AMSAT News Service

AMSAT News Service Bulletin posts. These are meant for the AMSAT News Service section of the website and will not be presented on the homepage.

ANS-043 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for Feb. 12

by

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-043

In this edition:

* AMSAT Engineering Recruiting Volunteers
* NASA Announces Winners of 2022 Annual Space Apps Challenge
* Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for February 9, 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-043 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 Feb 12

AMSAT Engineering Recruiting Volunteers

RF Engineer

AMSAT is looking for an EE with RF experience to join its FOX-PLUS team.  You’ll collaborate with an all-volunteer team of up to ten electrical, mechanical, software and systems engineers.  You will have the opportunity to design and build the RF communications subsystems for a series of low earth orbit, 1U-3U CubeSats to support AMSAT’s educational and engineering objectives.

You should have a working knowledge of analog and digital communications protocols (e.g., FM, PSK, FSK) to provide digitally synthesized audio for FM modulated VHF/UHF/SHF voice and telemetry channels. Development opportunities can begin with modification of previous FOX designs and/or by starting with a blank sheet for an original design.

Mechanical Engineers

AMSAT is looking for Mechanical Engineers to join its FOX and GOLF CubeSat teams.  You’ll collaborate with an all-volunteer team of up to 12 electrical, mechanical, software and systems engineers.  You will have the opportunity to use your structural design and analysis skills in the development of a series of low earth orbit and highly elliptical orbit, 1U-3U  CubeSats to support AMSAT’s educational and engineering objectives.

Your contribution may include a) the development of the spaceframe and deployable solar panel subsystem, b) the analysis of the thermal characteristics of the CubeSat  and the design of the thermal management system, c) preparation and oversight of the environmental testing procedure, and/or d) management of documentation of the CubeSats adherence to the launch provider’s and space vehicle owner’s specifications.

Our volunteers typically spend five hours per week on their project and attend a weekly online update meeting. An Amateur Radio license and CubeSat experience is helpful but not necessary.  U.S. citizenship or proof of permanent residency is required.

Interested persons should send an email with their resume/curriculum vitae to: [email protected].

[ANS thanks Jonathan Brandenburg, KF5IDY, AMSAT Assistant VP, Engineering for the above information]

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                  The 2023 AMSAT President’s Club coins are here now!                 

  To commemorate the 40th anniversary of its launch
      on June 16, 1983, this year’s coin features
      an image of AMSAT-OSCAR 10.

                  Join the AMSAT President’s Club today and help
         Keep Amateur Radio in Space!
       https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/
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NASA Announces Winners of 2022 Annual Space Apps Challenge

The 2022 Annual Space Apps Challenge which was held October 1 and 2, 2022, brought together a host of participants from different locations, cultures, backgrounds, interests, and skill levels. The theme for the 2022 challenge – Make Space – perfectly describes the primary goals of the event: creating innovative solutions to space-related problems, while also making space for people around the world to participate and engage in a collaborative scientific effort.

“NASA’s Space Apps Challenge really puts students around the world to the test, helping to solve some of our time’s toughest problems,” said Bill Nelson, NASA Administrator. “I’m proud of all those who participated and challenged themselves to think creatively. Their remarkable ingenuity is proof that the Artemis Generation will help lead us into the future.” The challenge underscores the importance and value of NASA’s Open-Source Science Initiative that creates more advanced and inclusive research faster, builds a more just and equitable world, and provides access so that great minds from all walks of life can participate in science.

The 10 global winning teams proposed solutions using tools, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, 3D globes and maps, web applications, interactive games, and the infusion of art and music into their projects. The winning teams were:

– Best Use of Science: What’s New? (Taipei, Taiwan)
– Best Use of Data: Starflock (Cleveland, Ohio, USA)
– Best Use of Technology: Taming particles (Vilnius, Lithuania)
– Galactic Impact: Selene (Jamshedpur, India)
– Best Mission Concept: Mars 3D Home (Mendoza, Argentina)
– Most Inspirational: Team Diamonds (Cumilla, Bangladesh)
– Best Storytelling: MIMBI (Asuncion, Paraguay)
– Global Connection: Standard NCTU CS Student (Taoyuan, Taiwan)
– Art & Technology: Earth, Wind & Flare (Boston, Massachusetts, USA)
– Local Impact: Brute Force (Nisocia, Cyprus)

Read the full story at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-043-Apps.

