
Image and Video Library website consolidates imagery spread
across more than 60 collections into one searchable location.
https://images.nasa.gov
NASA Image and Video Library allows users to search, discover
and download a treasure trove of more than 140,000 NASA images,
videos and audio files from across the agency’s many missions
in aeronautics, astrophysics, Earth science, human spaceflight,
and more. Users now can embed content in their own sites and
choose from multiple resolutions to download. The website also
displays the metadata associated with images.
Users can browse the agency’s most recently uploaded files, as
well as discover historic and the most popularly searched images,
audio files and videos. Other features include:
+ Automatically scales the interface for mobile phones and tablets
+ Displays the EXIF/camera data that includes exposure, lens used,
and other information, when available from the original image
+ Allows for easy public access to high resolution files
+ All video includes a downloadable caption file
NASA Image and Video Library’s Application Programmers Interface
(API) allows automation of imagery uploads for NASA, and gives
members of the public the ability to embed content in their own
sites and applications. This public site runs on NASA’s cloud
native “infrastructure-as-a-code” technology enabling on-demand
use in the cloud.
The library is not comprehensive, but rather provides the best
of what NASA makes publicly available from a single point of
presence on the web. Additionally, it is a living website, where
new and archival images, video and audio files continually will
be added.
For more information about NASA’s activities, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov
[ANS thank NASA for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Free Tours of Facilities at NASA's Glenn Research Center
NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, is offering tours that take
visitors behind the scenes and inside certain research facilities. Glenn
scientists and engineers serve as guides. Tours and open house events will
be held each month through October 2017. Tours are free for groups and
individuals, but to guarantee admission, reservations are required. Visitor
parking is also free.
On the days of the tours, a bus departs from Glenn's main gate every hour,
beginning at 10 a.m. The last tour departs at 1 p.m. Each tour lasts about
45 minutes and is followed by a stop at Glenn's Gift Shop. (The historic
district tours follow a different schedule. See tour schedule for details.)
Glenn's 2017 Tour Schedule
May 6, 2017 -- Historic District Tour Featuring the 10- by 10-Foot Wind
Tunnel: Join us on a free tour of Glenn's recently established historic
district. The tours feature the 10- by 10-foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel. For
over 60 years, the wind tunnel has been used to conduct propulsion testing,
including research for the Apollo program.
June 3, 2017 -- NASA Glenn Hangar: Get a behind-the-scenes look at the NASA
Glenn Hangar. See how aircraft at NASA Glenn are used to monitor algae
blooms on Lake Erie and other waterways.
July 8, 2017: SLOPE Laboratory: Explore locomotion on planets with a visit
to the Simulated Lunar Operations, or SLOPE, Lab. See how rover components
are tested for their ability to navigate and investigate planetary surfaces.
Aug. 5, 2017 -- Photovoltaic Laboratory: See the light of solar cells with a
behind-the-scenes tour of the Photovoltaic Laboratory. See how researchers
are exploring ways to create energy from light in order to power everything
from homes to spacecraft.
Sept. 9, 2017 -- Zero-G Facility: Explore microgravity research of
yesterday, today and tomorrow with a tour of Glenn's Zero-G Facility. Learn
how dropping payloads over 400 feet can give researchers a glimpse into
microgravity conditions.
Oct. 7, 2017 -- Historic District Tour Featuring the 8- by 6-Foot Wind
Tunnel: Join us on a free tour of Glenn's recently established historic
district. The tours feature the 8- by 6-foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel. Built
in 1946, the wind tunnel has contributed to decades of aeronautics research.
Tours are open to U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents. To guarantee
admission, reservations are required. For more information on tours and to
make reservations, visit
https://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/events/tours.html.
Please direct questions about the tours to grc-dl-tours(a)mail.nasa.gov
[ANS thanks NASA Education Express Message -- March 30, 2017 for the above
information]
/EX
In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the
President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining
donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive addi-
tional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT
Office.
Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership
at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students
enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the stu-
dent rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status.
Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership
information.
73,
This week's ANS Editor,
Lee McLamb, KU4OS
ku4os at amsat dot org
1
0
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-085
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 Fox Series Launch Schedule Update
* ND9M Satellite Gear in VQ917 Chagos Islands
* Ex-Alta-1 Alberta Canadia Cubesat Set to Launch
* Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2017-03-24
* Amateur Radio on the International Space Station Contact Opportunity
* 14th Annual CubeSat Developers Workshop
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-085.01
ANS-085 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 085.01
From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD.
DATE March 26, 2017
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-085.01
AMSAT Fox Series Launch Schedule Update
The launches of AMSAT satellites Fox-1Cliff and Fox-1D have been
rebooked from
the original Spaceflight Formosat-5/Sherpa mission aboard a SpaceX
Falcon 9 on
to two separate new launches.
Fox-1D will now ride to orbit on an Indian PSLV vehicle scheduled to
launch from
Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India in late 2017.
Fox-1Cliff will launch on Spaceflight’s SSO-A dedicated rideshare
mission aboard
a SpaceX Falcon 9 scheduled to launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in
California in late 2017 or early 2018.
These moves will serve to expedite the launch of these two satellites,
both of
which carry an amateur radio U/v FM repeater and an experimental L/v FM
repeater. The satellites also carry scientific experiments, from university
partners Penn State, Vanderbilt University ISDE, Virginia Tech, and
University
of Iowa.
In addition to the launch of Fox-1Cliff and Fox-1D, AMSAT is awaiting the
launches of RadFxSat and RadFxSat-2. RadFxSat is currently manifested
for launch
on August 29, 2017 aboard the ELaNa XIV mission, as a secondary payload
with the
Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS)-1 on a Delta II from Vandenberg Air
Force
Base, California. RadFxSat-2 will be launched by Virgin Galactic on their
LauncherOne air launch system from Mojave, CA on the ELaNa XX mission no
earlier
than December 2017.
[ANS thanks Drew, KO4MA, and Jerry, N0JY, for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
ND9M Satellite Gear in VQ917 Chagos Islands
VQ917, CHAGOS ISLANDS. Jim, ND9M (VQ96JC), from Diego Garcia Island
(AF-006) informs OPDX on March 14th, "Well, the local licensing office
came through for me again. The VQ917JC license I asked for just came
through here this afternoon." So start looking for Jim to be on the air
signing as VQ917JC. Jim told OPDX he will not make an effort on 60m at
this time. His operating hours are still limited to 1200-1600z max which
doesn't do much good for the NA/SA ops. He states that he will probably
focus on 30, 20, and 17 meters just to get VQ9 into some logs. Jim also
mentioned he did bring his satellite equipment. QSL via his home call-
sign. Look for more details to be forthcoming.
HH8, HAITI. Doug, KD8CAO, was active as HH8/KD8CAO from Jacmel, Haiti
(FK38rf), on both satellite and the HF bands between March 19-23rd.
The primary purpose of Doug's travel to Haiti involved missions work
(he and his team installed a solar array to power Radio Lumiere's
FM broadcast station in Jacmel. QSL via direct w/SASE and/or LoTW
(upload upon return to USA).
[ANS thanks Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 1309 for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Ex-Alta-1 Alberta Canadia Cubesat Set to Launch
Ex-Alta-1, the first CubeSat satellite mission from the University of
Alberta’s
AlbertaSat team, is set to launch on an Atlas V rocket from the Cape
Canaveral
Air Force Station in Florida. The launch will be streamed via NASA Live
and the
United Launch Alliance.
The cubesat will make a brief pit stop aboard the International Space
Station
before being deployed into low Earth orbit to begin monitoring space
weather.
Ex-Alta-1 is part of the international QB50 project, which involves cubesats
designed and built at universities around the world, representing 15
countries
from five continents. The cubesats carry complementary science payloads that
will study space weather and the lower thermosphere for a period of nine
to 18
months.
After seven years and countless hours contributed by more than 50 team
members
(including undergraduate and graduate students as well as faculty members),
measuring roughly the size of a loaf of bread and built with financial
support
from more than 600 crowd-funded donors as well as the Canadian Space
Agency, Ex-
Alta-1’s launch marks the beginning of a new era of space exploration for
Alberta. Not only did the team build the first ever made-in-Alberta
satellite,
AlbertaSat is also one of the first Canadian universities to put a satellite
into space.
The University of Alberta participated in the first Canadian Satellite
Design
Challenge (CSDC), prior to focusing its efforts on the QB50 mission, and
many
members from the Ex-Alta-1 team are competing in the current CSDC. On
behalf of
the Canadian Satellite Design Challenge, and all the teams participating, I
would like to send my congratulations to the entire AlbertaSat team, and
hope
that the launch, deployment, and mission of the Ex-Alta-1 cubesat will be
successful.
The Ex-Alta 1 Satellite has the following science objectives:
1. Serve as a platform for the In Orbit Demonstration (IOD)
of a digital fluxgate magnetometer designed at the University
of Alberta.
2. Address multi-point space plasma physics with data from
the QB50 constellation using the Langmuir probe common payloads
and the digital fluxgate magnetometer.
3. Take part in the QB-50 string-of-pearls constellation for
in-situ measurements of the lower thermosphere to build an
accurate model.
A downlink of 436.705 MHz has been coordinated employing
9k6 GMSK using the published Cubesat Space Protocol and the
QB50 whole orbit data specifications.
[ANS thanks Larry Reeves, CSDC Manager, for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2017-03-24
Quick list of scheduled contacts and events:
Council of State Science Supervisors, Los Angeles, CA, telebridge via
IK1SLD
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS
The scheduled astronaut is Shane Kimbrough KE5HOD
Contact is a go for: Wed 2017-03-29 18:03:38 UTC 21 deg
Russia School TBD, direct via TBD (***)
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS (***)
The scheduled astronauts are Andrei Borisenko, Sergey Ryzhikov, Oleg
Novitskiy (***)
Contact is a go for 2017-04-01 21:10 UTC (***)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station Contact Opportunity
Proposal Window Deadline April 15, 2017
The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Program is
seeking formal and informal education institutions and organizations,
individually or working together, to host an Amateur Radio contact with
a crew
member on board the ISS. ARISS anticipates that the contact would be held
between January 1, 2018 and June 30, 2018. Crew scheduling and ISS
orbits will
determine the exact contact dates. To maximize these radio contact
opportunities, ARISS is looking for organizations that will draw large
numbers
of participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed education
plan.
The deadline to submit a proposal is April 15, 2017. Proposal information
and documents can be found at www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact.
More Information
Interested parties can find more information about the program at
www.ariss.org and www.arrl.org/ARISS.
For proposal information and more details such as expectations, proposal
guidelines and proposal form, and dates and times of Information
Sessions go
to http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact.
Please direct any questions to ariss at arrl.org.
[ANS thanks Charlie, AJ9N, for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
14th Annual CubeSat Developers Workshop
The 14th Annual CubeSat Developers Workshop will be held in San Luis
Obispo, CA
April 26-28 2017. The schedule is now on the workshop website at the link
below.
http://www.cubesat.org/s/2017-Workshop-Schedule.pdf
REGISTRATION
Prices are as follows:
3 Day Pass + Banquet
Professional - $475
Student - $150
1 Day Pass
Early Bird Professional - $160
Professional - $200
[ANS thanks the CubeSat Workshop 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,
Lee McLamb, KU4OS
ku4os at amsat dot org
1
0
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-078
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 Ground Terminal Weekly Report for March 7, 2017
* AMSAT SA to Sponsor SDR Workshop in Cape Town
* CAS-4A and CAS-4B Linear Transponder Frequencies Announced
* IARU Page Proposed South Korean Satellite
* ARISS Closer to Launching New Radio System
* AMSAT Awards Update
* 6E3MAYA on Satellites March 18-21
* AMSAT Events
* ARISS News
* Satellite Shorts from All Over
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-078.01
ANS-078 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 078.01
>From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD.
DATE March 19, 2017
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-078.01
---------------------------------------------------------------------
AMSAT Ground Terminal Weekly Report for March 7, 2017
We kick off this week’s report with two demonstrations of DVB-S2
transmission from the LimeSDR. The first from Charles Brain G4GUO, and
the second from Paul KB5MU and Michelle W5NYV. Charles has live video
and Paul and Michelle are transmitting a pre-recorded work of art called
Adventure Time.
Mike Seguin N1JEZ has some LimeSDR spectral analysis to report.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZNshry3sZU
First, 850 MHz Phase Noise 10 kHz offset 1 kHz resolution bandwidth
-58.36 – 10LOGBW = -88.36 dBc/Hz
If I read the LMS7002M Spec sheet right, it should be down around -96
dBc/Hz? PDF is in the Phase 4 Ground Github link is in the show notes.
https://github.com/…/d…/tree/master/Engineering/SDRs/LimeSDR
Second, 2850 MHz Phase Noise 10 kHz offset 1 kHz resolution bandwidth
-49 – 10LOGBW = -79 dBc/Hz spec around -87 dBc/Hz?
Third image is at 2850 MHz ±200 kHz
Check out those curious 200 kHz spurs
Fourth image is 2850 MHz 100 MHz Span
A broader view – we need to go digging deeper.
Final image is 2850 MHz 388 kHz spur
small spur on the low side?
Output power varies. He’s seen upwards of +15 dBm. He is powering the
LimeSDR board off an external supply.
He is using LimeSuite to set up the transmit output on TX1-1. There are
so many settings it’s possible/probable we’re missing something.
He has also have done rudimentary noise figure measurements. Paul, W1GHZ
loaned him a homebrew noise head he had built from his QEX article in
1996? on Noise Figure. He used it to measure the NF, but had to rely on
a chart for ENR. So assumptions!!! He found he definitely had to use a
preamp in front of the Lime. He used an AD6IW wideband pre for testing.
