In this edition:

* Happy 10th Birthday FUNcube-1 (AO-73)
* AMSAT Servers Back In Service After Brief Outage
* HERON Mk. II Reaches Orbit
* Starship Flies Higher
* ITU RS-23 Adopts Resolution for Space Spectrum
* Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for November 24
* 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.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-330 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 26

Happy 10th Birthday FUNcube-1 (AO-73)

November 21, 2023, marks the tenth birthday of our very first CubeSat mission, FUNcube-1 (AO-73).

A very short time after the launch from Yasny in Russia and within a few minutes from deployment, the very first frame of data from the low power transmitter on board, was detected and decoded by ZS1LS in South Africa. He was able to relay the data over the internet from his Dashboard to the Data Warehouse and the numbers, appeared, as if by magic, at the launch party being held at the RSGB National Radio Centre at Bletchley Park.

After a very brief check out, the FUNcube team were able to switch the transmitter to full power, again at the very first attempt, and were quite amazed at the strength of the signal from the 300mW transmitter on 145.935 MHz. The transponder was then switched on and successfully tested, the first contact was between G6LVB and M5AKA who were both operating from the Bletchley Park car park.

The team finished the day with a request to AMSAT-NA for an Oscar number and were delighted to receive the AO73 Oscar 73 designation!

Since then, FUNcube-1, with a launch mass of less than 1kg, has operated continuously with only a very few interruptions. In excess of 53,500 orbits, 1.3 billion miles travelled, 61 million telemetry data packets transmitted, and with more than 10.9 million unique data packets downloaded and stored in the Data Warehouse.

The FUNcube team still receive many requests for Fitter message uploads for school events…please contact us by email to [email protected] giving us at least two weeks notice.

The FUNcube team continue to be very grateful to all the many stations around the world that continue to upload the telemetry that they receive to our Data Warehouse. They really need this data to provide a continuous resource for educational outreach.

FUNcube Data Warehouse and the Dashboard software
https://funcube.org.uk/working-documents/funcube-telemetry-dashboard/

FUNcube email group https://groups.io/g/FUNcube

FUNcube Website http://www.funcube.org.uk/

[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information]

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=
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/
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=

AMSAT Servers Back In Service After Brief Outage

At approximately 21:04 UTC Tuesday November 21, our vendor Linode detected a failing disk on the hardware that runs our web, telemetry, source code control and Echolink servers and began to effect emergency data protection operations.    AMSAT’s Engineering department is clearly working hard, because within 10 minutes they alerted the AMSAT IT department that they were having trouble accessing the server that holds the source code for our satellite projects.

Meanwhile Linode proceeded to “evacuate” our servers from the failing hardware, and migrated them to new hardware.

All services were restored by approximately 21:20 UTC and the servers appear to be happily settling in to their new home.

There is no sign of any data loss, but as always if you see anything out of the ordinary please write [email protected]

[ANS thanks Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, of the AMSAT IT Team for the above information]

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=

Need new satellite antennas? Purchase Arrows, Alaskan Arrows,
and M2 LEO-Packs from the AMSAT Store. When you purchase through
AMSAT, a portion of the proceeds goes towards
Keeping Amateur Radio in Space.
https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=

HERON Mk. II Reaches Orbit

The University of Toronto Aerospace Team (UTAT) Space Systems’ HERON Mk. II satellite lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, aboard a Falcon 9 rocket of the SpaceX Transporter-9 mission.

As a rideshare mission to space, the Transporter-9 delivered HERON Mk. II — alongside 89 other small satellites — to an orbit approximately 540 kilometres above Earth’s surface. Marking the culmination of nearly a decade of work by student Space Systems engineers, the HERON Mk. II’s path to the launch pad was one of dedication and perseverance.

The UTAT are a team composed primarily of engineering students that designs and builds small satellites known as CubeSats. Team’s first satellite, HERON Mk. I — short for Human Experiment Relay On Nanosatellite — was a CubeSat developed from 2014–2016. For various reasons, the project did not end in a launch opportunity, and so HERON Mk. I was retired.

