AMSAT News Service

In this edition:

* Five CubeSats Successfully Deployed from “Kibo” Module on ISS
* Celebrate SO-50: Amateur Radio Special Event Marks 22nd Anniversary
* ESA’s Proba-3 Satellites Launch to Create Artificial Solar Eclipses
* VUCC / DXCC Satellite Standings for December 2024
* Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for December 13, 2024
* ARISS News
* Upcoming Satellite Operations
* AMSAT Ambassador Activities
* 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 https://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/

ANS-350 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

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

DATE 2024 Dec 15

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Five CubeSats Successfully Deployed from “Kibo” Module on ISS

On December 9th, five CubeSats were successfully deployed from the Japanese Experiment Module “Kibo” aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The deployment was part of JAXA’s J-SSOD#30 mission and included DENDEN-01, LignoSat, ONGLAISAT, YODAKA and YOMOGI satellites. Two of these satellites, LignoSat and YOMOGI, have received previous IARU coordination to operate over amateur radio frequencies.

LignoSat was developed by Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry Co., Ltd. This CubeSat tests the use of wooden materials in space by measuring strain, temperature, and geomagnetism, along with detecting single event upsets (SEU). Amatuer radio satellite enthusiasts were ready to decode telemetry from the satellite this week, but unfortunately there has been no reported reception of either CW or AX.25 packets on the satellite’s coordinated frequency of 435.820 MHz.

DENDEN-01 was developed by Kansai University and partner institutions. Its mission includes testing advanced nanosatellite technologies, such as temperature-stabilizing devices, thin solar modules, and compact S-band communication systems. The satellite also supports educational activities and data analysis using a compact hyperspectral camera.

ONGLAISAT is a 6U CubeSat co-developed by the Taiwan Space Agency, the University of Tokyo, and ArkEdge Space Inc. It features a telescope for high-resolution Earth imaging using Time Delay Integration (TDI) technology. This mission aims to produce clear and high signal-to-noise ratio images for Earth observation.

YOMOGI was developed by the Chiba Institute of Technology. Its mission combines environmental monitoring and engineering education. The satellite observes red tide in Tokyo Bay, monitors water pollution in Uganda, and uses APRS to send sensor data to ground stations. Many 4800 baud GMSK telemetry packets have been received and decoded over the last few days indicating that the satellite is functioning well. More information can be found on SatNOGS regarding recent observations: https://db.satnogs.org/satellite/HHVN-9456-4962-8588-2802#data

YODAKA was developed by ArkEdge Space Inc. and other collaborators. It features a store-and-forward communication mission, collecting and retransmitting text messages from users on Earth, as well as a camera mission to capture Earth imagery. These activities support educational programs at Iwate Prefectural Hanamaki Kita High School and rural revitalization efforts in Hanamaki City.

The deployment highlights collaboration between JAXA, Space BD Inc., Mitsui Bussan Aerospace Co., Ltd., and the J-CUBE program, which fosters academic and commercial utilization of CubeSats. Amateur radio operators and educational institutions are actively participating in tracking and analyzing data from these satellites.

[ANS thanks the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for the above information]

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Celebrate SO-50: Amateur Radio Special Event Marks 22nd Anniversary

Saudisat 1C (SO-50) was launched on December 20, 2002, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome by the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST). For more than two decades, it has been a valuable resource for amateur radio communications and remains operational in low Earth orbit. The satellite is equipped with a mode V/U FM voice repeater, operating on an uplink frequency of 145.850 MHz with a PL tone of 67.0 Hz and a downlink frequency of 436.795 MHz.

To celebrate the 22nd anniversary of SO-50, the Saudi Amateur Radio Society (SARS) is organizing a global competition, the Saudi Sat SO-50 Event 22. The event will take place from December 13, 2024, at 00:00 UTC to December 22, 2024, at 23:59 UTC, inviting amateur radio operators to make contacts (QSOs) via the satellite during the competition period.

Participants in the competition will be eligible for certificates based on the number of successful contacts they make with amateur stations in different Maidenhead grid squares. Five successful contacts will earn a Beginner Satellite Catcher Certificate, while ten successful contacts qualify for an Advanced Satellite Hunter Certificate. Those who achieve twenty successful contacts will be awarded a Professional Satellite Hunter Certificate. Operators who document their contacts with audio or video recordings, including the satellite name, date, and time, will receive a distinguished Amateur Certificate. Certificates will be distributed in PDF format, and the deadline for log submissions is January 10, 2025.

