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: [email protected]
In this edition:
- Virtual 2020 AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting on October 17, 2020
- AMSAT Virtual Symposium Call for Papers
- Preparations Continue for World Radiocommunication Conference 2023
- Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for September 10, 2020
- AMSAT-DL Announces Virtual Satellite Symposium September 26, 2020
- AMSAT-UK Announces Colloquium 2020 October 11, 2020
- Upcoming Satellite Operations
- ARISS News
- Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
- Satellite Shorts from All Over
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-257.01
ANS-257 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 257.01
From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD.
September 13, 2020
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-257.01
Virtual 2020 AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting on October 17, 2020
The 2020 Virtual AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting will be held Saturday, October 17, 2020 from 9:00am CDT – 5:00pm CDT (UTC -5). Symposium presentations will be a combination of pre-recorded and live video segments along with question and answer sessions held via a Zoom meeting. The tentative schedule is:
9:00am CDT Opening Remarks
9:15am CDT – 12:45pm CDT General Presentations
1:00pm CDT – 2:00pm CDT AMSAT Education / CubeSat Simulator
2:00pm CDT – 3:00pm CDT ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station)/ AREx (Amateur Radio Exploration)
3:00pm CDT – 4:00pm CDT AMSAT Engineering
4:00pm CDT – 5:00pm CDT 2020 AMSAT Annual General Meeting
The Symposium will be streamed free of charge on AMSAT’s YouTube account. Registered attendees will receive a digital copy of the AMSAT Symposium Proceedings and will be entitled to join the Zoom meeting and participate in the question and answer sessions. Registered attendees will also be entered into prize drawings. Registration is free and available only for AMSAT members at https://launch.amsat.org/Events.
Registration will close on Friday, October 16 at 5:00pm CDT.
[ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information.]
AMSAT Virtual Symposium Call for Papers
Proposals for papers and Symposium presentations are invited on any topic of interest to the amateur satellite community. We request a tentative title of your presentation as soon as possible.
Final papers for the Symposium Proceedings must be submitted by October 5, 2020 to Dan Schultz, N8FGV at [email protected]. Symposium presentations should be limited to 15 minutes of pre-recorded video. Video presentations must be submitted by October 10, 2020 to Paul Stoetzer, N8HM at [email protected]. We ask that presenters be available to take questions via Zoom following the airing of their pre-recorded video.
[ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information.]
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the AMSAT office is closed
until further notice. For details, please visit
https://www.amsat.org/amsat-office-closed-until-further-notice/
Preparations Continue for World Radiocommunication Conference 2023
Preparations for World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC-23) go forward, the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) continues its efforts to protect amateur and amateur-satellite allocations. The international conference, which generally takes place every 4 years, is sponsored by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
IARU participated in the first online meeting of Project Team A (PTA) of the WRC-23 CEPT Conference Preparatory Group (CPG), reporting this week that “a good start was made on items of interest to the amateur and amateur-satellite services.”
Agenda Item 1.12 addresses studies stemming from WRC-19 that are now underway to consider a new secondary allocation to the Earth exploration-satellite (active) service (EESS active) for spaceborne radar sounders in the 40 – 50 MHz range, taking into account the protection of incumbent services (including in adjacent bands), which would include 6 meters. A handful of countries have also allocated secondary amateur bands in the vicinity of 40 MHz.
The WRC-19 Resolution (Res. 656), which ordered the studies, noted that spaceborne-active RF sensors can provide unique information on physical properties of the Earth, and that spaceborne-active remote sensing requires specific frequency ranges depending on the physical phenomena to be observed. Spaceborne radars are intended to operate only in uninhabited or sparsely populated areas with particular focus on deserts and polar ice fields, between the hours of 3 AM and 6 AM local time.
Agenda Item 1.14 addresses the Earth Exploration Satellite service (passive) (EESS passive) in the range 231.5 – 250 GHz. The Amateur and Amateur-satellite services have a primary allocation at 248?–?250 GHz, and a secondary allocation at 241?–?248 GHz.
Agenda Item 9.1 will consider and approve the Report of the Director of the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau on the activities of the Radiocommunication Sector since WRC-19. This includes a review of the amateur service and the amateur-satellite service allocations in the frequency band 1.240 – 1.300 GHz to determine if additional measures are required to ensure protection of the radionavigation- satellite (space-to-Earth) service (RNSS) operating in the same band.
The 1.240 – 1.300 GHz band is allocated worldwide to the amateur service on a secondary basis, and the amateur-satellite service (Earth-to-space) may operate in the band 1.260 – 1.270 GHz. The primary concern is the potential for interference to the Galileo Global Navigation Satellite System (GPS) in ITU Region 1 (Europe, the Middle East, and Africa). Instances of interference to one of the RNSS channels from amateur operations have been reported. IARU has said it’s prepared to fully cooperate in any studies.
