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ANS-007 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Paul Stoetzer 06 Jan '24

06 Jan '24

*AMSAT *News Service*ANS-007* *January 7, 2024* In this edition: - Welcome to the New Look AMSAT News Service - 2024 President's Club Coins Now Available - W2RS Memorial AMSAT CW Activity Day Summary - VUCC & DXCC Satellite Standing as of January 1, 2024 - Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for January 5, 2024 - ARISS and Amateur Radio Featured on the TODAY Show - Assistance Requested With CubeSat History Project - ARISS News - Upcoming Satellite Operations - Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events - Satellite Shorts From All Over The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. The news feed on https://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor [at] amsat.org You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/ ------------------------------ Welcome to the New Look AMSAT News Service For over 30 years, the AMSAT News Service has been a text only service. Initially, ANS was distributed via dial-up modems and packet networks. As technology has moved on, the text only format has become a significant limitation. In particular, the text only format was often not responsive on mobile devices in many email clients. We hope this new format improves the readability for our users and makes the content more engaging. We do plan to continue tweaking this format as the year goes on. We welcome feedback on this change at ans-editor [at] amsat.org *[ANS thanks the AMSAT News Service Team for the above information]* ------------------------------ 2024 President's Club Coins Now Available The 2024 President's Club coins are now available! This year's coin features an image of AMSAT's next satellite - GOLF-TEE. At all levels of membership - beginning with annual donations of $120 or more - President's Club donors receive the following recognition: - Listing in the AMSAT News Service and The AMSAT Journal - Commemorative Coin – A unique 2” metal coin with a highly polished gold finish and four-color accents. Each year’s coin will feature a different color scheme and different OSCAR satellite. - Membership Certificate – An 8.5” x 11” full-color personalized certificate. Donors at the Silver or higher levels receive even more benefits such as a handsome personalized acrylic desk plaque, tickets to the annual AMSAT Symposium, luncheons and dinners. See the table below for complete details. (Note that recognition items are provided by an anonymous donor and no member dues are used. 100% percent of your donation is used for AMSAT activities.) For persons or clubs wanting to make a contribution by check or electronic transfer, please contact Frank Karnauskas, VP-Development at f.karnauskas [at] amsat.org. Remember, AMSAT is a 501(c)3 corporation and your contribution may be tax deductible. Check with your tax advisor. For more information and to donate today, visit the AMSAT President's Club <https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/>. *[ANS thanks Frank Karnauskas, N1UW, AMSAT Vice President - Development, for the above information]* ------------------------------ *The 2024 Coins Are Here Now!Help Support GOLF and Fox Plus.**Join <https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/> the AMSAT President’s Club today!* <https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/2024-coin-both_586/#ma…> ------------------------------ W2RS Memorial AMSAT CW Activity Day Summary *N6UA operating during the 2024 W2RS Memorial AMSAT CW Activity Day* The W2RS Memorial AMSAT CW Activity Day occurred on January 1st. Reports of activity were received on the AMSAT-BB from several stations. Steve Nordahl, NS3L, in Nazareth, PA reported making 13 CW QSOs on RS-44 and JO-97: RS-44: W3AVP, W0BZ, KD4O, N6UA, NU1U, KE8RJU/7, NM3B, VA3NNA, N8MR. NA1ME, KN2K JO-97: WA8FXQ, WB2TQE Steve Greene, KS1G, in northern Virginia, reported that he worked NM3B, N8MR, and WA3FIR on the 1350Z pass of RS-44. He did hear NS3L work NM3B, but didn't find him later in the pass to work him too. Scott Davis, K5TA, reported working N6UA and KA0WKQ on RS-44 and WA8FXQ on AO-7. Doug Tabor, N6UA, operated portable with a key attached to his leg. He operated on two passes of RS-44 - one from the back deck and one from the driveway. He worked NS3L, K5TA, and NA1ME and heard both WB7VUF and KE8RJU/7. Thanks to all for participating in this annual event! *In March 2022, the AMSAT community lost one of our pioneers when Ray Soifer, W2RS, became a silent key. In addition to his numerous contributions to AMSAT and the worldwide amateur satellite community, Ray was also the long time organizer of AMSAT’s CW Activity Day – previously AMSAT Straight Key Night – held in conjunction with the ARRL’s event on New Year’s Day. In recognition of Ray’s long time service to AMSAT and his keen interest in CW operating via satellite, AMSAT’s CW Activity Day is now known as the W2RS Memorial AMSAT CW Activity Day.* *[ANS thanks Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, AMSAT Executive Vice President, for the above information]* ------------------------------ VUCC & DXCC Satellite Standing as of January 1, 2024VUCC Satellite Award/Endorsement Change Summary December 01, 2023 to January 01, 2024 Call 1-Dec 1-Jan K8DP 1581 1629 WC7V 1426 1451 AA5PK 1404 1426 N8RO 1384 1401 DL2GRC 1108 1166 N0JE 1057 1075 KC9ELU 254 1056 DG7RO 285 1005 AC9O 836 1001 XE1L 860 915 EA2AA 856 875 KG0D 700 801 JN2QCV 507 726 KJ7DZ 600 700 KK4YEL 589 674 N8MR 617 658 KB1HY 604 648 W8MTB 600 620 KC4CJ 126 602 JA1QJI 253 600 A65BR 532 554 EA3TA 400 503 JS1LQI 436 500 HP2VX 481 496 N3CAL 471 480 HB9GWJ 450 476 JA1GZK 350 435 KP3V 310 402 AG7NR 350 400 N9ZTS 302 400 DL8GAM 351 375 N6PAZ 342 350 N7ZO 304 350 AL7ID 261 320 K8BL 300 310 N7UJJ 250 308 ZS2BK 244 305 W6AER 201 302 HL1WP New 300 KH6WI 252 300 K6VHF 250 276 K9AQ 200 250 WD9EWK (DM41) 225 229 WA8ZID 202 226 KG4AKV (FM14) New 217 YV1DIG 200 213 JS2GGD 157 204 WD9EWK (DM23) 195 200 JL3OUW 123 187 AK2S New 152 N6UTC (DM15) 126 150 K9MU 100 129 N6UTC (DM14) 110 128 KB4DSL New 127 WD9EWK (DM13) 109 116 N8XHF New 106 EA3HAH New 100 WA1JAY New 100 Congratulations to the new VUCC holders! HL1WP is first VUCC Satellite holder from PM37 N8XHF is first VUCC Satellite holder from FM16 DXCC Satellite Award/Endorsement Change Summary December 01, 2023 to January 01, 2024 Call 1-Dec 1-Jan S57NML 125 175 OE6MDF 143 169 VU2LBW 152 162 YO3APJ 149 162 SV8CS 150 153 LA6OP 136 143 HB9RYZ 139 141 SP3AU 136 137 KB1HY 131 135 YO9HP 108 131 F6AOJ 125 129 IK6GZM 101 124 IK4DRY 107 122 IW7DOL 116 122 K8DP 112 122 A65BR 104 112 CT1EEB 111 112 KC9ELU 101 112 AA5PK 100 110 LA7XK New 106 TF1A 102 103 LA0FA 100 102 UW8SM New 102 EA5RM 100 101 W8LR New 100 Congratulations to the new DXCC Satellite holders! UW8SM is first DXCC Satellite holder from KN59 *[ANS thanks Jon Goering, N7AZ, for the above information]* ------------------------------ Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for January 5, 2024 Two Line Elements or TLEs, often referred to as Keplerian elements or keps in the amateur community, are the inputs to the SGP4 standard mathematical model of spacecraft orbits used by most amateur tracking programs. Weekly updates are completely adequate for most amateur satellites. TLE bulletin files are updated Thursday evenings around 2300 UTC, or more frequently if new high interest satellites are launched. More information may be found at https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/ The following satellite has been added to this week's AMSAT-NA TLE distribution: *BeliefSat-0* NORAD Cat ID 58695 IARU coordinated downlink on 145.980 MHz The following satellite has been removed from this week's AMSAT-NA TLE distribution: *VENTA 1* NORAD Cat ID 42791 Decayed from orbit on or about 03 January 2024 *[ANS thanks Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager, for the above information]* ------------------------------ *Need new satellite antennas? Purchase an M2 LEO-Pack from the **AMSAT Store! <https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/>**When you purchase through **AMSAT, a portion of the proceeds goes towards **Keeping Amateur Radio in Space.* ------------------------------ ARISS and Amateur Radio Featured on the TODAY Show On January 5, 2024, the TODAY Show featured Harry Smith of NBC News going behind the scenes of last month's QSO between Harbor Creek School in Pennsylvania and the ISS. Video of the segment can be seen on YouTube. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Gn1UKszRNY> ARISS International Chair Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, said of the segment: "What a phenomenal story of a breathtaking ARISS educational experience. Our heartiest congratulations to the Harbor Creek School: the Advanced Technology Group students, educators, families and Leader/Assistant Principal/ARISS Educator Drew Mortensen. WOW!!" *[ANS thanks the TODAY Show and ARISS for the above information]* ------------------------------ Assistance Requested With CubeSat History Project A general announcement to the AMSAT community! Prof. Robert "Bob" Twiggs KE6QMD and Dr. Aaron Zucherman KM6CHY (a former student of his) are working on gathering and publishing a series on the history of the creation and adoption of the CubeSat, including its direct SmallSat forebears (AMSAT, WeberSat, OPAL, etc.) and educational picosat successors (CanSats, PocketQubes and ThinSats). While outstanding technical accounts have been written on the subject, we plan on focusing on the underreported human stories and drama during this early history. You can see our announcement here: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/bob-twiggs-b6163125_cubesat-smallsat-smallsa… The project was also mentioned in Aviation Week: https://aviationweek.com/aerospace/commercial-space/cubesats-how-accidental… We specifically wanted to reach out to the AMSAT community to find those who worked on the early educational smallsat missions and AMSAT members who were mentors to many of the earliest (pre-2010) CubeSat mission teams. However, if you feel you have something else to contribute to CubeSat's history, we want to hear about it! A list of missions we are hoping to find AMSAT members from includes: - WeberSAT (Weber-OSCAR 18, WO-18, Microsat-3) - OPAL (OPAL-OSCAR 38, OO-38, StenSat,) - JAWSAT (Weber-OSCAR 39, WO-39) - SSETI-Express (XO-53, eXpress-OSCAR 53) - CUTE-1 (CO-55, CubeSat-OSCAR 55) - CUTE-1.7 (CO-56, CubeSat-OSCAR 56) - CUBESAT XI-IV (CO-57, CubeSat-OSCAR 57) - CUBESAT XI-V (CO-58, CubeSat-OSCAR 58) - Delfi-C3 (DO 64, Delfi-OSCAR 64) Please feel free to contact azucherman [at] gmail.com if you are interested in contributing. *[ANS thanks Aaron Zucherman, PhD, KM6CHY, for the above information]* ------------------------------ ARISS News Amateurs and others around the world may listen in on contacts between amateurs operating in schools and allowing students to interact with astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station. The downlink frequency on which to listen is 145.800 MHz worldwide. No contacts have been scheduled from 2023-12-21 to 2024-01-14. The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2023-12-21 05:00 UTC. The Service Module radio is temporarily stowed. As always, if there is an EVA, a docking, or an undocking; the ARISS radios are turned off as part of the safety protocol. The crossband repeater continues to be active (145.990 MHz up {PL 67} & 437.800 MHz down), If any crewmember is so inclined, all they have to do is pick up the microphone, raise the volume up, and talk on the crossband repeater. So give a listen, you just never 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. The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html *[ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors for the above information]* ------------------------------ Upcoming Satellite Operations No scheduled operations are listed at this time. A growing number of satellite rovers are currently engaged in sharing their grid square activations on https://hams.at. By visiting the website, you gain easy access to comprehensive information about the operators responsible for activating specific grid squares. Additionally, you have the ability to assess the match score between yourself and a particular rover for a given pass, while also being able to identify the upcoming satellite passes that are accessible from your location. *[ANS thanks Ian Parsons, K5ZM, AMSAT Rover Page Manager, for the above information]* ------------------------------ * Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition?* Get an AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff from our Zazzle store <https://www.zazzle.com/store/amsat_gear>! 25% of the purchase price of each product goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space ------------------------------ Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events. AMSAT Ambassador Clint Bradford, K6LCS, says, "Think a 75-minute presentation on "working the easy satellites" would be appropriate for your club or event? Let me know by emailing me at k6lcsclint (at) gmail (dot) com or calling me at 909-999-SATS (7287)!" Clint has NEVER given the exact same show twice: EACH of the 150+ presentations so far has been customized/tailored to their audiences. Scheduled EventsARISS 40th Anniversary Conference: Celebrating the Positive Impact of Amateur Radio on Human Spaceflight Center for Space Education, Adjacent to NASA Kennedy Space Center Visitor’s Center, Florida, USA February 22-24, 2024 More information is available at https://www.ariss.org/overview.html *[ANS thanks Clint Bradford, K6LCS, and AMSAT for the above information]* ------------------------------ Satellite Shorts from All Over + The ARRL has published Logbook of the World configuration file version 11.27, adding support for QSOs made through SO-121. + The SaxaVord Spaceport on the Scottish island of Unst in the Shetland Islands was approved to launch rockets in 2024, the first fully licensed orbital spaceport in Western Europe. (ANS thanks The Orbital Index for the above information) + China launched 4 weather satellites and a pair of Beidou satellites… but again dropped a booster full of highly toxic hypergols on someone’s house. Video at https://bit.ly/3vo9mhu (ANS thanks The Orbital Index for the above information) ------------------------------ Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/ In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to: - Societies (a recognized group, clubs or organization). - Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. - Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. - Memberships are available for annual and lifetime terms. Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional membership information. *73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space!* *This week's ANS Editor,* *Paul Stoetzer, N8HM* *n8hm [at] amsat.org <http://amsat.org>* *ANS is a service of AMSAT, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, 712 H Street NE, Suite 1653, Washington, DC 20002*

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ANS-365 - AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for December 31, 2023
by Frank Karnauskas (N1UW) 30 Dec '23

