AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-340
The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and infor- mation service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites.
The news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it.
Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor at amsat.org.
In this edition:
* AMSAT Ground Terminal Development Expands to Texas * AMSAT SKN on OSCAR 2016 In Memory of W2BXA * Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2015-12-02 20:30 UTC * WRC-15 Satellite News * Cubesat by an Elementary School Will be Aboard the Orbital-ATK Cygnus Launch * 73 on 73 Award Recipients
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-340.01 ANS-340 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 340.01 From AMSAT HQ Kensington, MD. December 6, 2015 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-340.01
AMSAT Ground Terminal Development Expands to Texas
Hardware consisting of Ettus Research USRP X300 SDR, USRP B210 SDR, UBX40 USRP Daughterboard, GPDSO Kits, and antennas have been ordered from National Instruments Corp. for delivery to Bill Reed NX5R in Dallas TX to equip a second community for development of the AMSAT Ground Terminals. These terminals will be used for the Phase 4B and other digital/microwave satellites being developed by AMSAT and in partnership with Virginia Tech.
Michelle Thompson W5NYV has been leading the effort in the San Diego CA area, which started up when the P4B project was announced earlier this year. Amateur radio operators in the Southern California area from AMSAT, Palomar Amateur Radio Club, and the San Diego Microwave Society have been implementing a terrestrial system to mimic the ground and space segments of a digital satellite communications link and developing code and hardware techniques for use in the P4B and future HEO opportunities that AMSAT is pursuing. Expanding the system to the Dallas area will allow more collaboration, development, and testing by AMSAT and North Texas Microwave Society amateurs with San Diego and other regions. The investment in equipment and community building will increase the number and quality of ideas in developing this next generation system of amateur radio satellite communications.
Another development system is being planned for the east coast. AMSAT is actively recruiting individuals and groups that want to work together to establish increased regional technical activity in support of satellite service goals. Rick Hambly W2GPS has campaigned for the creation of this very type of activity on the east coast for many years. Successful east-coast expansion will add even more variability and expertise to the project.
By involving amateurs who have expertise in both microwave and digital communications and in varying terrain and conditions, as well as including people with various backgrounds and experience, AMSAT plans to produce a ground terminal that will be useful with a variety of next generation satellites including Phase 4B, Phase 3E, the Heimdallr Lunar Cube Quest CubeSat, and an AMSAT developed HEO CubeSat. These are all projects currently being pursued by the AMSAT Engineering and ASCENT (Advanced Satellite Communications and Exploration of New Technology) Teams.
“The development of a ground terminal along with satellite projects is part of a plan to offer a way for amateurs to buy, build, or access ideas to develop their own ground terminals which will be useful for many future AMSAT satellite mission for years to come” said AMSAT-NA Vice President of Engineering Jerry Buxton, N0JY. “The concept of common uplink (5 GHz) and downlink (10 GHz) frequencies with software defined transponders allows many different experimentation and communications opportunities ranging from simple texting to voice, streaming video, data exchange, and reliable EMCOMM access in remote areas, with bandwidths to support many satellites and users.”
If you are interested in supporting the effort please visit http://ww2.amsat.org/?page_id=1121 to submit a request. While those who live in the San Diego, Dallas, or Maryland areas may find it easier to participate, volunteers from other areas are welcome to join and contribute remotely.
[ANS thanks Jerry, NØJY, for the above information]
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AMSAT SKN on OSCAR 2016 In Memory of W2BXA
You are cordially invited to participate in Straight Key Night on OSCAR 2016, sponsored by AMSAT for all radio amateurs throughout the world.
Operate CW through any amateur satellite from 0001 through 2400 UTC on 1 January 2016, using a manual, non-electronic key. Note that bugs are now allowed, as they are in similar ARRL and SKCC events.
There is no need to send in a log, but please nominate someone you worked for Best Fist. Your nominee need not have the best fist of those you heard, just of those you worked. Send your nomination to [email protected].. A list of those nominated will be published in early February.
