Jonathan's Space Report
No.
774 2020 Jan 31
Somerville,
MA
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International
Space Station
---------------------------
Expedition 61
continues.
On Dec 23 the BCDU FRAM (the adapter for the recently used
spare BCDU) was moved
from the Dextre EOTP to the CRS-19 Dragon trunk, where
it will be destroyed on
reentry.
On around Dec 27, the failed MSBU S/N
C250636 (brought inside on Sep 5) and
the failed BCDU S/N 011 (brought inside
on Oct 18) were transferred to the CRS-19
Dragon's cabin for return to
Earth.
On Dec 27 at 0128 and 0436 UTC the Progress MS-13 cargo ship
docked to the Pirs module
fired its engines to raise the ISS orbit from 411 x
422 km to 415 x 422 km.
On Jan 3 to 4 the Dextre arm was used to transfer
the Space Debris
Sensor (SDS) and SOLAR payloads from the Columbus external
payload
facility to external attachment points on the PCM module of the
S.S.
Alan Bean (Cygnus NG-12) cargo ship for reentry disposal. SDS
was
launched in 2017 on Dragon CRS-13, but failed in Jan 2018. SOLAR
was
launched on STS-122 in 2008. On Jan 6 a Resupply Stowage Platform
(possibly RSP 1008/SE177, launched on STS-131) was moved from the
PMM1D3
rack location to the Bean's pressurized module for disposal.
On
Jan 7 at about 0500 UTC the Canadarm-2 unberthed the Dragon CRS-19
ship from
the Harmony module. Dragon was released back into orbit at
1005 UTC, and
performed three separation burns between 1008 and 1020
UTC. The plume from
one of those firings was reported to have made the
Cygnus NG-12 solar arrays
wobble, which is something one tries to avoid.
Dragon fired its thrusters to
deorbit at 1451 UTC until 1504 UTC,
jettisoned the trunk section at 1508 UTC
and entered the atmosphere at
1524 UTC with splashdown near 121.0W 31.2N at
1542 UTC.
On Jan 15 astronauts Koch and Meir, in suits EMU 3004 and 3008,
made
spacewalk US EVA-62 to continue battery replacements from the EP8
pallet
to the P6 truss 4B channel. The airlock was depressurized from 1130
to
1904 UTC. Transfers made were:
NiH 0104 from P6 4B1 to
EP8-Z
Li-ion 21 from EP8-F to P6 4B1
NiH 0106 from P6-4B2 to
EP8-F
Adapter plate 0014 from EP8-F to P6 4B2
NiH 0101 from P6-4B3 to
P6-4B2 on top of the adapter plate
Li-ion 22 from EP8-E to P6-4B3
NiH
0103 from P6-4B4 tp EP8-Y
On Jan 20 Meir and Koch completed the P6 4B
battery work with US EVA-63. The airlock
was depressurized from 1127 to 1833
UTC. Transfers made were:
Adapter plate 0013 from EP8-E to P6-4B4
NiH
0098 from P6-4B6 to P6-4B4 on top of the adapter plate
Li-ion 23 from EP8-C
to P6-4B6
NiH 0102 from P6-4B5 to EP8-C
Adapter plate 0011? from EP8-C
to P6-4B5
On Jan 23 at 1415 and 1723 UTC Progress MS-13 fired its engines
to
raise the ISS orbit by about 1 km.
On Jan 25 astronauts Morgan
(EV1/EMU 3004) and Parmitano (EV2/EMU 3008)
made US spacewalk EVA-64 to
complete repairs to the AMS-02 experiment.
The airlock was depressurized from
1158 to 1820 UTC. The crew performed
leak checks on the new cooling system.
Leaks were found in cooling line
number 5, and after a couple of cycles of
tightening the connector the
leak was stopped. An insulation `tent' was
placed over the system. After
the AMS-02 work, camera lens covers on the CP8
and CP9 external cameras
were removed.
CZ-5
----
China's
largest rocket, the Chang Zheng 5, made a successful third flight on Dec
27,
after a major engine rework following the failure of the second flight in
July 2017.
The CZ-5 second stage put the Shi Jian 20 communications satellite
in supersync
transfer orbit. SJ-20 was on station in GEO at 115E by Jan
6.
Jilin-1 KF-1
------------
On Jan 15 China's SAST launched a
CZ-2D with Chuanguang's biggest
satellite to date, the 1.5t Jilin-1 Kuanfu-1.
The rocket also placed
three smaller satellites in orbit, two Satellogic
Nusat imagers (Sophie
and Marie) and Guodian Gaokeji's
Tianqi-5.
Ariane 5
--------
On Jan 16 Arianespace launched
another Ariane 5ECA, putting Eutelsat Konnect
and GSAT-30 in geotransfer
orbit. Eutelsat Konnect is a Ka-band payload
for the European operator
Eutelsat; GSAT-30 is a Ku/C band satellite
for the Indian space agency
ISRO.
Starlink
--------
The third launch of 60 Starlink
satellites, V1.0 Batch 2, was orbited on Jan 7.
As I have previously
reported, the unexpected brightness of Starlink
satellites has caused
widespread concern among astronomers. Thousands of
such satellites could
dominate the visible view of the night sky in dark
areas; the bright
satellites crossing the field of view of astronomical
detectors could cause
bright streaks, electronic cross-talk and `ghost
images' compromising deep
exposures of faint objects. At a meeting of
the American Astronomical Society
in January, SpaceX representatives
seemed confident they would be able to
reduce the brightness of future
satellites so that they would no longer be
naked eye objects, and
expressed committment to iterative improvements to
address the concerns
of professional astronomers. I welcome the willingness
of SpaceX to address
the issue (nevertheless, I do think some formal
regulations on light pollution
are needed, because other constellations will
also be an issue).
The latest launch includes a modified satellite,
Starlink 1130, with a
special dark coating on the bus to reduce its
brightness. This
satellite will be used to improve SpaceX's models of
satellite light
scattering, allowing engineers to evaluate design
improvements for
future versions of the satellite.
It will be
important to get visual magnitude estimates of Starlink 1130
once it reaches
its operational orbit.
As with V1.0 Batch 1, the 60 satellites were
split into three groups,
with orbit raising of two of the groups pausing at
350 km to precess to
different orbital planes.
Stage 2 of the Falcon 9
was deorbited south of Australia, reentering
at approximately 0448 UTC Jan 7
after 1.6 orbits.
The fourth launch, V1.0-L3, placed a further 60
satellites in 280 km
orbit on Jan 29.
TJS 5
------
On
Jan 7 China launched the Tongxing Jishu Shiyan 5 satellite to
geotransfer
orbit. The TJS series of `experimental communications
satellites' is believed
to be a cover for a range of military programs,
and TJS 5 appears to be an
SAST/Shanghai `Houyan' early warning
satellite like 2017's TJS 2.
Crew
Dragon
-----------
Crew Dragon C205 was launched from KSC LC39A at
1530 UTC Jan 19 on a Falcon 9
for the Inflight Abort Test.
A
preplanned shutdown of core stage B1046 at 90s into flight triggered
an
inflight abort and the Super Draco thrusters pushed Dragon to a 44 km
apogee
followed by a parachute-aided splashdown in the Atlantic. The Falcon
9
disintegrated in flight 7 seconds after
separation.
Spitzer
-------
SIRTF, the Space Infrared Telescope
Facility, was launched in Aug 2003.
In Dec 2003 it was renamed the Spitzer
Space Telescope, the 4th and last
of the Great Observatories program. After
16 years of great science,
Spitzer entered final safemode and fell silent at
2215:45 UTC Jan 30.
IRAS/POPPY-5B
-------------
On Jan 29 at
2339 UTC two defunct satellites had a very near miss -
probably less than
100 metres apart. The IRAS astronomical satellite,
which operated from 1983
to 1985, and the NRO/NRL POPPY 5B signals
intelligence satellite (codenamed
GGSE 4), which operated from 1967 to
1972, passed each other at a relative
velocity of 14.7 km/s.
Errata
------
Danna Barnett informs me
that Tyvak-0092 is actually built for Israel's Elbit Systems
and not for an
Italian company. Elbit calls the satellite NANOVA; it has a UHF
comm
payload.
The dual-engine Centaur on the Atlas V N22 uses the
RL10-A4-2 engine, not RL10-A4-1.
Table of Recent Orbital
Launches
----------------------------------
Date UT Name
Launch Vehicle Site Mission INTL. Catalog Perigee
Apogee Incl Notes
Dec 5 1729 Dragon CRS-19 Falcon
9 Canaveral SLC40 Cargo 83A S44821 203 x 378 x 51.7
Dec 6
0800? Kosmos-2543? Kosmos-2542, LEO Inspector
79D S44835 368 x 858 x 97.9
Dec 6 0818 ALE-2 )
Electron Mahia LC1 Tech 84A S44824 397 x 415 x
97.0
NOOR 1A
) Com 84D S44827 348
x 403 x 97.0
NOOR 1B
) Com 84E S44828 348
x 403 x 97.0
SMOG-P
) Sigint 84J S44832 348
x 403 x 97.0
TRSI-Sat
) Tech 84H S44831 348
x 403 x 97.0
FossaSat-1) Tech 84F
S44829 348 x 403 x 97.0
ATL-1
) Sigint/Tech 84G S44830 348
x 403 x 97.0
Dec 6 0934 Progress MS-13 Soyuz-2-1A
Baykonur LC31 Cargo 85A S44833 186 x 219 x 51.6
Dec 7 0255
Jilin-1 Gaofen 02B Kuaizhou-1A Taiyuan Imaging 86B
S44837 531 x 544 x 97.5
Dec 7 0852 HEDE-2A )
Kuaizhou-1A Taiyuan Comms 87 S44839 495 x 511 x
97.4
HEDE-2B
) Comms 87 495
x 511 x 97.4
Tianqi-4A
) Comms 87 495
x 511 x 97.4
Tianqi-4B
) Comms 87 495
x 511 x 97.4
Tianyi-16
) Imaging 87 495
x 511 x 97.4
Tianyi-17
) Imaging 87 495
x 511 x 97.4
Dec 11 0854 Kosmos-2544 Soyuz-2-1B/Fregat
Plesetsk LC43/3 Nav 88A S44850 19125 x 19150 x 64.8
Dec 11 0955
RISAT-2BR1) PSLV-QL Satish Dhawan Radar 89F
S44857 564 x 574 x 37.0
Izanagi
) Radar 89E S44856 568
x 579 x 37.0
1HOPSAT
) Imaging 89 568
x 579 x 37.0
Duchifat-3) Tech 89C
S44854 568 x 579 x 37.0
Tyvak-0092) Comms 89A
S44852 568 x 579 x 37.0
Tyval-0129) Tech
89 568 x 579 x 37.0
Lemur-2-HiMomAndDad) AIS/Met 89J
S44860 568 x 579 x 37.0
Lemur-2-Pappy
) AIS/Met 89K S44861 568 x 579
x 37.0
Lemur-2-JPGSquared
) AIS/Met 89D S44855 568 x 579
x 37.0
Lemur-2-Theodosia
) AIS/Met 89M S44863 568 x 579
x 37.0
Dec 16 0722 Beidou DW 52 ) Chang Zheng 3B/YZ1 Xichang
LC3 Nav 90A S44864 21528 x 22192 x 55.0
Beidou DW 53
) Nav 90B S44865 21528 x
22192 x 55.0
Dec 17 0010 JCSAT-18/Kacific-1 Falcon 9
Canaveral SLC40 Comms 91A S44868 272 x 20319 x 26.9
Dec 18 0854 CSG
1 ) Soyuz ST-A/Fregat CSG ELS Radar 92A
S44873 622 x 623 x 97.8
CHEOPS
) Astronomy 92B S44874
698 x 709 x 98.2
ANGELS
) Comms 92D S44876
508 x 527 x 97.4
EyeSat
) Astronomy 92E S44877
508 x 527 x 97.4
OPS-SAT
) Tech 92F S44878
508 x 527 x 97.4
Dec 20 0322 CBERS-4A ) Chang Zheng
4B Taiyuan Imaging 93A S44879 615 x 635 x
98.0
ETRSS-1
) Imaging 93
Tianqin-1 ) Sci/Tech
93
BDSAGR-1
) Imaging 93
Yuheng ) Comms
93
Shuntian
) Comms 93
Yizheng 1 ) Imaging
93
Xingshidai 8
) Imaging 93
FloripaSat-1 ) Tech 93G
S44485 614 x 635 x 98.0
Dec 20 1136 Starliner OFT Atlas V
N22 Canaveral LC41 Spaceship 94A S44900 180 x 221 x 51.6
Dec 24
1203 Elektro-L No. 3 Proton-M/DM-03 Baykonur LC81/24 Weather
95A S44903 35372 x 35571 x 0.6
Dec 26 2312 Gonets-M No. 24
Rokot Plesetsk LC133/3 Comms 96A S44905 1500 x 1508 x
82.5
Gonets-M No.
25 Comms 96B S44906 1500 x
1508 x 82.5
Gonets-M No.