Since our team was performing work that required members to be on campus, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted our original spacecraft assembly plans.

Any organization wishing to send a satellite into space and communicate with it via radio waves first needs to obtain the appropriate radio frequency (RF) licenses from Innovation Science and Economic Development Canada. Unfortunately, the process of obtaining these licenses for the HERON Mk. II satellite took significantly longer than expected and delayed the launch. Because of the delay, the team was forced to abandon the original biological mission.

Therefore, the team decided to shift the primary focus of the HERON Mk. II mission toward validating UTAT Space Systems’ RF communications capabilities and providing amateur radio and satellite operations experience to our members.

While waiting for the frequency licenses to be issued, a group of our teammates began designing an amateur ultra-high frequency (UHF) ground station. This is the apparatus that allows us to communicate with HERON Mk. II from the ground, via radio waves at a frequency of 437.12 megahertz. Now fully operational, the ground station currently resides on the sixth-floor roof of the Bahen Centre for Information Technology.

In September, a few team members travelled to Spaceflight’s facilities in Bellevue, Washington, where they placed HERON Mk. II inside its deployer that would later be mounted inside the Falcon 9 rocket for the SpaceX Transporter-9 mission.

Once the Falcon 9 rocket reached its intended orbit in space, HERON Mk. II was ejected from the rocket at 3:04 pm EST, and soon deployed its UHF antenna. The UHF antenna plays a crucial role in preventing any electromagnetic interference with the other satellites, which might otherwise distort the signals sent between HERON Mk. II and the ground station.

During the initial commissioning period, we will be actively trying to establish the first communications via the ground station. Afterward, HERON Mk. II will begin a year of regular operations during which the team will regularly monitor the satellite’s health.

The lessons learned from mission operations and monitoring the satellite’s health will inform the development of future satellite missions undertaken by UTAT Space Systems.

With the launch of HERON Mk. II, UTAT Space Systems has lowered the barrier to entry for space programs even further by becoming the first organization in Canada to receive the entirety of its satellite development funding from a student levy. This marks yet another paradigm shift in the industry, demonstrating that students are capable of sourcing their own space mission funding, rather than solely relying on government grants or commercial sponsorships.

From an educational perspective, the HERON Mk. II mission will enable team members to learn more about satellite operations and amateur radio and to gain knowledge that will carry forward to UTAT Space Systems’ future missions.

[ANS thanks The Varsity, student newspaper of the University of Toronto, for the above information]

Starship Flies Higher

Seven long months after Starship’s first integrated flight test in April, Ship 25 launched atop Booster 9 on a second test flight, again targeting a ballistic trajectory with a planned splashdown north of Hawai’i.

This time, all 33 Raptor 2 engines on Booster 9 completed a full first-stage burn, producing a 300-meter-long exhaust plume and roughly twice the thrust of any other object flown by humanity.

The 121-meter monster rocket also completed what appeared to be a successful hot stage separation, with B9 shutting down all but three of its Raptors (which were throttled to 50%) followed by S25’s six engines starting up to push the ship away from the booster.

Hot staging reduces gravity losses and keeps the upper stage continuously under thrust for fuel settling.

After stage separation, B9 completed a somewhat vigorous flip and, perhaps due to propellant slosh or damage, had trouble relighting its Raptor engines. (Engines that ingest tank pressurization gas instead of propellant generally end up functioning quite destructively.)

After several “high energy” events at the aft end of Booster 9, an explosion originating from its common bulkhead rapidly disassembled the booster.

After separation, Starship’s upper stage burned until seconds before entering its planned coast phase—climbing to an altitude of 148 km and over 6.7 km/s, reaching space and very nearly hitting orbital velocity.

However, S25 appeared to trigger its automated flight termination system during terminal guidance, possibly due to a leak in its oxygen tank—debris from the explosion were caught on NOAA radar extending past Puerto Rico.

The thermal protection system (TPS) made up of 18,000 tiles, appeared to lose a significant number of tiles during the launch, especially ones that were glued on near weld points, making the ship unlikely to have survived reentry even if the flight had made it that far.

