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:
* HuskySat-1 Deployed, Telemetry Beacon Active
* Free Digital Copy of "Getting Started with Amateur Satellites" Now Available for New or Renewing Members
* Joe Spier, K6WAO, Resigns as AMSAT President
* Melissa Pore To Be Honored at Hamcation February 2020
* W1ANT Pro Satellite Tracker Announced
* AMSAT Argentina Drifting APRS Buoy on 145.825 MHz
* VUCC Awards-Endorsements for February 2020
* Upcoming Satellite Operations
* Upcoming AMSAT Events
* ARISS News
* Satellite Shorts from All Over
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-033.01
ANS-033 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 033.01
From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD.
February 2, 2020
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-033.01
HuskySat-1 Deployed, Telemetry Beacon Active
The University of Washington's HuskySat-1 CubeSat was deployed from
the Cygnus NG-12 spacecraft on Friday, January 31 at approximately
2230 UTC. HuskySat-1's 1,200 bps BPSK beacon is active on
435.800 MHz and is decodable with the latest release of AMSAT's
FoxTelem software.
HuskySat-1 will be made available for Amateur Radio use following its
primary mission to test a pulsed plasma thruster and experimental
K band (24 GHz) communications system. 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 TLE as of January 31, 2020 at 2339Z are:
HuskySat-1
1 99934U 1001D 20031.87746807 .00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 13
2 99934 51.5569 307.6644 0013532 287.5589 72.3913 15.32433103 16
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
[ANS thanks Jerry Buxton, NØJY AMSAT Vice President - Engineering
for the above information.]
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Free Digital Copy of "Getting Started with Amateur Satellites" Now
Available for New or Renewing Members
While the HuskySat-1 completes it's scientific mission, check out the
best resource for learning how to work through linear transponder
satellites (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.
If you have trouble selecting your free gift, please see this YouTube
video to see the steps necessary. https://youtu.be/oRqk5Am-UzE
[ANS thanks the AMSAT Office for the above information]
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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]
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Melissa Pore To Be Honored at HamCation February 2020
Melissa Pore, an ARISS-US Education Committee member, recently earned
Orlando HamCation's 2020 Carole Perry Educator of the Year award. She
will be feted at their February convention; the award recognizes
teachers making outstanding educational contributions.
Melissa is an engineering and computer science teacher at
Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington, VA. She led weeks of STEM
and radio activities leading up to the school’s 2018 ARISS contact.
She heads the school’s engineering and ham radio clubs. At her
previous school, she worked with the STMSAT-1 CubeSat project, the
first satellite built by elementary school students. She helped
staff an ARISS exhibit at the 2019 Space Explorers Education
Conference in Houston and will present a workshop there in 2020. At
the 2019 Space Port Area Conference for Educators, she received a
plaque from the ISS National Lab SSE program citing her “service,
commitment, and desire to push the boundaries of STEM Education.”
She brings her students to staff some of ARISS's outreach exhibits,
such as a 2019 one at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space
Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.
[ANS thanks ARISS for the above information.]
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W1ANT Pro Satellite Tracker Announced
Heimir, W1ANT announces that the Pro version has no ads and adds some
features. Most notably the ability to group the satellites. The
groups can then be enabled and only satellites from enabled groups
will show up in the satellite overview.
Other features include:
- Get a list of Amateur Radio satellites visible from your current
location in the next 24 hours.
- Get an overview over their paths from acquisition to loss of signal
(AOS to LOS).
- Only passes above the minimum elevation are shown on the list.
- Select one of them and get information on their on-board radios.
- Select one of their radios and be able to point your phone directly
at it so you can easily operate it.
- Extra information, i.e. the actual frequencies to use for uplink
and downlink is also presented taken the Doppler effect into
account.
Get full information on the app at the Google Play Store.
[ANS thanks Heimir Thor Sverrisson, W1ANT for the above information.]
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AMSAT Argentina Drifting APRS Buoy on 145.825 MHz
On Thursday, January 30, 2020 at 1400 GMT AMSAT Argentina deployed a
drifting buoy on South Atlantic Seas that aims to transmit APRS on
the satellite packet frequency of 145.825 MHz. WSPR will also be
transmitted. AMSAT Argentina reports the APRS beacon, callsign
LU7AA-11, will initially be on Argentina's APRS frequency of 144.930
MHz but will change frequency to 145.825 MHz so that it can be
digipeated by the amateur packet radio satellites. The WSPR beacon
will run 900 mW on 14095.6 kHz with the call sign LU7AA.
Release will be 100 km offshore Mar del Plata coast, seeking east
aiming currents/winds. The objective is to track sea currents
tracking and HF/VHF/SAT QRPp propagation tests. AMSAT Argentina,
LU7AA, will appreciate WSPR stations receiving/reporting 20M.
Further information and pictures at http://amsat.org.ar?f=buoy
[ANS thanks AMSAT Argentina 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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VUCC Awards-Endorsements for February 2020
Here are the endorsements and new VUCC Satellite Awards issued by the
ARRL for the period January 1, 2020 through February 1, 2020.
