In this edition:
* AMSAT Member and University of Louisiana Apply for ELaNa Grant
* Delfi-C3 – DO64 Deorbiting Soon
* VUCC & DXCC Satellite Standing November 2023
* World Radiocommunication Conference to Consider Band Changes
* Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for November 3, 2023
* ARISS News
* Upcoming Satellite Operations
* Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
* Satellite Shorts From All Over
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 [dot] 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/
ANS-309 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
To: All RADIO AMATEURS
From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation
712 H Street NE, Suite 1653
Washington, DC 20002
DATE 2023 NOV 05
AMSAT Member and University of Louisiana Apply for ELaNa Grant
Bob Twiggs and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette are applying for an ElaNa grant to fly 20 sub-1U satellites to low earth orbit.
These sats are equipped with a two-way transceiver with enough link margin to communicate to a ground station with simple antennas. Included in this frame will be solar panels, batteries, an Arduino clone, a transceiver, and 150 ^ cm for your payload. Please see the YouTube link below for a more detailed description.
If the ElaNa grant is approved this will allow the selected schools a very easy path to space. Bob and the University are now accepting application for you to participate in this program. The first five organizations to apply will be free while the remaining applicants must pay ~$200.00 in order to be part of the project. If you have an interest in this exciting opportunity, please contact Nick Pugh, K5QXK at quadpugh [at] bellsouth [dot] net.
A detailed description of the project can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/live/DzKKHTBxyY8?si=s400V901Ysz19gcA&t=4039.
[ANS thanks Nick Pugh, K5QXJ, for the above information.]
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The 2023 AMSAT President’s Club coins are here now!
To commemorate the 40th anniversary of its launch
on June 16, 1983, this year’s coin features
an image of AMSAT-OSCAR 10.
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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Delfi-C3 – DO64 Deorbiting Soon
After more than 15 years in orbit, Delfi-C3’s mission is about to come to an end. The team predict that re-entry will take place around November 16th 2023. The re-entry date might vary depending on the solar activity, which is very hard to predict accurately. See also @Marco_Langbroek on Twitter for a similar prediction.
https://twitter.com/Marco_Langbroek/status/1720110996499349663
Wouter Weggelaar, PA3WEG, says, “We would like to request all amateur radio operators / SWL’s / satellite enthusiasts worldwide to listen for Delfi-C3’s telemetry downlink on 145.867 MHz, 1200 baud AX.25 BPSK. We will hand out an award certificate to the person submitting the last Delfi-C3 telemetry frame.”
This can be done either through the RASCAL software (updated version coming), through the SATNOGS network or by sending us decoded telemetry frames with reception time and location via email to Delfi_at_tudelft.nl.
On behalf of the entire Delfi-C3 team, we would like to sincerely thank the worldwide amateur radio/SWL/satellite community for assisting the team by forwarding received telemetry and reception reports.
Delfi-C3 is a CubeSat satellite constructed by students at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. It is a 3U CubeSat launched on April 28, 2008. Wouter recalls, “Back in 2008 we could not imagine the great support received so far and the many first we had, including a successful ground network and flying the first linear transponder in a CubeSat. We strongly believe that Delfi-C3 has paved the way for many follow-on missions, both amateur and commercial, and has been a great step towards maturing CubeSat technology as well as training the next generation of space engineers. Stay tuned for updates!”
[ANS thanks Wouter Weggelaar, PA3WEG, for the above information.]
