AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-009

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/

In this edition:

• The ARRL Foundation Grants an Award for the ARISS *STAR* Keith Pugh Memoriam Project
• EASAT-2 and Hades Satellites with FM Repeaters Scheduled for Launch on January 13th
• Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for January 6, 2022
• ARISS News
• Upcoming Satellite Operations
• Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
• Satellite Shorts From All Over

The ARRL Foundation Grants an Award for the ARISS *STAR* Keith Pugh Memoriam Project

ARISS-USA is known for engaging students in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) subjects by arranging live question-and-answer sessions via amateur radio (ham radio) between K-12 students and astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS). In the last two decades, over 1,400 contacts have connected more than one million youth using amateur radio, with millions more watching and learning. ARISS is constantly pursuing educational opportunities that inspire student interest and outcomes.

ARISS-USA is pleased to announce that the ARRL Foundation awarded funding for the first year of a two-year project called the “ARISS *STAR* Keith Pugh Memoriam Project” with *STAR* being the acronym for Space Telerobotics using Amateur Radio. The ARRL Foundation very generously provided $47,533. The project honors the memory of highly-respected Keith Pugh, whose call sign was W5IU (Silent Key, May 2019). He was an expert supporter of ARISS for many years, a star ARISS Technical Mentor assisting schools with their ARISS contacts, finding educators who might be interested in learning about ARISS, and going to schools to lead youth in a variety of lessons about wireless radio technology.

ARISS *STAR* (short for ARISS *STAR* Keith Pugh Memoriam Project), is a brand-new education program that will enable US junior high and high school education groups to remotely control robots through digital APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System) commands using amateur radio. Year 1 focuses on systems development and initial validation of *ARISS* STAR, and Year 2 focuses on evaluation and final validation. Systems development and evaluation will be led by university staff and students who will undertake hands-on-wireless and telerobotics lesson development, learn about Amateur Radio, and support the development of the *STAR* engineering hardware and software. Next, youth teams will be selected to experiment and critique *STAR* telerobotics scenarios along closed courses and radio lessons. Some participating students will want to prepare for, and earn, their amateur radio licenses, using ham radio to learn and practice concepts in radio technology and radio communications.

Overarching goals for *STAR* are to improve and sustain ARISS STEAM educational outcomes with youth. Robotics is gaining popularity among youth and adults alike. Telerobotics adds a wireless accent to robotic control. *STAR*, therefore, gives ARISS a new educational dimension to attract the attention of more education groups and their students and educators—outreach that promises to attract new audiences.

The ARRL Foundation was established in 1973 by ARRL, The National Association for Amateur Radio ®, and advances the art, science and societal benefits of the Amateur Radio Service by awarding financial grants and scholarships to individuals and organizations in support of their charitable, educational and scientific efforts. ARISS-USA Executive Director Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, praised the ARRL Foundation, saying, “ARISS team member, Keith Pugh, W5IU, poured his energy into inspiring, engaging and educating youth in space and in amateur radio endeavors. What a better way to honor Keith than through the ARISS *STAR* initiative. We thank the ARRL Foundation for their vision to move this initiative forward. Maybe someday one of our ARISS *STAR* students will use their telerobotics skills to control scientific rovers on the Moon or Mars!”

[ANS thanks ARISS for the above information]

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The 2022 AMSAT President’s Club coins have arrived!
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of its launch on
October 15, 1972, this year’s coin features
an image of AMSAT-OSCAR 6.
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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EASAT-2 and Hades Satellites with FM Repeaters Scheduled for Launch on January 13th

I just wanted to confirm with you all that the launch of EASAT-2 and Hades satellites is scheduled for this January, 13, 15.25 UTC on SpaceX TR-3 flight, as it has been confirmed to us by Alba Orbital.

As it has been noted in older posts, both satellites offer voice communications in FM and data retransmission in FSK or AFSK up to 2400 bps, such as AX.25 or APRS frames. They also transmit voice beacons in FM with the callsigns AM5SAT and AM6SAT, as well as CW, and, in the case of Hades, SSTV live images too.

We thank you in advance for trying to receive their signals and of course for trying to use the repeater. EASAT-2 one will be automatically active 30 minutes after the launch although it would be a priority for us trying to have some telemetry frames first to check if all is working properly.

I tell you a bit more about the satellites:

EASAT-2 has been designed and built jointly by AMSAT-EA and students from the European University of Degrees in Aerospace Engineering in Aircraft and in Telecommunication Systems Engineering, with contributions from ICAI in the communications part, and it incorporates as an experimental load a basalt material from Lanzarote, similar to lunar basalts, provided by the CSIC research group on meteorites and planetary geosciences at the Institute of Geosciences, IGEO (CSIC-UCM) and that could be used as a construction material on the Moon. This project was promoted and has the collaboration of the ETSICCP (UPM).

The UNESCO world geopark of Lanzarote and the Chinijo archipelago has been used for different investigations as an analogue of the Moon and Mars, also including the training of ESA astronauts. The selected basalt material meets the requirements to be used as a simulant of the existing basalt on the Moon. The purpose of the experiment is to determine its evolution in space based on periodic measurements of some of its properties. Although the experiment is limited and constitutes the first phase of this type of study, it represents an important milestone as it is the first of its kind to be introduced on such a small satellite.