Logs must be submitted to log [at] sars.sa. For technical support or additional information, participants can contact hzldg [at] sars.sa. This competition highlights the enduring success of SO-50 and encourages its continued use in the global amateur radio community. It provides a platform for operators to connect, compete, and celebrate the satellite’s legacy.

[ANS thanks the Saudi Amateur Radio Society and AMSAT-HZ for the above information]

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Join the AMSAT President’s Club today and help
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ESA’s Proba-3 Satellites Launch to Create Artificial Solar Eclipses

Two European Space Agency (ESA) satellites launched aboard an Indian rocket on December 5th, beginning a mission to study the Sun’s corona and demonstrate new spaceflight technologies. Called the Proba-3 mission, the two spacecraft will conduct formation flying and create artificial solar eclipses to capture images of the Sun’s outer atmosphere, which is usually hidden by its brightness.

The satellites launched aboard India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) at 5:34 am EST (10:34 UTC) and were placed into an elliptical orbit with a low point of 356 miles (573 kilometers) and a high point of 37,632 miles (60,563 kilometers). Early next year, the Coronagraph satellite, carrying instruments to image the Sun, and the Occulter satellite, equipped with navigation sensors and thrusters, will separate to begin their experiments. The Occulter will position a disk to block the Sun’s surface, casting a shadow on the Coronagraph satellite.

This arrangement allows scientists to create artificial eclipses, blocking sunlight to reveal the solar corona. Natural solar eclipses offer only brief observation windows, and traditional coronagraphs on single spacecraft face challenges like diffraction. Proba-3 addresses these limitations by keeping the two satellites 150 meters apart, enabling clearer imaging of the Sun’s outer atmosphere.

Proba-3 uses advanced navigation technology, including inter-satellite radio links, cameras, and a laser-ranging system. This system maintains millimeter-scale precision between the satellites, allowing them to create artificial eclipses lasting up to six hours. The mission aims to conduct at least 1,000 hours of such observations during its two-year operational phase.

The mission’s scientific goal is to observe a part of the corona that existing instruments cannot study. This region is critical for understanding solar phenomena such as coronal mass ejections and the acceleration of the solar wind, which affect space weather and Earth. The mission will also capture high-frequency images to study plasma waves and jets that may heat the corona and drive the solar wind.

Proba-3 also serves as a test of formation-flying technology. ESA officials hope the techniques demonstrated will be used in future missions, such as Mars Sample Return or space debris removal. “Proba-3 is an important step toward more complex space operations,” said Josef Aschbacher, ESA’s director general. “This mission shows how smaller spacecraft can work together to achieve goals that were not possible before.”

[ANS thanks Stephen Clark, Ars Technica for the above information]

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VUCC / DXCC Satellite Standings for December 2024

VUCC Satellite Award/Endorsement Change Summary for November 01, 2024 to December 01, 2024. Congratulations to the new VUCC Satellite holders!

EK/RX3DPK is first VUCC Satellite holder from Armenia and LN20.

AC9O	1001	1126
W2GDJ	908	1022
FG8OJ	921	935
KC4CJ	702	751
WD9EWK (DM43)	736	737
KB1HY	648	727
RA3DNC	305	599
AB1OC	407	476
W3TI	103	444
K5WO	200	255
EK/RX3DPK	New	200
EA4DEI	100	150

DXCC Satellite Award/Endorsement Change Summary for May 13, 2024 to December 01, 2024. Congratulations to the new DXCC Satellite holders!

N8JCM is first DXCC Satellite holder from EN72

DF2ET	100	179
YO2CMI	173	174
LA6OP	143	151
KB8VAO	148	149
EA6VQ	145	147
IK1IYU	138	146
KB1HY	135	142
SP3AU	138	140
HB9GWJ	134	137
FG8OJ	116	120
HB9WDF	101	114
JA0FSB	101	111
EA5RM	108	110
DG7RO	100	103
M0SKM	New	100
N8JCM	New	100

[ANS thanks Jon Goering, N7AZ, for the above information]

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Need new satellite antennas?
Purchase an M2 LEO-Pack 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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Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for December 13, 2024

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. TLE bulletin files are updated daily in the first hour of the UTC day. New bulletin files will be posted immediately after reliable elements become available for new amateur satellites. More information may be found at https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/.