26 Comms 96C S44907 1500 x
1508 x 82.5
Dec 27 1245 Shi Jian 20 Chang Zheng 5
Wenchang Comms 97A S44910 180 x 67690 x 19.4
Jan 7 0219
Starlink 1066 ) Falcon 9 Canaveral SLC40 Comms 01AS
S44954 301 x 305 x 53.0
Starlink 1069-1104
) Comms )
Starlink 1106-1119 ) Comms )
Starlink 1121-1126
) Comms )
Starlink 1128 ) Comms )
01A-01BM
Starlink 1130
) Comms ) 44914-
Starlink 1144 ) Comms )
44973
Jan 7 1520 TJS 5 Chang Zheng 3B
Xichang Comms 02A S44978 195 x 35804 x 27.5
Jan 15 0253
Jilin-1 Kuanfu 1 ) Chang Zheng 2D Taiyuan Imaging 03A
S45016 477 x 492 x 97.3
Sophie
) Imaging 03B S45017 475 x
492 x 97.3
Marie
) Imaging 03C S45018 477 x
493 x 97.3
Tianqi-5
) Comms 03D?S45019 475 x
492 x 97.3
Jan 16 0302 Yinhe 1 Kuaizhou 1A
Jiuquan Comms 04A S45024 1200 x 1213 x 80.0?
Jan 16 2105
Eutelsat Konnect ) Ariane 5ECA Kourou ELA3 Comms 05B
S45027 499 x 36234 x 6.0
GSAT-30
) Comms 05A S45026 35775 x
35799 x 0.1
Jan 29 1406 Starlink 1120 ) Falcon 9
Canaveral SLC40 Comms )
Starlink 1127
) Comms )
Starlink 1129 ) Comms
)
Starlink
1131-1137) Comms ) 06A-06BM
272 x 292 x 53.0
Starlink
1139-1142) Comms
)
Starlink
1145-1153) Comms
)
Starlink
1155-1186) Comms
)
Starlink 1190
) Comms )
Starlink 1193-1196) Comms
)
Table of Recent Suborbital
Launches
-----------------------------------
On Jan 7 Iran launched a
series of Zulfiqar and Qiam-1 missiles against US military targets in
Iraq.
The exact number and mix of missiles is unknown.
Date
UT Payload/Flt Name Launch Vehicle Site Mission
Apogee/km Target
Dec 10 0930 CHI Black Brant IX
Svalbard Ionosphere 360 Arctic
Dec 11 1753 New Shepard
NS12 New Shepard West Texas Test 105 West
Texas
Dec 12 1630 IRBM Test Castor 4B? Vandenberg
TP-01 Test 500? Pacific
Jan 7 2245? HE Warhead
Zulfiqar ?, Iran Weapon 100? Al Asad,
Iraq
Jan 7 2245? HE Warhead Zulfiqar ?, Iran
Weapon 100? Erbil, Iraq
Jan 7 2245? HE Warhead
Zulfiqar ?, Iran Weapon 100? Al Asad,
Iraq
Jan 7 2245? HE Warhead Zulfiqar ?, Iran
Weapon 100? Al Asad, Iraq
Jan 7 2245? HE Warhead
Qiam-1 ?, Iran Weapon 100? Al Asad,
Iraq
Jan 7 2245? HE Warhead Qiam-1 ?, Iran
Weapon 100? Al Asad, Iraq
Jan 7 2315? HE Warhead
Zulfiqar ?, Iran Weapon 100? Al Asad,
Iraq
Jan 7 2315? HE Warhead Zulfiqar ?, Iran
Weapon 100? Erbil, Iraq
Jan 7 2315? HE Warhead
Qiam-1 ?, Iran Weapon 100? Erbil,
Iraq
Jan 9 0800 S-310-45 S-310 Uchinoura
Test 131 Pacific
Jan 19 RV
K-4 Visakhapatnam Test 500? Indian
Ocean
Jan 27 1340 Polar NOx 2 Black Brant 9 Poker
Flat Aeronomy 260
Alaska
-------------------------------------------------------------------------.
|
Jonathan McDowell | |
|
Somerville MA 02143 | inter : planet4589 at gmail |
|
USA | twitter: @planet4589
|
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Friday, January 31, 2020
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE SPECIAL BULLETIN ANS-031.02
The AMSAT News Service
bulletins are a free, weekly news and infor-
mation 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://www.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.org.
You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service
Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see:
http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/ans
In this edition:
* Free Digital Copy of “Getting Started with Amateur Satellites” Now
Available for New or Renewing Members
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-031.02
ANS-031.02 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 031.02
From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD.
DATE January 31, 2020
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-031.02
Free Digital Copy of “Getting Started with Amateur Satellites” Now
Available for New or Renewing Members
The University of Washington's HuskySat-1 CubeSat is scheduled to be
deployed from the Cygnus NG-12 spacecraft at 22:30 UTC today.
HuskySat-1 carries an AMSAT VHF/UHF linear transponder that will be
made available for amateur use following its primary mission to test a
pulsed plasma thruster and experimental K band (24 GHz) communications
system.
While the satellite completes it's scientific mission, check out the
best resource for learning how to work through linear transponder sat-
ellites (and other types of amateur satellites). For a limited time,
AMSAT is making the “Getting Started With Amateur Satellites” book
available as a download with any paid new or renewal membership
purchased via the AMSAT Store. This offer is only available with
purchases completed online, and for only a limited time. A perennial
favorite, Getting Started is updated every year with the latest
amateur satellite information, and is the premier primer of satellite
operation. The book is presented in PDF format, in full color, and
covers all aspects of making your first contacts on a ham radio
satellite.
Please take advantage of this offer today by visiting the AMSAT store
at https://www.amsat.org/shop/ and selecting any membership option.
While there, check out AMSAT’s other items, including the M2 LEOpack
antenna system, Arrow antennas, AMSAT shirts, and other swag. Be sure
to view your cart before going to checkout. If you add a membership
and then go directly to checkout, you’ll never see an option to add
your free gift.
[ANS thanks the AMSAT Office 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 addi-
tional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT
Office.
73 and Remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space,
This week's ANS Contributing Editor,
Paul Stoetzer, N8HM
n8hm at amsat dot org
_______________________________________________
Via the ANS mailing list courtesy of AMSAT-NA
https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/ans
mation 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://www.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.org.
You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service
Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see:
http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/ans
In this edition:
* Free Digital Copy of “Getting Started with Amateur Satellites” Now
Available for New or Renewing Members
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-031.02
ANS-031.02 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 031.02
From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD.
DATE January 31, 2020
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-031.02
Free Digital Copy of “Getting Started with Amateur Satellites” Now
Available for New or Renewing Members
The University of Washington's HuskySat-1 CubeSat is scheduled to be
deployed from the Cygnus NG-12 spacecraft at 22:30 UTC today.
HuskySat-1 carries an AMSAT VHF/UHF linear transponder that will be
made available for amateur use following its primary mission to test a
pulsed plasma thruster and experimental K band (24 GHz) communications
system.
While the satellite completes it's scientific mission, check out the
best resource for learning how to work through linear transponder sat-
ellites (and other types of amateur satellites). For a limited time,
AMSAT is making the “Getting Started With Amateur Satellites” book
available as a download with any paid new or renewal membership
purchased via the AMSAT Store. This offer is only available with
purchases completed online, and for only a limited time. A perennial
favorite, Getting Started is updated every year with the latest
amateur satellite information, and is the premier primer of satellite
operation. The book is presented in PDF format, in full color, and
covers all aspects of making your first contacts on a ham radio
satellite.
Please take advantage of this offer today by visiting the AMSAT store
at https://www.amsat.org/shop/ and selecting any membership option.
While there, check out AMSAT’s other items, including the M2 LEOpack
antenna system, Arrow antennas, AMSAT shirts, and other swag. Be sure
to view your cart before going to checkout. If you add a membership
and then go directly to checkout, you’ll never see an option to add
your free gift.
[ANS thanks the AMSAT Office 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 addi-
tional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT
Office.
73 and Remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space,
This week's ANS Contributing Editor,
Paul Stoetzer, N8HM
n8hm at amsat dot org
_______________________________________________
Via the ANS mailing list courtesy of AMSAT-NA
https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/ans
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE SPECIAL BULLETIN ANS-031
The AMSAT News Service
bulletins are a free, weekly news and infor-
mation 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://www.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.org.
You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service
Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see:
http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/ans
In this edition:
* Joe Spier, K6WAO, Resigns as AMSAT President
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-031.01
ANS-031 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 031.01
From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD.
DATE January 31, 2020
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-031.01
Joe Spier, K6WAO, Resigns as AMSAT President
Joe Spier, K6WAO, has tendered his resignation as AMSAT President,
citing personal reasons. Spier had served as AMSAT's President since
October 2017. Prior to his tenure as President, Spier served as
AMSAT's Executive Vice President and Vice President - Educational
Relations. He also served as an AMSAT News Service Editor and as a
member of the ARISS Education Team.
Under the AMSAT bylaws, Executive Vice President Paul Stoetzer, N8HM,
assumes the office of President until the next meeting of the Board of
Directors.
Stoetzer said "I want to thank Joe for his many years of service to
AMSAT in a variety of roles. I especially want to recognize his
efforts to mark AMSAT's 50th Anniversary with special events at the
Dayton Hamvention and AMSAT Symposium. His leadership in bringing
together a variety of figures from the history of amateur radio in
space in Arlington, VA this past fall helped to make the Symposium a
very special event."
[ANS thanks the AMSAT Office 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 addi-
tional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT
Office.
73 and Remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space,
This week's ANS Contributing Editor,
Paul Stoetzer, N8HM
n8hm at amsat dot org
_______________________________________________
Via the ANS mailing list courtesy of AMSAT-NA
https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/ans
mation 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://www.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.org.
You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service
Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see:
http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/ans
In this edition:
* Joe Spier, K6WAO, Resigns as AMSAT President
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-031.01
ANS-031 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 031.01
From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD.
DATE January 31, 2020
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-031.01
Joe Spier, K6WAO, Resigns as AMSAT President
Joe Spier, K6WAO, has tendered his resignation as AMSAT President,
citing personal reasons. Spier had served as AMSAT's President since
October 2017. Prior to his tenure as President, Spier served as
AMSAT's Executive Vice President and Vice President - Educational
Relations. He also served as an AMSAT News Service Editor and as a
member of the ARISS Education Team.
Under the AMSAT bylaws, Executive Vice President Paul Stoetzer, N8HM,
assumes the office of President until the next meeting of the Board of
Directors.
Stoetzer said "I want to thank Joe for his many years of service to
AMSAT in a variety of roles. I especially want to recognize his
efforts to mark AMSAT's 50th Anniversary with special events at the
Dayton Hamvention and AMSAT Symposium. His leadership in bringing
together a variety of figures from the history of amateur radio in
space in Arlington, VA this past fall helped to make the Symposium a
very special event."
[ANS thanks the AMSAT Office 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 addi-
tional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT
Office.
73 and Remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space,
This week's ANS Contributing Editor,
Paul Stoetzer, N8HM
n8hm at amsat dot org
_______________________________________________
Via the ANS mailing list courtesy of AMSAT-NA
https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/ans
Sunday, January 26, 2020
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-026
The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a
free, weekly news and infor-
mation service of AMSAT, 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 commun-
icating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites.
The news feed on http://www.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.org.
You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service
Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see:
http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/ans
In this edition:
* HuskySat-1 With AMSAT VHF/UHF Linear Transponder Planned for Deployment Soon
* Celebration of 50th Anniversary of Australis-OSCAR 5
* ARRL to Argue for Continued Access to 3-GHz Spectrum as FCC Sets Comment Deadlines
* FO-99 (NEXUS) 1st Anniversary Report
* Amateurs in the News: “96-year-old Amateur Radio operator at Ontario Science Centre speaks with astronaut"
* Upcoming ARISS Contacts
* Upcoming AMSAT Events
* Upcoming Satellite Operations
* Satellite Shorts From All Over
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-026.01
ANS-026 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 026.01
From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD.
DATE January 26, 2020
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-026.01
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AMSAT's GOLF-TEE satellite recently reached a major milestone
when prototype boards transmitted telemetry for the first time.
Help support AMSAT's path back to HEO by donating today!
https://www.amsat.org/donations/amsat-golf-program-donations/
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HuskySat-1 With AMSAT VHF/UHF Linear Transponder Planned for
Deployment Soon
The University of Washington's HuskySat-1 3U cubesat was launched on
the Northrop Grumman NG-12 Cygnus supply mission to the ISS on Novem-
ber 2. HuskySat-1 has remained stowed aboard Cygnus scheduled for de-
ployment after the cargo ship unberths from the International Space
Station. Unberthing is scheduled for 1435 UTC (9:35 am EST) on Jan 31
and will be covered live on NASA TV.
