Month: March 2020

AMSAT President Urges Members to Renew/Donate Now

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AMSAT President Clayton Coleman, W5PFG, has put out a call for new and renewing AMSAT members to act now and register online.

AMSAT President Clayton Coleman, W5PFG
AMSAT President Clayton Coleman, W5PFG

Coleman says, “All things considered, cancellation of Hamvention 2020 was the right thing to do and we recognize the difficult decision that the Dayton Amateur Radio Association Executive Committee had to make.”

“The cancellation of Hamvention will have a dramatic effect on the well-being of many vendors and associations that serve the Amateur Radio community.  AMSAT is no exception.  Hamvention has always been a major fund-raising tool for both recruiting and renewing members as well as selling AMSAT branded merchandise, software, books and antennas.  The loss of this important venue has the potential to adversely affect the projects that AMSAT has underway already and planned for the months and years ahead.”

“This is a very exciting time for Amateur Radio in Space with the new InterOperable Radio System for ARISS, the GOLF satellite program, updating member services and launching our Youth Initiative.  It has been many years since we have seen this kind of excitement and interest in space communications.  We would hate to lose that momentum and fall behind.”

“I am asking everyone to act now and join or renew their AMSAT membership NOW while it is on our minds.  Your immediate willingness to act will help strengthen AMSAT and help ensure our mission of ‘Keeping Amateur Radio in Space’ continues.” There are membership opportunities for everyone to consider:

Coleman also adds, “And, while you’re at it, don’t be afraid to kick in a few extra dollars with a one-time or sustaining donation to AMSAT’s general operating fund.  Especially appreciated are those Amateurs who can make an extra difference by contributing to the President’s Club with contributions of $120 or more.  Whatever you can contribute, please understand that every dollar counts.”

“Additionally, with Hamvention’s cancellation, we lost the opportunity to personally greet and thank all of AMSAT’s membership and to share our enthusiasm for the upcoming year.  Watch for upcoming news on our plans and launches for 2020. We’ll be talking soon.”

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

 

Memberships, both new and renewals, can be purchased at:  https://www.amsat.org/shop

For a limited time, AMSAT is making the Getting Started With Amateur Satellites book available free for a limited time as a download with any paid new or renewal membership purchased via the AMSAT store.

 Make your online donations at: https://www.amsat.org/donate

AMSAT Treasurer’s Report

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Now that I’ve had a few months to settle into my new position as AMSAT Treasurer and spend a little time digging through the numbers, I thought it was time to share what I have found and set the record straight about some of the misinformation that is being spread about AMSAT’s financial position.

Despite rumors and misquotes of AMSAT being on an unsustainable path, let’s look at where we really are and how we are doing.

Financial Performance

AMSAT 10-Year Financial Analysis
  • Over the past ten years (2010-2019), AMSAT has averaged a $34,357 increase in net assets (what most people refer to as profits) per year.
  • Our combined revenues over expenditures (profits) for the past 5 years (2015-2019) were $110,962, which includes launching 4 amateur satellites into space, readying RadFxSat-2 (Fox-1E) and the ARISS InterOperable Radio System for flight, and getting started on GOLF and Lunar Gateway projects.
  • In 2019, AMSAT generated $756,256 in revenues with $617,425 in expenditures.

Note: Year to year fluctuations are generally a result of timing differences between project fundraising efforts and when AMSAT needs to spend money. In addition, AMSAT maintains its reserves in investment accounts, which are subject to market price fluctuations and must be included in our financial statements.

2018 is a perfect example:

    • AMSAT authorized a $62,055 payment to NASA, which was not reimbursed until 2019.
    • AMSAT spent $62,397 on the initial hardware development for GOLF.
    • AMSAT launched two satellites in 2018, Fox-1D (AO-92) and Fox-1Cliff (AO-95).
    • AMSAT had to report a $77,128 fair market value loss in investments (which was fully recovered in 2019).