[ANS thanks spaceref.com for the above information]

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

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Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for February 9, 2023

The following satellites have decayed from orbit and have been removed from this week’s AMSAT-NA TLE distribution:

SurfSat     NORAD Cat ID 43614 (decayed from orbit on 01/27/23 per Space-Track)
IRVINE 01   NORAD Cat ID 43693 (decayed from orbit on 01/31/23 per Space-Track)
RS4S        NORAD Cat ID 53306 (decayed from orbit on 01/27/23 per Space-Track)
RS3S        NORAD Cat ID 53308 (decayed from orbit on 01/31/23 per Space-Track)
RS1S        NORAD Cat ID 53309 (decayed from orbit on 01/31/23 per Space-Track)
RS5S        NORAD Cat ID 53310 (decayed from orbit on 01/31/23 per Space-Track)
RS6S        NORAD Cat ID 53311 (decayed from orbit on 01/27/23 per Space-Track)
RS9S        NORAD Cat ID 53312 (decayed from orbit on 01/31/23 per Space-Track)
RS12S       NORAD Cat ID 53313 (decayed from orbit on 01/31/23 per Space-Track)

The following satellites have been removed from this week’s AMSAT-NA TLE distribution because their TLE  appear not to be updating:

AstroBioCubeSat NORAD Cat ID 53107
CELESTA         NORAD Cat ID 53111

The following satellite has failed it’s NiCad batteries and has gone silent. In hope of a miraculous return, it will be continued in the AMSAT TLE Distribution for the time being:

AO-95 NORAD Cat ID 43770

[ANS thanks Ray Hoad, WA5QGD, 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.

+ Upcoming Contacts
School No. 547, St. Petersburg, Russia, direct via TBD.
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RS0ISS.
The scheduled crewmember is Sergey Prokopyev.
Contact is go for February 13, 2023 at 09:35 UTC.

Gymnasium Christian-Ernestinum, Bayreuth, Germany, direct via DK0BT.
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS.
The scheduled crewmember is Koichi Wakata, KI5TMN.
Predicted times drifting earlier by about 4 minutes at this time.
This contact will be using the Kenwood radio located in the Service Module.
Contact is go for: February 14, 2023 at 10:20:12 UTC.

Stella Maris College, Gzira, Malta, direct via 9H1MRL.
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS.
The scheduled crewmember is Josh Cassada, KI5CRH.
Predicted times drifting earlier by about 4 minutes at this time.
Contact is go: February 15,2023 at 12:48:01 UTC.

+ Completed Contacts
About Gagarin From Space Secondary secondary school No. 2, direct via RY6AAC.
The ISS callsign was RS0ISS.
The crewmember was Anna Kikina
Contact was successful on Sunday, February 5, 2023.

Cache County School District, Millville, UT, direct via W7IVM.
The ISS callsign was NA1SS.
The crewmember was Josh Cassada, KI5CRH.
Contact was successful on February 7, 2023.

Colegio Diocesano Santa María Nuestra Senora, Ecija, Spain, telebridge via IK1SLD.
The ISS callsign was OR4ISS.
The scheduled crewmember was Josh Cassada, KI5CRH.
Contact was successful on February 8, 2023.

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

FN10; Sunday, February 12, 2023
K4DCA – Will be there with his FM gear.

[ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, 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.

+ Orlando Hamcation
February 10-12, 2023
Central Florida Fairgrounds and Expo Park
4603 West Colonial Drive, Orlando, Florida 32808
https://www.hamcation.com/

+ 2023 CubeSat Developer’s Workshop
April 24-27, 2023
California Polytechnic State University
1 Grand Avenue, San Luis Obispo, California 93407
https://www.cubesatdw.org/

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

Satellite Shorts From All Over

+ Newly found is the SARCTRAC Mk3b, a $290 satellite antenna rotator from Australia. USARCTRAC comes with all its components enclosed in a waterproof IP65 rated enclosure. It makes use of a 3D position sensor with magnetometer, allowing the unit to know its orientation at all times, meaning that it should be able to automatically position itself from startup. The design also makes use of DC motors with a built in worm gear drive, so the motors back driving is not possible. The system is controlled via a built in Raspberry Pi 3B+ and can communicate with the controlling PC via WiFi. More information available at https://www.sarcnet.org/sarctrac.html. [ANS thanks rtl-sdr.com for the above information.]

+ The 2022 edition of State-of-the-Art of Small Spacecraft Technology At NASA is now available for download. As with all previous editions of this report, the 2022 edition captures and distills a wealth of new information available on small spacecraft systems from NASA and other publicly available sources. This report should not be considered as a comprehensive overview of all the technologies but a great reference for the current state-of-the-art SmallSat technologies. Read the complete description of the report and download it at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-043-Report. [ANS thanks spaceref.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

ANS-029 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for Jan. 29

by

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-029

In this edition:

* LUSAT LO-19 33Y Anniversary
* FalconSAT-3 Has Re-entered
* Rocket Lab launches first Electron mission from US
* Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for January 26, 2022
* 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-029 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 Jan 29

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   The 2023 AMSAT President’s Club coins are here now!

