AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-268
ANS is a free, weekly, news and information service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS 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.
Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: [email protected]
In this edition:
* Invitation to Participate in the ARISSat-1/KEDR Operations Survey * Frank Bauer, KA3HDO Retires From NASA After 36 Years * AO-51 to support 54th Jamboree On The Air October 15-16, 2011 * Symposium Reminders! * Portable Satellite Operations Qualify for Reverse-VUCC Award * Mobile Satellite Operation From Island of Skye On-The-Air Now * AMSAT Member N8MS in Newspaper Feature With Students * Special Event NW2C 911 Portable Satellite Station Video Posted * Satellite Shorts From All Over
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-268.01 Invitation to Participate in the ARISSat-1/KEDR Operations Survey
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 268.01
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
September 25, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-268.01
Steven Bible, N7HPR says that the ARISSat-1 Team has put together a survey on ARISSat-1 operations. Please take a few minutes to answer the questions at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/arissat1-operation. The survey results will be posted to the Official ARISSat-1 website: http://www.arissat1.org.
Meanwhile, Alan Biddle says the ARISSat-1/KEDR Team is still looking for entries in the Chicken Little Contest. This involves your prognos- tications/calculations/guesses/darts-in-the-calendar submissions for when ARRISSat-1/KEDR makes its final orbit. We have a fair number of submissions from all over the world from adults, but very few from students. If you know of one who might be interested, encourage them to enter. The details are here: http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/ARISSat/ARISSatContest
While it is not going to receive the coverage of UARS, the closest submissions in each category will be recognized. Right now, the deadline is the 15th of October, though since ARISSat-1 is "floating like a butterfly" that MIGHT get extended.
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SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-268.02 Frank Bauer, KA3HDO Retires From NASA After 36 Years
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 268.02
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
September 25, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-268.02
After an illustrious 36 year career with NASA, Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, has retired from the agency.
In his farewell note to his colleagues, Bauer said that for someone who dreamed about space exploration as a very young child and start- ed at NASA when the Apollo program was in its twilight, it has been truly a pleasure to spend over 3 decades developing and operating systems as part of the NASA team. Bauer said that he has had what he called a phenomenal time contributing to countless Human and Robotic spacflight missions, flight tests, technology experiments, pioneering systems, studies, formulations and on-orbit operations activities as well as numerous agency-level, U.S. Government and international strategies and initiatives.
In addition to his job with NASA, KA3HDO, had a parallel volunteer career as one of the leaders of the manned Amateur Radio in Space program. Among his many achievements was taking manned ham radio operations on-orbit from the now retired space shuttles under the SAREX operation over to the International Space Station and into the ARISS program.
Bauer, who stepped down from ARISS and AMSAT duties in March of 2009, had served as ARISS Program Leader and ARISS International Working Group Chair. Since 1991, he had also held the title of AMSAT Vice President for Human Spaceflight Programs.
In May of 2009 Bauer was presented with the ARRL President's Award for his many contributions to ham radio's part of mans exploration of space.
[ANS thanks the Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1780 - September 23 2011 for the above information]
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SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-268.03 AO-51 to support 54th Jamboree On The Air October 15-16, 2011
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 268.03
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
September 25, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-268.03
The AO-51 Command Team is happy to announce support of the Scouting Jamboree On The Air (JOTA) during the weekend Oct. 15-16, 2011. The AO-51 satellite will remain in its current configuration, with an understanding that contacts involving Scouts will be given first priority during this period.
The current operating mode of AO-51 is as follows:
Uplink: 145.880 MHz FM (No PL tone) Downlink: 435.150 MHz FM
The World Scouting Organization in Switzerland posted JOTA informa- tion on their web: http://tinyurl.com/3rfp2cn (www.scout.org) and http://scout.org/information_events/events/jota/the_54th_jota_2011
Also, visit the World Scouting Radio Library at: http://tinyurl.com/5sz7tf5 (www.scout.org)
The Boy Scouts of America has several resources on-line for amateur radio stations participating in JOTA: http://tinyurl.com/6d93qb7 (Boy Scouts of America www.scouting.org)
[ANS thanks the Scouting Movement and AO-51 Command Team for the above information]
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SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-268.04 Symposium Reminders!
