[amsat-dc] AMSAT-DC Workshop Saturday, April 25, in Greenbelt, Md

Thu Mar 5 12:11:04 PST 2009

AN AMSAT-DC WORKSHOP will be held on 
Saturday, April 25, at the NASA Goddard 
Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.  

A small "simulated satellite" kit will 
be built, tested and operated by 
individuals attending.  The completed 
kit, soon to be widely known as a 
PICetSat II module, is a simple remote 
sensing unit that serves as an expendable 
high-altitude small balloon payload.  
It transmits downlink telemetry on the 
70 cm Amateur Radio band.  

Other attendees will provide and 
configure radios, computers and software 
needed to receive, decode and analyze 
the PICetSat II telemetry.  

The workshop is an experiment unto itself 
for the sponsoring AMSAT-DC group.  This 
workshop may prove to be a fine training 
opportunity for one to learn the basics 
of the design, construction, testing, 
calibrating and operating an earth-
orbiting satellite.  All in one long 
Saturday of fun!  

HELP IS NEEDED
The workshop planning team meets weekly 
on Thursday evenings via a telephone 
conference.  If you wish to help organize 
and/or execute the workshop then there may 
still be time to hop aboard if you are 
quick.  Contact me by e-mail for the 
details of connecting with the group on 
the telecom at pat.kilroy at nasa.gov.  We 
need another experienced soldering and 
construction helper or two, a photographer, 
a videographer, and several "Go-fers" to 
name a few.  

INFORMATION COMING
Because of the workshop's experimental 
nature, the size is designed to be small 
in attendance this inaugural year.  It 
will be an exclusive opportunity to 
AMSAT members, new and old alike.  

On Sunday, March 16, we expect to 
release details on the attendance 
application process and donation.  Watch 
for information about the workshop via 
the AMSAT News Service (ANS) bulletins, 
the AMSAT-DC e-mail list, and the local 
AMSAT-DC web page.  

IMPORTANT LINKS
http://www.amsat.org/
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/tools/maillist/
http://patkilroy.com/amsat-dc/

More info to follow later.  Thank you 
for your patience on this subject.  

Cheers,

Pat Kilroy
N8PK
AMSAT Area Coordinator

-----Original Message-----
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-011.03
AMSAT-DC Spring Satellite Workshop Seeks Members for Mission Teams

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 011.03
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
January 11, 2009
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-011.03

If you find yourself in the Baltimore-Washington DC area this 
spring you may be interested in learning more and participating
in an AMSAT-DC workshop which simulates building, testing, launch-
ing, and receiving signals from an Amateur Radio satellite.

AMSAT Area Coordinator for the Maryland-DC area, Pat Kilroy, N8PK 
is proposing such a workshop for the 2009 AMSAT-DC Meeting and
Space Seminar. This meeting is historically held in early spring at 
or near the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland.

Pat is proposing individuals and groups of Amateur Radio operators 
form teams who compete at this AMSAT-DC workshop to create and 
operate a satellite mission.

The first groups will build a PICetSat II flight module from a kit 
of electronic parts on a small printed circuit board. You can see 
an example of the original PICetSat module at:
http://patkilroy.com/simsat/3/

The second groups will set up simple satellite ground stations to 
operate on 433.920 MHz SSB. These team members need to provide a 
radio, antenna, and feedline for the 70 cm band.

The third groups will be in charge of setting up and loading soft-
ware in the computers at the ground stations to decode the telemetry 
and to analyze it according to a set of instructions.

This event will be perfect for beginners and advanced satellite
users alike, all ultimately working together to "launch" the flight
module, receive the downlink, and decode the telemetry. Instructions 
will be provided in advance of the event to enhance preparation.

Pat notes he needs volunteer help to plan and organize this event.
A couple of dedicated individuals are needed immediately to start 
the plans to lock in the workshop meeting space, advertise the event, 
to do the footwork needed to process participant applications, and 
to assure one set of radio and computer stations are on hand and 
ready at the start of the workshop.  To volunteer contact Pat at his 
e-mail address: n8pk at amsat.org as soon as possible. Pat will convene 
a conference call for all interested participants to finalize the 
Workshop details with the volunteers.

Pat requests that interested amateur radio operators RSVP to him via 
e-mail n8pk at amsat.org and indicate which group you will be most inter-
ested in working with. The cost of the Workshop is still "TBD" to cover
the materials and meeting space.  Those choosing the PICetSat II will
keep their completed project.

[ANS thanks Pat, N8PK for the above information]

/EX

-----Original Message-----
Message: 1
Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 09:43:37 -0600
From: Patrick.L.Kilroy at nasa.gov
Subject: [amsat-dc]  AMSAT-DC Workshop Planning Starts

Hi!  We must start the planning sessions for 
the next AMSAT-DC gathering.  If you would like 
to join us then please send me an RSVP e-mail 
soon.  I will respond to you with the call-in 
numbers.  

Our first planning session will take place next 
week, via telecon, likely on Thursday evening at 
7:00 PM EST.  I hope it will last less than a 
half-hour, certainly no more than 45 minutes.  

The first agenda item will be to discuss the 
location and date of the all-day event.  

You may check the local AMSAT web page at 
http://patkilroy.com/amsat-dc to refresh your 
memory on what I propose to take shape for 
this workshop in place of the "old" seminar 
type of meetings that we held in the past.  

Hope to hear from you soon.  Thanks!  

Cheers,

Pat Kilroy
N8PK
AMSAT Area Coordinator
Maryland-DC Area

-----------------------------------------
Mr. Patrick L. Kilroy
Flight Systems Integration and Test (I&T)
Building 5, Mail Code 568
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland 20771
Phone: 301-286-1984
E-mail: Patrick.L.Kilroy at nasa.gov
-------------------------------------------
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Outreach:
http://patkilroy.com/simsat/3/