AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-265

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-265

The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and
information service of AMSAT North America, The Radio
Amateur Satellite Corporation.  ANS publishes news related to Amateur
Radio in space including 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.

The news feed on http://amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio
in space as soon as our volunteers can post it.

Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to:
ans-editor at amsat dot org.

In this edition:

* 2019 AMSAT Board of Directors Election Results
* 2019 AMSAT Symposium Registration Savings Through October 11
* IEEE GRSS Student Grand Challenge
* IARU Coordination for Two Satellites
* QO-100 Satellite, GNU Radio and SDR Talks Released
* Upcoming Satellite Operations
* ARISS News
* Satellite Shorts from All Over


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-265.01
ANS-265 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 265.01
From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD.
September 22, 2019
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-265.01


2019 AMSAT Board of Directors Election Results

As a result of the 2019 Board of Directors Election, Jerry Buxton,
N0JY;
Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA; Patrick Stoddard, WD9EWK; and Michelle
Thompson, W5NYV; will serve on the board for two years.

The First Alternate is Brennan Price, N4QX. The Second Alternate  is
Howard (Howie) Defelice, AB2S. Both will serve for a term of one year.

The results of the voting with 1,052 ballots cast (892 electronic +
160 paper) are as follows:

675 votes ... Michelle Thompson, W5NYV
585 votes ... Patrick Stoddard, WD9EWK
526 votes ... Jerry Buxton, N0JY
515 votes ... Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA
480 votes ... Brennan Price, N4QX
435 votes ... Howard (Howie) Defelice, AB2S
399 votes ... Paul Stoetzer, N8HM
366 votes ... Jeff Johns, WE4B

These results submitted September 20, 2019 by
Clayton Coleman, W5PFG AMSAT Secretary

[ANS thanks Clayton Coleman, W5PFG AMSAT Secretary for the above
information.]

--------------------------------------------------------------------

2019 AMSAT Symposium Registration Savings Through October 11

You can still save money when registering for the 50th Anniversary
AMSAT Space Symposium and General Meeting, Friday through Sunday,
October 18-20, 2019, in Arlington, Virginia.

Registrations received September 16 - October 11 can be ordered
for $65.  Registrations at the door will cost $70.

You can complete your registration on-line via the AMSAT Store:
https://www.amsat.org/product-category/amsat-symposium/.

This year, all registrants will receive a digital copy of the
Proceedings on a thumb drive. Attendees may purchase a hard copy
for $25.00.  Non-attendees may put their name on a waiting list for a
hard copy, if there are any left over. The digital version of the
Proceedings will be made available on the online store shortly after
the Symposium concludes.

Student Registrations are 50% off and does not include the
Proceedings.

A preliminary schedule of events for the 2019 AMSAT Space Symposium
has been posted to the AMSAT website.  It can be accessed at
https://www.amsat.org/symposium-schedule/.

[ANS thanks the 2019 AMSAT Symposium Team for the above information.]

--------------------------------------------------------------------

IEEE GRSS Student Grand Challenge Deadline Extended

The IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society (GRSS) has announced
the Second GRSS Student Grand Challenge which allows student teams to
develop Earth Observation payloads for a small satellite. 

The competition starts with the submission of a proposal to design
payload/experiment(s) that can solve real-life space exploration
problems such as collecting data on the global climate, environmental
change and natural hazards.

Winning teams will receive grant funding during two years that will
be used to develop the proposed payload idea.  Teams willing to
participate must send a brief description of their mission concept,
indicating:

- Team: composition, background and expertise, motivation, and signed
  commitment letter during the duration of the project,
- Scientific rationale and feasibility of the proposed observations:
  innovative techniques (ways to conduct the measurement) and
  technologies are welcome,
- Development plan including characterization and testing,
- Budget proposal,
- If the proposing team is not yet part of an already established
  GRSS Student Chapter, it is important that commitment to form a
  new Chapter by the end of 2019 be included in the proposal. Teams
  including multiple Sections are welcome and encouraged.

The winning payloads will be considered for integration into a
CubeSat that will be developed at the National Space Science and
Technology Center (NSSTC) in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE) in
collaboration with the YahSat Space Lab at Khalifa University,
Abu Dhabi, UAE.

The deadline has been extended till September 30, 2019.

Complete application details are available at
https://tinyurl.com/ANS-265-GRSS-Challenge and
https://conferences.uaeu.ac.ae/2ndgrss/en/competition.shtml.

[ANS thanks Prashanth Marpu, Associate Professor, Khalifa University
for the above information.]

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

             Symposium Papers Due September 23, 2019!

  Final copies of papers must be submitted by September 23 for
            inclusion in the printed proceedings.

