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.
In this edition:
* AMSAT-NA and M2 Antenna Systems LEO-Pack Back in Stock in AMSAT Store
* New Distance Record Set for ISS Packet QSO
* QB50 Mission – Downlink Frequency Details
* AMSAT Events
* ARISS News
* Satellite Shorts from All Over
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-036.01
ANS-036 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 036.01
>From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD.
DATE Febuary 5, 2017
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-036.01
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AMSAT-NA and M2 Antenna Systems LEO-Pack Back in Stock in AMSAT Store
AMSAT-NA and M2 Antenna Systems are pleased to announce that the LEO-Pack system is being offered to members only at $499, shipping included (US only).Non-members can join AMSAT-NA at time of purchase to participate in this special purchase.
The LEO-Pack will then be drop shipped to the purchaser from M2, who estimates that the production time after the order is received will be 2-3 weeks.
The 436CP16 and 2MCP8A are light weight, circularly polarized antennas optimized for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellite communications or other applications where a small circular polarized antenna is required. Optimummatch and gain designed for the satellite band.
Rear mounted for easy coaxial cable routing. A preamp (not included) can be mounted close to the antenna for almost no coax loss before the preamp, maximizing your receive performance.
See all the details, including links to technical specifications at:
http://store.amsat.org/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=1&products_id=123
[ANS thanks the guys in the AMSAT On-Line Store for the above information]
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New Distance Record Set for ISS Packet QSO
Congratulations to Mark Pisani, KK6OTJ, and Jerry Rogers, W8LR, for
their February 1 APRS message packet QSO during an ISS pass. The
distance was 3,089 km, establishing a new distance record for the ISS
digipeater.
[ANS thanks Mark, KK6OTJ for the above information]
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QB50 Mission – Downlink Frequency Details
The first of the QB50 CubeSats that are destined for deployment from the International Space Station are now awaiting their turn to be uplifted to the ISS.
In addition to the ISS deployments it is planned that there will be two further batches launched using other vehicles.
The exact timing of these events is not yet available but, in advance, here is a fully updated list of all CubeSats involved. Also included are the details of their science experiments and their downlink frequencies and modulation modes. The frequencies have been coordinated by the IARU Frequency Coordination team and, generally, all the spacecraft will use 9k6 data rates on 70cms.
Download the QB50 Frequency Excel Spreadsheet – http://tinyurl.com/QB50-Frequencies-20170201
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information]
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AMSAT Events
Information about AMSAT activities at other important events around the country. Examples of these events are radio club meetings where AMSAT Area Coordinators give presentations, demonstrations of working amateur satellites, and hamfests with an AMSAT presence (a table with
AMSAT literature and merchandise, sometimes also with presentations, forums, and/or demonstrations).
*Saturday, 4 February 2017 – Palm Springs Hamfest in Palm Springs CA
*Friday-Sunday, 10-12 February 2017 Orlando HamCation in Orlando, FL
*Friday and Saturday, 17-18 February 2017 – Yuma Hamfest in Yuma AZ
*Saturday, 18 March 2017 – Scottsdale SpringFest in Scottsdale AZ
*Friday through Sunday, 31 March–2 April 2017, NVCON in Las Vegas NV
*Wednesday, 5 April 2007 – presentation for Scottsdale Amateur Radio Club in Scottsdale AZ
*Friday and Saturday, 7-8 April 2017, Green Country Hamfest in Claremore OK
*Saturday, 6 May 2017 – Cochise Amateur Radio Association Hamfest in Sierra Vista AZ
*Friday and Saturday, 9-10 June 2017, HAM-COM in Irving TX
*Saturday, 10 June 2017 – Prescott Hamfest in Prescott AZ
[ANS thanks AMSAT-NA for the above information]
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ARISS News
Successful Contacts
* A telebridge contact with students at Cours Saint Maur, Monaco,
was successful Thu 2017-02-02.
* A telebridge contact via ON4ISS with students at the South Street
School and Westside Middle School in Danbury CT, USA, was successful
Thu 2017-02-02.
* A telebridge contact via W6SRJ with students at the Swiss Space
Center – École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne,
Switzerland was successful Thu 2017-01-26.
Upcoming Contacts
* A telebridge contact via K6DUE at the Space Exploration Educators
Conference, Houston, Texas, is scheduled for Thu 2017-02-09 20:30:10 UTC 21
deg. The scheduled astronaut is Thomas Pesquet, KG5FYG.
The Manned Space Flight Education Foundation Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational foundation offering extensive science education program and a space museum. It is the Official Visitor Center of NASA Johnson Space Center and the only Smithsonian Affiliate in the greater Houston area. Educational emphasis is placed on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in a
fun and engaging way. It uses space exploration to inspire wonder and interest in science and math.
Space Center Houston offers a rich array of education programming for teachers and students, providing extraordinary learning opportunities. Inspiring young people to choose careers in STEM is one of the outcomes of our program. Education programs are based on data-supported evidence of
effective learning and teaching methods.