To commemorate the 40th anniversary of its launch on June 16, 1983,
 this year’s coin features an image of AMSAT-OSCAR 10. Join the AMSAT
President’s Club today and help Keep Amateur Radio in Space!

https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/

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LUSAT LO-19 33Y Aniversary

Today, Jan-22, 33 years ago was launched LO-19, LUSAT, 1st Argentine Satellite, till now emitting on 437.125 KHz.

A special Certificate to celebrate is being granted by radio from Jan-21 to Jan-29, thru many collaborating stations.

Details: http://amsat.org.ar?f=33 http://qrz.com/db/LU7AA https://www.qrzcq.com/call/LU7AA (last in english)

LUSAT could be tracked/seen thru http://amsat.org.ar/pass?satx=lusat

Deep appreciation to AMSAT-NA that in the eighties developed the AO-16 & LO-19 novel PACSAT protocol and lead on design and launch.

Thanks! 73, LU7AA, AMSAT Argentina http://amsat.org.ar

[ANS thanks AMSAT Argentina LU7AA Team for the above information]

FalconSAT-3 Has Re-entered

The 18th Space Defense Squadron has confirmed the orbital decay of FalconSAT-3. Thanks to the U. S. Air Force Academy for allowing amateur satellite operators its use as an amateur radio digipeater/PACSAT BBS for the past 5+ years following the conclusion of the satellite’s primary mission.

[ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information]

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

https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/

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Rocket Lab launches first Electron mission from US

Rocket Lab USA, Inc. has launched its 33rd Electron rocket and first mission from Virginia. The “Virginia is for Launch Lovers” mission lifted off at 18:00 EST on January 24th from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 (LC-2) at Virginia Space’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport within NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility. The mission deployed three satellites to a 550km orbit for leading radio frequency geospatial analytics provider HawkEye 360. Rocket Lab has now successfully deployed a total of 155 satellites to orbit from the Company’s three launch pads across the U.S. and New Zealand.

The successful launch from LC-2 marks the beginning of a new era of responsive launch capability for small satellites from U.S. soil. Built with support from Virginia Space, the Commonwealth of Virginia and NASA Wallops Flight Facility, Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 is designed to serve the responsive space needs of commercial, civil, defense, and national security customers, supporting up to 12 missions per year. More information may be found at: https://bit.ly/3kyNU3M.

[ANS thanks Space Daily for the above information]

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Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition?
Get your AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff from our Zazzle store! 2
5% of the purchase price of each product goes towards
Keeping Amateur Radio in Space

https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear

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Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for January 26, 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 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/

The following satellites have decayed from orbit and have been removed from this week’s AMSAT-NA TLE distribution:

Falconsat-3  NORAD Cat ID 30776 (decayed from orbit on 01/21/23 per Space-Track).
JAGSAT NORAD Cat ID 53771 (decayed from orbit on 01/23/23 per Space-Track).

[ANS thanks Ray Hoad, WA5QGD, 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.

Norwich Free Academy, Norwich, CT, direct via W1HLO. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS. The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz. The scheduled crewmember is Josh Cassada KI5CRH. Contact is go for: Mon 2023-01-30 18:55:20 UTC 43 deg

Dinskaya, Russia, direct via TBD. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS. The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz. The scheduled crewmember is Anna Kikina. Contact is go for Thu 2023-02-02 15:10 UTC

Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, direct via TBDThe ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS. The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz. The scheduled crewmember is Dimitri Petelin. Contact is go for Sat 2023-02-04 10:25 UTC

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

ARISS from Twitter: We’ve updated our username here on Twitter to @ARISS_Intl to make us easier to find. If you are all ready following, thanks! There’s nothing for you to do.

[ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors for the above information]

Upcoming Satellite Operations

Chris VE3FU / VO2AC / VO1FUA / VE2FUA: The weekend of January 27-29 @Dave_VE3KG and VE3FU will plan on operating the linear and FM satellites from grid GO11 as VO2AC and VO2AAA from January 24-27. (Ed. Note: Not yet specified which passes they might work)

JD1YCC ( G-G HAM Club ) is planning to activate EME operation on 2m/70cm/23cm band at Ogasawara chichi island(JD1/O) from Feb.07 to Feb.13 2023. They plan to QRV on GREENCUBE/IO-117 also (EME) at Moon time. Op will be JJ3JHP/JD1BQD Hiro.

[ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT rover page manager, and Masaji “Masa” Ishihara JH3BUM/JD1BPX 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 has a few satellite presentations scheduled, most notable is Thames Valley, England (5/11/23)
Clint can be reached at: (909) 999-7287 or an email link at https://www.work-sat.com/contact.html.

2023 HamCation(r)
Hosting ARRL Southeastern Division Convention

Robert Bankston, KE4AL AMSAT President, will present “Shaping the Amateur Radio Satellite World of Tomorrow” at 2:00PM – 3:00PM EST Saturday, February 11 in the OS Pavillion.