30 Dec '23

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-365 In this edition: * W2RS Memorial AMSAT CW Activity Day to be Held January 1st * Amateur Satellites to be Featured at Ham Radio University * Six US Schools Moved Forward in ARISS Selection Process * Only Two Days Left to Get 2023 AMSAT President's Club Coins * Student-Led ARISS Contact a Success * Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for December 29, 2023 * ARISS News * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Satellite Shorts From All Over The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. The news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor [at] amsat [dot] org. You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/ ANS-365 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins To: All RADIO AMATEURS From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation 712 H Street NE, Suite 1653 Washington, DC 20002 DATE 2023 DEC 31 W2RS Memorial AMSAT CW Activity Day to be Held January 1st In March 2022, the AMSAT community lost one of our pioneers when Ray Soifer, W2RS, became a silent key. In addition to his numerous contributions to AMSAT and the worldwide amateur satellite community, Ray was also the long time organizer of AMSAT's CW Activity Day - previously AMSAT Straight Key Night - held in conjunction with the ARRL's event on New Year's Day. In recognition of Ray's long time service to AMSAT and his keen interest in CW operating via satellite, AMSAT's CW Activity Day is now known as the W2RS Memorial AMSAT CW Activity Day. The rules are simple - operate CW through any amateur satellite between 0000 UTC and 2359 UTC on January 1, 2024. Straight keys and bugs are encouraged, but not required. Logs are not required, but operators are encouraged to submit a report of their activity to the AMSAT-BB. Photos and video clips of activity are also encouraged - post them on X or other social media networks and tag @AMSAT or #amsat. Remember to use the minimum power required for communication as constant carrier modes, including CW, can disrupt transponder operation for other users. [ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Amateur Satellites to be Featured at Ham Radio University AMSAT Member Peter Portanova, W2JV, will present an Amateur Radio Satellite forum- "Orbiting the Earth" - A beginners guide to operating the FM Satellites at the upcoming Ham Radio University. The Ham Radio University (HRU) educational conference will be a live event only with over 20 forums, held on Saturday, January 6, 2024 from 9:00 AM EST to 4:00 PM EST at the Hillwood Commons Student Center on the campus of LIU Post college, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville, NY 11548. Now in its 25th consecutive year, Ham Radio University is free to attend and no preregistration is necessary. Complete information on HRU can be found at https://hamradiouniversity.org/. [ANS thanks Peter Portanova, W2JV, for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Six US Schools Moved Forward in ARISS Selection Process Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) announced the schools/host organizations selected for the July-December 2024 window. A total of 6 of the submitted proposals during the recent proposal window have been accepted to move forward in the processes of planning to host a scheduled amateur radio contact with crew on the ISS. The primary goal of the ARISS program is to engage young people in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) activities and raise their awareness of space communications, radio communications, space exploration, and related areas of study and career possibilities. The schools and host organizations are: - Coastal Community School Satellite Beach, FL - Computer Museum of America Roswell, GA - Kopernik Observatory Vestal, NY - Immaculate Heart of Mary School Wayne, NJ - Magnet Innovation Center Inlet Beach, FL - Midlands STEM Charter School Winnsboro, SC The ARISS program anticipates that NASA will be able to provide scheduling opportunities for the 6 US host organizations during the July-December 2024 time period. They are now at work completing an acceptable equipment plan that demonstrates their ability to execute the ham radio contact. Once their equipment plan is approved by ARISS, the final selected schools/organizations will be scheduled as their availability and flexibility match up with the scheduling opportunities offered by NASA. [ANS thanks Dave Jordan, AA4KN, ARISS PR for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Only Two Days Left to Get 2023 AMSAT President's Club Coins Thanks to the generosity of AMSAT members, the 2023 President's Club has raised over $49,000 to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space! And there are still two days to go! Membership levels begin at $120. All 2023 contributors receive a full-color certificate, AMSAT logo cork beverage coasters and, of course, the stunning membership coin. To commemorate the 40th anniversary of its launch on June 16, 1983, this year's coin features an image of AMSAT-OSCAR 10. Complete information on the AMSAT President's Club can be found at https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/. But, hurry - there is only a handful of 2023 coins left and they will no longer be available once the new year begins. Become at member today at the AMSAT Store https://www.amsat.org/shop/. [ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information.] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Need new satellite antennas? Purchase M2 LEO-Packs from the AMSAT Store. When you purchase through AMSAT, a portion of the proceeds goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space. https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ * Student-Led ARISS Contact a Success A student-led contact with astronauts through the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program was a great success that earned significant media attention. On Monday, December 11, students at Harbor Creek High School in Harborcreek, Pennsylvania, used amateur radio to talk with Astronaut Andreas Mogensen, KG5GCZ. The students are part of the Advanced Technologies Group, KC3SGV, an after-school club at Harbor Creek. Fifteen of the students are licensed radio amateurs. As ARRL News reported last week, their faculty advisor, Assistant Principal Drew Mortensen, AC3DS, is a graduate of the ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology. He utilized what he learned in the program and brought it back to the school. The ARISS contact is just one of the many successes the program has had. ARRL Education and Learning Manager Steve Goodgame, K5ATA, was on hand for the contact, and he was impressed by the skills demonstrated by the students. Goodgame recalled, "From antenna assembly and installation to the actual control operator function of the radio during the contact itself, students were at the helm. Every student who asked a question of Commander Mogensen was a licensed amateur radio operator. When I asked what they had planned next, the response was, 'Well, the logical step would be to build and get a CubeSat launched.' This is exactly the type of program we hope to help create as an outcome of the Teachers Institute," said Goodgame. Local, regional, and national media took note of the students' success. Local television newscasts (see Amateur Radio in the News below) featured the event, and NBC Journalist Harry Smith and a crew from NBC's TODAY were at the event to tell the story about the young hams. This type of exposure for amateur radio is key to growing the hobby, according to ARRL Public Relations and Outreach Manager Sierra Harrop, W5DX. "The passion of these teenage operators led to this success story. Who doesn't love the story of young minds doing extraordinary things in STEM through amateur radio?" she exclaimed. ARRL Director of Development Kevin Beal, K8EAL, mentioned that the media coverage demonstrates the impact that the donors who have funded the Teachers Institute have on the future of amateur radio. Beal said, "The reach goes far beyond the one-week training institute and ripples out farther than we can see." The ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology is funded by the ARRL Education and Technology Fund. If you are interested in supporting STEM education through the Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology, visit www.arrl.org/GiveToSTEM. [ANS thanks ARRL News for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for December 29, 2023 Two Line Elements or TLEs, often referred to as Keplerian elements or keps in the amateur community, are the inputs to the SGP4 standard mathematical model of spacecraft orbits used by most amateur tracking programs. Weekly updates are completely adequate for most amateur satellites. Elements in the TLE bulletin files are updated daily. TLE bulletin files are updated to add or remove satellites as necessary Thursday evenings around 2300 UTC, or more frequently if new high interest satellites are launched. More information may be found at https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/ HADES-D has been renamed Spain-OSCAR 121 [ANS thanks Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- + ARISS NEWS Upcoming Contacts No contacts have been scheduled from December 21, 2023 to January 14, 2024. [ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors for the above information.] -------------------------------------------------------------------- Upcoming Satellite Operations No scheduled operations are listed at this time. A growing number of satellite rovers are currently engaged in sharing their grid square activations on https://hams.at. By visiting the website, you gain easy access to comprehensive information about the operators responsible for activating specific grid squares. Additionally, you have the ability to assess the match score between yourself and a particular rover for a given pass, while also being able to identify the upcoming satellite passes that are accessible from your location. [ANS thanks Ian Parsons, K5ZM, AMSAT Rover Page Manager, for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events. Ham Radio University January 6, 2024 LIU-POST Hillwood Commons Student Center 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville, NY 11548 https://hamradiouniversity.org/ --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + Think a 75-minute presentation on "working the easy satellites" would be appropriate for your club or event? Send email an to Clint at k6lcsclint (at) gmail (dot) com. Already booking dates for 2024! From a club recently: "Thank you for the well-done presentation this evening. After the Zoom session had ended, my members would not go home: They just wanted to keep talking about your presentation. Again, well done and thank you." - Phil N2EDX, VP Daytona Beach ARA [ANS thanks Clint Bradford, K6LCS, AMSAT Ambassador for the above information.] + The presentations from the 50th Anniversary AMSAT-DL. Anniversary Satellite Meeting on September 16, 2023 in Bochum are available on the YouTube channel at https://bit.ly/3RYfqWP. Subtitles are available and can be enabled in YouTube, with automatic translation into other languages. [ANS thanks AMSAT-DL for the above information.] + The 2024 CubeSat Developers Workshop, an annual conference hosted by the Cal Poly CubeSat Laboratory, will be held April 23–25, 2024. The event will be held at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo Performing Arts Center in-person as it has in years past. The conference draws more than 500 industry professionals, small satellite developers and students who will take part in three days of live presentations, Q&A panels, exhibit booths, and more. This conference is particularly useful to new members of the CubeSat community with invaluable opportunities to meet and talk to industry veterans. If you are interested in hearing more about this year’s conference, click the link below! For more information go to https://www.cubesat.org/. [ANS thanks cubesat.org for the above information.] +A piece of America's space history is now on the ocean's floor. During its return voyage to Port Canaveral in Central Florida, a SpaceX Falcon 9 first stage booster toppled over and broke in half. This particular booster, tail number B1058, was coming back from its record-breaking 19th mission when it had its fatal fall. The rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Dec. 23 carrying 23 Starlink satellites. The booster made a successful landing eight and a half minutes after launch on the drone ship 'Just Read the Instructions' which was stationed east of the Bahamas. SpaceX said in a statement on social media that it succumbed to "high winds and waves." [ANS thanks SpaceNews for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/ In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to: * Societies (a recognized group, clubs or organization). * Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. * Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. * Memberships are available for annual and lifetime terms. Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional membership information. 73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space! This week's ANS Editor, Frank Karnauskas, N1UW n1uw [at] amsat [dot] org

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ANS-363 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin - W2RS Memorial AMSAT CW Activity Day to be Held January 1st
by Paul Stoetzer 29 Dec '23

29 Dec '23

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE SPECIAL BULLETIN ANS-363 The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. The news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor at amsat.org. You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/ In this edition: * W2RS Memorial AMSAT CW Activity Day to be Held January 1st SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-363.01 ANS-363 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin AMSAT News Service Bulletin 363.01 From AMSAT HQ WASHINGTON, DC DATE December 30, 2023 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-363.01 W2RS Memorial AMSAT CW Activity Day to be Held January 1st In March 2022, the AMSAT community lost one of our pioneers when Ray Soifer, W2RS, became a silent key. In addition to his numerous contributions to AMSAT and the worldwide amateur satellite community, Ray was also the long time organizer of AMSAT’s CW Activity Day – previously AMSAT Straight Key Night – held in conjunction with the ARRL’s event on New Year’s Day. In recognition of Ray’s long time service to AMSAT and his keen interest in CW operating via satellite, AMSAT’s CW Activity Day is now known as the W2RS Memorial AMSAT CW Activity Day. The rules are simple – operate CW through any amateur satellite between 0000 UTC and 2359 UTC on January 1, 2024. Straight keys and bugs are encouraged, but not required. Logs are not required, but operators are encouraged to submit a report of their activity to the AMSAT-BB. Photos and video clips of activity are also encouraged – post them on X or other social media networks and tag @AMSAT or #amsat. Remember to use the minimum power required for communication as constant carrier modes, including CW, can disrupt transponder operation for other users. [ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information] /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional benefits. President's Club donations may be made at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-PresClub. Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/ 73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space, This week's ANS Contributing Editor, Paul Stoetzer, N8HM n8hm at amsat dot org

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ANS-358 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for Dec. 24
by Mark Johns, K0JM 23 Dec '23

