ANS-037 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for Feb. 6

by

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-037

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: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/

In this edition:

  • Apogee View – November/December 2021
  • VUCC Satellite Awards/Endorsements For February 2022
  • FO-29 Enters Full Sun Period, Analog Transponder Active
  • Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for February 3, 2022
  • ARISS News
  • Upcoming Satellite Operations
  • Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
  • Satellite Shorts From All Over

ANS-037 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

To: All RADIO AMATEURS
From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation
712 H Street NE, Suite 1653
Washington, DC 20002

DATE 2022 Feb 6

Apogee View – November/December 2021

As 2021 comes to a close, AMSAT’s schedule for 2022 is quickly filling up. Our Engineers will be busy with GOLF, launching a new program, called Fox +, and beginning to formulate our return to high earth orbits. Additionally, in-person events are kicking off again, starting with

+ Feb 11-13, Hamcation, Orlando, FL
+ Apr 26-28, CubeSat Developers Workshop, San Luis Obispo, CA
+ May 20-22, Hamvention, Xenia, OH
+ Aug 6-11, Small Satellite Conference, Logon, UT
+ Oct 21-22, 40th AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting, Bloomington, MN

If your schedule allows it, I hope you will join us on this exciting ride.

Fox +

At the December 7, 2021 Board of Directors Meeting, Jonathan Brandenburg, KF5IDY, presented a plan for a sustained presence of “Easy Sats” in low earth orbit. As I mentioned back in the July/August 2021 Apogee View, Easy Sats play a critical role in introducing amateur radio in space, so I was both excited and impressed with Jonathan’s proposal. Fox + (Plus), as the new program will be called, is based on the Fox-1 bus design and will develop a new transceiver and power system in an open-hardware and open-source environment. In addition, Fox + CubeSats will be able to host both student science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) experiments and AMSAT radio experiments. Of course, the Board enthusiastically and unanimously approved Jonathan’s Fox + proposal.

I want to personally thank Jonathan for developing this forward-thinking program and congratulate him on being appointed Assistant Vice-President, Engineering. Well done and well deserved.

A Sad Farewell

It is with a heavy heart that I inform you of the passing of Robert “Bob” Davis, KF4KSS, on Friday, December 10, 2021. Bob has been involved with every AMSAT & ARISS project since 1996, including Phase 3D (AO-40), Eagle, Suitsat, ARISSAT, the FOX series of satellites, and, most recently, the GOLF program. His expertise in mechanical engineering and willingness to share will be sorely missed. Lou McFadin, W5DID, has written a nice tribute to Bob for this issue of The AMSAT Journal, and many have shared pictures of their time with Bob. Please take a few moments to read and reflect. God speed, Bob, and thank you for sharing your life with us.

A Welcome Surprise

Earlier this year, I was notified that AMSAT had been named as one of the beneficiaries of the Robert Donnell, Sr. (KD7NM) and Joan Donnell Trusts. AMSAT received an initial distribution of $250,000 in December. AMSAT was not aware of the Donnell’s bequest until the attorney handling the Trust distribution notified us.

I am ashamed to admit that I did not have the chance to meet or even know of Robert and Joan Donnell. Scouring the internet and our records, I did find Robert’s callsign, KD7NM, see where he posted to the AMSAT-Bulletin Board, and was active in ARES and packet radio in the State of Washington. Robert Donnell, Sr. KD7NM passed away on August 24, 2011, and was followed by his wife, Joan, February 4, 2013. Robert and Joan’s daughter, passed away in September 2019, which may offer some explanation as to the later distribution of the Donnell estate. If you have any further information on Robert Donnell, please let me know. I think it is important to know as much as we can about the person who thought so much of AMSAT.

While we are greatly appreciative of this tremendous gift, please do not make the assumption that AMSAT does not need more help. We have an ambitious, forward-thinking plan for the future (https://www.amsat.org/strategicplan/) that takes us to new heights and encourages the next generation to reach for the stars, but space is not cheap. We need your help your help to get us there.