Within 24 hours after departure from the ISS, HuskySat-1 and SwampSat
will be deployed into orbit. After deployment, HuskySat-1’s 1,200 bps
BPSK beacon on 435.800 MHz should be active and decodable with the
latest release of AMSAT's FoxTelem software. HuskySat-1 is expected to
run its primary mission before being turned over to AMSAT for amateur
radio operation. HuskySat-1 features a 30 kHz wide 145 to 435 MHz
linear transponder for SSB/CW.
HuskySat-1
----------
Uplink: 145.910 - 145.940 MHz LSB/CW
Downlink: 435.840 - 435.810 MHz USB/CW (inverting)
Telemetry: 435.800 MHz 1K2 bps BPSK
24049.00 MHz (U of Washington experimental downlink)
The latest version of FoxTelem software to decode the 1200 bps BPSK
beacon is available at: https://www.amsat.org/tlm
The Fox-In-A-Box FoxTelem software has been updated for HuskySat-1
Operation at it's download website:
http://burnsfisher.com/AMSAT/FoxInABox
This release now contains the SD card image, FIAB-distro8-V1.08w.zip.
This file, when unzipped and written to a 16Gb SD card will give you
the latest software for FoxTelem and will run on a Raspberry Pi 4.
This is an image of the same SD card that has been shipping from the
AMSAT store for several weeks. (It should work on an 8Gb card as well
with less room to spare of course).
Version 1.08w has a few fixes from the previous 1.08r which was the
previous download version. Improvements to the decoder will capture
data a bit better. Remember that the later 1.08 versions (including
r and w) know how to switch bands between listening on VHF and UHF
based on which of Fox and Husky satellites are overhead at the time.
(Fox-In-A-Box information thanks to Burns Fisher, WB1FJ)
The linear transponder and telemetry system carried aboard Fox-1E
was designed for use in different CubeSats by merely adding an inter-
face adapter for connection to the host bus. Noting the prevalence of
CubeSats built and launched by universities and other organizations,
AMSAT adopted a goal of “amateur radio in every CubeSat.” Interested
CubeSat programs wanting to fly an amateur radio payload may partner
with AMSAT to carry one of these modules on their spacecraft. By pro-
viding amateur radio capability, the CubeSat program gets a worldwide
ground station network to receive their telemetry and experiment data
while the amateur radio community gets a transponder to use in orbit.
Additional information is posted on the University of Washington Husky
Satellite Lab pages:
https://sites.google.com/uw.edu/huskysatellitelab/huskysat-1
https://sites.google.com/uw.edu/huskysatellitelab/huskysat-1/com1
[ANS thanks the HuskySat-1 Team, AMSAT Engineering, AMSAT Operations,
the Fox Telemetry Team, and NASA for the above information]
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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
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Celebration of 50th Anniversary of Australis-OSCAR 5
January 23, 2020 was the 50th anniversary of the launch of Australis-
OSCAR 5. The first satellite built in Australia, arranging its launch
was AMSAT's first project following the creation of the organization
in 1969.
AO-5 launched along with TIROS-M (later ITOS-1) on a Delta rocket from
the west pad of Space Launch Complex 2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base.
Built by students at The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria,
Australia. Battery powered, Australis-OSCAR 5 transmitted telemetry on
both 2 meter (144.050 MHz at 50 mW) and 10 meter (29.450 MHz at 250
mW) bands that operated for 23 and 46 days respectively. Passive
magnetic attitude stabilization was performed by carrying two bar
magnets to align with the Earth's magnetic field in order to provide
a favorable antenna footprint. The University of Melbourne compiled
tracking reports from hundreds of stations in 27 countries.
Australis-OSCAR 5 was the first amateur satellite that was remotely
controlled. The control logic is a direct predecessor to the control
systems used by AMSAT in AMSAT-OSCAR 6, AMSAT-OSCAR 7, and AMSAT-OSCAR
8.
Two of the builders of AO-5, Dr. Owen Mace and Richard Tonkin, spoke
at the 2019 AMSAT Space Symposium this past October and participated
in a panel on "The Foundations of AMSAT." Video of the panel
presentations can be viewed at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-026-AO-5
On January 22nd, Tonkin appeared on The Space Show Australia Summer
Edition on 88.3 Southern FM in Victoria to discuss AO-5. The episode
can be heard at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-026-SpaceShow
Mace and Tonkin have written a book about the story of AO-5. The
second edition of the book was released in December. More information
about the satellite and the book can be found at
https://australis-oscar5.weebly.com/
A 50th anniversary celebration will be held on February 27th at the
University of Melbourne.
[ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
ARRL to Argue for Continued Access to 3-GHz Spectrum as FCC Sets
Comment Deadlines
At its January meeting, the ARRL Board of Directors instructed the
League’s FCC counsel to prepare a strong response to protect amateur
access to spectrum in the 3 GHz range. In its Notice of Proposed Rule-
making (NPRM) in WT Docket 19-348, the FCC proposed to relocate all
non-federal operations, including amateur uses, to spectrum outside
the 3.3 – 3.55 GHz band. The Commission anticipates auctioning this
spectrum to expand commercial use of 5G cellular and wireless broad-
band services, if agreement can be reached on relocation of — or
sharing with — the federal incumbents that operate in the same band.
Publication of the NPRM in the Federal Register on January 22
established deadlines of February 21 for comments and March 23 for
reply comments.
The FCC has requested comment on the uses radio amateurs make of the
spectrum and appropriate relocation options. Complicating matters is
the fact that radio amateurs must consider the possibility that the
immediately adjacent 3.1 – 3.3 GHz band is included in the spectrum
that Congress has identified for similar study. FCC Commissioner
Michael O’Rielly, in a December statement, referenced the fact that
the lower band may also be considered for non-federal reallocation,
potentially limiting relocation possibilities.
Amateurs make substantial use of the 3.3 – 3.5 GHz band that would be
hard to replicate elsewhere, and they have filed more than 150
comments before the designated comment period even began. Among users
looking at options are those who use this spectrum for Earth-Moon-
Earth (moonbounce) communication, mesh networks, experiments with
communication over long distances, radiosport, and amateur television.
A portion of the band also is designated for use by amateur
satellites in ITU Regions 2 and 3 (the Americas and Asia/Pacific).
A report is due by March 23 from the National Telecommunications and
Information Administration (NTIA) evaluating the feasibility of having
federal users share all or part of the 3.1 – 3.55 GHz band with
commercial wireless services. This report is required by the Making
Opportunities for Broadband Investment and Limiting Excessive and
Needless Obstacles to Wireless (MOBILE NOW) Act. The results of the
NTIA report will impact how much spectrum ultimately may be re-
allocated for auction to wireless providers.
ARRL urges amateurs who comment to inform the FCC about the uses they
make of the 3 GHz spectrum. Short comments and longer statements may
be filed electronically. Visit the FCC “How to Comment on FCC
Proceedings” page for more information. Commenters should reference
WT Docket 19-348.
Editor's Note: As this rulemaking would delete the 3.4 - 3.41 GHz
amateur satellite service band, AMSAT is also preparing comments to be
filed on this matter. Continued access to microwave spectrum is
crucial for GOLF and future AMSAT missions to HEO, GEO, and beyond.
[ANS thanks the ARRL for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
FO-99 (NEXUS) 1st Anniversary Report
NEXUS, an amateur radio technology demonstration satellite was
developed by Japan Amateur Satellite Association (JAMSAT) and NEXUS
project team in Department of Aerospace Engineering, College of
Science and Technology, Nihon University, Japan, and launched by
Japanese Epsilon#4 rocket from the Uchinoura Space Center at JST
9:50:20, 18 January 2019.
We would like to express our deep appreciation to all concerned and
report the results of the operation after the launch, i.e. one year’s
operation from 18 January 2019 to 18 January 2020.
The comprehensive report of operations can be found at
https://tinyurl.com/ANS-026-FO-99
[ANS thanks the NEXUS Project Team at Nihon University for the above
information]
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The digital download version of the 2019 edition of
Getting Started with Amateur Satellites is now available as a
DRM-free PDF from the AMSAT Store. Get yours today!
https://tinyurl.com/ANS-237-Getting-Started
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Amateurs in the News: “96-year-old Amateur Radio operator at
Ontario Science Centre speaks with astronaut"
A successful International Space Station (ISS) contact was held on
January 22 with participants at the Ontario Science Centre’s Amateur
Radio station VE3OSC in Toronto, Ontario.
As described below this was no ordinary ARISS contact.
“Jean Moffet, VE3WAD, has been a volunteer at the VE3OSC station for
more than 30 years. Having recently celebrated her 96th birthday,
Jean indicated one of her bucket list items is to speak to an
astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS). To honour her
invaluable contribution, the Science Centre worked in partnership with
the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Canada to
help Jean check this item off her list.”
The event was featured on Global News at 5:30 Toronto – in an
interview with Anchor/Producer Broadcast Journalist Susan Hay – and on
CTV News Toronto by Videojournalist Scott Lightfoot.
Nick Westoll of Global News wrote:
“Jean Moffett crossed an item off her bucket list on Wednesday by
speaking with Commander Luca Parmitano, an Italian astronaut from the
European Space Agency, aboard the International Space Station.
‘Commander Parmitano, I have two questions to ask you: Do you have an
opinion about extraterrestrial life before being on the International
Space (ISS) Station and has being on the ISS changed your views?’ she
asked.
Moffett was asked how long she has been waiting to do this.
‘Since I was 60… I was an amateur radio operator and my voice was
going up to satellites and I could hear the astronauts speaking, but
I could never speak to them,’ she recalled. ‘I thought to myself,
that’s my bucket wish’.”
Scott Lightfoot of CTV News wrote:
“Moffatt grew up in North Bay and moved to Toronto as a young girl
with her family hoping that there would be opportunities for a girl
interested in science and technology.
‘When we moved to Toronto I desperately wanted to go to university,
but my mom and dad had bought a house, and there was just enough
money for my brother to go to university.’
Undeterred, Moffatt said she took a course in Amateur Radio and
shortly after, got her licence. More than 30 years ago, after
retiring, and the death of her husband, Moffatt started volunteering
at the Ontario Science Centre, an endeavor she admits wasn’t
successful at first.
‘I was working in the greenhouse, killing all the plants because I
cannot keep plants alive’. Armed with her radio licence, she helped
set up the centre’s first radio shack with the call sign VE3OSC.
The idea to connect the nonagenarian with the ISS came just after
Moffatt’s 96th birthday.
‘She mentioned to me that one of the things she’s always wanted to do
was talk to an astronaut’ Christine Pigeon, the volunteer coordinator
at the Science Centre told CTV News Toronto. It all started with an
e-mail, and three months later with the help of ham radio operators
and NASA, Moffatt made her connection.”
Congratulations and Thank You!
Radio Amateurs of Canada would like to congratulate Jean Moffet,
VE3WAD, on this significant achievement and thank everyone who was
involved with this very special event. We hope to bring you additional
information about this event in a future issue of The Canadian Amateur
magazine.
We would especially like to thank Global News and CTV News for their
coverage of this event.
For the full story and links to the quoted stories and videos,
see https://tinyurl.com/ANS-026-RAC
[ANS thanks the Radio Amateurs of Canada for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Upcoming ARISS Contacts
Agrupamento de Escolas Serafim Leite, São João da Madeira, Portugal,
direct via CS2ASL
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS
The scheduled astronaut is Luca Parmitano KF5KDP
Contact is go for: Mon 2020-01-27 16:33:34 UTC 64 deg (***)
Primary School “Jovan Jovanović Zmaj“, Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia,
direct via YU7BPQ
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS
The scheduled astronaut is Luca Parmitano KF5KDP
Contact is go for: Tue 2020-01-28 15:51:19 UTC 48 deg
Possible Russian supported contact with Ecuador, via TBD (***)
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS (***)
The scheduled astronaut is Oleg Skripochka (***)
Contact possibly is go for Fri 2020-02-07 14:00 UTC (***)
The ARISS webpage is at https://www.ariss.org/
Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site.
The main page for Applying to Host a Scheduled Contact may be found at
https://www.ariss.org/apply-to-host-an-ariss-contact.html
Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your
own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the
listed time.
All dates and times listed follow International Standard ISO 8601
and time format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS
[ANS thanks Charlie Sulfana, AJ9N, ARISS Operations, for the above
information]
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Need new satellite antennas? Purchase Arrows, Alaskan Arrows,
and M2 LEO-Packs from the AMSAT Store. When you purchase through
AMSAT, a portion of the proceeds goes towards
Keeping Amateur Radio in Space.
https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/
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Upcoming AMSAT Events
Want to see AMSAT in action or learn more about amateur radio in
space?
AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating
through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club
meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events.