AO-123 has been identified as NORAD Cat ID 61781

The following satellites have been removed from this week’s AMSAT TLE distribution:
CosmoGirlSat NORAD Cat ID 60953 Decayed from orbit on or about 09 December 2024
IDEASSat NORAD Cat ID 47458 Decayed from orbit on or about 09 December 2024

[ANS thanks AMSAT Orbital Elements page for the above information]

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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.

+ Recently Completed Contacts

South-West State University, Kursk, Russia, direct via UB3WCL
The ISS callsign was RSØISS
The scheduled crewmember was Alexander Gorbunov
The ARISS mentor was RV3DR
Contact was successful: Mon 2024-12-09 09:29 UTC
Congratulations to the South-West State University students, Alexander, mentor RV3DR, and ground station UB3WCL!

Chrześcijańska Szkoła Podstawowa Daniel, Warszawa, Poland, direct via SP5POT
The ISS callsign was OR4ISS
The scheduled crewmember was Don Pettit KD5MDT
The ARISS mentor was SP3QFE
Contact was successful: Mon 2024-12-09 11:03:48 UTC
Congratulations to the Chrześcijańska Szkoła Podstawowa Daniel students, Don, mentor SP3QFE, and ground station SP5POT!
Watch the Livestreams at https://www.facebook.com/share/45Mq4px6R9Fnt6tK/ and https://www.youtube.com/live/CDMgY2x5Kwo

Scuola Secondaria di I Grado “F.Anzani”, Cantù, Italy, telebridge via VK4KHZ
The ISS callsign was NA1SS
The scheduled crewmember was Sunita Williams KD5PLB
The ARISS mentor was IZ2GOJ
Contact was successful: Tue 2024-12-10 09:13:10 UTC
Congratulations to the Scuola Secondaria di I Grado “F.Anzani” students, Sunita, mentor IZ2GOJ, and telebridge station VK4KHZ!
Watch the Livestream at https://www.youtube.com/live/jU7bSfGfwfI?si=OTL5NoqViOGKZgtI

Hillsboro Charter Academy, Purcellville, VA, direct via KQ4MAM
The ISS callsign was NA1SS
The scheduled crewmember was Sunita Williams KD5PLB
The ARISS mentor was AA6TB
Contact was successful: Wed 2024-12-11 18:51:41 UTC
Congratulations to the Hillsboro Charter Academy students, Sunita, mentor AA6TB, and ground station KQ4MAM!
Watch the Livestream at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqKx6ytN96k and also https://live.ariss.org/

+ Upcoming Contacts

Zespół Szkół Łączności, Warszawa, Poland, direct via SP5KAB
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS
The scheduled crewmember is Nick Hague KG5TMV
The ARISS mentor is SP3QFE
Contact is go for: Mon 2024-12-16 08:35:06 UTC
Watch for Livestream at https://www.youtube.com/live/DBafZYpxolI

Sally Ride Elementary School, Orlando, Florida, direct via K1AA
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS
The scheduled crewmember is Sunita Williams KD5PLB
The ARISS mentor is AA4KN
Contact is go for: Tue 2024-12-17 18:49:38 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]

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Upcoming Satellite Operations

None currently posted.

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]

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AMSAT Ambassador Activities

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.

Central Kentucky Amateur Radio Society – December 19, 2024
CKARS Monthly Meeting
558 S Keeneland Drive
Richmond, KY 40475
https://www.ckars.org/home
AI4SR

Yuma HAMCON – February 20th thru 22nd, 2025
Yuma, AZ
N1UW

[ANS thanks Bo Lowrey, W4FCL, Director – AMSAT Ambassador Program, for the above information]

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Satellite Shorts From All Over

+ NASA has announced delays to its Artemis moon program, pushing Artemis II, a crewed mission around the moon, to April 2026, with the Artemis III lunar landing planned for mid-2027. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson emphasized that this timeline keeps the U.S. ahead of China’s goal to land on the moon by 2030, highlighting the competitive nature of the space race. The delays follow concerns about the Orion capsule’s heat shield, which cracked during reentry after the uncrewed Artemis I test mission in 2022; Artemis II will proceed with adjustments to the capsule’s trajectory, while future missions will feature an upgraded heat shield. Artemis, initiated under former President Trump’s administration, aims not only to return astronauts to the moon but also to establish lunar bases as a stepping stone for Mars exploration, despite rising costs and development delays. The program’s reliance on SpaceX’s Starship for lunar landings has raised questions about its cost-effectiveness, especially under the incoming Trump administration. Nelson expressed optimism about Artemis’s continuity under NASA’s next administrator, Jared Isaacman, amid ongoing bipartisan and international support for lunar exploration. (ANS thanks The Guardian for the above information)