HamCation will be held at Central Florida Fairgrounds and Expo Park, Orlando, FLFriday, Saturday, and Sunday, February 10-12, 2023

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

Satellite Shorts From All Over

+ A volunteer is being sought to take over the Gridmaster Heat Map on Twitter. Paul Overn, KE0PBR, has announced his intent to retire from the project that he has moderated there for the past three years. Paul has assisted many grid chasers by relaying information about rovers, and keeping tabs of which grids are in greatest need. Unless someone steps forward, Gridmaster Heat Map will disappear next month. Thanks to Paul for your valuable contribution to satellite operations! (ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, for the above information)

+ SpaceX successfully performed the first WDR of Starship Booster 7 and Ship 24 on Monday. This is a major milestone in any rockets march towards a first launch, especially for a super heavy lift monster like Starship, which will have more than twice the thrust of the Saturn V. SpaceX loaded 4.5 million kg of cryogenic propellant into the fully reusable, two-stage rocket (causing it to shrink noticeably) and performed a countdown as it would on launch day (including some massive venting). A 33-engine static fire is now the next dramatic step toward an orbital launch, although how soon that might happen is unknown. (ANS thanks The Orbital Index for the above information)

+ Next-gen propulsion incoming? Yesterday, NASA announced a new collaboration with long-time partner DARPA to develop a Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) system and spacecraft. NTP promises 3x or more improvements in Isp over traditional chemical rockets by heating a low molecular mass propellant (like hydrogen) to high temps using a reactor and then expelling the expanded propellant out a rocket nozzle (this achieves high exhaust velocities while needing no oxidizer, saving mass). DARPA will continue to develop DRACO, an orbital and cislunar NTP-powered experimental spacecraft (cf. Issue No. 170) as part of this collaboration, and the agencies are targeting an in-space demonstration of the propulsion system as soon as 2027. The demonstration spacecraft could be used as low as 700 km or as high as 2,000 km, but the long-term vision is cislunar space and Mars. This collaboration is separate from other recent NTP projects like the DOE’s initiative. (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,

Jack Spitznagel, KD4IZ
kd4iz [at] frawg.org

ANS-022 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

by

In this edition:

* AMSAT Exhibiting at 2023 Hamcation
* IARU Coordinates Two New Satellites
* AMSAT Thanks 2022 President’s Club Members
* 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-022 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 Jan 22

AMSAT Exhibiting at 2023 Hamcation

AMSAT will be at Hamcation 2023 on Friday through Sunday, February 10-12, 2023. The AMSAT booth will be located at the west end of Central Florida Fairgrounds and Expo Center’s East West Hall (main building as you enter from the parking lot). right next to our friends and partners ARISS-USA. AMSAT staff and volunteers will be on hand to answer your questions and provide amateur satellite, SatPC32, and CubeSatSim demonstrations.

In addition, AMSAT will host a forum on Sunday, February 12, from 11:00AM – 12:00PM. AMSAT President, Robert Bankston, KE4AL, will kick off Shaping the Amateur Radio Satellite World of Tomorrow, an open discussion on developing the next generation of amateur radio satellites.

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

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The 2023 AMSAT President’s Club coins are here now!
To commemorate the 40th anniversary of its launch
on June 16, 1983, this year’s coin features
an image of AMSAT-OSCAR 10.
Join the AMSAT President’s Club today and help
Keep Amateur Radio in Space!
https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/
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IARU Coordinates Two New Satellites

The IARU has coordinated frequencies for the following two upcoming satellites:

+ ROSEYCUBESAT-1

Orbital Solutions Monaco is the sponsor for ROSEYCUBESAT-1, a 1U CubeSat platform from ISISPACE with a very simple mission for students: taking simple pictures, providing telemetry and teaching radio amateur activities. Students can learn how to use an Amateur Radio antenna provided by the Vaudois Amateur Radio Club to download telemetry data, photos from the satellite and send commands to the satellite. Amateur Radio operators can participate in the mission because the satellite carries a built-in TRXVU transponder mode. A UHF downlink using 1k2/9k6 BPSK with AX 25 on 436.825 MHz together with a transponder uplink on 145.850 MHz have been coordinated. Planning a SpaceX launch from Vandenberg into a 550km SSO in February 2023.

+ KASHIWA
China University of Technology is the sponsor for a 1U CubeSat spacecraft with the following features.

 * APRS – When KASHIWA receives an APRS query from a ground station, it returns an ACK signal. The satellite logs the call sign and reception time of the received query. The log data is transmitted from the satellite to the ground station by a UHF downlink. The log is then published on the website. The APRS operation period will be from one week after orbit insertion until deorbit, almost one and half years.

