AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-105
The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and infor- mation service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites.
The news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it.
Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor at amsat.org.
In this edition:
* Martlesham Microwave Roundtable on BATC Video Stream (April 15) * Satellite tracking software for Mac * Delft University of Technology Delfi-PQ PocketQube Receives IARU Coordination * What is a Lilac Doing in Space? * AMSAT-UK Colloquium 2018 Call for Speakers * Intercosmos - 40th year of international human flights - SSTV Award * AMSAT Plans Hamvention Rollout for 2018 "Getting Started" Satellite Book * AMSAT Rover Award Certificate * MiniTiouner-Express Receiver Assembly for ISS HamTV 2.395 GHz Downlink * ARISS News * Satellite Shorts From All Over
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-105.01 ANS-105 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 105.01 From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. April 15, 2018 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-105.01
Here is a news item which is more timely released sooner than the weekend news cycle ... some of their topics and techniques seem applicable to future satellites ... microwave construction, SDR, GNUradio ...
AMSAT-UK relayed that the UKGHZ Martlesham Microwave Roundtable Sunday [April 15] talks will be streamed live on BATCOnline: https://beta.batc.org.uk/live/mmrt
The Sunday programe will streamed live. The times are apparently British Summer Time which I believe is UTC+1 this time of year.
Their programe includes: 09:00 Doors Open 09:50 Welcome and Opening 10:00 UK Microwave Group AGM, Trophy Presentations 10:45 Refreshments & Judging of the Construction Contest 11:00 An introduction to SDRs and GNU Radio - Heather Lomond M0HMO 11:45 Aircraft Scatter using Airscout - John Quarmby G3XDY 12:30 Lunch Break 13:30 ATV on 5.6, 10 and 24GHz - Dave Crump G8GKQ 14:15 The Wednesday Digifest - John Worsnop G4BAO 15:00 Refreshments 15:15 UKuG Contest Forum - John Quarmby G3XDY 16:00 Close
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information]
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Satellite tracking software for Mac
Dog Park Software is pleased to announce that MacDoppler Version 2.28 has been released.
What's New in this release ? * TS-790A/E driver rewritten (TU IU1KBH). * Added Country names to 2D map. * Added Natural Earth III maps. * Added 2D/3D map snap shots. * VFO steppers improved. (manual page 11) * Delete Mode or Satellite from Modes editor. * 2D Track List check box persistence fixed. * 2D Draw performance improved.
MacDoppler is used around the world by Amateur Radio operators, satellite spotters, educators and commercial customers from CBS News to the International Space Station Amateur Radio Hardware Management program, Delta Telemetry Tracking and Control at Integrated Defence Systems, Florida State University and the CalPoly CubeSat Project.
MacDoppler will provide any level of station automation you need from assisted Doppler Tuning and Antenna Pointing right on up to fully automated Satellite Gateway operation.
MacDoppler features: * Full 2D and 3D OpenGL projection model of earth. * Track List sorted in real-time order of next pass. * Full predictive dead spot crossing so that a pass is never interrupted by the beam heading passing a dead spot. * Speech advisory of next satellite Rise and Maximum Elevation. * Horizon Window shows elevation of upcoming passes on a time line. * Tuning Dial Tracking allows you to tune the downlink from your radio's front panel while MacDoppler automatically adjusts the uplink.
MacDoppler must be registered for some features to work and to work beyond the 15 minute time limit.
This is a free upgrade for all MacDoppler Registered users and can be downloaded from: http://dogparksoftware.com/MacDoppler.html
[ANS thanks Dog Park Software via Southgate ARN for the above information]
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Delft University of Technology Delfi-PQ PocketQube Receives IARU Coordination
Delfi-PQ is an educational PocketQube mission designed by the MSc and BSc students at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. The design of this spacecraft has been carried out as part of their curricula to acquire experience on the field. Students are involved on all the mission phases and they will also participate in operations.
The second goal of this mission is technology demonstration, being this spacecraft one of the smallest ever launched belonging to the PocketQube class with a size of 50x50x192 mm. It contains all the required systems to operate in space.
It is one of the first PocketQubes to be launched and it is the cornerstone for a series of PocketQubes from TU Delft with the aim to iteratively advance the platform to enable ambitious scientific objectives with networks of PocketQubes in the future.
Delfi-PQ mainly focusses to demonstrate a reliable core system (comprising a power system, a communication system, an attitude control system and an on-board computer). Furthermore, it will host a few small-scale experiments which can be used for technology research.
These experiments are related to future propulsion, more advanced attitude control, navigation, thermal analysis and control. The orbital life time of Delfi-PQ is currently foreseen to be very short (only up to 150 days due to the low orbit of deployment). This will ensure the spacecraft cannot contribute to the space debris problem and also it will occupy its assigned frequency band for a very short time, preventing spectrum pollution.
