AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-090

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: * AO-51 Schedule - April 2008 * Satellite Demo Videos * AMSAT Awards * AMSAT Room Block at Dayton * KiwiSAT Update * ARISS Status - 24 March 2008

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-090.01 AO-51 Schedule - April 2008

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 090.01 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. March 30, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-090.01

The first week of April, AO-51 exits full illumination and our power budget will shrink considerably. The length of the eclipses will increase throughout the month, and we'll have to closely monitor our power situation. The schedule reflects this, as the BBS will be active throughout the first two weeks of the month. Additionally all AO-51 transmitters will be shut off on March 31st for a special Whole Orbit Data collection before full illumination ends.

As the month progresses we will schedule some time with the L/U BBS switched to a L/U repeater on an "as available" basis. Watch the webpage and ANS for announcements with further details.

April 2008 AO-51 Schedule

March 31 until April 30, subject to modification

March 31

All Transmitters OFF for WOD collection

April 1 - April 13

FM Repeater, V/U Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM, NO PL Tone Downlink: 435.300 MHz FM

9k6 Digital L/U BBS and Telemetry Uplink: 1268.700 MHz FM Downlink: 435.150 MHz FM

April 14 - April 30

FM Repeater, V/U Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM, NO PL Tone Downlink: 435.300 MHz FM

9k6 Digital L/U BBS and Telemetry -- OR -- FM Repeater as available (exact dates to be announced) Uplink: 1268.700 MHz FM Downlink: 435.150 MHz FM

The AO-51 Operations Group is made up of AMSAT Members who are also AO-51 users. The Operations Group works with the Command Team to create the monthly schedule for the satellite.

AO-51 Echo Mode Suggestion Email Address: [email protected]

73 KO4MA For AO-51 Operations Group (KO4MA, WD9EWK/VA7EWK, N8MH, OZ1MY, VK5HI, WA4SXM)

[ANS thanks Drew, KO4MA, for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-090.02 Satellite Demo Videos

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 090.02 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. March 30, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-090.02

Robert Davies, KI4HXT, has produced a Windows media video showing how to work AO-27. Dave Jordan, AA4KN does the actual satellite demonstration during the 2008 Orlando Hamcation. Dave describes the Doppler shift that will occur during the pass, makes a number of contacts during the pass, then talks about setting up the Kenwood TH-D7A hand held for analog satellite operation. Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA was doing a simultaneous demonstration and has a cameo appearance describing the arc of the upcoming pass. This is about a 20 minute video.

Bob McGwier, N4HY also has a video recorded in February that talks about the AMSAT Engineering activities during the next few months. Good information about a number of activities that are taking place this year. This is a 10 minute video.

Videos can be found at http://www.ki4hxt.com/id5.html

Thanks to Robert for hosting these.

We are working on additional videos, stay tuned.

73, Gould, WA4SXM AMSAT VP User Services

[ANS thanks Gould, WA4SXM, for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-090.03 AMSAT Awards

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 090.03 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. March 30, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-090.03

We would like to welcome the following to the satellite community.

They have made their first satellite contact and are now members of the AMSAT Satellite Communicators Club.

Kent Frazier, K5KNT Jay Garlitz, AA4FL

The following have earned the AMSAT Satellite Communication Achievement Award.

Patrick Stoddard, WD9EWK, #459 Francis Geraci, WB1FXX, #460 Jay Garlitz, AA4FL, #461

The following have earned the South Africa AMSAT Satellite Communicaton Award.

Patrick Stoddard, WD9EWK, #US118 Jay Garlitz, AA4FL, #US119

To see all the awards visit http://www.amsat.org or http://www.amsatnet.com

[ANS thanks Bruce, KK5DO, for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-090.04 AMSAT Room Block at Dayton

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 090.04 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. March 30, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-090.04

A reminder that time is running out. Over half the AMSAT room block for Dayton has been reserved. If you are interested in a room, please give me a call at 301-589-6062 between 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM (EDT), Monday-Friday.

[ANS thanks Martha for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-090.05 KiwiSAT Update

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 090.05 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. March 30, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-090.05

KiwiSAT will now carry an additional special beacon which, it is planned, will be used by radio amateurs around the world to collect data on atmospheric aberrations to assist with finite information collection directly associated with Global Warming concerns and Carbon Balance monitoring.

Details have yet to be finalized however the KiwiSAT structure has been modified to incorporate a second 70cm monopole mounted on the Z- face. A high level of filtering has been incorporated to minimize any desensitizing of the on-board 70 cm receivers. The operation of the beacon will be switched as required but will normally be ON for whole orbit data collection.

The KiwiSAT linear flight transponder is currently transmitting from the Whangaparaoa area with beam antennas pointing South.

Transponder is inverting type to compensate for Doppler shift when in orbit. * Transmit Power is 2 Watts PEP. * Beacon frequency is 145.885 MHz * Uplink is from 435.265 to 435.235 MHZ LSB (note the sideband) * Down link is from 145.850 to 145.880 MHz USB A test transmission on 435.2544 LSB came out at 145.860 USB.

As it's a linear transponder 30kHz wide, any mode can be used, but FM is discouraged (but not banned). Amateur stations are encouraged to try out the transponder. Try to better the previous distance of record of 292 km previously achieved with the prototype transponder (same location/antenna).

Reports welcome to < amsat-zl(at)kiwisat.org >

[ANS thanks AMSAT-ZL for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-090.06 ARISS Status - 24 March 2008

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 090.06 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. March 30, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-090.06

1. Upcoming School Contacts

Shanghai Youth Centre of Science and Technology Education in Xuhui, Shanghai, China has been scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Tuesday, April 1 at 08:10 UTC. The Centre is an after school educational facility that educates teenagers in science and technology. It has its own radio club, callsign BY4AY, which focuses on educating students in science and radio communications and in fabricating electronic toys.

2. Shukor Crew Debrief Scheduled

An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) crew debrief was scheduled for Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, 9W2MUS, on Tuesday, March 25. The spaceflight participant performed 5 contacts with Malaysian school children while onboard the ISS in October 2007.

3. Garriott to Participate in ARISS Contacts

Space Adventures has posted an article covering the educational activities that Richard Garriott, W5KWQ, has planned while he is onboard the International Space Station. Inspiring children at the Challenger Learning Centers and taking part in amateur radio contacts are among the activities in which he plans to participate. See: http://www.spaceadventures.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=news.viewnews&newsid...

4. Amateur Radio Stations in Colorado Air and Space Museum

In promoting education, science and technology, Wings over the Rockies Air and Space Museum in Denver, Colorado has included amateur radio stations in its Avionics display and efforts are well under way in setting up a station, callsign K0WAR, in the International Space Station module exhibit. See: http://wings.rmhcn.org/

5. ARISS International Team Meeting Held

The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) monthly teleconference was held on Tuesday, March 18. Topics of discussion included the upcoming Moscow meeting, the ARISS nominating committee and SuitSat-2. Minutes have been posted. See: http://www.rac.ca/ariss/arisstel2008-03-18.htm [ANS thanks Carol, KB3LKI, 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. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office.

73, This week's ANS Editor, Lee McLamb, KU4OS ku4os at amsat dot org