Don’t get me wrong – there is certainly room for improvement. I have already identified and started to implement cost-saving and budgetary control measures that can and will make us more efficient. As AMSAT Treasurer, it is my job to safeguard AMSAT’s resources from both fraud and waste, and I intend to do exactly that. I look forward to what more we can achieve.

Membership

AMSAT 10-Year Membership Revenues

  • Membership revenues continue to rise and have increased 65.68% in just that past 5 years, all without any increase in dues rates for our members.
  • New memberships, renewals, life memberships, and AMSAT Store purchases for the first three months of 2020 are on track to exceed the same revenue sources for 2019.

Transparency

AMSAT is fully committed to financial transparency.  Our financial statements and regulatory informational reports (Form 990s) are and have always been publicly available (www.amsat.org/audit-and-other-financial-reports/).  Furthermore, to add confidence, an independent certified public accounting firm reviews our financial statements and includes their report with our financials.

Solvency

AMSAT is on a solid financial footing and headed in the right direction. We started this year with over $134,000 in cash and over $591,000 in investments. The level of our reserves, ability to generate more revenues than expenses, and ability to continue to grow our members has AMSAT fiscally positioned to accept whatever challenges and opportunities tomorrow brings.

Conclusion

AMSAT does not expect to fully fund itself with membership dues. Member dues are meant to cover member services and benefits. Funding for everything else must come from other sources.

In 2019, member dues accounted for only $134,570 of AMSAT’s total revenues. The remaining $621,686 came from the kind hearts of our donors and the incredible work of our volunteers – seeking out new revenue streams and securing grants to further support our mission.

We, at AMSAT, are keeping our promise to Keep Amateur Radio in Space and doing so in a fiscally responsible manner. To say otherwise is either a uniformed opinion or intentional misinformation – The Numbers Don’t Lie.

Robert Bankston (KE4AL), CPA
Treasurer
Radio Amateur Satellite Communication (AMSAT)

In addition to being a licensed amateur radio operator, Robert is a certified public accountant (CPA), business consultant, and principal with Bevis, Eberhart, Browning, Walker & Stewart, P.C., a public accounting firm in the Southeast United States. Robert serves in the lead corporate finance and accounting division, coordinating with area controllers, account managers, senior-level executives, investors, and lenders to provide business consulting, financial audit and review, and tax compliance services for midsize and multimillion-dollar companies and organizations.

 

 

ANS-075 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for March 15th

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AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-075

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:

  • 38th Annual AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting Announced
  • Update from the AMSAT President
  • ARISS Video of SpaceX CRS-20 Launch Carrying IORS
  • Minor Update to FoxTelem Released
  • Use the NO-84 PSK31 Transponder Now!
  • ARISS News
  • Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
  • Upcoming Satellite Operations
  • Satellite Shorts from All Over

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-075.01
ANS-075 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 075.01
From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD.
DATE March 15, 2020
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-075.01

38th Annual AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting Announced

AMSAT is pleased to announce that the 38th Annual AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting will be held on Friday, October 16th – Sunday, October 18th at the Crowne Plaza Suites: MSP Airport – Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota.

The Crowne Plaza Suites is conveniently located adjacent to the American Blvd station on the Metro Blue Line, providing easy access to the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, downtown Minneapolis, and the Mall of America.

The AMSAT Board of Directors will meet on Wednesday, October 14th and Thursday, October 15th at the hotel.

Further details, including hotel reservation information, tours, and other events will be shared in the coming months.

[ANS thanks the 2020 AMSAT Symposium Committee for the above information]

Update from the AMSAT President

The past six weeks since becoming AMSAT President has flown by with great speed. Thankfully I’m not travelling at 27,000 km/hour like our popular satellite AO-91. Speaking with many of our volunteers and members, I’ve felt the level of excitement and enthusiasm for the great launch opportunities ahead.

As mentioned in ANS-047, one of my tasks was to speak with the Directors and convene a meeting to conduct AMSAT corporate business. Tuesday, March 3, AMSAT held an informal working session for the Board of Directors. We are moving forward with a called Board of Directors meeting scheduled on Tuesday, March 17. The next meeting will allow Directors to put forward motions for new business, hear a status update from our officers, and set future trajectory.