+ Less than a week after its December 5th launch aboard a Vega-C rocket, the Sentinel-1C satellite delivered its first radar images, showcasing its advanced capabilities in environmental monitoring. Equipped with a cutting-edge C-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR), Sentinel-1C operates in all weather and lighting conditions, supporting critical applications like climate change research, disaster response, and environmental management. Early images captured regions such as Svalbard, Norway, highlighting its ability to monitor Arctic ice coverage, the Netherlands, showcasing intricate details for agriculture and water management, and Brussels, Belgium, revealing dense urban landscapes with historical ties to the Sentinel program. These high-resolution radar images, processed flawlessly by the Sentinel-1 Ground Segment, underline the satellite’s potential for actionable insights into soil moisture, urban planning, and polar ecosystems. Sentinel-1C continues the legacy of its predecessors while expanding its role in marine surveillance, ground deformation observation, and global humanitarian aid. Freely available via the Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem, Sentinel-1C’s data ensures robust support for diverse Copernicus services and scientific applications worldwide. (ANS thanks the European Space Agency for the above information)

+ NASA recently awarded SpaceX a $256.6 million contract to launch Dragonfly, a rotorcraft designed to explore Titan, Saturn’s largest moon, using a nuclear-powered radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG). This marks a milestone for SpaceX, as it will be the company’s first time launching a nuclear-powered payload, a domain previously dominated by United Launch Alliance (ULA). The RTG will generate electricity from plutonium-238, chosen because Titan’s dim and cloudy atmosphere precludes the use of solar power. Dragonfly will explore Titan’s surface by hopping between locations using its eight rotors, investigating organic molecules essential to understanding the building blocks of life. Originally set for a 2026 launch, delays due to redesigns, COVID-19 impacts, and supply chain issues have pushed the timeline to July 2028, with costs escalating to $3.35 billion. This mission, one of NASA’s most ambitious robotic endeavors, underscores the transition to new-generation rockets for launching nuclear payloads, with SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy beating ULA’s Vulcan rocket in competitive bidding for this historic mission. (ANS thanks SpaceNews for the above information)

+ The USC Rocket Propulsion Lab (USCRPL) at the University of Southern California has shattered the international altitude record for amateur rocketry with their Aftershock II rocket, reaching an unprecedented 470,000 feet. This achievement surpasses the previous 20-year record of 380,000 feet set by the Civilian Space Exploration Team in 2004, establishing Aftershock II as the first civilian-built rocket to achieve this altitude. Equipped with the most powerful solid-propellant motor ever fired by students and enhanced thermal protection systems, the rocket endured hypersonic speeds with innovative features like titanium-coated fins and a custom paint system. The launch on October 20th in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert also demonstrated advanced avionics and live data integration, enabling precise tracking and recovery. Building on their milestone 2019 launch of Traveler IV, the first student-designed rocket to cross the Kármán line, USCRPL continues to push the boundaries of amateur rocketry with cutting-edge engineering and teamwork. This remarkable achievement highlights the group’s role as a training ground for future leaders in the space industry, inspiring innovation and excellence among aspiring astronautical engineers. (ANS thanks University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering for the above information)

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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, Mitch Ahrenstorff, ADØHJ
mahrenstorff [at] amsat.org

In this edition:

* AMSAT OSCAR-7 50th Anniversary – A Testbed for Saving Lives
* Another Batch of CubeSatSim Kits Available Soon in AMSAT Store
* SpaceX Dragon Fires Thrusters to Boost ISS Orbit for the First Time
* SEAQUE Quantum Tech Arrives at ISS for Groundbreaking Demo
* Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for November 15, 2024
* ARISS News
* Upcoming Satellite Operations
* AMSAT Ambassador Activities
* 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 https://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/

ANS-322 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

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

DATE 2024 Nov 17

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AMSAT OSCAR-7 50th Anniversary – A Testbed for Saving Lives

As we observe AMSAT OSCAR-7’s 50th anniversary as the oldest operating satellite, we should recall what may be its most noteworthy accomplishment.