As for Hades, its payload consists of a miniature camera module that outputs the captured images as an audio signal in SSTV mode. The SSTV formats it uses are compatible with Robot36, Robot72, MP73 and MP115. The design of the cam module is based on the one used in the successful mission of the PSAT2 satellite, an amateur radio satellite of the United States Naval Academy and the Brno University of Technology. This camera has been operational since June 25, 2019: (http:// www.aprs.org/psat2.html).

The camera chip is the Omnivision OV2640, which provides a resolution of up to 2M pixels and compressed JPEG output. The resolution is limited by the internal memory of the CPU (MCU) that controls the camera to 320×240 (typical) or 640×480 maximum. The MCU selected for the control is the STM32F446RET6, which has the smallest possible footprint with connection to a DCMI peripheral, necessary for the connection with the camera. Images can be stored in 2MB serial flash memory. The complete SSTV encoder has managed to be implemented on a 4 layer PCB with dimensions of only 38x38mm. The MCU can be fully controlled from ground stations. The firmware allows the sending of live camera images, images previously saved in flash memory, or images encoded in ROM. It also provides PSK telemetry and imaging advance scheduling with current status (event counters, temperature, voltage, light conditions, etc.) and a brief summary.

The described module has been developed and manufactured in the Department of Radioelectronics of the Brno University of Technology in the Czech Republic. Both hardware and firmware designs with the source codes will be available on Github under the MIT license (https://github.com/alpov/SatCam).

As noted, initially only the EASAT-2 repeater is active. Hades one will be activated by remote control a few days after launch.

The frequencies coordinated with IARU for both satellites are as follows:

EASAT-2

145.875 MHz uplink, Modes: FM voice (no subtone) and FSK 50 bps, AFSK, AX.25, APRS 1200/2400 bps
436.666 MHz downlink, Modes: FM voice, CW, FSK 50 bps, FM voice beacon with AM5SAT callsign

HADES

145.925 MHz uplink, Modes: FM voice (no subtone) and FSK 50 bps, AFSK, AX.25, APRS 1200/2400 bps
436.888 MHz downlink, Modes: FM voice, CW FSK 50 bps, SSTV Robot 36, FM voice beacon with callsign AM6SAT

The description of the transmissions can be found in the following document.

https://www.amsat-ea.org/app/download/12530621/AMSAT+EA+-+EASAT-2+and+HADES+Transmissions+description+v1.05.pdf

AMSAT-EA appreciates the receipt of telemetry, voice beacons and SSTV images. A paper QSL will be sent to those who submit their transmissions. It can be done through the following link:

http://data.amsat-ea.org

[ANS thanks Felix Paez, AMSAT-EA Mission Manager, 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 TLE Distribution for January 6, 2022

CAMSAT XW-3(CAS-9) is designated Hope-OSCAR 113, HO-113:

HO-113 – Cat ID 50446 (Formerly known as XW-3 (CAS-9))

Drew Glasbrenner, AMSAT VP Operations / OSCAR Number Administrator, announced the following OSCAR assignment in AMSAT News Service Bulletin ANS-002 dated January 2, 2022:

“At the request of CAMSAT and the XW-3 (CAS-9) team, AMSAT hereby designates XW-3 (CAS-9) as Hope-OSCAR 113 (HO-113). We congratulate the owners and operators of HO-113, thank them for their contribution to the amateur satellite community, and wish them continued success on this and future projects.”

Also thanks to Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, for his timely name changing of CAMSAT’s new satellite to HO-113 in last week’s AMSAT NA webpage TLE distribution of Object Cat ID 50446.

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

ARISS News

No scheduled contacts reported.

The next mode change to voice cross band repeater is expected to occur in early January, 2022.

The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html

The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html

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

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AMSAT, along with our ARISS partners, is developing an Amateur
Radio package, including two-way communication capability, to
be carried on-board Gateway in lunar orbit.

Support AMSAT’s projects today at https://www.amsat.org/donate/

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Upcoming Satellite Operations

Events:

4A90, MEXICO (Special Event). Members of the Federacion Mexicana de Radio Experimentadores (FMRE)[Mexican Society]are celebrating their 90th anniversary during January, February and March 2022 promoting each of the

31 States and Mexico City with the following 32 different special event callsigns and 4A90FMRE:

January 1st-15th: 4A90COL, 4A90CMX, 4A90EMX, 4A90GTO, 4A90HGO, 4A90JAL and 4A90MIC
January 16-30th: 4A90MOR, 4A90NAY, 4A90PUE, 4A90QRO, 4A90TLX and 4A90VER
January 31st-February 14th: 4A90AGS, 4A90BAC, 4A90BCS, 4A90COA, 4A90CHH and 4A90DGO
February 15th-March 1st: 4A90NLE, 4A90SLP, 4A90SIN, 4A90SON, 4A90TAM
March 2nd-16th: 4A90CAM, 4A90CHI, 4A90GRO, 4A90OAX, 4A90QUI, 4A90TAB and 4A90YUC

Activity will be on various HF bands using CW, SSB, RTTY, FT8/FT4 and the satellites. Awards are available (see QRZ.com for details). For more details on the event, see: http://fmre90.puebladx.org

[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.