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 268.04
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
September 25, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-268.04
2011 AMSAT Space Symposium Papers Deadline Approaches ----------------------------------------------------- Your papers for the 2011 AMSAT Space Symposium are due by October 1 for inclusion in the printed proceedings. Yes, that's just a couple of weeks from now! Papers should be sent to Dan Schultz, N8FGV, at: [email protected].
Symposium Registration is Now Open ---------------------------------- The 2011 AMSAT Space Symposium will be held on Friday, November 4th through Sunday, November 6th in San Jose, CA. Our annual gathering will feature:
+ Space Symposium with Amateur Satellite Presentations + Operating Techniques, News, & Plans from the Amateur Satellite World + Board of Directors Meeting open to AMSAT members (Nov. 3-4) + Meet Board Members and Officers + Annual General Membership Meeting + Annual Banquet-Keynote Speaker and Door Prizes
The 2011 Symposium hotel and registration web pages are now available on the AMSAT web site. You may register for the Symposium and Annual Banquet at the AMSAT Store: http://www.amsat-na.com/store/SymposiumReg.php
Visit the Symposium and Annual General Meeting web page for details and the latest information: http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/symposium/2011/index.php
Symposium Registration including a copy of the Proceedings is: + $50 per person starting September 20, 2011 + $55 per person at the door
The Saturday evening banquet is $45 per person. The Sunday morning Area Coordinator's Breakfast is $15 per person.
Hotel information for the Wyndham San Jose is posted at: http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/symposium/2011/Hotel.php
Martha at the AMSAT Office (Phone: 301-589-6062) is available to be of assistance with any hotel questions or problems with your registration.
[ANS thanks the 2011 Symposium Committee for the above information]
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SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-268.05 Portable Satellite Operations Qualify for Reverse-VUCC Award
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 268.05
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
September 25, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-268.05
The Central States VHF Society has updated their website to reflect applications for VUCC-r, Reverse VUCC.
This award is given to those who have operated via satellites in more than 100 grids away from their home grid.
The rules require that applicants submit proof of contacts made from these away from home grids. So if you work someone signing "portable" (meaning they are operating away from home), please remember to in- clude your grid as well as the grid they were operating from on your QSL. You can read all the details on-line at: http://www.csvhfs.org/vuccdesc.html
There are now four operators who have achieved VUCC-r distinction: N7SFI-200 grids, N5AFV-109 grids, ND9M-325 grids, and KD4ZGW-100 grids.
[ANS thanks John, K8YSE and CSVHFS for the above information]
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SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-268.06 Mobile Satellite Operation From Island of Skye On-The-Air Now
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 268.06
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
September 25, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-268.06
Paul, 2E1EUB will be active on satellites as 2M1EUB, depending on the weather, from the Island of Skye in western Scotland beginning on Sept- ember 24 for one week. This will be from grid IO67vj.
During Paul's second week of mobile satellite operations he plans to operate from the eastern side of Scotland.
Paul advises that mobile/portable internet coverage is spotty in these locations but he will attempt access occasionally. He has posted more informaion on his 2M1EUB information at http://www.qrz.com
[ANS thanks Paul, 2E1EUB for the above information]
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SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-268.07 AMSAT Member N8MS in Newspaper Feature With Students
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 268.07
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
September 25, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-268.07
Matt Severin, N8MS, principal of Dowagiac Middle School in Michigan, took some of his students outside to track and listen to the satel- lite ARISSat-1 on Tuesday, September 13.
Two years earlier, Severin, then principal of Sister Lakes Elemen- tary School, had a picture taken of the students and submitted it to be flown on ARISSat.
On Tuesday, the students were able to track the satellite, listen to greetings in several languages and receive telemetry as well as SSTV (Slow Scan Television) images with a goal to promote STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). The Daily News posted a story on this activity: http://tinyurl.com/3z39yst (www.dowagiacnews.com)
Matt is also an instructor in the ARRL Teacher Institute and has helped several other educators bring STEM education, based on ama- teur radio and satellites, into their classroom.