OSCAR-7 was used to investigate the possibility of locating downed aircraft and disabled sea vessels by using Doppler analysis of signals from emergency location transmitters (ELT’s).

As envisioned by spacecraft engineers from the United States and Russia, the concept was to relay signals from beacon devices, ELT’s or emergency location transmitters, already installed on large and small aircraft and on ships and smaller vessels equipped with EPIRB’s or Emergency Position-Indicating Radiobeacon Stations. These one-way beacon transmitters, originally intended to be received by surface rescue parties, could also be received and transponded by a LEO spacecraft, greatly extending the rescue potential.

The signals could also be Doppler tracked, one-way, by processing the beacon uplink signal on-board the spacecraft. This would allow the spacecraft to find the source beacon’s location immediately. This would allow the emergency beacon to be identified and located and the position stored for immediate downlink at the next available ground station. We know it is hard to remember but this was in an era before the creation of GPS!

Scientists from the Russian COSPAS (Russian acronym for “Space System for the Search of Vessels in Distress) and the U.S. SARSAT (Search and Rescue Satellite) teams simulated ELT’s on amateur radio stations and demonstrated how receiving and relaying ELT transmissions and analyzing Doppler shift as OSCAR-7 passed overhead could accurately locate the emergency beacons.

The tests were highly successful. The COSPAS/SARSAT program went ahead and has been operational since 1982. From that time until 2021, when the program merged with others providing similar capability via LEO, MEO and GEO spacecraft, the program had saved the lives of 57,413 persons in 17,663 separate rescue events, involving downed aircraft and ships at sea.

[ANS thanks Jan King, W3GEY, AMSAT AO-7 Project Manager for the above information]

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Another Batch of CubeSatSim Kits Available Soon in AMSAT Store

A new batch of fifteen CubeSatSim Kits will be available for purchase in the AMSAT Store on Wednesday, November 20, at noon US Eastern time (1700 UTC). Priced at $400 with shipping included for U.S. addresses, the CubeSatSim Kit offers a hands-on learning experience with no soldering and some assembly, making it ideal for both educational use and public demonstrations.

The CubeSatSim Kit includes:

• Fully assembled and tested PCBs (Main, Solar, and Battery Boards)
• Raspberry Pi Zero 2 with a Pi Camera and fully programmed micro-SD card, along with a fully programmed Raspberry Pi Pico WH
• AMSAT logo Remove Before Flight tag switch
• 3D printed frame, nylon screws, and nuts, with a mini screwdriver included for assembly
• Metal standoffs, stacking headers, and JST jumpers for stacking the PCBs and Pi Zero 2
• 10 solar panels with pre-soldered JST connectors and mounting tape
• BME280 sensor (pressure, temperature, altitude, humidity) and MPU6050 IMU/gyro pre-soldered
• Two 6″ SMA coax cables and two SMA antennas

The kit also comes with an instruction sheet, parts inventory, and links to online instructions. Assembly time is estimated to be under two hours, with scissors and the provided mini screwdriver.

The v2.0 CubeSatSim features improvements over v1.2, such as an FM transceiver, Raspberry Pi Pico microcontroller, and RF command and control using DTMF or APRS packets. It can also be modified to function as a 500mW high altitude balloon payload.

For those interested in creating their own CubeSatSim, v2.0 blank PCB sets are available at the AMSAT Store for $35. These require additional components, which can be purchased for approximately $300 using the provided Bill of Materials.

Additional resources include:

• Kit Instructions          https://cubesatsim.org/kit
• Kit Videos                    https://cubesatsim.org/kit-videos
• Discussion Forum      https://github.com/alanbjohnston/CubeSatSim/discussions
• Quick Start Guide      https://cubesatsim.org/qsg

For more information or to borrow a loaner CubeSat Simulator, contact Alan Johnston, AMSAT VP Educational Relations, at ku2y [at] arrl.net.

How to Order
Kits will be sold exclusively on the AMSAT Store website.
Only U.S. shipping addresses are eligible; orders with non-U.S. addresses will be refunded and closed.

About CubeSatSim
CubeSatSim is a low-cost satellite emulator powered by solar panels and batteries. It transmits UHF radio telemetry and can be expanded with additional sensors and modules, making it ideal for educational and public demonstrations.