23 Dec '23

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-358 In this edition: * Happy Holidays from AMSAT News Service * HADES-D Designated SO-121, Active For General Use * ClarkSat-1 Deployed from ISS * WRC-23 Concludes with Wins for Amateur Radio * Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution * ARISS News * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Satellite Shorts From All Over The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. The news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor [at] amsat.org You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/ ANS-358 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins To: All RADIO AMATEURS From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation 712 H Street NE, Suite 1653 Washington, DC 20002 DATE 2023 Dec 24 Happy Holidays from AMSAT News Service Your AMSAT News Service editors wish all of our readers a merry Christmas and a happy season to all traditions celebrating holidays at this end of the year. We look forward to continuing to provide you with the most pertinent amateur satellite news and information in the coming year in a new and updated format beginning in January. 73 from Mark Johns, K0JM, Senior Editor, Minneapolis, Minnesota Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, Editor and AMSAT Executive Vice President, Washington, DC Frank Karnauskas, N1UW, Editor and AMSAT Vice President - Development, Tucson, Arizona Mitch Ahrenstorff, AD0HJ, Editor, Jackson, Minnesota +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ LAST CALL for 2023 AMSAT President's Club Coins! The year is almost over and, when it is, the 2023 coins will no longer be available. To commemorate the 40th anniversary of its launch on June 16, 1983, this year's coin features an image of AMSAT-OSCAR 10. Join the AMSAT President's Club today and help Keep Amateur Radio in Space! https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ HADES-D Designated SO-121, Active For General Use HADES-D satellite has been commissioned. After a trial period in which its behavior has been tested at the radioelectric, systems, and energy performance levels, the FM repeater is left active for general use. At the request of AMSAT-EA, AMSAT has designated HADES-D as Spain-OSCAR 121 (SO-121). AMSAT congratulates AMSAT-EA, thanks them for their contribution to the amateur satellite community, and wishes them continued success on this and future projects. The repeater works with FM/FSK (MSK144 has been tested too) with an uplink frequency of 145,875 MHz and a downlink frequency of 436,663.5 MHz (a bit lower than the 436.666 MHz expected). We have been able to verify that the modulation is more appropriate by narrowing the bandwidth, so it is recommended to use NFM in those devices allowing it. AMSAT-EA is drafting a use and operation manual, which will be published shortly and which will indicate in detail some of the characteristics of the satellite and its working modes. Although it is not definitive, Amsat-EA is considering some special operating options such as reserving a day of the week exclusively for digital communications following the example we know with the AO-92. Finally, please, remember that, as far as we know, HADES-D is the first satellite with FM repeater service mounted on a pocketqube platform. This standard is the smallest in terms of normalized satellite sizes. HADES-D size is 8x5x5 cm. Its panel surface and battery size are much smaller than the rest of the satellite repeaters in use, so HADES-D is not comparable to most of them either in radiated power or signal strength. HADES-D should be considered a QRP satellite. [ANS thanks Félix Páez, EA4GQS, of the HADES-D team, and Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, AMSAT Vice President - Operations and OSCAR Number Administrator, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ClarkSat-1 Deployed from ISS ClarkSat-1 was one of two cubesats deployed from the International Space Station (ISS) via the Japanese "Kibo" module on Monday, December 18. Also known by the name "AMBITOUS," and by the callsign JS1YLT, the satellite was described as follows in frequency coordination applications: ClarkSat-1 is a 1U size satellite, and about 22 students of Clark Memorial International High School having amateur radio qualification or intending to obtain it will be engaged in the development of the satellite, and operate it by using the amateur radio band. + Optical Camera Mission To take pictures of the Earth and downlink them in 430 MHz band (GMSK, 4,800 bps). The pictures are to be received at control station and general amateur stations are also expected to receive them and report to us as the downlink schedule will be published on our website and social media. + Digi-talker Mission 40 to 120 seconds long Digi-talker signal (Voice or SSTV pictures in Robot 36 format recorded before launch) including the call sign and school name will be transmitted from the satellite and be expected that the general amateur stations will receive the signal and report back to us. High school students with amateur radio license will be engaged in the development of the satellite, and high school students will operate the satellite. These activities will improve the amateur radio and satellite communication skills of the students. The project will also serve as a model case for the development of amateur satellites by the younger generation, and stimulate the interest of the younger generation in amateur radio and satellite communications. The satellite information, such as orbital position and operation time, will be actively disseminated to the world through the website and social media, so that radio amateurs all over the world will have an opportunity to receive image data and digi-talker signals transmitted from the satellite. A downlink on 435.130 MHz has been coordinated by the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) for ClarkSat-1. The ClarkSat-1 team requests signal reports sent to "clarksat-1(a)clark.ed.jp". Satellite status reports will be posted on X.com @sat1_AMBITIOUS [ANS thanks JAXA, Masanobu Tsuji, JA1DAO, and IARU for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Need new satellite antennas? Purchase Arrows, Alaskan Arrows, and M2 LEO-Packs from the AMSAT Store. When you purchase through AMSAT, a portion of the proceeds goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space. https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ WRC-23 Concludes with Wins for Amateur Radio After four hectic weeks of the 2023 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-23), and a preceding week of Radiocommunication Assembly meetings, WRC-23 concluded on Friday, December 15. Amateur radio fared very well overall, despite the enormous pressures across the radio spectrum from LF to terahertz. This is a tribute to the effort of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) team, who at times had to work from 8:00 a.m. to as late as 2:00 a.m. the next morning, as well as on the weekends. At the top of the amateur radio priority list was Agenda Item (AI) 9.1b, regarding the coexistence of the secondary amateur and amateur-satellite allocation with the primary radionavigation satellite service in the 1240 - 1300 MHz band. This had seen 4 years of strenuous effort prior to WRC and resulted in a recommendation being agreed upon at the Radiocommunication Assembly, followed by WRC-23 participants agreeing to mention the recommendation in a new footnote for the allocation. Both the recommendation and the footnote are an excellent outcome for the amateur services. Other items were relevant to the amateur service and were prioritized beforehand: AI 1.12: 40 - 50 MHz radar sounders. These are now largely limited to the polar area. AI 1.14: 231.5 - 252 GHz re-allocations for Earth sensing. Fortunately, our secondary 241 - 248 GHz allocation is unchanged, and the primary allocation of 248 - 250 GHz is unaffected. AI 9.1a: Space weather sensors was an item of major interest. A clear definition for such sensors was confirmed, with frequency protection being agreed upon as an agenda item for WRC-27. AI 1.2: More broadband in the 3.3 GHz and 10 GHz bands (in Region 2). This is a difficult challenge, as the amateur services are secondary with numerous (mainly South American) countries allocating mobile broadband by way of footnotes. Instead of a region-wide designation for IMT at 10.0 - 10.5 GHz in Region 2, there is a footnote limited to a dozen countries. WRC-23 agreed to an agenda for the next conference under AI 10. This AI had an unprecedented number of proposals for WRC-27 and preliminary ones for WRC-31. Following the relatively quick agreement on AI 9.1b, the IARU team switched most of its efforts to the following future proposals to reduce the impact on the amateur services, as numerous amateur bands were under consideration. WRC-27 The WRC-27 agenda will have 19 items. The following are the most relevant to the amateur services: 1300 - 1350 MHz: A previous proposal for this band, adjacent to 23 centimeters, was suppressed, providing certainty for our secondary allocation. Space Weather: This potential AI was initially very concerning, as the 0.1 - 20 MHz and 28 and 50 MHz bands were initially under consideration, until concerns were raised, and a team effort resulted in these allocations being removed from the topic. Lunar Communications: This future agenda item initially included 70 centimeters and other bands where Earth-moon-Earth could be restricted. Fortunately, the UHF aspect of this AI was modified to exclude 430 - 440 MHz. 10 GHz: We were fortunate that this band was withdrawn from another round of consideration for mobile broadband, especially in Region 1. WRC-31 A record number of preliminary item resolutions were agreed on. The following two are especially relevant: Wireless Power Transmission (WPT): Both near-field and beamed are being considered as part of the International Telecommunication Union radio regulations, whilst minimizing the impact from interference. 275 - 325 GHz Allocations: This will include an opportunity for the amateur and amateur-satellite service. The IARU team worked effectively to minimize the amateur bands from future studies, which is a great result for amateur radio. IARU is very pleased with the overall result of WRC-23. The IARU team has already started to discuss and consider how to engage and resource for the next cycle leading up to WRC-27. IARU WRC Coordinator and Vice President Ole Garpestad, LA2RR, expressed his pleasure with the results and complimented the extraordinary effort of the dedicated team of IARU volunteers who worked long hours to achieve the results that will benefit all amateurs. The IARU team includes ARRL Technical Relations Specialist Jon Siverling, WB3ERA. WRC-23 ran from November 20 – December 15, 2023. [ANS thanks International Amateur Radio Union Secretary Joel Harrison, W5ZN, and ARRL News for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition? Get your AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff from our Zazzle store! 25% of the purchase price of each product goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for Dec. 22 Two Line Elements or TLEs, often referred to as Keplerian elements or keps in the amateur community, are the inputs to the SGP4 standard mathematical model of spacecraft orbits used by most amateur tracking programs. Weekly updates are completely adequate for most amateur satellites. TLE bulletin files are updated daily in the first hour of the UTC day. New bulletin files will be posted immediately after reliable elements become available for new amateur satellites. More information may be found at https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/. HADES-D/SO-121 has been positively identified with NORAD Cat 58567 The following satellite has been added to this week's AMSAT-NA TLE distribution: Clark sat-1 (AMBITIOUS) NORAD Cat ID 58613 IARU coordinated downlink on 435.130 MHz [ANS thanks AMSAT Orbital Elements page for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS NEWS Amateurs and others around the world may listen in on contacts between amateurs operating in schools and allowing students to interact with astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station. The downlink frequency on which to listen is 145.800 MHz worldwide. No contacts have been scheduled from 2023-12-21 to 2024-01-14. The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2023-12-21 05:00 UTC. SSTV from the ISS was to be sent on 145.800 MHz using the PD120 format. The event was scheduled for Sat 2023-12-16 at 10:15 UTC through Tue 2023-12-19 around 18:00 UTC. Unfortunately there is an issue that is still attempting to be resolved, so no signals were received. Hopefully the event can be rescheduled in the near future. The Service Module radio is temporarily stowed. As always, if there is an EVA, a docking, or an undocking; the ARISS radios are turned off as part of the safety protocol. The crossband repeater continues to be active (145.990 MHz up {PL 67} & 437.800 MHz down), but operation has been interrupted due to undocking maneuvers this past week. If any crewmember is so inclined, all they have to do is pick up the microphone, raise the volume up, and talk on the crossband repeater. So give a listen, you just never 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. The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html [ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors for the above information] -------------------------------------------------------------------- Upcoming Satellite Operations None scheduled at this time. [ANS thanks Ian Parsons, K5ZM, AMSAT rover page manager, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events. + ARISS 40th Anniversary Conference: Celebrating the Positive Impact of Amateur Radio on Human Spaceflight Center for Space Education, Adjacent to NASA Kennedy Space Center Visitor's Center, Florida, USA February 22-24, 2024 [ANS thanks the AMSAT Events page for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + NASA has released a three minute video retrospective of its accomplishments in 2023. The video may be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQWespzOtzI (ANS thanks NASA for the above information) + NASA’s Deep Space Optical Communications experiment beamed an ultra-high definition streaming video on Dec. 11 from a record-setting 19 million miles away (31 million kilometers, or about 80 times the Earth-Moon distance). The demo transmitted the 15-second test video via a cutting-edge instrument called a flight laser transceiver. Uploaded before launch, the short ultra-high definition video features an orange tabby cat named Taters chasing a laser pointer. Taters is the pet of an employee of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and the cat is reported to be totally unimpressed by the accomplishment. (ANS thanks NASA for the above information) + December 6 marked the 25th anniversary of the International Space Station. On Dec. 6, 1998 the first two elements of the station, Unity and Zarya, were mated by the crew of space shuttle Endeavour’s STS-88 mission. Since then, 273 people from 21 countries have visited the station. (ANS thanks The Orbital Index and NASA for the above information) + NASA's Mars Rover, Perseverance, recently marked 1,000 "sols" (Martian days) on the red planet, after landing at Jezero Crater on February 18, 2021. It's companion Mars helicopter, Ingenuity, the first robot ever to explore the skies of a world beyond Earth, made its 70th flight on Friday, Dec 22. (ANS thanks The Orbital Index and NASA for the above information) + Voyager 1 has stopped returning useful data to Earth due to a problem with the spacecraft's Flight Data System (FDS) computers. It could take several weeks for engineers to develop a new plan to remedy the issue. Launched in 1977, the spacecraft and its twin, Voyager 2, are the two longest-operating spacecraft in history [behind AO-7, that is]. In addition, commands from mission controllers on Earth take 22.5 hours to reach Voyager 1, which is exploring the outer regions of our solar system more than 15 billion miles (24 billion kilometers) from Earth. That means the engineering team has to wait 45 hours to get a response from Voyager 1 and determine whether a command had the intended outcome. (ANS thanks NASA for the above information) + A French small rocket project, aptly-named “Baguette-One”, received more funding from the French government to continue developing a low-cost hybrid rocket engine. Baguette One should take flight in the beginning of 2026 and aims to put small satellites up to 250 kilograms into orbit. (ANS thanks The Orbital Index and LeMonde for the above information) --------------------------------------------------------------------- Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/ In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to: * Societies (a recognized group, clubs or organization). * Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. * Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. * Memberships are available for annual and lifetime terms. Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional membership information. 73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space! This week's ANS Editor, Mark Johns, KØJM k0jm [at] amsat.org

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ANS-355 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin - HADES-D Designated Spain-OSCAR 121 (SO-121)
by Paul Stoetzer 21 Dec '23

21 Dec '23

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE SPECIAL BULLETIN ANS-355 The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. The news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor at amsat.org. You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/ In this edition: * HADES-D Designated Spain-OSCAR 121 (SO-121) SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-355.01 ANS-355 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin AMSAT News Service Bulletin 355.01 From AMSAT HQ WASHINGTON, DC DATE December 21, 2023 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-355.01 HADES-D Designated Spain-OSCAR 121 (SO-121) On November 11, 2023, the HADES-D satellite was launched on a Falcon 9 launch vehicle from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Developed by AMSAT-EA, the satellite carries an FM and digital repeater payload to provide services to amateur radio enthusiasts around the world. The satellite has been commissioned and the repeater is currently active. At the request of AMSAT-EA, AMSAT hereby designates HADES-D as Spain-OSCAR 121 (SO-121). We congratulate AMSAT-EA, thank them for their contribution to the amateur satellite community, and wish them continued success on this and future projects. [ANS thanks Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, AMSAT Vice President - Operations and OSCAR Number Administrator, for the above information] /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional benefits. President's Club donations may be made at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-PresClub. Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/ 73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space, This week's ANS Contributing Editor, Paul Stoetzer, N8HM n8hm at amsat dot org

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ANS-351 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Mitch Ahrenstorff (AD0HJ) 16 Dec '23