“I need to do more real world tests on the bands….” -Mike Seguin
In the next segment of this report Paul described how to use the
examples folder in GNU Radio to get to the DVB flowgraphs we’ve been
using for experiments.
Charles G4GUO shares his plan for next steps for DVB-S2 receive. He is
looking at how to do the front end that finds the start of a frame and
compensates for frequency error. He is pondering how to do this and has
some ideas. He also has the low density parity check (LDPC) decoder to
do but has not yet planned it out. He has the BCH decoder done and the
bit that decodes the preamble code FEC.
Charles explains that the whole of DVB-S2 has been designed for the
parallel processing powers of ASICs/FPGAs/GPUs. He has decided to attack
the problem using GPUs.
He asserts that GPUs don’t have such a steep learning curve as some of
the other technologies. He believes that the symbol tracking and root
raised cosine filtering is best done in the FPGA on the LimeSDR. His
thoughts are to re-write some of the Lime code so he can alter the ADC
sample rate in fractions of a symbol. Then use the host to calculate the
timing error and send the correction to the Lime FPGA code. The Lime can
also do fine frequency error correction using a complex mixer. The error
can be calculated in the host from the phase change in the preamble
sequence.
The central question is how to fit it into the memory model of the GPU
to keep all the threads fully occupied. This means properly balancing
the combination of LDPC decoding, parallel thinking and NVIDIA GPU
programming. One of the many questions he has is how to cope with the
final XOR of the parity bit for each block as that makes every bit in
the whole thing dependent on every other bit. He believes that there
must be a short cut so you can break the problem at the receiver down
into a load of independent blocks (divide and conquer).
It is all very DVBS2 specific but when a sub block of the code meets a
condition where all its parity check equation are correct it can be
marked as finished and the decoder can then move on to the next sub
block. It requires a lot of thinking about and Charles welcomes your
feedback.
So! Lots of programming! We are here to help with this effort! It’s
going to be a big one.
Please join AMSAT, TAPR, ARRL, and any other local or regional club that
is helping advance the state of the art in amateur radio. Projects like
ours cannot exist without your membership.
http://www.amsat.org/?p=5875
[ANS thanks Michelle Thompson, W5NYV and the AMSAT Ground Terminal Team
for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
AMSAT SA to Sponsor SDR Workshop in Cape Town
SDR workshop in Cape Town on 22 April. Following on a very successful
symposium on Software Defined Radio held in Gauteng towards the end of
last year, a similar event will be presented by AMSAT SA in the Cape on
Saturday 22 April 2017 at the Bellville Campus of the Cape Peninsula
University of Technology. To register visit
http://www.amsatsa.org.za/
[ANS thanks the South African Radio League News for the above information]
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CAS-4A and CAS-4B Linear Transponder Frequencies Announced
CAMSAT has worked closely with a Beijing Government aerospace contractor
to build two satellites with amateur radio linear transponder payloads.
IARU record a launch had been planned for March 31, 2017 from Taiyuan
into a 524 km orbit with an inclination of 42 degrees.
Both will carry a 435/145 (U/V) 20 dBm (100 milliwatt) SSB/CW linear
transponder, a 2m CW 17 dBm (50 mW) telemetry beacon and an AX.25 4.8
kbps GMSK 20 dBm (100 mW) telemetry downlink.
The two micro-satellites will also carry optical remote sensing
missions. Planned to be 494x499x630 mm dimension regular square shape
and approximately 50 kg mass with three-axis stabilization system.
These frequencies have been coordinated by the IARU Satellite Frequency
Coordination Panel:
CAS-4A
• Linear transponder downlink 145.870 MHz, emission designator
20K0V8WWF, output power 20 dBm
• Linear transponder uplink 435.220 MHz
• CW telemetry beacon 145.855 MHz, emission designator 100HA1AAN, output
power 17 dBm
• GMSK telemetry 145.835 MHz, emission designator 16K0F1DCN, output
power 20 dBm
CAS-4B
• Linear transponder downlink 145.925 MHz, emission designator
20K0V8WWF, output power 20 dBm
• Linear transponder uplink 435.280 MHz
• CW telemetry beacon 145.910 MHz, emission designator 100HA1AAN, output
power 17 dBm
• GMSK telemetry 145.890 MHz, emission designator 16K0F1DCN, output
power 20 dBm
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK and Trevor, M5AKA for the above information]
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IARU Page Shows Proposed South Korean Satellite K2SAT
The Republic of Korea Air Force Academy has applied to the IARU for
coordination of its' K2SAT satellite frequencies.
Headline Details:
A 3U CubeSat. The missions of the K2SAT are to demonstrate satellite
imaging and transfer, and secondly to test voice repeating capability.
The payloads:
1. On-board camera 2. On-board voice repeater. Attitude control will be
performed with 3-axis reaction wheels and magnetorquer. The satellite
surface that contains the main payload(Camera) shall be aligned to the
nadir direction of the satellite. Requesting coordination for a V/U
transponder. The TX would also be capable of downlinking AX25 telemetry
at 9k6 using BPSK. Planning a 2018 launch into a 500 or 600km SSO.
[ANS thanks the IARU Page for the above information]
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ARISS Closer to Launching New Radio System
March 13, 2017: The ARISS team took a giant step closer to flying the
new ARISS Interoperable Radio System to the International Space Station,
having met a major milestone. Lou McFadin, W5DID, and Kerry Banke,
N6IZW, travelled to the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston,
Texas, in mid-February for preliminary testing of Banke's breadboard
version of the ARISS Multi-voltage Power Supply. The two worked
alongside JSC engineers and JSC EMC lab personnel, putting the specially
built power supply through its paces, checking against US and Russian
space specifications for Power Quality and Electromagnetic Compatibility
(EMC) preliminary tests.
The result: Outstanding news-the ARISS Team can move on to the next
step, fabrication of prototype and flight units. The JSC engineers
disclosed that the ARISS breadboard power supply was the first hardware
to have passed all of the space agencies' tests! They said the very
professional ARISS Team certainly knew hardware development and design.
ARISS-International Chair Frank Bauer thanked Banke and McFadin for the
multiple days spent putting the unit through the serious battery of NASA
and Russian preliminary electrical tests. Banke expressed pleasure with
the results: "I was looking to come away with what we needed to move
forward. We achieved that." He was impressed with the support he and
McFadin received from the testing group, and said key players on those
teams who are also ham radio operators, commented that they find
equipment brought in that is supported by ham radio operators, to earn
particularly good marks. McFadin asserted that the Multi-voltage Power
Supply's fine test results are due to ARISS's team working very well
together and being very experienced.
The completed testing of the breadboard unit means McFadin can now
purchase expensive space-certified parts so the final prototype/flight
power supplies can be fabricated. He and Banke now know that when the
final, even more rigorous tests are done, the units will pass with
flying colors.
Watch for more news stories on the hardware and the fundraising campaign
to help support the costs associated with designing, building, and
testing the new ARISS radio system-the Kenwood D710GA and Multi-voltage
Power Supply. Those wishing to contribute toward the final fabrication
and flight tests are highly appreciated and asked to go to the AMSAT
website, www.amsat.org, to click on the "ARISS Donate" button. Or
visit the donation page on the ARISS website,
http://www.ariss.org/donate.html. Contributions are tax deductible.
Those who contribute $100 or more will receive the handsome ARISS
Challenge Coin. If you or your ham club or place of employment wish to
make a highly substantial contribution, contact Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, at
ka3hdo(a)verizon.net.
About ARISS
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a
cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the
space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS). In
the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation
(AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the Center for the
Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) and National Aeronautics and
Space Administration (NASA). The primary goal of ARISS is to promote
exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)
topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew
members aboard the ISS and students in classrooms or informal education
venues. With the help of experienced amateur radio volunteers, ISS
crews speak directly with large audiences in a variety of public
forums. Before and during these radio contacts, students, teachers,
parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and
amateur radio. For more
information, see www.ariss.org, www.amsat.org, and www.arrl.org.
Also, join us on Facebook: Amateur Radio on the International Space
Station (ARISS) / Follow us on Twitter: ARISS_status
[ANS thanks David Jordan, AA4KN for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
AMSAT Awards Update
This is the first posting of awards for 2017. The year started slow and
then picked up with the following earning their awards.
AMSAT Satellite Communicators Award for making their first satellite QSO
Christopher Hobbs, KD5RYO
Frank Garofalo, WA2NDV
Milan Stancel, OM4MX
------
AMSAT Communications Achievement Award
Adrian Liggins, VA3NNA, #575
Matthew Stevens, KK4FEM, #576
Milan Stancel, OM4MX, #577
------
AMSAT Sexagesimal Award
Ronald Parsons, W5RKN, #178
Matthew Stevens, KK4FEM, #179
------
AMSAT Century Club Award
Frank Westphal, K6FW, #49
Toralf Renkwitz, DJ7MS, #50
Ronald Oldham, N8RO, #51
------
South Africa Satellite Communications Achievement Award
Adrian Liggins, VA3NNA, #US202
Matthew Stevens, KK4FEM, #US203
Milan Stancel, OM4MX, #US204
------
AMSAT Robert W. Barbee Jr., W4AMI Award
Cleber Rodrigues, PY3TX, #88
Paul Stoezter, N8HM, Upgrade to 4000
Frank Westphal, K6FW, Upgrade to 2000
John Papay, K8YSE/7, Upgrade to 3000
------
AMSAT Robert W. Barbee Jr., W4AMI Award
Ronald Parsons, W5RKN, #89
Milan Stancel, OM4MX, #90
------
To see all the awards visit http://www.amsat.org or
http://www.amsatnet.com/awards.html
[ANS thanks Bruce Paige, KK5DO, AMSAT Director Contests and Awards
for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
6E3MAYA on Satellites March 18-21
Mexico trip includes satellite operating plans:
XE, Mexico:
A group of Mexican amateurs plans to visit archaeological sites of
Maya culture in Yucatan, Campeche, Tabasco, Chiapas, and Quintana
Roo from the 18th to 21st. QRV with the call 6E3MAYA on 80-6m on
SSB, CW, digital modes and via satellites. QSL via XE3N, LoTW.
[ANS thanks the DARC DX Newsletter DXNL 2032 March 15, 2017 for the
above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
AMSAT Events
Information about AMSAT activities at other important events around
the country. Examples of these events are radio club meetings where
AMSAT Area Coordinators give presentations, demonstrations of working
amateur satellites, and hamfests with an AMSAT presence (a table with
AMSAT literature and merchandise, sometimes also with presentations,
forums, and/or demonstrations).
*Friday through Sunday, 31 March–2 April 2017, NVCON in Las Vegas NV
*Wednesday, 5 April 2007 – presentation for Scottsdale Amateur Radio
Club in Scottsdale AZ
*Friday and Saturday, 7-8 April 2017, Green Country Hamfest in
Claremore OK
*Saturday, 6 May 2017 – Cochise Amateur Radio Association hamfest in
Sierra Vista AZ
*19-21 May 2017, HamVention in the Greene County Fairgrounds and
Expo Center, Dayton, Ohio
*Friday and Saturday, 9-10 June 2017, HAM-COM in Irving TX
*Saturday, 10 June 2017 – Prescott Hamfest in Prescott AZ
[ANS thanks AMSAT-NA for the above information]
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ARISS News
Successful Contacts
* A direct contact with students at McBride High School, Long Beach,
CA, USA was successful Wed 2017-03-15 16:28:44 UTC 25 deg. Astronaut
Thomas Pesquet, KG5FYG answered all 19 questions prepared by students.
Upcoming Contacts
* A telebridge contact via W6SRJ with students at “School of Trois
Paletuviers”, Saint-Georges de l'Oyapock, French Guyana, is presently
scheduled Thu 2017-03-23 12:42:26 UTC 61 deg. with Astronaut Thomas
Pesquet KG5FYG.
Trois Palétuviers is a small native people village of French Guyane, set
between the Amazonian forest and the majestic Oyapock River, a natural
border with Brazil. It is accessed only by dugout and the journey takes
place in one hour. On site, no electricity during the day, internet and
telephone recently, but a quality of life preserved, which in no way
excludes projects and achievements in order to help envisage the future
in a dynamic and optimistic way. The village comprises a population of
180 inhabitants, exclusively Native Americans and many of whom have
strong ties with Brazil.
The school hosts about fifty students divided into 2 classes: a
kindergarten from the PS to the GS, an elementary from the CP to the
CM2. In addition to the usual teachings, the school offers activities
that enable you to travel and make contact with the outside of the
village. So :
The "chess game for academic success" has been helping since 2006 to
reason and confidence in its abilities,
The theater club has already performed several times in French Guiana.
A highly eclectic choir gives everyone the opportunity to express
themselves.
In addition, there are urban dance classes, numerous programs and
projects related to the environment, space, health and so on.
Another peculiarity is that a school for parents has been in place since
2011.
For the liaison with the ISS, the pupils will travel 1 hour of canoe
motor and 3 hours of road.
* A direct contact via AA4UT with students at the Student Space
Technology Association, Knoxville, TN, USA will be rescheduled.
The University of Tennessee Knoxville is an amazing school located in
the hills of Tennessee. It is the largest campus in the state, hosting
more than 30,000 students. This school is known for its engineering and
science heritage, having close ties with research facilities such as Oak
Ridge National Lab and companies like Alcoa. Also, included in our
alumni are 9 astronauts including the recent ISS inhabitant Scott Kelly.
Our school is filled with thousands of eager students seeking to pursue
careers in the space industry. With our vision of becoming a top-tier
research school, our students are set to become the next leaders in STEM
industries.
**********************************************************************
ARISS is always glad to receive listener reports for the above
contacts. ARISS thanks everyone in advance for their assistance. Feel
free to send your reports to aj9n(a)amsat.org or aj9n(a)aol.com.