Events with a confirmed AMSAT presence:

HamCation 2022 – The ARRL National Convention

Friday, February 11th, 2022 to Sunday, February 13, 2022

Central Florida Fairgrounds and Expo Park
4603 West Colonial Drive
Orlando, Florida 32808

https://www.hamcation.com/

Hamvention 2022

Friday May 20, 2022 to Sunday May 22, 2022

Greene County Fairgrounds and Expo Center

210 Fairground Road
Xenia, Ohio 45385

2022 Rocky Mountain ARRL Division Convention

Friday, October 7th, 2022 to Sunday, October 9th, 2022

Event Center at Archer
3921 Archer Pkwy
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82007

Clint Bradford, K6LCS reports:

Part of the “job description” for volunteer AMSAT Ambassadors is to “spread the gospel” of working satellites to clubs and conventions.

PS 2022 is starting off with a bang! Presentations set for clubs in …

Tennessee
South Bay CA
New York
British Columbia
Ontario Canada
Victoria BC
Sonoma CA
Tampa FL
Texas
Nevada

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 solicited and welcome.

Send an email or call!

Clint Bradford K6LCS
AMSAT Ambassador, ARRL instructor
http://www.work-sat.com
909-999-SATS (7287)

[ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT Events page manager, and Clint Bradford, K6LCS, 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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Satellite Shorts From All Over

+ A new distance record has been claimed on AO-109. ES4RM in KO49al completed a SSB QSO with F4DXV in JN04iu on 22-Dec-2021 at 15:24 UTC – a distance of 2,445 km. With a reported total power output of 8 mW, SSB QSOs over a decent range are quite a challenge. Can anyone do better?

+ With the recent re-enabling of the AO-73 transponder, Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, has issued the 59th 73 on 73 Award to JA1OJA. This award was completed using CW only. N8HM notes, “AO-73 is a fantastic satellite, but it can be a challenge due to the transponder’s frequency drift. With the recent technical issues, we don’t know how long it will be available. Get on and make some QSOs so that more operators can receive this award!” More information about the award can be found at https://amsat-uk.org/funcube/73-on-73-award/

+ John Brier, KG4AKV, has posted a video regarding HO-113 and some of the issues with working it successfully. The video can be found at https://youtu.be/NglO_WJ2hhc

+ NASA reports that the James Webb Space Telescope has successfully deployed its sunshade and the full primary mirror.

+ Abstract Submission for the 2022 CubeSat Developer’s Workshop is still open! The deadline is January 14th, 2022! More information about the 2022 CubeSat Developer’s Workshop, to be held ar Cal Poly on April 26-28, 2022, can be found at https://www.cubesatdw.org/

+ Version 1.11 of the HO-113 (XW-3) User’s Manual, mainly adding the test mode telemetry data format. is now available at https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/XW-3_Manual_1.11.pdf

 

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,

Paul Stoetzer, N8HM
n8hm at amsat dot org

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/

In this edition:

* HamSCI invites abstracts for its 2022 Workshop
* New QO-100 satellite antenna for DP0GVN
* VUCC Awards-Endorsements needs a new author
* CAMSAT XW-3(CAS-9)is designated Hope-OSCAR-113, HO-113
* Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for December 30, 2021
* ARISS News
* Upcoming Satellite Operations
* Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
* Satellite Shorts From All Over

ANS-002 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

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

DATE 2022 Jan 02

HamSCI Invites Abstracts for its 2022 Workshop

The ARRL report that HamSCI is soliciting abstracts for the 2022 HamSCI Workshop. The submission deadline is February 1, 2022. The workshop will be a hybrid (in-person and virtual) event from March 18 – 19, 2022, at the US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

“The primary objective of the HamSCI workshop is to bring together the amateur radio community and professional scientists,” said HamSCI Lead Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF, an assistant professor within the Department of Physics and Electrical Engineering at The University of Scranton. “This year’s theme is ‘The Weather Connection,’ with invited speakers Tamitha Skov, WX6SWW, and Jim Bacon, G3YLA.”

“Skov and Bacon will present tutorials on the impacts of space and terrestrial weather on the ionosphere. Chen-Pang Yeang, an associate professor and director for the Special Project on Scientific Instruments at the University of Toronto, will deliver the keynote address, “Ham Radio and the Discovery of the Ionosphere.” Additional information is available at: https://bit.ly/3EHDAe5

[ANS thanks ARRL News for the above information]

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Join the 2021 President’s Club!
Score your 2″ 4-Color Accent Commemorative Coin.
This gold finished coin comes with
Full Color Certificate and Embroidered “Remove Before Flight” Key Tag
Donate today at
https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/
You won’t want to miss it!
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New QO-100 satellite antenna for DP0GVN

On December 29, 2021, our new QO-100 SatCom ground station antenna for DP0GVN arrived intact in Antarctica at Neumayer Station III. This should ensure future operations for the upcoming 2022/2023 over-wintering crew.