16 Dec '23

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-351 In this edition: * ARISS Marks 40th Anniversary of STS-9 with Special Slow Scan Television Event * HADES-D Satellite: Successful Telecommand Response and FM Repeater Tests Ongoing * WRC-23 Reaches Acceptable Conclusion on 23-Centimeter Issue * How the 18th Space Defense Squadron Averts Catastrophe at 17,000 Miles Per Hour * CubeSat Technology and 3D Printing Combine for Emergency Broadband in Disaster Zones * Satellite Top 100 Rovers December 2023 Rankings * Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for December 15, 2023 * ARISS News * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Satellite Shorts From All Over The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. The news feed on https://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor [at] amsat.org You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/ ANS-351 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins To: All RADIO AMATEURS From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation 712 H Street NE, Suite 1653 Washington, DC 20002 DATE 2023 Dec 17 ARISS Marks 40th Anniversary of STS-9 with Special Slow Scan Television Event In a collaborative effort spanning ARISS teams worldwide, a special Slow Scan Television (SSTV) event is currently underway to mark the 40th Anniversary of NASA Space Shuttle mission STS-9. SSTV transmissions from the International Space Station (ISS) are being broadcast on 145.800 MHz using the PD120 format. The scheduled times for the event are from December 16 at 10:15 UTC | 5:15 AM ET through December 19 around 1800 UTC | 1:00 PM ET. On November 28, 1983, the Space Shuttle Columbia carried Owen Garriott, W5LFL (SK), into orbit. He was equipped with a specially customized Motorola MX-340 two-meter handheld radio and an antenna attached to the shuttle's window. The first amateur radio contact from space took place shortly before crossing the west coast on December 1, 1983, when Columbia executed a roll maneuver exposing the antenna toward Earth. W5LFL began calling CQ, and at 02:38 UTC, Lance Collister, WA1JXN, in Frenchtown, MT, answered the call, marking the first amateur radio QSO with a human in space. A flurry of QSOs followed over the next several days before Columbia returned to Earth on December 8th. Notable amateur operators in the log included Senator Barry Goldwater, K7UGA, and King Hussein of Jordan, JY1. Slow Scan Television has also been an integral part of Amateur Radio in Human Spaceflight since its early days, with Tony England, WØORE, paving the way by sending ten images via Slow Scan Television on Space Shuttle Challenger mission STS-51F in the summer of 1985. Answers to your Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about this ISS Slow Scan Television Event, such as how to decode SSTV images and track the ISS, can be found at https://www.spaceflightsoftware.com/ARISS_SSTV/faq.php. You can apply for the ARISS SSTV Award by uploading your decoded image and completing the Application Form using the information provided at https://ariss.pzk.org.pl/sstv. Don't forget that you can receive a QSL Card from the International Space Station by receiving and decoding a SSTV image. More information about how to obtain a QSL Card can be found at https://www.ariss.org/qsl-cards.html. ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) hopes that you can participate in another exciting International Space Station SSTV event. This is a great opportunity to share the magic of amateur radio with your friends and family. Watch for event updates to be posted on X (formerly Twitter) at https://twitter.com/ARISS_Intl. Remember to have fun and best of luck with your SSTV image decoding attempts! [ANS thanks ARISS for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- HADES-D Satellite: Successful Telecommand Response and FM Repeater Tests Ongoing The HADES-D satellite, launched aboard SpaceX's Transporter-9 (TR-9) mission on November 11, 2023, has successfully completed a month in orbit. AMSAT-EA reports that, following its separation from the ION SCV-013 Orbital Transfer Vehicle two weeks ago, HADES-D is responding well to telecommands from the ground control station. Current tests on the FM voice repeater show promising results, demonstrating its effectiveness. However, adjustments to the squelch level are under consideration due to the current configuration requiring increased power for activation. HADES-D's health status has been confirmed through telemetry, CW, and FM voice beacon receptions from various Earth locations. Telemetry signals in FSK, CW, and FM voice beacon, operating at 436.666 MHz downlink, transmit to Earth at 0.25 Watts. Demodulation and decoding software for satellite telemetry are available on AMSAT-EA's website under the Project tab (https://www.amsat-ea.org/proyectos). The FM repeater, with a 40mW power output, may require a robust antenna for optimal receive performance. Developed alongside the URESAT Antonio de Nebrija, both utilizing the pocketQubes 1.5P platform, HADES-D features advanced solar panels and increased processing capacity. These advancements enable the satellite to transmit telemetry and repeat signals at higher speeds. The incorporation of an FM transponder for voice communications also allows for message retransmission in FSK. Efforts are ongoing to confirm the final Two-Line Elements for streamlined operations. [ANS thanks AMSAT-EA for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ The 2023 AMSAT President's Club coins are here now! To commemorate the 40th anniversary of its launch on June 16, 1983, this year's coin features an image of AMSAT-OSCAR 10. Join the AMSAT President's Club today and help Keep Amateur Radio in Space! https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ WRC-23 Reaches Acceptable Conclusion on 23-Centimeter Issue The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC-23) continues through December 15, 2023, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU)'s primary effort focused on Agenda Item 9.1 topic b to address amateur use of the 23-centimeter band and co-frequency use by several radionavigation satellite service (RNSS) systems in the 1240 - 1300 MHz band. IARU's work that began four years ago with a preparatory study in the ITU Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) to address this agenda item has finally come to a close. Our concerted engagement in the ITU-R working parties, study groups, and WRC preparatory meetings ensured that the amateur services were properly represented during the development of two published ITU-R reports: M.2513 and M.2532. An ITU-R Recommendation, M.2164, followed these, which formed the basis for the discussions at WRC-23. During the WRC-23 deliberations, strong positions were expressed by all parties involved. The result is a well-supported compromise for a footnote in the Radio Regulations regarding amateur and amateur satellite service operation in the 1240 -1300 MHz range. The footnote reminds administrations and amateurs of the need to protect the primary RNSS from interference, and it provides guidance for administrations to allow both services to continue to operate in this portion of the spectrum. Administrations are the bodies that govern amateur radio in their respective countries, such as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States. The Conference Plenary compromise was formally adopted on December 8 and is not subject to further consideration during the final week of WRC-23. The IARU team continues its work on other WRC issues, including developing agendas for future conferences. IARU President Tim Ellam, VE6SH, noted, "This is a very good result for the amateur services. The decision reached at WRC-23 on this agenda item makes no change to the table of allocations nor incorporates by reference M.2164 into the Radio Regulations. The addition of a footnote that provides guidance to administrations in the event of interference to the RNSS is a good regulatory outcome for amateurs and the primary users of this band." The WRC also agreed to suppress Resolution 774, which closes the issue and satisfies the agenda item. Read more in ARRL News at https://www.arrl.org/news/wrc-23-reaches-acceptable-conclusion-on-23-centim… [ANS thanks ARRL for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- How the 18th Space Defense Squadron Averts Catastrophe at 17,000 Miles Per Hour In the vast expanse of space, where countless manmade objects hurtle through Low Earth Orbit at speeds exceeding 17,000 miles per hour, a dedicated group of guardians stands watch to prevent potential collisions that could disrupt crucial communication, navigation, and scientific satellites. The 18th Space Defense Squadron (SDS), part of the Space Force, operates from its headquarters at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, employing advanced technology and surveillance systems to track and identify potential collision risks in real-time. The 18th SDS, often referred to as the "lighthouse of space," utilizes the U.S. Space Surveillance Network (SSN) to monitor over 45,000 objects in Earth's orbit. Ground-based sensors, including the Ground-Based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance System, capture rapid digital photos of the night sky, revealing satellites as tiny streaks. Computers analyze these streaks to calculate the satellites' positions, providing vital data for collision risk assessments, as explained in a recent press release from the Space Operations Command. Key components of the SSN include ground-based radar systems such as the AN/FPS-85 and AN/FYS-3 Phased Array Radars, capable of tracking hundreds of targets simultaneously. The 'Space Fence,' located in the Marshall Islands, employs an array system that broadcasts constant bands of energy, tracking objects passing through its coverage. On-orbit platforms like the Space-Based Space Surveillance satellite ensure year-round tracking above earthly obstructions like weather and daylight. Maintaining an ever-growing catalog of space objects on Space-Track.org, the 18th SDS collaborates with its counterpart, the 19th SDS, to predict satellite trajectories and avert potential collisions. In the crowded expanse of low Earth orbit, the squadron remains vigilant, recognizing the heightened risk posed by unexpected satellite fragments that could lead to disastrous collisions. Space Operations Command (SpOC) recently outlined four categories of fragmentation events: anomalous debris-causing events, breakup events, collisions, and mission-related events. Anomalous events occur due to factors like corrosion or fatigue, leading to slow-speed fragment dispersal. Breakup events, generating large amounts of rapidly spreading debris, can be unintentional or intentional, as seen in anti-satellite missile tests. Collisions, exemplified by the 2009 incident involving a Russian military satellite and a commercial Iridium satellite, prompt heightened awareness and response. Mission-related events involve the fragmentation of payloads or unintentional separation of non-payload components. Members of the 18th SDS remain vigilant for changes in orbital parameters, indicators of potential satellite stress or gas release, which could precede fragmentation events. Specialized software assists in tracking satellite trajectories and determining the origin and trajectory of debris in case of fragmentation. Timely warnings to affected satellite operators enable them to make necessary adjustments, minimizing collision risks. Despite the 18th SDS's capabilities, over a million objects under 10 cm remain untrackable but pose significant collision threats. The act of maneuvering to avoid collisions consumes satellite fuel and shortens their lifespan. Recognizing the limitations, a recent call by the research group RAND advocates for an international space traffic management system (STM) to enhance coordination and communication among satellite operators. The current state of managing space objects is described by RAND researchers as "informal, ad hoc, and often ill-coordinated," approaching a tipping point. Urging proactive governance structures, the researchers emphasize the need for the space community to build systems ensuring the safety and sustainability of critical space assets, services, and activities before a crisis necessitates action. [ANS thanks David Roza, Senior Editor, Air & Space Forces Magazine for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- CubeSat Technology and 3D Printing Combine for Emergency Broadband in Disaster Zones Researchers from the Centre Tecnològic de Telecomunicacions de Catalunya (CTTC), the University of Luxembourg, and the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) have developed a nanosatellite technology aimed at delivering swift emergency broadband connectivity to disaster-stricken regions. This innovative solution combines CubeSat technology with 3D printing, allowing for rapid deployment to enhance communication for emergency services in complex situations. Professor Carlos Monzo Sánchez of the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya emphasizes the project's significance, stating, "Our project provides a solution that means a communications network to provide help in emergency situations can be established quickly." The core technology is the CubeSat standard for nanosatellites, known for their cost-effectiveness and small size, manufactured on a 3D printer in just 90 minutes. The CubeSats are then elevated above disaster zones using balloons, utilizing LoRa (low-power long-range radio) communication with the ground. Raúl Parada, a researcher at CTTC and the paper's first author, explains, "Our solution enables communication over long distances and provides a scalable system for a large number of users that is reusable anywhere and at any time." The team's prototypes leverage the Semtech SX1278 LoRa transceiver, connected to a simple metal ruler antenna. The 1U CubeSat, housing the transceiver, is equipped with a sensor package comprising a Bosch Sensortec BME280 environmental sensor, a TDK InvenSense MPU-9250 inertial measurement unit (IMU), a Hanwei MQ-135 air quality sensor, and a Roithner LaserTechnik GUVA-S12SD ultraviolet light sensor. These sensors are linked to an Arduino Nano microcontroller, with a GPS receiver added later to facilitate satellite recovery. Emphasizing the practicality of their design, Monzo explains, "Our solution is designed to provide a rapid service in complex scenarios, and as such, we have prioritized its ease of deployment over its use as a telecommunications solution in normal situations." The researchers aim to refine the infrastructure further, focusing on minimizing deployment times and ensuring adaptability to a wide range of situations. The team's work has been published in the journal Aerospace under open-access terms, marking a significant stride in leveraging technology to enhance emergency response capabilities in disaster-stricken areas. [ANS thanks Gareth Halfacree, Technical Author, writing for hackster.io, for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Need new satellite antennas? Purchase Arrows, Alaskan Arrows, and M2 LEO-Packs from the AMSAT Store. When you purchase through AMSAT, a portion of the proceeds goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space. https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Satellite Top 100 Rovers December 2023 Rankings The December 2023 rankings for the Top 100 Rovers (Mixed LEO/MEO/GEO) in satellite operations, as determined by @GridMasterMap on Twitter, has been released. The ranking is determined by the number of grids and DXCC entities activated, taking into account only those grids where a minimum number of QSOs logged on the gridmaster.fr website have been validated by a third party. Grid numbers do not directly reflect the exact number of activations. Satellite operators are encouraged to upload their LoTW satellite contacts to https://gridmaster.fr in order to provide more accurate data. Updated: 2023-12-12 1 ND9M 26 K8BL 51 F4DXV 76 DF2ET 2 NJ7H 27 KE4AL 52 KE9AJ 77 WA9JBQ 3 N5UC 28 LU5ILA 53 JL3RNZ 78 W8LR 4 JA9KRO 29 DL2GRC 54 VE1CWJ 79 K0FFY 5 DL6AP 30 KI7UNJ 55 KM4LAO 80 VE3GOP 6 WI7P 31 VE3HLS 56 PA3GAN 81 OE3SEU 7 HA3FOK 32 KB5FHK 57 VK5DG 82 KJ7NDY 8 N9IP 33 LA9XGA 58 N4UFO 83 KB2YSI 9 N6UA 34 N7AGF 59 SM3NRY 84 CU2ZG 10 WY7AA 35 F4BKV 60 KI7QEK 85 N0TEL 11 AD0DX 36 XE3DX 61 VA7LM 86 DL4EA 12 W5PFG 37 N6DNM 62 N8RO 87 VE6WK 13 K5ZM 38 KE0PBR 63 PT2AP 88 VE7PTN 14 DP0POL 39 KE0WPA 64 W1AW 89 AF5CC 15 AK8CW 40 JO2ASQ 65 XE1ET 90 HB9GWJ 16 UT1FG 41 K7TAB 66 AA8CH 91 PT9ST 17 AD0HJ 42 AC0RA 67 M1DDD 92 DK9JC 18 WD9EWK 43 W7WGC 68 VE1VOX 93 JM1CAX 19 ON4AUC 44 PR8KW 69 VA3VGR 94 KG4AKV 20 KG5CCI 45 JK2XXK 70 FJ8OJ 95 VO2AC 21 KX9X 46 EA4NF 71 PT9BM 96 LW2DAF 22 ND0C 47 SP5XSD 72 KI7UXT 97 KI0KB 23 N5BO 48 AA5PK 73 LU4JVE 98 KC7JPC 24 DJ8MS 49 AD7AB 74 N4DCW 99 AB5SS 25 F5VMJ 50 EB1AO 75 YU0W 100 N6UTC [ANS thanks @GridMasterMap for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for December 15, 2023 Two Line Elements or TLEs, often referred to as Keplerian elements or keps in the amateur community, are the inputs to the SGP4 standard mathematical model of spacecraft orbits used by most amateur tracking programs. Weekly updates are completely adequate for most amateur satellites. TLE bulletin files are updated daily in the first hour of the UTC day. New bulletin files will be posted immediately after reliable elements become available for new amateur satellites. More information may be found at https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/. This week there are no additions or deletions to the AMSAT TLE distribution. [ANS thanks AMSAT Orbital Elements page for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS NEWS Amateurs and others around the world may listen in on contacts between amateurs operating in schools and allowing students to interact with astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station. The downlink frequency on which to listen is 145.800 MHz worldwide. + Recently Completed Harbor Creek School, Harborcreek, PA, direct via KC3SGV The ISS callsign was NA1SS The scheduled crewmember was Andreas Mogensen KG5GCZ The ARISS mentor is KD8COJ Contact was successful: Mon 2023-12-11 13:45:04 UTC Congratulations to the Harbor Creek School students, Andreas, and mentor KD8COJ! Primary School of Zipari Kos, Zipari, Greece, direct via SV5BYR The ISS callsign was OR4ISS The scheduled crewmember was Andreas Mogensen KG5GCZ The ARISS mentor is IKØWGF Contact was successful: Thu 2023-12-14 13:17:31 UTC Watch the Livestream at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzRrMguN-VI + Upcoming Contacts No upcoming school contacts are scheduled. The crossband repeater continues to be active (145.990 MHz up {PL 67} & 437.800 MHz down). If any crewmember is so inclined, all they have to do is pick up the microphone, raise the volume up, and talk on the crossband repeater. So give a listen, you just never know. The packet system is listed as temporarily stowed. Look for SSTV transmissions on 145.800 MHz between December 16th through December 19th. As always, if there is an EVA, a docking, or an undocking; the ARISS radios are turned off as part of the safety protocol. 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. The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html [ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition? Get your AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff from our Zazzle store! 25% of the purchase price of each product goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Upcoming Satellite Operations Jonathan N4AKV will be operating FM, linear, and GreenCube satellite passes in maidenhead grids EM75/76/85/86 (Tennessee) from December 18th through December 20th. Check for passes listed on http://hams.at and watch Jonathan's Twitter feed for any updates (https://twitter.com/N4AKV_). A growing number of satellite rovers are currently engaged in sharing their grid square activations on https://hams.at. By visiting the website, you gain easy access to comprehensive information about the operators responsible for activating specific grid squares. Additionally, you have the ability to assess the match score between yourself and a particular rover for a given pass, while also being able to identify the upcoming satellite passes that are accessible from your location. [ANS thanks Ian Parsons, K5ZM, AMSAT rover page manager, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events. + 40th Anniversary Celebration of the Positive Impact of Amateur Radio on Human Spaceflight Thursday February 22nd through Saturday February 24th, 2024 Center for Space Education: Astronauts Memorial Foundation Kennedy Space Center, M6-306 405 State Road, FL 32899 https://www.ariss.org/overview.html [ANS thanks the AMSAT Events page for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + AO-73 (FUNcube-1), managed by AMSAT-UK and AMSAT-NL, has reactivated its transponder after a meticulous year of battery management. Launched a decade ago, the satellite faced challenges with its battery struggling to reach the nominal 8.3V charge. Recent efforts, including strategic transmitter shutdowns during eclipse periods, have improved the situation. The battery voltage now varies between 8.13V in sunlight and 7.8V at the end of an eclipse, a significant improvement. AO-73 is currently transmitting low-power BPSK telemetry on 145.935MHz, featuring an inverting mode U/V transponder uplink ranging from 435.130 to 435.150 MHz, with a downlink set at 145.970 to 145.950 MHz. The satellite maintains a high spin rate of approximately 30 rpm, requiring manual tuning for the 70 cm input due to the receiver's temperature drift. This development reopens exciting opportunities for radio operators interested in exploring AO-73's capabilities after its temporary hiatus. (ANS thanks David Bowan, G0MRF, AMSAT-UK for the above information) + NASA's Voyager 1 probe, now in interstellar space, is experiencing a communication glitch, preventing the transmission of scientific or systems data. The 46-year-old spacecraft can receive commands, but its flight data system (FDS) is no longer communicating as expected with the telecommunications unit (TMU). The FDS compiles data into a package for transmission, but it's currently stuck in a repeating pattern of ones and zeros. Voyager's engineering team is investigating, but a solution may take weeks. The spacecraft's age and technology from the 1970s present unique challenges, and previous malfunctions required creative software workarounds. Despite past issues, finding solutions for Voyager's challenges is a slow process, involving consultation of decades-old documents. (ANS thanks Josh Dinner, Content Manager & Writer, Space.com, for the above information) + Blue Origin is set to resume New Shepard suborbital launches no earlier than December 18th, marking the vehicle's first potential flight in over 15 months. The uncrewed mission, NS-24, will follow a mishap in September 2022 when a structural failure in the BE-3PM engine led to a capsule landing safely while the propulsion module crashed. The Federal Aviation Administration closed its investigation in September 2023, outlining 21 corrective actions for Blue Origin, including technical modifications and organizational changes. The delay in resuming flights prompted speculation about the company's priorities, but it has since won a NASA contract for a lunar lander, introduced an orbital transfer vehicle, and progressed with the New Glenn orbital launch vehicle and Orbital Reef space station projects. During this hiatus, Virgin Galactic began commercial service with its SpaceShipTwo, VSS Unity, but announced plans to shift to quarterly flights in 2024 and eventually halt operations to focus on new suborbital vehicles. (ANS thanks Jeff Foust, writing for SpaceNews, for the above information) + NASA astronaut Frank Rubio grew tomatoes in space using hydroponic techniques to demonstrate space agricultural methods on the International Space Station (ISS). After harvesting one of the first tomatoes grown in space, Rubio misplaced it during a public event with school kids, sparking a humorous search on the ISS. In the microgravity environment, anything unanchored can float away, and despite spending hours searching, Rubio never found the tomato. The mystery ended when the remaining ISS crew announced they had located the tomato, clearing Rubio of suspicions that he had eaten it. Rubio's historic mission on the ISS, lasting over a year, set a record for the longest a US astronaut has spent in microgravity, initially planned for six months. (ANS thanks Jackie Wattles, Space & Science Writer, CNN, for the above information) --------------------------------------------------------------------- Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/ In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to: * Societies (a recognized group, clubs or organization). * Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. * Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. * Memberships are available for annual and lifetime terms. Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional membership information. 73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space! This week's ANS Editor, Mitch Ahrenstorff, ADØHJ ad0hj [at] amsat.org

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ANS-344 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Paul Stoetzer 09 Dec '23