The amateur radio community has felt the impact of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) with the cancellation of some regional events. Even as this health emergency has been raised to World Health Organization (WHO)’s highest level, its Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus remains hopeful that COVID-19 can be curtailed. AMSAT is closely monitoring the upcoming 2020 Hamvention being held over 60 days away in Xenia, Ohio. The Dayton Amateur Radio Association (DARA) has publicly stated they are following guidance from the State of Ohio and Greene County. Barring further information from DARA, AMSAT will continue to make plans for our representation at the 2020 Hamvention.

AMSAT officers are also working on contingency plans if Hamvention is canceled. These plans include virtual presentations and other real-time online activities during Hamvention weekend.

Our next edition of the AMSAT Journal will be going through the editing review process soon. It will contain more detailed information about the health of AMSAT, its mission status, and share exciting news for 2020. If you’re not a member receiving the Journal, please consider joining at our website www.amsat.org.

73,
Clayton
W5PFG
AMSAT President

[ANS thanks AMSAT President Clayton Coleman, W5PFG, 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

ARISS Video of SpaceX CRS-20 Launch Carrying IORS

On Friday, March 6, 2020 at 11:50 EST, SpaceX CRS-20 was successfully launched from Pad 40 at Kennedy Space Center. This was also a significant launch for ARISS since this cargo mission was carrying our Interoperable Radio System to the International Space Station.

This system will greatly enhance our capabilities on board Station involving our school contacts with the crew and both our current and planned future educational experiments. A special thanks to all who have donated and continue to donate to our ARISS Next-Generation Hardware Upgrade Fundrazr at our website www.ariss.org. You are making it all happen!!

I was able to attend the launch along with several other ARISS volunteers and have created a short video of the experience from our viewing location at the Banana Creek ViewPoint. Please note that you will hear two moderators on the video. One is actually at our site, announcing the launch. Another audio feed is coming from the PA system there and is delayed 30 seconds from real time, so try not to get too confused as you listen in.

Hope you enjoy the video.

Dave, AA4KN, ARISS PR

The video can be found at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-075-ARISS

[ANS thanks Dave Jordan, AA4KN, ARISS Public Relations for the above information]

Minor Update to FoxTelem Released

FoxTelem has been updated to version 1.08z5 and the latest version is here:

http://amsat.us/FoxTelem/windows/
http://amsat.us/FoxTelem/linux/
http://amsat.us/FoxTelem/mac/

This is not a mandatory upgrade. It fixes some minor bugs that caused crashes and corrects the calculation of the bit SNR for the Dot Product BPSK detector.

If you use the Dot Product detector and you care about the measured bit signal to noise ratio, then you want to upgrade. Note that if you use Find Signal in IQ mode then the bit SNR level is used to determine if the signal is found. Because the level has changed you will need to adjust the threshold value. Email Chris Thompson at g0kla at arrl.net if you need more information.

Please let me know if you see any issues, or log them on GitHub here: https://github.com/ac2cz/FoxTelem/issues

[ANS thanks Chris Thompson, AC2CZ/G0KLA, AMSAT FoxTelem Developer for the above information]

Use the NO-84 PSK31 Transponder Now!

Amid reports that NO-84’s battery is weakening, Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, shared the following message:

Before PSAT (NO-84) dies, don’t miss out on trying out its HF 28.120 PSK31 uplink transponder (435.350 MHz FM downlink). Apparently its battery is weakening and cannot make it through some eclipses. And the orbit only has 2 years left (Battery probably wont last that long).

But in the sun, it should work fine. PSK31 Xponder is always enabled, all it needs is to see PSK31 on the Ten-meter uplink.

It will also send down an SSTV image (in the same waterfall) once every 2 minutes if the sun power is good.

[ANS thanks Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, for the above information]

ARISS News

Turkey Space Camp, Izmir, Turkey, telebridge via W5RRR
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS
The scheduled astronaut is Drew Morgan KI5AAA
Contact is go for Option #4: Thu 2020-03-19 08:59:54 UTC 37 deg

The ARISS webpage is at https://www.ariss.org/
Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site.

[ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, of the ARISS Operations Team, 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/

Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events

AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events.

Note: Due to the COVID-19 situation, please check these events’ websites for up-to-date status information.

Current schedule:

March 21, 2020, Scottsdale Amateur Radio Club Hamfest, Scottsdale, AZ
March 28, 2020, Tucson Spring Hamfest, Tucson, AZ
April 4, 2020 River Bend Wireless and Mechanical Society Presentation Faribault, MN
April 18, 2020 Brainerd Area Amateur Radio Club Hamfest, Brainerd, MN
May 2, 2020 Arrowhead Radio Amateurs Club Hamfest, Superior, WI
May 2, 2020, Cochise Amateur Radio Assoc. 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

The following events scheduled to have an AMSAT presence have been CANCELED:

March 21, 2020, Midwinter Madness Hamfest, Buffalo, MN
March 29, 2020, Vienna Wireless Winterfest, Annandale, VA

[ANS thanks Robert Bankston, KE4AL, AMSAT VP-User Services 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

Big Bend National Park (DL88) March 16-17, 2020
Ron AD0DX and Doug N6UA 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 and https://twitter.com/dtabor

Red River Gorge, KY (EM87) March 19-24, 2020
Michael, N4DCW will be in Red River Gorge, Kentucy, March 19th through 24th. Watch Michael’s Twitter feed for more info https://twitter.com/MWimages

Midwinter Madness Rove: (EN24, EN25, EN34) March 20-21, 2020
Mitch, AD0HJ, will roving three central Minnesota grids just prior to the Midwinter Madness Hobby Electronics Show in Buffalo, MN on March 21st, 2020. Look for him to activate grids EN24/EN25/EN35 on the evening of March 20th through the evening of March 21st, 2020. Check Mitch’s Twitter feed for updates on his planned satellite pass schedule: https://twitter.com/AD0HJ

River Bend Wireless Rove (EN22, EN33, EN34, EN42, EN43, EN44) April 2-4, 2020
Mitch AD0HJ is looking to add six more grids to his rover basket just before the April 4th AMSAT presentation/demonstration at the River Bend Wireless and Mechanical Society in Faribault, MN. Mitch will be activating the EN43/EN44 grid line on April 2nd, the EN32/EN42 grid line on April 3rd, and the EN33/EN34 grid line on April 4th, 2020. Watch Mitch’s Twitter feed as the dates approach for a detailed schedule. https://twitter.com/AD0HJ

From the Mountains to the Bay (CM88,89,98,99 DM09,19,29 DN00,01,02,10,11,20,21) April 12-21, 2020
RJ, WY7AA, is hitting the asphalt again, roving from Wyoming to Vacaville, CA. He’s attending a class from April 15-19, so most of the roving will be outside of this time. Grids to be covered include: CM88,89,98,99 DM09,19,29 DN00,01,02,10,11,20,21. Specific pass details will be posted on WY7AA QRZ page and Twitter (https://twitter.com/WY7AA) as the trip approaches.

[ANS thanks Robert Bankston, KE4AL, AMSAT VP-User Services for the above information]

Satellite Shorts From All Over

+ A Doppler.sqf file posted on the AMSAT-UK website listed FM frequencies for several satellites carrying linear transponders. Operators are reminded that FM is not to be used on linear transponders. (ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for this information)

+ On March 10th, March 10, 2020, the AMSAT-SM group was formed in connection with the closure of the AMSAT-SM organization. The process of creating AMSAT-SM for the future began after the 2019 annual meeting and now we are ready to continue with AMSAT-SM in a new and simpler way. All activities that were part of the old AMSAT-SM are now transferred to the new group. The website will be updated in March with new steering guidelines and other relevant information. Welcome with us into the future. AMSAT-SM is Amateur Radio via Satellite! (ANS thanks SM0TGU from AMSAT-SM for this information)