Knowing that all of our planned initiatives cannot be funded strictly from membership dues and donations, AMSAT submitted three separate grant requests to Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) in November. One is to fund a commercially-purchased and launched 1U FM CubeSat to help relieve some of the strain on the remaining EasySats until AMSAT can develop the Fox + program. Our second request is to fund the open-hardware design and construction of GOLF program’s 3U frame and deployable solar panels. And finally, our third request is for the initial kickoff of the AMSAT Youth Initiative Program, the purpose of which is to promote interest among youth in STEM topics and opportunities, particularly those related to satellite technologies, communications and electronics, and how those technologies improve life here on Earth. I will keep you apprised, as soon as I hear something.

Help Wanted

Big plans and finding the money to fund them is a great start, but we cannot make it happen without volunteers. As an all-volunteer, member organization, AMSAT depends on the generosity of people, donating their time and expertise, to develop the next generation of amateur radio satellites, but, also, share that knowledge with the rest of the world. If your expertise is in engineering, education, journalism, project management, or even office administration, we could use your help. Come join us on our journey Onward & Upward.

[ANS thanks Robert Bankston, KE4AL, AMSAT President, for the above information]

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The 2022 AMSAT President’s Club coins have arrived!
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of its launch on
October 15, 1972, this year’s coin features
an image of AMSAT-OSCAR 6.
Join the AMSAT President’s Club today and help
Keep Amateur Radio in Space!
https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/
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VUCC Satellite Awards/Endorsements For February 2022

VUCC Satellite Award/Endorsement Change Summary for January 01, 2022 to February 01, 2022:

CallsignJan 1, 2022Feb 1, 2022
WD9EWK (DM43)671675
VE6WQ232541
G0IIQ251519
VE4MM421432
KQ4DO406426
EA2AA400425
F4BKV200400
N7UJJ201250
KC9ELU233249
N8MR175206
YS1MSNew169
4J6DNew150
AA0MZ116138
JH0BBE112129
S21RCNew107
IK7FMQNew103
K2MJPNew101
KC8TNew100

The above automated from a script from Doug-K8DP, thanks Doug!

[ANS thanks Jon Goering, N7AZ, 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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FO-29 Enters Full Sun Period, Analog Transponder Active

FO-29 has entered a period of full sun and the analog V/u linear transponder has been active continuously since 10:00 UTC on January 31st. The current full sun period will last until the end of April. Between April and July, the satellite will resume entering eclipses, but will return to full sun at the end of July.

While the satellite is in full sun, continuous operation of the transponder should be possible. If the battery voltage does drop below the configured threshold voltage, causing the transponder to shut down, the transponder will be reactivated after approximately two days.

FO-29 was launched in August 1996 and has been one of the most popular amateur radio satellites during its long lifetime due to its very sensitive 100 kHz wide transponder, stable downlink with 1 watt output, and orbit of 1320 km x 801 km supporting intercontinental QSOs, even with low power and minimal equipment. Due to increasing eclipse periods and aging batteries, operation of the satellite’s linear transponder has been limited since July 2019.

The uplink of the inverting linear transponder is 145.900 MHz – 146.000 MHz and the downlink is 435.800 MHz – 435.900 MHz.

[ANS thanks JARL and JA1OGZ for the above information]

Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for February 3, 2022

The following satellites have been added to this week’s AMSAT TLE Distribution.

IRIS-A – NORAD Cat ID 51044 (Thanks to Nico Janssen for the identification.)
GASPACS – NORAD Cat ID 51439 (Thanks to Nico Janssen for the identification.)

Still waiting for the SpaceTrack Catalog ID for Tevel-1 thru Tevel-8, SO-114 (EASAT-2), and SO-115 (HADES) to be identified. Sorry, we still need a little more separation to identify these satellites.