Current schedule:
+ February 7-9, 2020, Hamcation, Orlando, FL
+ February 14-15, 2020, Yuma Hamfest and ARRL Southwest Division
Convention, Yuma, AZ
+ February 15, 2020, Cabin Fever Reliever Hamfest, Saint Cloud, MN
+ March 6, 2020, Irving Hamfest, Irving, TX
+ March 14-15, 2020, Science City on University of Arizona, Tuscon, AZ
+ March 21, 2020, Midwinter Madness Hamfest, Buffalo, MN
+ March 21, 2020, Scottsdale Amateur Radio Club Hamfest, Scottsdale,
AZ
+ March 28, 2020, Tucson Spring Hamfest, Tucson, AZ
+ March 29, 2020, Vienna Wireless Winterfest, Annandale, VA
+ May 2, 2020, Cochise Amateur Radio Association Hamfest, Sierra
Vista, AZ
+ May 8-9, 2020 Prescott Hamfest, Prescott, AZ
+ May 15-17, Hamvention, Xenia, OH
+ June 12-13, 2020, Ham-Con, Plano, TX
A copy of the AMSAT hamfest brochure is available for download at
https://tinyurl.com/ANS-026-Hamfest
This color brochure is designed to be printed double-sided and folded
into a tri-fold handout.
To include your upcoming AMSAT presentation and/or demonstration,
please send an email to ambassadors (at) amsat (dot) org.
[ANS thanks Robert Bankston, KE4AL, AMSAT VP - User Services, for the
above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Upcoming Satellite Operations
Satellite Shorts
Feb 15 CN78 AD0DX FM and Linear (Twitter @ad0dx)
Mar 14-15 DN26/36 KC7JPC Linears (and possibly FM)
New Orleans, LA (EL49, EL58, EM59, EM40, EM50, EM60) January 14 –
February 1, 2020
Adam, KC3OBS, will be roving EM40, EM50, EL49, EL59, January 14th –
Feb 1st. In between, Adam will be in EM60 January 29th. Adam will
announce passes and updates on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/sparky_husky
Labrador (GO11 +) January 19-27, 2019
Chris VE3FU, Dave VE9CB, and Frank VO1HP will be active as VO2AC in
the 2020 CQ 160 CW contest, January 24-26, from Point Armour Light-
house, in Labrador. If time permits before the contest, they may be
active on FM satellites from GO11 as VO2AC or VO2AAA.
Depending on weather and timing of passes, you might catch them on FM
satellites as they make their way from FO93 to GO-11, passing through
FO92, GO02, GO13, GO12, and GO22 along the way, but no promises. They
will also make the reverse trek on January 27.
Montserrat (FK86) January 26 – February 2, 2020
Mel, W8MV, will be in Montserrat 26 January until 2 February,
operating under the call sign VP2MCV on FM Sats. QSL via LOTW.
#SnowBirdRove (EL79) – February 1-29, 2020
Joe, KE9AJ, will cross the border into Florida, seeking climatical
asylum in EL79 for the entire month of February. Since he will be
there for an extended period, with both FM and linear gear, keep an
eye on Joe’s Twitter feed for specific pass announcements:
https://twitter.com/KE9AJ
There is a possibility that Joe may have to make a pit stop in EM54
and EM53 on his way down South on February 1st. Monitor Twitter for
updates.
Antigua (FK97) February 2 – 9, 2020
Mel, W8MV, will be in Antigua 2-9 February. Mel is waiting for his
operating license. Will update as soon as it arrives. FM only. QSL
via LOTW
Isla Perez, Mexico (EL52, EL50, EL51) February 11 – 17, 2020
Members of Radio Club Puebla DX will be active as 6F3A from Isla
Perez, Mexico, between February 11-17. The operators mentioned are
Patricia/XE1SPM (Team Leader), Ismael/XE1AY, Rey/XE1SRD and
Ricardo/XE1SY. Activity will be on 80/40/20/17/15/12/10/6 meters, and
include the ARRL DX CW Contest (February 15-16). QSL via XE1SY.
Ismael, XE1AY, reports that he is doing CW and the satellites, and
will also TX from EL50 and XE1AY/mm from EL51.
Big Bend National Park (DL88) March 16-17, 2020
Ron AD0DX, Doug N6UA, and Josh W3ARD will operate from Big Bend
National Park to put grid DL88 on the air. Details will be added
here, as they come available, but you are more than welcome to keep an
eye on their individual Twitter feeds: https://twitter.com/ad0dx,
https://twitter.com/dtabor, and https://twitter.com/W3ARDstroke5
Please submit any additions or corrections to ke4al (at) amsat.org
[ANS thanks Robert Bankston, KE4AL, AMSAT VP - User Services, for the
above information]
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AMSAT, along with our ARISS partners, is developing an amateur
radio package, including two-way communication capability, to
be carried on-board Gateway in lunar orbit.
Support AMSAT's projects today at https://www.amsat.org/donate/
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Satellite Shorts From All Over
+ Want to make a satgate out of your Raspberry Pi? Check out how at
https://tinyurl.com/ANS-026-SatGate
+ CQ operators of PO-101! If you have successfully operated PO-101,
you can request a QSL card from the PO-101 team! Just fill in the
necessary info and they will send it to you as a token of appreciation
for using PO-101 https://tinyurl.com/ANS-026-PO-101
+ Peter Goodhall, 2M0SQL, notes that PSK31 transponders on NO-84 and
NO-104 are underutilized. If you are looking to try something new this
week, why not give it a shot? Uplinks are on 10m and downlinks are on
70cm. More information at http://aprs.org/psat.html and
http://aprs.org/psat2.html
+ Justin McAllister, K5EM, reports that he updated his SatMatch tool
with a new advanced search user interface. He has also made the tool
more mobile responsive. Check it out at https://www.satmatch.com/
+ FO-29 remains operational. However, the batteries on the 23 year old
satellite cannot maintain a safe voltage throughout an entire eclipse
during this point in its orbit with lengthy eclipse periods. The
satellite is commanded on over Japan periodically and will remain
active after the command until the battery voltage drops below a set
threshold, at which point it is automatically switched off to preserve
the batteries. Upcoming command times follow:
2/1 06:00
2/2 06:50
2/8 04:50 15:00
2/9 03:55 15:50
2/11 03:50 05:35
2/23 03:20 05:05
2/24 04:10 05:55 14:20
3/1 04:00 05:40 15:55
3/2 04:45 14:55
+ Scott Chapman, K4KDR, reports that AISAT-1 is active again on 2m
packet. He reports that the best success at digipeating is achieved
using NFM and Doppler correction if possible. iGates should be proxied
through KE6BLR to correct the satellite's malformed packets so they
are visible to the greater APRS-IS network.
+ Scott further reports that Taurus-1 remains active. Taurus-1 carries
a VHF FM to UHF Codec2 transponder. For more information about this
unique analog uplink, digital downlink system, see N8HM's AMSAT
Journal article / Symposium paper about LO-90 at
https://tinyurl.com/ANS-026-LO-90
Operation via Taurus-1 is similar to LO-90, except with an uplink of
145.840 MHz and a downlink of 435.840 MHz. For more information, see
https://www.amsat.org/pipermail/amsat-bb/2019-September/074905.html
+ Finally, Scott also reports, that despite the telemetry from
Duchifat-3 reporting the FM transponder to be on, nothing is heard
when uplinking at 145.970 MHz. We await further information about the
status of this satellite's FM transponder.
+ Hackaday featured an article entitled "Lessons Learned from a
CubeSat Postmortem" regarding problems encountered by KRAKsat, a 1U
CubeSat deployed from the ISS in June 2019. Read the article at
https://tinyurl.com/ANS-026-Hackaday
[ANS thanks everyone 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 addi-
tional 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 stu-
dent rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status.
Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership
information.
73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio In Space,
This week's ANS Editor,
Paul Stoetzer, N8HM
n8hm at amsat dot org
_______________________________________________
Via the ANS mailing list courtesy of AMSAT-NA
https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/ans
mation service of AMSAT, 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 commun-
icating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites.
The news feed on http://www.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.org.
You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service
Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see:
http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/ans
In this edition:
* HuskySat-1 With AMSAT VHF/UHF Linear Transponder Planned for Deployment Soon
* Celebration of 50th Anniversary of Australis-OSCAR 5
* ARRL to Argue for Continued Access to 3-GHz Spectrum as FCC Sets Comment Deadlines
* FO-99 (NEXUS) 1st Anniversary Report
* Amateurs in the News: “96-year-old Amateur Radio operator at Ontario Science Centre speaks with astronaut"
* Upcoming ARISS Contacts
* Upcoming AMSAT Events
* Upcoming Satellite Operations
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ANS-026 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 026.01
From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD.
DATE January 26, 2020
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-026.01
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AMSAT's GOLF-TEE satellite recently reached a major milestone
when prototype boards transmitted telemetry for the first time.
Help support AMSAT's path back to HEO by donating today!
https://www.amsat.org/donations/amsat-golf-program-donations/
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HuskySat-1 With AMSAT VHF/UHF Linear Transponder Planned for
Deployment Soon
The University of Washington's HuskySat-1 3U cubesat was launched on
the Northrop Grumman NG-12 Cygnus supply mission to the ISS on Novem-
ber 2. HuskySat-1 has remained stowed aboard Cygnus scheduled for de-
ployment after the cargo ship unberths from the International Space
Station. Unberthing is scheduled for 1435 UTC (9:35 am EST) on Jan 31
and will be covered live on NASA TV.
Within 24 hours after departure from the ISS, HuskySat-1 and SwampSat
will be deployed into orbit. After deployment, HuskySat-1’s 1,200 bps
BPSK beacon on 435.800 MHz should be active and decodable with the
latest release of AMSAT's FoxTelem software. HuskySat-1 is expected to
run its primary mission before being turned over to AMSAT for amateur
radio operation. HuskySat-1 features a 30 kHz wide 145 to 435 MHz
linear transponder for SSB/CW.
HuskySat-1
----------
Uplink: 145.910 - 145.940 MHz LSB/CW
Downlink: 435.840 - 435.810 MHz USB/CW (inverting)
Telemetry: 435.800 MHz 1K2 bps BPSK
24049.00 MHz (U of Washington experimental downlink)
The latest version of FoxTelem software to decode the 1200 bps BPSK
beacon is available at: https://www.amsat.org/tlm
The Fox-In-A-Box FoxTelem software has been updated for HuskySat-1
Operation at it's download website:
http://burnsfisher.com/AMSAT/FoxInABox
This release now contains the SD card image, FIAB-distro8-V1.08w.zip.
This file, when unzipped and written to a 16Gb SD card will give you
the latest software for FoxTelem and will run on a Raspberry Pi 4.
This is an image of the same SD card that has been shipping from the
AMSAT store for several weeks. (It should work on an 8Gb card as well
with less room to spare of course).
Version 1.08w has a few fixes from the previous 1.08r which was the
previous download version. Improvements to the decoder will capture
data a bit better. Remember that the later 1.08 versions (including
r and w) know how to switch bands between listening on VHF and UHF
based on which of Fox and Husky satellites are overhead at the time.
(Fox-In-A-Box information thanks to Burns Fisher, WB1FJ)
The linear transponder and telemetry system carried aboard Fox-1E
was designed for use in different CubeSats by merely adding an inter-
face adapter for connection to the host bus. Noting the prevalence of
CubeSats built and launched by universities and other organizations,
AMSAT adopted a goal of “amateur radio in every CubeSat.” Interested
CubeSat programs wanting to fly an amateur radio payload may partner
with AMSAT to carry one of these modules on their spacecraft. By pro-
viding amateur radio capability, the CubeSat program gets a worldwide
ground station network to receive their telemetry and experiment data
while the amateur radio community gets a transponder to use in orbit.
Additional information is posted on the University of Washington Husky
Satellite Lab pages:
https://sites.google.com/uw.edu/huskysatellitelab/huskysat-1
https://sites.google.com/uw.edu/huskysatellitelab/huskysat-1/com1
[ANS thanks the HuskySat-1 Team, AMSAT Engineering, AMSAT Operations,
the Fox Telemetry Team, and NASA for the above information]
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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
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Celebration of 50th Anniversary of Australis-OSCAR 5
January 23, 2020 was the 50th anniversary of the launch of Australis-
OSCAR 5. The first satellite built in Australia, arranging its launch
was AMSAT's first project following the creation of the organization
in 1969.
AO-5 launched along with TIROS-M (later ITOS-1) on a Delta rocket from
the west pad of Space Launch Complex 2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base.
Built by students at The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria,
Australia. Battery powered, Australis-OSCAR 5 transmitted telemetry on
both 2 meter (144.050 MHz at 50 mW) and 10 meter (29.450 MHz at 250
mW) bands that operated for 23 and 46 days respectively. Passive
magnetic attitude stabilization was performed by carrying two bar
magnets to align with the Earth's magnetic field in order to provide
a favorable antenna footprint. The University of Melbourne compiled
tracking reports from hundreds of stations in 27 countries.
Australis-OSCAR 5 was the first amateur satellite that was remotely
controlled. The control logic is a direct predecessor to the control
systems used by AMSAT in AMSAT-OSCAR 6, AMSAT-OSCAR 7, and AMSAT-OSCAR
8.
