AMSAT News Service

ANS-007
January 7, 2024

In this edition:

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:

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.

[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 the AMSAT President’s Club today!


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, 2024

VUCC Satellite Award/Endorsement Change Summary
December 01, 2023 to January 01, 2024

Call1-Dec1-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

Call1-Dec1-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!

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.

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-smallsatellite-activity-7103473477138989056-hUNb?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
 
The project was also mentioned in Aviation Week:
https://aviationweek.com/aerospace/commercial-space/cubesats-how-accidental-standard-launched-new-space-age
 
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!
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 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

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:

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

ANS is a service of AMSAT, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, 712 H Street NE, Suite 1653, Washington, DC 20002