The IARU participated in the initial meeting of Project Team C of the WRC-23 CEPT CPG, where the preliminary CEPT position on international studies on coexistence between the amateur service and RNSS was discussed.
Agenda Item 9.1A concerns spaceweather sensors, which must be protected by regulation without placing constraints on incumbent services. “The scope of this topic is wide and could cover HF to EHF spectrum,” IARU said. “Until studies are progressed, it is not certain how the amateur and amateur-satellite services might be impacted.”
Agenda Item 9.1C was proposed by a few countries interested in the possible use of mobile technologies in frequency bands allocated to the fixed service. “In practice, amateur service allocations in the range 430 MHz to 250 GHz could be affected where there is a primary allocation to the fixed service and a secondary allocation to the amateur service,” IARU said, citing 2.3 GHz and 3.4 GHz as examples.
Last summer, France raised a proposal to consider 144 – 146 MHz as a primary allocation to the Aeronautical mobile service, as part of a broader consideration of spectrum allocated to that service.
IARU pledged to continue “to represent the amateur and Amateur satellite services throughout the electromagnetic spectrum at meetings of regulatory bodies during the coming months.”
[ANS thanks the ARRL for the above information.]
Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for September 10, 2020
As noted last week, Arianespace launched of 53 new satellites on September 3, 2020. This also placed three new satellites carrying Amateur Radio transmitters into orbit. They are Amicalsat, TTU-100 and UPMSAT 2. So far, only UPMSAT 2 has been identified as Object 46276 (See below).
Based on observations this past week, Nico Janseen has refined his identification of UPMSat 2 to be Object 46276, not Object 46277 as it seemed last week. Also, OBJECT D (Cat ID 46275) and OBJECT F (Cat ID 46277) have been added this week in hope that they may be Amicalsat and TTU-100. Watch for further information.
Therefore, the following satellites have been and added to this week’s AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution:
OBJECT D – Cat ID 46275
UPMSat 2 – Cat ID 46276
OBJECT F – Cat ID 46277
Thanks to Nico Janssen, PA0DLO, for verfying Cat ID 46276 is in fact UPMSat2.
The following satellite has decayed from orbit and has been removed from this week’s AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution:
Tanusha-3 – NORAD Cat ID 43597 (Decayed on August 5, 2020 per Space-Track).
[ANS thanks the Ray Hoad 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-DL Announces Virtual Satellite Symposium September 26, 2020
Unfortunately, the AMSAT-DL Symposium planned for September 26-27, 2020 cannot take place this year in the usual manner. Since the health of everyone is very close to our hearts and the legal framework currently leaves no other option, AMSAT-DL has decided not to hold a meeting on site in Bochum this year. A social meeting with dinner is not possible, nor is a flea market or other activities such as the QO-100 User Meeting which happened for the first time during the HAM Radio Fair in Friedrichshafen in 2019.
Instead, AMSAT-DL will broadcast the symposium as an online meeting in DATV via the broadband transponder of QO-100 and on the internet on the AMSAT-DL YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/amsatdl.
Due to the international audience, most of the lectures will be held in English. The current schedule can be found on the AMSAT-DL homepage at https://amsat-dl.org.
AMSAT-DL and its board invites everyone to this year’s AMSAT-DL online conference and the virtual QO-100 user meeting.
[ANS thanks the AMSAT-DL for the above information.]
AMSAT-UK Announces Colloquium 2020 October 11, 2020
There will not be an in-person AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium this year instead they will be holding an Online Event on Sunday, October 11, 2020. This is the day after the RSGB’s Radio Convention which is also an on-line event.
The AMSAT-UK Convention will run from 11:00am to approximately 5:00pm, with a break for lunch and several short breaks during the day. (Times are British Summer Time, or UTC/GMT + 1.) Membership in AMSAT-UK is not required to attend and the event is free of charge.
The event will be in the form of a Zoom Webinar. Register at http://tinyurl.com/amsatukreg2020 and follow the instructions which will arrive by email. No special software is installed since a browser plug in is used by Zoom.
Those who are registered before the start of the Colloquium will be entered for a number of free raffles which will take place during the event. The event will be hosted by Graham Shirville, G3VZV and Jim Heck, G3WGM and formally opened by our Chairman, Martin Sweeting, G3YJO. For those registered it will be possible to pose questions to the speakers during Q and A sessions. Informal on-line discussions after the official close of the Colloquium, are also planned.
The Colloquium will be live streamed to the AMSAT-UK YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/AMSATUK.
Complete information is available at https://amsat-uk.org/colloquium/.
[ANS thanks the AMSAT-UK for the above information.]