[ANS thanks Alan Johnston, KU2Y, AMSAT Vice President Educational Relations for the above information]

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The 2024 AMSAT President’s Club coins are here now!
Help Support GOLF and Fox Plus

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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SpaceX Dragon Fires Thrusters to Boost ISS Orbit for the First Time

For the first time, SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft successfully raised the orbit of the International Space Station (ISS) by firing its thrusters. The orbital boost marks a significant milestone in Dragon’s capabilities and comes as part of SpaceX’s 31st commercial resupply mission to the ISS. The mission, which launched on November 4, delivered a Dragon cargo vehicle which docked with the station the following day. On November 8, the vehicle conducted an orbit-raising maneuver, stabilizing the ISS’s position in low-Earth orbit.

Orbit-raising maneuvers are routine for the ISS, which requires regular boosts to counteract orbital decay caused by Earth’s gravity. Until now, this task has been handled mainly by Russia’s Soyuz and Progress vehicles, alongside occasional boosts from other spacecraft. With Dragon now performing such maneuvers, the U.S. spacecraft has added a critical capability, especially significant as NASA prepares for the eventual decommissioning of the ISS. The data gathered from today’s maneuver will aid in the development of SpaceX’s future ISS deorbit vehicle, known as the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle, which NASA has contracted to guide the station into the Pacific Ocean upon its retirement.

The reboost began at approximately 12:50 p.m. ET (1750 UTC) and lasted around 12.5 minutes, elevating the station’s orbit slightly. NASA monitored the reboost closely and shared updates on social media platform X, noting that Dragon’s performance in its first orbit-raising task was “a good demonstration” of its growing capabilities. SpaceX intends to apply the maneuver’s data toward the design of the planned U.S. Deorbit Vehicle, scheduled to be used once the ISS reaches the end of its operational lifespan.

This recent success by Dragon is not the first instance of a U.S.-made spacecraft boosting the ISS. In 2022, NASA tested a similar maneuver using a Northrop Grumman Cygnus cargo vehicle. However, the data collected from Dragon’s maneuver holds unique importance, as it directly informs the planning of the ISS’s controlled deorbit mission. The spacecraft, which has been continuously occupied for nearly 25 years, is expected to remain operational until around 2030, when the costs and maintenance demands of the aging structure will likely lead to its retirement.

The ISS’s eventual decommissioning aligns with NASA’s shift towards commercial partnerships in low-Earth orbit. The agency envisions that new, privately operated space stations will replace the ISS as research outposts, enabling NASA to focus its budget on deeper space exploration, including the Artemis Program’s return to the Moon. With the ISS contract awarded to SpaceX, the agency has placed its trust in the private sector to develop the technology needed to safely conclude the station’s mission in a controlled manner.

The success of Dragon’s reboost maneuver also underscores the U.S.’s reduced reliance on Russian spacecraft to maintain ISS operations. Despite global political tensions, notably since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the U.S.-Russian partnership on the ISS has persisted. However, Dragon’s demonstrated ability to perform reboosts offers NASA an alternative if needed. Since Dragon began launching U.S. astronauts in 2020, SpaceX has provided NASA with a reliable launch option from American soil, and now it has proven capable of supporting the station’s orbit, a role essential to the ISS’s long-term stability.

[ANS thanks Josh Dinner, Space.com for the above information]

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SEAQUE Quantum Tech Arrives at ISS for Groundbreaking Demo

The Space Entanglement and Annealing QUantum Experiment (SEAQUE) has officially arrived at the International Space Station (ISS), delivered aboard NASA’s SpaceX CRS-31 mission. The SpaceX Dragon capsule docked with the ISS on November 4th, carrying over 6,000 pounds of scientific investigations and cargo, including SEAQUE. Planned for installation on the Nanoracks Bishop airlock, SEAQUE represents an important step forward in building a global quantum communications network.

Quantum computers promise computation speeds that are exponentially faster than conventional computers, and distributed quantum sensors may lead to new understandings of Earth and our place in the universe by measuring minute changes in gravity. However, to fully harness these abilities, a dedicated communication network must be established, capable of linking quantum computers and sensors regardless of their location. SEAQUE’s experiment aims to prove the viability of orbiting nodes that can securely transmit and receive quantum data to and from the ground via free-space optical communications.

