AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-244

************************************************************** *** 2008 AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting *** *** October 24-26 in Atlanta, Georgia *** **************************************************************

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:

ans-editor@amsat.org

In this edition: * Looming Deadline * W4AXX Silent Key * AO-51 Ops * ARISS Status - 28 August 2008

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-244.01 Looming Deadline

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 244.01 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. August 28, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-244.01

Notice to all AMSAT members: The AMSAT Board of Directors Voting is ongoing. It is an important obligation on your part to return your selection for the BOD to AMSAT no later than September 15th. This will insure our election process has fulfilled its terms and conditions for the future of our organization. Read the candidate's background information as has been provided and pick your choice on the ballot. The mailing last July went to all members in good standing. The deadline is only 2 weeks away. Your vote could be the deciding factor.

[ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-244.02 W4XAA Silent Key

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 244.02 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. August 28, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-244.02

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 25, 2008

Popular Communications Senior Editor Tom Kneitel, W4XAA (ex-K2AES), SK

(Hicksville, NY August 25, 2008) -- Radio monitoring icon Tom Kneitel, W4XAA (ex-K2AES), passed away in Florida on August 22 at age 75. He had been in poor health for the past several years. Tom was Senior Editor and founding Editor of Popular Communications magazine, a CQ publication. The grandson of animation pioneer Max Fleischer and son of animator Seymour Kneitel, "Tommy" preferred the print media, writing for Popular Electronics and Electronics Illustrated in the 1950s and '60s. He started the Popular Electronics registered shortwave monitor program, which issued unofficial "WPE" callsigns to active SWLs.

His association with CQ began when he became the founding editor of S9, a CB magazine started by then-CQ publisher Cowan Publishing, Inc. When S9 ceased publication, Kneitel and current CQ Publisher Dick Ross, K2MGA, launched Popular Communications in 1982. Tommy was Editor of Pop'Comm until 1995, when he gave up day-to-day responsibilities for the magazine and became Senior Editor. He served as an advisor and resource to his successors until recently before his passing. He was also the author of a multitude of books on CB, scanning and other radio-related topics.

"It goes without saying that Pop’Comm wouldn’t exist had it not been for the vision and hard work of Tommy Kneitel," says current Popular Communications Editor Edith Lennon, N2ZRW. "In the 13 years he headed this magazine, with great zeal, foresight, and his inimitable humor, he helped shape this hobby of ours and quite possibly an entire industry."

Lennon added, "Personally, I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with him over the years, to have experienced the pure delight of his story-telling abilities, and to have picked up even just a little bit of his vast wealth of knowledge."

"Tommy was a great friend from the early 1960s on," noted CQ Publisher Dick Ross, K2MGA. "He was also the most creative and inventive person I've ever known."

Tommy is survived by his wife of 54 years, Judy, two sons, five daughters and ten grandchildren. Memorial services will be private.

[ANS thanks Rich Moseson, W2VU, for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-244.03 AO-51 Ops

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 244.03 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. Augugst 28, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-244.03

AO-51 Continues to wow the satellite community. It is now being used as a test bed for Earth stations. Since it is being commanded into S downlinks and L uplinks, it's your chance to test out the downconverters and upconverters you've been planning to set up.

"Recently, AO-51 was off the air due to a software glitch. The command team has succesfully reloaded its operational software and as of 8/30/08 has been back in service. Gould, WA4SXM for the A0-51 Command team Kevin, WA6FWF Drew, KO4MA"

You can check the current mode of AO-51 at http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/echo/CTNews.php

If you think a certain mode should be used, contact the command team and make a suggestion. They are always looking for input as well as feedback about satellite ops.

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

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-244.04 ARISS Status August 28, 2008

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 244.04 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. August 28, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-244.04

1. Upcoming School Contacts

Schulehaus Feld 1 in Richterswil, Switzerland has been scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Saturday, August 30 at 13:53 UTC. Telebridge station VK4KHZ in Queensland, Australia will assist with the contact. To prepare for the contact, fifth graders covered the solar system and space in their studies and composed questions during their English classes. The ARISS contact will be part of a large public event covering several aspects of communication. The school will be part of a project involving radio clubs, the army, the fire brigade, rescue teams and many others. Reporters from newspapers, television and radio stations will be on site.

Challenger Learning Center of Lucas County in Oregon, Ohio will participate in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact. This activity is planned for Monday, September 1 at 15:22 UTC. The Center is sponsored by the Lucas County Educational Service Center and is one of over 50 Challenger Learning Centers (CLC) across the U.S., U.K., and Canada as a living memorial to the Challenger Crew. It is housed in a small school building that supports the CLC program, 6 Head Start classes, 2 classes from the Oregon City Schools, and a Regional School Improvement Team office. Schools from across northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan participate in onsite missions. The Center reaches over 3,000 students and 100 teachers each year. A science lab onsite also doubles as a distance learning lab. This lab is also used for summer camp programs.

2. Successful ARISS Contact with Los Padres Scouts

Los Padres Council Troop 105 experienced a successful Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Tuesday, August 19. Greg Chamitoff, KD5PKZ, answered one question from each of ten Scouts. Approximately 100 Scouts, family and friends gathered on the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) astronomy observation deck for the event. There was extensive media coverage of this educational activity and streaming video was available. Photos, video, news articles and press releases have been posted to: http://www.n6kth.com/iss.

3. Challenger Learning Center - ARISS Presentation

The Challenger Center Lead Flight Directors Conference will be held in Wellington, Kansas on August 24 – 28. An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) presentation is scheduled to be given during the conference on August 27. It will cover the ARISS program and the school application process.

4. ARISS International Meeting Held

The monthly Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) teleconference was held on Tuesday, August 19. Topics of discussion included spaceflight participant Richard Garriott, W5KWQ, and his planned activities while onboard the ISS, Russian plans to fly the ISS Ham backup equipment and SuitSat-2 development progress. Minutes have been posted to the ARISS Web site. See: http://www.rac.ca/ariss/arisstel2008-08-19.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, Dee Interdonato, NB2F nb2f at amsat dot org