VUCC & DXCC Satellite Standing November 2023
+ VUCC Satellite Award/Endorsement Change Summary for October 01, 2023 to November 01, 2023.
| Callsign | October 01 2023 | November 01 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| WA4NVM | 1639 | 1653 |
| K8DP | 1555 | 1575 |
| WC7V | 1400 | 1426 |
| N8RO | 1356 | 1368 |
| W5CBF | 1201 | 1224 |
| N0JE | 1025 | 1057 |
| S57NML | 615 | 1028 |
| F4BKV | 900 | 1000 |
| XE1AO | 801 | 1000 |
| N3GS | 980 | 986 |
| NS3L | 851 | 875 |
| W8LR | 801 | 818 |
| KN2K | 804 | 808 |
| KQ4DO | 750 | 808 |
| VE1VOX | 610 | 731 |
| N0GVK | 543 | 701 |
| XE1MYO | 575 | 650 |
| N8MR | 581 | 617 |
| N6UTC | 525 | 551 |
| KB2YSI | 450 | 531 |
| JG6CDH | 468 | 515 |
| A65BR | 477 | 513 |
| IW7DOL | 474 | 504 |
| JS1LQI | 318 | 436 |
| N3CAL | 412 | 435 |
| KO9A | 424 | 434 |
| N8URE (FM19) | 409 | 430 |
| JN1BPM | 314 | 426 |
| NA1ME | 350 | 383 |
| DL8GAM | 301 | 351 |
| N6PAZ | 290 | 326 |
| CT1ETE | 283 | 323 |
| JR8QFG | 105 | 255 |
| KB3IAI | 175 | 254 |
| KH6WI | 203 | 252 |
| KV4T | 219 | 238 |
| JI5USJ | 200 | 236 |
| DJ7NT | 133 | 234 |
| ZS1TA | 152 | 202 |
| K6VHF | 151 | 201 |
| N7GR | 141 | 179 |
| JF3MKC | 150 | 175 |
| JA1XGI | New | 174 |
| I1FQH | New | 173 |
| JL3OUW | New | 123 |
| KB9RUG | New | 121 |
| KS4YT | 100 | 113 |
| A65D | New | 111 |
| KI7WXP | New | 100 |
| YG3EMH | New | 100 |
Congratulations to the new VUCC holders.
YG3EMH is first VUCC Satellite holder from Indonesia and OI71.
KI7WXP is first VUCC Satellite holder from DN09.
A65D is first VUCC Satellite holder from LL74.
+ DXCC Satellite Award/Endorsement Change Summary for October 01, 2023 to November 01, 2023.
| Callsign | October 01 2023 | November 01 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| YO2KHK | 142 | 151 |
| SV8CS | 146 | 150 |
| YO2RR | 136 | 138 |
| WC7V | 100 | 125 |
| ZS2BK | New | 106 |
| K0JM | New | 101 |
| YU0W | New | 101 |
| F5VMJ | New | 100 |
| KE8RJU | New | 100 |
| TF1A | New | 100 |
Congratulations to the new DXCC holders.
K0JM is first DXCC Satellite holder from MN.
YU0W is first DXCC Satellite holder from Serbia.
TF1A is first DXCC Satellite holder from Iceland.
[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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World Radiocommunication Conference to Consider Band Changes
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) will hold its 2023 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-23) on November 20 – December 15 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The ITU is the United Nations’ specialized agency for information and communication technologies. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, the ITU includes 193 member states and several hundred Sector members and associates.
WRC conferences are held every three to four years to review and revise, if necessary, the ITU Radio Regulations, which is the international treaty governing use of the radio frequency spectrum and geostationary satellite and non-geostationary satellite orbits.
Among issues of interest to amateur satellite operators is an agenda item to “Review of the amateur service and the amateur-satellite service allocations in the frequency band 1240-1300 MHz to determine if additional measures are required to ensure protection of the radionavigation-satellite (space-to-Earth) service operating in the same band.”
To learn more about the WRC-23, visit https://www.itu.int/wrc-23/about/about-wrcs/.
[ANS thanks the ARRL and ITU 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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Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for November 3, 2023
The following satellites have been removed from this week’s AMSAT-NA TLE distribution:
Ex-Alta 2 NORAD Cat ID 56313 Decayed from orbit on or about 28 October 2023
ARKSAT 1 NORAD Cat ID 56311 Decayed from orbit on or about 30 October 2023
Two Line Elements or TLEs, often referred to as Keplerian elements or keps in the amateur community, are the inputs to the SGP4 standard mathematical model of spacecraft orbits used by most amateur tracking programs. Weekly updates are completely adequate for most amateur satellites. Elements in the TLE bulletin files are updated daily. TLE bulletin files are updated to add or remove satellites as necessary Thursday evenings around 2300 UTC, or more frequently if new high interest satellites are launched. More information may be found at https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/
[ANS thanks Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager for the above information.]