Two of the builders of AO-5, Dr. Owen Mace and Richard Tonkin, spoke
at the 2019 AMSAT Space Symposium this past October and participated
in a panel on "The Foundations of AMSAT." Video of the panel
presentations can be viewed at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-026-AO-5
On January 22nd, Tonkin appeared on The Space Show Australia Summer
Edition on 88.3 Southern FM in Victoria to discuss AO-5. The episode
can be heard at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-026-SpaceShow
Mace and Tonkin have written a book about the story of AO-5. The
second edition of the book was released in December. More information
about the satellite and the book can be found at
https://australis-oscar5.weebly.com/
A 50th anniversary celebration will be held on February 27th at the
University of Melbourne.
[ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
ARRL to Argue for Continued Access to 3-GHz Spectrum as FCC Sets
Comment Deadlines
At its January meeting, the ARRL Board of Directors instructed the
League’s FCC counsel to prepare a strong response to protect amateur
access to spectrum in the 3 GHz range. In its Notice of Proposed Rule-
making (NPRM) in WT Docket 19-348, the FCC proposed to relocate all
non-federal operations, including amateur uses, to spectrum outside
the 3.3 – 3.55 GHz band. The Commission anticipates auctioning this
spectrum to expand commercial use of 5G cellular and wireless broad-
band services, if agreement can be reached on relocation of — or
sharing with — the federal incumbents that operate in the same band.
Publication of the NPRM in the Federal Register on January 22
established deadlines of February 21 for comments and March 23 for
reply comments.
The FCC has requested comment on the uses radio amateurs make of the
spectrum and appropriate relocation options. Complicating matters is
the fact that radio amateurs must consider the possibility that the
immediately adjacent 3.1 – 3.3 GHz band is included in the spectrum
that Congress has identified for similar study. FCC Commissioner
Michael O’Rielly, in a December statement, referenced the fact that
the lower band may also be considered for non-federal reallocation,
potentially limiting relocation possibilities.
Amateurs make substantial use of the 3.3 – 3.5 GHz band that would be
hard to replicate elsewhere, and they have filed more than 150
comments before the designated comment period even began. Among users
looking at options are those who use this spectrum for Earth-Moon-
Earth (moonbounce) communication, mesh networks, experiments with
communication over long distances, radiosport, and amateur television.
A portion of the band also is designated for use by amateur
satellites in ITU Regions 2 and 3 (the Americas and Asia/Pacific).
A report is due by March 23 from the National Telecommunications and
Information Administration (NTIA) evaluating the feasibility of having
federal users share all or part of the 3.1 – 3.55 GHz band with
commercial wireless services. This report is required by the Making
Opportunities for Broadband Investment and Limiting Excessive and
Needless Obstacles to Wireless (MOBILE NOW) Act. The results of the
NTIA report will impact how much spectrum ultimately may be re-
allocated for auction to wireless providers.
ARRL urges amateurs who comment to inform the FCC about the uses they
make of the 3 GHz spectrum. Short comments and longer statements may
be filed electronically. Visit the FCC “How to Comment on FCC
Proceedings” page for more information. Commenters should reference
WT Docket 19-348.
Editor's Note: As this rulemaking would delete the 3.4 - 3.41 GHz
amateur satellite service band, AMSAT is also preparing comments to be
filed on this matter. Continued access to microwave spectrum is
crucial for GOLF and future AMSAT missions to HEO, GEO, and beyond.
[ANS thanks the ARRL for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
FO-99 (NEXUS) 1st Anniversary Report
NEXUS, an amateur radio technology demonstration satellite was
developed by Japan Amateur Satellite Association (JAMSAT) and NEXUS
project team in Department of Aerospace Engineering, College of
Science and Technology, Nihon University, Japan, and launched by
Japanese Epsilon#4 rocket from the Uchinoura Space Center at JST
9:50:20, 18 January 2019.
We would like to express our deep appreciation to all concerned and
report the results of the operation after the launch, i.e. one year’s
operation from 18 January 2019 to 18 January 2020.
The comprehensive report of operations can be found at
https://tinyurl.com/ANS-026-FO-99
[ANS thanks the NEXUS Project Team at Nihon University for the above
information]
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The digital download version of the 2019 edition of
Getting Started with Amateur Satellites is now available as a
DRM-free PDF from the AMSAT Store. Get yours today!
https://tinyurl.com/ANS-237-Getting-Started
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Amateurs in the News: “96-year-old Amateur Radio operator at
Ontario Science Centre speaks with astronaut"
A successful International Space Station (ISS) contact was held on
January 22 with participants at the Ontario Science Centre’s Amateur
Radio station VE3OSC in Toronto, Ontario.
As described below this was no ordinary ARISS contact.
“Jean Moffet, VE3WAD, has been a volunteer at the VE3OSC station for
more than 30 years. Having recently celebrated her 96th birthday,
Jean indicated one of her bucket list items is to speak to an
astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS). To honour her
invaluable contribution, the Science Centre worked in partnership with
the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Canada to
help Jean check this item off her list.”
The event was featured on Global News at 5:30 Toronto – in an
interview with Anchor/Producer Broadcast Journalist Susan Hay – and on
CTV News Toronto by Videojournalist Scott Lightfoot.
Nick Westoll of Global News wrote:
“Jean Moffett crossed an item off her bucket list on Wednesday by
speaking with Commander Luca Parmitano, an Italian astronaut from the
European Space Agency, aboard the International Space Station.
‘Commander Parmitano, I have two questions to ask you: Do you have an
opinion about extraterrestrial life before being on the International
Space (ISS) Station and has being on the ISS changed your views?’ she
asked.
Moffett was asked how long she has been waiting to do this.
‘Since I was 60… I was an amateur radio operator and my voice was
going up to satellites and I could hear the astronauts speaking, but
I could never speak to them,’ she recalled. ‘I thought to myself,
that’s my bucket wish’.”
Scott Lightfoot of CTV News wrote:
“Moffatt grew up in North Bay and moved to Toronto as a young girl
with her family hoping that there would be opportunities for a girl
interested in science and technology.
‘When we moved to Toronto I desperately wanted to go to university,
but my mom and dad had bought a house, and there was just enough
money for my brother to go to university.’
Undeterred, Moffatt said she took a course in Amateur Radio and
shortly after, got her licence. More than 30 years ago, after
retiring, and the death of her husband, Moffatt started volunteering
at the Ontario Science Centre, an endeavor she admits wasn’t
successful at first.
‘I was working in the greenhouse, killing all the plants because I
cannot keep plants alive’. Armed with her radio licence, she helped
set up the centre’s first radio shack with the call sign VE3OSC.
The idea to connect the nonagenarian with the ISS came just after
Moffatt’s 96th birthday.
‘She mentioned to me that one of the things she’s always wanted to do
was talk to an astronaut’ Christine Pigeon, the volunteer coordinator
at the Science Centre told CTV News Toronto. It all started with an
e-mail, and three months later with the help of ham radio operators
and NASA, Moffatt made her connection.”
Congratulations and Thank You!
Radio Amateurs of Canada would like to congratulate Jean Moffet,
VE3WAD, on this significant achievement and thank everyone who was
involved with this very special event. We hope to bring you additional
information about this event in a future issue of The Canadian Amateur
magazine.
We would especially like to thank Global News and CTV News for their
coverage of this event.
For the full story and links to the quoted stories and videos,
see https://tinyurl.com/ANS-026-RAC
[ANS thanks the Radio Amateurs of Canada for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Upcoming ARISS Contacts
Agrupamento de Escolas Serafim Leite, São João da Madeira, Portugal,
direct via CS2ASL
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS
The scheduled astronaut is Luca Parmitano KF5KDP
Contact is go for: Mon 2020-01-27 16:33:34 UTC 64 deg (***)
Primary School “Jovan Jovanović Zmaj“, Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia,
direct via YU7BPQ
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS
The scheduled astronaut is Luca Parmitano KF5KDP
Contact is go for: Tue 2020-01-28 15:51:19 UTC 48 deg
Possible Russian supported contact with Ecuador, via TBD (***)
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS (***)
The scheduled astronaut is Oleg Skripochka (***)
Contact possibly is go for Fri 2020-02-07 14:00 UTC (***)
The ARISS webpage is at https://www.ariss.org/
Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site.
The main page for Applying to Host a Scheduled Contact may be found at
https://www.ariss.org/apply-to-host-an-ariss-contact.html
Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your
own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the
listed time.
All dates and times listed follow International Standard ISO 8601
and time format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS
[ANS thanks Charlie Sulfana, AJ9N, ARISS Operations, for the above
information]
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Need new satellite antennas? Purchase Arrows, Alaskan Arrows,
and M2 LEO-Packs from the AMSAT Store. When you purchase through
AMSAT, a portion of the proceeds goes towards
Keeping Amateur Radio in Space.
https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/
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Upcoming AMSAT Events
Want to see AMSAT in action or learn more about amateur radio in
space?
AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating
through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club
meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events.
Current schedule:
+ February 7-9, 2020, Hamcation, Orlando, FL
+ February 14-15, 2020, Yuma Hamfest and ARRL Southwest Division
Convention, Yuma, AZ
+ February 15, 2020, Cabin Fever Reliever Hamfest, Saint Cloud, MN
+ March 6, 2020, Irving Hamfest, Irving, TX
+ March 14-15, 2020, Science City on University of Arizona, Tuscon, AZ
+ March 21, 2020, Midwinter Madness Hamfest, Buffalo, MN
+ March 21, 2020, Scottsdale Amateur Radio Club Hamfest, Scottsdale,
AZ
+ March 28, 2020, Tucson Spring Hamfest, Tucson, AZ
+ March 29, 2020, Vienna Wireless Winterfest, Annandale, VA
+ May 2, 2020, Cochise Amateur Radio Association Hamfest, Sierra
Vista, AZ
+ May 8-9, 2020 Prescott Hamfest, Prescott, AZ
+ May 15-17, Hamvention, Xenia, OH
+ June 12-13, 2020, Ham-Con, Plano, TX
A copy of the AMSAT hamfest brochure is available for download at
https://tinyurl.com/ANS-026-Hamfest
This color brochure is designed to be printed double-sided and folded
into a tri-fold handout.
To include your upcoming AMSAT presentation and/or demonstration,
please send an email to ambassadors (at) amsat (dot) org.
[ANS thanks Robert Bankston, KE4AL, AMSAT VP - User Services, for the
above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Upcoming Satellite Operations
Satellite Shorts
Feb 15 CN78 AD0DX FM and Linear (Twitter @ad0dx)
Mar 14-15 DN26/36 KC7JPC Linears (and possibly FM)
New Orleans, LA (EL49, EL58, EM59, EM40, EM50, EM60) January 14 –
February 1, 2020
Adam, KC3OBS, will be roving EM40, EM50, EL49, EL59, January 14th –
Feb 1st. In between, Adam will be in EM60 January 29th. Adam will
announce passes and updates on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/sparky_husky
Labrador (GO11 +) January 19-27, 2019
Chris VE3FU, Dave VE9CB, and Frank VO1HP will be active as VO2AC in
the 2020 CQ 160 CW contest, January 24-26, from Point Armour Light-
house, in Labrador. If time permits before the contest, they may be
active on FM satellites from GO11 as VO2AC or VO2AAA.
Depending on weather and timing of passes, you might catch them on FM
satellites as they make their way from FO93 to GO-11, passing through
FO92, GO02, GO13, GO12, and GO22 along the way, but no promises. They
will also make the reverse trek on January 27.
Montserrat (FK86) January 26 – February 2, 2020
Mel, W8MV, will be in Montserrat 26 January until 2 February,
operating under the call sign VP2MCV on FM Sats. QSL via LOTW.
#SnowBirdRove (EL79) – February 1-29, 2020
Joe, KE9AJ, will cross the border into Florida, seeking climatical
asylum in EL79 for the entire month of February. Since he will be
there for an extended period, with both FM and linear gear, keep an
eye on Joe’s Twitter feed for specific pass announcements:
https://twitter.com/KE9AJ
There is a possibility that Joe may have to make a pit stop in EM54
and EM53 on his way down South on February 1st. Monitor Twitter for
updates.
Antigua (FK97) February 2 – 9, 2020
Mel, W8MV, will be in Antigua 2-9 February. Mel is waiting for his
operating license. Will update as soon as it arrives. FM only. QSL
via LOTW
Isla Perez, Mexico (EL52, EL50, EL51) February 11 – 17, 2020
Members of Radio Club Puebla DX will be active as 6F3A from Isla
Perez, Mexico, between February 11-17. The operators mentioned are
Patricia/XE1SPM (Team Leader), Ismael/XE1AY, Rey/XE1SRD and
Ricardo/XE1SY. Activity will be on 80/40/20/17/15/12/10/6 meters, and
include the ARRL DX CW Contest (February 15-16). QSL via XE1SY.
Ismael, XE1AY, reports that he is doing CW and the satellites, and
will also TX from EL50 and XE1AY/mm from EL51.