**********************************************************************
Message to US Educators
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station
Contact Opportunity
Call for Proposals
Proposal Window February 15 – April 15, 2017
The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Program is
seeking formal and informal education institutions and organizations,
individually or working together, to host an Amateur Radio contact with
a crew member on board the ISS. ARISS anticipates that the contact
would be held between January 1, 2018 and June 30, 2018. Crew
scheduling and ISS orbits will determine the exact contact dates. To
maximize these radio contact opportunities, ARISS is ;
looking for organizations that will draw large numbers of
participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed education
plan.
The deadline to submit a proposal is April 15, 2017. Proposal
information and documents can be found at
www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact.
The Opportunity
Crew members aboard the International Space Station will participate in
scheduled Amateur Radio contacts. These radio contacts are
approximately 10 minutes in length and allow students to interact with
the astronauts through a question-and-answer session.
An ARISS contact is a voice-only communication opportunity via Amateur
Radio between astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the space station and
classrooms and communities. ARISS contacts afford education audiences
the opportunity to learn firsthand from astronauts what it is like to
live and work in space and to learn about space research conducted on
the ISS. Students also will have an opportunity to learn about
satellite communication, wireless technology, and radio science.
Because of the nature of human spaceflight and the complexity of
scheduling activities aboard the ISS, organizations must demonstrate
flexibility to accommodate changes in dates and times of the radio contact.
Amateur Radio organizations around the world, NASA, and space agencies
in Russia, Canada, Japan and Europe sponsor this educational opportunity
by providing the equipment and operational support to enable direct
communication between crew on the ISS and students around the world via
Amateur Radio.
In the US, the program is managed by AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite
Corporation) and ARRL (American Radio Relay League) in partnership with
NASA and CASIS (Center for the Advancement of Science in Space).
More Information
Interested parties can find more information about the program at
www.ariss.org and www.arrl.org/ARISS.
For proposal information and more details such as expectations,
proposal guidelines and proposal form, and dates and times of
Information Sessions go to
http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact.
Please direct any questions to
ariss(a)arrl.org.
**********************************************************************
ARISS is always glad to receive listener reports for the above
contacts. ARISS thanks everyone in advance for their assistance. Feel
free to send your reports to aj9n(a)amsat.org or aj9n(a)aol.com.
Listen for the ISS on the downlink of 145.8Ø MHz.
**********************************************************************
All ARISS contacts are made via the Kenwood radio unless otherwise noted.
**********************************************************************
Several of you have sent me emails asking about the RAC ARISS website
and not being able to get in. That has now been changed to
http://www.ariss.org/
Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site.
**********************************************************************
Looking for something new to do? How about receiving DATV from the ISS?
If interested, then please go to the ARISS-EU website for complete
details. Look for the buttons indicating Ham Video.
http://www.ariss-eu.org/
If you need some assistance, ARISS mentor Kerry N6IZW, might be able to
provide some insight. Contact Kerry at
kbanke(a)sbcglobal.net
**********************************************************************
ARISS congratulations the following mentors who have now mentored over 100
schools:
Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 123
Gaston ON4WF with 123
Francesco IKØWGF with 119
**********************************************************************
The webpages listed below were all reviewed for accuracy. Out of date
webpages were removed and new ones have been added. If there are
additional ARISS websites I need to know about, please let me know.
Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your
own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the
listed time.
All dates and times listed follow International Standard ISO 8601 date
and time format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS
The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2017-03-09 05:00 UTC.
Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts, and
questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and
instructions for any contact that may be streamed live.
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.txt
Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school events is 1116.
Each school counts as 1 event.
Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 1080.
Each contact may have multiple schools sharing the same time slot.
Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 47.
A complete year by year breakdown of the contacts may be found in the
file.
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf
Please feel free to contact me if more detailed statistics are needed.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The following US states and entities have never had an ARISS contact:
Arkansas, Delaware, South Dakota, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam,
Northern Marianas Islands, and the Virgin Islands.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
QSL information may be found at:
http://www.ariss.org/qsl-cards.html
ISS callsigns: DPØISS, IRØISS, NA1SS, OR4ISS, RSØISS
**********************************************************************
The successful school list has been updated as of 2017-02-23 05:00 UTC.
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf
Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing
Doppler correction as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_correctio…
Listing of ARISS related magazine articles as of 2006-07-10 03:30 UTC.
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ARISS_magazine_articles.rtf
Check out the Zoho reports of the ARISS contacts
https://reports.zoho.com/ZDBDataSheetView.cc?DBID=412218000000020415
**********************************************************************
Exp. 49 on orbit
Shane Kimbrough KE5HOD
Andrei Borisenko
Sergey Ryzhikov
Exp. 50 on orbit
Peggy Whitson
Thomas Pesquet KG5FYG
Oleg Novitskiy
**********************************************************************
Watch
http://www.ariss.org/upcoming-contacts.html
for information about upcoming contacts as they are scheduled.
[ANS thanks ARISS and Charlie, AJ9N for the above information]
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Satellite Shorts from All Over
Help Wanted - Russian Space Agency
If you know what this means, "Mukhnem na Lunu: Rossiya
ishchet novykh kosmonavtov"*, you may be able to apply
at Russia's space agency, who on Tuesday announced a
recruitment drive for young would-be cosmonauts who it
hopes will become the country's first on the Moon. And
women are welcome, an official stressed.
In the first such drive for five years, Roscosmos space
agency said it is looking for 6 to 8 cosmonauts who will
operate a new-generation spaceship now in development and
"will become the first Russians to fly to the Moon".
The full story is posted at:
http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Fly_me_to_the_Moon_Russia_seeks_new_cosmo…
*Translation: Fly me to the Moon: Russia seeks new cosmonauts
[ANS thanks SpaceDaily.com for the above information]
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/EX
In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the
President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining
donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive addi-
tional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT
Office.
Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership
at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students
enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the stu-
dent rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status.
Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership
information.
73,
This week's ANS Editor,
Joe Spier, K6WAO
k6wao at amsat dot org
--
-73, k6wao
AMSAT Vice President Educational Relations
AMSAT News Service Co-Editor
ARISS-NA Education
2017 AMSAT Space Symposium Chairman
1
0
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-078
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 Ground Terminal Weekly Report for March 7, 2017
* AMSAT SA to Sponsor SDR Workshop in Cape Town
* CAS-4A and CAS-4B Linear Transponder Frequencies Announced
* IARU Page Proposed South Korean Satellite
* ARISS Closer to Launching New Radio System
* AMSAT Awards Update
* 6E3MAYA on Satellites March 18-21
* AMSAT Events
* ARISS News
* Satellite Shorts from All Over
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-078.01
ANS-078 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 078.01
>From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD.
DATE March 19, 2017
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-078.01
---------------------------------------------------------------------
AMSAT Ground Terminal Weekly Report for March 7, 2017
We kick off this week’s report with two demonstrations of DVB-S2
transmission from the LimeSDR. The first from Charles Brain G4GUO, and
the second from Paul KB5MU and Michelle W5NYV. Charles has live video
and Paul and Michelle are transmitting a pre-recorded work of art called
Adventure Time.
Mike Seguin N1JEZ has some LimeSDR spectral analysis to report.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZNshry3sZU
First, 850 MHz Phase Noise 10 kHz offset 1 kHz resolution bandwidth
-58.36 – 10LOGBW = -88.36 dBc/Hz
If I read the LMS7002M Spec sheet right, it should be down around -96
dBc/Hz? PDF is in the Phase 4 Ground Github link is in the show notes.
https://github.com/…/d…/tree/master/Engineering/SDRs/LimeSDR
Second, 2850 MHz Phase Noise 10 kHz offset 1 kHz resolution bandwidth
-49 – 10LOGBW = -79 dBc/Hz spec around -87 dBc/Hz?
Third image is at 2850 MHz +/-200 kHz
Check out those curious 200 kHz spurs
Fourth image is 2850 MHz 100 MHz Span
A broader view – we need to go digging deeper.
Final image is 2850 MHz 388 kHz spur
small spur on the low side?
Output power varies. He’s seen upwards of +15 dBm. He is powering the
LimeSDR board off an external supply.
He is using LimeSuite to set up the transmit output on TX1-1. There are
so many settings it’s possible/probable we’re missing something.
He has also have done rudimentary noise figure measurements. Paul, W1GHZ
loaned him a homebrew noise head he had built from his QEX article in
1996? on Noise Figure. He used it to measure the NF, but had to rely on
a chart for ENR. So assumptions!!! He found he definitely had to use a
preamp in front of the Lime. He used an AD6IW wideband pre for testing.
“I need to do more real world tests on the bands….” -Mike Seguin
In the next segment of this report Paul described how to use the
examples folder in GNU Radio to get to the DVB flowgraphs we’ve been
using for experiments.
Charles G4GUO shares his plan for next steps for DVB-S2 receive. He is
looking at how to do the front end that finds the start of a frame and
compensates for frequency error. He is pondering how to do this and has
some ideas. He also has the low density parity check (LDPC) decoder to
do but has not yet planned it out. He has the BCH decoder done and the
bit that decodes the preamble code FEC.
Charles explains that the whole of DVB-S2 has been designed for the
parallel processing powers of ASICs/FPGAs/GPUs. He has decided to attack
the problem using GPUs.
He asserts that GPUs don’t have such a steep learning curve as some of
the other technologies. He believes that the symbol tracking and root
raised cosine filtering is best done in the FPGA on the LimeSDR. His
thoughts are to re-write some of the Lime code so he can alter the ADC
sample rate in fractions of a symbol. Then use the host to calculate the
timing error and send the correction to the Lime FPGA code. The Lime can
also do fine frequency error correction using a complex mixer. The error
can be calculated in the host from the phase change in the preamble
sequence.
The central question is how to fit it into the memory model of the GPU
to keep all the threads fully occupied. This means properly balancing
the combination of LDPC decoding, parallel thinking and NVIDIA GPU
programming. One of the many questions he has is how to cope with the
final XOR of the parity bit for each block as that makes every bit in
the whole thing dependent on every other bit. He believes that there
must be a short cut so you can break the problem at the receiver down
into a load of independent blocks (divide and conquer).
It is all very DVBS2 specific but when a sub block of the code meets a
condition where all its parity check equation are correct it can be
marked as finished and the decoder can then move on to the next sub
block. It requires a lot of thinking about and Charles welcomes your
feedback.
So! Lots of programming! We are here to help with this effort! It’s
going to be a big one.
Please join AMSAT, TAPR, ARRL, and any other local or regional club that
is helping advance the state of the art in amateur radio. Projects like
ours cannot exist without your membership.
http://www.amsat.org/?p=5875
[ANS thanks Michelle Thompson, W5NYV and the AMSAT Ground Terminal Team
for the above information]
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AMSAT SA to Sponsor SDR Workshop in Cape Town
SDR workshop in Cape Town on 22 April. Following on a very successful
symposium on Software Defined Radio held in Gauteng towards the end of
last year, a similar event will be presented by AMSAT SA in the Cape on
Saturday 22 April 2017 at the Bellville Campus of the Cape Peninsula
University of Technology. To register visit
http://www.amsatsa.org.za/
[ANS thanks the South African Radio League News for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
CAS-4A and CAS-4B Linear Transponder Frequencies Announced
CAMSAT has worked closely with a Beijing Government aerospace contractor
to build two satellites with amateur radio linear transponder payloads.
IARU record a launch had been planned for March 31, 2017 from Taiyuan
into a 524 km orbit with an inclination of 42 degrees.
Both will carry a 435/145 (U/V) 20 dBm (100 milliwatt) SSB/CW linear
transponder, a 2m CW 17 dBm (50 mW) telemetry beacon and an AX.25 4.8
kbps GMSK 20 dBm (100 mW) telemetry downlink.
The two micro-satellites will also carry optical remote sensing
missions. Planned to be 494x499x630 mm dimension regular square shape
and approximately 50 kg mass with three-axis stabilization system.
These frequencies have been coordinated by the IARU Satellite Frequency
Coordination Panel:
CAS-4A
• Linear transponder downlink 145.870 MHz, emission designator
20K0V8WWF, output power 20 dBm
• Linear transponder uplink 435.220 MHz
• CW telemetry beacon 145.855 MHz, emission designator 100HA1AAN, output
power 17 dBm
• GMSK telemetry 145.835 MHz, emission designator 16K0F1DCN, output
power 20 dBm
CAS-4B
• Linear transponder downlink 145.925 MHz, emission designator
20K0V8WWF, output power 20 dBm
• Linear transponder uplink 435.280 MHz
• CW telemetry beacon 145.910 MHz, emission designator 100HA1AAN, output
power 17 dBm
• GMSK telemetry 145.890 MHz, emission designator 16K0F1DCN, output
power 20 dBm
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK and Trevor, M5AKA for the above information]
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IARU Page Shows Proposed South Korean Satellite K2SAT
The Republic of Korea Air Force Academy has applied to the IARU for
coordination of its' K2SAT satellite frequencies.
Headline Details:
A 3U CubeSat. The missions of the K2SAT are to demonstrate satellite
imaging and transfer, and secondly to test voice repeating capability.
The payloads:
1. On-board camera 2. On-board voice repeater. Attitude control will be
performed with 3-axis reaction wheels and magnetorquer. The satellite
surface that contains the main payload(Camera) shall be aligned to the
nadir direction of the satellite. Requesting coordination for a V/U
transponder. The TX would also be capable of downlinking AX25 telemetry
at 9k6 using BPSK. Planning a 2018 launch into a 500 or 600km SSO.