     Abstracts and papers should be sent to Dan Schultz
             at n8fgv at amsat dot org.

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+


IARU Coordination for Two Satellites

The IARU has provided frequency coordination for a 1U CubeSat, Surya
Satellite-1.  Sponsored by the Department Physics and Energy
Engineering at Surya University, its mission is to develop Indonesian
young generation interest in space technology.  The satellite will
provide short text message communication using Automatic Packet
Reporting System (APRS) protocol with a VHF downlink on 145.825 MHz
and a telemetry with a UHF downlink on 435.825.  Deployment is
planned from the ISS in March 2020.

Additionally, the IARU has received an application for a 2U
CubeSat sponsored by the National Institute of Technology, Kochi
College.  The satellite will conduct the following experiments:

1) An onboard SDR will receive CW signals on 21 MHz and decoded call
   signs will be sent on 430 MHz downlink.
2) A newly developed attitude control system using dual reaction wheel

   mechanism.
3) An on-board computer system consisted of Linux base microcomputer.
4) An in-orbit expansion test of the 21 MHz half-wave dipole antenna
   for Morse CW signals reception and Jupiter’s millisecond radio
   bursts observation.
5) Observation of Jupiter millisecond radio bursts with the expanded
   HF dipole antenna and on-board SDR.
6) 360-degree tests of the camera unit to take all-sky images with
   two fish-eye cameras.

A UHF downlink will use 9k6 FSK packet, 1k2 AFSK packet and CW. The
launch from Japan by a JAXA Epsilon is planned during fiscal year
2020 into a 500km SSO.

[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information.]

--------------------------------------------------------------------

QO-100 Satellite, GNU Radio and SDR Talks Released

Mark, M5BOP reports the complete set of amateur radio technical talks
from this year’s Martlesham Microwave Round Table is now available to
watch on YouTube.

Videos of these MMRT 2019 talks are available:
• Practical GNUradio – Heather Lomond M0HMO
• From Death Rays to Dinner – William Eustace M0WJE
• Equipment for Es’hail-2 / QO-100 Narrow band – David Bowman G0MRF
• DATV on Es’hail-2 / QO-100 – Noel Matthews G8GTZ
• Low-pass Harmonic Filter for 23cm – John Quarmby G3XDY
• UKuG SDR Voice Transceiver Project Discussion

Watch the videos on the Martlesham Microwave YouTube channel at
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV7cC7ZMehKjAM81QxUS9w/videos

[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information.]


+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
             2019 marks AMSAT's 50th Anniversary
              of Keeping Amateur Radio in Space.
           To help celebrate, we are sponsoring the
            AMSAT 50th Anniversary Awards Program.
                Full details are available at
    https://www.amsat.org/amsat-50th-anniversary-awards-program/
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

Upcoming Satellite Operations

+ Take W3ZM On-the-Road

W3ZM/5 on Sep 20-21, 2019 in NM, Grid DM64 by KE4AL with FM & Linears
W3ZM/4 on Sep 30, 2019 in FL, Grid EM60 by N4KGL

+ Rovers and Special Events

DN11/DN12 + DN03  Sept. 17, 2019
Casey, KI7UNJ is heading to the DN11/DN12 line, September 17.  Look
for him on SO-50, AO-92, and AO-91, between 1657Z and 1812Z.  On the
way back, Casey will make a quick stop in DN03 to catch the 2043Z
PO-101 pass.  Watch Casey’s Twitter feed for further updates at
https://twitter.com/KI7UNJ.

Formentera Island (EA6 Balearic Is. DXCC – JM08)  Sept. 19 to 23, 2019
EA4NF, Philippe will be operating from Formentera Island (DXCC:
EA6 Balearic Islands – IOTA EU-004 – GRID JM08) on satellite as
EA6/EA4NF from September 19 to 23, 2019.  This is a great opportunity
to get the rare grid (JM08) of this small island only accessible by
boat, IOTA (EU-004) and EA6 (Balearic Is. DXCC) in one single contact
and confirmed on LoTW.  QRV Satellite in FM & SSB.  QSL : LoTW.  Keep
an eye on Philippe’s Twitter feed for further updates and sat passes
or contact him directly for a sked at  https://twitter.com/EA4NF_SAT.