09 Dec '23

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-344 In this edition: * Proposal Submitted to ESA for Geostationary Microwave Amateur Payload * ARISS Celebrates 40th Anniversary of Owen Garriott's STS-9 Operation * AMSAT Publishes 2022 Financial Review and IRS Form 990 * Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for December 7, 2023 * ARISS News * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Satellite Shorts From All Over The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. The news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor [at] amsat.org You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/ ANS-344 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins To: All RADIO AMATEURS From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation 712 H Street NE, Suite 1653 Washington, DC 20002 DATE 2023 December 10 Proposal Submitted to ESA for Geostationary Microwave Amateur Payload A proposal has been submitted to the European Space Agency (ESA) by AMSAT-UK, the British Amateur Television Club (BATC), and AMSAT-NA, with input from members of the UK Microwave Group for a geostationary microwave amateur payload with planned coverage of at least part of North America. This proposal was submitted in response to a presentation at the AMSAT-UK Colloquium from Frank Zeppenfeldt, PD0AP, of ESA, who has secured €250,000 in funding to investigate the possibility of an amateur satellite or payload in geostationary orbit. The proposal notes the desire for coverage of all ESA member and cooperating states, but that it is not possible for a satellite in geostationary orbit to cover the entirety of this territory, which ranges from Cyprus at approximately 34 degrees east to western Canada at approximately 141 degrees west and lays out example coverage from three slots: 5 degrees west, 30 degrees west, and 47 degrees west. In a later section, the proposal also discusses two non-geostationary orbit options that could provide the desired coverage: a tundra orbit and a high earth orbit just below the geostationary belt. The amateur radio and educational payload proposed consists of two 5.6 GHz uplink and 10 GHz downlink transponders (Mode C/x) - one 250 kHz wide with 20 watts of output for narrowband modes such as SSB, CW, and narrowband digital mdoes and one 1 MHz wide with 20 watts of output for wideband modes, including amateur television. The transponder design would include an optional SDR block for signal regeneration. Additionally, a 24 GHz receiver would also function as a transponder uplink. The proposal also calls for a 47 or 74 GHz multimode beacon or additional downlink transmitter, an earth-pointing camera with a still image downlink as part of the telemetry or beacon for educational outreach, and a red or near-infrared laser experiment aimed towards Western Europe. All downlink signals would be phase coherent with timing by GPS reference or a chip-scale atomic clock. The full proposal text can be found at https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ESA-GEO-proposal… More information about the ESA opportunity can be found in PD0AP's AMSAT-UK Colloquium presentation at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FTvlEyDa1Y [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK, the British Amateur Television Club (BATC), AMSAT-NA, and the UK Microwave Group for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ LAST CALL! The 2023 AMSAT President's Club coins are still available! To commemorate the 40th anniversary of its launch on June 16, 1983, this year's coin features an image of AMSAT-OSCAR 10. Join the AMSAT President's Club today and help Keep Amateur Radio in Space! https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ ARISS Celebrates 40th Anniversary of Owen Garriott's STS-9 Operation ARISS has been celebrating the 40th anniversary of the first ham in space. On November 28, 1983, the Space Shuttle Columbia lifted off with Owen Garriott, W5LFL. Onboard was a specially customized Motorola MX-340 two meter handheld radio and an antenna that attached to the shuttle's window. Shortly before crossing the west coast on December 1, 1983, Columbia executed a roll manuever that exposed the antenna toward earth and W5LFL began to call CQ. At 02:38 UTC, Lance Collister, WA1JXN, in Frenchtown, MT answered his CQ and made the first amateur radio QSO with a human in space. A rush of QSOs followed over the next several days before Columbia returned to Earth on December 8th. Among the amateur operators in the log were Senator Barry Goldwater, K7UGA, and King Hussein of Jordan, JY1. Videos including QSOs from orbit have been posted to the ARISS YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/@ARISSlive/videos On December 7th, ARISS hosted a webinar with Owen's son, Richard Garriott, W5KWQ, who later operated the amateur radio station aboard the International Space Station. An archived video of the webinar can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ys0Jjn40Y_A During the webinar, ARISS International Chair Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, announced that Richard Garriott would be the keynote speaker at ARISS's 40th anniversary celebration event in February 2024. Details for this event can be found at https://www.ariss.org/overview.html Additionally, in celebration of the STS-9 mission, ARISS teams worldwide have come together to prepare an SSTV event. SSTV from the ISS will be sent on 145.800 MHz using the PD120 format. Transmissions are scheduled to begin on December 16th at 10:15 UTC and end on December 19th at around 18:00 UTC. Melissa Gaskill, a science author from Austin, Texas, has written a comprehensive review about the 40-year history of amateur radio in space. In her article, "Ham Radio in Space: Engaging with Students Worldwide for 40 Years," Gaskill explores the Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment (SAREX), which is now known as Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS). The article can be found at https://www.nasa.gov/missions/station/iss-research/ham-radio-in-space-engag… Gaskill said that while she wrote the article, she is not an expert on thesubject but there are many who are including Kenneth Ransom, N5VHO, International Space Station (ISS) Ham Project Coordinator since 2004. Ransom said that amateur radio in space was a possibility even before 1983, when Astronaut Owen Garriott, W5LFL (SK), made history during the STS-9 Space Shuttle Columbia mission with the first amateur radio contact from space. NASA had been looking for ways to bring amateur radio to Skylab (a space station designed as an orbiting workshop for scientific research) and even the moon. [ANS thanks ARISS and the ARRL for the above information] ------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT Publishes 2022 Financial Review and IRS Form 990 AMSAT has posted its IRS Form 990 and 2022 Financial Review on the AMSAT website at https://www.amsat.org/audit-and-other-financial-reports/ AMSAT publishes its financial statements as reviewed by an independent accountant as part of its commitment to transparency regarding its financial status with its membership and donors. In 2022, AMSAT had total revenue of $306,801 and total expenses of $129,261. As of December 31, 2022, AMSAT reported net assets totaling $1,494,470. In the decade between 2012 and 2022, AMSAT's reserves increased by nearly 250% while designing, constructing, and launching five Fox-1 satellites and working on several other projects, including GOLF, Fox Plus, the Linear Transponder Module, and the AMSAT CubeSatSim. AMSAT thanks its membership and donors for their generous support over the years. Keeping amateur radio in space is an endeavor that requires significant financial resources. Despite the currently healthy status of AMSAT's finances, spending on hardware acquisitions for construction of GOLF and Fox Plus is expected to ramp up over the coming year, so please consider a donation if you are able. AMSAT is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, so your contributions may be tax deductible. If you need to make a Required Minimum Distribution from a retirement account by the end of the year, please also consider making a donation to AMSAT from your RMD. Donations may be made at https://www.amsat.org/donate/ AMSAT also needs donations of time from interested volunteers with both technical and non-technical skills. Please visit https://www.amsat.org/volunteer-for-amsat/ and consider volunteering for AMSAT. [ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Need new satellite antennas? Purchase an M2 LEO-Pack from the AMSAT Store. When you purchase through AMSAT, a portion of the proceeds goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space. https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for December 7, 2023 Two Line Elements or TLEs, often referred to as Keplerian elements or keps in the amateur community, are the inputs to the SGP4 standard mathematical model of spacecraft orbits used by most amateur tracking programs. Weekly updates are completely adequate for most amateur satellites. TLE bulletin files are updated Thursday evenings around 2300 UTC, or more frequently if new high interest satellites are launched. More information may be found at https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/ HADES-D may not be correctly associated with its object number; use TLEs with caution. The following satellites have been added to this week's AMSAT-NA TLE distribution: EIRSAT-1 NORAD Cat ID 58472 IARU coordinated downlink on 437.100 MHz ENSO NORAD Cat ID 58470 IARU coordinated downlink on 436.500 MHz and beacon at 14.099 MHz The following satellites have been removed from this week's AMSAT-NA TLE distribution: CTIM NORAD Cat ID 52950 Decayed from orbit on or about 4 December 2023 Move-IIb NORAD Cat ID 44398 Decayed from orbit on or about 4 December 2023 [ANS thanks Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager, for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition? Get your AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff from our Zazzle store! 25% of the purchase price of each product goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ ARISS News Amateurs and others around the world may listen in on contacts between amateurs operating in schools and allowing students to interact with astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station. The downlink frequency on which to listen is 145.800 MHz worldwide. Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Harbor Creek School, Harborcreek, PA, direct via KC3SGV The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz The scheduled crewmember is Andreas Mogensen KG5GCZ The ARISS mentor is KD8COJ Contact is go for: Mon 2023-12-11 13:45:04 UTC 46 deg Watch for Livestream at https://www.youtube.com/@AdvancedTechnologiesGroup Obninsk, Russia, direct via TBD The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz The scheduled crewmember is Konstantin Borisov The ARISS mentor is RV3DR Contact is go for Wed 2023-12-13 09:15 UTC Primary School of Zipari Kos, Zipari, Greece, direct via SV5BYR The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz The scheduled crewmember is Andreas Mogensen KG5GCZ The ARISS mentor is IKØWGF Contact is go: Thu 2023-12-14 13:17:31 UTC 26 deg( Watch for Livestream at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVW_nsutRMEfS2e8tURrltw and also at https://linktr.ee/zipariss2023 Comments on making general contacts I have been seeing a lot of traffic on Facebook and I suspect on other social media sites with people asking why they are not hearing the crew make general contacts. First off the crew is very busy on the ISS and they simply may not have the time to just pick up the microphone and talk. Also, one needs to be aware of their normal daily schedule. I have listed below the constraints that we at ARISS have to follow in order to schedule the school contacts. Hopefully this will help you better schedule your opportunities. Typical daily schedule Wakeup to Workday start= 1.5 hours Workday start to Workday end=12 hours Workday end to Sleep= 2 hours Sleep to wakeup= 8.5 hours The crew's usual waking period is 0730 - 1930 UTC. The most common times to find a crew member making casual periods are about one hour after waking and before sleeping, when they have personal time. They're usually free most of the weekend, as well. SSTV events are not that often. So please check out https://www.ariss.org/ for the latest information or watch for the ARISS announcements. And don’t forget that the packet system is active. As always, if there is an EVA, a docking, or an undocking; the ARISS radios are turned off as part of the safety protocol. ARISS Radio Status Columbus Module radios: IORS (Kenwood D710GA) – STATUS - Configured. Default mode is for cross band repeater (145.990 MHz up {PL 67} & 437.800 MHz down). * Capable of supporting USOS scheduled voice contacts, packet and voice repeater ops. Service Module radios: IORS (Kenwood D710GA) – STATUS - Temporarily stowed. Default mode is for packet operations (145.825 MHz up & down) * Capable of supporting ROS scheduled voice contacts, packet, SSTV and voice repeater ops. SSTV (Kenwood D710) – STATUS - OFF. Default mode is for scheduled SSTV operations (145.800 MHz down) * Next planned operation date(s): 40th Anniversary of STS 9 (PD120 mode) - Schedule is Dec. 16 at 10:15 UTC | 5:15 AM ET through Dec. 19 around 1800 UTC | 1:00 PM ET. * Specifically configured for SSTV ops. The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html [ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors for the above information] -------------------------------------------------------------------- Upcoming Satellite Operations No scheduled operations are listed at this time. A growing number of satellite rovers are currently engaged in sharing their grid square activations on https://hams.at. By visiting the website, you gain easy access to comprehensive information about the operators responsible for activating specific grid squares. Additionally, you have the ability to assess the match score between yourself and a particular rover for a given pass, while also being able to identify the upcoming satellite passes that are accessible from your location. [ANS thanks Ian Parsons, K5ZM, AMSAT rover page manager, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events. AMSAT Ambassador Clint Bradford, K6LCS, says, "Think a 75-minute presentation on "working the easy satellites" would be appropriate for your club or event? Let me know by emailing me at k6lcsclint (at) gmail (dot) com or calling me at 909-999-SATS (7287)!" Clint has NEVER given the exact same show twice: EACH of the 150+ presentations so far has been customized/tailored to their audiences. [ANS thanks Clint Bradford, K6LCS, and AMSAT for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + EB1AO reports the successful telecommand of AMSAT Spain's HADES-D satellite. A test of the FM transponder is expected to follow. + The Russian resupply mission to the International Spacee Station, Progress MS-25, launched on Dec. 1 and then had to be manually docked due to issues with its automated rendezvous system. Cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko, RN3DX, and Nikolai Chub, monitoring the approach from the station's Zvezda module, took over by remote control at the direction of Russian flight controllers and deftly guided the vehicle in for docking early on Dec. 3. (ANS thanks CBS News for the above information) + Hubble temporarily took a break from science operations while NASA investigates faulty readings from one of its gyroscopes, just as the telescope hit 30 years on from STS-61, the mission that corrected its optics and brought the iconic space telescope to full operation. On December 8th, Hubble returned to science operations with all three of its gyroscopes operational and the spacecraft healthy. (ANS thanks The Orbital Index and NASA for the above information) + With moderate coronal mass ejections (CMEs) inbound and our Sun heading into its solar maximum faster than anticipated, it’s an excellent time to watch for auroras. However, the Space Weather Prediction Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) warns that the geomagnetic storms pose risks of increased atmospheric drag and other risks for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. (ANS thanks The Orbital Index and NOAA for the above information) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/ In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to: * Societies (a recognized group, clubs or organization). * Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. * Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. * Memberships are available for annual and lifetime terms. Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional membership information. 73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space! This week's ANS Editor, Paul Stoetzer, N8HM n8hm [at] amsat.org

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ANS-337 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for December 3, 2003
by Frank Karnauskas (N1UW) 02 Dec '23