This year’s event is being held in memory of Ben Stevenson, W2BXA (1914-2011). Licensed since 1929, Ben was one of the world’s top DXers on both HF and satellites. He led the DXCC Honor Roll for many years, and among his many awards were Satellite DXCC No. 1 and post-war Worked All Zones No. 1. Founding president of the North Jersey DX Association, Ben shared his knowledge and enthusiasm with one and all.
[ANS thanks Ray, W2RS, for the above information]
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Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2015-12-02 20:30 UTC
Quick list of scheduled contacts and events:
Nanasawa Kibounooka Elementary School, Atsugi, Japan, direct via 8N1NKSG The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Kimiya Yui KG5BPH Contact was successful: Wed 2015-12-02 09:33:51 UTC 61 deg
Yayoi Elementary School, Yatomi, Japan, direct via 8N2YAYOI The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Kimiya Yui KG5BPH Contact is a go for: Fri 2015-12-04 09:25:46 UTC 57 deg
Dragonskolan, Umeå, Sweden, telebridge via LU1CGB The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Kjell Lindgren KO5MOS Contact is a go for: Fri 2015-12-04 10:15:01 UTC 72 deg
Ingushetia, Russia, direct via TBD The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS The scheduled astronaut is Sergey Volkov RU3DIS Contact is a go for: Sat 2015-12-05 16:25 UTC
Konstanty Ildefons Galczynski Junior High School, Swietajno, Poland, telebridge via LU1CGB The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Kjell Lindgren KO5MOS Contact is a go for: Tue 2015-12-08 08:19:31 UTC 62 deg
[ANS thanks Charlie, AJ9N, for the above information]
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WRC-15 Satellite News
In his report for Day 16 of the WRC-15 conference Colin Thomas G3PSM says:
Discussions took place on suggested frequency bands for possible new or an upgrade of existing allocations to the space operations service within the frequency ranges 150.05-174 MHz, 400.15-420 MHz [and 420-450 MHz] for short duration satellites.
This potential future agenda item is an attempt to overcome the problem of non-amateur nano- and pico-satellites using the amateur service bands. No decision was reached and the document has been passed to plenary for decision.
More reports about WRC-15 activities can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/blog/category/news/special-focus/wrc-15/
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information
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Cubesat by an Elementary School Will be Aboard the Orbital-ATK Cygnus Launch
NASA will enable the deployment of three small research satellites, or CubeSats, selected through the CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI) for two universities and one primary school as part of the ninth installment of the Educational Launch of Nanosatellite (ELaNa) missions.
Full story at this URL:
http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/ELaNa_IX_mission_launches_first_cubesat_bu... by_elementary_school_students_999.html
[ANS thanks SpaceDaily for the above information]
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73 on 73 Award Recipients
Paul Stoetzer N8HM reports more awards have been issued for contacts made via the AO-73 (FUNcube-1) amateur radio satellite.
The 73 on 73 Award aims to promote activity on AO-73. The requirements are straight-forward:
1. Work 73 unique stations on AO-73. 2. Contacts must be made on or after September 1, 2014. 3. There are no geographic restrictions on your operating location.
The latest recipients are: 20. David D’Aliesio IW0HLG – 31 May 2015 21. Kiyosi Hasegawa JA3FWT – 22 June 2015 22. Mariusz Kocot SQ9MES – 28 June 2015 23. Hector Luis Martinez W5CBF – 12 July 2015 24. George K. Carr II WA5KBH – 17 July 2015 25. Michel Ribot F6GLJ – 18 July 2015 26. Paul Stoetzer N8HM – 21 July 2015 27. Jeffrey Lamb NX9B – 2 August 2015 28. Imre Füzi HA1SE – 13 September 2015 29. Herman Blom PB0AHX – 1 November 2015 30. Joseba Andoni Barrio – 22 November 2015
Full information on how to apply is at http://amsat-uk.org/funcube/73-on-73-award/
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information]
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In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive addi- tional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office.
Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the stu- dent rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership information.
73, This week's ANS Editor, Lee McLamb, KU4OS ku4os at amsat dot org