S28’s TPS tiles are said to have an improved adhesion process that has been tested with a suction cup plus force meter to verify attachment. One additional clear success was the performance of SpaceX’s much improved “stage zero”—the water deluge system appeared undamaged and very little other damage and debris have been spotted by ever-vigilant tank watchers.

Due to a complete loss of both stages, the FAA will conduct another mishap investigation, although many hope it will be significantly more streamlined due to the improved FTS functionality and better performance of the launch system—in particular, the Fish and Wildlife Service may not be involved this time.

The always-optimistic Musk suggests a next test flight for Starship in 3-4 weeks, and with plenty of hardware waiting in the wings (S28 and B10 are likely up next), the timeline will probably be determined yet again by the mishap investigation and mitigation process. NASA seems keen to get on with it though as the agency believes its lunar lander mission may take up to 20 Starship launches

[ANS thanks The Orbital Index for the above information]

ITU RA-23 Adopts Resolution for Space Spectrum

The ITU Radiocommunication Assembly 2023 (RA-23), a precursor to the World Radiocommunication Conference, WRC-23, wrapped up on November 17 with a lot of new resolutions covering 6G standards, sustainable usage of space spectrum and gender equality.

RA-23, which was held last week in Dubai, adopted the new Recommendation ITU-R M. 2160 on the “IMT-2030 Framework,” which sets the basis for development of 6G, a.k.a. IMT-2030. The next phase will be the definition of relevant requirements and evaluation criteria for potential radio interface technologies.

The assembly also adopted a a new resolution on space sustainability to facilitate the long-term sustainable use of radio spectrum and associated satellite orbit resources used by space services, in in accordance with Resolution 219 (Bucharest, 2022). The ITU says this resolution will benefit the satellite sector and support further cooperation with other United Nations organizations.

RA-23 also finished a new ITU-R Recommendation on the protection of the radio navigation-satellite service and amateur satellite services, and adopted a a new resolution on the use of IMT technologies for fixed wireless broadband.

The assembly also agreed to revise ITU-R Resolution 65 to facilitate studies looking at the compatibility of current regulations with potential 6G IMT radio interface technologies for 2030 and beyond.

Resolution ITU-R 8-3 was also revised to promote the participation of engineers and scientists from developing countries in radiowave propagation campaigns in tropical and subtropical regions with limited data monitoring.

The RA-23 resolutions arrive just ahead of WRC-23, which commenced November 20 in Dubai and will run until 15 December 2023. Hot items on the agenda include the ongoing battle between the satellite and mobile sectors for 5G spectrum, especially as non-terrestrial networks become part of 3GPP’s 5G standards, the development of direct-to-device satellite services, and revisiting rules about satellite power limits for LEO satellites, to name a few.

To learn more about the WRC-23, visit https://www.itu.int/wrc-23/about/about-wrcs/.

[ANS thanks DevelopingTelecoms.com for the above information]

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=

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

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=

Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for November 24

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/.

This week there are no additions or deletions to the AMSAT TLE distribution.

[ANS thanks AMSAT Orbital Elements page 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 CONTACT:
National Research Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod (UNN), Nizhny Novgorod, direct via UB1QBM. The ISS callsign was RSØISS, and the crewmember was Konstantin Borisov. The ARISS mentor was RV3DR. Contact was successful at Wed 2023-11-22 16:40 UTC.
Congratulations to the National Research Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod students, Konstantin, and mentor RV3DR!

Note that due to the recent debris avoidance maneuver, that was performed on Nov. 10, some of the pass times have significantly shifted. It is suggested that you use the very latest Kep data.

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

None scheduled at this time.

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.

None scheduled at this time.

