For approval-----

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-286

************************************************************** *** 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: * AMSAT Symposium 2 Weeks Away * More info on XW-1 * AMSAT Awards * SSTV on AO-51 * ARISS Status - 12 October 2008

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-286.01 AMSAT Symposium 2 Weeks Away

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 286.01 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. October 12, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-286.01

The AMSAT Symposium is only 2 weeks away. Scheduled in Atlanta this year, there are many new ideas and directions the BOD wants to steer the organization towards. Remember, the BOD meeting is open to the general membership. You can sit in the audience and watch the progress of the BOD as they finalize decisions. The rest of the meeting will include a fine lineup of presentations by those "rocket scientists" we've heard so much about. Talk to the various committee members and ask your important burning questions on your favorite subjects. Saturday night is the Banquet for all to enjoy. Join the fun and sign up at the AMSAT website by following the keys to the symposium forum.

[ANS thanks the 2008 Symposium Committee for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-286.02 More info on XW-1

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 286.02 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. October 12, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-286.02

Here are some details about upcoming Chinese XW-1:

Orbit: Sun Synchronous Orbit Altitude: 499km Inclination: 98 degrees Period: 94 minutes

Weight: 35kg Size: 550mm * 350mm Temperature: -20 to +45C Power: Li ion battery: 16Ah Long-term maximum power: 8W Short-term maximum power: 18W

Payload: Amateur radio payload: 5.2kg Youngster's experiment payload: 1.6kg CMOS camera: 0.2kg

About amateur radio payload: Beacon: 435Mhz, CW 20dBm Linear transponder: RX: 145Mhz, TX: 435Mhz, 40KHz, 30dBm FM Transponder: RX: 145Mhz, TX: 435Mhz, 16KHz, 30dBm Digital store and forward transponder: RX: 145Mhz, TX: 435Mhz, 16KHz,

30dBm

145Mhz RX Antenna: 2dBi, 135 degree, LHCP, unpacked by remote control

after entering the orbit.

435Mhz TX antenna: 2dBi, 135 degree, RHCP, unpacked by remote control

after entering the orbit.

[ANS thanks Michael, BD5RV/4, for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-286.03 AMSAT Awards

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 286.03 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. October 12, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-286.03

I am catching up with awards that were delayed due to hurricane Ike. If you don't see your name in this list, drop me an email as I might have lost an email or two.

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.

Cherouvim Christos, SW1EIX Joseph Seibert, AL1F David Worboys, KG4ZLB

The following have earned the AMSAT Satellite Communications Achievement Award.

Robert Netzband, NA2H #467 Allen Vinegar, W8KHP #468 Marc Sullivan, WA2S #469 Peter Carr, WW3O #470 Eddie Lawrence, KF4ZMT #471 David Gendle, K4DLG #472 Tim Lilley, N3TL #473 Dwight Fletcher, N1RCN #474

The following have earned the AMSAT South Africa Satellite Communications Achievement Award.

Robert Netzband, NA2H #US123 Allen Vinegar, W8KHP #US124 Luc Leblanc, VE2DWE #US125 Marc Sullivan, WA2S #US126

The following have earned the AMSAT W4AMI Satellite Communications Achievement Award.

Doug Papay, KD8CAO #52

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

Bruce Paige, KK5DO AMSAT Director Contests and Awards

[ANS thanks Bruce, KK5DO for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-286.04 SSTV on AO-51

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 286.04 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. October 12, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-286.04

This weekend AO-51 will operate in a special mode in anticipation of Richard Garriott's visit to the ISS. Richard's launch is currently scheduled for October 12th, with docking at the ISS on the 14th. Richard plans on being very active from the ISS ham station, including extensive operation with Slow Scan Television (SSTV).

In preparation for this event, AO-51 will be configured with dual repeaters for the weekend of October 11th and 12th. The primary repeater on AO-51 will be configured with an uplink on 1268.700 FM and downlink of 435.300 FM, and will be designated for this period as an SSTV repeater. Users are encouraged to exchange SSTV images in ROBOT 36 mode, as an opportunity for others to practice receiving SSTV images from space before the ISS activity. Please keep the images transmitted to space-related themes, and to the ROBOT 36 mode. Polite and courteous operation among those sharing the uplink is crucial to the success of this mode.

Concurrently, there will be a QRP voice repeater running on 145.880 FM uplink and 435.150 FM downlink. Users are asked to use 10 watts or less, and omnidirectional or handheld antennas only.

Good luck receiving SSTV images this weekend, and from the ISS during Richard Garriott's flight.

73, Drew KO4MA AMSAT-NA VP Operations

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

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-286.05 ARISS Status - 06 October 2008

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 286.05 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. October 12, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-286.05

TBA

[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

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