 * “MoG’ (Music of Geomagnetic) KASHIWA transmits VHF analog FM signal containing the analog audio sound generated from geomagnetic data. The geomagnetic field observation data will also be transmitted in the data by UHF.

 * KASHIWA has two cameras onboard. They will take ISS (International Station), Ocean, and Land day and night. The field-of-view of two cameras is 194 degrees. Image data from the two cameras will be stored in flash memory then divided and downloaded by the UHF downlink and then restored by the ground station.

Telemetry using 4k8 GMSK with downlinks on 145.825 MHz, 437.375 MHz and 437.380 MHz have been coordinated. Planning a deployment from the ISS in October 2023. More info at https://sites.google.com/view/gardens-02/english_ver/home?pli=1.

[ANS thanks the IARU for the above information.]

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

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AMSAT Thanks 2022 President’s Club Members

In 2022, a total of 78 members and friends of AMSAT contributed a total of $63,717 and were recognized with membership in the AMSAT 2022 President’s Club. We thank them for their generous support and helping to Keep Amateur Radio in Space!

Membership levels begin at $120 and can be paid in one lump-sum or in monthly installments. For complete details on AMSAT President Club membership, https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/.

Titanium ($4,800+)
Barry A. Baines, WD4ASW
Alan P. Biddle, WA4SCA
John D. Botti, KC8OKB
William G. Brown, K9LF

Platinum ($2,400+)
Steve Belter, N9IP
Ronald G. Parsons, W5RKN
Cheryl Printon

Gold ($1,200+)
Anonymous
Dwight Aussieker, K9QJ
Douglas Besemer, K0VPL
Burns Fisher, WB1FJ
James Hain, W2IMY
Joseph Lynch, N6CL
John R. Kludt, K7SYS
Glenn Miller, AA5PK
Mary Lou Monteiro
John Pinkham, K3PER
Thomas Schaefer, NY4I
Michael Stipick, KC4RI
Douglas B. Tabor, N6UA

Silver ($600+)
John Boehme, K4PRK
Warren Fugate, W3WE
Mark Johns, K0JM
Jean-Louis Maridet, F5DYD
Patrick Maroney, KD0YMO
Bruce Paige, KK5DO
David A. Vine, WA1EAW
Chuck Weaver, W3VAR

Bronze ($300+)
Anonymous
Scott Danzer, N1XCY
Robert Grattan III, N4MRV
Allen Kenney, KK4AK
Donald J. Lum, WA6ICW
Bruce Perens, K6BP
Donald Pettigrew, K9ECT
Scott Shaheen, WB8OOJ
Thomas Talley, K0CFI
Dave Taylor, W8AAS
Rickey N. Walker, K4TD

Core ($120+)
Oscar Alonso, N6PAZ
Dwight Aussieker, W9QJ
Steve Bachhuber, K9SJB
Robert Brennan, KC3CKV
Burlington Amateur Radio Club
George Carr, WA5KBH
Michael Caughey, N2BT
Jim Clary, ND9M
Richard Dittmer, KB7SAT
Todd Dugdale, KD0TLS
John Flowers, K4ZMR
James Gallagher III, KB3SQS
George Gallis, AL7BX
David Grebe, WA4LM
David Hartrum, WA3YDZ
Stephen Howard, AB0XE
Nels E. Knutzen, W0PEC
Edward Krome, K9EK
Gailen Marshall, N5GDM
Brendan McNeil, ZL3BAM
Juan Munoz, TG9AJR
Andrew Northam, KE8FZT
Art Payne, VE3GNF
Maxwell Rathbone, W3POI
Larry Schroeder, KD4HSL
Jay Schwartz, WB8SBI
Jason Schwarz, N4JJS
Alton Simpson, WA5TJB
Carl Starnes, W4EAT
Paul Stoetzer, N8HM
Dennis Turner, K0DIS
Arun Vijayshankar, K6ARV
Christopher Wach,s WA2KDL
Stefan Wagener, VE4SW
Wayne Wagner, AG1A
Jim Wellinghoff, W0NBC
Jeremy Wyatt, KA2PFD

[ANS thanks Frank Karnauskas, N1UW, VP, Development for the above information.]

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Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition?
Get your AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff
from our Zazzle store!
25% of the purchase price of each product goes
towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space
https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear

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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.

+ Upcoming Contacts

Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, direct via TBD.
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RS0ISS.
The scheduled crewmember is Dimitri Petelin.
Contact is go for Tuesday, January 24, 2023 at 16:00 UTC.

Brentwood Elementary School of Engineering, Raleigh, NC, telebridge via ON4ISS.
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS.
The scheduled crewmember is Koichi Wakata, KI5TMN.
Contact is go for: Thursday, January 26, 2023 at 17:31:24 UTC.

