AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-021

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-27 Recovered and Operational * ANDE / FCAL Object Number Correction * Falcon/Demosat Launch Delayed * ARISS Status - 15 January 2007

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-021.01 AO-27 Recovered and Operational

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 021.01 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. January 21, 2007 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-021.01

As of 14 January 2007 AO-27 was once again recovered and returned to operation through dedicated work of the Command Team.

Michael, N3UC, reports that after working on several problems with the AFSK modem on AO-27, they were able to upload the flight code. AO-27 is now running the EOS software and sending good telemetry. With the TOPR schedule now running the Analogue repeater has been turned back on.

The current schedule turns the satellite on during ascending passes (South to North) at approximately 30 degrees North latitude. Initially there is 20 seconds of telemetry data followed by 5 minutes of analogue repeater operation. Then an additional 60 seconds of telemetry data is sent before the satellite transmitter turns off.

Please keep in mind that AO-27 is 13 years old and takes some work to keep going.

Additional information is available at www.ao27.org

[ANS thanks Michael, N3UC,for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-021.02 ANDE / FCAL Object Number Correction

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 021.02 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. January 21, 2007 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-021.02

Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, reports that CELESTRACK has had the names of ANDE MAA and FCAL swapped.  Bob says, "I clearly heard the difference during an overhead pass.  The signals from ANDE were clearly 2 minutes ahead of where I was tracking.  What I thought was ANDE MAA is actually FCAL and when I pointed at FCAL, I found strong signals from ANDE"

To summarize, 29667 is REALLY FCAL 29664 is REALLY ANDE MAA

CELESTRACK has had them reversed in its AMATEUR satellite list.

Much more information about these satellites is available on the ANDE, RAFT, NMARS, & FCAL Operations web site. http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/ande-raft-ops.html

[ANS thanks Bob, WB4APR, for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-021.03 Falcon/Demosat Launch Delayed

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 021.03 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. January 21, 2007 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-021.03

During final check-outs prior to static fire, an anomaly was uncovered with the thrust vector control (TVC) pitch actuator on the second stage that will result in launch being pushed to February. Since this is not used during the static fire, we have decided to push forward with that test in order to acquire valuable data on engine ignition, pad acoustics, and the overall system response. The static fire is now planned to occur between Saturday and Tuesday (California time). This test will proceed very slowly and then only burns for about four seconds. A video will be posted to the SpaceX website afterwards.

Upon completion of the static fire, the rocket will be taken back into the hangar to thoroughly investigate the TVC issue. With the range available to us only until January 23 (Kwaj needs to reconfigure for an incoming Minuteman mission), this means launch is now planned for mid-February. Elon Musk, SpaceX CEO said, "As I've mentioned previously, don't hold your breath for this launch. Given the large number of robustness improvements and the fact that our vehicle/pad health verification system has increased from about 30 checks to almost 1000, shifts in the launch date are to be expected."

[ANS thanks Elon for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-021.04 ARISS Status - 15 January 2007

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 021.04 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. January 21, 2007 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-021.04

1. Successful Sherman Elementary School Contact

Sherman Elementary School in Henrietta, New York experienced a successful Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Monday, January 8. Sunita Williams, KD5PLB, answered the sixteen questions asked of her by 8 students. The audio for this contact was fed into the EchoLink AMSAT (101 377) and JK1ZRW (277 208) servers and into the IRLP Discovery Reflector 9010.  Thirty-two connections were made to the video which was streamed on the internet. Two local newspapers and television stations covered the event. The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle ran an article on its website. See: http://www.rochesterdandc.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070108/NEWS01/701...

2. Dilworth Elementary School Contact, a Success

On Monday, January 8, 2007, students at Dilworth Elementary School in San Jose, California participated in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with Sunita Williams, KD5PLB, onboard the ISS. Twenty-two students were able to ask one question each, as approximately two hundred fifty students, parents and teachers looked on. Two newspapers covered the event. The San Jose Mercury News ran a web story with a video clip of the contact. See: http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/16413528.htm The story ran in the printed edition of the paper on Tuesday, January 9. The event will also be covered on the front page of the Cupertino Courier’s January 17 edition.

3. ARISS Upcoming School Contacts

École élémentaire publique Le Prélude in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada has been scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Wednesday, January 24 at 13:55 UTC. All students, grades K-6, will participate in a space exploration unit leading up to the ARISS contact. They will make posters and contribute to a group mural related to the event. The school’s website will post a special section on space designed by the students. Sixth grade students will study the solar system as part of their science curriculum, and an astronaut appearance will be planned. Students will also write to local dignitaries inviting them to attend the event, which will be held at the Science and Technology Museum. The contact will be available on the internet for the entire school, as well as other schools, and the media will be notified.

Winnebago Public School is located on the Winnebago Indian Reservation in Nebraska and has been slated for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Thursday, January 25 at 14:18 UTC. Amateur radio operators will be invited to present to the students such topics as propagation, solar flares, and signal bouncing. Hands on activities are planned. A competition will be held among 9-12 grade students in order to choose the questions that will be asked of the astronaut. Grades K-12 will compete to design the school’s QSL (contact) card. Newspapers and television and radio stations will be invited to the event.

4. ARRL Article on Australian, New York Contacts

The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) ran an article on the Amateur Radio on the ISS contacts with the Australian Jamboree scouts and the Sherman Elementary School students. See: http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2007/01/10/100/?nc=1

5. Sunita Williams Enjoying ARISS Contacts

An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) member sent a message congratulating Sunita Williams on the fine job she has been doing with her ARISS contacts. She responded with a note indicating that she really enjoys the contacts as they have been informative and interesting, and she looks forward to participating in many more. Thank you Sunita!

[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