Securing the operation: Since the 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 over-wintering team, radio contacts with Antarctica via the first amateur geostationary radio satellite Qatar-OSCAR 100 / QO-100 (Es’hail-2) enjoy the greatest popularity. AMSAT-DL provided the appropriate radio equipment for DP0GVN at Neumayer Station III, covering all costs for setup and provision of the required radio equipment and antenna. While amateur radio operations mostly take place during free time, contacts with schools have also been arranged on a regular basis. Similar to ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station), such contacts in Antarctica are also something very special for the students. This will certainly also arouse interest in scientific or technical professions and, last but not least, amateur radio.

During the night of 13/14 August 2021, one of the strongest storms at Neumayer Station III measured average wind speeds of 176 km/h and even more than 207 km/h at peak. This did not remain without consequences and so among other things the satellite antenna for QO-100 was damaged so strongly that with it no more radio operation was possible. DP0GVN via QO-100 so unfortunately QRT until further notice.

AMSAT-DL therefore decided at short notice to build a new antenna and to deliver it in less than 2 months construction time in the middle of October for the ship transport to Antarctica. The antenna has now arrived there safely and was immediately transported from the ship at the ice edge to Neumayer Station III. The next step is to hoist the antenna onto the roof of the station by crane and rewire everything. As the team on site has a huge work program at the moment, it can certainly take a few more days and weeks to get DP0GVN up and running via QO-100. Patience is requested until then, but all stars are aligned for a successful 2022 with DP0GVN !!!

(ANS thanks Peter Gulzow, DB2OS, President, AMSAT-DL 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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VUCC Awards-Endorsements is getting a new author

Ron Parsons, W5RKN Has announced that he is retiring as the author of the VUCC Awards and Endorsments list. He says: “Jon Goering, N7AZ has offered to take over on February 1. I will pilot on January 1 with Jon as copilot. I was happy to have done the task for the past few years and wish Jon equal pleasure. My method is completely manual, so someone might want to automate. An AMSAT member who wishes help Jon should reach out to him.

Many Thanks to Ron who has done a great job of organizing and keeping up with VUCC activities!
Ron reports: “Here are the endorsements and new VUCC Satellite Awards issued by the ARRL for the period December 1, 2021 through January 1, 2022. Congratulations to all those who made the list this month!

This is my last time preparing this list. Next month it will be done by Jon Goering, N7AG.”

CALL Dec. January

K8TL 1012 1016
WN9Q 710 783
K9UO 675 695
XE1HG 100 639
N5BO 580 635
KN2K 401 450
N6UTC 400 450
EA2AA 396 400
VU2LBW 350 400
N8URE (FM19) 279 326
NA1ME 275 300
K8BL 283 292
RA3DNC 252 276
K3HPA 176 201
M0NKC 200 New
WD9EWK (DM23)173 182
DL6KBG 150 175
A65BR New 157
WA7HQD 150 151
K6MX New 134
KG7CW New 115
K9AQ New 109
N6UTC(MOJAVE)New 101
KE6LB New 100
W4GLU New 100

“This list was developed by comparing the ARRL .pdf listings for the two months. Apologies if your call was not mentioned. Thanks to all those who are roving to grids that are rarely on the birds. They are doing a lot of the work! Ron W5RKN”

[ANS thanks Ron Parsons, W5RKN, for the above information]]

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AMSAT’s GOLF Program is about getting back to higher orbits, and it all
begins with GOLF-TEE – a technology demonstrator for deployable solar
panels, propulsion, and attitude control, now manifested for launch on
NASA’s ELaNa 46 mission. Come along for the ride. The journey will be
worth it!

https://tinyurl.com/ANS-GOLF

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CAMSAT XW-3(CAS-9) is designated Hope-OSCAR-113 HO-113

Drew Glasbrenner, AMSAT VP Operations / OSCAR Number Administrator, has announced the OSCAR assignment: “On December 26, 2021, the XW-3 (CAS-9) satellite was launched on a CZ-4C launch vehicle from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, China. Also known as Hope-3, XW-3 (CAS-9) was developed by the Chinese Amateur Satellite Group (CAMSAT) in cooperation with the Chinese government’s aerospace and education departments, and is used to provide services to amateur radio enthusiasts around the world and to educate students in science and technology. CAMSAT completed the design and manufacture of the amateur radio payload and manages the satellite in-orbit operation.

At the request of CAMSAT and the XW-3 (CAS-9) team, AMSAT hereby designates XW-3 (CAS-9) as Hope-OSCAR 113 (HO-113). We congratulate the owners and operators of HO-113, thank them for their contribution to the amateur satellite community, and wish them continued success on this and future projects.”