[ANS thanks the IARU Page for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
ARISS Closer to Launching New Radio System
March 13, 2017: The ARISS team took a giant step closer to flying the
new ARISS Interoperable Radio System to the International Space Station,
having met a major milestone. Lou McFadin, W5DID, and Kerry Banke,
N6IZW, travelled to the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston,
Texas, in mid-February for preliminary testing of Banke's breadboard
version of the ARISS Multi-voltage Power Supply. The two worked
alongside JSC engineers and JSC EMC lab personnel, putting the specially
built power supply through its paces, checking against US and Russian
space specifications for Power Quality and Electromagnetic Compatibility
(EMC) preliminary tests.
The result: Outstanding news-the ARISS Team can move on to the next
step, fabrication of prototype and flight units. The JSC engineers
disclosed that the ARISS breadboard power supply was the first hardware
to have passed all of the space agencies' tests! They said the very
professional ARISS Team certainly knew hardware development and design.
ARISS-International Chair Frank Bauer thanked Banke and McFadin for the
multiple days spent putting the unit through the serious battery of NASA
and Russian preliminary electrical tests. Banke expressed pleasure with
the results: "I was looking to come away with what we needed to move
forward. We achieved that." He was impressed with the support he and
McFadin received from the testing group, and said key players on those
teams who are also ham radio operators, commented that they find
equipment brought in that is supported by ham radio operators, to earn
particularly good marks. McFadin asserted that the Multi-voltage Power
Supply's fine test results are due to ARISS's team working very well
together and being very experienced.
The completed testing of the breadboard unit means McFadin can now
purchase expensive space-certified parts so the final prototype/flight
power supplies can be fabricated. He and Banke now know that when the
final, even more rigorous tests are done, the units will pass with
flying colors.
Watch for more news stories on the hardware and the fundraising campaign
to help support the costs associated with designing, building, and
testing the new ARISS radio system-the Kenwood D710GA and Multi-voltage
Power Supply. Those wishing to contribute toward the final fabrication
and flight tests are highly appreciated and asked to go to the AMSAT
website, www.amsat.org, to click on the "ARISS Donate" button. Or
visit the donation page on the ARISS website,
http://www.ariss.org/donate.html. Contributions are tax deductible.
Those who contribute $100 or more will receive the handsome ARISS
Challenge Coin. If you or your ham club or place of employment wish to
make a highly substantial contribution, contact Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, at
ka3hdo(a)verizon.net.
About ARISS
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a
cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the
space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS). In
the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation
(AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the Center for the
Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) and National Aeronautics and
Space Administration (NASA). The primary goal of ARISS is to promote
exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)
topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew
members aboard the ISS and students in classrooms or informal education
venues. With the help of experienced amateur radio volunteers, ISS
crews speak directly with large audiences in a variety of public
forums. Before and during these radio contacts, students, teachers,
parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and
amateur radio. For more
information, see www.ariss.org, www.amsat.org, and www.arrl.org.
Also, join us on Facebook: Amateur Radio on the International Space
Station (ARISS) / Follow us on Twitter: ARISS_status
[ANS thanks David Jordan, AA4KN for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
AMSAT Awards Update
This is the first posting of awards for 2017. The year started slow and
then picked up with the following earning their awards.
AMSAT Satellite Communicators Award for making their first satellite QSO
Christopher Hobbs, KD5RYO
Frank Garofalo, WA2NDV
Milan Stancel, OM4MX
------
AMSAT Communications Achievement Award
Adrian Liggins, VA3NNA, #575
Matthew Stevens, KK4FEM, #576
Milan Stancel, OM4MX, #577
------
AMSAT Sexagesimal Award
Ronald Parsons, W5RKN, #178
Matthew Stevens, KK4FEM, #179
------
AMSAT Century Club Award
Frank Westphal, K6FW, #49
Toralf Renkwitz, DJ7MS, #50
Ronald Oldham, N8RO, #51
------
South Africa Satellite Communications Achievement Award
Adrian Liggins, VA3NNA, #US202
Matthew Stevens, KK4FEM, #US203
Milan Stancel, OM4MX, #US204
------
AMSAT Robert W. Barbee Jr., W4AMI Award
Cleber Rodrigues, PY3TX, #88
Paul Stoezter, N8HM, Upgrade to 4000
Frank Westphal, K6FW, Upgrade to 2000
John Papay, K8YSE/7, Upgrade to 3000
------
AMSAT Robert W. Barbee Jr., W4AMI Award
Ronald Parsons, W5RKN, #89
Milan Stancel, OM4MX, #90
------
To see all the awards visit http://www.amsat.org or
http://www.amsatnet.com/awards.html
[ANS thanks Bruce Paige, KK5DO, AMSAT Director Contests and Awards
for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
6E3MAYA on Satellites March 18-21
Mexico trip includes satellite operating plans:
XE, Mexico:
A group of Mexican amateurs plans to visit archaeological sites of
Maya culture in Yucatan, Campeche, Tabasco, Chiapas, and Quintana
Roo from the 18th to 21st. QRV with the call 6E3MAYA on 80-6m on
SSB, CW, digital modes and via satellites. QSL via XE3N, LoTW.
[ANS thanks the DARC DX Newsletter DXNL 2032 March 15, 2017 for the
above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
AMSAT Events
Information about AMSAT activities at other important events around
the country. Examples of these events are radio club meetings where
AMSAT Area Coordinators give presentations, demonstrations of working
amateur satellites, and hamfests with an AMSAT presence (a table with
AMSAT literature and merchandise, sometimes also with presentations,
forums, and/or demonstrations).
*Friday through Sunday, 31 March–2 April 2017, NVCON in Las Vegas NV
*Wednesday, 5 April 2007 – presentation for Scottsdale Amateur Radio
Club in Scottsdale AZ
*Friday and Saturday, 7-8 April 2017, Green Country Hamfest in
Claremore OK
*Saturday, 6 May 2017 – Cochise Amateur Radio Association hamfest in
Sierra Vista AZ
*19-21 May 2017, HamVention in the Greene County Fairgrounds and
Expo Center, Dayton, Ohio
*Friday and Saturday, 9-10 June 2017, HAM-COM in Irving TX
*Saturday, 10 June 2017 – Prescott Hamfest in Prescott AZ
[ANS thanks AMSAT-NA for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
ARISS News
Successful Contacts
* A direct contact with students at McBride High School, Long Beach,
CA, USA was successful Wed 2017-03-15 16:28:44 UTC 25 deg. Astronaut
Thomas Pesquet, KG5FYG answered all 19 questions prepared by students.
Upcoming Contacts
* A telebridge contact via W6SRJ with students at “School of Trois
Paletuviers”, Saint-Georges de l'Oyapock, French Guyana, is presently
scheduled Thu 2017-03-23 12:42:26 UTC 61 deg. with Astronaut Thomas
Pesquet KG5FYG.
Trois Palétuviers is a small native people village of French Guyane, set
between the Amazonian forest and the majestic Oyapock River, a natural
border with Brazil. It is accessed only by dugout and the journey takes
place in one hour. On site, no electricity during the day, internet and
telephone recently, but a quality of life preserved, which in no way
excludes projects and achievements in order to help envisage the future
in a dynamic and optimistic way. The village comprises a population of
180 inhabitants, exclusively Native Americans and many of whom have
strong ties with Brazil.
The school hosts about fifty students divided into 2 classes: a
kindergarten from the PS to the GS, an elementary from the CP to the
CM2. In addition to the usual teachings, the school offers activities
that enable you to travel and make contact with the outside of the
village. So :
The "chess game for academic success" has been helping since 2006 to
reason and confidence in its abilities,
The theater club has already performed several times in French Guiana.
A highly eclectic choir gives everyone the opportunity to express
themselves.
In addition, there are urban dance classes, numerous programs and
projects related to the environment, space, health and so on.
Another peculiarity is that a school for parents has been in place since
2011.
For the liaison with the ISS, the pupils will travel 1 hour of canoe
motor and 3 hours of road.
* A direct contact via AA4UT with students at the Student Space
Technology Association, Knoxville, TN, USA will be rescheduled.
The University of Tennessee Knoxville is an amazing school located in
the hills of Tennessee. It is the largest campus in the state, hosting
more than 30,000 students. This school is known for its engineering and
science heritage, having close ties with research facilities such as Oak
Ridge National Lab and companies like Alcoa. Also, included in our
alumni are 9 astronauts including the recent ISS inhabitant Scott Kelly.
Our school is filled with thousands of eager students seeking to pursue
careers in the space industry. With our vision of becoming a top-tier
research school, our students are set to become the next leaders in STEM
industries.
**********************************************************************
ARISS is always glad to receive listener reports for the above
contacts. ARISS thanks everyone in advance for their assistance. Feel
free to send your reports to aj9n(a)amsat.org or aj9n(a)aol.com.
**********************************************************************
Message to US Educators
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station
Contact Opportunity
Call for Proposals
Proposal Window February 15 – April 15, 2017
The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Program is
seeking formal and informal education institutions and organizations,
individually or working together, to host an Amateur Radio contact with
a crew member on board the ISS. ARISS anticipates that the contact
would be held between January 1, 2018 and June 30, 2018. Crew
scheduling and ISS orbits will determine the exact contact dates. To
maximize these radio contact opportunities, ARISS is ;
looking for organizations that will draw large numbers of
participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed education
plan.
The deadline to submit a proposal is April 15, 2017. Proposal
information and documents can be found at
www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact.
The Opportunity
Crew members aboard the International Space Station will participate in
scheduled Amateur Radio contacts. These radio contacts are
approximately 10 minutes in length and allow students to interact with
the astronauts through a question-and-answer session.
An ARISS contact is a voice-only communication opportunity via Amateur
Radio between astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the space station and
classrooms and communities. ARISS contacts afford education audiences
the opportunity to learn firsthand from astronauts what it is like to
live and work in space and to learn about space research conducted on
the ISS. Students also will have an opportunity to learn about
satellite communication, wireless technology, and radio science.
Because of the nature of human spaceflight and the complexity of
scheduling activities aboard the ISS, organizations must demonstrate
flexibility to accommodate changes in dates and times of the radio
contact.
Amateur Radio organizations around the world, NASA, and space agencies
in Russia, Canada, Japan and Europe sponsor this educational opportunity
by providing the equipment and operational support to enable direct
communication between crew on the ISS and students around the world via
Amateur Radio.
In the US, the program is managed by AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite
Corporation) and ARRL (American Radio Relay League) in partnership with
NASA and CASIS (Center for the Advancement of Science in Space).
More Information
Interested parties can find more information about the program at
www.ariss.org and www.arrl.org/ARISS.
For proposal information and more details such as expectations,
proposal guidelines and proposal form, and dates and times of
Information Sessions go to
http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact.
Please direct any questions to
ariss(a)arrl.org.
**********************************************************************
ARISS is always glad to receive listener reports for the above
contacts. ARISS thanks everyone in advance for their assistance. Feel
free to send your reports to aj9n(a)amsat.org or aj9n(a)aol.com.
Listen for the ISS on the downlink of 145.8Ø MHz.
**********************************************************************
All ARISS contacts are made via the Kenwood radio unless otherwise noted.
**********************************************************************
Several of you have sent me emails asking about the RAC ARISS website
and not being able to get in. That has now been changed to
http://www.ariss.org/
Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site.
**********************************************************************
Looking for something new to do? How about receiving DATV from the ISS?
If interested, then please go to the ARISS-EU website for complete
details. Look for the buttons indicating Ham Video.
http://www.ariss-eu.org/
If you need some assistance, ARISS mentor Kerry N6IZW, might be able to
provide some insight. Contact Kerry at
kbanke(a)sbcglobal.net
**********************************************************************
ARISS congratulations the following mentors who have now mentored over 100
schools:
Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 123
Gaston ON4WF with 123
Francesco IKØWGF with 119
**********************************************************************
The webpages listed below were all reviewed for accuracy. Out of date
webpages were removed and new ones have been added. If there are
additional ARISS websites I need to know about, please let me know.
Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your
own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the
listed time.
All dates and times listed follow International Standard ISO 8601 date
and time format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS
The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2017-03-09 05:00 UTC.
Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts, and
questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and
instructions for any contact that may be streamed live.
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.txt
Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school events is 1116.
Each school counts as 1 event.
Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 1080.
Each contact may have multiple schools sharing the same time slot.
Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 47.
A complete year by year breakdown of the contacts may be found in the
file.
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf
Please feel free to contact me if more detailed statistics are needed.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The following US states and entities have never had an ARISS contact:
Arkansas, Delaware, South Dakota, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam,
Northern Marianas Islands, and the Virgin Islands.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
QSL information may be found at:
http://www.ariss.org/qsl-cards.html
ISS callsigns: DPØISS, IRØISS, NA1SS, OR4ISS, RSØISS
**********************************************************************
The successful school list has been updated as of 2017-02-23 05:00 UTC.
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf
Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing
Doppler correction as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_correctio…
Listing of ARISS related magazine articles as of 2006-07-10 03:30 UTC.
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ARISS_magazine_articles.rtf
Check out the Zoho reports of the ARISS contacts
https://reports.zoho.com/ZDBDataSheetView.cc?DBID=412218000000020415
**********************************************************************
Exp. 49 on orbit
Shane Kimbrough KE5HOD
Andrei Borisenko
Sergey Ryzhikov
Exp. 50 on orbit
Peggy Whitson
Thomas Pesquet KG5FYG
Oleg Novitskiy
**********************************************************************
Watch
http://www.ariss.org/upcoming-contacts.html
for information about upcoming contacts as they are scheduled.
[ANS thanks ARISS and Charlie, AJ9N for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Satellite Shorts from All Over
Help Wanted - Russian Space Agency
If you know what this means, "Mukhnem na Lunu: Rossiya
ishchet novykh kosmonavtov"*, you may be able to apply
at Russia's space agency, who on Tuesday announced a
recruitment drive for young would-be cosmonauts who it
hopes will become the country's first on the Moon. And
women are welcome, an official stressed.