+ ARRL has announced a new book entitled Amateur Radio Satellites for  Beginners by Steve Ford, WB8IMY. It can be purchased at http://www.arrl.org/shop/Amateur-Radio-Satellites-for-Beginners/ (ANS thanks the ARRL for this information)

+ The CAS-4B beacon is again sending telemetry after sending only a continuous tone for the past few weeks. (ANS thanks John Papay, K8YSE, for this 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 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 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

ANS-068 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for March 8th

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AMSAT NEWS SERVICE – ANS-068

The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information 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 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:

  • Welcome Back XW-2D
  • PSAT3 Launch CANCELED
  • AMSAT Academy to be Held Prior to Dayton Hamvention
  • The 23cm Satellite Band is Under Scrutiny in Europe
  • Replacing the International Space Station?
  • FO-29 Operational Schedule
  • ARISS News
  • AMSAT Will be at ScienceCity in Tucson, March 14-15
  • Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
  • Upcoming Satellite Operations
  • Satellite Shorts from All Over

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-068.01
ANS-068 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 068.01
From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD.
DATE 2020 Mar 08
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-068.01

 

Welcome Back XW-2D

XW-2D has come back from its apparent issues and is back in action. No official report for the satellite owner, but reports from operators allover the world have shown the satellite is back in operation:

Frequency:UPLINK LSB 435.210 MHz to 435.230 MHZDOWNLINK USB 145.860 MHz to 145.880 MHZ

Make sure to post your reception reports for all satellites at https://www.amsat.org/status/

[ANS thanks Hasan Schiers, N0AN, for the above information]

PSAT3 Launch CANCELED

Four days from Shipping PSAT3 to Kodiak for launch, the launch has been canceled.

The launch was part of the DARPA LAUNCH CHALLENGE: https://darpalaunchchallenge.org/index.html

The challenge (and $10m prize) was for any launch provider to deliver a rocket with only 30 days notice of what payloads they would have and where they would launch from. And then to do it again only 30 days later. We were on the second launch.

But on 2 March the third attempt by the launch provider was scrubbed at T-9 minutes and was not resolved until the launch window (and DARPA challenge deadline) had passed. Therefore the CHALLENGE is over, there was no winner, and we lost the launch.

So, if anyone hears of a rocket that needs a CUBESAT PPOD backup replacement, we have one: http://aprs.org/psat3.html

[ANS thanks Bob, WB4APR for the above information]

AMSAT Academy to be Held Prior to Dayton Hamvention

Come join us the day before Hamvention, for AMSAT® Academy – a unique opportunity to learn all about amateur radio in space and working FM,linear transponder, and digital satellites currently in orbit.

AMSAT® Academy will be held Thursday, May 14, 2020, from 9:00am to5:00pm, at the Dayton Amateur Radio Association (DARA) Clubhouse, located at 6619 Bellefontaine Rd, Dayton, Ohio.

The $85 registration fee includes:

  • Full day of instruction, designed for both beginners and advanced amateur radio satellite operators, and taught by some of the most accomplished AMSAT operators.
  • Digital copy of Getting Started with Amateur Satellites, 2020 Edition ($15 value)
  • One-Year, AMSAT® Basic Membership ($44 value)
  • Pizza Buffet Lunch
  • Invitation to the Thursday night AMSAT® get together at Ticket Pub and Eatery in Fairborn.

Registration closes May 8, 2020. No sign ups at the door. No refunds,no cancellations.

Registrations may be purchased on the AMSAT store at https://www.amsat.org/product/2020-amsat-academy-registration/

[ANS thanks Robert Bankston, KE4AL, Vice President – User Services for the above information]

The 23cm Satellite Band is Under Scrutiny in Europe

The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Region 1 committee is al-ready actively participating in the regulatory work taking place inthe European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) to consider coexistence between the secondary amateur and amateur satellite services and the primary radio navigation satellite service, in the 1.2 GHz band. The principal issue is Europe’s Galileo system of global navigation satellites.

The Galileo services are delivered in a number of bands and one occupies the 1260-1300 MHz band. The Galileo team has witnessed interference from amateur TV transmissions which resulted in station shut down and has experienced interference from high power EME operations too.