Big SkyRove (DN35, DN55, DN56, DN65, DN66) – Sept. 19-23, 2019
Dennis, N7EGY, is taking his radios on a family trip to Big Sky
Country.  Trip purpose is family first before satellite fun, so some
plans could be cancelled at the last minute. Plan is to work from
DN55/56/65/66, with DN35 on whatever bird up as we pass through.
See projected schedule at
https://twitter.com/n7egy1/status/1172000359989960704?s=20.
Keep an eye on Dennis’ Twitter feed for further announcements at
https://twitter.com/n7egy1

DM02/MM (Need we say more?)  Sept. 22, 2019
Ron, AD0DX, and Alex, N7AGF, are chartering a boat to the ultra-rare
DM02 grid square. They will use the special event call sign
November 6 Ocean/Maritime Mobile.  Expected window of operation is
from 1000Z to 1900Z, Sunday, September 22. More information is
available on QRZ https://www.qrz.com/db/N6O to include how you can
help support this monumental operation. Ron and Alex are expected to
have cellular service out there, so keep an eye on their Twitter
feeds https://twitter.com/ad0dx and https://twitter.com/N7AGF.

FP, ST. Pierre & Miquelon (GN17) Sept. 24 to Oct. 8, 2019
Eric, KV1J, will once again be operating from the Island of Miquelon
(NA-032, DIFO FP-002 WLOTA 1417, Grid GN17) as FP/KV1J between
September 24 and October 8. This is his 13th trip to the island.
Activity will be on 160-6 meters (no 60M – not authorized) using CW,
SSB, RTTY, FT8 (but primarily SSB, RTTY and FT8) and the satellites.
He will generally be on the highest frequency band that is open
(favoring 12/10m). He will be active in the CQWW DX RTTY Contest
(September 28-29th). ADDED NOTE: Eric will usually try to be on as
many satellite passes as he can when the WX is good, generally
favoring the FO-29, XW-2x, AO-7, and possibly the FM birds. Eric
states, “Equipment is two FT-817s and an Arrow dual band yagi. I’ll
favor the SSB birds usually higher in the passband, but will also
try FM if they do not get too busy. Satellite logging is by paper so
may not get loaded to LoTW until the week after I return to the USA.”
Weekends may be limited since he will be concentrating on the
low(er) bands and contests. QSL via KV1J, direct or by the Bureau.
Also eQSL, ClubLog and LoTW. For more details and updates, check out
his Web page at http://www.kv1j.com/fp/Sep19.html.

[ANS thanks Robert Bankston, KE4AL for the above information.]

--------------------------------------------------------------------

ARISS News

+ Successful Contacts

Templestowe College, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, telebridge via
VK6MJ
The ISS callsign was NA1SS
The astronaut was Nick Hague, KG5TMV
Contact was on Wed 2019-09-18 08:06:32 UTC.
Watch at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QalYOnHURYk

+ Upcoming Contacts

Boys and Girls Club, Ft. Meade, MD., telebridge via VK4KHZ
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS
The scheduled astronaut is Nick Hague, KG5TMV
Contact is go for: Fri 2019-09-20 19:58:23 UTC 54 deg

The Children's Inn at NIH (National Institutes of Health),
  Bethesda, MD (CASIS#3), telebridge via ON4ISS
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS
The scheduled astronaut is Nick Hague, KG5TMV
Contact is go for: Mon 2019-09-23 20:08:27 UTC 89 deg

School in Bulgaria, direct via TBD
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS
The scheduled astronaut is TBD
Contact is go for Tue 2019-09-24 16:10 UTC

UAE school #1 with Space Flight participant, direct via TBD
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS
The scheduled astronaut is TBD
Contact is go for Fri 2019-09-27 12:10 UTC 

UAE school #2 with Space Flight participant, direct via TBD
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS
The scheduled astronaut is TBD
Contact is go for Sat 2019-09-28 11:20 UTC 

UAE school #3 with Space Flight participant, direct via TBD
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS
The scheduled astronaut is TBD
Contact is go for Wed 2019-10-02 09:45 UTC

[ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N for the above information.]


+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

          Purchase AMSAT gear on our Zazzle storefront.
         25% of the purchase price of each product goes
           towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space
             https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+


Satellite Shorts from All Over

+ Hams in Space: Gearing Up for the Lunar Gateway

Hackaday has published an interesting story about some of the
political, scientific and engineering facets of the proposed Lunar
Gateway and about the challenges of working Amateur Radio on board
that mission.  Read the full article at
https://tinyurl.com/ANS-265-Lunar-Gateway.

[ANS thanks Hackaday for the above information.]


+ IPS - High Level Programming of Small Systems for the AMSAT
Space Projects

AMSAT-DL offers an interesting historical perspective of IPS, the
Interpreter for Process Structures developed by Professor
Dr. Karl Meinzer, DJ4ZC.  The article recalls how IPS was instrumental
is the operation of AMSAT Phase 3 satellites.

Read the entire article at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-265-IPS.