A cornerstone of SEAQUE’s mission is to test an integrated source of entangled photons, a critical requirement for secure quantum data transmission. Entangled photons are uniquely interconnected, where measuring one instantly influences the other, regardless of distance. This property enables potential data transmission that is secure and extremely difficult to intercept. Unlike prior quantum experiments that used bulk optics, SEAQUE utilizes a waveguide-based photon source. This innovation is more compact, efficient, and resilient, eliminating the need for manual optical realignment post-launch.

“SEAQUE will demonstrate a new and never-before-flown entanglement source based on integrated optics,” said Paul Kwiat, principal investigator at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He emphasized that the technology is pivotal for scalable global networks, as manual adjustments would be impractical when managing hundreds of quantum nodes spread across continents. Makan Mohageg, SEAQUE co-investigator from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), reinforced that SEAQUE’s success would pave the way for future, widespread quantum networks.

An added element of SEAQUE’s demonstration involves testing its ability to self-heal from radiation damage, a persistent challenge in space. High-energy particles can impair the detectors that receive quantum signals, causing noise and, eventually, failure. SEAQUE will employ a bright laser to periodically repair such damage using a technique known as annealing. This process has shown success on the ground, “bubbling away” defects and reducing noise to extend detector life.

The SEAQUE mission reflects a truly international effort, including experts and students from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, the National University of Singapore, and commercial partners such as AdvR, Inc., and Nanoracks. Funded by NASA’s Biological and Physical Sciences Division, SEAQUE is expected to drive breakthroughs in secure quantum communications, establishing a foundation for future advancements in long-distance data sharing.

[ANS thanks the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory for the above information]

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Need new satellite antennas?
Purchase an M2 LEO-Pack 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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Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for November 15, 2024

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. TLE bulletin files are updated daily in the first hour of the UTC day. New bulletin files will be posted immediately after reliable elements become available for new amateur satellites. More information may be found at https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/.

The following satellites have been removed from this week’s AMSAT TLE distribution:
Binar 2 NORAD Cat ID 60956 Decayed from orbit on or about 09 November 2024

[ANS thanks AMSAT Orbital Elements page for the above information]

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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.

+ Recently Completed Contacts

Bishop O’Connell HS, Arlington, VA, telebridge via VK4ISS
The ISS callsign was NA1SS
The scheduled crewmember was Nick Hague
The ARISS mentor was AA6TB
Contact was successful: Fri 2024-11-15 18:06:21 UTC
Watch the Livestream at https://youtube.com/live/qlIufW_FCBU

Cottam Scouts, Cottam, ON, Canada, telebridge via IK1SLD
The ISS callsign was OR4ISS
The scheduled crewmember was Sunita Williams KD5PLB
The ARISS mentor was VE6JBJ
Contact was successful: Sat 2024-11-16 18:17:04 UTC

+ Upcoming Contacts

Erie Migration District School, Kingsville, ON, Canada, telebridge via IK1SLD
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS
The scheduled crewmember is Sunita Williams KD5PLB
The ARISS mentor is VE6JBJ
Contact is go for: Mon 2024-11-18 16:41:47 UTC

Aznakaevsky district resp. Tatarstan, Russia, direct via TBD
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS
The scheduled crewmember is Ivan Vagner
The ARISS mentor is RV3DR
Contact is go for Tue 2024-11-19 16:05 UTC

Center for the Development of Children and Youth Creativity in the City of Pugachev, Saratov Region, Russia, direct via TBD
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS
The scheduled crewmember is Aleksey Ovchinin
The ARISS mentor is RV3DR
Contact is go for Wed 2024-11-20 15:15 UTC

Escola Secundária Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro, Caldas da Rainha, Portugal, direct via CS5SS
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS
The scheduled crewmember is Don Pettit KD5MDT
The ARISS mentor is IKØUSO
Contact is go for: Fri 2024-11-22 16:37:40 UTC

Amur State University, Blagoveshchensk, Russia, direct via TBD
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS
The scheduled crewmember is Alex Gorbunov
The ARISS mentor is RV3DR
Contact is go for: Thu 2024-11-21 11:25 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 ARISS SSTV Series 22 event is now underway from Mon 2024-11-11 11:50 UTC to Mon 2024-11-18 16:00 UTC (times are approximate).