Big Bend National Park (DL88) March 16-17, 2020
Ron AD0DX, Doug N6UA, and Josh W3ARD will operate from Big Bend
National Park to put grid DL88 on the air. Details will be added
here, as they come available, but you are more than welcome to keep an
eye on their individual Twitter feeds: https://twitter.com/ad0dx,
https://twitter.com/dtabor, and https://twitter.com/W3ARDstroke5
Please submit any additions or corrections to ke4al (at) amsat.org
[ANS thanks Robert Bankston, KE4AL, AMSAT VP - User Services, for the
above information]
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AMSAT, along with our ARISS partners, is developing an amateur
radio package, including two-way communication capability, to
be carried on-board Gateway in lunar orbit.
Support AMSAT's projects today at https://www.amsat.org/donate/
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Satellite Shorts From All Over
+ Want to make a satgate out of your Raspberry Pi? Check out how at
https://tinyurl.com/ANS-026-SatGate
+ CQ operators of PO-101! If you have successfully operated PO-101,
you can request a QSL card from the PO-101 team! Just fill in the
necessary info and they will send it to you as a token of appreciation
for using PO-101 https://tinyurl.com/ANS-026-PO-101
+ Peter Goodhall, 2M0SQL, notes that PSK31 transponders on NO-84 and
NO-104 are underutilized. If you are looking to try something new this
week, why not give it a shot? Uplinks are on 10m and downlinks are on
70cm. More information at http://aprs.org/psat.html and
http://aprs.org/psat2.html
+ Justin McAllister, K5EM, reports that he updated his SatMatch tool
with a new advanced search user interface. He has also made the tool
more mobile responsive. Check it out at https://www.satmatch.com/
+ FO-29 remains operational. However, the batteries on the 23 year old
satellite cannot maintain a safe voltage throughout an entire eclipse
during this point in its orbit with lengthy eclipse periods. The
satellite is commanded on over Japan periodically and will remain
active after the command until the battery voltage drops below a set
threshold, at which point it is automatically switched off to preserve
the batteries. Upcoming command times follow:
2/1 06:00
2/2 06:50
2/8 04:50 15:00
2/9 03:55 15:50
2/11 03:50 05:35
2/23 03:20 05:05
2/24 04:10 05:55 14:20
3/1 04:00 05:40 15:55
3/2 04:45 14:55
+ Scott Chapman, K4KDR, reports that AISAT-1 is active again on 2m
packet. He reports that the best success at digipeating is achieved
using NFM and Doppler correction if possible. iGates should be proxied
through KE6BLR to correct the satellite's malformed packets so they
are visible to the greater APRS-IS network.
+ Scott further reports that Taurus-1 remains active. Taurus-1 carries
a VHF FM to UHF Codec2 transponder. For more information about this
unique analog uplink, digital downlink system, see N8HM's AMSAT
Journal article / Symposium paper about LO-90 at
https://tinyurl.com/ANS-026-LO-90
Operation via Taurus-1 is similar to LO-90, except with an uplink of
145.840 MHz and a downlink of 435.840 MHz. For more information, see
https://www.amsat.org/pipermail/amsat-bb/2019-September/074905.html
+ Finally, Scott also reports, that despite the telemetry from
Duchifat-3 reporting the FM transponder to be on, nothing is heard
when uplinking at 145.970 MHz. We await further information about the
status of this satellite's FM transponder.
+ Hackaday featured an article entitled "Lessons Learned from a
CubeSat Postmortem" regarding problems encountered by KRAKsat, a 1U
CubeSat deployed from the ISS in June 2019. Read the article at
https://tinyurl.com/ANS-026-Hackaday
[ANS thanks everyone 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 addi-
tional 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 stu-
dent rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status.
Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership
information.
73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio In Space,
This week's ANS Editor,
Paul Stoetzer, N8HM
n8hm at amsat dot org
_______________________________________________
Via the ANS mailing list courtesy of AMSAT-NA
https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/ans
Monday, January 20, 2020
Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins
Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2020 Jan 20 0748 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/subscription-services
#
# Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
#
Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 13 - 19 January 2020
Solar activity was very low. The solar disk was spotless. No Earth-directed CMEs were observed.
No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.
The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at moderate levels throughout the reporting period.
Geomagnetic field activity was quiet with an isolated period of unsettled conditions on 16 Jan under a nominal solar wind regime.
Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 20 January - 15 February 2020
Solar activity is expected to remain at very low levels.
No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.
The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to reach high levels on 21-22 January, due to recurrent CH HSS influence. Moderate levels are anticipated for the remainder of the outlook period.
Geomagnetic field activity is expected to reach active levels on 20-21 Jan with unsettled conditions forecasted on 22 Jan and 01-05 Feb due to recurrent CH HSS activity.
Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2020 Jan 20 0748 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/subscription-services
#
# 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table
# Issued 2020-01-20
#
# UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest
# Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index
2020 Jan 20 72 12 4
2020 Jan 21 72 12 4
2020 Jan 22 72 10 3
2020 Jan 23 72 5 2
2020 Jan 24 72 5 2
2020 Jan 25 72 5 2
2020 Jan 26 72 5 2
2020 Jan 27 72 5 2
2020 Jan 28 72 5 2
2020 Jan 29 72 5 2
2020 Jan 30 72 5 2
2020 Jan 31 72 5 2
2020 Feb 01 72 10 3
2020 Feb 02 72 10 3
2020 Feb 03 72 10 3
2020 Feb 04 72 10 3
2020 Feb 05 72 10 3
2020 Feb 06 71 5 2
2020 Feb 07 71 5 2
2020 Feb 08 71 5 2
2020 Feb 09 71 5 2
2020 Feb 10 71 5 2
2020 Feb 11 71 5 2
2020 Feb 12 71 5 2
2020 Feb 13 71 5 2
2020 Feb 14 71 5 2
2020 Feb 15 71 5 2
(NOAA)
Saturday, January 18, 2020
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-019
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:
* GOLF-TEE Reaches Major Milestones
* ARISS Contact Opportunity Call for Proposals February 1, 2020 to March 31, 2020
* Satellite Status and Tracking API's Added to AMSAT Website
* Qarman Beacon Telemetry Information Released
* China Telecoms Regulator Proposing to Delete Some Current Amateur Allocations
* Memorial Service for Brian Kantor, WB6CYT
* Upcoming Satellite Operations
* ARISS News
* Satellite Shorts from All Over
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-019.01
ANS-019 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 019.01
From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD.
January 19, 2020
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-019.01
GOLF-TEE Reaches Major Milestone
A group of GOLF-TEE (Greater Orbit Larger Footprint - Technology
Evaluation Environment) satellite prototype boards transmitted
telemetry for the first time on Tuesday, January 14, 2020. The boards
are laid out on a bench as a "flat-sat" with interconnecting wires,
bench power supplies, and a dummy load on the transmitter. The
interconnected boards include:
- An early RT-IHU (Radiation Tolerant Internal Housekeeping Unit
(i.e. computer) prototype,
- A CIU (Control Interface Unit) prototype, and
- A set of spare boards from HuskySat-1 that act as prototypes for
the LIHU (Legacy IHU) and legacy VHF/UHF RF components.
Now that the development team has reached this point, it has RF to
use as a basis for developing a GOLF-TEE decoder for FoxTelem, the
ground telemetry receiver software.
Thousands of hours of work by many AMSAT volunteers have gone into
the hardware and software that got GOLF-TEE this far, with much work
yet to be done before flight units are ready.
GOLF-TEE is designed as a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) testbed for
technologies necessary for a successful CubeSat mission to a wide
variety of orbits, including MEO(Medium Earth Orbit) and HEO (High
Earth Orbit).
To help support the GOLF program, please consider volunteering or
donating today.
https://www.amsat.org/volunteer-for-amsat/
https://www.amsat.org/donations/amsat-golf-program-donations/
[ANS thanks Burns Fisher, WB1FJ, AMSAT Flight Software, and the
entire GOLF team for the above information]
--------------------------------------------------------------------
ARISS Contact Opportunity Call for Proposals February 1, 2020 to
March 31, 2020
The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Program
is seeking formal and informal education institutions and
organizations, individually or working together, to host an Amateur
Radio contact with a crew member on board the ISS. ARISS is happy to
announce a proposal window which will open February 1, 2020 for
contacts that would be held between January 2021 and June 2021. Crew
scheduling and ISS orbits will determine the exact contact dates. To
maximize these radio contact opportunities, ARISS is looking for
organizations that will draw large numbers of participants and
integrate the contact into a well-developed education plan.
The proposal window for contacts between January 2021. and June 2021
will open on February 1, 2020 and close on March 31. 2020. Proposal
information and documents can be found at www.ariss.org. Two ARISS
Introductory Webinar sessions will be held on two different date and
times. The first is at January 23 at 2100 ET and the second is at
January 27 at 1800 ET. The same material will be covered during both
sessions, so choose the session that best fits your schedule. The
Eventbrite link to sign up is
https://ariss-proposal-webinar-spring-2020.eventbrite.com
The Opportunity
Crew members aboard the International Space Station will participate
in scheduled Amateur Radio contacts. These radio contacts are
approximately 10 minutes in length and allow students to interact
with the astronauts through a question-and-answer session.
An ARISS contact is a voice-only communication opportunity via
Amateur Radio between astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the space
station and classrooms and communities. ARISS contacts afford
education audiences the opportunity to learn firsthand from
astronauts what it is like to live and work in space and to learn
about space research conducted on the ISS. Students also will have an
opportunity to learn about satellite communication, wireless
technology, and radio science. Because of the nature of human
spaceflight and the complexity of scheduling activities aboard the
ISS, organizations must demonstrate flexibility to accommodate
changes in dates and times of the radio contact.
Amateur Radio organizations around the world with the support of NASA
and space agencies in Russia, Canada, Japan and Europe present
educational organizations with this opportunity. The ham radio
organizations' volunteer efforts provide the equipment and
operational support to enable communication between crew on the ISS
and students around the world using Amateur Radio.
For More Information
For proposal information and more details such as expectations,
proposal guidelines and proposal form, and dates and times of
Information Webinars, go to www.ariss.org.
Please direct any questions to ariss.us.education@gmail.com .
[ANS thanks ARISS for the above information.]
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
Need new satellite antennas? Purchase Arrows, Alaskan Arrows,
and M2 LEO-Packs from the AMSAT Store. When you purchase through
AMSAT, a portion of the proceeds goes towards
Keeping Amateur Radio in Space.
https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
Satellite Status and Tracking API's Added to AMSAT Website
Thanks to an initiative by Heimir, W1ANT, AMSAT added Application
Programming Interfaces (APIs) to the AMSAT web site to make it easy
for developers to write apps for mobile devices and the Internet of
Things (IoT). For example, the satellite status page
www.amsat.org/status does not work well on small screens. By
accessing the status data directly developers can easily present the
data in a way appropriate for their screens.
These APIs also make it easy for IoT homebrewers to do things like
build next pass reminder gizmos so they can beep out notices in CW.
The developers have set a goal of February 15, 2020 to finalize the
APIs, and consider them operational on March 1, 2020. Developers
are encouraged to send suggestions or questions to
www.amsat.org/webmaster-contact/ For details of API use
visit www.amsat.org/status/api/ and www.amsat.org/track/api/
[ANS thanks Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P for the above information.]
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Qarman Beacon Telemetry Information Released
QARMAN, a nano-satellite designed and built at VKI, was launched to
the International Space Station on December 5, 2019. Deployed is
expected to take place in the week of February 12, 2020.
QARMAN (Qubesat for Aerothermodynamic Research and Measurements on
AblatioN) is the world's first CubeSat designed to survive
atmospheric re-entry. Work on it started in 2013 at the von Karman
Institute for Fluid Dynamics (VKI).
The aim of the QARMAN mission is to demonstrate the usability of a
CubeSat platform as an atmospheric entry vehicle. Spacecraft
descending towards a planet with an atmosphere experience very harsh
environment including extreme temperatures (several thousand
degrees).
Information about Qarman's 437.350 MHz 9600 bps GMSK AX.25 beacon has
now been released by the team.
Download the Qarman Beacon Definition QARMAN_BCNdef_v1.1 at
https://ukamsat.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/qarman_bcndef_v1.1.pdf
Download the Beacon Decoder spreadsheet QARMAN_BCNdecoder at
https://ukamsat.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/qarman_bcndecoder.xlsx
Reports can be sent to operations@qarman.eu
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information.]
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
The digital download version of the 2019 edition of
Getting Started with Amateur Satellites is now available as a
DRM-free PDF from the AMSAT Store. Get yours today!
https://tinyurl.com/ANS-237-Getting-Started
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
China Telecoms Regulator Proposing to Delete Some Current
Amateur Allocations
China's telecommunications regulator has proposed amending the
Measures for the Administration of Amateur Radio Stations, and some
amateur bands are in danger of being eliminated. Lide Zhang, BI8CKU,
told ARRL that the proposal would prohibit amateur operation on the
2200-meter band as well as on 146 - 148 MHz, 1260 - 1300 MHz,
3400 - 3500 MHz, 5650 - 5725 MHz, and all bands above 10 GHz.