[ANS thanks the AMSAT Events page for the above information]

Satellite Shorts From All Over

+ EIRSAT-1 is expected to launch on a Space X Falcon 9 rocket from the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, USA, on November 29, 2023. It will have a downlink on the IARU coordinated frequency of 437.100 MHz, see https://iaru.amsat-uk.org/finished_detail.php?serialnum=639. Information on the beacon can be found at https://github.com/ucd-eirsat-1/beacon. EIRSAT-1 was built by students from University College Dublin under the framework of ESA Academy’s Fly Your Satellite! programme (FYS). (ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information)

+ The European Space Agency conducted a long-duration firing of an Ariane 6 prototype Nov. 23, one of the final tests before the agency is ready to set a date for the rocket’s inaugural launch. ESA said Ariane 6 “passed” the test in a statement shortly afterwards, describing it as a “seven-minute full firing” of the engine, rather than the nearly eight minutes advertised beforehand. (ANS thanks SpaceNews.com for the above information)

+ The tool bag recently lost by NASA astronauts during a spacewalk is now orbiting Earth and is surprisingly visible to stargazers. The object can appear as bright as a 6th-magnitude star. The tool bag changes slightly in brightness, suggesting the object is tumbling as it orbits our planet. Although the tool bag was ahead of the International Space Station (ISS) by about a minute or two shortly after the incident, it is gradually appearing farther ahead of the ISS as it loses altitude. By mid-November, the tool bag should be ahead by about ten minutes. (ANS thanks EarthSky.org for the above information)

+ With the Sun in the way of our messages, Curiosity and Perseverance, along with Ingenuity, MRO, Odyssey, and MAVEN, are hunkered down during the Mars solar conjunction communication blackout. Curiosity has now spent 4,000 sols exploring the red planet and has driven 32 km. (ANS thanks The Orbital Index 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, Mark Johns, KØJM
k0jm [at] amsat.org

In this edition:
* 2023 AMSAT Space Symposium & Annual General Meeting Proceedings Now Available
* SpaceX Launches Ninth Rideshare Mission: Over 100 Satellites Deployed with Falcon 9
* AMSAT-EA’s HADES-D Satellite Awaiting Deployment from ION Orbital Transfer Vehicle
* ROM-3 Romanian High School Team’s Satellite Soars to Success in Latest SpaceX Launch
* Veronika: Spacemanic’s Pink CubeSat Successfully Launches Aboard SpaceX Transporter-9
* Satellite Top 100 Rovers November 2023 Rankings
* Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for November 17, 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 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-323 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 19

2023 AMSAT Space Symposium & Annual General Meeting Proceedings Now Available

AMSAT has announced that the 2023 AMSAT Space Symposium & Annual General Meeting Proceedings are now available online. AMSAT members may access both the Symposium Proceedings and Presentations by logging into their AMSAT Membership and Event Portal account (https://launch.amsat.org/), selecting ‘Member Resources’ from the options on the top of the page, and then ‘AMSAT Symposium Proceedings’. Click on the ‘2023’ box to the left of ‘Irving, Texas – Sheraton DFW…’ to access this year’s Symposium Proceedings or the ‘Presentations’ box to the right of this line to access the Presentations slides in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. For a real blast from the past, check out Symposium Proceedings going all the way back to 1986 under the same ‘AMSAT Symposium Proceedings’ webpage. Direct links to the Symposium Proceedings, Presentations, and YouTube livestreams were also recently mailed to AMSAT members and are also included below for your convenience.

2023 AMSAT Symposium Proceedings:
https://launch.amsat.org/resources/Documents/Proceedings/AMSAT_Proceedings_2023.pdf

2023 AMSAT Symposium Presentations:
https://launch.amsat.org/resources/Documents/Proceedings/AMSAT_Presentations_2023.pdf

2023 AMSAT Symposium Livestream Day One:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcO4-h7bbxs

2023 AMSAT Symposium Livestream Day Two:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzKKHTBxyY8

Thank you to all who attended the 2023 AMSAT Space Symposium & Annual General Meeting. We hope you had a great time at this year’s event and look forward to seeing you next fall in Florida. If you could not make it to Texas this year, we hope to see you next year!

[ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information]

SpaceX Launches Ninth Rideshare Mission: Over 100 Satellites Deployed with Falcon 9

In another milestone for SpaceX’s rideshare program, the aerospace company successfully launched its ninth dedicated smallsat rideshare mission, dubbed Transporter-9, from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on November 11.