Upcoming Satellite Operations
CN86; 9/19 & 9/20 John Van Dalen, @N7AME hopes to access the FM satellites AO-91, and AO-92 on most passes on September 19 and 20 during the WWDXC Salmon Run. If they count, John will be at Lewis and Clark State Park (K-3221) in Washington and in Lewis County which will be Grid CN96. Check Twitter @N7AME for updates.
JM08; 9/17 – 9/21 Philippe Chateau, EA4NF will be @EA6/EA4NF on Formentera Island. This counts as DXCC EA6, Grid JM08, and IOTA EU-004. Philippe will be on LEO FM & Linear birds. QSL via LoTW as EA6/EA4NF. For this new satellite portable activation, Philippe will bring with him his Yaesu FT818ND and a FT817ND operating in full duplex with an Alaskan Arrow Antenna.
DM06, DM07, DM08, DM16, DM17 and DM18; 9/11 and 9/13 David Bartholomew, AD7DB is heading out to activate DM06, DM07, DM08, DM16, DM17 and DM18 on Friday, 9/11/20 and Sunday 9/13. Taking FM gear only. Click @AD7DB for details.
[ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR for the above information.]
ARISS News
+ Completed Contacts
College Raymond Sirot, Gueux, France, telebridge via VK5ZAI The ISS callsign was NA1SS. The astronaut was Chris Cassidy, KF5KDR. The contact was successful on Thursday, 9-10-2020 at 08:17:01 UTC.
+ Upcoming Contacts
Avellaneda Ikastetxea, Sodupe, Spain, telebridge via ZS6JON The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS. The scheduled astronaut is Chris Cassidy, KF5KDR. The contact is go for Friday, 9-18-2020 at 12:56:34 UTC.
[ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N 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/
Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
+ Clint Bradford K6LCS has booked his “Work the FM Voice Satellites With Minimal Equipment” presentation for the for the following clubs:
09/14/2020 – North Agusta Belevedere Radio Club
10/27/2020 – Cherryland ARC / Traverse Bay ARC
TBD – Antelope Valley (CA) ARC
TBD – A private presentation for a Boy Scout troop in Danville, PA
These will be Zoom presentations. Everyone is asked to update their copies of the Zoom application by directly visiting Zoom.us.
[ANS thanks Robert Bankston, KE4AL for the above information.]
Shorts from All Over
+ UPMSAT-2 Recordings Wanted
The UPMSAT-2 team would appreciate receiving recordings of their satellite. They are especially interested in recordings made from outside Spain. UPMSAT-2 transmits on 437.405 MHz using USB, not FM.
Recordings can be send to [email protected]
[ANS thanks Felix Paez EA4GQS for the above information.]
+ Route 66 On-the-Air from W6D
Christy Hunter, KB6LTY is happy to report that the COVID-19 pandemic is not keeping the 2020 Route 66 On-the Air event off the air. This year the event starts September 12 and goes through September 20. Christy will be representing W6D on the FM and SSB birds from her home not far from Route 66 in DM14. Only paper QSL cards will be issued for W6D contacts(no LoTW). Look for W6D on QRZ.com for her mailing address. Complete information on the event can be found at http://w6jbt.org/.
[ANS thanks Christy Hunter, KB6LTY for the above information.]
+ Reminder: Annual GNU Radio Conference Begins September 14, 2020
GRCon20 will be held starting September 14, 2020 online as a virtual event. Keynote speakers include: Becky Schoenfeld W1BXY, Managing Editor of QST magazine, Oona Räisänen [windytan] hacker of signals and computer programmer, and Jim St. Leger, Director Open Source, Intel. Full registrations are sold out but free registration for all virtual GRCon20 technical talks, keynotes, and lightning talks is still available at https://tickets.gnuradio.org/grcon20/.
[ANS thanks GNU Radio for the above information.]
+ NASA, NOAA to Discuss Solar Cycle Prediction
NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will discuss predictions for the upcoming solar cycle during a media teleconference at 1 p.m. EDT Tuesday, Sept. 15. Tracking the solar cycle is a key part of better understanding the Sun and mitigating its impacts on human technology and infrastructure.
During the teleconference, experts on the Solar Cycle 25 Prediction Panel will discuss recent updates in solar cycle progress, and the forecast for the upcoming cycle, Solar Cycle 25. Complete information and registration information can be found at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-257-NASA-Live.
[ANS thanks NASA Radio for the above information.]
+ AT&T Seeking Buyers For DirecTV
Well-heeled Amateurs wanting a geosynchronous ham radio satellite of their own now have their chance. AT&T purchased DirecTV in 2015 and paid some $67 billion overall. With declining viewership and increased competition, ATT&T wants to unload the company and decrease its debt load. Most observers suggest the price might be a flea-market bargain at about $20 billion. The catch? ATT&T would retain 50% ownership.
[ANS thanks Satnews 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 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