Work is at an early stage and the IARU will continue to try tp mini-mise the impact on amateur operations however it is likely that some changes will be necessary to the way we use the band.

The topic is closely related to the agenda of the next World Radio-communication Conference coming up in 2013 (WRC-23) at which representatives of the United Nations countries who are members of the International Telecommunication Union will agree on coordinated radio regulations.

For more information, see https://tinyurl.com/tcrdm4j

[ANS thanks Jacques Verleijen, ON4AVJ, and the IARU Region 1 Newsletter for the above information]

Replacing the International Space Station?

Aboard the International Space Station (ISS), humanity has managed to maintain an uninterrupted foothold in low Earth orbit for just shy of20 years. But as the saying goes, what goes up must eventually comedown. The ISS is at too low of an altitude to remain in orbit indefinitely, and core modules of the structure are already operating years beyond their original design lifetimes. As difficult a decision as it might be for the countries involved, in the not too distant future the$150 billion orbiting outpost will have to be abandoned.

Naturally there’s some debate as to how far off that day is. NASA officially plans to support the Station until at least 2024, and an extension to 2028 or 2030 is considered very likely. However, one commercial partner is betting on a longer-term future. Axiom has been selected by NASA to develop a new habitable module for the U.S. side of the Station by 2024.

While the agreement technically only covers a single module, Axiom hasn’t been shy about their plans going forward. Once that first module is installed and operational, they plan on getting NASA approval to launch several new modules branching off of it. Ultimately, they hope that their “wing” of the ISS can be detached and become its own independent commercial station by the end of the decade.

Read the full article at https://bit.ly/39tsc6V

[ANS thanks Hackaday 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

FO-29 Operational Schedule

The operation of Fuji 3 (FO-29) has been unstable, but the transmitter will be turned on in the next pass. Since the date and time are in UTC, add 9 hours to convert to Japan time.

The operation is until the UVC (lower limit voltage control) operates.

[Scheduled time to turn on the analog transmitter of Fuji 3 (UTC)]

  • March 8 04:30- 06:15- 14:40
  • March 14 04:15- 06:00- 14:25
  • March 15 03:25- 05:10- 15:15
  • March 21 03:10- 04:55- 15:00
  • March 22 04:00- 05:45- 14:05
  • March 28 03:45- 05:30- 13:50
  • March 29 04:35- 06:20- 14:40

Because of data acquisition, besides this operation plan, the transmitter may be turned on for a short time.

[ANS thanks JARL for the above information.]

ARISS News

An International Space Station (ISS) school contact with an Australian school on 13 March will be audible in USA! The ISS will be over North America at the time, and the Australians will link to it by land line”Telebridge” via a U.S. amateur radio station.

The contact will be with the Australian Air League – South Australia Wing, Parafield, South Australia, but via Telebridge Station K6DUE in Greenbelt, Maryland, USA. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS and the scheduled astronaut is Drew Morgan, KI5AAA.

The contact is scheduled at 08:56 UTC with downlink signals from ISS heard above Maryland and nearby areas on 145.800 MHz narrow band FM.

[ANS thanks Rudy Parisio, IW2BSF, and Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, of the ARISS Operation Team, 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/

AMSAT Will be at ScienceCity in Tucson, March 14-15

AMSAT will be supporting the University of Arizona’s K7UAZ radio club during the ScienceCity science fair on 14-15 March 2020 (a Saturday and Sunday). ScienceCity will be on the University of Arizona campus in Tucson, Arizona. This science fair is supported by several organizations at the university, and runs in conjunction with the Tucson Festival of Books that will also take place that weekend. More information about ScienceCity is available at: http://sciencecity.arizona.edu/

Information about the K7UAZ radio club is available at: http://k7uaz.com/

The K7UAZ radio club will have a booth in the “Science of Everyday Life” area at ScienceCity. This booth will showcase different facets of amateur radio, including amateur satellites. WD9EWK, and possibly other call signs, should be heard during demonstrations of satellite operating taking place at ScienceCity. If you hear us, please call and be a part of the demonstrations. The University of Arizona campus is in grid DM42, in Arizona’s Pima County.