The Falcon 9 rocket carrying the payload lifted off at 18:49 UTC (10:49 p.m. PST), with the booster making a return to the launch site approximately seven and a half minutes after liftoff. This particular booster had already seen action on eleven previous missions, including Transporter-8 back in June.

The mission, lasting around half an hour, saw the deployment of 90 payloads, though initial confirmations of successful deployment were lacking for several satellites. Those payloads included several orbital transfer vehicles that will later deploy their satellites. Overall, the launch added more than 110 satellites to the ever-growing constellation in low Earth orbit.

Leading the pack in terms of payload contributions was Planet, with 36 of its Dove imaging CubeSats, collectively named Flock 4Q. It also flew Pelican-1, a tech demo satellite for its future Pelican and Tanager high-resolution and hyperspectral imaging satellites.

Spire, specializing in weather and vessel tracking data, joined other satellite constellation operators on Transporter-9. Their satellite set featured three GHGSat satellites, one of which became the first commercial satellite dedicated to tracking carbon dioxide emissions. Additionally, synthetic aperture radar imaging companies Iceye and Umbra were among the participants in this rideshare mission.

A notable newcomer to the satellite scene on this mission was Foxconn, the Taiwanese electronics giant known for producing consumer electronics like Apple’s iPhone. Foxconn, also known as Hon Hai Technology Group, sent its first two CubeSats, Pearl-1H and Pearl-1C, on the mission to explore LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellite broadband communications and beyond 5G capabilities.

Exolaunch, a rideshare broker, facilitated the launch of nearly three dozen satellites, including Foxconn’s, on Transporter-9. Other brokers such as Maverick Space Systems, SEOPS, and Momentus, also contributed payloads to the mission.

D-Orbit, a frequent participant in Transporter missions, contributed their ION Satellite Carrier to the payload. Two new orbital transfer vehicle (OTV or space tug) developers, Exotrail and Impulse Space, flew their first space tugs, spacevan-001 and Impulse-1, on the mission. These space tugs play a crucial role in transferring spaceborne cargo between different orbits.

Transporter missions have garnered mixed reactions within the commercial space industry. While satellite operators and rideshare brokers applaud their regular and cost-effective access to space, some developers of small launch vehicles argue that these missions undercut their business models by offering services at significantly lower per-kilogram costs.

Despite the ongoing debate, SpaceX’s Transporter services continue to attract strong demand, as evidenced by the fully booked schedule. The company recently introduced a new line of rideshare missions called Bandwagon, scheduled to begin in 2024, further solidifying its position as a dominant force in the commercial space launch sector. The earliest available opportunity for a Bandwagon mission is set for November 2024, with Transporter missions to sun-synchronous orbits already booked until October 2025.

[ANS thanks Jeff Foust, SpaceNews, for the above information]

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
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/
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

AMSAT-EA’s HADES-D Satellite Awaiting Deployment from ION Orbital Transfer Vehicle

The HADES-D satellite achieved a successful launch on November 11 at 18:49 UTC as part of SpaceX’s Transporter-9 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base. Currently housed within D-Orbit’s ION orbital transfer vehicle (OTV), the satellite’s final deployment is scheduled for around November 20th.

Developed concurrently with the URESAT Antonio de Nebrija, HADES-D shares the pocketQubes 1.5P platform. Featuring enhanced solar panels and increased processing capacity, HADES-D can transmit telemetry and repeat signals at higher speeds than its predecessors.

One notable feature of HADES-D is its FM repeater for voice communications, which also allows for the retransmission of AX.25/APRS 300/1200 bps messages. The FM/FSK repeater plans to continuously operate, activated by squelch level without the need for a subtone. Telemetry will be provided in FSK, configurable between 50 and 2400 bps, CW and voice beacon in FM. The IARU coordinated frequencies are 145.875 MHz (FM/FSK) for uplink and 436.666 MHz (FM/FSK/CW) for downlink.