Dinskaya, Russia, direct via TBD.
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RS0ISS.
The scheduled crewmember is Anna Kikina.
Contact is go for Thursday, February 2, 2023 at 15:10 UTC.

Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, direct via TBD.
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RS0ISS.
The scheduled crewmember is Dimitri Petelin.
Contact is go for Saturday, February 4, 2023 at 10:25 UTC.

+ Completed Contacts

Escola Secundária de Lagoa, Lagoa, Azores, telebridge via IK1SLD.
The ISS callsign was OR4ISS.
The crewmember was Josh Cassada, KI5CRH.
Contact was successful on Thursday, January 19, 2023 at 18:20:34 UTC.

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

GO11; January 24-27, 2023
Chris, VE3FU / VO2AC / VO1FUA / VE2FUA and @Dave, VE3KG will be operating the linear and FM satellites.

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

Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events

Orlando Hamcation
February 10-12, 2023
Central Florida Fairgrounds and Expo Park
4603 West Colonial Drive, Orlando, Florida 32808
https://www.hamcation.com/

2023 CubeSat Developer’s Workshop
April 24-27, 2023
California Polytechnic State University
1 Grand Avenue, San Luis Obispo, California 93407
https://www.cubesatdw.org/

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

Satellite Shorts From All Over

+ In 2013, Amazon launched AmazonSmile to make it easier for customers to support their favorite charities. After almost a decade of running AmazonSmile, Amazon decided that with so many eligible organizations – more than 1 million globally – their ability to have an impact was often spread too thin. Thus, Amazon will be winding down AmazonSmile by February 20, 2023. Until this date, customer purchases made via AmazonSmile will continue to accrue funds for their charity as normal. After that, Amazon will provide each charity with a one-time payment equivalent to three months of payments based on what it accrued in 2022. [AMSAT thanks AmazonSmile for the above information.]

+ It has been quite a week for the UK space industry. What was meant to mark a new era of space launch has sadly been put on hold after Virgin Orbit’s launch failure just over a week ago. The mission, “Start Me Up,” suffered a failure on Monday Jan. 9, and an investigation is underway to find the result of anomaly. Virgin Orbit has said it hopes to return to the newly inaugurated Spaceport Cornwall in the future. More information at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-022-Virgin-Orbit [ANS thanks SatelliteToday.com for the above information.]

+ The global space economy grew to $424 billion in 2022. The space industry is in a major period of growth defined by attracting new customers, breaking into new industries and courting new investment, but it’s not yet clear how much the industry will grow in the coming years. The space economy grew 8% since 2021, despite facing major economic head winds caused by supply chain issues lingering after pandemic lock downs, high inflation, global tensions and other factors. [ANS thanks Axios Space for the above information.]

+ Crew members aboard the International Space Station (ISS) this week moved astronaut Frank Rubio’s seat liner – a molding designed to fit his body and make spaceflight more comfortable – from the leaking Soyuz capsule to the Crew Dragon attached to the space station. That change will allow the Crew Dragon to act as a “lifeboat” if Rubio needs to come back to Earth in a hurry. Moving Rubio to the Crew Dragon would help reduce the heat within the Soyuz if it needs to be used by Sergey Prokopyev and Dimitri Petelin for an emergency Earth return. Once the new, replacement Soyuz arrives at the station next month, Rubio’s lining will be moved to that ship instead. [ANS thanks Axios Space 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 [at] amsat [dot] org

 

ANS-015 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

by

In this edition:

* FalconSat-3 Nears Re-entry
* More Amateur Radio Astronauts Head for the ISS
* Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution
* Why We Don’t Call CQ on FM Birds
* 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-015 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 Jan 15

FalconSat-3 Nears Re-entry

A number of amateurs and satellite watchers have put forward predictions concerning the date and time of re-entry for FalconSat-3. While all re-entry predictions are something of a guessing game, due to the large number of variables affecting the upper atmosphere, one thing that can be said for certain is that the end for FS-3 will be coming very soon, quite possibly within the next week.

AMSAT Board Member and FS-3 control operator, Mark Hammond, N8MH, has stated that he will try to have the bird operational for its final hours. The satellite has only been available for approximately 24 hours each weekend due to weak batteries.

FalconSAT-3 was built in 2005 and 2006 by cadets and faculty in the Space Systems Research Center at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. It is the fourth in a series of small satellites designed, built and operated there as part of a capstone course and which brings together about 30 cadets each year from several different academic departments.

Since its launch on an Atlas V from Cape Canaveral in March, 2007, it has been through three mission phases. The first mission phase was operation of the science payloads. In the second it was used as a tool for training cadets in the space operations squadron and students in both undergraduate space training in California and graduate students at the Air Force Institute of Technology. Finally, it’s third mission phase was as an on-orbit resource in the Amateur Radio Service (ARS). Operation as an ARS satellite was being managed by AMSAT-NA.