Congratulations to all those who made the list this month!
KO4MA 1701 1750
WA5KBH 744 759
KE4AL 602 625
WD9EWK (DM43) 597 600
K0FFY 260 576
N1AIA 257 494
G0ABI 320 453
AB5SS 306 411
AD0HJ 375 405
AC9E 353 401
W5TD 392 396
K5IX 350 375
MI6GTY 354 360
W7JSD 336 355
PS8ET 326 350
ND0C 250 301
KJ4EU 206 261
KC9UQR 196 240
W4DTA 180 217
N9FN 194 207
N0RSR 154 200
VE1VOX 155 157
PU4JOE 101 150
WA9JBQ 125 150
K5ZM 101 135
S57NML 100 126
KN6DBC New 125
AB4GE 100 122
XQ3SA New 114
KE0WPA New 108
RA3S New 107
EA2AA New 101
W4ZXT New 100
WR0H New 100
If you find errors or omissions. please contact me off-list at
developed by comparing the ARRL .pdf listings for the two months. It's
a visual comparison so omissions are possible. Apologies if your call
was not mentioned. Thanks to all those who are roving to grids that
are rarely on the birds. They are doing most of the work!
[ANS thanks Ron Parsons, W5RKN for the above information.]
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Upcoming Satellite Operations
Shorts
- Feb 15 CN78 ADODX FM and Linear (@ad0dx)
- Mar 14-15 DN26/36 KC7JPC Linears (and possibly FM)
+ 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 1. 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.
+ Key West and Boca Grande Key (EL94, EL84+) February 9-11,2020
Clayton, W5PFG, will be in Key West, Florida (EL94) February 9
through the 11, 2020. Monday, February 10, 13:15-17:30 UTC, Clayton
will operate FM & SSB satellites from EL84xm, Boca Grande Key.
Listen for W5PFG near these dates for additional Florida grids such
as EL79, EL89, EL99, EL86, EL96, & EL95. Keep an eye on Clayton’s
Twitter feed for further announcements https://twitter.com/w5pfg
+ 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.]
+ DX Satellite Operations on QO-100
Matteo, IZ4YGS will be QRV as 9G5GS from Sanzule, Ghana from
February 1 - 26. He plans some activity on Satellite QO-100. QSL
direct to home call.
Special event station II3BIA will be QRV from February 1 - 29 during
the Biathlon World Championships 2020 being held in Antholz.
Activity includes possible activity on Satellite QO-100.
QSL via IN3ZWF.
[ANS thanks ARRL DX News for the above information.]
+ FJ, ST. BARTHEMELY. Operators Pat/N2IEN, Lee/WW2DX, Rock/WW1X and
Ray/W2RE will be active as FJ/N2IEN, FJ/WW2DX, FJ/WW1X and FJ/W2RE
respectively from St. Barthemely (NA-146) between February 15-22.
Activity will be holiday style on various HF (160-6m)/VHF/UHF bands
using CW, SSB, RTTY and satellites. QSL via their home call signs.
[ANS thanks the Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin for the above information.]
+ ZS95SARL celebrates the 95th anniversary of the South African
Radio League, founded in May 1925 as South African Radio Relay
League(renamed after WW II). QRV during the whole year on HF, VHF,
UHF and via satellites. QSL via bureau.
[ANS thanks the DARC DX Newsletter for the above information.]
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Upcoming AMSAT Events
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,
Tucson, 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
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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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ARISS News
+ Upcoming School Contacts
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 Friday, February 7, 2020 UTC.
+ ARISS congratulations Satoshi 7M3TJZ who has now mentored
138 schools.
+ The following US states and entities have never had an ARISS
contact: South Dakota, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, Northern
Marianas Islands, and the Virgin Islands.
[ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N for the above information.]
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Satellite Shorts from All Over
+ AMSAT-Spain Readies Two Satellites
The Hades and EASAT-2 PocketQubes from AMSAT-Spain will carry VHF/UHF
linear transponders and analog and digital two-way communications
capability, including store-and-forward. Launch is planned for late
2020. More information is available at https://amsat-ea.org
[ANS thanks AMSAT-EA for the above information.]
+ Training course: Product Assurance in ESA projects for SMEs
On March, 31 to April 1, 2020 the European Space Agency invites
participants interested in either Hardware or Software Product
Assurance (PA) to join its specialists for a two-day training
session at ESA/ESTEC (Noordwijk, The Netherlands). The course aims
at providing SME participants with an overview of the PA tasks to be
performed throughout a project. While a generic overview of Product
Assurance tasks is provided to all participants on day 1, day 2
treats Hardware and Software PA aspects in more detail. Participants
choose either the Hardware PA or Software PA module, depending on
their needs and interests. More information and registration is
available at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-033-ESA-PA
[ANS thanks the ESA 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
_______________________________________________
Via the ANS mailing list courtesy of AMSAT-NA
https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/ans