The expected orbit is Sun-Synchronous between 550 and 600 km altitude. AMSAT-EA is asking the amatuer radio satellite community for assistance in identifying transmissions which will occur soon after the satellite has separated from the D-Orbit’s ION SCV-013 OTV (Temporary NORAD ID 99025).

This collaborative project, involving the private sector and various universities in Spain, hopes to provide licensed radio-amateurs worldwide an additional resource to relay FM voice and AX.25/APRS 300/1200 bps communications. Check for the latest updates on AMSAT-EA’s website https://www.amsat-ea.org/.

[ANS thanks AMSAT-EA and IARU for the above information]

ROM-3 Romanian High School Team’s Satellite Soars to Success in Latest SpaceX Launch

The ROM-3 satellite, a PocketQube crafted by the high school team RomSpace, was launched aboard SpaceX’s ninth dedicated smallsat rideshare program mission, Transporter-9, on November 11th. In collaboration with Alba Orbital, this launch on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket represents Romania’s second venture into satellite missions, following the high school team’s initial success with the ROM-2 satellite.

ROM-3, a demonstration mission following its predecessor ‘Romanian Orbital Mission 2,’ enhances RomSpace’s pico-satellite design with improved camera resolution and higher efficiency solar panels. With an average team member age ranging from 15 to 18 years old, RomSpace pioneers affordable opportunities for educational institutions, exemplified by the International Computer High School of Bucharest.

The ROM-3 satellite, a 50 x 50 x 100mm picosat, sets forth with three primary missions. Its primary function involves acting as a amateur radio digipeater, allowing operators to upload messages for a one-time transmission back to the Earth. The secondary mission entails transmitting a low-resolution SSDV image in GFSK Mode, inviting active participation from amateur radio operators. The tertiary mission includes CW Beacon transmission, aiding in detecting the satellite’s presence and measuring signal properties.

The UHF downlink (IARU coordinated frequency of 436.235 MHz) with 20 wpm CW, 500bps GFSK telemetry, and 5kbps GFSK SSDV will position ROM-3 as a notable contributor to the amateur radio community. More details are available at ROMSpace’s official website https://rom-space.ro/. This success builds on their prior achievement with the ROM-2 satellite and serves as a demonstration mission for upcoming pico-satellite constellations.

The collaborative efforts of RomSpace, Alba Orbital, and the broader Romanian space community culminate in the ROM-3 mission, showcasing not only the country’s growing prowess in space exploration but also a commitment to fostering technical education and outreach initiatives. As ROM-3 embarks on its operational phase, it stands as a testament to Romania’s potential in the evolving landscape of space technology.

[ANS thanks Alba Orbital and the IARU for the above information]

Veronika: Spacemanic’s Pink CubeSat Successfully Launches Aboard SpaceX Transporter-9

Veronika, a 1U CubeSat designed and built by Spacemaniac, was launched on SpaceX’s Transporter-9 mission on November 11th. This mission marked the third Slovak satellite to venture into space following the successful skCube and GRBAlpha missions.

Boris Procik, a financier from Slovakia, had approached Spacemanic to construct and launch the CubeSat, making it the first “family satellite” of its kind. Veronika, named after Procik’s daughter, went beyond being a CubeSat with a personal touch; it was a technologically advanced mission designed to support the Slovak and international amateur radio community.

The CubeSat features an array of technical capabilities to serve its primary objectives: 9k6 G3RUH AX.25 telemetry, digipeater, CW beacon, and experimental SSDV transmissions. The IARU coordinated downlink frequency is 436.680 MHz. Satellite telemetry was reported just a few hours after separation from the Falcon 9 rocket. Telemetry data can be viewed on the SatNOGS Veronika Telemetry Dashboard at https://dashboard.satnogs.org/d/abEVHMIIk/veronika.

The CubeSat is also equipped with a novel Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS) subsystem. The ADCS includes electromagnetic actuators and a GNSS receiver, which will facilitate precise satellite identification during its initial days and weeks in orbit. Veronika will be operated by an amateur radio club OM3KSI, which will actively participate in its mission: https://om3ksi.tuke.sk/en/home/.