In the first such drive for five years, Roscosmos space
agency said it is looking for 6 to 8 cosmonauts who will
operate a new-generation spaceship now in development and
"will become the first Russians to fly to the Moon".
The full story is posted at:
http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Fly_me_to_the_Moon_Russia_seeks_new_cosmo…
*Translation: Fly me to the Moon: Russia seeks new cosmonauts
[ANS thanks SpaceDaily.com for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
/EX
In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the
President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining
donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive addi-
tional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT
Office.
Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership
at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students
enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the stu-
dent rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status.
Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership
information.
73,
This week's ANS Editor,
Joe Spier, K6WAO
k6wao at amsat dot org
1
0
13 Mar '17
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-071.02
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:
* Editor's Note:
* US ARISS Proposal Window Remains Open Through April 15, 2017
* First Moon Bounce using Opera
* NEON - NASA Educators Online Network - ANNOUNCEMENTS
* Cubesat Developers Workshop 2017
* ARISS News
* Satellite Shorts From All Over
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-071.02
ANS-071 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 071.02
>From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD.
March 12, 2017
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-071.02
Editor's Note:
Todays ANS was sent missing content, as I am sure most who read it
observed. This is a re-bublication of the Bulletin including its full
contact.
I apologize for any problems.
EMike, AA8EM
---------------------------------------------------------------------
US ARISS Proposal Window Remains Open Through April 15, 2017
Message to US Educators Amateur Radio on the International Space
Station Contact Opportunity
Call for Proposals
Proposal Window February 15 – April 15, 2017
The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Program
is seeking formal and informal education institutions and
organizations, individually or working together, to host an Amateur
Radio contact with a crew member on board the ISS. ARISS anticipates
that the contact would be held between January 1, 2018 and June 30,
2018. Crew scheduling and ISS orbits will determine the exact contact
dates. To maximize these radio contact opportunities, ARISS is
looking for organizations that will draw large numbers of
participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed
education plan.
The deadline to submit a proposal is April 15, 2017. Proposal
information and documents can be found at www.arrl.org/hosting-an-
ariss-contact.
The Opportunity
Crew members aboard the International Space Station will participate
in scheduled Amateur Radio contacts. These radio contacts are
approximately 10 minutes in length and allow students to interact
with the astronauts through a question-and-answer session.
An ARISS contact is a voice-only communication opportunity via
Amateur Radio between astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the space
station and classrooms and communities. ARISS contacts afford
education audiences the opportunity to learn firsthand from
astronauts what it is like to live and work in space and to learn
about space research conducted on the ISS. Students also will have an
opportunity to learn about satellite communication, wireless
technology, and radio science. Because of the nature of human
spaceflight and the complexity of scheduling activities aboard the
ISS, organizations must demonstrate flexibility to accommodate
changes in dates and times of the radio contact.
Amateur Radio organizations around the world, NASA, and space
agencies in Russia, Canada, Japan and Europe sponsor this educational
opportunity by providing the equipment and operational support to
enable direct communication between crew on the ISS and students
around the world via Amateur Radio. In the US, the program is managed
by AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) and ARRL (American
Radio Relay League) in partnership with NASA and CASIS (Center for
the Advancement of Science in Space).
More Information
Interested parties can find more information about the program at
www.ariss.org and www.arrl.org/ARISS.
For proposal information and more details such as expectations,
proposal guidelines and proposal form, and dates and times of
Information Sessions go to
http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact.
Please direct any questions to ariss at arrl.org.
[ANS thanks ARISS for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
First Moon Bounce using Opera
On Tuesday, March 7, Luis EA5DOM and Jose EA3HMJ made a test using
the amateur radio weak-signal data mode Opera for 1296 MHz Moon
Bounce (EME)
Luis EA5DOM posted the following:
We are both using an small 180cm offset dish. Jose is 400w, so he
was transmitting and I was trying to decode. The trace was visible
but too weak for an Op05 decode. So tried Op1 switching band to
70MHz. After some trying we got one decode at -24dB
2017-03-07 23:31:17 EA3HMJ JN11AN EA5DOM IM98WN
381 70.093 - 23 Op1__~24dB
Switched to Op2 and tried some times without success. I was getting
problems to keep an accurate tracking, so the signal was not optimal
and close to the decoding limit
We will keep testing, But at least one decode was worth the effort.
Here is EA5DOM screenshot:
http://tinyurl.com/ANS071-EA5Dom-Screenshot
And EA3HMJ Screenshot:
http://tinyurl.com/ANS071-EA3HMJ-Screenshot
You can download Opera from
https://rosmodem.wordpress.com/
[ANS thanks Southgate ARN for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
NEON - NASA Educators Online Network - ANNOUNCEMENTS
Free STEM Education Webinars From NASA Educator Professional
Development
Audience: In-service, Pre-service, Home School and Informal Educators
The NASA STEM Educator Professional Development Collaborative (EPDC)
at Texas State University is presenting a series of free webinars
open to all educators. Join NASA education specialists to learn about
activities, lesson plans, educator guides and resources that bring
NASA into your classroom. Registration is required to participate. To
register, simply click on the link provided beneath the webinar
description.
March 13, 2017, at 4:00 p.m. ET: Earth Right Now: Engineering at
NASA (Grades K-12) -- Engineers at NASA come from a multitude of
backgrounds such as astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology, materials
science and physics. This webinar allows participants to hear from
one of NASA's Planetary Protection engineers. These unique engineers
support projects that have to be biologically clean before launch so
that they do not contaminate another planet or moon with Earth life.
Join us to discover NASA educational activities related to
engineering and help inspire students to pursue careers in science,
technology, engineering and mathematics. Register online to
participate. https://www.etouches.com/209358
**********
March 14, 2017, at 6:30 p.m. ET: Earth Right Now -- GLOBE Atmosphere
(Grades K-12) -- NASA’s fleet of satellites, its airborne missions
and researchers address some of the critical challenges facing our
planet today. Learn about clouds and contrails using the Global
Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment, or GLOBE,
program. This international science and education program provides
students and the public worldwide with the opportunity to participate
in data collection and the scientific process, and to contribute
meaningfully to our understanding of the Earth system and global
environment. Register online to participate.
https://www.etouches.com/229949
**********
March 16, 2017, at 8:00 p.m. ET: Astrobiology and Looking for Life
(Grades 6-12) -- In this webinar, we will discuss how NASA has turned
the search for alien life from science fiction to a quickly growing
research field. Topics in Earth and space science linked to biology
will help us understand the most current theories for how life came
to be here on Earth and where we could find it next. Classroom
activities for numerous grades will put this exploration into the
hands of the next generation of scientists. Register online to
participate. https://www.etouches.com/234109
**********
For the NASA STEM Educator Professional Development webinar
schedule, go to: http://www.txstate-epdc.net/events/
**********
For US Educators: Amateur Radio on the International Space Station--
Students Talk to Astronauts
Call for Proposals -- Window is February 15 – April 15, 2017
The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Program
is seeking formal and informal education institutions and
organizations, individually or working together, to host an Amateur
Radio contact with a crewmember on board the ISS. ARISS anticipates
that the radio contact would be held between Jan 1, 2018 and June 30,
2018. Crew scheduling and ISS orbits determine the exact dates. To
maximize these radio contact opportunities, ARISS is looking for
organizations that will draw large numbers of participants and
integrate the contact into a well-developed education plan. Students
learn about technology, communications, and science studied on board
the ISS.
The deadline to submit a proposal is April 15, 2017. For proposal
information and details such as expectations, proposal guidelines and
proposal form, and days/times of Information Sessions, go to
www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact Please direct any questions to
ariss at arrl.org .
[ANS thanks NASA Educators Online Network (NEON) for the above
information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Cubesat Developers Workshop 2017
Cubesat Developers Workshop 2017, April 26-28, 2017, San Luis
Obispo, CA -- New Venue - Cal Poly Performing Arts Center.
#CubeSatDW2017 * http://www.cubesat.org/workshop-2017-information
The CubeSat Workshop Team is honored to welcome Mr. James L. Reuter
(http://www.cubesat.org/james-reuter), Deputy Associate Administrator
for Programs within the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD)
at NASA Headquarters, as one of our Keynote speakers for the upcoming
workshop. If you are as interested as we are to hear what he has to
say, you can follow up with Registration and Workshop Information on
our website:
http://www.cubesat.org/workshop-2017-information/
Early Bird Registration for the 14th Annual CubeSat Developers
Workshop ends in just TEN DAYS on *March 17, 2017*. Register before
the prices increase!
You can register by following the link below.
https://calpoly.irisregistration.com/Home/Site?code=cubesat-2017
If you have any questions regarding workshop, or are interested in
being a sponsor this year, don't hesitate to contact us at:
cubesat-workshop at calpoly.edu
[ANS thanks The CubeSat Workshop Team for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
ARISS News
+ A Successful contact was made between Blair Pointe Upper
Elementary School, Peru, IN, USA and Astronaut Shane Kimbrough
KE5HOD using Callsign NA1SS. The contact began Thu 2017-03-09
15:21:33 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was
Direct via WD9GIU.
ARISS Mentor was Charlie AJ9N.
+ A Successful contact was made between 3rd Junior High School,
Komotini, Greece and Astronaut Shane Kimbrough KE5HOD using
Callsign OR4ISS. The contact began Fri 2017-03-10 08:20:46 UTC
and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was Direct via
SV7APQ.
ARISS Mentor was Bertus PE1KEH.
Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule
McBride High School, Long Beach, CA, direct via K6MHS
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS
The scheduled astronaut is Thomas Pesquet KG5FYG
Contact is a go for: Wed 2017-03-15 16:28:44 UTC
[ANS thanks ARISS, Charlie AJ9N and David AA4KN 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
1
0
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-071
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:
* US ARISS Proposal Window Remains Open Through April 15, 2017
* First Moon Bounce using Opera
* NEON - NASA Educators Online Network - ANNOUNCEMENTS
* Cubesat Developers Workshop 2017
* ARISS News
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-071.01
ANS-071 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 071.01
>From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD.
March 12, 2017
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-071.01
US ARISS Proposal Window Remains Open Through April 15, 2017
Message to US Educators Amateur Radio on the International Space
Station Contact Opportunity
Call for Proposals
Proposal Window February 15 – April 15, 2017
The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Program
is seeking formal and informal education institutions and
organizations, individually or working together, to host an Amateur
Radio contact with a crew member on board the ISS. ARISS anticipates
that the contact would be held between January 1, 2018 and June 30,
2018. Crew scheduling and ISS orbits will determine the exact contact
dates. To maximize these radio contact opportunities, ARISS is
looking for organizations that will draw large numbers of
participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed
education plan.
The deadline to submit a proposal is April 15, 2017. Proposal
information and documents can be found at www.arrl.org/hosting-an-
ariss-contact.
The Opportunity
Crew members aboard the International Space Station will participate
in scheduled Amateur Radio contacts. These radio contacts are
approximately 10 minutes in length and allow students to interact
with the astronauts through a question-and-answer session.
An ARISS contact is a voice-only communication opportunity via
Amateur Radio between astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the space
station and classrooms and communities. ARISS contacts afford
education audiences the opportunity to learn firsthand from
astronauts what it is like to live and work in space and to learn
about space research conducted on the ISS. Students also will have an
opportunity to learn about satellite communication, wireless
technology, and radio science. Because of the nature of human
spaceflight and the complexity of scheduling activities aboard the
ISS, organizations must demonstrate flexibility to accommodate
changes in dates and times of the radio contact.
Amateur Radio organizations around the world, NASA, and space
agencies in Russia, Canada, Japan and Europe sponsor this educational
opportunity by providing the equipment and operational support to
enable direct communication between crew on the ISS and students
around the world via Amateur Radio. In the US, the program is managed
by AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) and ARRL (American
Radio Relay League) in partnership with NASA and CASIS (Center for
the Advancement of Science in Space).
More Information
Interested parties can find more information about the program at
www.ariss.org and www.arrl.org/ARISS.
For proposal information and more details such as expectations,
proposal guidelines and proposal form, and dates and times of
Information Sessions go to
http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact.
Please direct any questions to ariss at arrl.org.
[ANS thanks ARISS for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
ARISS News
+ A Successful contact was made between Blair Pointe Upper
Elementary School, Peru, IN, USA and Astronaut Shane Kimbrough
KE5HOD using Callsign NA1SS. The contact began Thu 2017-03-09
15:21:33 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was
Direct via WD9GIU.
ARISS Mentor was Charlie AJ9N.
+ A Successful contact was made between 3rd Junior High School,
Komotini, Greece and Astronaut Shane Kimbrough KE5HOD using
Callsign OR4ISS. The contact began Fri 2017-03-10 08:20:46 UTC
and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was Direct via
SV7APQ.
ARISS Mentor was Bertus PE1KEH.
Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule
McBride High School, Long Beach, CA, direct via K6MHS
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS
The scheduled astronaut is Thomas Pesquet KG5FYG
Contact is a go for: Wed 2017-03-15 16:28:44 UTC
[ANS thanks ARISS, Charlie AJ9N and David AA4KN 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
1
0
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-064
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:
* Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, 2017 Dayton Hamvention Amateur of the Year
* VUCC Awards for February 2017
* On-line Information Sessions for ARISS-US School Contact Proposals
* Ham radio satellite activation of Berry Islands, Bahamas
* NASA Explores Opportunity for Smaller Experiments to 'Hitch a
Ride' to Mars
* Belize on Satellite
* October Amateur Radio Satellites Activation of Sint Maarten
Announced
* Nayif-1 Status Report and New Dashboard
* ARISS News
* Satellite Shorts From All Over
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-064.01
ANS-064 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 064.01
>From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD.