Student submissions for ARISSat were stored on a memory chip that was attached to ARISSat-1 and are flying along with the craft as it orbits the Earth. The student projects and photos can all be viewed ARISS Europe web site at: http://www.ariss-eu.org/arissat-1.htm
[ANS thanks the ARISS Status Report and Carol, KB3LKI for the above information]
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SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-268.08 Special Event NW2C 911 Portable Satellite Station Video Posted
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 268.08
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
September 25, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-268.08
Pete, WB2OQQ operated a portable satellite station on September 11 using the call NW2C, at Historic Fort Totten, located in Bayside New York, only a few miles from ground zero. Fort Totten was one of many placed used in recovery and healing during 911.
Pete operated all available FM satellite passes that day. For those that made a confirmed satellite contact and wish to receive a Certifi- cate of Confirmation, visit: http://www.nw2c.org/911.html.
A video tribute is posted at: http://vimeo.com/29077529
[ANS thanks Pete, WB2OQQ for the above information]
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SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-268.09 Satellite Shorts From All Over
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 268.09
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
September 25, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-268.09
+ Videos and slides from the Summer CubeSat Developers' Workshop, held August 6-7 at the 25th Annual AIAA/USU Conference on Small Satellites, are now available for download: http://tinyurl.com/3sgnrn3 (AMSAT-UK)
+ The well publicized re-entry of the UARS satellite may have al- ready occurred at press time. An interesting video simulation of the re-entry can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5laK2JopaVE&feature=player_embedded
+ An interesting article about three recently declassified American spy satellites can be read at: http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1109/19nrodeclassified/
+ The NASA Education Express Message for September 22, 2011 reports that registration is open for the Team America Rocketry Challenge 2012. This a national model rocket competition for U.S. students in grades 7-12. Teams of three to 10 students are challenged to design, build and fly a model rocket that will climb to 800 feet with a payload of two raw eggs and stay aloft for 43 to 47 seconds. The payload must then return to earth unbroken. Cash prizes are awarded to the top finishers. NASA invites top teams to participate in their Student Launch Initiative, an advanced rocketry program. Participation is limited to the first 1,000 teams who register by November 30, 2011. For more information, visit: http://www.rocketcontest.org/
+ The dates for the next Hudson Valley Satcom nets are September 29, October 13, and October 27 at 8:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time (UTC - 4). You can tune in via the 146.970 MHz Mt. Beacon repeater, PL 100.0 or via EchoLink on the N2EYH-L node. More info is available at: http://www.hvsatcom.org (Stu, WA2BSS)
+ A new video from NASA's Dawn spacecraft takes you on a flyover jour- ney above the surface of the giant asteroid Vesta. The data obtained by Dawn's framing camera, used to produce the visualizations, will help scientists determine the processes that formed Vesta's striking features. It will also help Dawn mission fans all over the world vis- ualize this mysterious world, which is the second most massive object in the main asteroid belt. The video and article is posted at: http://tinyurl.com/3tn932m (science.nasa.gov)
+ NASA has made historic and interesting sounds and sound bites from space missions available for download as ringtones or on your computer for events, errors, alarms and notifications. These are available in both MP3 and M4R (iPhone) files. To listen to and download the sounds, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/connect/sounds The NASA App for Android allows users to easily preview and set the sounds as ringtones can be found at: https://market.android.com/details?id=gov.nasa
+ Radio-Electronics.com provides concise guides, information, tutor- ials and data about radio frequency, RF, technology and RF design on their Radio Frequency, RF, Technology and Design pages at: http://www.radio-electronics.com/info/rf-technology-design
[ANS thanks everyone 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 additional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office. And with that, please keep in mind the ham who discovered that a positive attitude may not solve all his problems, but it certainly annoyed enough people to make it worth his effort.
73, This week's ANS Editor, JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM K9JKM at amsat dot org