Veronika’s mission extends beyond technical objectives, incorporating education and outreach efforts. The satellite plans to engage Slovak grammar and high schools, transmitting special CW and AX.25 messages on various occasions. Czech partners, PLANETUM – Prague Observatory and Planetarium, will also use the satellite for educational purposes.

In an unconventional move, Veronika was not only the first-ever family-named satellite but also the first-ever pink satellite, adding a personal and distinctive touch to its appearance. The project received additional support from Deutsche Schule Bratislava, with the initial contact facilitated by the Slovak Space Office.

Before its successful launch, Veronika underwent rigorous environmental testing to simulate the harsh conditions of space, ensuring its operational resilience throughout its mission. The CubeSat joined other payloads in Berlin, where it underwent preparations for deployment. Exolaunch, a trusted partner of Spacemanic, oversaw the deployment process, securing its attachment to the Falcon 9 rocket.

[ANS thanks Spacemanic and the IARU 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/

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

Satellite Top 100 Rovers November 2023 Rankings

The November 2023 rankings for the Top 100 Rovers (Mixed LEO/MEO/GEO) in satellite operations, as determined by @GridMasterMap on Twitter, has been released. The ranking is determined by the number of grids and DXCC entities activated, taking into account only those grids where a minimum number of QSOs logged on the gridmaster.fr website have been validated by a third party. Grid numbers do not directly reflect the exact number of activations. Satellite operators are encouraged to upload their LoTW satellite contacts to https://gridmaster.fr in order to provide more accurate data.

Updated: 2023-11-06

[ANS thanks @GridMasterMap for the above information]

Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for November 17, 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. 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 satellite has been removed from this week’s AMSAT-NA TLE distribution:

DO-64 NORAD Cat ID 32789 Decayed from orbit on or about 14 November 2023.

The following satellite has been renamed:

SO-120 NORAD Cat ID 56992 Renamed after AMSAT Oscar designation.

[ANS thanks AMSAT Orbital Elements page 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.

+ Recently Completed

New Heights School & Learning Services, Calgary, AB, Canada, telebridge via IK1SLD
The ISS callsign was OR4ISS
The scheduled crewmember was Andreas Mogensen, KG5GCZ
The ARISS mentor was VE6JBJ
Contact was successful: Fri 2023-11-17 17:06:13 UTC

+ Upcoming Contacts

National Research Nizhny Novgorod State University, Nizhny, Novgorod, Russia, direct via TBD
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS
The scheduled crewmember is Konstantin Borisov
The ARISS mentor is RV3DR
Contact is go for Wed 2023-11-22 16:40 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.

+ 40th Anniversary Celebration of the Positive Impact of Amateur Radio on Human Spaceflight
Thursday February 22nd through Saturday February 24th, 2024
Center for Space Education: Astronauts Memorial Foundation
Kennedy Space Center, M6-306 405 State Road, FL 32899
https://www.ariss.org/overview.html

[ANS thanks the AMSAT Events page for the above information]

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

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

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

Satellite Shorts From All Over

+ Congratulations to Alan Bowker, WA6DNR, for being awarded GridMaster Award # 62! This prestigious award, introduced by Star Comm Group in 2014 and sponsored by Damon Runion, WA4HFN, and Rick Tillman, WA4NVM, is now entrusted to AMSAT for the benefit of the entire AMSAT community. The GridMaster Award recognizes amateurs worldwide who establish two-way communication via amateur satellite with operators in all 488 Maidenhead grids in the contiguous United States of America. More information about this award can be found on the AMSAT website at https://www.amsat.org/gridmaster/. Well done on this remarkable achievement Alan! (ANS thanks Bruce Paige, KK5DO, AMSAT Director of Contests and Awards for the above information)