The demonstration of the core spacecraft and its experiments is expected to take all the mission time, till deployment. The communi- cation system, in particular, will be tested and the support of amateurs will also be important.
AX.25 will be used worldwide to deliver telemetry. The protocol was selected due to the widespread community around the world that make already use of such a standard. A mode using advanced communication protocol, using forward error correction, will be tested upon command (and so receivable over Europe). This new protocol is decoded by the provided decoding software. The decoding software will enable radio amateurs to help estimating the performance of the receiver in different conditions with statistics transmitted back to a central server
In order to provide a return favor to the radio amateur community for the use of the frequency bands, this mission will publish all the instructions for satellite reception and telemetry decoding. A decoding application will also be provided to radio-amateurs around the world before launch to allow easy decoding with standard hardware. This application will also be used to submit the received frames to a central repository. The contribution from radio amateurs in receiving the data will greatly enhance the mission.
To make it more exciting to participating radio amateurs, several challenges will be organized. Examples of challenges are thereception of the first and the last frame. In particular, the first received frame will be important for the team to assess the status of health of the spacecraft. The submitter will receive a prize for it.
Since the satellite will be deployed to only 350 km and the foreseen operational lifetime is equal to the orbital life time, it will be very interesting to monitor its deorbiting process. Next to this, the number of received frames and the global distribution will also lead to the definition of several challenges. All challenges will have some small prize and achievement certificate associated with it.
A UHF downlink on 436.650 MHz has been coordinated by the IARU. The transmission protocol will be GMSK at up to 19k2 bps. Planned for a launch on a Vector rocket from Kodiak Alaska in August 2018 with other PocketQubes.
More information available on: http://delfispace.nl The IARU coordination announcement can be accessed at: http://www.amsatuk.me.uk/iaru/finished_detail.php?serialnum=605
[ANS thanks the IARU and AMSAT-UK for the above information]
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What is a Lilac Doing in Space?
Student Built LilacSat-1's Success with an Amateur Radio
Mission LilacSat-1 accomplished, according to the reports from the students at the Harbin Institute of Technology.
The student built LilacSat-1 carries an amateur radio 145/436 MHz FM to Codec2-BPSK digital voice transponder, APRS Digipeater and camera.
The satellite was developed at the Harbin Institute of Technology and is part of the QB50 mission which aims to study the lower thermosphere. It was deployed from the International Space Station at 0835 GMT on Thursday, May 25, 2017.
Shortly after deployment LilacSat-1 took a picture of the solar panels on the ISS. The image was downloaded by the students on 436.510 MHz +/- 10 kHz Doppler Shift using 9600 bps BPSK.
The FM to Codec2-BPSK transponder was activated late afternoon GMT on Thursday, May 25:
FM Uplink 145.985 MHz with 67 Hz CTCSS (PL Tone) Codec2 9600 bps BPSK Downlink 436.510 MHz
The first contact using the Codec2 transponder took place on May 31 between Mike Rupprecht DK3WN and John Grant GI7UGV http://www.dk3wn.info/p/?p=79889
LilacSat-1 radio information is at https://tinyurl.com/ANS105-LilacSatRadioInfo
Adam Whitney K0FFY has documented how to receive the LilacSat-1 Codec2 Digital Voice transponder using the FUNcube Dongle Pro+ SDR http://adamwhitney.net/working-lilacsat-1/
M6SIG live CD for LilacSat 1 and 2 http://chertseyradioclThe main payload is an ion and neutral particle mass spectrometer (INMS) developed by the University of London (UCL) to measure the mass and distribution of charged and neutral atoms.
LilacSat-1 signal received by JA0CAW
In preparation for the deployment HIT students installed new VHF and UHF antennas for the ground station.
Harbin Institute of Technology Amateur Radio Club BY2HIT http://www.by2hit.net/ http://weibo.com/by2hit/ http://www.qsl.net/by2hit/ https://www.qrz.com/db/BY2HIT
LilacSat-1 page (use Google translator) http://lilacsat.hit.edu.cn/?page_id=143
QB50 LilacSat-1 information https://upload.qb50.eu/detail/CN02/
IARU information http://www.amsatuk.me.uk/iaru/finished_detail.php?serialnum=343
Keplerian Two Line Elements (TLEs) 'Keps' for new satellites launched in past 30 days https://tinyurl.com/ANS105-LiliacSatTLE
Lilacsat 1 and 2 decoder now available on Experimental Raspberry Pi (3) image with GNU radio / gr-lilacsat https://tinyurl.com/ANS105-LiliacSatDecoder
LilacSat-1 Codec2 downlink by Daniel Estévez EA4GPZ / M0HXM http://destevez.net/2016/10/lilacsat-1-codec-2-downlink/
Updated LilacSat-1 Live CD from M6SIG latest link at https://tinyurl.com/ANS105-LilacSatLiveCD
[ANS thanks Jill Durfee and Satnews for the above information]
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AMSAT-UK Colloquium 2018 Call for Speakers
This is a call for speakers for the AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium 2018 which, will be held this year on 13-14 October, in conjunction with the RSGB Convention at Kents Hill Park Conference Centre, Milton Keynes, MK7 6BZ, United Kingdom .