In amateur service the downlink is at 435.103 MHz transmitting 1W into a ¼ whip. The uplink is at 145.840 MHz and the receive antenna is a ¼ whip on the opposite side of the satellite. All UHF and S-band equipment on NTIA licensed frequencies has been disabled. The ARS VHF receiver is very sensitive. Modulation is 9600 bps GMSK for the uplink and downlink. The broadcast callsign is PFS3-11, and the BBS callsign is PFS3-12, Unproto APRS via PFS3-1.

The core avionics were designed and built by Mark Kanawati, N4TPY, and Dino Lorenzini, KC4YMG at SpaceQuest Ltd. and have performed remarkably well for nearly 16 years on orbit. Jim White, WD0E, was the lead engineer for FalconSAT-3 at the Air Force Academy (USAFA) and managed the design, construction, testing and early operations of the satellite.

Nearly 700 cadets at USAFA obtained their amateur radio licenses as part of training to operate FalconSAT-3 and other USAFA satellites. They have taken that knowledge and understanding of the value of the ARS into their Air Force service and many on into industry. Since FalconSAT-3 the USAFA Astronautics Department has built and operated one additional satellite and has two more queued for launch. The space operations curriculum and the ground station are being rebuilt and configured for these new space assets.

The success of FalconSAT-3 is an excellent example of how amateur radio can be integrated into the curriculum of an education institution for the benefit of the students and the amateur radio service.

[ANS thanks Sasha Timokhov, VE3SVF, Jean Marc Momple, 3B8DU, and Mark Hammond, N8MH, AMSAT Operations, for the above information]

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The 2023 AMSAT President’s Club coins are here now!
To commemorate the 40th anniversary of its launch
on June 16, 1983, this year’s coin features
an image of AMSAT-OSCAR 10.
Join the AMSAT President’s Club today and help
Keep Amateur Radio in Space!
https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/
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More Amateur Radio Astronauts Head for the ISS

Three of the four new astronauts on February’s planned launch of the SpaceX Crew-6 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) are amateur radio operators.

Pilot Warren “Woody” Hoburg, KB3HTZ; Commander Stephen Bowen, KI5BKB, and Mission Specialist Sultan Al Neyadi, KI5VTV, will join Mission Specialist Andrey Fedyaev on board the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, Endeavour.

The spacecraft will be atop a Falcon 9 rocket and, while a launch date has not been selected, the earliest date would be mid-February 2023.

All crew members have learned about Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS), received guidance on studying and testing, and learned how to operate the ARISS radios and the basics of on-the-air protocol from ARISS team members at NASA’s Johnson Space Center.

The crew will be able to participate in ARISS, using the ham radio station on the ISS to contact schools and other educational institutions.

ARISS is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the ISS. In the US, participating organizations include NASA, the ISS National Lab, ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio, and AMSAT.

[ANS thanks ARRL for the above information]

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

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Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution

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 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/

No changes this week.

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

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Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition?
Get your AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff
from our Zazzle store!
25% of the purchase price of each product goes
towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space
https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear

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Why We Don’t Call CQ on FM Birds

Please do not CQ on FM birds. It is not necessary and takes up valuable air time. If there are no QSOs ongoing, AND there is no station you heard that you want to call, you can key up and give your call and grid ONLY and unkey. But, please, do this sparingly! Instead of doing it over and over, listen and wait for another station you might want to work. In other words, you have to give others a chance to get in there. I have heard many passes where it was constantly one station after another CQing or announcing their call and I couldn’t get it to call anyone! And if there is a rover on the pass giving out a rare grid, it is customary to let them have the air and work as many stations as they can until they have worked them all who are seeking them. (Which will changes as the sat passes over new territory and new callers wanting to work the rover come into range.) It may mean you get only one QSO that pass (or none of you don’t need the grid he is in) but it’s about sharing a resource wisely and giving everyone the most benefit. A pass full of CQs or a pass of contacts where everybody makes one QSO with a rare grid.

If you add up all the seconds spent by people CQing, or continually announcing themselves you’ll see what a significant percentage of a pass is wasted. They say, ‘Well no one else was on.’ Right… because they couldn’t get through due to all the CQing! Satellites is like HF DXing… listen, listen and when in doubt, listen.

Then there is the simple fact that CQing has NEVER been a thing on the FM mode… not on repeaters, not on simplex. The longstanding custom on FM, because of the nature of the way the audio works, is to simply announce your call. Such as, ‘N4UFO listening 52″ on 146.520 simplex, or ‘N4UFO monitoring’ over a 2m FM repeater… the ‘CQ’ part is implied. That said, why is CQing on SSB not only okay, but necessary? FM birds are one channel and you can hear everyone plain as day right there. With linear birds, there is a passband and stations are spread out… CQing is for catching everyone else’s attention as they tune around. They will hear either your high pitched squeaky voice or low rumbling voice speaking in the familiar rhythm of ‘CQ, CQ, CQ’ as they tune around. In short, they use your ‘CQ’ as a way to tune around and FIND you, then TUNE you in. This is not necessary on FM. And also not necessary to CQ on SSB once the station starts making contacts.