QSLing will be determined by the call sign used for QSOs. WD9EWK will upload to Logbook of the World, and will be happy to send QSL cards on request (please e-mail Patrick the QSO details – no card or SASE is required to get a card). K7UAZ will confirm QSOs by QSL card, following instructions posted on QRZ.com.

During the weekend, the @WD9EWK Twitter account will be used to post updates from ScienceCity. If you do not use Twitter, you can view these updates in a web browser without having a Twitter account at: http://twitter.com/WD9EWK

[ANS thanks Patrick Stoddard, WD9EWK, AMSAT Board Member, for the above information]

Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other 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:

  • March 14-15, 2020, Science City on University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ (see above)
  • 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 Assoc. 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

[ANS thanks Robert Bankston, KE4AL, AMSAT VP-User Services 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

– ShortsMar 14-15 DN26/36 KC7JPC Linears (and possibly FM)

– K7U ROVE March 7-8, 2020Casey KI7UNJ and Kel KI7UXT will be operating as K7U from CN93,CN94, DN03, DN04 a CN92. Details are posted on QRZhttps://www.qrz.com/db/k7u Updates from the road on their individualTwitter feeds: https://twitter.com/KI7UNJ and https://twitter.com/KI7UXT

– Big Bend National Park (DL88) March 16-17, 2020Ron 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 keepan eye on their individual Twitter feeds: https://twitter.com/ad0dx, https://twitter.com/dtabor, and https://twitter.com/W3ARDstroke5

– #Nevada Mayhem part 1: Central Nevada (DM19) March 21, 2020David, AD7DB, will venture deep into Central Nevada to specifically activate grid DM19 on Saturday March 21. This is actually down aide road from “The Loneliest Road in America.” Hardly any hams even live in that grid. It’s for sure that few ever activate it. On the way there, Friday March 20, he will try to also activate some or all of: DM06, DM16, DM07, DM08, DM17 and DM18. Going home Sunday, March 22, he will try to visit them again. This will be on FM satellites only. Internet and cell coverage may be very poor up there but for updates check Twitter: https:/twitter.com/ad7db

[ANS thanks Robert Bankston, KE4AL, AMSAT VP-User Services for the above information.]

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Satellite Shorts From All Over

+ The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) has completed frequency coordination HSU-SAT1, a 1U CubeSat to be released from the ISS sometime in the coming year. The satellite will include capability of a camera image dowlinked by Slow Scan Television (SSTV). The camera will take a photograph of the Earth at image pixel size 320×240. The photograph taken will then be converted into analog SSTV signal, and sent by FM-SSTV downlink on 437.280 MHz. This be part of the satellite’s main mission, test of a three-axis attitude control system. More info at shorturl.at/dizP0 and shorturl.at/puNW7
(ANS thanks IARU and AMSAT-UK for the above information)

+ The Japan Amateur Radio League (JARL) reports that a number of ama- teur radio events planned for March have been cancelled as a result of coronavirus warnings. JARL, in line with government policy, has requested that all events scheduled for the next two weeks be can- celed or postponed for the time being. Also, Dayton Hamvention officials say they are closely following the coronavirus (COVID-19) sit- uation. Show organizers will post updates as the May 15 – 17 event nears, but they’re optimistic that coronavirus will not be an issue.
(ANS thanks Southgate ARC and ARRL for the above information)

+ SpaceX-20, a Commercial Resupply Service mission to the International Space Station launched at 0449 GMT Saturday from Cape Canaveral’s Complex 40 launch pad. The mission carrying, as a primary payload, the Interoperable Radio System (IORS). The IORS is the foundational element of the ARISS next-generation radio system on ISS. If all goes according to plan, the Dragon cargo capsule will dock with the space station on Monday, 9 March.
(ANS thanks SpaceflightNow 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 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,
Casey Tucker, KI7UNJ
ki7unj at amsat dot org