[ANS thanks AMSAT-DL for the above information.]

+ AMSAT Member Gabriel Zeifman, AL6D, Receives NATCA Archie League
  Medal of Safety Award

On the night of April 9, 2019, controller Gabriel Zeifman was alone
in the tower cab at Juneau International Airport. The pilot of a 1979
Mooney became confused while on one of the last legs of a cross-
country trip.  Gabe recognized the confusion and was able to clarify
things, saving the pilot's life.

After hearing about this incident, Miami Center Vice President and
Disaster Response Committee Chair Tom Flanary nominated Zeifman for
the Alaskan Region Archie League Award.  Read the complete story at
https://tinyurl.com/ANS-265-Zeifman-Award

[ANS thanks the National Air Traffic Controllers Association for
the above information.]

+ USAF to Let Hackers Try to Hijack an Orbiting Satellite

The Air Force will bring a satellite to the Defcon hacking conference
next year.  Soon, the Air Force will put out a call for submissions.
Think you know how to hack a satellite or its ground station? Let
them know. A select number of researchers whose pitches seem viable
will be invited to try out their ideas during a “flat-sat” phase—
essentially a test build comprising all the eventual components—six
months before Defcon. That group will once again be culled; the
Air Force will fly the winners out to Defcon for a live hacking
competition.  Read the complete article at
https://www.wired.com/story/air-force-defcon-satellite-hacking/.

[ANS thanks WIRED for the above information.]

+ SatNOGS Celebrates 1,000,000 Observations

On September 12, 2019 observation #1,000,000 got uploaded on the
SatNOGS Network by station #2 in Bloomington, Indiana operated
by Corey Shields, KB9JHU receiving data from UNISAT-6 satellite.

SatNOGS Network is a global management interface to facilitate
multiple ground station operations remotely. An observer is able to
take advantage of the full network of SatNOGS ground stations
around the world. It's part of the SatNOGS project.  The network is
open to anyone. Any observer is able to utilize all available ground
stations and communicate with satellites. All observations results
are public and all data are distributed freely under the Creative
Commons Attribution-Share Alike license.

[ANS thanks SatNOGS for the above information.]

+ Doing Space Differently...How Three Decades of Innovation Led To a
Smallsat Revolution

SatMagazine recounts how the hallmark of the modern smallsat is the
adoption of up-to-date consumer technologies combined with rapid
development cycles. These are executed by small agile teams operating
closer to IT industry management models rather than those
traditionally found in military/aerospace organizations.

One of the first modern smallsats, and arguably the first
reprogrammable one, was UoSAT-1, launched in 1981. Built by a group
of radio amateurs and researchers at the University of Surrey, this
smallsat successfully demonstrated that it was possible to compile
software on the ground and upload it to a satellite that was designed
and built using Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) components.

These researchers epitomized what is now commonly considered as the
characteristics of a smallsat team: highly innovative technical
staff operating as part of a small motivated unit, working in close
proximity and with effective communications.

Read the entire article at
http://www.satmagazine.com/story.php?number=1497605345.

[ANS thanks SatMagazine for the above information.]


+ SpaceX plans 24 Starlink launches next year

SpaceX hopes to launch 24 Starlink missions in 2020 as the company
builds out a broadband megaconstellation that could ultimately number
close to 12,000 satellites, a company executive said September 10.

SpaceX’s Starlink launch cadence will likely average “two a month,”
in addition to customer launches, Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX’s president
and chief operating officer, said at the World Satellite Business
Week conference.  “Next year, I hope we launch 24 Starlinks,”
Shotwell said.   Read the complete story at
https://spacenews.com/spacex-plans-24-starlink-launches-next-year/.

[ANS thanks SpaceNews for the above information.]


+ NASA Joins All Five Sections for Space Launch System Rocket Stage

NASA finished assembling and joining the main structural components
for the largest rocket stage the agency has built since the Saturn V
that sent Apollo astronauts to the Moon.

NASA is working to land the first woman and the next man on the Moon
by 2024. SLS and NASA's Orion spacecraft, along with the Gateway in
orbit around the Moon, and the Human Landing System are the backbone
for deep space exploration. SLS is the only rocket that can send
Orion, astronauts and supplies to the Moon in a single mission.

Read the entire story at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-265-SLS.

[ANS thanks SpaceRef for the above information.]

--------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at
one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students
enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the
student rate for a maximum of six post-secondary years in this
status.

Contact Martha at the AMSAT office for additional student
membership information.

73,
This week's ANS Editor,
Frank Karnauskas, N1UW
n1uw at amsat dot org

Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum
available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring
membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author
and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA.

Not an AMSAT member? Join now to support the amateur satellite
program!

Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb




_______________________________________________
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available
to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed
are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA.
Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb


The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and
information service of AMSAT North America, The Radio
Amateur Satellite Corporation.  ANS publishes news related to Amateur
Radio in space including 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.

The news feed on http://amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio
in space as soon as our volunteers can post it.

Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to:
ans-editor at amsat dot org.

In this edition:

* 2019 AMSAT Board of Directors Election Results
* 2019 AMSAT Symposium Registration Savings Through October 11
* IEEE GRSS Student Grand Challenge
* IARU Coordination for Two Satellites
* QO-100 Satellite, GNU Radio and SDR Talks Released
* Upcoming Satellite Operations
* ARISS News
* Satellite Shorts from All Over


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-265.01
ANS-265 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 265.01
From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD.
September 22, 2019
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-265.01


2019 AMSAT Board of Directors Election Results

As a result of the 2019 Board of Directors Election, Jerry Buxton,
N0JY;
Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA; Patrick Stoddard, WD9EWK; and Michelle
Thompson, W5NYV; will serve on the board for two years.

The First Alternate is Brennan Price, N4QX. The Second Alternate  is
Howard (Howie) Defelice, AB2S. Both will serve for a term of one year.

The results of the voting with 1,052 ballots cast (892 electronic +
160
paper) are as follows:

675 votes ... Michelle Thompson, W5NYV
585 votes ... Patrick Stoddard, WD9EWK
526 votes ... Jerry Buxton, N0JY
515 votes ... Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA
480 votes ... Brennan Price, N4QX
435 votes ... Howard (Howie) Defelice, AB2S
399 votes ... Paul Stoetzer, N8HM
366 votes ... Jeff Johns, WE4B

These results submitted September 20, 2019 by
Clayton Coleman, W5PFG
AMSAT Secretary

[ANS thanks Clayton Coleman, W5PFG AMSAT Secretary for the above
information.]


--------------------------------------------------------------------


2019 AMSAT Symposium Registration Savings Through October 11

You can still save money when registering for the 50th Anniversary
AMSAT Space Symposium and General Meeting, Friday through Sunday,
October 18-20, 2019, in Arlington, Virginia.

Registrations received September 16 - October 11 can be ordered
for $65.  Registrations at the door will cost $70.

You can complete your registration on-line via the AMSAT Store:
https://www.amsat.org/product-category/amsat-symposium/.

This year, all registrants will receive a digital copy of the
Proceedings on a thumb drive. Attendees may purchase a hard copy
for $25.00.  Non-attendees may put their name on a waiting list for a
hard copy, if there are any left over. The digital version of the
Proceedings will be made available on the online store shortly after
the Symposium concludes.

Student Registrations are 50% off and does not include the
Proceedings.

A preliminary schedule of events for the 2019 AMSAT Space Symposium
has been posted to the AMSAT website.  It can be accessed at
https://www.amsat.org/symposium-schedule/.


[ANS thanks the 2019 AMSAT Symposium Team for the above information.]


--------------------------------------------------------------------


IEEE GRSS Student Grand Challenge Deadline Extended

The IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society (GRSS) has announced
the Second GRSS Student Grand Challenge which allows student teams to
develop Earth Observation payloads for a small satellite. 

The competition starts with the submission of a proposal to design
payload/experiment(s) that can solve real-life space exploration
problems such as collecting data on the global climate, environmental
change and natural hazards.

Winning teams will receive grant funding during two years that will
be used to develop the proposed payload idea.  Teams willing to
participate must send a brief description of their mission concept,
indicating:

- Team: composition, background and expertise, motivation, and signed
  commitment letter during the duration of the project,
- Scientific rationale and feasibility of the proposed observations:
  innovative techniques (ways to conduct the measurement) and
  technologies are welcome,
- Development plan including characterization and testing,
- Budget proposal,
- If the proposing team is not yet part of an already established
  GRSS Student Chapter, it is important that commitment to form a
  new Chapter by the end of 2019 be included in the proposal. Teams
  including multiple Sections are welcome and encouraged.

The winning payloads will be considered for integration into a
CubeSat that will be developed at the National Space Science and
Technology Center (NSSTC) in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE) in
collaboration with the YahSat Space Lab at Khalifa University,
Abu Dhabi, UAE.

The deadline has been extended till September 30, 2019.

Complete application details are available at
https://tinyurl.com/ANS-265-GRSS-Challenge and
https://conferences.uaeu.ac.ae/2ndgrss/en/competition.shtml.

[ANS thanks Prashanth Marpu, Associate Professor, Khalifa University
for the above information.]


+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

             Symposium Papers Due September 23, 2019!