Radio communications engineer and Chinese Amateur Satellite Group
(CAMSAT) CEO Alan Kung, BA1DU, told ARRL that government efforts to
eliminate some amateur bands are nothing new, but proposals that have
been aired for a while now are on the regulatory agency's schedule.
Kung said he does not anticipate that all of the bands proposed will
be taken away, but he conceded that the climate will "undoubtedly"
become increasingly more dangerous for China's amateur radio
community.
"The attempt to crowd out the amateur radio bands has a long history
throughout the world," he said, "but it may never have become so
urgent for the amateur radio community as it is today. We all
understand that radio spectrum resources have become a bottleneck for
further development." He said today's radio communication industry
"is working hard to share spectrum resources." Kung characterized
spectrum as "the soil on which amateur radio depends."
[ANS thanks the ARRL for the above information.]
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Memorial Service for Brian Kantor, WB6CYT
Phil Karn, KA9Q shares the following announcement:
"As you know, Brian Kantor, WB6CYT passed away suddenly on
November 21, 2019. We will hold a memorial service for Brian on
Saturday, Feb 1 2020 at 1:30 PM in La Jolla, CA (part of San Diego).
Please see this link for details:
https://tinyurl.com/ANS-019-Kantor-Memorial
"Please bring any photos, mementos and (above all) stories and
anecdotes about Brian to share. Brian wasn't exactly a highly formal
person who stood on ceremony, so we'll keep this informal. If you
have a story to tell, it's up to you whether you stand up and relate
it to the whole group or just a few others at a time. There will be
plenty of time for both.
"Everyone who knew Brian is welcome. His friendships spanned at least
three distinct social circles, and I know he'd be very happy to see
everyone meet and enjoy everyone else's company. Even if he'd be a
little embarrassed that we were doing it in his honor.
"Free snacks and refreshments will be provided, so please RSVP
through the evite link so we can tell the hotel how much to make
available. If you have special dietary needs, please say so; the
hotel has a menu we can choose from.
"Please forward this email to anyone you think might be interested.
Hope to see you on the 1st."
[ANS thanks Phil Karn, KA9Q for the above information.]
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
AMSAT, along with our ARISS partners, is developing an amateur
radio package, including two-way communication capability, to
be carried on-board Gateway in lunar orbit.
Support AMSAT's projects today at https://www.amsat.org/donate/
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
Upcoming Satellite Operations
New Orleans, LA (EL49, EL58, EM59, EM40, EM50, EM60) January 14 -
February 1, 2020
Adam, KC3OBS, will be roving EM40, EM50, EL49, EL59, January 14 -
Feb 1. In between, Adam will be EL58, January 18 or 19
depending on weather, and in EM60 January 29. Adam will announce
passes and updates on Twitter: https://twitter.com/sparky_husky
Labrador (GO11 +) January 19-27, 2019
Chris VE3FU, Dave VE9CB, and Frank VO1HP will be active as VO2AC in
the 2020 CQ160 CW contest, January 24-26, from Point Armour
Lighthouse, in Labrador. If time permits before the contest, they
may be active on FM satellites from GO11 as VO2AC or VO2AAA.
Depending on weather and timing of passes, you might catch them on
FM satellites as they make their way from FO93 to GO-11, passing
through FO92, GO02, GO13, GO12, and GO22 along the way, but no
promises. They will also make the reverse trek on January 27.
Montserrat (FK86) January 26 - February 2, 2020
Mel, W8MV, will be in Montserrat 26 January until 2 February,
operating under the call sign VP2MCV on FM Sats. QSL via LOTW.
Antigua (FK97) February 2 - 9, 2020
Mel, W8MV, will be in Antigua 2-9 February. Mel is waiting for his
operating license. Will update as soon as it arrives. FM only.
QSL via LOTW
Isla Perez, Mexico (EL52, EL50, EL51) February 11 - 17, 2020
Members of Radio Club Puebla DX will be active as 6F3A from
Isla Perez, Mexico, between February 11-17. The operators mentioned
are Patricia/XE1SPM (Team Leader), Ismael/XE1AY, Rey/XE1SRD and
Ricardo/XE1SY. Activity will be on 80/40/20/17/15/12/10/6 meters, and
include the ARRL DX CW Contest (February 15-16). QSL via XE1SY.
Ismael, XE1AY, reports that he doing CW and the satellites, and will
also TX from EL50 and XE1AY/mm from EL51.
Big Bend National Park (DL88) March 16-17, 2020
Ron AD0DX, Doug N6UA, and Josh W3ARD will operate from Big Bend
National Park to put grid DL88 on the air. Details will be added
here, as they come available, but you are more than welcome to keep
an eye on their individual Twitter feeds: https://twitter.com/ad0dx,
https://twitter.com/dtabor, and https://twitter.com/W3ARDstroke5
[ANS thanks Robert Bankston, KE4AL for the above information.]
--------------------------------------------------------------------
ARISS News
(Editor's Note: See school contact opportunity story above.)
+ Upcoming Contacts
Morita Junior High School, Fukui, Japan, direct via 8J9MO
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS
The scheduled astronaut is Luca Parmitano KF5KDP
Contact is go for: Wed 2020-01-22 08:00:46 UTC 27 deg
Ontario Science Centre, Toronto, Canada, telebridge via IK1SLD
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS
The scheduled astronaut is Luca Parmitano KF5KDP
Contact is go for: Wed 2020-01-22 17:21:36 UTC 32 deg
[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
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
Shorts from All Over
+ ARISS-US Educators Review Processes for US Proposal Window
A team of educators who are members of the ARISS-US Education
Committee is finalizing the last few processes related to the late
2019 ARISS-US Proposal Window. The team had ranked the education
proposals and then sent a list to the ARISS-US leaders of the top
schools and education groups recommended for hosting an ARISS
contact. A news release is in draft stage. The organizations selected
will be in the queue for scheduled ARISS contacts during the second
half of 2020. A new ARISS-US Proposal Window will open soon and
details on this will be forthcoming.
[ANS thanks ARISS for the above information.]
+ WIA 2020 Annual Conference Presentations
The Wireless Institute of Australia Annual Conference will be held in
Hobart, Tasmania May 8-10 2020 and registrations are open.
On the Saturday afternoon a wide range of presentations are organized
to showcase the conference theme which is the "Antarctic Gateway".
Following lunch there will be two presentation streams which can be
categorized as the "Antarctic" stream and the "Radio" stream.
Complete information can be viewed at:
https://www.wia.org.au/newsevents/news/2020/20200111-3/index.php
[ANS thanks the Wireless Institute of Australia for the above
information.]
+ AMSAT Argentina Celebrates LO-19 30th Anniversary
On Feb-22-1990 LUSAT/LO-19 was launched along with AO-16, DO-17,
WO-18, UO-14 & UO-15. It was the first Argentina Satellite, and one
of first to use PACSAT protocol. LUSAT is still calling home with
its carrier at +/-437.125.
Members of AMSAT Argentina (LU7AA) celebrate the 30th anniversary of
the LUSAT (LO-19) satellite between Jan. 18 and 26 on HF on SSB,
FT8, CW. An award is available as well. QSL via LU7AA (d), eQSL.
Find complete information at:
http://lu4aao.org/lu7aa/cert_30_aniv_lusat_2020.htm and
http://amsat.org.ar/certlusat30.htm
[ANS thanks the DARC DX Newsletter and AMSAT-LU for the above
information.]
+ AMSAT-SA Announces A New Date Fre Their Space Symposium
The annual AMSAT SA Space symposium date has changed to
Saturday, 11 July 2020. While the call for papers is ongoing till the
end of February, AMSAT SA is pleased to announce that Burns Fisher,
WB1FJ, of AMSAT NA will delivery two papers at the symposium:
Fox-in-a-box: Fox telemetry reception using an inexpensive
Raspberry Pi and a J-pole antenna including a discussion on the
optimal positioning for a J-pole antenna for satellite reception and
an overview of what is in orbit currently and expected in the near
future and their features. Prospective authors are invited to
propose other papers by submitting a brief synopsis to
admin@amsatsa.org.za before 28 February 2020.
+ Cardiff Microwave Roundtable Saturday, March 7, 2020
The Cardiff University ARS will host a meeting of the UK Microwave
Group on Saturday March 7, 2020 at our campus in Cardiff. This one
day event is a mix of talks, measurements, and socializing about
activities in the GHz frequencies.
GNU Radio Workshop
On the following day, Sunday March 8, there will be a hands on
Introduction to GNU Radio and Software Defined Radio. More info
coming soon, please send an email to officers@cardiffars.org.uk
if you are interested.
[ANS thanks the UK Microwave Group for the above information.]
+ Lockheed Martin Launches First Smart Satellite Enabling Space
Mesh Networking
Recently, Lockheed Martin launched the Pony Express 1 mission as a
hosted payload on Tyvak-0129, a next-generation Tyvak 6U spacecraft.
Pony Express 1, an example of rapid prototyping, was developed, built
and integrated in nine months. Some of the key technologies being
flight-tested include:
- Software validates advanced adaptive mesh communications between
satellites, shared processing capabilities, and can take advantage,
of sensors aboard other smart satellites,
- A software-defined radio that allows for high-bandwidth hosting of
multiple RF applications, store-and-forward RF collection, data
compression, digital signal processing and waveform transmission,
- 3D-printed wideband antenna housing.
Read the full story at
http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=55121
[ANS thanks Spaceref.com 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
_______________________________________________
Via the ANS mailing list courtesy of AMSAT-NA
https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/ans
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:
* GOLF-TEE Reaches Major Milestones
* ARISS Contact Opportunity Call for Proposals February 1, 2020 to March 31, 2020
* Satellite Status and Tracking API's Added to AMSAT Website
* Qarman Beacon Telemetry Information Released
* China Telecoms Regulator Proposing to Delete Some Current Amateur Allocations
* Memorial Service for Brian Kantor, WB6CYT
* Upcoming Satellite Operations
* ARISS News
* Satellite Shorts from All Over
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-019.01
ANS-019 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 019.01
From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD.
January 19, 2020
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-019.01
GOLF-TEE Reaches Major Milestone
A group of GOLF-TEE (Greater Orbit Larger Footprint - Technology
Evaluation Environment) satellite prototype boards transmitted
telemetry for the first time on Tuesday, January 14, 2020. The boards
are laid out on a bench as a "flat-sat" with interconnecting wires,
bench power supplies, and a dummy load on the transmitter. The
interconnected boards include:
- An early RT-IHU (Radiation Tolerant Internal Housekeeping Unit
(i.e. computer) prototype,
- A CIU (Control Interface Unit) prototype, and
- A set of spare boards from HuskySat-1 that act as prototypes for
the LIHU (Legacy IHU) and legacy VHF/UHF RF components.
Now that the development team has reached this point, it has RF to
use as a basis for developing a GOLF-TEE decoder for FoxTelem, the
ground telemetry receiver software.
Thousands of hours of work by many AMSAT volunteers have gone into
the hardware and software that got GOLF-TEE this far, with much work
yet to be done before flight units are ready.
GOLF-TEE is designed as a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) testbed for
technologies necessary for a successful CubeSat mission to a wide
variety of orbits, including MEO(Medium Earth Orbit) and HEO (High
Earth Orbit).
To help support the GOLF program, please consider volunteering or
donating today.
https://www.amsat.org/volunteer-for-amsat/
https://www.amsat.org/donations/amsat-golf-program-donations/
[ANS thanks Burns Fisher, WB1FJ, AMSAT Flight Software, and the
entire GOLF team for the above information]
--------------------------------------------------------------------
ARISS Contact Opportunity Call for Proposals February 1, 2020 to
March 31, 2020
The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Program
is seeking formal and informal education institutions and
organizations, individually or working together, to host an Amateur
Radio contact with a crew member on board the ISS. ARISS is happy to
announce a proposal window which will open February 1, 2020 for
contacts that would be held between January 2021 and June 2021. Crew
scheduling and ISS orbits will determine the exact contact dates. To
maximize these radio contact opportunities, ARISS is looking for
organizations that will draw large numbers of participants and
integrate the contact into a well-developed education plan.
The proposal window for contacts between January 2021. and June 2021
will open on February 1, 2020 and close on March 31. 2020. Proposal
information and documents can be found at www.ariss.org. Two ARISS
Introductory Webinar sessions will be held on two different date and
times. The first is at January 23 at 2100 ET and the second is at
January 27 at 1800 ET. The same material will be covered during both
sessions, so choose the session that best fits your schedule. The
Eventbrite link to sign up is
https://ariss-proposal-webinar-spring-2020.eventbrite.com
The Opportunity
Crew members aboard the International Space Station will participate
in scheduled Amateur Radio contacts. These radio contacts are
approximately 10 minutes in length and allow students to interact
with the astronauts through a question-and-answer session.
An ARISS contact is a voice-only communication opportunity via
Amateur Radio between astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the space
station and classrooms and communities. ARISS contacts afford
education audiences the opportunity to learn firsthand from
astronauts what it is like to live and work in space and to learn
about space research conducted on the ISS. Students also will have an
opportunity to learn about satellite communication, wireless
technology, and radio science. Because of the nature of human
spaceflight and the complexity of scheduling activities aboard the
ISS, organizations must demonstrate flexibility to accommodate
changes in dates and times of the radio contact.