Early reports of telemetry and contacts came in quickly.
Nico Janssen, PA0DLO, Provided additional information: “Doppler measurements show that XW 3 (CAS 9) is object 50466 (2021-131B). Frequency CW beacon: 435.57515 MHz.”
From the XW-3（CAS-9）Amateur Radio Satellite User’s Manual 2 / 21 V1.0 by BA1DU:
UHF antenna: 1/4 wavelength whip antenna
CW telemetry beacon:
*Frequency: 435.575MHz
*RF power: 20dBm
*CW rate: 22wpm

GMSK telemetry:
*Frequency: 435.725MHz
*RF power: 23dBm
*Data rate: 4800bps

V/U mode linear transponder:
*Uplink frequency: 145.870MHz
*Downlink frequency: 435.180MHz
*RF power: 20dBm
*Bandwidth: 30kHz
*Spectrum inverted

Photo download should be available in the future.

The XW-3 (CAS-9) satellite user manual is available from the AMSAT website: https://bit.ly/3FH8lS2

Mike Sartoretti, KC2YSF has the following reminder for S.A.T. tracker users: “If you are using a sat tracker from CSN technologies we do have the TLE’S and frequencies for this satellite already in place. Just hit your TLE update button and you’re ready to go, XW-3 or CAS-9.”

Congratulations to CAMSAT for a successful launch.

[ANS thanks Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, AMSAT VP Operations / OSCAR Number Administrator, Alan Kung, BA1DU, Nico Janssen PA0DLO, and Mike Sartoretti, KB2YSI for the above information]

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

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Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for December 30, 2021

The following satellite has decayed from orbit and has removed from this week’s AMSAT TLE Distribution:

NO-84 (PSAT) – NORAD Cat ID 40654 (The decay date was most likely 12-22-2021)

The following satellite has been added to this week’s AMSAT TLE Distribution:

XW-3 (CAS-9) – NORAD Cat ID 50466 (Thanks to Nico Janssen, PA0DLO for the identification)
XW-3 (CAS-9) was launched December 25, 2021 from China’s Complex 9 on a Long March 4C rocket.

[ANS thanks Ray Hoad, WA5QGD, TLE Manager for the above information]

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ARISS NEWS

Amateurs and others around the world may listen in on contacts between amateurs operating in schools and allowing students to interact with astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station. The downlink frequency on which to listen is 145.800 MHz worldwide.

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2021-12-30

Scouts Victoria (Radio and Electronics Team), Mt Waverley, Victoria, Australia, via AB1OC. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS. The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz. The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html

The scheduled crewmember is Mark Vande Hei KG5GNP. Contact is go for: Tue 2022-01-04 11:27:32 UTC 60 deg

On the AMSAT-BB reflector, VE7JMN noted that the ISS has been tracking differently on websites and several programs. Charlie Sulfana AJ9N of the ARISS Operations Team offered this explanation: “The ISS apparently did a burn over the last day or so. As a result one of the upcoming ARISS contacts is now about 5 minutes sooner than what I originally posted. The latest amsat-bb posting I did this morning has the newest time. Maybe that is what you are seeing.”

The next mode change to voice cross band repeater is expected to occur in early January, 2022.

The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html

The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html

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

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AMSAT, along with our ARISS partners, is developing an Amateur
Radio package, including two-way communication capability, to
be carried on-board Gateway in lunar orbit.

Support AMSAT’s projects today at https://www.amsat.org/donate/

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Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events

+ 23rd annual Ham Radio University (HRU) educational conference will again be held as a virtual event on January 8, 2022

W2JV, Peter Portanova, will be giving a talk on “The Art of operating thru the FM Amateur Satellites” The goal of this forum is to at minimum give you the tools and the confidence to listen to a few satellite passes as a stepping stone to making contacts. The HRU announcement follows:

With Covid19 uncertainties precluding an in-person gathering for a second year, the 23rd annual Ham Radio University (HRU) educational conference will again be held as a virtual event – on Saturday, January 8, 2022 — 8:00am to 3:00pm EST (12:00– 20:00 UTC) — as a GoToWebinar on-line video conference. Advance Registration Required — Starting December 20th 2021

HRU 2022 will be adding five forums, for a total of 19 presentations by experts in a broad range of Amateur Radio activities including: Amateur Radio Emergency Communications; Basics of HF Operating; Ham Radio Contesting and Dxing, Communicating Through Amateur Radio Earth Satellites; Software Defined Radios; HF and VHF Digital Communications; Parks on the Air, Skywarn, Cables & Connectors, and Using RaspberryPi Computers in Amateur Radio.

In addition to viewing the presentations, on-line attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions of the presenters.

Founded by Phil Lewis, N2MUN, who passed away in March, 2020, HRU also will be the on-line convention of the NYC-Long Island Section of ARRL – The National Association for Amateur Radio®

As in years past, participation in HRU 2022 will be free of charge, with an optional suggested donation of $5.00, but advance registration – starting December 20, 2021– will be required for each presentation.

Further information, including the schedule of forums and advance registration starting December 20, 2021, is on line at: http://www.HamRadioUniversity.org

+Winterfest, the ARRL Midwest Division Convention
Collinsville, IL Jan 22 2022

+ARRL National Convention and Orlando Hamcation Feb 10-13 2022
Registration details at http://www.arrl.org/arrl-expo
Updates may be found at: https://www.amsat.org/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, makes online presentations to Amateur Radio clubs and other interested organizations. He reports: “Seven presentations lined up to start the new year so far, including three clubs in Canada, and clubs in Florida, California, New York and Nevada!