  Final copies of papers must be submitted by September 23 for
            inclusion in the printed proceedings.

     Abstracts and papers should be sent to Dan Schultz
             at n8fgv at amsat dot org.

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+


IARU Coordination for Two Satellites

The IARU has provided frequency coordination for a 1U CubeSat, Surya
Satellite-1.  Sponsored by the Department Physics and Energy
Engineering at Surya University, its mission is to develop Indonesian
young generation interest in space technology.  The satellite will
provide short text message communication using Automatic Packet
Reporting System (APRS) protocol with a VHF downlink on 145.825 MHz
and a telemetry with a UHF downlink on 435.825.  Deployment is
planned from the ISS in March 2020.

Additionally, the IARU has received an application for a 2U
CubeSat sponsored by the National Institute of Technology, Kochi
College.  The satellite will conduct the following experiments:

1) An onboard SDR will receive CW signals on 21 MHz and decoded call
   signs will be sent on 430 MHz downlink.
2) A newly developed attitude control system using dual reaction wheel

   mechanism.
3) An on-board computer system consisted of Linux base microcomputer.
4) An in-orbit expansion test of the 21 MHz half-wave dipole antenna
   for Morse CW signals reception and Jupiter’s millisecond radio
   bursts observation.
5) Observation of Jupiter millisecond radio bursts with the expanded
   HF dipole antenna and on-board SDR.
6) 360-degree tests of the camera unit to take all-sky images with
   two fish-eye cameras.

A UHF downlink will use 9k6 FSK packet, 1k2 AFSK packet and CW. The
launch from Japan by a JAXA Epsilon is planned during fiscal year
2020 into a 500km SSO.

[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information.]


--------------------------------------------------------------------


QO-100 Satellite, GNU Radio and SDR Talks Released

Mark, M5BOP reports the complete set of amateur radio technical talks
from this year’s Martlesham Microwave Round Table is now available to
watch on YouTube.

Videos of these MMRT 2019 talks are available:
• Practical GNUradio – Heather Lomond M0HMO
• From Death Rays to Dinner – William Eustace M0WJE
• Equipment for Es’hail-2 / QO-100 Narrow band – David Bowman G0MRF
• DATV on Es’hail-2 / QO-100 – Noel Matthews G8GTZ
• Low-pass Harmonic Filter for 23cm – John Quarmby G3XDY
• UKuG SDR Voice Transceiver Project Discussion

Watch the videos on the Martlesham Microwave YouTube channel at
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV7cC7ZMehKjAM81QxUS9w/videos

[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information.]


+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
             2019 marks AMSAT's 50th Anniversary
              of Keeping Amateur Radio in Space.
           To help celebrate, we are sponsoring the
            AMSAT 50th Anniversary Awards Program.
                Full details are available at
    https://www.amsat.org/amsat-50th-anniversary-awards-program/
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+


Upcoming Satellite Operations

+ Take W3ZM On-the-Road

W3ZM/5 on Sep 20-21, 2019 in NM, Grid DM64 by KE4AL with FM & Linears
W3ZM/4 on Sep 30, 2019 in FL, Grid EM60 by N4KGL

+ Rovers and Special Events

DN11/DN12 + DN03  Sept. 17, 2019
Casey, KI7UNJ is heading to the DN11/DN12 line, September 17.  Look
for him on SO-50, AO-92, and AO-91, between 1657Z and 1812Z.  On the
way back, Casey will make a quick stop in DN03 to catch the 2043Z
PO-101 pass.  Watch Casey’s Twitter feed for further updates at
https://twitter.com/KI7UNJ.

Formentera Island (EA6 Balearic Is. DXCC – JM08)  Sept. 19 to 23, 2019
EA4NF, Philippe will be operating from Formentera Island (DXCC:
EA6 Balearic Islands – IOTA EU-004 – GRID JM08) on satellite as
EA6/EA4NF from September 19 to 23, 2019.  This is a great opportunity
to get the rare grid (JM08) of this small island only accessible by
boat, IOTA (EU-004) and EA6 (Balearic Is. DXCC) in one single contact
and confirmed on LoTW.  QRV Satellite in FM & SSB.  QSL : LoTW.  Keep
an eye on Philippe’s Twitter feed for further updates and sat passes
or contact him directly for a sked at  https://twitter.com/EA4NF_SAT.