AMSAT-UK invites speakers, to cover topics about Amateur satellites, CubeSats, Nanosats, space and associated activities, for this event.
They are also invited to submit papers for subsequent publishing on the AMSAT-UK web site or in Oscar News.
We appreciate that it is not always possible to give a firm indication of attendance at this stage but expressions of interest would be appreciated.
Submissions should be sent via e-mail to: [email protected]
AMSAT-UK also invite anyone with requests for Program Topics to submit them as soon as possible to G4DPZ. Invitations for any papers on specific subjects will be included in the future call. Likewise if anyone knows of a good speaker, please send contact and other information to G4DPZ.
[ANS thanks Dave, G4DPZ for the above information.]
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Intercosmos - 40th year of international human flights - SSTV Award
Please act now as the deadline is May 15th, 2018.
SSTV from the International Space Station was active April 11-14 worldwide as part of Cosmonautics Day, which takes place on April 12.
Images were related to the Interkosmos project (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interkosmos).
This activity covered most of the world during the operational period.
The images were be transmitted on 145.800 MHz and the mode was PD120.
A special Award has been made available to those posting reception reports.
To obtain the Award one should receive and decode at least one picture during the activity period. The quality of the received image does not have to be perfect, but good enough to identify the picture. Partial images are acceptable.
The award is in electronic format (JPG). It will be sent by e-mail.
The criteria as follows must be met to obtain the Award:
Load your decoded images on the page: www.spaceflightsoftware.com/ARISS_SSTV/index.php
Fill in the application form on https://ariss.pzk.org.pl/sstv/ Please act now as the deadline is May 15th, 2018.
Details and a list of ARISS SSTV Award winning stations are available at: https://ariss.pzk.org.pl/sstv/
[ANS thanks Armand, SP3QFE, for the above information]
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AMSAT Plans Hamvention Rollout for 2018 "Getting Started" Satellite Book
Gould Smith's book, "Getting Started With Amateur Satellites", is being updated to tell you all about how you can get ready to operate through the Fox-1 satellites launching later this year. Additional chapters in the book tell you about tracking software, orbital mechanics, antennas, radios, Doppler tuning, and operating techniques. Chapters are also being added to tell you about the new satellites (and there are many)soon becoming available for amateur radio.
Going beyond brief descriptions in hamfest flyers, this book will provide a complete reference for new satellite users to assemble a basic station and to make your first satellite contacts. Also this book you will teach you how to incrementally upgrade your initial FM satellite station, time and budget permitting, to include automated tracking as well as operating through the CW/SSB linear passband satellites.
A companion Fox Operating Guide reference sheet is ready for release at Hamvention 2018. This will be made available for the AMSAT Ambassadors (formerly FieldOps) team for distribution at hamfests and satellite operating demonstrations.
Watch for the 2018 "Getting Started With Amateur Satellites" book and reference sheet at the AMSAT booth at the Hamvention. The book will also be available in the AMSAT Store shortly after Hamvention: https://www.amsat.org/shop/
[ANS thanks AMSAT's 2018 Hamvention Team for the above information]
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AMSAT Rover Award Certificate
It has been awhile, the voting was in and the certificate has been created. For those that have earned the award, the certificates will be going out to the address in your AMSAT online store order soon.
If you would like to see what the certificate looks like, it is on the AMSAT Rover Award web page.
https://www.amsat.org/amsat-rover
Thanks to everyone that submitted a picture to use on the award.
[ANS thanks Bruce KK5DO for the above information.]
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MiniTiouner-Express Receiver Assembly for ISS HamTV 2.395 GHz Downlink
A receiver suitable for the ARISS/HamTV 2.395 GHz DVB-S downlink from the ISS is now available for purchase. The MiniTiouner-Express receiver/tuner/analyzer assembly is a completely assembled and tested unit contained in a small aluminum enclosure about the size of a 2 stack deck of cards.
The DATV-Express group created the design, construction and sale of the Minitiouner-Express receiver. It is used with the free soft- ware by Jean Pierre Courjaud F6DZP. The unit connects between an antenna(s) and a PC computer USB2 or USB3 port using the Windows 7, 8 or 10 operating system. It receives DVB-S/S2 144MHz to 2420MHz digital television signals for symbol rates between 100K and 10M symbols/sec when used with the F6DZP MiniTioune software.