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]

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Upcoming Satellite Operations

Guyana: Aldir, PY1SAD (ZZ1M), operates from Georgetown as 8R1TM between  Oct. 12 and Nov. 24 on 160-10m (CW, SSB, digital modes) and via satellites. QSL via LoTW, eQSL, qrz.com. (From DXNL 2427 – October 9, 2024

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]

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AMSAT Ambassador Activities

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.

Yuma HAMCON – February 20th thru 22nd, 2025
Yuma, AZ

N1UW

[ANS thanks Bo Lowrey, W4FCL, Director – AMSAT Ambassador Program, for the above information]

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Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition?
Get an 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

Satellite Shorts From All Over

+ SpaceX is set for its sixth Starship test flight on November 18th, marking the first mission without regulatory delays following FAA approval for both Flights 5 and 6. Flight 6 will be similar to Flight 5, including a suborbital launch and splashdown of the upper stage in the Indian Ocean, with a key difference being an attempted relight of a Raptor engine during coast, revisiting a goal from Flight 3. This test also includes new experiments with the thermal protection system, including sections without heat shield tiles to gather data on ship-catching configurations. SpaceX aims to catch the Super Heavy booster again, making improvements to its propulsion and structural systems after facing near failures and unexpected damage in Flight 5. The launch will depart in the afternoon to achieve a daylight splashdown, while testing higher angles of descent to simulate future landing profiles. Flight 6 will conclude the Block 1 version of Starship, with upgraded features planned for Flight 7, as SpaceX targets a faster launch cadence to support future NASA missions and lunar landings. (ANS thanks Spaceflight Now for the above information)

+ NASA’s Parker Solar Probe recently completed its seventh and final flyby of Venus, setting it on a course to approach within 3.8 million miles of the sun’s surface—closer than any human-made object in history. This maneuver, crucial for tightening the probe’s orbit, marks a significant step in its mission to study solar mysteries such as the sun’s extremely hot corona. Described by Nour Raouafi as “almost landing on a star” and compared to the 1969 moon landing, the achievement underscores its importance to humanity. The spacecraft’s gravity assists from Venus have not only propelled it closer to the sun but also provided unique data about Venus itself, revealing surface features through its WISPR camera and unexpected details like potential chemical differences. During the most recent flyby, Parker came within 233 miles of Venus’ surface to further study these surface properties. On December 24th, the probe will achieve its closest solar encounter, reaching a speed of 430,000 miles per hour, with mission control anticipating confirmation of its success by December 27th. (ANS thanks Space.com for the above information)

+ Arianespace has announced that the second flight of Europe’s Ariane 6 rocket, its first commercial mission, has been rescheduled from December 2024 to no earlier than mid-February 2025. This mission will carry the CSO 3 reconnaissance satellite for the French military and marks the first Ariane 6 launch to be overseen by Arianespace. Initially expected to launch in December following the Vega C rocket’s return to flight, the schedule changed after analysis of an issue during the Ariane 6’s debut in July. The delay stemmed from a temperature measurement anomaly that prevented the upper stage’s auxiliary power unit (APU) from starting, now corrected with a software update. Both the rocket’s core and upper stages are still in production and are set to be transported soon to French Guiana for launch preparation. Arianespace has assured that this delay will not impact future missions, with plans to conduct six Ariane 6 launches in 2025. (ANS thanks SpaceNews for the above information)

+ AST SpaceMobile has recently deployed five massive BlueBird satellites in low Earth orbit, each with a record-breaking 693-square-foot communications array, marking the start of the company’s space-based cellular network. These satellites are brighter than most objects in the night sky, presenting significant challenges for astronomers by obstructing observations. AST aims to establish the first cellular broadband network directly accessible by cell phones, with plans to expand its constellation to over 100 satellites. The rapid increase in large satellites, like those of AST and competitors such as SpaceX and Amazon, has raised concerns about space debris and environmental impact. A group of experts has urged the FCC to reconsider satellite environmental exemptions, fearing an irreversible clutter of space. This surge in satellite launches is not only reshaping communications but also sparking debate on preserving the accessibility of space for scientific exploration. (ANS thanks Gizmodo for the above information)

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In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to:

* Societies (a recognized group, clubs or organization).
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73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space!

This week’s ANS Editor, Mitch Ahrenstorff, ADØHJ
mahrenstorff [at] amsat.org