Amateur Radio organizations around the world with the support of NASA
and space agencies in Russia, Canada, Japan and Europe present
educational organizations with this opportunity. The ham radio
organizations' volunteer efforts provide the equipment and
operational support to enable communication between crew on the ISS
and students around the world using Amateur Radio.
For More Information
For proposal information and more details such as expectations,
proposal guidelines and proposal form, and dates and times of
Information Webinars, go to www.ariss.org.
Please direct any questions to ariss.us.education@gmail.com .
[ANS thanks ARISS for the above information.]
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
Need new satellite antennas? Purchase Arrows, Alaskan Arrows,
and M2 LEO-Packs from the AMSAT Store. When you purchase through
AMSAT, a portion of the proceeds goes towards
Keeping Amateur Radio in Space.
https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
Satellite Status and Tracking API's Added to AMSAT Website
Thanks to an initiative by Heimir, W1ANT, AMSAT added Application
Programming Interfaces (APIs) to the AMSAT web site to make it easy
for developers to write apps for mobile devices and the Internet of
Things (IoT). For example, the satellite status page
www.amsat.org/status does not work well on small screens. By
accessing the status data directly developers can easily present the
data in a way appropriate for their screens.
These APIs also make it easy for IoT homebrewers to do things like
build next pass reminder gizmos so they can beep out notices in CW.
The developers have set a goal of February 15, 2020 to finalize the
APIs, and consider them operational on March 1, 2020. Developers
are encouraged to send suggestions or questions to
www.amsat.org/webmaster-contact/ For details of API use
visit www.amsat.org/status/api/ and www.amsat.org/track/api/
[ANS thanks Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P for the above information.]
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Qarman Beacon Telemetry Information Released
QARMAN, a nano-satellite designed and built at VKI, was launched to
the International Space Station on December 5, 2019. Deployed is
expected to take place in the week of February 12, 2020.
QARMAN (Qubesat for Aerothermodynamic Research and Measurements on
AblatioN) is the world's first CubeSat designed to survive
atmospheric re-entry. Work on it started in 2013 at the von Karman
Institute for Fluid Dynamics (VKI).
The aim of the QARMAN mission is to demonstrate the usability of a
CubeSat platform as an atmospheric entry vehicle. Spacecraft
descending towards a planet with an atmosphere experience very harsh
environment including extreme temperatures (several thousand
degrees).
Information about Qarman's 437.350 MHz 9600 bps GMSK AX.25 beacon has
now been released by the team.
Download the Qarman Beacon Definition QARMAN_BCNdef_v1.1 at
https://ukamsat.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/qarman_bcndef_v1.1.pdf
Download the Beacon Decoder spreadsheet QARMAN_BCNdecoder at
https://ukamsat.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/qarman_bcndecoder.xlsx
Reports can be sent to operations@qarman.eu
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information.]
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
The digital download version of the 2019 edition of
Getting Started with Amateur Satellites is now available as a
DRM-free PDF from the AMSAT Store. Get yours today!
https://tinyurl.com/ANS-237-Getting-Started
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
China Telecoms Regulator Proposing to Delete Some Current
Amateur Allocations
China's telecommunications regulator has proposed amending the
Measures for the Administration of Amateur Radio Stations, and some
amateur bands are in danger of being eliminated. Lide Zhang, BI8CKU,
told ARRL that the proposal would prohibit amateur operation on the
2200-meter band as well as on 146 - 148 MHz, 1260 - 1300 MHz,
3400 - 3500 MHz, 5650 - 5725 MHz, and all bands above 10 GHz.
Radio communications engineer and Chinese Amateur Satellite Group
(CAMSAT) CEO Alan Kung, BA1DU, told ARRL that government efforts to
eliminate some amateur bands are nothing new, but proposals that have
been aired for a while now are on the regulatory agency's schedule.
Kung said he does not anticipate that all of the bands proposed will
be taken away, but he conceded that the climate will "undoubtedly"
become increasingly more dangerous for China's amateur radio
community.
"The attempt to crowd out the amateur radio bands has a long history
throughout the world," he said, "but it may never have become so
urgent for the amateur radio community as it is today. We all
understand that radio spectrum resources have become a bottleneck for
further development." He said today's radio communication industry
"is working hard to share spectrum resources." Kung characterized
spectrum as "the soil on which amateur radio depends."
[ANS thanks the ARRL for the above information.]
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Memorial Service for Brian Kantor, WB6CYT
Phil Karn, KA9Q shares the following announcement:
"As you know, Brian Kantor, WB6CYT passed away suddenly on
November 21, 2019. We will hold a memorial service for Brian on
Saturday, Feb 1 2020 at 1:30 PM in La Jolla, CA (part of San Diego).
Please see this link for details:
https://tinyurl.com/ANS-019-Kantor-Memorial
"Please bring any photos, mementos and (above all) stories and
anecdotes about Brian to share. Brian wasn't exactly a highly formal
person who stood on ceremony, so we'll keep this informal. If you
have a story to tell, it's up to you whether you stand up and relate
it to the whole group or just a few others at a time. There will be
plenty of time for both.
"Everyone who knew Brian is welcome. His friendships spanned at least
three distinct social circles, and I know he'd be very happy to see
everyone meet and enjoy everyone else's company. Even if he'd be a
little embarrassed that we were doing it in his honor.
"Free snacks and refreshments will be provided, so please RSVP
through the evite link so we can tell the hotel how much to make
available. If you have special dietary needs, please say so; the
hotel has a menu we can choose from.
"Please forward this email to anyone you think might be interested.
Hope to see you on the 1st."
[ANS thanks Phil Karn, KA9Q for the above information.]
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AMSAT, along with our ARISS partners, is developing an amateur
radio package, including two-way communication capability, to
be carried on-board Gateway in lunar orbit.
Support AMSAT's projects today at https://www.amsat.org/donate/
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Upcoming Satellite Operations
New Orleans, LA (EL49, EL58, EM59, EM40, EM50, EM60) January 14 -
February 1, 2020
Adam, KC3OBS, will be roving EM40, EM50, EL49, EL59, January 14 -
Feb 1. In between, Adam will be EL58, January 18 or 19
depending on weather, and in EM60 January 29. Adam will announce
passes and updates on Twitter: https://twitter.com/sparky_husky
Labrador (GO11 +) January 19-27, 2019
Chris VE3FU, Dave VE9CB, and Frank VO1HP will be active as VO2AC in
the 2020 CQ160 CW contest, January 24-26, from Point Armour
Lighthouse, in Labrador. If time permits before the contest, they
may be active on FM satellites from GO11 as VO2AC or VO2AAA.
Depending on weather and timing of passes, you might catch them on
FM satellites as they make their way from FO93 to GO-11, passing
through FO92, GO02, GO13, GO12, and GO22 along the way, but no
promises. They will also make the reverse trek on January 27.
Montserrat (FK86) January 26 - February 2, 2020
Mel, W8MV, will be in Montserrat 26 January until 2 February,
operating under the call sign VP2MCV on FM Sats. QSL via LOTW.
Antigua (FK97) February 2 - 9, 2020
Mel, W8MV, will be in Antigua 2-9 February. Mel is waiting for his
operating license. Will update as soon as it arrives. FM only.
QSL via LOTW
Isla Perez, Mexico (EL52, EL50, EL51) February 11 - 17, 2020
Members of Radio Club Puebla DX will be active as 6F3A from
Isla Perez, Mexico, between February 11-17. The operators mentioned
are Patricia/XE1SPM (Team Leader), Ismael/XE1AY, Rey/XE1SRD and
Ricardo/XE1SY. Activity will be on 80/40/20/17/15/12/10/6 meters, and
include the ARRL DX CW Contest (February 15-16). QSL via XE1SY.
Ismael, XE1AY, reports that he doing CW and the satellites, and will
also TX from EL50 and XE1AY/mm from EL51.
Big Bend National Park (DL88) March 16-17, 2020
Ron AD0DX, Doug N6UA, and Josh W3ARD will operate from Big Bend
National Park to put grid DL88 on the air. Details will be added
here, as they come available, but you are more than welcome to keep
an eye on their individual Twitter feeds: https://twitter.com/ad0dx,
https://twitter.com/dtabor, and https://twitter.com/W3ARDstroke5
[ANS thanks Robert Bankston, KE4AL for the above information.]
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ARISS News
(Editor's Note: See school contact opportunity story above.)
+ Upcoming Contacts
Morita Junior High School, Fukui, Japan, direct via 8J9MO
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS
The scheduled astronaut is Luca Parmitano KF5KDP
Contact is go for: Wed 2020-01-22 08:00:46 UTC 27 deg
Ontario Science Centre, Toronto, Canada, telebridge via IK1SLD
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS
The scheduled astronaut is Luca Parmitano KF5KDP
Contact is go for: Wed 2020-01-22 17:21:36 UTC 32 deg
[ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N for the above information.]
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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
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Shorts from All Over
+ ARISS-US Educators Review Processes for US Proposal Window
A team of educators who are members of the ARISS-US Education
Committee is finalizing the last few processes related to the late
2019 ARISS-US Proposal Window. The team had ranked the education
proposals and then sent a list to the ARISS-US leaders of the top
schools and education groups recommended for hosting an ARISS
contact. A news release is in draft stage. The organizations selected
will be in the queue for scheduled ARISS contacts during the second
half of 2020. A new ARISS-US Proposal Window will open soon and
details on this will be forthcoming.
[ANS thanks ARISS for the above information.]
+ WIA 2020 Annual Conference Presentations
The Wireless Institute of Australia Annual Conference will be held in
Hobart, Tasmania May 8-10 2020 and registrations are open.
On the Saturday afternoon a wide range of presentations are organized
to showcase the conference theme which is the "Antarctic Gateway".
Following lunch there will be two presentation streams which can be
categorized as the "Antarctic" stream and the "Radio" stream.
Complete information can be viewed at:
https://www.wia.org.au/newsevents/news/2020/20200111-3/index.php
[ANS thanks the Wireless Institute of Australia for the above
information.]
+ AMSAT Argentina Celebrates LO-19 30th Anniversary
On Feb-22-1990 LUSAT/LO-19 was launched along with AO-16, DO-17,
WO-18, UO-14 & UO-15. It was the first Argentina Satellite, and one
of first to use PACSAT protocol. LUSAT is still calling home with
its carrier at +/-437.125.
Members of AMSAT Argentina (LU7AA) celebrate the 30th anniversary of
the LUSAT (LO-19) satellite between Jan. 18 and 26 on HF on SSB,
FT8, CW. An award is available as well. QSL via LU7AA (d), eQSL.
Find complete information at:
http://lu4aao.org/lu7aa/cert_30_aniv_lusat_2020.htm and
http://amsat.org.ar/certlusat30.htm
[ANS thanks the DARC DX Newsletter and AMSAT-LU for the above
information.]
+ AMSAT-SA Announces A New Date Fre Their Space Symposium
The annual AMSAT SA Space symposium date has changed to
Saturday, 11 July 2020. While the call for papers is ongoing till the
end of February, AMSAT SA is pleased to announce that Burns Fisher,
WB1FJ, of AMSAT NA will delivery two papers at the symposium:
Fox-in-a-box: Fox telemetry reception using an inexpensive
Raspberry Pi and a J-pole antenna including a discussion on the
optimal positioning for a J-pole antenna for satellite reception and
an overview of what is in orbit currently and expected in the near
future and their features. Prospective authors are invited to
propose other papers by submitting a brief synopsis to
admin@amsatsa.org.za before 28 February 2020.
+ Cardiff Microwave Roundtable Saturday, March 7, 2020
The Cardiff University ARS will host a meeting of the UK Microwave
Group on Saturday March 7, 2020 at our campus in Cardiff. This one
day event is a mix of talks, measurements, and socializing about
activities in the GHz frequencies.
GNU Radio Workshop
On the following day, Sunday March 8, there will be a hands on
Introduction to GNU Radio and Software Defined Radio. More info
coming soon, please send an email to officers@cardiffars.org.uk
if you are interested.
[ANS thanks the UK Microwave Group for the above information.]
+ Lockheed Martin Launches First Smart Satellite Enabling Space
Mesh Networking
Recently, Lockheed Martin launched the Pony Express 1 mission as a
hosted payload on Tyvak-0129, a next-generation Tyvak 6U spacecraft.
Pony Express 1, an example of rapid prototyping, was developed, built
and integrated in nine months. Some of the key technologies being
flight-tested include:
- Software validates advanced adaptive mesh communications between
satellites, shared processing capabilities, and can take advantage,
of sensors aboard other smart satellites,
- A software-defined radio that allows for high-bandwidth hosting of
multiple RF applications, store-and-forward RF collection, data
compression, digital signal processing and waveform transmission,
- 3D-printed wideband antenna housing.
Read the full story at
http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=55121
[ANS thanks Spaceref.com for the above information.]
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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
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