02 Dec '23

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-337 In this edition: * Update on AMSAT's Participation in ESA Geostationary Project * September/October 2023 Edition of The AMSAT Journal Available * ISS Resupply Will Interrupt ARISS Activity * ISS SSTV Event December 7-8, 2023 * VUCC & DXCC Satellite Standing December 2023 * Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for December 1, 2023 * ARISS News * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Satellite Shorts From All Over The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. The news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor [at] amsat [dot] org. You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/ ANS-337 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins To: All RADIO AMATEURS From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation 712 H Street NE, Suite 1653 Washington, DC 20002 DATE 2023 DEC 03 Update on AMSAT's Participation in ESA Geostationary Project Following the recent AMSAT Symposium where David Bowman, G0MRF, presented information on the ESA Geostationary payload investigation, an offer was extended to AMSAT to participate with AMSAT-UK in developing a proposal for submittal to ESA. AMSAT Director and Vice President - Operations Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, volunteered on short notice to represent AMSAT in these initial discussions. An additional Canadian AMSAT representative is desired and welcome to participate in future meetings and discussions. After a meeting on November 26th, an initial proposal to ESA was being finalized for submittal on December 4th. More information will be forthcoming soon. [ANS thanks AMSAT Director and Vice President - Operations Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- September/October 2023 Edition of The AMSAT Journal Available AMSAT members can now go to the member portal (https://launch.amsat.org/) and download the latest edition on The AMSAT Journal. The AMSAT Journal is published online in full-color. This edition is 38 pages jam-packed with the latest updates on key AMSAT projects. Topics in this issue include: - Apogee View - Robert Bankston, KE4AL, AMSAT President - AMSAT Awards Update - Bruce Paige, KK5DO, AMSAT Awards Manager - Education and CubeSat Simulator Update - Alan Johnston, KU2Y, AMSAT VP, Educational Relations - PACSAT BBS Operations - Chris Thompson, G0KLA/AC2CZ/VE2TCP - PACSAT Software Architecture - Chris Thompson, G0KLA/AC2CZ/VE2TCP and Burns Fisher, WB1FJ - ARISS Update - Dave Taylor, W8AAS - Engineering Update - Jerry Buxton, N0JY; Jonathan Brandenburg, KF5IDY; Zach Metzinger, N0ZGO Attention AMSAT members: You should receive an email alert that a new edition of The AMSAT Journal is available. If you are not receiving that email, it means your email is not on file in out membership system. You can add or update your email information by logging in the member portal (https://launch.amsat.org/) and updating your profile. If you have trouble doing this, please write info[at]amsat[dot]org and we will assist you. [ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information.] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ LAST CALL for 2023 AMSAT President's Club Coins! The year is almost over and, when it is, the 2023 coins will no longer be available. To commemorate the 40th anniversary of its launch on June 16, 1983, this year's coin features an image of AMSAT-OSCAR 10. Join the AMSAT President's Club today and help Keep Amateur Radio in Space! https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ ISS Resupply Will Interrupt ARISS Activity NASA will provide live launch and docking coverage of the Roscosmos Progress 86 cargo spacecraft carrying about three tons of food, fuel, and supplies for the Expedition 70 crew aboard the International Space Station. The unpiloted spacecraft is scheduled to launch on Friday, December 1,2023 at 09:25 UTC (4:25 A.M. EST) on a Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. NASA coverage will begin at 4 A.M. on the NASA+ streaming service via the web <https://plus.nasa.gov/> or the NASA app <https://www.nasa.gov/connect/apps.html>. The Progress spacecraft will be placed into a two-day, 34-orbit journey to the station, leading to an automatic docking to the Poisk module at 6:14 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 3. Coverage of rendezvous and docking will begin at 5:30 a.m. on NASA Television and the agency's website. As always, all amateur radio activity aboard the ISS is suspended during docking maneuvers. The spacecraft will remain at the orbiting laboratory for approximately six months, then undock for a destructive but safe re-entry into Earth's atmosphere to dispose of trash loaded by the crew. [ANS thanks NASA for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- * ISS SSTV Event December 7-8, 2023 Russian cosmonauts on the International Space Station (ISS) are planning to transmit Slow Scan TV (SSTV) images on 145.800 MHz FM probably using the SSTV mode PD-120. The transmissions are part of the Moscow Aviation Institute SSTV experiment (MAI-75) and will be made from the amateur radio station RS0ISS in the Russian ISS Service module (Zvezda) using a Kenwood TM-D710E transceiver. It appears the theme for this session will highlight one of MAI's cosmonaut graduates - Yuri Usachov. Currently scheduled days and times are: Thu 2023-12-07 08:55 UTC to 14:25 UTC Fri 2023-12-08 08:15 UTC to 14:10 UTC Days and times are subject to change due to the operational requirements of the ISS. Reminder - No ARISS award will be available for this session since it is not transmitted globally. [ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors for the above information.] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Need new satellite antennas? Purchase M2 LEO-Packs from the AMSAT Store. When you purchase through AMSAT, a portion of the proceeds goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space. https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ VUCC & DXCC Satellite Standing December 2023 + VUCC Satellite Award/Endorsement Change Summary for November 01, 2023 to December 01, 2023. KO4MA 1933 2000 K8DP 1575 1581 AA5PK 1382 1404 N8RO 1368 1384 DL2GRC 1004 1108 DF2ET 1000 1102 KF7R 1050 1075 PS8ET 925 1000 K9UO 926 950 KE8RJU 905 950 OZ9AAR 800 900 EA2AA 825 856 KQ4DO 808 827 W8LR 818 825 FG8OJ 639 737 HB9AOF 604 725 KS1G 655 703 WA6DNR 457 605 JL1SAM 511 601 W0NBC 437 563 JG6CDH 515 553 A65BR 513 532 XE1UYS 327 505 IK3ITB 400 500 IK7FMQ 453 500 N3CAL 435 471 N6RVI 100 380 SA0UNX 205 362 JR0GAS 250 360 AD2DD 261 356 KG4AKV 254 355 HC2FG 276 350 N6PAZ 326 342 DK3ZL New 319 KB8CR New 301 AL7ID New 261 K6VHF 201 250 N7GR 179 205 K9JKM 114 201 JF3MKC 175 200 JI5RPT/1 101 200 K9AQ 109 200 WD9EWK (DM45) 160 165 N4QX 152 157 AA0DW New 141 N6UTC (DM15) New 126 JF1CDX New 105 KT6CA New 103 W3TI 101 103 NJ2DX New 100 Congratulations to the new VUCC holders. AL7ID is first VUCC Satellite holder from BP64 + DXCC Satellite Award/Endorsement Change Summary for November 01, 2023 to December 01, 2023. OE9DGV 208 210 F6BKI 203 207 YO2CMI 169 173 ZS1LS 153 160 EA2AA 152 154 DL6GBM 125 152 HB9RYZ 137 139 LA6OP 123 136 SP3AU 130 136 DL9RAN 100 125 FG8OJ 111 114 SM2OAN 100 109 CT1ETE New 104 TF1A 100 102 JA0FSB New 101 K9UO 100 101 EA5RM New 100 KB9STR New 100 KN2K New 100 LA0FA New 100 N0JE New 100 Congratulations to the new DXCC Satellite holders. KN2K is first DXCC Satellite holder from VA [ANS thanks Jon Goering, N7AZ, for the above information.] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition? Get your AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff from our Zazzle store! 25% of the purchase price of each product goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for December 1, 2023 The following satellite has been removed from this week's AMSAT-NA TLE distribution: NEUDOSE NORAD Cat ID 56315 Decayed from orbit on or about 28 November 2023 The following satellites have been added to this week's AMSAT-NA TLE distribution: HADES-D NORAD Cat ID 58294 IARU coordinated downlink on 436.666 MHz VERONIKA NORAD Cat ID 58261 IARU coordinated downlink on 436.680 MHz KAFASAT NORAD Cat ID 58317 IARU coordinated downlinks 435.835 MHz and 2404.400 MHz AMSAT thanks Nico Janssen for positively identifying these spacecraft and associating them with object numbers. Two Line Elements or TLEs, often referred to as Keplerian elements or keps in the amateur community, are the inputs to the SGP4 standard mathematical model of spacecraft orbits used by most amateur tracking programs. Weekly updates are completely adequate for most amateur satellites. Elements in the TLE bulletin files are updated daily. TLE bulletin files are updated to add or remove satellites as necessary Thursday evenings around 2300 UTC, or more frequently if new high interest satellites are launched. More information may be found at https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/ [ANS thanks Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS NEWS Amateurs and others around the world may listen in on contacts between amateurs operating in schools and allowing students to interact with astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station. The downlink frequency on which to listen is 145.800 MHz worldwide. + Upcoming Contacts Carl-Maria-von-Weber-Schule Eutin, Eutin, Germany, direct via DKØOH/Telebridge and Gymnasium in Loekamp, Marl, Germany, telebridge via DKØOH. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS. The scheduled crewmember is Andreas Mogensen, KG5GCZ. The ARISS mentor is IN3GH. Contact is go for Monday, December 4, 2023 at 11:36 UTC. Orangeburg Christian Academy, Orangeburg, SC, direct via N7GZT. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS. The scheduled crewmember is Jasmin Moghbeli, KI5WSL. The ARISS mentor is KD8COJ. Contact is go for Tuesday, December 5, 2023 at 15:19 UTC. Watch for Livestream at https://www.facebook.com/orangeburgchristianacademy Obninsk, Russia, direct via TBD. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS. The scheduled crewmember is Konstantin Borisov. The ARISS mentor is RV3DR. Contact is go for Wednesday, December 13, 2023 at 09:15 UTC. + Completed Contacts Gagarin From Space Performance Of An Amateur Radio Communication Session With Pupils Of Schools Of Aznakaevsky District Of The Republic Of Kazakhstan. Tatarstan, Russia, direct via RC4P. The ISS callsign was RSØISS. The crewmember was Konstantin Borisov. The ARISS mentor was RV3DR. Contact was successful on November 25, 2023 at 14:08 UTC. The crossband repeater continues to be active (145.990 MHz up {PL 67} & 437.800 MHz down). If any crewmember is so inclined, all they have to do is pick up the microphone, raise the volume up, and talk on the crossband repeater. So give a listen, you just never know. As always, if there is an EVA, a docking, or an undocking; the ARISS radios are turned off as part of the safety protocol. 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. The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html [ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors for the above information.] -------------------------------------------------------------------- Upcoming Satellite Operations None scheduled at this time. A growing number of satellite rovers are currently engaged in sharing their grid square activations on https://hams.at. By visiting the website, you gain easy access to comprehensive information about the operators responsible for activating specific grid squares. Additionally, you have the ability to assess the match score between yourself and a particular rover for a given pass, while also being able to identify the upcoming satellite passes that are accessible from your location. [ANS thanks Ian Parsons, K5ZM, AMSAT Rover Page Manager, for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events. AMSAT Ambassador Clint Bradford, K6LCS, says, “Think a 75-minute presentation on “working the easy satellites” would be appropriate for your club or event? Let me know by emailing me at k6lcsclint (at) gmail (dot) com or calling me at 909-999-SATS (7287)!” Clint has NEVER given the exact same show twice: EACH of the 150+ presentations so far has been customized/tailored to their audiences. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + Eirsat-11 was successfully launched on Friday, December 1, 2023 from Florida aboard a Space X ride. On the first pass over Europe EIRSAT-1 was almost 10 minutes late on the preliminary TLE set and almost 4 minutes early on the projected TLE set. The launch team will try to develop better parameters. Since this was a classified launch, TLEs may not be published by he usual sources, so the team will have to develop its own TLE set. [ANS thanks Nico Janssen, PA0DLO, for the above information.] + A fascinating article describes the development of the CubeSat standard by AMSAT member Bob Twiggs, KE6QMD, and co-inventor Jordi Puig-Suari, an aerospace engineering professor at California Polytechnic State University. Searching for a way to simplify the projects—and cut out build time — Twiggs thought, “What if we made [the satellite] a cube and put solar cells on all sides so no matter which way it rotated, it was going to get charged?” With some spare solar cells from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, he went down to a local shop and found a 4 X 4 X 4-in. transparent box. It was also around that time—in 1999—that an infamous error caught Twiggs’ attention. That year a mix-up between Imperial and metric units by a Lockheed Martin engineering team caused NASA’s Mars Climate Orbiter to burn up in the red planet’s atmosphere, ending the mission early. “I said, ‘It’s about time students learn metric,’” he says. “I wonder what this [4-in. box] is in metric? Well, it turned out to be just almost 10 cm.” Read the entire article at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-337-Twiggs. [ANS thanks Aviation Week Network for the above information.] + An innovative experiment flying aboard NASA’s Psyche mission just hit its first major milestone by successfully carrying out the most distant demonstration of laser communications. The tech demo could one day help NASA missions probe deeper into space and uncover more discoveries about the origin of the universe. The experiment beamed a laser encoded with data from far beyond the moon for the first time. The test data was sent from nearly 10 million miles (16 million kilometers) away and reached the Hale Telescope at the California Institute of Technology’s Palomar Observatory in Pasadena, California. Read the entire article at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-337-Laser. [ANS thanks CNN.com for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/ In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to: * Societies (a recognized group, clubs or organization). * Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. * Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. * Memberships are available for annual and lifetime terms. Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional membership information. 73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space! This week's ANS Editor, Frank Karnauskas, N1UW n1uw [at] amsat [dot] org

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ANS-330 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for Nov.26
by Mark Johns, K0JM 25 Nov '23