[ANS thanks Ray Hoad, WA5QGD, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager for the above information]

ARISS News

Gewerbliche Schulen Donaueschingen, Donaueschingen, Germany, direct via DN2FIS

The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be DPØISS
The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz
The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html
The scheduled crew member is Matthias Maurer KI5KFH
Contact is go for: Thu 2022-02-10 10:00:59 UTC 71 deg
Watch for Livestream at: https://www.kmz-sbk.de/livestream/

The USOS ARISS station is currently operating in voice cross-band repeater mode

The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html

The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html

SSTV Activation:

The Moscow Aviation Institute (MAI) will be conducting their routine SSTV experiment during orbits that pass within range of Moscow, Russia on February 7 and 8. They typically operate PD180 on a downlink frequency of 145.800 MHz using the Kenwood D710E located in the Service Module. The images are sent with about 3 minute gaps between transmissions.

Feb. 7 – Start about 08:35 UTC, stopping about 15:05 UTC.
Feb. 8 – Start about 10:40 UTC, stopping about 14:30 UTC.

Received images can be uploaded at https://www.spaceflightsoftware.com/ARISS_SSTV/index.php

[ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors, 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

Events:

4A90, MEXICO (Special Event). Members of the Federacion Mexicana de Radio Experimentadores (FMRE)[Mexican Society]are celebrating their 90th anniversary during January, February and March 2022 promoting each of the

31 States and Mexico City with the following 32 different special event callsigns and 4A90FMRE:

January 31st-February 14th: 4A90AGS, 4A90BAC, 4A90BCS, 4A90COA, 4A90CHH and 4A90DGO
February 15th-March 1st: 4A90NLE, 4A90SLP, 4A90SIN, 4A90SON, 4A90TAM
March 2nd-16th: 4A90CAM, 4A90CHI, 4A90GRO, 4A90OAX, 4A90QUI, 4A90TAB and 4A90YUC

Activity will be on various HF bands using CW, SSB, RTTY, FT8/FT4 and the satellites. Awards are available (see QRZ.com for details). For more details on the event, see: http://fmre90.puebladx.org

[ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT rover page manager, for the above information]

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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.

Clint Bradford, K6LCS, AMSAT Ambassador gave his “Getting Started“ presentation last June to a great club on the east coast – now they want MORE! The club has asked for a speaker to cover working the linear satellites. EME is of interest to them too!

Clint would appreciate help finding a Zoom-capable speaker. For further details, please contact Clint Bradford, K6CLS at:
Email: clintbradford [at] mac DOT com or 951-533-4984 – cell

+ ARRL National Convention
February 10-13, 2022
DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld
10100 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32821

+ Orlando HamCation
February 11-13, 2022
Central Florida Fairgrounds and Expo Park
4603 West Colonial Drive
Orlando, Florida 32808

+ CubeSat Developers Workshop
April 26–28, 2022
San Luis Obispo, CA

+ Hamvention 2022
May 20, 2022 to May 22, 2022
Greene County Fairgrounds and Expo Center
210 Fairground Road
Xenia, Ohio 45385
https://www.hamvention.org

+ 2022 Rocky Mountain ARRL Division Convention
October 7, 2022 – October 9, 2022
Event Center at Archer
3921 Archer Pkwy
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82007
https://wyhamcon.org/site

[ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT Events page manager, and Clint Bradford, K6LCS, for the above information]

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Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition?
Get your AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff
from our Zazzle store!
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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Satellite Shorts From All Over

+ The February 2022 operating schedule for FO-99 is available at https://www.jamsat.or.jp/?p=1748

+ 2 CubeSats were deployed from the Japanese Kibo module of the International Space Station on February 3rd, Light-1 from the UAE and GT-1 from Georgia Tech.

+ NASA released an updated transition plan for the ISS on Janaury 31st. The updated plan provides for continued operation through 2030 and de-orbiting in 2031. https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-provides-updated-international-space-station-transition-plan

 

Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/

In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to:

* Societies (a recognized group, clubs or organization).
* 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.
* Memberships are available for annual and lifetime terms.

Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional 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