This specific contact will be taking place during the Space Exploration Educator Conference, which engages teachers from around the world for three days of hands-on learning and exceptional keynote speakers. Students from the Science Magnet Program at the Seabrook Intermediate School in Seabrook, Texas will be participating in the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station
(ARISS) contact.
Seabrook Intermediate School is the leader in innovative education. Their mission is to ensure that each individual explores and discovers unique talents, passions, and abilities through a dynamic system distinguished by limitless opportunities (including the Science Magnet Program) that foster
collaboration, creativity, intrinsic motivation, respect for diversity, and citizenship to develop a productive role in society.
The Science Magnet Program at Seabrook Intermediate School is offered to students in grades 6-8. The school provides a unique science curriculum for all students while providing additional science electives and opportunities for students enrolled in the Science Magnet Program.
* A direct contact via K4PSA with students at the Palmetto Scholars Academy, North Charleston, SC, is scheduled for Fri 2017-02-10 17:59:18 UTC 38 deg. The scheduled astronaut is Shane Kimbrough, KE5HOD.
Palmetto Scholars Academy is a public charter school, providing a gifted curriculum to students in grades 6-12 in North Charleston, South Carolina. 6 years ago PSA opened in a converted day care center and was the lowest funded school in America. It was started by a group of concerned parents who wanted tomeet the needs of gifted students. In those early days, board members took out
second mortgages to meet teacher payroll, and parents pulled together daily to send in supplies. Despite challenges, PSA rose above the decrepitude and started its tradition of achievement, earning their mascot name of Phoenix.
PSA is a student haven for gifted students. “It’s okay to be a nerd here†and “It’s cool to be smart†illuminate the student culture at PSA.
To meet the intellectual needs of gifted students, PSA participates in many challenges such as VEX Robotics, VEX IQ Robotics, FIRST Robotics Competition, Ham Radio, Lowcountry Science Fair, Odyssey of the Mind, and the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP). PSA students have designed three experiments through the SSEP. Two experiments reached the ISS and returned to
Earth, although the second experiment blew up on the Orb-3 and Falcon 9. The third experiment launches next month. Students also send experiments via PongSats, Cubes in Space, and student-launched high- altitude balloons.
PSA has a Ham Radio Club and their own vanity call sign, K4PSA. The club meets
every other Friday for 1 ½ hours and after schools on Friday. Since its inception in 2015, the club has gotten 6 students licensed for ham radio. These students will be the student liaisons and leaders for this ham radio contact.
PSA has established itself as a distinguished charter school in South Carolina. With a new building, better funding, and culture of achievement, PSA rises from the ashes like the Phoenix and challenges its students to reach the stars.
Watch
http://www.ariss.org/upcoming-contacts.html
for information about upcoming contacts as they are scheduled.
[ANS thanks ARISS and Charlie, AJ9N for the above information]
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Satellite Shorts From All Over
Space Launch System Video Series -- "No Small Steps"
The challenge of going to Mars is monumental, and it's going to take a monumental rocket to make it possible. NASA's Space Launch System will be the most powerful rocket ever built and will help send humans to deep space destinations. SLS is an advanced, heavy-lift launch vehicle that will
provide an entirely new capability for science and human exploration beyond Earth's orbit.
Learn more about the Space Launch System with the "No Small Steps" video series. Hosted by Stephen Granade, the entertaining and informative series gets into the "how" of making a trip to Mars happen -- taking rocket science and making it relatable.
Episode 1: "Getting to Mars"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOYXa9jx-TI
Episode 2: "A Foundation for Mars"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DesBgDPR22Q
Episode 3: "Rocket Fuel"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJXQQv9UZNg
Episode 4: "Working With Gravity"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wlcFU1Le4U
[ANS thanks NASA Education Express Message -- Feb. 2, 2017 for the above information]
DC Area Free Amateur Radio Technician License Class starting Sunday, March 26, 2017
The Montgomery Amateur Radio Club is offering a free amateur radio Technician license class at the Rockville Memorial Library for six Sundays on March 26, April 2, April 9, April 23, April 30, May 7, 2017 from 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM. More information about this class is at
http://www.marcclub.org/mweb/education/classes/index.html
We will be meeting at the Studio i Makerspace Rockville Memorial Library, second floor
21 Maryland Ave Rockville, MD 20850
Maps & Directions
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=21+Maryland+Ave
+Rockville+MD+20850+United+States
This is a great opportunity for you to get your amateur radio license. To learn more about amateur radio, also known as ham radio, go to http://www.arrl.org/what-is-ham-radio
or watch the Discovering Amateur Radio video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcfJUjcSEz8
You can register for this free class by sending an email to education@marcclub.org
[ANS thanks David Bern, W2LNX, MARC Education committee for the above information]
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/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,
This week's ANS Editor, Joe Spier, K6WAO k6wao at amsat dot org
--
-73
k6wao Joe Spier k6wao@amsat.net
AMSAT Vice President, Educational Relations
AMSAT News Service Co-Editor
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