There is also a tendency on linear birds when a rare grid station is expected to be on a pass to start blind calling. Please do not do that either! I have a short writeup on my rover page to explain it… it’s on the bottom of the page here: https://www.qrz.com/db/N4UFO/P (also pics & stories of my roving adventures & my gear)

And THANK YOU for ASKING!!!

[ANS thanks Kevin Manzer, N4UFO, 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.

Escola Secundária de Lagoa, Lagoa, Azores, telebridge via IK1SLD. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS, and the scheduled crewmember is Josh Cassada, KI5CRH. Contact is go for: Thu 2023-01-19 18:20:34 UTC 55 degrees maximum elevation. Watch for Livestream starting about 15 minutes before AOS at http://www.ariotti.com/

Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, direct via TBD. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS, and the scheduled crewmember is TBD. Contact is go for 2023-01-24 TBD.

Krasnodar, Russia, direct via TBD. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS, and the scheduled crewmember is TBD. Contact is go for 2023-02-TBD TBD.

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

W8LR: is heading to EN90 and EM99 1/15/23 FM and Linear.

Chris VE3FU / VO2AC / VO1FUA / VE2FUA: The weekend of January 27-29 @Dave_VE3KG and I will be competing in the CQ160 CW Contest as VO2AC from the Point Amour Lighthouse in Labrador (Zone 2). We’ll also be on the other HF bands starting January 24 as VO2AC and VO2AAA. Please work us in the contest! We also plan on operating the linear and FM satellites from grid GO11 as VO2AC and VO2AAA from January 24-27.

Please submit any additions or corrections to Ke0pbr (at) gmail.com

[ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, 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 has a few satellite presentations scheduled …
-Ontario, Canada (1/16/23)
-Thames Valley, England (5/11/23)

Think a 90-minute lively, informative, and fun “How to Work the Easy Satellites” Zoom presentation would be appropriate for your convention or club? Always included are overviews of the ARRL, AMSAT, and ARISS. And pre-presentation questions are welcome.

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

Satellite Shorts From All Over

+ Paul Overn, KE0PBR, has announced his intent to “retire” from the Gridmaster Heat Map project that he has moderated on Twitter for the past three years. Paul has assisted many grid chasers by relaying information about rovers, and keeping tabs of which grids are in greatest need. Unless someone steps forward to pick it up, Gridmaster Heat Map will disappear next month. Thanks to Paul for your valuable contribution to satellite operations! (ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, for the above information)

+ Two astronauts on the International Space Station will conduct a spacewalk Friday, Jan. 20, to install hardware for future power system upgrades. NASA astronaut Nicole Mann and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Koichi Wakata, KC5ZTA, will exit the station’s Quest airlock to complete the installation of two mounting platforms as part of planned solar array augmentation on the starboard side of the International Space Station’s truss. NASA will provide live coverage beginning at 7 a.m. EST. The spacewalk is scheduled to begin at 8:15 a.m., and last about six and a half hours. [NOTE: All ARISS operations are shut down during spacewalks.] (ANS thanks NASA for the above information)

+ There was an error in the January VUCC standings reported in last week’s ANS bulletins. The entry for K7ZOO, at the top of the table, is not valid and should not have been included. ANS apologizes for the error.

+ The National Science Foundation (NSF) has reached an agreement with SpaceX to mitigate the effects of the company’s second-generation Starlink satellites on astronomy, even as another organization goes to court to block the constellation’s deployment. NSF, which funds operations of several major observatories, announced Jan. 10 that is had completed an astronomy coordination agreement with SpaceX regarding its Gen2 Starlink constellation. The Federal Communications Commission granted a license Dec. 2 to allow SpaceX to deploy a quarter of that 30,000-satellite system while deferring consideration of the rest of the constellation. That coordination agreement was a condition of the Gen2 FCC license. (ANS thanks SpaceNews for the above information)

+ A vintage NASA satellite launched in the 1980s and long-since turned to space junk met a fiery fate late Sunday as it fell back to Earth. The huge Earth observation satellite, called the Earth Radiation Budget Satellite (ERBS), plunged back to Earth Sunday night (Jan. 8) at 11:04 p.m. EST (0304 GMT on Monday). The 5,400-pound (2,450 kilograms) satellite reentered over the Bering Sea, with some components potentially surviving the super-hot temperatures of reentry. (ANS thanks Space.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, Mark Johns, KØJM
k0jm [at] amsat.org