ARISS NEWS
Amateurs and others around the world may listen in on contacts between amateurs operating in schools and allowing students to interact with astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station. The downlink frequency on which to listen is 145.800 MHz worldwide.
+ Completed ContactsWalkerston State School, Walkerston, Queensland, Australia, telebridge via K6DUE.The ISS callsign was NA1SS.The crewmember was Loral O’Hara, KI5TOM.The ARISS mentor was VK4KHZ.Contact was successful on Friday, October 3, 2023.
+ Upcoming Contacts
Halls Head College, Mandurah, Western Australia, Australia, telebridge via ZS6JON.
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS.
The scheduled crewmember is Loral O’Hara, KI5TOM.
The ARISS mentor is VK4KHZ.
Contact is go for Monday, November 11, 2023 at 07:52:56 UTC.
The crossband repeater continues to be active (145.990 MHz up {PL 67} & 437.800 MHz down). If any crewmember is so inclined, all they have to do is pick up the microphone, raise the volume up, and talk on the crossband repeater. So give a listen, you just never know.
The packet system is also active (145.825 MHz up & down).
As always, if there is an EVA, a docking, or an undocking; the ARISS radios are turned off as part of the safety protocol.
Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time.
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
[ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors for the above information.]
Upcoming Satellite Operations
A growing number of satellite rovers are currently engaged in sharing their grid square activations on https://hams.at. By visiting the website, you gain easy access to comprehensive information about the operators responsible for activating specific grid squares. Additionally, you have the ability to assess the match score between yourself and a particular rover for a given pass, while also being able to identify the upcoming satellite passes that are accessible from your location.
[ANS thanks Ian Parsons, K5ZM, AMSAT Rover Page Manager, 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.
AMSAT Ambassador Clint Bradford, K6LCS, says, “Think a 75-minute presentation on “working the easy satellites” would be appropriate for your club or event? Let me know by emailing me at k6lcsclint [at] gmail [dot] com or calling me at 909-999-SATS (7287)!”
Clint has NEVER given the exact same show twice: EACH of the 150+ presentations so far has been customized/tailored to their audiences.
Satellite Shorts From All Over
+ On Thursday, NASA launched a new app to make it easier than ever to spot the International Space Station in the night sky. NASA has long operated the Spot the Station website, but its new app, available on both iPhone and Android, brings augmented reality features and a handy interface to learn more about the orbiting laboratory. Find the app at the Apple App Store or at Google Play. [ANS thanks Clint Bradford, K6LCS, and JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM, for the above information.]
+ Three Chinese astronauts lifted off on the Shenzhou-17 spacecraft from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center deep in the Gobi Desert on Oct. 26, heading for the Tiangong space station for a six-month stay. This is China’s sixth manned mission to its space station since 2021. China has sought to open up its station to collaboration with international partners, including by hosting experiments from other countries. It has promised an amateur radio presence aboard Tiangong, but no amateur activity has been observed thus far. [ANS thanks CNN for the above information.]
+ SatDump is a popular program that is used with RTL-SDRs and other SDRs for decoding transmissions from a wide array of weather satellites and their various imagers and sensors. Recently SatDump’s author Alan Antoine, F4LAU has been working on improving the way projections work. Projections are essentially when the weather satellite image is stretched and skewed to fit correctly over the curved earth. This means now that city markings and border lines should show up in the correct placed in any images received from SatDump. If you’re interested, Alan has uploaded blog post on the SatDump website explaining the math, algorithms and problems he found when trying to get projections done right. Read more at https://www.satdump.org/. [ANS thanks rtl-sdr.com for the above information.]
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, Frank Karnauskas, N1UW.
n1uw [at] amsat [dot] org