Big SkyRove (DN35, DN55, DN56, DN65, DN66) – Sept. 19-23, 2019
Dennis, N7EGY, is taking his radios on a family trip to Big Sky
Country.  Trip purpose is family first before satellite fun, so some
plans could be cancelled at the last minute. Plan is to work from
DN55/56/65/66, with DN35 on whatever bird up as we pass through.
See projected schedule at
https://twitter.com/n7egy1/status/1172000359989960704?s=20.
Keep an eye on Dennis’ Twitter feed for further announcements at
https://twitter.com/n7egy1

DM02/MM (Need we say more?)  Sept. 22, 2019
Ron, AD0DX, and Alex, N7AGF, are chartering a boat to the ultra-rare
DM02 grid square. They will use the special event call sign
November 6 Ocean/Maritime Mobile.  Expected window of operation is
from 1000Z to 1900Z, Sunday, September 22. More information is
available on QRZ https://www.qrz.com/db/N6O to include how you can
help support this monumental operation. Ron and Alex are expected to
have cellular service out there, so keep an eye on their Twitter
feeds https://twitter.com/ad0dx and https://twitter.com/N7AGF.

FP, ST. Pierre & Miquelon (GN17) Sept. 24 to Oct. 8, 2019
Eric, KV1J, will once again be operating from the Island of Miquelon
(NA-032, DIFO FP-002 WLOTA 1417, Grid GN17) as FP/KV1J between
September 24 and October 8. This is his 13th trip to the island.
Activity will be on 160-6 meters (no 60M – not authorized) using CW,
SSB, RTTY, FT8 (but primarily SSB, RTTY and FT8) and the satellites.
He will generally be on the highest frequency band that is open
(favoring 12/10m). He will be active in the CQWW DX RTTY Contest
(September 28-29th). ADDED NOTE: Eric will usually try to be on as
many satellite passes as he can when the WX is good, generally
favoring the FO-29, XW-2x, AO-7, and possibly the FM birds. Eric
states, “Equipment is two FT-817s and an Arrow dual band yagi. I’ll
favor the SSB birds usually higher in the passband, but will also
try FM if they do not get too busy. Satellite logging is by paper so
may not get loaded to LoTW until the week after I return to the USA.”
Weekends may be limited since he will be concentrating on the
low(er) bands and contests. QSL via KV1J, direct or by the Bureau.
Also eQSL, ClubLog and LoTW. For more details and updates, check out
his Web page at http://www.kv1j.com/fp/Sep19.html.

[ANS thanks Robert Bankston, KE4AL for the above information.]


--------------------------------------------------------------------


ARISS News

+ Successful Contacts

Templestowe College, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, telebridge via
VK6MJ
The ISS callsign was NA1SS
The astronaut was Nick Hague, KG5TMV
Contact was on Wed 2019-09-18 08:06:32 UTC.
Watch at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QalYOnHURYk

+ Upcoming Contacts

Boys and Girls Club, Ft. Meade, MD., telebridge via VK4KHZ
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS
The scheduled astronaut is Nick Hague, KG5TMV
Contact is go for: Fri 2019-09-20 19:58:23 UTC 54 deg

The Children's Inn at NIH (National Institutes of Health),
  Bethesda, MD (CASIS#3), telebridge via ON4ISS
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS
The scheduled astronaut is Nick Hague, KG5TMV
Contact is go for: Mon 2019-09-23 20:08:27 UTC 89 deg

School in Bulgaria, direct via TBD
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS
The scheduled astronaut is TBD
Contact is go for Tue 2019-09-24 16:10 UTC

UAE school #1 with Space Flight participant, direct via TBD
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS
The scheduled astronaut is TBD
Contact is go for Fri 2019-09-27 12:10 UTC 

UAE school #2 with Space Flight participant, direct via TBD
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS
The scheduled astronaut is TBD
Contact is go for Sat 2019-09-28 11:20 UTC 

UAE school #3 with Space Flight participant, direct via TBD
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS
The scheduled astronaut is TBD
Contact is go for Wed 2019-10-02 09:45 UTC

[ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N for the above information.]


+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

          Purchase AMSAT gear on our Zazzle storefront.
         25% of the purchase price of each product goes
           towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space
             https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+


Satellite Shorts from All Over

+ Hams in Space: Gearing Up for the Lunar Gateway

Hackaday has published an interesting story about some of the
political, scientific and engineering facets of the proposed Lunar
Gateway and about the challenges of working Amateur Radio on board
that mission.  Read the full article at
https://tinyurl.com/ANS-265-Lunar-Gateway.

[ANS thanks Hackaday for the above information.]


+ IPS - High Level Programming of Small Systems for the AMSAT
Space Projects

AMSAT-DL offers an interesting historical perspective of IPS, the
Interpreter for Process Structures developed by Professor
Dr. Karl Meinzer, DJ4ZC.  The article recalls how IPS was instrumental

is the operation of AMSAT Phase 3 satellites.