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 solicited and welcome.

Contact Clint at http://www.work-sat.com or by phone at 909-999-SATS (7287) to arrange a presentation.

[ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT Events page manager, Pete Portanova, W2JV, and Clint Bradford, K6CLS for the above information]

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Satellite Shorts From All Over

+ CNES, French Space Agency Special Callsigns TM60CNES, TO60CNES, TX60CNES and TK60CNES for the 60th anniversary of CNES are activated since December 18, 2021 and until January 2, 2022 on different frequency bands and different modes. To know the activated callsigns (realtime) as well as their mode and frequency consult the AMSAT-F page : https://site.amsat-f.org/. A Google translation may be viewed from https://bit.ly/3HflGkA (ANS thanks Christophe Mercier, President AMSAT-F, for the above information)

+ Starlink satellite’s near-collision with Chinese station puts focus on space jam. First reported by The Guardian, which cited experts as saying the Chinese action was unusual, the incident spotlights the growing risk in space, where orbital room is being crowded out by an astronomical race in which nation-states as well as private companies are increasingly active. Behind it are projects such as the Elon Musk-owned SpaceX’s Starlink constellation and rival Amazon’s Project Kuiper. Both companies want to create a web of low-earth orbit (LEO) spacecraft that will beam down internet connectivity to anywhere on the planet. And then there are several countries – Russia and India being the most recent – that have carried out tests of satellite-killing missiles, generating millions of pieces of debris. More is available at: https://bit.ly/3FFQz1c (ANS thanks Southgate News for the above information)

+ JWST is on its way to orbit L2! On Christmas Day, JWST launched successfully (video) aboard its Ariane 5 from French Guiana. During its flight, the rocket performed a unique sawtooth maneuver, rotating back and forth 30° to protect JSWT’s instruments from overheating due to direct solar illumination (as opposed to Apollo’s ‘BBQ roll’). After release, the spacecraft deployed its solar array—here’s a video, which likely includes the final close proximity image of the craft. Now beyond the orbit of the Moon, it has successfully performed two course corrections and deployed its gimbaled antenna assembly. Jonathan McDowell has a timeline of JWST’s ongoing “30 days of terror” deployment schedule on its way to L2. The sunshield has started its multistep deployment and, in about a week, mirrors will begin unfolding. Check-in on its live mission dashboard to see where it is and what it’s doing, follow it on Twitter, or watch NASA’s Deep Space Network real-time dashboard to see active communications underway. Hopefully, the first images from Webb should be available by next summer. The Planetary Society has an excellent summary of the JWST mission at: https://bit.ly/3pG6045 (ANS thanks The Orbital Index for the above information.)

+ More JWST Coverage: Over the next two weeks, NASA will provide broadcast coverage and other updates on major deployment milestones for the James Webb Space Telescope, the world’s largest and most powerful space science telescope. Broadcasts of milestone events will air live on NASA TV, the NASA app, and the agency’s website: https://www.nasa.gov/live. NASA provides regular updates on the Webb telescope blog, https://blogs.nasa.gov/webb The public can also follow Webb’s deployments online via a “Where is Webb?” interactive tracker and a Deployments Explorer at https://go.nasa.gov/3eEkGdQ (ANS thanks NASA for the above information)

+ UVSQ-SAT: Transponder expected to be active on 01/01/2022 from 12:00 UTC. The LATMOS team has programmed the UVSQ-SAT satellite to go into transponder mode on January 1, 2022 at 12:00 UTC.
The transponder will be active during 11 consecutive hours.
Frequencies used:
Telemetry:
437.020 MHz – BPSK – GR3UH 9k6
FM transponder :
Uplink frequency : 145.905 MHz
Downlink frequency: 437.020 MHz
More information on AMSAT Francophone https://site.amsat-f.org/uvsq-sat/

———————————————————————

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 dot org

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/

In this edition:

• CAMSAT XW-3 (CAS-9) To Be Launched Today
• ARISS SSTV Event Scheduled for Dec 26
• Bob Davis, KF4KSS, AMSAT Engineer, SK
• AO-73 Mode Change Made
• Change Of Operation Schedule of FO-99 / NEXUS
• New release of AMSAT Status for Android
• ARISS News
• Upcoming Satellite Operations
• Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
• Satellite Shorts From All Over

ANS-360 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

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

DATE 2021 Dec 26

CAMSAT XW-3 (CAS-9) To Be Launched Today

The CAMSAT XW-3 (CAS-9) amateur radio satellite is scheduled to be launched today, 2021-12-26, at 03:11:31 UTC, and will be deployed at 98.858°E and 28.413°S at UTC 03:35:58, a location close to Western Australia.

Radio amateurs will receive CW beacon and GMSK telemetry signals approximately 38 seconds after the satellite is separated from the launch vehicle, and then the linear transponder will be put into use after approximately 49 seconds.

CAMSAT is looking for the CW beacon and telemetry monitoring from Western Australia, South America and North America during the first orbit of the satellite.