March 5, 2017
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-064.01
Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, 2017 Dayton Hamvention Amateur of the Year
The Dayton Hamvention has announced the winners of the 2017
Hamvention Awards. Each year, the Dayton Hamvention honors radio
amateurs who have made major contributions to the art and science of
amateur radio. AMSAT Vice President for Human Spaceflight Frank
Bauer, KA3HDO, was named 2017 Amateur of the Year.
The award citation reads:
“Frank serves as the Amateur Radio on the International Space
Station (ARISS) international chairman. In the mid-1990s, Bauer
proposed a GPS reception experiment on the AMSAT Phase 3D satellite
(AO-40). The experiment was to measure the signal strength of the GPS
satellite constellation while Phase 3D was in high-Earth orbit (HEO).
The AO-40 experiment subsequently has been cited often in aerospace
literature, as it remained the most comprehensive above-the-
constellation data source for nearly a decade and led to changes in
the system’s specifications and applications. The results of the AO-
40 experiment jump started a game-changing transformation in
navigation at HEO/GEO altitudes, enabling new and exciting missions
in these orbits.
Bauer holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in aeronautics and
astronautics from Purdue University. His career in aerospace spans 4
decades within NASA and in private industry
Bauer has been licensed since 1974. In 1983, in preparation for the
space mission of Owen Garriott, W5LFL, he was responsible for setting
up and operating the worldwide retransmission of Space Shuttle air-to-
ground communications from Goddard Amateur Radio Club station WA3NAN.
This initiative provided a critical conduit of information to hams
attempting to contact astronaut-hams in the pre-Internet era.”
The 2017 Dayton Hamvention Award winners are listed at
http://hamvention.org/event-details/awards/
[ANS thanks Dayton Hamvention via the ARRL for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
VUCC Awards for February 2017
Congratulations to the following satellite operators
who were awarded endorsements for Satellite VUCC by the
ARRL during the period 1Feb2017 thru 1Mar2017:
WA4NVM-1413
KD8CAO-1200
W5PFG-982
N8RO-918
N7SFI-829
K4FEG-711
N8HM-608
N4UFO-601
KG5CCI-452
N9IP-417
K5ND-200
W7QL-180
W4DTA-151
AI6GS-136
N6RFM-107
There were 2 new VUCC awards:
WI7P - 829
AK4WQ (EN34) - 106
The ARRL VUCC Award is the most prestigious and sought after
award for satellite operators. The award is
what inspires all of the roving activity here in the United
States and around the world. A special thanks to all rovers
who make the effort to operate away from home. The Central
States VHF Society sponsors the reverse VUCC award for rovers
who operate in 100 or more grids away from home. Some of our
current rovers are already eligible or close to being eligible
for this award. Recipients so far include N7SFI, N5AFV, ND9M and
KD4ZGW. (as of 5July2016 www.csvhfs.org)
[ANS thanks John K8YSE for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
On-line Information Sessions for ARISS-US School Contact Proposals
ARISS-US is accepting proposals from U.S. schools, museums, science
centers and community youth organizations (working individually or
together) to host an Amateur Radio on the International Space
Station, or ARISS, radio contact with an orbiting space station crew
member between Jan. 1 and June 30, 2018. Proposals are due April 15,
2017.
Informational Sessions
To help organizations learn about ARISS radio contacts and the
proposal process, ARISS offers one-hour online information sessions
and welcomes all questions. Attending an online session is not
required but strongly encouraged.
Informational sessions will be offered March 6, 2017, at 7 p.m. EST
and March 16, 2017, at 4 p.m. EDT.
Advance registration is necessary. Email ARISS (ariss(a)arrl.org) to
sign up for an information session.
For proposal information and more details such as expectations,
proposal guidelines and proposal forms, visit
http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact.
Please email questions about this opportunity to ariss(a)arrl.org.
ARISS-US is offered through a partnership between NASA, the American
Radio Relay League, and the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation.
ARISS was created and is managed by an international working group.
[ANS thanks ARISS and NASA Education Express Message -- March 2,
2017 for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Ham radio satellite activation of Berry Islands, Bahamas
Steve M1ACB, Rob M0VFC and John M0IDA will be active on the FM and
SSB amateur radio satellites from Berry Islands in the Bahamas.
The trio plan to operate from March 4-10 and will be using hand-held
antennas. Since the FM satellites will only cover part of the USA
they’ll also be using SSB on FO-29 to reach the British Isles and
Europe.
They will be operating from Little Harbour Cay in the Berry Islands,
IOTA NA-054, Grid Square FL15do.
For further information see
https://m1acb.wordpress.com/2017/02/18/1527/
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
NASA Explores Opportunity for Smaller Experiments to 'Hitch a Ride'
to Mars
NASA's goals for human deep space exploration are complex and
ambitious. To maximize resources as it pushes the boundaries
of exploration, the agency is exploring opportunities to take
advantage of emerging private sector space capabilities.
NASA released a request for information Monday regarding possible
commercial sources to fly limited payloads on planned, non-NASA
missions to Mars. The agency will use the responses to gather
market data on the complete spectrum of commercial plans, and
identify any excess capacity that may exist for NASA payloads.
Furthering NASA's human deep space exploration goals will require
a significant amount of scientific research, and opportunities to
collect data on Mars have been rare. Only seven successful missions
to the surface of Mars have taken place in the history of space
flight.
Evolving capabilities in the private sector have opened the
possibility for NASA to take advantage of commercial opportunities
to land scientific payloads on the surface of the Red Planet. Such
capability would provide an additional method of acquiring science
and engineering data concerning Mars, and would complement NASA's
current deep space exploration efforts.
[ANS thanks www.marsdaily.com for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Belize on Satellite
Good evening to my fellow people of the birds,
The time has come. I will be venturing to the land of Belize March
11-19 and will be on the satellites with the call V31NJ. I will
operate from various grids and possibly some islands (a side trip to
Roatan, Honduras is possible with operations from there, not positive
yet). This is gonna be a vacation style op (going with my little
brother for his spring break), so don't expect me on every pass.
If I can get a permit for Guatemala TG/NJ7H may also be on a few
passes, though I'm not sure if from any grids different than in
Belize.
QSLing will be via LoTW. If there is a demand, I can get some cards
printed when I'm back.
[ANS thanks Gabe V31NJ/NJ7H for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
October Amateur Radio Satellites Activation of Sint Maarten Announced
PJ7, ST. MAARTEN. Members of Argentinian DXers Group will be active
as PJ7T from Sint Maarten (NA-105) between October 24th and November
4th. Operators mentioned are Dan/LU9FHF, Bob/LU4FBU, Andy/LU2JCW,
Wally/LU3FMD and Jose/LU1FM. They plan to have three station on the
HF bands and one on the Amateur Radio Satellites. QSL via LU1FM
direct, LoTW or eQSL.
Look for their Web page to be active soon at:
http://www.tarjetasqsl.com.ar/pj7t
[ANS thanks Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 1307 for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Nayif-1 Status Report and New Dashboard
The Nayif-1 (EO-88) CubeSat has now been in orbit for more than two
weeks and all systems continue to operate nominally.
The power budget is positive, the spin/tumble rate is acceptably
low, on board temperatures are perfectly okay and, importantly, the
educational/amateur transponder switching is taking place
autonomously as planned.
More than 250 stations around the world have provided telemetry to
the Nayif Data Warehouse and the FUNcube Team are extremely grateful
to them for their invaluable support.
The experts have now formally allocated Catalog Number 42017 to
Nayif-1 (EO88) and the TLEs can now be downloaded from Celestrak –
TLEs
New Dashboards
The FUNcube Team have now updated the Dashboards for both Nayif-1
and FUNcube-1 so that they display only the telemetry received from
the individual spacecraft that they are designed for. This will help
users to display only the correct information and graphs and reduce
confusion. Whilst they only display the data from ONE spacecraft,
they will, as now, receive and decode the data from all FUNcube
payloads currently in orbit and automatically submit it to the
relevant Data Warehouse.
The new Dashboard for FUNcube-1 (ver 1044) can be downloaded from
here: FUNcube Dashboard Installer 1044
The new Dashboard for Nayif-1 (ver 1040) can be downloaded from
here: Nayif-1 Dashboard Installer 1040
Additionally some command line parameters have been added to enable
the programmes to auto-start with the desired parameters. These are:
/minimized
/autostart
/source=dongle
or
/source=soundcard
Some notes on how to implement these parameters can be found here:
funcube-dashboard-autostart
Nayif-1 Data Warehouse http://data.amsat-uk.org/nayif1/
Ham radio satellite transmits Vice President’s message
https://amsat-uk.org/2017/02/25/nayif-1-uae-vice-president-message/
Nayif-1 Launched https://amsat-uk.org/2017/02/15/nayif-1-launched/
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
ARISS News
+ A Successful contact was made between ABOUT GAGARIN FROM SPACE.
Raduga Space Communication Center of St. Petersburg, Russia and
Cosmonaut Sergey Ryzhikov using Callsign RSØISS. The contact began
UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was Direc via
RA1AJN. ARISS Mentor was Sergey RV3DR.
+ A Successful contact was made between Ecole “Robespierre B.”,
Rueil-Malmaison, France and Astronaut Thomas Pesquet KG5FYG using
Callsign FX0ISS. The contact began 2017-03-01 08:04 UTC and lasted
about nine and a half minutes. Contact was Direct via F6KFA.
ARISS Mentor was Joseph F6ICS.
+ A Successful contact was made between College Marcel Pagnol, Rueil-
Malmaison, France and Astronaut Thomas Pesquet KG5FYG using Callsign
FX0ISS. The contact began 2017-03-01 08:04 UTC and lasted about
nine and a half minutes. Contact was Direct via F6KFA.
ARISS Mentor was Joseph F6ICS.
+ A Successful contact was made between Ecole Albert Camus, Rueil-
Malmaison, France and Astronaut Thomas Pesquet KG5FYG using Callsign
FX0ISS. The contact began 2017-03-01 08:04 UTC and lasted about
nine and a half minutes. Contact was Direct via F6KFA.
ARISS Mentor was Joseph F6ICS.
Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule
+ Blair Pointe Upper Elementary School, Peru, IN, direct via WD9GIU
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS
The scheduled astronaut is Shane Kimbrough KE5HOD
Contact is a go for: Thu 2017-03-09 15:21:33 UTC
+ 3rd Junior High School, Komotini, Greece, direct via SV7APQ
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS
The scheduled astronaut is Shane Kimbrough KE5HOD
Contact is a go for: Fri 2017-03-10 08:20:46 UTC
[ANS thanks ARISS, Charlie AJ9N and David AA4KN for the above
information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Satellite Shorts From All Over
+ The AMSAT-NA office was closed Friday March 3 and will remain
closed through Monday March 6. Martha will return to office Tuesday
March 7.
[ANS thanks Martha 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
1
0
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-057
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:
* OSCAR Number EO-88 for Nayif-1
* Two projects with AMSAT ties selected for NASA launches
* ARISS Equipment on SpaceX Launch
* VEGA Flight Opportunity for Multiple Small Satellites
* Satellite Changes in AMSAT Keplerian Element Distribution
* LUSAT LO-19 Calls Home
* Expect More from Amateur BY70-1 Youth Space Program
* AMSAT Events
* ARISS News
* Satellite Shorts from All Over
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-057.01
ANS-057 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 057.01
>From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD.
DATE Febuary 26, 2017
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-057.01
---------------------------------------------------------------------
OSCAR Number EO-88 for Nayif-1
In accordance with the request sent to the AMSAT-NA Board of Directors
for an
OSCAR number for the UAE CubeSat, Nayif-1, and the statement that all of the
conditions for an OSCAR number have been met, I hereby by the authority
vested
in me by the AMSAT-NA president, do convey on Nayif-1 the designation
Emirates
Oscar 88 or EO-88.
Along with the rest of the Amateur Radio satellite community, I hope
that EO-
88 will meet all of its objectives.
I wish you and your group the best of luck in this and future endeavors to
keep Amateur Radio in space.
[ANS thanks William A. (Bill) Tynan, W3XO, OSCAR Number Administrator
for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Two projects with AMSAT ties selected for NASA launches
Two cubesat missions with ties to AMSAT have been selected as part of the
eighth round of the NASA CubeSat Launch Initiative. These spacecraft are
eligible for placement on a launch manifest after final negotiations,
depending
on the availability of a flight opportunity.
TJREVERB is a CubeSat from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and
Technology, in Alexandria, Virginia. This satellite will include an
AMSAT Fox
mode U/v FM radio system, and will be capable of serving as an analog FM
repeater.
HuskySat-1 from the University of Washington in Seattle will carry a
mode V/u
linear transponder and 1200 baud BPSK beacon similar to RadFXsat-2. The
satellite will demonstrate plasma propulsion and high gain telemetry in
advance
of a larger CubeSat lunar mission.
The complete list of satellites selected may be found at on the NASA web
page.
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-announces-eighth-class-of-candidates-for-
launch-of-cubesat-space-missions
http://www.amsat.org/?p=5795
[ANS thanks Drew, KO4MA, AMSAT Vice-President for Operations
for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
ARISS Equipment on SpaceX Launch
Included as part of the successful launch of the SpaceX Dragon vehicle
to ISS is an ARISS Ericsson 2 meter VHF radio. This radio will replace the
Ericsson radio that failed a few months ago. The VHF radio is used for
school group contacts and amateur packet radio in the Columbus module. Once
the Dragon vehicle is berthed to ISS, the Ericsson will be unstowed and, at
some point, installed in Columbus, replacing the UHF radio that is now
supporting APRS packet and some school contacts.