In operation, the computer monitor displays the received video and graphic landing dot constellation to show the incoming signal level, quality, FEC, MER and setup information.
The MiniTiouner-Express Receiver/Analyzer unit can be ordered from the http://www.datv-express.com/ website. You need to first logon to the website (or first register if you are a new user). Use the PURCHASE A PRODUCT tab to order the product via PayPal.
The price for the MiniTiouner-Express unit is US$75 + shipping Shipping for USA is US$7.00 Shipping to the European Union is US$24.00 including the VAT Shipping anywhere international is US$35.00 Although initial stock has been depleted more units are on the way.
The MiniTiouner-Express User Guide (draft13) can be downloaded from http://www.datv-express.com/CustomPage/Downloads
Information about the ARISS HamTV project can be found at: http://www.ariss-eu.org/columbus/ham-video
The HamTV downlink from the ISS has recently only been active for selected school contacts. HamTV often transmits a "blank signal" useful for receiver and antenna testing when not in use for school contacts.
[ANS thanks Daniel Cussen, EI9FHB via the [email protected] list for the above information]
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ARISS News
+ A Successful contact was made between Pinson Valley HS, Pinson, AL, USA and Astronaut Ricky Arnold KE5DAU using Callsign NA1SS. The contact began 2018-04-10 18:02 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was Direct via KN4BBD ARISS Mentor was John K4SQC.
+ A Successful contact was made between About Gagarin from space Session of radio amateur communication with Vologda branch of PJSC "Rostelecom ", Vologda, Russia and Cosmoonaut Oleg Artemyev using Callsign RS0ISS. The contact began 2018-04-10 13:37 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was Direct via RN1QC, ARISS Mentor was Sergey RV3DR.
+ A Successful contact was made between Freeport Public Schools, Freeport, NY, USA and Astronaut Scott Tingle KG5NZA using Callsign OR4ISS. The contact began 2018-03-27 17:41 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was Telebridge via IK1SLD. ARISS Mentor was Steve W2AKK.
Quick list of scheduled contacts and events:
Additional information can be found at http://ariss-sstv.blogspot.com/
Salado Intermediate School, Salado, TX, direct via K5LBJ The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Scott Tingle KG5NZA Contact is a go for: Tue 2018-04-17 16:44:23 UTC 24 deg
Central Islip Union Free School District, Central Islip, NY, direct via KD2IFR The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Ricky Arnold KE5DAU Contact is a go for: Wed 2018-04-18 15:57:46 UTC 28 deg The school will be hosting an ARISS contact on Wednesday April 18 at 15:57:46 UTC. The video stream of the contact will be available online.
King's High School, Warwick, UK, direct via GB4KHS The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS The scheduled astronaut is Ricky Arnold KE5DAU Contact is a go for: Thu 2018-04-19 12:05:19 UTC 72 deg
Russian school TBD The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS The scheduled astronaut is Alexander Skvortsov Contact is a go for Tue 2018-04-24 11:05 UTC
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS The scheduled astronaut is Alexander Skvortsov Contact is a go for 2018-04-25 08:35 UTC
[ANS thanks ARISS, Charlie AJ9N and David AA4KN for the above information]
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Satellite Shorts From All Over
+ Video playlist for PocketQube 2018 Workshop at TU Delft
https://tinyurl.com/ANS105-PocketQube
[AMSAT-UK and AlbaOrbital via Twitter]
+ 7X3WPL Sahara DX Club
7X3WPL is now QRV permanently from Sahara DX Club in Laghouat. They are using a Kenwood TS-2000, G5500 rotor and Wimo X-Quad for 2m and 70cm. (via Abdel M0NPT /7X2TT on amsat-bb)
[ANS thanks Sahara DX Club for above information]
+ The March/April 2018 edition of Apogee View, an update on AMSAT's activities from AMSAT President Joe Spier, K6WAO, has been posted to the AMSAT website.
https://www.amsat.org/apogeeview/
[ANS thanks Paul N8HM for the above information.]
+ NASA e-Book Free Download
The flight directors in charge of the teams that oversee its systems have written a 400-page book that offers an inside look at the time and energy the flight control team at the Mission Control Center at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston devote to the development, planning and integration of a mission.
"The International Space Station: Operating an Outpost in the New Frontier", is now available to download for free at https://www.nasa.gov/connect/ebooks/index.html.
Additional details are available at: https://preview.tinyurl.com/ANS105-BookDetails
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/EX
In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive addi- tional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office.
Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the stu- dent rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership information.
73, This week's ANS Editor, EMike McCardel, AA8EM aa8em at amsat dot org