25 Nov '23

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-330 In this edition: * Happy 10th Birthday FUNcube-1 (AO-73) * AMSAT Servers Back In Service After Brief Outage * HERON Mk. II Reaches Orbit * Starship Flies Higher * ITU RS-23 Adopts Resolution for Space Spectrum * Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for November 24 * ARISS News * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Satellite Shorts From All Over The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. The news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor [at] amsat.org You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/ ANS-330 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins To: All RADIO AMATEURS From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation 712 H Street NE, Suite 1653 Washington, DC 20002 DATE 2023 Nov 26 Happy 10th Birthday FUNcube-1 (AO-73) November 21, 2023, marks the tenth birthday of our very first CubeSat mission, FUNcube-1 (AO-73). A very short time after the launch from Yasny in Russia and within a few minutes from deployment, the very first frame of data from the low power transmitter on board, was detected and decoded by ZS1LS in South Africa. He was able to relay the data over the internet from his Dashboard to the Data Warehouse and the numbers, appeared, as if by magic, at the launch party being held at the RSGB National Radio Centre at Bletchley Park. After a very brief check out, the FUNcube team were able to switch the transmitter to full power, again at the very first attempt, and were quite amazed at the strength of the signal from the 300mW transmitter on 145.935 MHz. The transponder was then switched on and successfully tested, the first contact was between G6LVB and M5AKA who were both operating from the Bletchley Park car park. The team finished the day with a request to AMSAT-NA for an Oscar number and were delighted to receive the AO73 Oscar 73 designation! Since then, FUNcube-1, with a launch mass of less than 1kg, has operated continuously with only a very few interruptions. In excess of 53,500 orbits, 1.3 billion miles travelled, 61 million telemetry data packets transmitted, and with more than 10.9 million unique data packets downloaded and stored in the Data Warehouse. The FUNcube team still receive many requests for Fitter message uploads for school events…please contact us by email to operations(a)funcube.org.uk giving us at least two weeks notice. The FUNcube team continue to be very grateful to all the many stations around the world that continue to upload the telemetry that they receive to our Data Warehouse. They really need this data to provide a continuous resource for educational outreach. FUNcube Data Warehouse and the Dashboard software https://funcube.org.uk/working-documents/funcube-telemetry-dashboard/ FUNcube email group https://groups.io/g/FUNcube FUNcube Website http://www.funcube.org.uk/ [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ The 2023 AMSAT President's Club coins are here now! To commemorate the 40th anniversary of its launch on June 16, 1983, this year's coin features an image of AMSAT-OSCAR 10. Join the AMSAT President's Club today and help Keep Amateur Radio in Space! https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AMSAT Servers Back In Service After Brief Outage At approximately 21:04 UTC Tuesday November 21, our vendor Linode detected a failing disk on the hardware that runs our web, telemetry, source code control and Echolink servers and began to effect emergency data protection operations. AMSAT's Engineering department is clearly working hard, because within 10 minutes they alerted the AMSAT IT department that they were having trouble accessing the server that holds the source code for our satellite projects. Meanwhile Linode proceeded to "evacuate" our servers from the failing hardware, and migrated them to new hardware. All services were restored by approximately 21:20 UTC and the servers appear to be happily settling in to their new home. There is no sign of any data loss, but as always if you see anything out of the ordinary please write webmaster(a)amsat.org [ANS thanks Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, of the AMSAT IT Team for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Need new satellite antennas? Purchase Arrows, Alaskan Arrows, and M2 LEO-Packs from the AMSAT Store. When you purchase through AMSAT, a portion of the proceeds goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space. https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ HERON Mk. II Reaches Orbit The University of Toronto Aerospace Team (UTAT) Space Systems’ HERON Mk. II satellite lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, aboard a Falcon 9 rocket of the SpaceX Transporter-9 mission. As a rideshare mission to space, the Transporter-9 delivered HERON Mk. II — alongside 89 other small satellites — to an orbit approximately 540 kilometres above Earth’s surface. Marking the culmination of nearly a decade of work by student Space Systems engineers, the HERON Mk. II’s path to the launch pad was one of dedication and perseverance. The UTAT are a team composed primarily of engineering students that designs and builds small satellites known as CubeSats. Team’s first satellite, HERON Mk. I — short for Human Experiment Relay On Nanosatellite — was a CubeSat developed from 2014–2016. For various reasons, the project did not end in a launch opportunity, and so HERON Mk. I was retired. Since our team was performing work that required members to be on campus, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted our original spacecraft assembly plans. Any organization wishing to send a satellite into space and communicate with it via radio waves first needs to obtain the appropriate radio frequency (RF) licenses from Innovation Science and Economic Development Canada. Unfortunately, the process of obtaining these licenses for the HERON Mk. II satellite took significantly longer than expected and delayed the launch. Because of the delay, the team was forced to abandon the original biological mission. Therefore, the team decided to shift the primary focus of the HERON Mk. II mission toward validating UTAT Space Systems’ RF communications capabilities and providing amateur radio and satellite operations experience to our members. While waiting for the frequency licenses to be issued, a group of our teammates began designing an amateur ultra-high frequency (UHF) ground station. This is the apparatus that allows us to communicate with HERON Mk. II from the ground, via radio waves at a frequency of 437.12 megahertz. Now fully operational, the ground station currently resides on the sixth-floor roof of the Bahen Centre for Information Technology. In September, a few team members travelled to Spaceflight’s facilities in Bellevue, Washington, where they placed HERON Mk. II inside its deployer that would later be mounted inside the Falcon 9 rocket for the SpaceX Transporter-9 mission. Once the Falcon 9 rocket reached its intended orbit in space, HERON Mk. II was ejected from the rocket at 3:04 pm EST, and soon deployed its UHF antenna. The UHF antenna plays a crucial role in preventing any electromagnetic interference with the other satellites, which might otherwise distort the signals sent between HERON Mk. II and the ground station. During the initial commissioning period, we will be actively trying to establish the first communications via the ground station. Afterward, HERON Mk. II will begin a year of regular operations during which the team will regularly monitor the satellite’s health. The lessons learned from mission operations and monitoring the satellite’s health will inform the development of future satellite missions undertaken by UTAT Space Systems. With the launch of HERON Mk. II, UTAT Space Systems has lowered the barrier to entry for space programs even further by becoming the first organization in Canada to receive the entirety of its satellite development funding from a student levy. This marks yet another paradigm shift in the industry, demonstrating that students are capable of sourcing their own space mission funding, rather than solely relying on government grants or commercial sponsorships. From an educational perspective, the HERON Mk. II mission will enable team members to learn more about satellite operations and amateur radio and to gain knowledge that will carry forward to UTAT Space Systems’ future missions. [ANS thanks The Varsity, student newspaper of the University of Toronto, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Starship Flies Higher Seven long months after Starship’s first integrated flight test in April, Ship 25 launched atop Booster 9 on a second test flight, again targeting a ballistic trajectory with a planned splashdown north of Hawai’i. This time, all 33 Raptor 2 engines on Booster 9 completed a full first-stage burn, producing a 300-meter-long exhaust plume and roughly twice the thrust of any other object flown by humanity. The 121-meter monster rocket also completed what appeared to be a successful hot stage separation, with B9 shutting down all but three of its Raptors (which were throttled to 50%) followed by S25’s six engines starting up to push the ship away from the booster. Hot staging reduces gravity losses and keeps the upper stage continuously under thrust for fuel settling. After stage separation, B9 completed a somewhat vigorous flip and, perhaps due to propellant slosh or damage, had trouble relighting its Raptor engines. (Engines that ingest tank pressurization gas instead of propellant generally end up functioning quite destructively.) After several “high energy” events at the aft end of Booster 9, an explosion originating from its common bulkhead rapidly disassembled the booster. After separation, Starship’s upper stage burned until seconds before entering its planned coast phase—climbing to an altitude of 148 km and over 6.7 km/s, reaching space and very nearly hitting orbital velocity. However, S25 appeared to trigger its automated flight termination system during terminal guidance, possibly due to a leak in its oxygen tank—debris from the explosion were caught on NOAA radar extending past Puerto Rico. The thermal protection system (TPS) made up of 18,000 tiles, appeared to lose a significant number of tiles during the launch, especially ones that were glued on near weld points, making the ship unlikely to have survived reentry even if the flight had made it that far. S28’s TPS tiles are said to have an improved adhesion process that has been tested with a suction cup plus force meter to verify attachment. One additional clear success was the performance of SpaceX’s much improved “stage zero”—the water deluge system appeared undamaged and very little other damage and debris have been spotted by ever-vigilant tank watchers. Due to a complete loss of both stages, the FAA will conduct another mishap investigation, although many hope it will be significantly more streamlined due to the improved FTS functionality and better performance of the launch system—in particular, the Fish and Wildlife Service may not be involved this time. The always-optimistic Musk suggests a next test flight for Starship in 3-4 weeks, and with plenty of hardware waiting in the wings (S28 and B10 are likely up next), the timeline will probably be determined yet again by the mishap investigation and mitigation process. NASA seems keen to get on with it though as the agency believes its lunar lander mission may take up to 20 Starship launches [ANS thanks The Orbital Index for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ITU RA-23 Adopts Resolution for Space Spectrum The ITU Radiocommunication Assembly 2023 (RA-23), a precursor to the World Radiocommunication Conference, WRC-23, wrapped up on November 17 with a lot of new resolutions covering 6G standards, sustainable usage of space spectrum and gender equality. RA-23, which was held last week in Dubai, adopted the new Recommendation ITU-R M. 2160 on the “IMT-2030 Framework," which sets the basis for development of 6G, a.k.a. IMT-2030. The next phase will be the definition of relevant requirements and evaluation criteria for potential radio interface technologies. The assembly also adopted a a new resolution on space sustainability to facilitate the long-term sustainable use of radio spectrum and associated satellite orbit resources used by space services, in in accordance with Resolution 219 (Bucharest, 2022). The ITU says this resolution will benefit the satellite sector and support further cooperation with other United Nations organizations. RA-23 also finished a new ITU-R Recommendation on the protection of the radio navigation-satellite service and amateur satellite services, and adopted a a new resolution on the use of IMT technologies for fixed wireless broadband. The assembly also agreed to revise ITU-R Resolution 65 to facilitate studies looking at the compatibility of current regulations with potential 6G IMT radio interface technologies for 2030 and beyond. Resolution ITU-R 8-3 was also revised to promote the participation of engineers and scientists from developing countries in radiowave propagation campaigns in tropical and subtropical regions with limited data monitoring. The RA-23 resolutions arrive just ahead of WRC-23, which commenced November 20 in Dubai and will run until 15 December 2023. Hot items on the agenda include the ongoing battle between the satellite and mobile sectors for 5G spectrum, especially as non-terrestrial networks become part of 3GPP’s 5G standards, the development of direct-to-device satellite services, and revisiting rules about satellite power limits for LEO satellites, to name a few. To learn more about the WRC-23, visit https://www.itu.int/wrc-23/about/about-wrcs/. [ANS thanks DevelopingTelecoms.com for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition? Get your AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff from our Zazzle store! 25% of the purchase price of each product goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for November 24 Two Line Elements or TLEs, often referred to as Keplerian elements or keps in the amateur community, are the inputs to the SGP4 standard mathematical model of spacecraft orbits used by most amateur tracking programs. Weekly updates are completely adequate for most amateur satellites. TLE bulletin files are updated daily in the first hour of the UTC day. New bulletin files will be posted immediately after reliable elements become available for new amateur satellites. More information may be found at https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/. This week there are no additions or deletions to the AMSAT TLE distribution. [ANS thanks AMSAT Orbital Elements page for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS NEWS Amateurs and others around the world may listen in on contacts between amateurs operating in schools and allowing students to interact with astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station. The downlink frequency on which to listen is 145.800 MHz worldwide. COMPLETED CONTACT: National Research Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod (UNN), Nizhny Novgorod, direct via UB1QBM. The ISS callsign was RSØISS, and the crewmember was Konstantin Borisov. The ARISS mentor was RV3DR. Contact was successful at Wed 2023-11-22 16:40 UTC. Congratulations to the National Research Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod students, Konstantin, and mentor RV3DR! Note that due to the recent debris avoidance maneuver, that was performed on Nov. 10, some of the pass times have significantly shifted. It is suggested that you use the very latest Kep data. The crossband repeater continues to be active (145.990 MHz up {PL 67} & 437.800 MHz down). If any crewmember is so inclined, all they have to do is pick up the microphone, raise the volume up, and talk on the crossband repeater. So give a listen, you just never know. The packet system is also active (145.825 MHz up & down). As always, if there is an EVA, a docking, or an undocking; the ARISS radios are turned off as part of the safety protocol. 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. The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html [ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors for the above information] -------------------------------------------------------------------- Upcoming Satellite Operations None scheduled at this time. A growing number of satellite rovers are currently engaged in sharing their grid square activations on https://hams.at. By visiting the website, you gain easy access to comprehensive information about the operators responsible for activating specific grid squares. Additionally, you have the ability to assess the match score between yourself and a particular rover for a given pass, while also being able to identify the upcoming satellite passes that are accessible from your location. [ANS thanks Ian Parsons, K5ZM, AMSAT rover page manager, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events. None scheduled at this time. [ANS thanks the AMSAT Events page for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + EIRSAT-1 is expected to launch on a Space X Falcon 9 rocket from the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, USA, on November 29, 2023. It will have a downlink on the IARU coordinated frequency of 437.100 MHz, see https://iaru.amsat-uk.org/finished_detail.php?serialnum=639. Information on the beacon can be found at https://github.com/ucd-eirsat-1/beacon. EIRSAT-1 was built by students from University College Dublin under the framework of ESA Academy’s Fly Your Satellite! programme (FYS). (ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information) + The European Space Agency conducted a long-duration firing of an Ariane 6 prototype Nov. 23, one of the final tests before the agency is ready to set a date for the rocket’s inaugural launch. ESA said Ariane 6 “passed” the test in a statement shortly afterwards, describing it as a “seven-minute full firing” of the engine, rather than the nearly eight minutes advertised beforehand. (ANS thanks SpaceNews.com for the above information) + The tool bag recently lost by NASA astronauts during a spacewalk is now orbiting Earth and is surprisingly visible to stargazers. The object can appear as bright as a 6th-magnitude star. The tool bag changes slightly in brightness, suggesting the object is tumbling as it orbits our planet. Although the tool bag was ahead of the International Space Station (ISS) by about a minute or two shortly after the incident, it is gradually appearing farther ahead of the ISS as it loses altitude. By mid-November, the tool bag should be ahead by about ten minutes. (ANS thanks EarthSky.org for the above information) + With the Sun in the way of our messages, Curiosity and Perseverance, along with Ingenuity, MRO, Odyssey, and MAVEN, are hunkered down during the Mars solar conjunction communication blackout. Curiosity has now spent 4,000 sols exploring the red planet and has driven 32 km. (ANS thanks The Orbital Index for the above information) --------------------------------------------------------------------- Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/ In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to: * Societies (a recognized group, clubs or organization). * Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. * Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. * Memberships are available for annual and lifetime terms. Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional membership information. 73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space! This week's ANS Editor, Mark Johns, KØJM k0jm [at] amsat.org

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ANS-323 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Mitch Ahrenstorff (AD0HJ) 18 Nov '23

