AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-006

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: * AO-51 Entering Eclipse Free Period * Best Fist Nominations Due * South Africa AMSAT Space Symposium Call for Papers * Satellite Shorts From All Over * ARISS Status - 31 December 2007

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-006.01 AO-51 Entering Eclipse Free Period

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 006.01 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. January 6, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-006.01

AO-51 is about to enter a three month period of no eclipse. The command team will be determining the best operating modes and power levels during the first two weeks of January 2008.

There will be no published schedule. The current modes of V/U FM repeater and L/U digital bulletin board may be common, but unpublished mode changes can occur at anytime. Please check the AMSAT BB or the Control Team News area of the web site for the latest information: http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/echo/CTNews.php .

[ANS thanks Gould, WA4SXM and the AO-51 Command team for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-006.02 Best Fist Nominations Due

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 006.02 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. January 6, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-006.02

Many thanks to all who participated in Straight Key Night on OSCAR 2008. If you have not already done so, please take a moment to nominate someone you worked for Best Fist. Your nominee need not have the best fist of those you heard, but only of those you worked.

Please send your nomination to w2rs@amsat.org. A list of those nominated will be published in an ANS bulletin in early February, and in The AMSAT Journal.

[ANS thanks Ray, W2RS, for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-006.03 South Africa AMSAT Space Symposium Call for Papers

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 006.03 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. January 6, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-006.03

The South Africa AMSAT Space Symposium will be held in Durban on April 19th. Papers for presentation are now being solicited with a closing date for a synopsis on February 15th. Those selected will be advised that their presentation is one that's been selected and that completed copy must be submitted in Microsoft Word format before March 31st. Submit all submissions electronically to saamsat@intekom.co.za.

[ANS Newsline for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-006.04 Satellite Shorts From All Over

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 006.04 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. January 6, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-006.04

+ A Powerpoint Presentation (in PDF format), "Satellites for Beginners" can be downloaded from: http://www.amsatsa.org.za/Satellites%20for%20Beginners.pdf

+ Jay, AA4FL made an AO7 Mode B contact with PY4AJ in grid GH70un. He is on the fringes of the footprint with a few other stations in the south of Brasil/Northern Argentina and will be looking for more contact opportunities. Jay invites e-mail at: drjay@gatordental.com to set up schedules.

+ Jim G3WGM, Hon Sec AMSAT-UK announced the dates for the next AMSAT-UK Colloquium are 25/26/27 July 2008. Location and general arrangements will be similar to last year's event. More details later. Please note the date in your diaries now.

+ Gould, WA4SXM says the parts list and other documentation for the LVB Tracker are now available at http://www.LVBTracker.com. This website will carry the latest information available for this project.

[ANS thanks JoAnne, K9JKM, for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-006.05 ARISS Status - 31 December 2007

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 006.05 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. January 6, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-006.05

1. ARISS Contact to be Rescheduled

Due to technical difficulties, the December 27 Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact scheduled with the 15 Korolev City School in Korolev, Russia was not successful. The contact will be rescheduled during January 2008.

2. ARISS Mentioned in QST

The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) referred to Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) in its January 2008 QST. Under "This Just In" there was a section that read, "Astronauts aboard the ISS completed 74 contacts with schools during 2007, an ARISS record."

[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