The unmanned cargo ship packed with food and supplies for astronauts
arrived
safely at the International Space Station Thursday, 2/23/2017. The Dragon
cargo ship was grabbed by the station's robotic arm at 5:44 am (1044 GMT).
Our thanks to SpaceX on an outstanding and historic flight from Kennedy
Space Center's Launch Pad 39A, where many Space Shuttle missions and nearly
all the Apollo moon missions were launched. We also would like to thank our
ARISS benefactors-NASA and CASIS, the Center for the Advancement of Science
in Space. And, of course, our amateur radio long-time sponsors-our national
amateur radio organizations around the world, including the American Radio
Relay League (ARRL) in the US, and our international AMSAT organizations,
including AMSAT-NA.
ARISS is also making great progress on the development of the new
interoperable radio system that we hope to use to replace our aging radio
infrastructure in the Columbus module and the Service module. The hard
(and expensive) part of this effort is just beginning, with testing and
human certification on the horizon. We thank all that have donated to the
cause thus far. We hope you continue to help ARISS move forward through
your support, including your volunteer time and talent and, of course,
financial contributions through the AMSAT web site donate button.
[ANS thanks Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, ARISS International Chair, AMSAT-NA V.P.
for Human Spaceflight for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
VEGA Flight Opportunity for Multiple Small Satellites
Europe’s Vega small launcher is set to demonstrate its extended
capability to
deploy multiple light satellites using its new versatile Small Satellites
Mission Service (SSMS) dispenser, in the second half of 2018.
This demonstration provides the first of the launch opportunities under the
new Light satellite, Low-cost Launch opportunity (LLLor L3) Initiative
initiated at the ESA Council Meeting at Ministerial Level in December
2016 with
the aim to provide low-cost and regular launch services for European
Institutional light satellites through full exploitation of the Ariane 6 and
Vega C launch systems’ capabilities.
This first proof-of-concept flight using the current Vega launch system will
demonstrate and validate standard innovative services for light satellites.
The SSMS dispenser with its modular design enables Vega to provide launch
opportunities for light satellites with an overall mass ranging from 1 kg
CubeSats up to 400 kg minisats with different alternative configurations and
relevant combinations under a ‘rideshare’ concept.
Potential customers, be they European public-sector organizations or other
entities, are invited to respond to the joint ESA and European Commission
Announcement of Opportunity, which can be downloaded together with its
questionnaire, by 31 March.
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Launchers/Vega_flight_opportunity_for_
multiple_small_satellites
(including links for the application process due by March 31)
[ANS thanks the European Space Agency for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Satellite Changes in AMSAT Keplerian Element Distribution
The following five satellites/object numbers have been deleted:
SATELLITE NORAD CAT ID REASON
BY70-1 41909 Deorbit 2-18-2017
OBJECT 41930 41930 Not Amateur Sat-ISS Launch
EGG 41933 Not Amateur Sat-ISS Launch
OBJECT 41934 41934 Not Amateur Sat-ISS Launch
TuPOD 41936 41936 Batteries Dead-ISS Launch
Thanks to Nico Janssen for his work in predicting BY70-1's deorbit.
As noted last week, Nayif-1 was launched with 103 other satellites
on 2-15-2017. The cloud of satellites is beginning to spread and
Nico Janssen, PA0DLO, has developed a TLE set that many on AMSAT-BB
say is very accurate. I have included it in this week's distribution.
Thanks again to a very busy Nico for his excellent work.
Detailed doppler measurements show that Nayif 1 is object 42017,
2017-008BX.
Keith Pugh, W5IU, suggested that I include Nayif-1 in the regular
distribution so those using apps like PocketSat would be able to
track it. Good idea Keith. (I have PocketSat myself!)
[ANS thanks AMSAT's Keeper of the Keps Ray Hoad, WA5QGD
for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
LUSAT LO-19 Calls Home
On Feb-20 15:45z LUSAT LO-19 on Orbit 141493 had been heard with strong
carrier on 437.125 ± Doppler.
LUSAT had been in space last 27 years and still emits it's CW carrier
un-modulated with 900 mW.
Now and then the satellite comes alive, it is useful to test reception and
demonstrate Doppler, check antennas, etc.
Please try to listen, on
http://amsat.innova-red.net/pass
you will find an easy way to locate, receive, and thank you if reported.
[ANS thanks Pedro, LU7ABF for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Expect More from Amateur BY70-1 Youth Space Program
In announcing the end of a successful mission the students who built the
amateur radio FM transponder satellite BY70-1 say “We hope more Amateur
youth
space program will be brought to you in the near future!”
The 2U CubeSat BY70-1 was built by students from the Beijing Bayi High
School
and carried into a 524 x 212 km orbit on a CZ-2D rocket launched from the
Taiyuan Space Launch Center on December 28, 2016.
On February 17, 2017, as the satellite was about to burn up on its re-entry
into the Earth’s atmosphere, this end of mission statement was posted on the
school’s website.
Dear friends of BY70-1:
Satellite BY70-1 has completed all designed missions. For the amateurs who
completed 2-way QSO using the repeater onboard, received effective satellite
telemetry, or obtained satellite camera photos, we would like to invite you
sending connection data package (audio or video evidence), satellite
telemetry
data or photos received to Email: 6015(a)bayims.cn.
So that we can keep statistics records and deliver our appreciation
toward you
in public. We would be pleased to exchange QSL card for QSO users, and some
souvenirs for the telemetry or camera photos users.
We hope more Amateur youth space program will be brought to you in the near
future!
E-mail Address: 6015 @bayims.cn
Post Address: Mr Xiangming TAOBeijing Bayi School, 29# Suzhou Street,
Haidian
Dist, Beijing, China
P.O. 100080
http://www.bayims.cn/article-16881.html
BY70-1 FM transponder satellite
https://amsat-uk.org/2016/12/27/by70-1-fm-transponder-satellite/
BY70-1 FM contact video
https://amsat-uk.org/2016/12/30/by70-1-fm-transponder-contact/
See BY70-1 page on Roland PY4ZBZ website
http://www.qsl.net/py4zbz/by70.htm
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
AMSAT Events
Information about AMSAT activities at other important events around
the country. Examples of these events are radio club meetings where
AMSAT Area Coordinators give presentations, demonstrations of working
amateur satellites, and hamfests with an AMSAT presence (a table with
AMSAT literature and merchandise, sometimes also with presentations,
forums, and/or demonstrations).
*Saturday and Sunday, 11-12 March 2017 – ScienceCity in Tucson AZ
*Saturday, 18 March 2017 – Scottsdale SpringFest in Scottsdale AZ
*Friday through Sunday, 31 March–2 April 2017, NVCON in Las Vegas NV
*Wednesday, 5 April 2007 – presentation for Scottsdale Amateur Radio Club
in Scottsdale AZ
*Friday and Saturday, 7-8 April 2017, Green Country Hamfest in
Claremore OK
*Saturday, 6 May 2017 – Cochise Amateur Radio Association hamfest in
Sierra Vista AZ
*19-21 May 2017, HamVention in the Greene County Fairgrounds and
Expo Center, Dayton, Ohio
*Friday and Saturday, 9-10 June 2017, HAM-COM in Irving TX
*Saturday, 10 June 2017 – Prescott Hamfest in Prescott AZ
[ANS thanks AMSAT-NA for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
ARISS News
Successful Contacts
* Collège André Malraux, Chatelaillon-Plage, France, telebridge via ON4ISS
The ISS callsign was scheduled to be FXØISS
The scheduled astronaut was Thomas Pesquet KG5FYG
Contact was successful Mon 2017-02-13 14:00:35 UTC 67 deg.
Astronaut Thomas Pesquet, KG5FYG answered 19 questions prepared by
students for an audience 190 students and guests. HamTV downlinked
Pesquet live throughout the entire contact thanks to British Amateur
TV Club merging 2 HamTV ground stations’ received signals. The live-stream
was seen by 230 of the general public via BATC connections.
Watch a recording of the live-streamed HamTV downlink:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Byp8JadKjPOmOUFCeDdZMFhSMm8/view?usp=shari…
Watch France's national television's report at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bb7amhLMgA8&feature=em-upload_owner
* John Glenn Middle School, Maplewood MN, direct via KØJDD
The ISS callsign was scheduled to be NA1SS
The scheduled astronaut was Shane Kimbrough KE5HOD
Contact was successful: Wed 2017-02-22 18:47:59 UTC 25 deg
All 16 questions answered with a 73 round. Students, teachers
and parents came to 900 individuals. One television station and
four print media outlets were also in attendance. They reported
full quieting for the entire pass.
* Ecole primaire Elie Desplan, Boissières, France and Marie Castang,
Saint Dionisy, France, direct via F4HHV
The ISS callsign was scheduled to be FXØISS
The scheduled astronaut was Thomas Pesquet KG5FYG
Contact was successful: Sat 2017-02-25 13:14:15 UTC 58 deg
Successful contact between the 2 schools of Boissieres and Saint Dionisy
with Thomas Pesquet.
All 20 questions answered, clear audio all the way long
(Normal and acceptable UHF noise at the beginning and at the end)
Reported 350 people present in the gymnasium.
Also success for the Ham video transmission through BATC, but also
through the local Ham-Video Ground Station.
Press and media presence:
1 national TV (BFM) -> scheduled broadcasted 2/25
2 Regional TVs (France 3), TV TV-Sud
1 Regional radio (France Bleu)
Several Regional newspapers including Le Midi Libre
Upcoming Contacts
* 3rd Junior High School, Komotini, Greece, direct via SV7APQ
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS
The scheduled astronaut is Shane Kimbrough KE5HOD
The contact will be rescheduled for a later date.
* ABOUT GAGARIN FROM SPACE, Space Odyssey Project, Krasnoyarsk, Russia,
direct via RVØADW
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS
The scheduled astronaut is Andrei Borisenko
Contact is a go for Sat 2017-02-25 08:36 UTC
* ABOUT GAGARIN FROM SPACE, Raduga Space Communication Center of St.
Petersburg, Russia, direct via RA1AJN
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS
The scheduled astronaut is Sergey Ryzhikov
Contact is a go for Sun 2017-02-26 09:15 UTC
* Student Space Technology Association, Knoxville, TN, direct via AA4UT
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS
The scheduled astronaut is Shane Kimbrough KE5HOD
Contact is a go for: Wed 2017-03-01 19:08:03 UTC 49 deg
****************************************************************************
ARISS is always glad to receive listener reports for the above contacts.
ARISS thanks everyone in advance for their assistance. Feel free to send
your reports to aj9n(a)amsat.org or aj9n(a)aol.com.
****************************************************************************
Message to US Educators
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station
Contact Opportunity
Call for Proposals
Proposal Window February 15 – April 15, 2017
The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Program is
seeking formal and informal education institutions and organizations,
individually or working together, to host an Amateur Radio contact with
a crew
member on board the ISS. ARISS anticipates that the contact would be held
between January 1, 2018 and June 30, 2018. Crew scheduling and ISS
orbits will
determine the exact contact dates. To maximize these radio contact
opportunities, ARISS is looking for organizations that will draw large
numbers of
participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed education
plan.
The deadline to submit a proposal is April 15, 2017. Proposal information
and documents can be found at www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact.
The Opportunity
Crew members aboard the International Space Station will participate in
scheduled Amateur Radio contacts. These radio contacts are
approximately 10
minutes in length and allow students to interact with the astronauts
through
a question-and-answer session.
An ARISS contact is a voice-only communication opportunity via Amateur
Radio between astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the space station and
classrooms and communities. ARISS contacts afford education audiences the
opportunity to learn firsthand from astronauts what it is like to live and
work in
space and to learn about space research conducted on the ISS. Students
also
will have an opportunity to learn about satellite communication, wireless
technology, and radio science. Because of the nature of human
spaceflight and
the complexity of scheduling activities aboard the ISS, organizations must
demonstrate flexibility to accommodate changes in dates and times of the
radio contact.
Amateur Radio organizations around the world, NASA, and space agencies in
Russia, Canada, Japan and Europe sponsor this educational opportunity by
providing the equipment and operational support to enable direct
communication between crew on the ISS and students around the world via
Amateur Radio.
In the US, the program is managed by AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite
Corporation) and ARRL (American Radio Relay League) in partnership with NASA
and CASIS (Center for the Advancement of Science in Space).
More Information
Interested parties can find more information about the program at
www.ariss.org and www.arrl.org/ARISS.
For proposal information and more details such as expectations, proposal
guidelines and proposal form, and dates and times of Information
Sessions go
to http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact.
Please direct any questions to ariss(a)arrl.org.
****************************************************************************
ARISS is always glad to receive listener reports for the above contacts.
ARISS thanks everyone in advance for their assistance. Feel free to send
your reports to aj9n(a)amsat.org or aj9n(a)aol.com.
Listen for the ISS on the downlink of 145.8Ø MHz.
****************************************************************************
All ARISS contacts are made via the Kenwood radio unless otherwise noted.
****************************************************************************
Several of you have sent me emails asking about the RAC ARISS website and
not being able to get in. That has now been changed to
http://www.ariss.org/
Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site.
****************************************************************************
Looking for something new to do? How about receiving DATV from the ISS?
If interested, then please go to the ARISS-EU website for complete
details. Look for the buttons indicating Ham Video.
http://www.ariss-eu.org/
If you need some assistance, ARISS mentor Kerry N6IZW, might be able to
provide some insight. Contact Kerry at kbanke(a)sbcglobal.net
****************************************************************************
ARISS congratulations the following mentors who have now mentored over 100
schools:
Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 123
Gaston ON4WF with 123
Francesco IKØWGF with 119
****************************************************************************
The webpages listed below were all reviewed for accuracy. Out of date
webpages were removed and new ones have been added. If there are
additional ARISS websites I need to know about, please let me know.
Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own
orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed
time.
All dates and times listed follow International Standard ISO 8601 date and
time format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS
The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2017-02-23 05:00 UTC.
Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts, and
questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and
instructions for any contact that may be streamed live.
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.txt
Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school events is 1116.
Each school counts as 1 event.
Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 1080.
Each contact may have multiple schools sharing the same time slot.
Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 47.
A complete year by year breakdown of the contacts may be found in the
file.
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf
Please feel free to contact me if more detailed statistics are needed.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The following US states and entities have never had an ARISS contact:
Arkansas, Delaware, South Dakota, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, Northern
Marianas Islands, and the Virgin Islands.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
QSL information may be found at:
http://www.ariss.org/qsl-cards.html
ISS callsigns: DPØISS, IRØISS, NA1SS, OR4ISS, RSØISS
****************************************************************************
The successful school list has been updated as of 2017-02-23 05:00 UTC.
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf
Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing
Doppler correction as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_correction
.rtf
Listing of ARISS related magazine articles as of 2006-07-10 03:30 UTC.
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ARISS_magazine_articles.rtf
Check out the Zoho reports of the ARISS contacts
https://reports.zoho.com/ZDBDataSheetView.cc?DBID=412218000000020415
****************************************************************************
Exp. 49 on orbit
Shane Kimbrough KE5HOD
Andrei Borisenko
Sergey Ryzhikov
Exp. 50 on orbit
Peggy Whitson
Thomas Pesquet KG5FYG
Oleg Novitskiy
****************************************************************************
Watch
http://www.ariss.org/upcoming-contacts.html
for information about upcoming contacts as they are scheduled.
[ANS thanks ARISS and Charlie, AJ9N for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
/EX
In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the
President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining
donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive addi-
tional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT
Office.
Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership
at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students
enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the stu-
dent rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status.
Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership
information.
73,
This week's ANS Editor,
Joe Spier, K6WAO
k6wao at amsat dot org
1
0
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-050
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:
* Nayif-1 Launched
* Satellite Operators on the Road
* Amateur Radio on the International Space Station Contact Opportunity
* RadFXsat-2 Receives IARU Frequency Coordination
* 14th Annual CubeSat Developers Workshop
* BY70-1 Re-entry
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-050.01
ANS-050 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 050.01
From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD.
DATE February 19, 2017
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-050.01
Nayif-1 Launched
The Indian Space Agency ISRO successfully launched the amateur radio
satellite
Nayif-1 along with 103 other satellites, a record for a single launch.
The PSLV-
C37 lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, Andhra
Pradesh
at 03:58 UT on Wednesday, February 15, 2017.
Nayif-1 started transmitting about an hour after launch and radio
amateurs in
the west of the USA reported the first signals. The first frame of data
received
at the Data Warehouse was from Christy Hunter KB6LTY. Telemetry data was
also
received by WA6FWF, KA7FVV, WC7V, NC7V, K6FW, KE7QPV, WA9ONY, W5PFG, KK6AYK.
Ken Eaton GW1FKY reports he received his first frames of data when the
satellite
came in range of the UK at 10:07 UT.
The satellite looks to be in perfect health and it was placed in
autonomous mode
before the end of the first day in orbit. Just like FUNcube-1, this mode
has the
spacecraft sending high power telemetry when in sunlight and with the SSB/CW
transponder active when in eclipse. Already many contacts have been made
through
the transponder. As expected, the frequency stability of this spacecraft
is much
better than its predecessors.
A new post-launch set of TLE’s has been issued by the launch authority
and it
can be downloaded from http://amsat-nl.org/download/NAYIF_TLE.txt
Please note that these numbers are not based on JSpOC observations so we
do not
yet have a valid catalog number.
During the Launch and Early Operation phase (LEOP) of the mission, the
Nayif-1
command team have been headquartered at the American University of Sharjah
Ground station in the United Arab Emirates. They have been very grateful
for all
the telemetry received from around the world. It has proven to be immensely
useful to the team in checking that the spacecraft is functioning correctly.
Our world-wide network has greatly impressed the many professionals that
have
been watching our activities. Already more than 100 ground stations are
submitting data to the Nayif Data Warehouse. Please continue uploading
the data
as this will further enhance our knowledge about the spacecraft and the
space
environment through which it is traveling at 7.6 km/s.
The Nayif-1 Data Warehouse has been updated and now includes the Whole
Orbit,
High Resolution graphs and the upload ranking. It also includes telemetry
details from the ADCS sub-system – this is called the iMTQ and is capable of
actively magnetorquing. Over the coming days, we will be further
tweaking the
warehouse, so bear with us if it is unavailable for short periods of time.
Background
Nayif-1 has been developed by the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre
(MBRSC) and
American University of Sharjah (AUS). The UAE’s first Nanosatellite was
developed by Emirati engineering students from AUS under the supervision
of a
team of engineers and specialists from MBRSC within the framework of a
partnership between the two entities, aiming to provide hands-on
experience to
engineering students on satellite manufacturing.
The spacecraft includes a U/V linear transponder and telemetry
transmitter. It
employs enhanced oscillator circuitry and includes an active attitude
determination and control system.
The operating frequencies for the spacecraft are:
Telemetry
145.940 MHz using 1k2 BPSK to the FUNcube standard.
SSB/CW Transponder
Uplink on 435.045 – 435.015 MHz
Downlink on 145.960 – 145.990 MHz
The Nayif-1 Telemetry Dashboard can be downloaded from
http://download.funcube.org.uk/nayif-1_Dashboard_1039_Installer.msi
Guidance notes
https://funcubetest2.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/nayif-1_dashboard_notes_re…
_1-0b.pdf
A file to test that the Dashboard and Warehouse configuration are working
correctly
http://download.funcube.org.uk/nayif1_testfile.funcubebin
Nayif-1 Data Warehouse http://data.amsat-uk.org/nayif1/
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Satellite Operators on the Road
ZF, CAYMAN ISLANDS. Scott/KA9P and Ron/W9XS will be active as ZF2SC and
ZF2FB, respectively, from the Cayman Islands between February 22-28th.
Activity will be on 40/30/20/17/15 meters and the satellites. Operations
will typically be CW, with a KX1 or KX3, and Buddipole beams or verticals.
QSL via their home callsigns or LoTW.
6E, MEXICO. A group of Ham Radio operators from Southern Mexico will be
operating from some Mayan archaeological sites from the Mexican States
of Yucatan, Campeche, Tabasco, Chiapas and Quintana Roo, using the special
callsign 6E3MAYA between March 18-21st. Activity is to commemorate the
Spring Equinox which is so important for the Mayan culture. Activity will
be on 80-6 meters on CW, SSB, the satellites and the Digital modes. QSL
via XE3N.
C6, BAHAMAS (IOTA Op). Operators John/M0IDA, Rob/M0VFC and Steve/M1ACB
hope to be active as C6APY from Little Harbour Cay, Berry Islands (NA-054,
WW Locator FL15do). They will fly into the Bahamas on March 2nd, but it
will take them a couple of days to get to the island, so they hope to be
active around March 4th - but this is very much weather dependent, as is
the whole operation. They will fly back to the UK on March 12th, which
means they will need to de-rig on the 10th or 11th, again varying according
to the weather. Operation probably won't be 24/7 - they will do as much
operating as they can, but eating and sleeping is back on the boat, there's
only three of them, and they will probably want to go for the occasional
swim as well. They will be running up to three stations simultaneously,
all Elecraft K3s at 100W. They will be generator powered and have to carry
the full week's fuel with them on the boat, hence no amps. They are
expecting that most QSOs will be on 40-15 meters; they will monitor the
higher HF bands as well and may venture on to 10/12m if propagation favors
them; similarly they may throw up an 80m dipole, but don't expect to do
very much, if anything, there. There will definitely be CW (op M0VFC) and
SSB (ops M0IDA and M1ACB); they may also do some data if time permits.
They should be active on some satellite passes with hand-held antennas:
the FM birds will only cover parts of the USA, and not EU, so they will
attempt some FO-29 passes as well. They are not satellite experts though,
so be patient with them. QSL is via M0OXO's OQRS system. They will upload
the logs to ClubLog and LoTW regularly throughout the trip, assuming all
the kit plays nicely. Watch Twitter for any other updates:
https://twitter.com/rmc47 (M0VFC)
https://twitter.com/ItinerantHam (M0IDA)
[ANS thanks Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station Contact Opportunity
Call for Proposals
Proposal Window February 15 - April 15, 2017
The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Program is
seeking
formal and informal education institutions and organizations,
individually or
working together, to host an Amateur Radio contact with a crew member on
board
the ISS. ARISS anticipates that the contact would be held between
January 1,
2018 and June 30, 2018. Crew scheduling and ISS orbits will determine
the exact
contact dates. To maximize these radio contact opportunities, ARISS is
looking
for organizations that will draw large numbers of participants and
integrate the
contact into a well-developed education plan.
The deadline to submit a proposal is April 15, 2017. Proposal
information and
documents can be found at www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact.
The Opportunity
Crew members aboard the International Space Station will participate in
scheduled Amateur Radio contacts. These radio contacts are approximately 10
minutes in length and allow students to interact with the astronauts
through a
question-and-answer session.
An ARISS contact is a voice-only communication opportunity via Amateur Radio
between astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the space station and
classrooms and
communities. ARISS contacts afford education audiences the opportunity
to learn
firsthand from astronauts what it is like to live and work in space and
to learn
about space research conducted on the ISS. Students also will have an
opportunity to learn about satellite communication, wireless technology, and
radio science. Because of the nature of human spaceflight and the
complexity of
scheduling activities aboard the ISS, organizations must demonstrate
flexibility
to accommodate changes in dates and times of the radio contact.
Amateur Radio organizations around the world, NASA, and space agencies in
Russia, Canada, Japan and Europe sponsor this educational opportunity by
providing the equipment and operational support to enable direct
communication
between crew on the ISS and students around the world via Amateur Radio.
In the
US, the program is managed by AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite
Corporation) and
ARRL (American Radio Relay League) in partnership with NASA and CASIS
(Center
for the Advancement of Science in Space).
More Information
Interested parties can find more information about the program at
www.ariss.org
and www.arrl.org/ARISS.
For proposal information and more details such as expectations, proposal
guidelines and proposal form, and dates and times of Information
Sessions go to
http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact.
Please direct any questions to ariss(a)arrl.org.
[ANS thanks Dave, AA4KN, for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
RadFXsat-2 Receives IARU Frequency Coordination
RadFXSat-2 is a 1U cubesat technology demonstration mission from Vanderbilt
University that has been accepted for launch as part of NASA’s CubeSat
Launch
Initiative. Vanderbilt University is partnered with AMSAT, who will
provide the
satellite and communications for the experiments onboard as part of the
AMSAT
Fox program.
AMSAT recently received IARU frequency coordination for a 1200 baud BPSK
telemetry downlink beacon on 435.750 MHz, and a mode V/u inverting
transponder
with an uplink of 145.860-145.890 MHz and a downlink of 435.760-435.790 MHz.
RadFXSat-2 is currently manifested as part of the ELaNA XX mission,
scheduled
for no earlier than December 2017, on a Virgin Galactic Launcher One, from
Mojave, California. Other satellites on the mission include:
CACTUS-1 – Capitol Technology University, Laurel, Md.
ALBus – NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio
SurfSat – University of Central Florida, Orlando, Fla.
Q-PACE – University of Central Florida, Orlando, Fla.
CAPE-3 – University of Louisiana Lafayette, La.
MiTEE – University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.
PICS – Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
INCA – New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, N.M.
MicroMas-2b – Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Lexington, Mass.
EXOCUBE – California Polytechnic University, San Louis Obispo, Calif.
PolarCube – University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colo.
[ANS thanks Drew, KO4MA, for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
14th Annual CubeSat Developers Workshop
The 14th Annual CubeSat Developers Workshop will be held in San Luis
Obispo, CA
April 26-28 2017. The schedule is now on the workshop website at the link
below.
http://www.cubesat.org/s/2017-Workshop-Schedule.pdf
REGISTRATION
Prices are as follows:
3 Day Pass + Banquet
Early Bird Professional - $375
Professional - $475
Student - $150
1 Day Pass
Early Bird Professional - $160
Professional - $200
Early bird registration ends on March 17, 2017 so be sure to register
before the
price goes up!
[ANS thanks the CubeSat Workshop Team for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
BY70-1 Re-entry
The 2U CubeSat BY70-1 was built by students from the Beijing Bayi High
School
and carried into a 524 x 212 km orbit on a CZ-2D rocket launched from the
Taiyuan Space Launch Center on December 28, 2016.
On February 17, 2017, as the satellite started to burn up on its
re-entry into
the Earth’s atmosphere, this end of mission statement was posted on the
school’s
website.
Dear friends of BY70-1:
Satellite BY70-1 has completed all designed missions. For the amateurs who
completed 2-way QSO using the repeater onboard, received effective satellite
telemetry, or obtained satellite camera photos, we would like to invite you
sending connection data package (audio or video evidence), satellite
telemetry
data or photos received to Email: 6015(a)bayims.cn.
So that we can keep statistics records and deliver our appreciation
toward you
in public. We would be pleased to exchange QSL card for QSO users, and some
souvenirs for the telemetry or camera photos users.
We hope more Amateur youth space program will be brought to you in the near
future!
E-mail Address: 6015(a)bayims.cn
Post Address: Mr Xiangming TAOBeijing Bayi School, 29# Suzhou Street,
Haidian
Dist, Beijing, China
P.O. 100080
[ANS thanks Beijing Bayi High School and 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,
Lee McLamb, KU4OS
ku4os at amsat dot org
1
0