AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-258

************************************************************** *** 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 Board of Directors to Conduct Presidential Search * Worldwide Amateur Radio Effort Saves COMPASS Cubesat * College Satellite Nite - 18 September 2008 * AO-51 Schedule - September 2008 * ARISS Status - 18 August 2008

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-258.01 AMSAT Board of Directors to Conduct Presidential Search

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 258.01 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. September 14, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-258.01

AMSAT President Rick Hambly, W2GPS notified the AMSAT Board of Directors on Thursday, September 11 that he is not a candidate for President of AMSAT for the upcoming year. "After careful consideration, I have decided that I am not able to continue as AMSAT President beyond the next Board meeting and so I will not offer my name for consideration, and if nominated by others I will not accept the nomination for President. While I will be focusing most of my efforts on business activities, I will do my best to make the transition seamless", stated Rick in an e-mail to the current members of the AMSAT Board of Directors. Rick has served as President of AMSAT since October 2004.

The current Board of Directors election concludes on Monday, September 15, when results of the balloting will be announced. Members of the new Board will then begin a formal search process to recruit and select a new President. This process is expected to take several weeks with the goal of having a new President identified prior to the AMSAT Board of Directors meeting on October 23, prior to the AMSAT Symposium in Atlanta. The search process starts immediately with an invitation to current AMSAT members (including BOD members, Senior Advisors, Officers, and the AMSAT general membership) to suggest current AMSAT members that they would recommend for consideration. Recommendations are requested by 1900 EDT Tuesday evening, September 16 to the AMSAT Corporate Secretary (Barry Baines, WD4ASW; e-mail: wd4asw@amsat.org). Names that are submitted will be initially reviewed by the BOD and those candidates that the Board would like to follow up with will be contacted concerning the interview/selection process.

Rick Hambly, W2GPS will continue to fulfill his duties as President until the Board meeting in October. His current term on the Board of Directors expires in September 2009.

[ANS thanks the AMSAT-NA Board of Directors for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-258.02 Worldwide Amateur Radio Effort Saves COMPASS Cubesat

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 258.02 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. September 14, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-258.02

Mike, DK3WN said this week that a worldwide amateur radio effort saved the COMPASS cubesat. Mike reports receiving reports of good COMPASS beacons from Japan. The COMPASS cubesat has not reset over several eclipse periods and remains operational.

The problem that depleted the batteries aboard COMPASS had its heater remain on constantly. Amateur radio stations around the world successfully transmitted the command to turn off the heater and allowed the batteries to recover.

After the heater was turned off Mike wrote, "The only thing we can do is WAIT. Wait for longer sun periods and voltages over 3.47 Volts. That's the standard threshold value in emergency mode to switch into powersafe mode. Only in this mode we can change the threshold values. As of September 8, COMPASS was back in its powersafe mode of oper- ation.

As of September 10 COMPASS was back in NORMAL mode. Mike had gained control of the satellite and could successfully command the satellite.

Mike summarized, "Thanks to all - this is truly a worldwide ham radio effort - thanks so much for your help. Also, PLEASE do NOT send any commands to COMPASS until further notice. If you send any commands you overwrite the current settings and COMPASS may fall back into emergency mode. We almost lost a cubesat, but we've definitely gained some new friends. Thank you all for your efforts!"

Meanwhile please listen to the beacon and keep your fingers crossed that COMPASS will remain in its normal mode.

[ANS thanks Mike, DK3WN, for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-258.03 College Satellite Nite - 18 September 2008

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 258.03 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. September 14, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-258.03

A college Satellite night will be held Thursday, September 18, 2008 (local time). This event is a great opportunity for hams that are satellite active to interact with college students and elmer a new generation! Do you know a college student who would find amateur satellites interesting and intellectually challenging? Have them as a guest at your station and introduce them to amateur radio in a way they will never forget.

Look for college stations and students on all the birds that evening and please give them preference for operation. With the new school year just starting, new student guests and thus potential young hams will be present in college shacks around the country. They look forward to meeting you through the exciting venue of Orbiting Satellites carrying Amateur Radio!

73, Hope to see you on the birds! Dr. Jay Garlitz, AA4FL

[ANS thanks Jay, AA4FL, for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-258.04 AO-51 Schedule - September 2008

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 258.04 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. September 14, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-258.04

September 8 - September 14

FM Repeater, L/S Uplink: 1268.700 MHz FM Downlink: 2401.200 MHz FM

FM Repeater, V/U Uplink: 145.880 MHz FM Downlink: 435.150 MHz FM

September 15 - September 21 College Radio Night is September 18!

FM Repeater, V/U Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM Downlink: 435.300 MHz FM

9k6 BBS and Telemetry Uplink: 1268.700 MHz FM Downlink: 435.150 MHz FM

September 22 - September 24

FM Repeater, V/U Uplink: 145.920 Mhz FM Downlink: 435.300 Mhz FM

FM Repeater, L/U Uplink: 1268.700 Mhz USB Downlink: 435.150 Mhz FM

September 25 - September 28

FM Repeater, V/U Uplink: 145.920 Mhz FM Downlink: 435.300 Mhz FM

FM Repeater, L/U Uplink: 1268.700 Mhz FM Downlink: 435.150 Mhz FM

September 29 - October 5

FM Repeater, V/U Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM Downlink: 435.300 MHz FM

9k6 BBS and Telemetry Uplink: 1268.700 MHz FM Downlink: 435.150 MHz FM

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

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-258.05 ARISS Status - 8 September 2008

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 258.05 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. September 14, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-258.05

1. Successful Contact with Challenger Learning Center

On Monday, September 1, ten students visiting the Challenger Learning Center of Lucas County in Oregon, Ohio participated in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact. The students posed ten questions to Greg Chamitoff, KD5PKZ, in front of an audience of 80. News 24 TV was present and interviewed the students. The audio was fed into the EchoLink AMSAT server and IRLP (Internet Radio Linking Project) Reflector 9010.

2. NZZ Article on Swiss Contact

On Saturday, August 30, students attending Schulehaus Feld 1 in Richterswil, Switzerland participated in a successful Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact. Neue Zürcher Zeitung NZZ posted an article (in German) on the contact. See: http://www.nzz.ch/nachrichten/zuerich/telefonkonferenz_mit_der_raumstation_i... .820665.html

3. ARISS Presentations Posted

On Thursday, August 28, an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) member gave a talk to Rockwell Collins Amateur Radio Club in Richardson, Texas. His talk covered Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT) satellites and ARISS projects. The presentation has been posted to the AMSAT Web site. See: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/Presentations/AMSAT%20for%20RCARC.ppt

The ARISS presentation given at the Challenger Learning Center (CLC) Lead Flight Directors Conference on August 27 has also been posted. See: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/Presentations/Challenger%20National% 20Convention%202008.ppt

[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