+ The SETI Institute has received a $200 million philanthropic gift from the estate of Franklin Antonio, N6NKF, co-founder of Qualcomm and a long-time supporter of SETI’s work. AMSAT members likely recognize Antonio as the author of the Instant Track orbital tracking software, sold by AMSAT for many years. Phil Karn, KA9Q, notes that Antonio’s personal involvement as an engineering consultant significantly advanced the SETI Institute’s efforts in the few years he was engaged. The funding will boost initiatives such as postdoctoral fellowships, global research expansion, educational programs, and innovative observational technologies, impacting all domains of SETI research. Antonio’s legacy is expected to provide lasting financial stability and foster new partnerships for the Institute, founded in 1984 to explore the origins of life and intelligence in the universe. (ANS thanks Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, and SETI for the above information)

+ Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and its spin-off, SpaceIn Sdn Bhd, launched Malaysia’s first pico satellite, named SpaceANT-D, from the Vandenberg Space Force Base using SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. The 5cm-wide cube satellite follows the PocketQube standard, intended for universities involved in space science within low earth orbit constellations. Deployed on the Alba Orbital deployer, SpaceANT-D is scheduled to enter orbit in the next 2 to 14 days, transmitting signals to an earthbound station. Developed in collaboration with the Malaysian Amateur Radio Transmitters’ Society, the satellite aims to demonstrate data storage and transmission for Internet of Things (IoT) applications. SpaceIn CEO Dr. Norilmi Amilia Ismail highlighted the potential for cost reductions in small satellite usage, providing diverse opportunities in industries like agriculture, forestry, and oil and gas. Supported by an accelerator program from TERAJU and funds from CRADLE, this project contributes to the establishment of a satellite data center at USM. (ANS thanks Sharil Abdul Rahman, writing for SoyaCincau, for the above information)

+ Virgin Galactic celebrated its fifth commercial flight on November 2nd as its VSS Unity space plane soared into sub-orbit, marking the sixth such flight for the reusable craft in the past half-year. The mission, dubbed Galactic 05, aimed to fulfill the company’s goal of a monthly flight and served as a research mission carrying scientists Kellie Gerardi and Alan Stern, along with an undisclosed third passenger. Gerardi, a mission operations lead for Palantir Technologies, conducted experiments in fluid dynamics, human biometrics, and glucose monitoring to advance healthcare protocols in microgravity. Alan Stern, principal investigator of NASA’s New Horizons mission, focused on physiological performance experiments in microgravity. After reaching an altitude of over 44,000 feet, VSS Unity separated from its mothership, VSS Eve, and traveled approximately 50 miles higher into space before successfully gliding back down to Spaceport America in New Mexico. Virgin Galactic’s CEO, Michael Colglazier, expressed the company’s commitment to space-based research, emphasizing their dedication to scientific discovery, while the positive outcome saw Virgin Galactic’s shares surge by 11.4 percent. (ANS thanks David Ariosto, writing for Parabolic Arc, for the above information)

+ Discovery Dish is a lightweight 65-cm aluminum satellite dish for real-time weather data reception, priced at $100. It’s designed for various weather satellites operating at 1.69 GHz and features a built-in LNA and filter, minimizing noise figure loss. The Qorvo QPL9547 amplifier boosts weak signals. The prototype will be replaced by a neater version after crowdfunding. The dish is versatile, supporting radio astronomy with a 1.42 GHz hydrogen line feed and Inmarsat feed for signals in the 1525 – 1559 MHz bands. Its lightweight design makes it suitable for light-duty antenna rotators, and cabling is simplified. Discovery Dish is compatible with open-source software for satellite decoding. Future plans include tutorials and a lightweight antenna rotator. Comparisons highlight its advantages in price, size, and suitability for a rotator. Manufacturing involves crowdfunding, stamping molds, and production of PCB feeds. Mouser Electronics handles fulfillment. Additional information can be found at https://www.crowdsupply.com/krakenrf/discovery-dish. (ANS thanks Crowd Supply 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, Mitch Ahrenstorff, ADØHJ
ad0hj [at] amsat.org

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.]

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
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/
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

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.

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.

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.]

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

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/

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

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.]

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

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

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

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 Contacts
Walkerston 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