A preliminary Two-Line Orbital Element set has been released. However, any launch delay will affect this prediction radically, and radar-confirmed TLEs will probably not be available for several days:

XW-3(CAS-9)
1 99999U 21360.14997609 .00000032 00000-0 10363-4 0 00007
2 99999 098.5836 072.3686 0004232 307.2415 261.3002 14.38559758000156

CW telemetry beacon:
*Frequency: 435.575MHz
*RF power: 20dBm
*CW rate: 22wpm

GMSK telemetry:
*Frequency: 435.725MHz
*RF power: 23dBm
*Data rate: 4800bps

V/U mode linear transponder:
*Uplink frequency: 145.870MHz
*Downlink frequency: 435.180MHz
*RF power: 20dBm
*Bandwidth: 30kHz
*Spectrum inverted

Preliminary Doppler.SQF file entry:
XW-3(CAS-9),435180,145870,USB,LSB,REV,0,0,V/U_Transponder

A detailed CAS-9 user’s manual is available at https://bit.ly/3EokTw5

[ANS thanks Alan Kung, BA1DU, for the above information]

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LAST CALL for the 2021 President’s Club!

There are only a handful of 2021 coins left and when they are gone, they are gone.
Don’t miss this chance to own this one-of-a-kind coin because
after January 1 they will no longer be available.

Score your 2″ 4-Color Accent Commemorative Coin.
This gold finished coin comes with
Full Color Certificate and Embroidered “Remove Before Flight” Key Tag
Donate today at
https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/
You won’t want to miss it!
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ARISS SSTV Event Scheduled for Dec 26

An ARISS Slow Scan TV (SSTV) event is scheduled from the International Space Station (ISS). The event is slated to begin on December 26 at 18:25 UTC for setup and operation and continue until December 31 ending at 17:05 UTC. Dates and times subject to change due to ISS operational adjustments.

Images will be downlinked at 145.8 MHz +/- 3 KHz for Doppler shift and the expected SSTV mode of operation is PD 120.

The main theme will be for this event will be lunar exploration. Radio enthusiasts participating in the event can post and view images on the ARISS SSTV Gallery at https://www.spaceflightsoftware.com/ARISS_SSTV/ .

After your image is posted at the gallery, you can acquire a special award by linking to https://ariss.pzk.org.pl/sstv/ and follow directions for submitting a digital copy of your received image.

[ANS thanks Dave Jordan, AA4KN, and Gaston Bertels, ON4WF, ARISS Operations Team, 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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Bob Davis, KF4KSS, AMSAT Engineer, SK

Robert “Bob” Davis, 49, passed away on December 10, 2021 at his home in Pocomoke City, Maryland. Bob became part of the AMSAT Engineering team in 1996 after graduating from the University of Central Florida with a degree in mechanical engineering. He was instrumental in the revision to the satellite structure of the Phase 3D spacecraft, adding his expertise to the mounting system and solar panel deployment system.

Bob was involved with every AMSAT & ARISS project since 1996, including Eagle, Suitsat, ARISSAT and the FOX series of satellites. He helped design, build, test and certify the FOX and next generation and was working on the GOLF satellites. More on Bob’s personal life and family can be found at https://www.serenitymeadows.com/obits.

The family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, a donation be made to AMSAT at https://www.amsat.org/donations/kf4kss-memorial/.

[ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information.]

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AO-73 Mode Change Made

FUNcube-1 (AO-73) mode has been changed. It will be in telemetry mode in sunlight and silent during eclipse. This will allow the team to gather valuable telemetry, including energy consumption and battery health in current illumination conditions. This is not an error!

We are grateful for the continued uploading of telemetry data to the Amsat-UK data warehouse, and the continued support of everyone in gathering it!

[ANS thanks Wouter Weggelaar, PA3WEG, FUNcube Operations Team, for the above information]

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AMSAT’s GOLF Program is about getting back to higher orbits, and it all
begins with GOLF-TEE – a technology demonstrator for deployable solar
panels, propulsion, and attitude control, now manifested for launch on
NASA’s ELaNa 46 mission. Come along for the ride. The journey will be
worth it!

https://tinyurl.com/ANS-GOLF

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Change Of Operation Schedule of FO-99 / NEXUS

The NEXUS operation team has announced that the operation schedule for FO-99 / NEXUS has been changed. Recently, based on the situation where the operation of other general-purpose transponder satellites has become unstable one after another, we will temporarily operate the FO-99 / NEXUS transponder. The following 3 passes (1st pass on Sunday evening) are usually his schedule for digital talker operation, but we will change the schedule and temporarily operate transponders, so we will inform you.

[ANS thanks JAMSAT 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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New release of AMSAT Status for Android

Loren Lang, K7IW, has developed an Android app for publishing status updates to the AMSAT website satellite status page (https://www.amsat.org/status/) and pulling down previous reports through the site’s published API. Since last year, Loren has fixed a few bugs on different Android platforms and also added a Google Maps view which shows the location of satellite reports on a map. It will also save preferred satellites and has a “find me” button for filling in the grid square automatically. The app is on the Android Play Store in a closed beta.

To join in on the testing, open this link:

https://play.google.com/apps/testing/org.northwinds.amsatstatus

And the app can be opened on your phone with this:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.northwinds.amsatstatus

Or search for AMSAT Status. Please provide any feedback or feature requests you want on the app.

[ANS thanks Loren Lang, K7IW, for the above information]

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ARISS NEWS

Amateurs and others around the world may listen in on contacts between amateurs operating in schools and allowing students to interact with astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station. The downlink frequency on which to listen is 145.800 MHz worldwide.

Recent contacts:
Berufliche Schule Direktorat 1 Nürnberg, Nuremberg, Germany, telebridge via ON4ISS
The ISS callsign was OR4ISS, and the crewmember was Matthias Maurer KI5KFH.
The contact was successful: Tue 2021-12-21 08:24:05 UTC 81 deg
Congratulation to the Berufliche Schule Direktorat 1 Nürnberg students and Matthias!

The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html

The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html

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

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AMSAT, along with our ARISS partners, is developing an Amateur
Radio package, including two-way communication capability, to
be carried on-board Gateway in lunar orbit.

Support AMSAT’s projects today at https://www.amsat.org/donate/

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Upcoming Satellite Operations

W8LR: Will be in EM78/EM88 beginning 12/23. Times to be posted on Twitter in the morning.

N4DCW: Will be in EM84 from 12/23 – 12/26

EA5GX: Will be in the RS44 in the cross of 4 grids IM99, JN00, JM09, IN90 in afternoon of Dec. 26 at 17:42 and 19:41UTC around 345.655 +-

W8MTB: Will be in EN71 on Wednesday December 29. If you need EN71 please email me and let me know so I can listen for you. No passes are a 100% guarantee but, most likely I’ll be on AO-91 and maybe SO-50.

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

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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.

– Upcoming Zoom presentations to radio clubs in 2022: two in Canada, one in Central California
To set up such a presentation for your club, contact:
Clint Bradford, K6LCS
AMSAT Ambassador, ARRL instructor
http://www.work-sat.com
909-999-SATS (7287)

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

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Satellite Shorts From All Over

+ W2JV will be conducting “The Art of Working thru the Amateur Satellites” as part of the online “Ham Radio University” event on January 8th, 2022. Registration is now open at https://hamradiouniversity.org/ (ANS thanks Peter Portanova, W2JV, for the above information)

+ A Soyuz spacecraft carrying a Russian cosmonaut and two Japanese private astronauts returned to Earth late Dec. 19. After 11 days on the station, the Soyuz returned to Earth Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin along with Japanese private astronauts Yusaku “MZ” Maezawa and Yozo Hirano. The flight brokered by American space tourism company Space Adventures. (ANS thanks Space News for the above information)

+ The liftoff of a SpaceX cargo ship on the way to the International Space Station early Tuesday was the 31st and final orbital launch from Florida’s Space Coast in 2021, setting a new record for the most space missions to depart from the spaceport in a calendar year. It was also the 31st Falcon 9 launch of the year overall for SpaceX, including 28 from Florida and three launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, setting a company record. (ANS thanks Spaceflight Now for the above information)

+ Two new Astro Pi units launched were launched into space on December 21, 2021. The new Astro Pi units each consist of a Raspberry Pi computer with a Raspberry Pi High Quality Camera and a host of sensors, all housed inside a special space-ready case that makes the hardware suitable for the International Space Station (ISS). The launch was the culmination of three years of work Raspberry Pi has done for the European Space Agency to get the new Astro Pi units ready to become part of the European Astro Pi Challenge. The complete story can be found at: https://bit.ly/3eoUBzi (ANS thanks the Raspberry Pi Foundation for the above information.)

+ Derek, OK9SGC, has recently uploaded a very comprehensive beginners guide to receiving HRPT weather satellite images. The guide covers almost everything from purchasing and building the hardware, to finding and tracking the satellites, to setting up the software and decoding images. HRPT reception can be a little daunting as it requires a good L-Band dish setup which involves choosing and building a feed, and importantly, a way to track the satellite with the dish as it moves across the sky. Find this story and a link to the guide at: https://www.rtl-sdr.com/ (ANS thanks rtl-sdr.com for the above information)

+ The WSJT-X development group has announced the release of WSJT-X 2.5.3. Those using FT-4 or other digital modes on linear satellites are reminded that most such operations occur at the low end of downlink passbands, and that transmitter power should be kept to a bare minimum to avoid damage to the satellites. (ANS thanks ARRL and AMSAT for the above information).

+ The James Webb Space Telescope, the “most powerful and complex space telescope ever built,” was successfully launched on Christmas Day after having been delayed a first time due to a communication issue between the observatory and the launch vehicle and then again for bad weather. JWST’s deployment process involves 50 deployment actions and 344 single-points of failure. As one NASA official said, “Those who are not worried or even terrified about this are not understanding what we are trying to do.” (ANS thanks The Orbital Index for the above information)

+ A Merry Christmas to all our readers from the AMSAT News Service staff!

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Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/

In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to:

* Societies (a recognized group, clubs or organization).
* Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate.
* Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status.
* Memberships are available for annual and lifetime terms.

Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional membership information.

73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space!

This week’s ANS Editor, Mark Johns, K0JM
k0jm at amsat dot org