18 Nov '23

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-323 In this edition: * 2023 AMSAT Space Symposium & Annual General Meeting Proceedings Now Available * SpaceX Launches Ninth Rideshare Mission: Over 100 Satellites Deployed with Falcon 9 * AMSAT-EA's HADES-D Satellite Awaiting Deployment from ION Orbital Transfer Vehicle * ROM-3 Romanian High School Team's Satellite Soars to Success in Latest SpaceX Launch * Veronika: Spacemanic's Pink CubeSat Successfully Launches Aboard SpaceX Transporter-9 * Satellite Top 100 Rovers November 2023 Rankings * Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for November 17, 2023 * ARISS News * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Satellite Shorts From All Over The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. The news feed on https://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor [at] amsat.org You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/ ANS-323 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins To: All RADIO AMATEURS From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation 712 H Street NE, Suite 1653 Washington, DC 20002 DATE 2023 NOV 19 2023 AMSAT Space Symposium & Annual General Meeting Proceedings Now Available AMSAT has announced that the 2023 AMSAT Space Symposium & Annual General Meeting Proceedings are now available online. AMSAT members may access both the Symposium Proceedings and Presentations by logging into their AMSAT Membership and Event Portal account (https://launch.amsat.org/), selecting 'Member Resources' from the options on the top of the page, and then 'AMSAT Symposium Proceedings'. Click on the '2023' box to the left of 'Irving, Texas - Sheraton DFW...' to access this year's Symposium Proceedings or the 'Presentations' box to the right of this line to access the Presentations slides in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. For a real blast from the past, check out Symposium Proceedings going all the way back to 1986 under the same 'AMSAT Symposium Proceedings' webpage. Direct links to the Symposium Proceedings, Presentations, and YouTube livestreams were also recently mailed to AMSAT members and are also included below for your convenience. 2023 AMSAT Symposium Proceedings: https://launch.amsat.org/resources/Documents/Proceedings/AMSAT_Proceedings_… 2023 AMSAT Symposium Presentations: https://launch.amsat.org/resources/Documents/Proceedings/AMSAT_Presentation… 2023 AMSAT Symposium Livestream Day One: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcO4-h7bbxs 2023 AMSAT Symposium Livestream Day Two: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzKKHTBxyY8 Thank you to all who attended the 2023 AMSAT Space Symposium & Annual General Meeting. We hope you had a great time at this year's event and look forward to seeing you next fall in Florida. If you could not make it to Texas this year, we hope to see you next year! [ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- SpaceX Launches Ninth Rideshare Mission: Over 100 Satellites Deployed with Falcon 9 In another milestone for SpaceX's rideshare program, the aerospace company successfully launched its ninth dedicated smallsat rideshare mission, dubbed Transporter-9, from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on November 11. The Falcon 9 rocket carrying the payload lifted off at 18:49 UTC (10:49 p.m. PST), with the booster making a return to the launch site approximately seven and a half minutes after liftoff. This particular booster had already seen action on eleven previous missions, including Transporter-8 back in June. The mission, lasting around half an hour, saw the deployment of 90 payloads, though initial confirmations of successful deployment were lacking for several satellites. Those payloads included several orbital transfer vehicles that will later deploy their satellites. Overall, the launch added more than 110 satellites to the ever-growing constellation in low Earth orbit. Leading the pack in terms of payload contributions was Planet, with 36 of its Dove imaging CubeSats, collectively named Flock 4Q. It also flew Pelican-1, a tech demo satellite for its future Pelican and Tanager high-resolution and hyperspectral imaging satellites. Spire, specializing in weather and vessel tracking data, joined other satellite constellation operators on Transporter-9. Their satellite set featured three GHGSat satellites, one of which became the first commercial satellite dedicated to tracking carbon dioxide emissions. Additionally, synthetic aperture radar imaging companies Iceye and Umbra were among the participants in this rideshare mission. A notable newcomer to the satellite scene on this mission was Foxconn, the Taiwanese electronics giant known for producing consumer electronics like Apple's iPhone. Foxconn, also known as Hon Hai Technology Group, sent its first two CubeSats, Pearl-1H and Pearl-1C, on the mission to explore LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellite broadband communications and beyond 5G capabilities. Exolaunch, a rideshare broker, facilitated the launch of nearly three dozen satellites, including Foxconn's, on Transporter-9. Other brokers such as Maverick Space Systems, SEOPS, and Momentus, also contributed payloads to the mission. D-Orbit, a frequent participant in Transporter missions, contributed their ION Satellite Carrier to the payload. Two new orbital transfer vehicle (OTV or space tug) developers, Exotrail and Impulse Space, flew their first space tugs, spacevan-001 and Impulse-1, on the mission. These space tugs play a crucial role in transferring spaceborne cargo between different orbits. Transporter missions have garnered mixed reactions within the commercial space industry. While satellite operators and rideshare brokers applaud their regular and cost-effective access to space, some developers of small launch vehicles argue that these missions undercut their business models by offering services at significantly lower per-kilogram costs. Despite the ongoing debate, SpaceX's Transporter services continue to attract strong demand, as evidenced by the fully booked schedule. The company recently introduced a new line of rideshare missions called Bandwagon, scheduled to begin in 2024, further solidifying its position as a dominant force in the commercial space launch sector. The earliest available opportunity for a Bandwagon mission is set for November 2024, with Transporter missions to sun-synchronous orbits already booked until October 2025. [ANS thanks Jeff Foust, SpaceNews, for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ The 2023 AMSAT President's Club coins are here now! To commemorate the 40th anniversary of its launch on June 16, 1983, this year's coin features an image of AMSAT-OSCAR 10. Join the AMSAT President's Club today and help Keep Amateur Radio in Space! https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AMSAT-EA's HADES-D Satellite Awaiting Deployment from ION Orbital Transfer Vehicle The HADES-D satellite achieved a successful launch on November 11 at 18:49 UTC as part of SpaceX's Transporter-9 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base. Currently housed within D-Orbit's ION orbital transfer vehicle (OTV), the satellite's final deployment is scheduled for around November 20th. Developed concurrently with the URESAT Antonio de Nebrija, HADES-D shares the pocketQubes 1.5P platform. Featuring enhanced solar panels and increased processing capacity, HADES-D can transmit telemetry and repeat signals at higher speeds than its predecessors. One notable feature of HADES-D is its FM repeater for voice communications, which also allows for the retransmission of AX.25/APRS 300/1200 bps messages. The FM/FSK repeater plans to continuously operate, activated by squelch level without the need for a subtone. Telemetry will be provided in FSK, configurable between 50 and 2400 bps, CW and voice beacon in FM. The IARU coordinated frequencies are 145.875 MHz (FM/FSK) for uplink and 436.666 MHz (FM/FSK/CW) for downlink. The expected orbit is Sun-Synchronous between 550 and 600 km altitude. AMSAT-EA is asking the amatuer radio satellite community for assistance in identifying transmissions which will occur soon after the satellite has separated from the D-Orbit's ION SCV-013 OTV (Temporary NORAD ID 99025). This collaborative project, involving the private sector and various universities in Spain, hopes to provide licensed radio-amateurs worldwide an additional resource to relay FM voice and AX.25/APRS 300/1200 bps communications. Check for the latest updates on AMSAT-EA's website https://www.amsat-ea.org/. [ANS thanks AMSAT-EA and IARU for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ROM-3 Romanian High School Team's Satellite Soars to Success in Latest SpaceX Launch The ROM-3 satellite, a PocketQube crafted by the high school team RomSpace, was launched aboard SpaceX’s ninth dedicated smallsat rideshare program mission, Transporter-9, on November 11th. In collaboration with Alba Orbital, this launch on SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket represents Romania's second venture into satellite missions, following the high school team's initial success with the ROM-2 satellite. ROM-3, a demonstration mission following its predecessor 'Romanian Orbital Mission 2,' enhances RomSpace's pico-satellite design with improved camera resolution and higher efficiency solar panels. With an average team member age ranging from 15 to 18 years old, RomSpace pioneers affordable opportunities for educational institutions, exemplified by the International Computer High School of Bucharest. The ROM-3 satellite, a 50 x 50 x 100mm picosat, sets forth with three primary missions. Its primary function involves acting as an amateur radio digipeater, allowing operators to upload messages for a one-time transmission back to the Earth. The secondary mission entails transmitting a low-resolution SSDV image in GFSK Mode, inviting active participation from amateur radio operators. The tertiary mission includes CW Beacon transmission, aiding in detecting the satellite's presence and measuring signal properties. The UHF downlink (IARU coordinated frequency of 436.235 MHz) with 20 wpm CW, 500bps GFSK telemetry, and 5kbps GFSK SSDV will position ROM-3 as a notable contributor to the amateur radio community. More details are available at ROMSpace's official website https://rom-space.ro/. This success builds on their prior achievement with the ROM-2 satellite and serves as a demonstration mission for upcoming pico-satellite constellations. The collaborative efforts of RomSpace, Alba Orbital, and the broader Romanian space community culminate in the ROM-3 mission, showcasing not only the country's growing prowess in space exploration but also a commitment to fostering technical education and outreach initiatives. As ROM-3 embarks on its operational phase, it stands as a testament to Romania's potential in the evolving landscape of space technology. [ANS thanks Alba Orbital and the IARU for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Veronika: Spacemanic's Pink CubeSat Successfully Launches Aboard SpaceX Transporter-9 Veronika, a 1U CubeSat designed and built by Spacemaniac, was launched on SpaceX's Transporter-9 mission on November 11th. This mission marked the third Slovak satellite to venture into space following the successful skCube and GRBAlpha missions. Boris Procik, a financier from Slovakia, had approached Spacemanic to construct and launch the CubeSat, making it the first "family satellite" of its kind. Veronika, named after Procik's daughter, went beyond being a CubeSat with a personal touch; it was a technologically advanced mission designed to support the Slovak and international amateur radio community. The CubeSat features an array of technical capabilities to serve its primary objectives: 9k6 G3RUH AX.25 telemetry, digipeater, CW beacon, and experimental SSDV transmissions. The IARU coordinated downlink frequency is 436.680 MHz. Satellite telemetry was reported just a few hours after separation from the Falcon 9 rocket. Telemetry data can be viewed on the SatNOGS Veronika Telemetry Dashboard at https://dashboard.satnogs.org/d/abEVHMIIk/veronika. The CubeSat is also equipped with a novel Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS) subsystem. The ADCS includes electromagnetic actuators and a GNSS receiver, which will facilitate precise satellite identification during its initial days and weeks in orbit. Veronika will be operated by an amateur radio club OM3KSI, which will actively participate in its mission: https://om3ksi.tuke.sk/en/home/. Veronika's mission extends beyond technical objectives, incorporating education and outreach efforts. The satellite plans to engage Slovak grammar and high schools, transmitting special CW and AX.25 messages on various occasions. Czech partners, PLANETUM - Prague Observatory and Planetarium, will also use the satellite for educational purposes. In an unconventional move, Veronika was not only the first-ever family-named satellite but also the first-ever pink satellite, adding a personal and distinctive touch to its appearance. The project received additional support from Deutsche Schule Bratislava, with the initial contact facilitated by the Slovak Space Office. Before its successful launch, Veronika underwent rigorous environmental testing to simulate the harsh conditions of space, ensuring its operational resilience throughout its mission. The CubeSat joined other payloads in Berlin, where it underwent preparations for deployment. Exolaunch, a trusted partner of Spacemanic, oversaw the deployment process, securing its attachment to the Falcon 9 rocket. [ANS thanks Spacemanic and the IARU for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Need new satellite antennas? Purchase Arrows, Alaskan Arrows, and M2 LEO-Packs from the AMSAT Store. When you purchase through AMSAT, a portion of the proceeds goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space. https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Satellite Top 100 Rovers November 2023 Rankings The November 2023 rankings for the Top 100 Rovers (Mixed LEO/MEO/GEO) in satellite operations, as determined by @GridMasterMap on Twitter, has been released. The ranking is determined by the number of grids and DXCC entities activated, taking into account only those grids where a minimum number of QSOs logged on the gridmaster.fr website have been validated by a third party. Grid numbers do not directly reflect the exact number of activations. Satellite operators are encouraged to upload their LoTW satellite contacts to https://gridmaster.fr in order to provide more accurate data. Updated: 2023-11-06 1 ND9M 26 UT1FG 51 AD7DB 76 YU0W 2 NJ7H 27 KE4AL 52 KE9AJ 77 W8LR 3 N5UC 28 LU5ILA 53 JL3RNZ 78 VE3GOP 4 JA9KRO 29 KI7UNJ 54 VE1CWJ 79 OE3SEU 5 DL6AP 30 VE3HLS 55 KM4LAO 80 CU2ZG 6 WI7P 31 KB5FHK 56 N4UFO 81 N0TEL 7 HA3FOK 32 LA9XGA 57 SM3NRY 82 K0FFY 8 N9IP 33 DL2GRC 58 VK5DG 83 KB2YSI 9 WY7AA 34 N7AGF 59 KI7QEK 84 KJ7NDY 10 N6UA 35 F4BKV 60 N8RO 85 DL4EA 11 AD0DX 36 XE3DX 61 VA7LM 86 VE6WK 12 W5PFG 37 N6DNM 62 PT2AP 87 PA3GAN 13 K5ZM 38 KE0PBR 63 W1AW 88 AF5CC 14 DP0POL 39 KE0WPA 64 AA8CH 89 HB9GWJ 15 AK8CW 40 JO2ASQ 65 M1DDD 90 VE7PTN 16 AD0HJ 41 K7TAB 66 VE1VOX 91 PT9ST 17 WD9EWK 42 AC0RA 67 VA3VGR 92 DK9JC 18 ON4AUC 43 W7WGC 68 XE1ET 93 JM1CAX 19 KG5CCI 44 PR8KW 69 FG8OJ 94 KG4AKV 20 ND0C 45 JK2XXK 70 KI7UXT 95 VO2AC 21 KX9X 46 EA4NF 71 PT9BM 96 LW2DAF 22 DJ8MS 47 AA5PK 72 LU4JVE 97 KI0KB 23 F5VMJ 48 EB1AO 73 DF2ET 98 N6UTC 24 N5BO 49 SP5XSD 74 WA9JBQ 99 KC7JPC 25 K8BL 50 F4DXV 75 N4DCW 100 A41ZZ [ANS thanks @GridMasterMap for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for November 17, 2023 Two Line Elements or TLEs, often referred to as Keplerian elements or keps in the amateur community, are the inputs to the SGP4 standard mathematical model of spacecraft orbits used by most amateur tracking programs. Weekly updates are completely adequate for most amateur satellites. TLE bulletin files are updated daily in the first hour of the UTC day. New bulletin files will be posted immediately after reliable elements become available for new amateur satellites. More information may be found at https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/. The following satellite has been removed from this week's AMSAT-NA TLE distribution: DO-64 NORAD Cat ID 32789 Decayed from orbit on or about 14 November 2023. The following satellite has been renamed: SO-120 NORAD Cat ID 56992 Renamed after AMSAT Oscar designation. [ANS thanks AMSAT Orbital Elements page for the above information] -------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS NEWS Amateurs and others around the world may listen in on contacts between amateurs operating in schools and allowing students to interact with astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station. The downlink frequency on which to listen is 145.800 MHz worldwide. + Recently Completed New Heights School & Learning Services, Calgary, AB, Canada, telebridge via IK1SLD The ISS callsign was OR4ISS The scheduled crewmember was Andreas Mogensen, KG5GCZ The ARISS mentor was VE6JBJ Contact was successful: Fri 2023-11-17 17:06:13 UTC + Upcoming Contacts National Research Nizhny Novgorod State University, Nizhny, Novgorod, Russia, direct via TBD The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS The scheduled crewmember is Konstantin Borisov The ARISS mentor is RV3DR Contact is go for Wed 2023-11-22 16:40 UTC The crossband repeater continues to be active (145.990 MHz up {PL 67} & 437.800 MHz down). If any crewmember is so inclined, all they have to do is pick up the microphone, raise the volume up, and talk on the crossband repeater. So give a listen, you just never know. The packet system is also active (145.825 MHz up & down). As always, if there is an EVA, a docking, or an undocking; the ARISS radios are turned off as part of the safety protocol. 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. The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html [ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Upcoming Satellite Operations A growing number of satellite rovers are currently engaged in sharing their grid square activations on https://hams.at. By visiting the website, you gain easy access to comprehensive information about the operators responsible for activating specific grid squares. Additionally, you have the ability to assess the match score between yourself and a particular rover for a given pass, while also being able to identify the upcoming satellite passes that are accessible from your location. [ANS thanks Ian Parsons, K5ZM, AMSAT rover page manager, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events. + 40th Anniversary Celebration of the Positive Impact of Amateur Radio on Human Spaceflight Thursday February 22nd through Saturday February 24th, 2024 Center for Space Education: Astronauts Memorial Foundation Kennedy Space Center, M6-306 405 State Road, FL 32899 https://www.ariss.org/overview.html [ANS thanks the AMSAT Events page for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition? Get your AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff from our Zazzle store! 25% of the purchase price of each product goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Satellite Shorts From All Over + Congratulations to Alan Bowker, WA6DNR, for being awarded GridMaster Award # 62! This prestigious award, introduced by Star Comm Group in 2014 and sponsored by Damon Runion, WA4HFN, and Rick Tillman, WA4NVM, is now entrusted to AMSAT for the benefit of the entire AMSAT community. The GridMaster Award recognizes amateurs worldwide who establish two-way communication via amateur satellite with operators in all 488 Maidenhead grids in the contiguous United States of America. More information about this award can be found on the AMSAT website at https://www.amsat.org/gridmaster/. Well done on this remarkable achievement Alan! (ANS thanks Bruce Paige, KK5DO, AMSAT Director of Contests and Awards for the above information) + The SETI Institute has received a $200 million philanthropic gift from the estate of Franklin Antonio, N6NKF, co-founder of Qualcomm and a long-time supporter of SETI's work. AMSAT members likely recognize Antonio as the author of the Instant Track orbital tracking software, sold by AMSAT for many years. Phil Karn, KA9Q, notes that Antonio's personal involvement as an engineering consultant significantly advanced the SETI Institute's efforts in the few years he was engaged. The funding will boost initiatives such as postdoctoral fellowships, global research expansion, educational programs, and innovative observational technologies, impacting all domains of SETI research. Antonio's legacy is expected to provide lasting financial stability and foster new partnerships for the Institute, founded in 1984 to explore the origins of life and intelligence in the universe. (ANS thanks Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, and SETI for the above information) + Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and its spin-off, SpaceIn Sdn Bhd, launched Malaysia's first pico satellite, named SpaceANT-D, from the Vandenberg Space Force Base using SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket. The 5cm-wide cube satellite follows the PocketQube standard, intended for universities involved in space science within low earth orbit constellations. Deployed on the Alba Orbital deployer, SpaceANT-D is scheduled to enter orbit in the next 2 to 14 days, transmitting signals to an earthbound station. Developed in collaboration with the Malaysian Amateur Radio Transmitters’ Society, the satellite aims to demonstrate data storage and transmission for Internet of Things (IoT) applications. SpaceIn CEO Dr. Norilmi Amilia Ismail highlighted the potential for cost reductions in small satellite usage, providing diverse opportunities in industries like agriculture, forestry, and oil and gas. Supported by an accelerator program from TERAJU and funds from CRADLE, this project contributes to the establishment of a satellite data center at USM. (ANS thanks Sharil Abdul Rahman, writing for SoyaCincau, for the above information) + Virgin Galactic celebrated its fifth commercial flight on November 2nd as its VSS Unity space plane soared into sub-orbit, marking the sixth such flight for the reusable craft in the past half-year. The mission, dubbed Galactic 05, aimed to fulfill the company's goal of a monthly flight and served as a research mission carrying scientists Kellie Gerardi and Alan Stern, along with an undisclosed third passenger. Gerardi, a mission operations lead for Palantir Technologies, conducted experiments in fluid dynamics, human biometrics, and glucose monitoring to advance healthcare protocols in microgravity. Alan Stern, principal investigator of NASA’s New Horizons mission, focused on physiological performance experiments in microgravity. After reaching an altitude of over 44,000 feet, VSS Unity separated from its mothership, VSS Eve, and traveled approximately 50 miles higher into space before successfully gliding back down to Spaceport America in New Mexico. Virgin Galactic's CEO, Michael Colglazier, expressed the company's commitment to space-based research, emphasizing their dedication to scientific discovery, while the positive outcome saw Virgin Galactic's shares surge by 11.4 percent. (ANS thanks David Ariosto, writing for Parabolic Arc, for the above information) + Discovery Dish is a lightweight 65-cm aluminum satellite dish for real-time weather data reception, priced at $100. It's designed for various weather satellites operating at 1.69 GHz and features a built-in LNA and filter, minimizing noise figure loss. The Qorvo QPL9547 amplifier boosts weak signals. The prototype will be replaced by a neater version after crowdfunding. The dish is versatile, supporting radio astronomy with a 1.42 GHz hydrogen line feed and Inmarsat feed for signals in the 1525 - 1559 MHz bands. Its lightweight design makes it suitable for light-duty antenna rotators, and cabling is simplified. Discovery Dish is compatible with open-source software for satellite decoding. Future plans include tutorials and a lightweight antenna rotator. Comparisons highlight its advantages in price, size, and suitability for a rotator. Manufacturing involves crowdfunding, stamping molds, and production of PCB feeds. Mouser Electronics handles fulfillment. Additional information can be found at https://www.crowdsupply.com/krakenrf/discovery-dish. (ANS thanks Crowd Supply for the above information) --------------------------------------------------------------------- Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/ In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to: * Societies (a recognized group, clubs or organization). * Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. * Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. * Memberships are available for annual and lifetime terms. Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional membership information. 73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space! This week's ANS Editor, Mitch Ahrenstorff, ADØHJ ad0hj [at] amsat.org

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