Read the entire article at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-265-IPS.

[ANS thanks AMSAT-DL for the above information.]


+ AMSAT Member Gabriel Zeifman, AL6D, Receives NATCA Archie League
  Medal of Safety Award

On the night of April 9, 2019, controller Gabriel Zeifman was alone
in the tower cab at Juneau International Airport. The pilot of a 1979
Mooney became confused while on one of the last legs of a cross-
country trip.  Gabe recognized the confusion and was able to clarify
things, saving the pilot's life.

After hearing about this incident, Miami Center Vice President and
Disaster Response Committee Chair Tom Flanary nominated Zeifman for
the Alaskan Region Archie League Award.  Read the complete story at
https://tinyurl.com/ANS-265-Zeifman-Award

[ANS thanks the National Air Traffic Controllers Association for
the above information.]


+ USAF to Let Hackers Try to Hijack an Orbiting Satellite

The Air Force will bring a satellite to the Defcon hacking conference
next year.  Soon, the Air Force will put out a call for submissions.
Think you know how to hack a satellite or its ground station? Let
them know. A select number of researchers whose pitches seem viable
will be invited to try out their ideas during a “flat-sat” phase—
essentially a test build comprising all the eventual components—six
months before Defcon. That group will once again be culled; the
Air Force will fly the winners out to Defcon for a live hacking
competition.  Read the complete article at
https://www.wired.com/story/air-force-defcon-satellite-hacking/.

[ANS thanks WIRED for the above information.]

+ SatNOGS Celebrates 1,000,000 Observations

On September 12, 2019 observation #1,000,000 got uploaded on the
SatNOGS Network by station #2 in Bloomington, Indiana operated
by Corey Shields, KB9JHU receiving data from UNISAT-6 satellite.

SatNOGS Network is a global management interface to facilitate
multiple ground station operations remotely. An observer is able to
take advantage of the full network of SatNOGS ground stations
around the world. It's part of the SatNOGS project.  The network is
open to anyone. Any observer is able to utilize all available ground
stations and communicate with satellites. All observations results
are public and all data are distributed freely under the Creative
Commons Attribution-Share Alike license.

[ANS thanks SatNOGS for the above information.]


+ Doing Space Differently...How Three Decades of Innovation Led To a
Smallsat Revolution

SatMagazine recounts how the hallmark of the modern smallsat is the
adoption of up-to-date consumer technologies combined with rapid
development cycles. These are executed by small agile teams operating
closer to IT industry management models rather than those
traditionally found in military/aerospace organizations.

One of the first modern smallsats, and arguably the first
reprogrammable one, was UoSAT-1, launched in 1981. Built by a group
of radio amateurs and researchers at the University of Surrey, this
smallsat successfully demonstrated that it was possible to compile
software on the ground and upload it to a satellite that was designed
and built using Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) components.

These researchers epitomized what is now commonly considered as the
characteristics of a smallsat team: highly innovative technical
staff operating as part of a small motivated unit, working in close
proximity and with effective communications.

Read the entire article at
http://www.satmagazine.com/story.php?number=1497605345.

[ANS thanks SatMagazine for the above information.]


+ SpaceX plans 24 Starlink launches next year

SpaceX hopes to launch 24 Starlink missions in 2020 as the company
builds out a broadband megaconstellation that could ultimately number
close to 12,000 satellites, a company executive said September 10.

SpaceX’s Starlink launch cadence will likely average “two a month,”
in addition to customer launches, Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX’s president
and chief operating officer, said at the World Satellite Business
Week conference.  “Next year, I hope we launch 24 Starlinks,”
Shotwell said.   Read the complete story at
https://spacenews.com/spacex-plans-24-starlink-launches-next-year/.

[ANS thanks SpaceNews for the above information.]


+ NASA Joins All Five Sections for Space Launch System Rocket Stage

NASA finished assembling and joining the main structural components
for the largest rocket stage the agency has built since the Saturn V
that sent Apollo astronauts to the Moon.

NASA is working to land the first woman and the next man on the Moon
by 2024. SLS and NASA's Orion spacecraft, along with the Gateway in
orbit around the Moon, and the Human Landing System are the backbone
for deep space exploration. SLS is the only rocket that can send
Orion, astronauts and supplies to the Moon in a single mission.

Read the entire story at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-265-SLS.

[ANS thanks SpaceRef for the above information.]

--------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at
one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students
enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the
student rate for a maximum of six post-secondary years in this
status.

Contact Martha at the AMSAT office for additional student
membership information.

73,
This week's ANS Editor,
Frank Karnauskas, N1UW
n1uw at amsat dot org

Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum
available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring
membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author
and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA.