ANS-290 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for Oct. 17

October 17, 2021 by Mark Johns

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:

Virtual AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting – October 30, 2021
AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium to be held on Zoom 24 Oct 2021
New APRS Satellites are now functioning
PSAT2 (NO-104) enabled for APRS-2-Voice
Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution as of October 14, 2021
ARISS News
Upcoming Satellite Operations
Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
Satellite Shorts From All Over

ANS-290 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 Oct 17

Virtual AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting – October 30, 2021

Due to the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, AMSAT has changed plans for its 39th Annual Symposium and General Meeting from an in-person event to a virtual event.

This is a chance for “Amateur Radio in Space” enthusiasts from all corners of the globe to learn more about AMSAT’s Strategic Plan, GOLF program, CubeSat Simulator and other exciting developments taking place in the amateur satellite world.

AMSAT will host its 2021 AMSAT Virtual Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting on Zoom for its members on Saturday, October 30th from 9:00am CDT – 5:00pm CDT (UTC-5). The event will be a combination of pre-recorded video segments along with live question and answer sessions.

Registration for members is required and is available on AMSAT’s Member Portal, launch.amsat.org. Registration is free and registered attendees will receive a digital copy of the AMSAT Symposium Proceedings, entered into the Symposium prize drawings, and be able to participate in discussions during each question and answer session.

The 2021 AMSAT Virtual Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting will be available to the general public on AMSAT’s YouTube channel, https://youtu.be/RTvcceM7Tz0 at no cost.

Final papers for the Symposium Proceedings must be submitted by October 18, 2021 to Dan Schultz, N8FGV, n8fgv at usa dot net. Symposium presentations should be limited to 15 minutes of pre- recorded video. Video presentations must be submitted by October 18, 2021 to Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, n8hm at arrl dot net. We ask that presenters be available to take questions via Zoom following the airing of their pre-recorded video.

Tentative Schedule

9:00am CDT – Opening Remarks
9:15am CDT – 2:00 pm CDT – General Presentations
2:00pm CDT – 3:00 pm CDT – AMSAT Education / CubeSat Simulator
3:00pm CDT – 4:00 pm CDT – AMSAT Engineering
4:00pm CDT – 5:00 pm CDT – 2020 AMSAT Annual General Meeting

Questions regarding the Symposium can be directed to info at amsat dot org.

[ANS thanks the Symposium organizers 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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The AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium will be held as an online Zoom Webinar on the 24th October 2021

The Colloquium will run from 09.45 UTC to approximately 15.00 UTC. A full programme of the event is available at www.amsat-uk.org/colloquium You don’t have to be a member of AMSAT-UK to attend, and the event is free of charge.

This year’s colloquium will be in the form of a Zoom Webinar. It’s easy to use, simply register at the address below, and follow the instructions which will arrive by email.

Please register before the 24th , or join live at https://tinyurl.com/AMSATUK2021Colloquium
The 2021 colloquium will also be streamed via YouTube.
Our channel is at https://www.youtube.com/user/AMSATUK

The event will be hosted by members of AMSAT-UK and formally opened by our Chairman, Martin Sweeting, G3YJO.

Each presentation will be followed by a 5 minute Q+A session, which will allow those viewing via Zoom, to pose questions to the speakers.
The 2021 colloquium will be followed by the AMSAT-UK AGM and after a short break there will be an informal evening discussion session on ‘All things satellite.’

[ANS thanks David Bowman G0MRF – AMSAT-UK 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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New APRS Satellites are now functioning:

KE4AZZ McKinley Henson reports a new APRS satellite was heard on 145.825. BEACON: DX4MYA To APTT4 Via WIDE1-1:Mabuhay! This is the APRS-DP of Maya-4. But it appears to use DX3MYA callsign substitution when digipeating because on the next pass he sent a few beacons with wide1-1. He was digi’d several times but the following made it into the network.

KE4AZZ>APRS,DX3MYA*,WIDE1*,qAR,KD8THX-6:
>121508z[224] KE4AZZ EL87
KE4AZZ>APRS,DX3MYA*,WIDE1*,qAR,KD8THX6:
=2702.06N/08209.93W`KE4AZZ EL87

Robert MacHale, KE6BLR comments on the two new APRS satellites added to the APRS constellation: “They are in an approximate ISS orbit from which they were deployed a week or so ago. They also use the alias of ARISS making operations easy.”
Christy Hunter KB8LTY reports:

“I got 6 beacons digi’d thru MAYA-3 today (10/13/21). (never heard MAYA-4 beacons although heard it yesterday) I used 2 separate paths, ARISS, and DX3MYA, both were successful.I used TLEs (named from SatNOgs using Celestrak):”

maya-3
1 49273U 98067SS 21285.96953269 .00027554 00000-0 48953-3 0 9997
2 49273 51.6413 120.2941 0005565 120.1632 239.9909 15.49963282 1115
maya-4
1 49274U 98067ST 21286.09863284 .00026959 00000-0 47967-3 0 9992
2 49274 51.6413 119.6562 0005462 119.5971 240.5562 15.49933665 1138

See all APRS sats on http://aprs.org/sats.html

(ANS thanks Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, Robert MacHale, KE6BLR, and Christy Hunter, KB6LTY 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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PSAT2 (NO-104) enabled for APRS-2-Voice

Bob Bruninga reports: “We are enabling PSAT2 for users (including APRS2Voice)”

“Here is how to use it (The status bits should show 01001110)
1) Use 145.825 for digipeater (along with other APRS satellites)
2) For digipeating use one of these paths: APRSAT, ARISS, etc
3) For APRS2voice send an APRS message to PSAT-SAY
4) Begin the first 10 chars of the message with “CCCCCC sez …”
5) Followed by the text to be spoken.(no quotes)
6) CCCCCC is your callsign right-padded to 6 with spaces.”

“The satellite should ACK the packet uplink and then speak the text.APRS-to-Voice is enabled if the status bit is enabled: 01001110. showing that:
Reserved bit always on (01xxxxxx)
PDK31 is disabled (xxxx1xxx)
Digipeater is enabled (xxxxx1xx
APRS2voice is enabled (xxxxxx1x)
PSAT2 Voltage telemetry has failed so we will turn the PSAT2 user modes on as long as they work. Live telemetry on http://aprs.org/psat2.html”

[ANS thanks Bob Bruninga, WB4APR for the above information]

Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution as of October 14, 2021

The following two cubesats (added last week) have been identified and the names have changed as follows:
Maya-3 – NORAD Cat ID 49273 (was listed as OBJECT SS).
Maya-4 – NORAD Cat ID 49274 (was listed as OBJECT ST).
Thanks to Christy, KB6LTY for the identifications.

The following satellite has been added to this week’s AMSAT TLE Distribution:
IT-SPINS – NORAD Cat ID 49017
Thanks to David Klumpar,KD7MFJ for requesting this addition

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

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from our Zazzle store!
25% of the purchase price of each product goes
towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space
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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 2021-09-15 15:30 UTC

Quick list of scheduled contacts and events:
Jean Alloitteau School, Vinça, France, direct via F1MOJ. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be FXØISS. 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 astronaut is Thomas Pesquet KG5FYG. Contact is go for: Mon 2021-10-18 08:06:12 UTC 38 deg

Next mode changes as of 12 October:
Columbus Module radios:
+IORS (Kenwood D710GA) – STATUS – Configured. Supporting packet operation (145.825 MHz up & down). Next planned mode change is to cross band repeater (145.990 MHz up {PL 67} & 437.800 MHz down) around first part of November.
+Power down for upcoming Soyuz undocking on Oct. 17. Turning OFF Oct. 16 about 15:20 UTC. Back ON Oct. 18 about 07:55 UTC
+Power down for upcoming Progress relocate on Oct. 21-22. Turning OFF Oct. 20 about 18:00 UTC. Back ON Oct. 22 about 17:55 UTC.
+Power down for upcoming Progress docking on Oct. 30.
+Supporting USOS scheduled voice contacts, packet and voice repeater ops.
Service Module radios:
Kenwood D710E – STATUS – Radio usually off.
+Power down for upcoming Soyuz undocking on Oct. 17. Turning OFF Oct. 17 about 15:20 UTC.
+Power down for upcoming Progress relocate on Oct. 21-22. Turning OFF Oct. 20 about 18:00 UTC.
+Power down for upcoming Progress docking on Oct. 30.
+Supporting ROS scheduled voice contacts and SSTV.

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

Quick Hits:
WA8ZID: I hope to get some passes in OCT 14-18 on FM birds for the 60th Anniversary of the West Valley ARC in DM33. Not a rare grid but it is a rare call. We will be on HF as well but I do want to get some satellite stations for the 5 days we are authorized with W7V callsign. A certificate is available for those who are interested.

Major Roves:
Galapagos Islands: HD8, GALAPAGOS ISLANDS. Members of the Tifariti Gang/DX Friends will be active as HD8R from Galapagos Islands (SA-004) between October 26th and November 7th. Operators mentioned are Toni/EA5RM (Team Leader), Alberto/EA1SA, Gen/EA5EL, Raul/EA5KA, Javier/EA5KM, Manuel/EA7R, Jose Ramón/EA7X, Flo/F5CWU, Jean Jacques/F5NKX, Tony/F8ATS, Fausto/HC5VF, Faber/HK6F, Simone/IK5RUN and Fabrizio/IN3ZNR. The pilot station will be Tony, EC7ZK. Activity will be on 160-6 meters, including 60m, using CW, SSB, the Digital modes and low orbit satellites, with at least 4 stations that include Spiderbeams, verticals, Inverted “Ls” and beverages. Check with K9JKM for details.

NA-008. (Zone 2) After being silent for 18 months, operators Alex/VE1RUS and Pierre/VE3TKB will once again be active as VY0ERC from the Eureka Weather station this October. This station is operated by the Eureka Amateur Radio Club [probably the most northerly located amateur radio club in the world] from Eureka, Nunavut. The VY0ERC team (VE1RUS and VE3KTB) is now in preparation to be active from the Polar Environment Atmospheric Research Laboratory between October 12th and November 22nd, (time and weather conditions permitting). They plan to participate in CQWW DX SSB and the ARRL Sweepstakes Contests. Outside of the contests, the suggested bands are 40 and 20 meters (possibly 80m), as well as FM satellites (from ER60, EQ79) using SSB, the Digital modes (FT8 and RTTY) and very slow CW. Activity will be limited to their spare time. QSL via M0OXO, OQRS or direct. For updates, see: https://twitter.com/vy0erc

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

Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events

AMSAT will host its 2021 AMSAT Dr. Tom Clark, K3IO, Memorial Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting on Zoom for its members on Saturday, October 30th from 9:00am CDT – 5:00pm CDT (UTC-5). The event will be a combination of pre-recorded video segments along with live question and answer sessions. Registration for members is required and is available on AMSAT’s Member Portal for the 39th AMSAT Virtual Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting. Go to: https://launch.amsat.org/Events. You will need to log in to access the registration page.

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.

From Clint Bradford,K6CLS, AMSAT Ambassador:
“Pulled off a doubleheader last Monday: I performed two satellite shows back-to-back – one in Ohio and one in Portland.
Found out ARRL Director Dale WA8EFK was going to be in attendance in Ohio. Oh my gosh – should I take off my crazy Buzz Aldrin Collection shirt and get something more conservative on?
Naw … (grin)

We each had prepared a “salute” to the club for winning a prestigious award for their outstanding club newsletter. And I received this the next day in my In Box –
——————
Hi Clint,
Your presentation was a real hoot! It was fun being your “target” and I think we all enjoyed it. I really like your presentation style, it is so relaxed, personal and really moves along.
Oh, and one thing more, I learned a lot!
Thanks 73,
Dale R. Williams WA8EFK
Director
Great Lakes Division

AMSAT Ambassador Clint Bradford, K6LCS, makes online presentations to Amateur Radio clubs and other interested organizations. 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, and Clint Bradford, K6CLS for the above information]

Satellite Shorts From All Over

+ The latest AMSAT Rover Award goes to Richard Nolet, VA3VGR. Richard is awardee #61. The AMSAT Rover award is earned by those who acheive a score of 25 points by meeting the crieteria that is described on the AMSAT Rover Award page: https://www.amsat.org/amsat-rover-award/ (ANS thanks Bruce KK5DO, AMSAT Director of Contests & Awards for the above information.)

+ Using IC-705 with SDR-Console v3 for satellite QSOs: Lars Thunberg, SM0TGU has posted some additional “how to” information for IC-705 users: “I have made a small update for my guide about using the IC-705 for satellite QSO with the SDR-Console as control software and receiver. https://www.amsat.se/2021/01/01/working-satellites-with-ic-705-pstrotator-sdr-console/ 73, Lars SM0TGU” Lars has posted a number of good “how-to” blogs on the AMSAT-SM website. (ANS thanks Lars Thunberg, SM0TGU, Webmaster, AMSAT-SM for the above information.)

+ UVSQ-SAT: Transponder active on October 17, 2021 from 12 p.m. UTC to 11 p.m. UTC. The LATMOS team has programmed the UVSQ-SAT satellite to go into transponder mode on Sunday, October 17, 2021 from 12 p.m. UTC. The transponder will be active for 11 consecutive hours. From October 16 at 12:00 UTC, an ASCII message will be broadcast to announce that transponder mode will be activated. More information on the satellite: UVSQsat (amsat-f.org)(ANS thanks Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, for the above information.)

+ Adapter structure with 10 CubeSats installed on top of Artemis moon rocket. Workers at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center have lifted the Orion Stage Adapter on top of the Space Launch System moon rocket, adding the structure housing 10 CubeSat rideshare payloads heading into deep space on the Artemis 1 mission. But three of the CubeSat missions missed their opportunity to fly on the first SLS mission.
NASA has not announced a target launch date for the mission, known as Artemis 1, but it is expected to fly some time in early 2022. The test flight will pave the way for the next SLS/Orion mission, Artemis 2, to carry four astronauts to lunar orbit as soon as 2023. More information available at : https://bit.ly/3FETY0P (ANS thanks Stephen Clark of Spaceflight Now for the above information.)

+ Orbiting between Mars and Jupiter lies a large asteroid, averaging 225 km in diameter (and shaped like a potato! 🥔) and made largely (30-60%) of metal—its size and composition make it unique in our solar system. This is Psyche, a mysterious world full of questions. How was it created? What is the connection between it and the other planets? What does a metal-rich surface look like? Dr. Lindy Elkins-Tanton at Arizona State University, principal investigator of the Psyche mission, leads a team that’s aiming to solve the mystery of how Psyche was created. Scientists suspect that Psyche is a stripped core of a planetesimal: a metal core left floating in space after collisions stripped at least some of the rocky mantle surrounding it. The Psyche mission was selected along with its sister mission Lucy as the 14th mission in NASA’s Discovery program. The Psyche spacecraft is jointly built; its body, the Solar Electric Propulsion chassis, comes from Maxar Technologies, but its brains, the main computer and software, come from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. More at https://bit.ly/3aA7V1G (ANS thanks The Orbital Index for the above information.)

+ AMSAT-EA is already working on the mission of what will be the first satellite of URE (Spain’s national amateur radio society), URESAT-1. The URESAT satellite are based on the experience of the previous GENESIS missions, with the GENESIS-N and GENESIS-L satellites (which were lost due to rocket failure in September), and EASAT-2 and Hades, which are scheduled to launch with SpaceX on January 10 from Cape Canaveral. It is expected that said satellite will incorporate an FM voice repeater, FSK transmissions and some type of on-board experiment, which could be a camera with SSDV transmissions or some type of propellant. (ANS thanks Southgate ARC and Union Radioaficionados Espanoles for the above information)

+ The astronauts who will ride SpaceX’s newest Dragon spaceship into orbit later this month have named their spacecraft “Endurance” as a tribute to the human spirit and a historic sailing vessel used by Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton. The new spacecraft, previously known by serial number “Capsule 210,” is scheduled to launch to the ISS on Oct. 30 carrying Raja Chari, KI5LIU, Tom Marshburn, KE5HOC, Matthias Maurer, KI5KFH, and Kayla Barron, KI5LAL. SpaceX’s first two crew-rated Dragon spaceships were named “Endeavour” and “Resilience” by the astronauts who first flew on them. (ANS thanks Spaceflight Now 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 dot org

ANS-283 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for Oct.10

October 10, 2021 by Mark Johns

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 @ 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:

Four CubeSats Deployed from ISS
Notice of the AMSAT-UK 2021 Annual General Meeting
CubeSat Offers Developers Training Course
ARRL Continues Preservation Efforts for 3 GHz Band
Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for October 7, 2021
ARISS News
Upcoming Satellite Operations
Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
Satellite Shorts From All Over

ANS-283 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 OCT 10

Four CubeSats Deployed from ISS

JAXA announced four CubeSats deploy from ISS on October 6 with J-SSOD. The satellites are Binar-1, Maya-3, Maya-4 and CUAVA-1. All four satellites operate in Amateur Radio bands.

The four CubeSats launched and their descriptions are as follows:

Binar-1
1U CubeSat
Country of Origin: Australia
Downlink: 437.292MHz, 435.810MHz 19k2 GMSK
Uplink: 435.810MHz
http://www.amsatuk.me.uk/iaru/finished_detail.php?serialnum=730
https://www.binarspace.com/

Maya-3, Maya-4
1U CubeSat
Country of Origin: Philippines (Part of the BIRDS Project)
Downlink: 145.825MHz APRS, 437.375MHz CW, 4k8 GMSK
http://www.amsatuk.me.uk/iaru/finished_detail.php?serialnum=711
http://www.amsatuk.me.uk/iaru/finished_detail.php?serialnum=712
https://stamina4space.upd.edu.ph/upcoming-satellites/maya-3and4/

CUAVA-1
3U CubeSat
Country of Origin: Australia
Downlink: 437.075MHz 9k6 GMSK, 2440.000MHz, 5840.000MHz, 76.750GHz high speed
Uplink: 145.875MHz, 2404.000MHz, 5660.000MHz, 76.750MHz
http://www.amsatuk.me.uk/iaru/finished_detail.php?serialnum=671
https://www.cuava.com.au/projects/cuava-1/

[ANS thanks Masahiro Asai, JN1GKZ for the above information.]

Notice of the AMSAT-UK 2021 Annual General Meeting

There will not be an in-person AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium this year. Instead they will be holding an Online Event on Sunday, October 24, 2021. The AMSAT-UK convention will run from 11am BST/10:00 GMT to approximately 5:00pm, with a break for lunch and several short breaks during the day. Persons do not have to be a member of AMSAT-UK to attend, and the event is free of charge. The event will be in the form of a Zoom Webinar. There is no special software to install – a browser plug-in issued by Zoom.

The event will be formally opened by AMSAT-UK Chairman, Martin Sweeting, G3YJO. The complete meeting agenda is as follows:

– Welcome by the Chairman of AMSAT-UK
– Apologies for Absence
– Minutes of the 2020 Annual General Meeting to be read and agreed as a true record
– Chairman’s Report
– Honorable Secretary’s Report
– Treasurer’s Report
– Election of the 2021/2022 Committee
– Any Other Business

Details of the Zoom link will be published on the colloquium web page: https://amsat-uk.org/colloquium/

[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information.]

CubeSat Offers Developers Training Course

Cal Poly CubeSat Laboratory offers a training course that is intended for new CubeSat developers primarily focused on providing participants with a general understanding of a CubeSat’s parts and functions, an introduction to CubeSat design trades, systems engineering processes and basic knowledge of CubeSat testing.

Participants learn about:

– Choosing the correct components for the mission
– Performing trade studies
– Reviewing, understanding, and creating requirements
– Project management
– Necessary licensing
– The different types of launch providers and opportunities
– Typical functional and space environment testing

In addition to advising students in technical engineering work, staff members work closely with the students to teach best practices with regard to project management, as well as general laboratory management. The staff provides continuity for laboratory operations, allowing for smooth transition of institutional knowledge in an environment that has high turnover in the student workforce. Over the course of their careers, CPCL staff members have integrated over 160 CubeSats on 25 missions and 12 different launch vehicles .

Interested parties should contact [email protected] for more information and to schedule a training session for their group.

[ANS thanks Cubesat.org for the above information.]

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ARRL Continues Preservation Efforts for 3 GHz Band

ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, in a written statement on the newly filed H.R.5378 before the US House Commerce Communications and Technology Subcommittee on Wednesday, urged Congress to direct the FCC to preserve amateur radio’s secondary use of the 3-GHz band. Approximately 10 days ago, ARRL became aware of a provision in the $3.5 Billion Budget Reconciliation Bill that would have required that approximately 200 MHz of the 3.1 – 3.45-GHz band be reallocated to the use of 5G vendors.

President Roderick pointed out that in earlier proceedings, the FCC adopted methods to ensure unencumbered spectrum access by primary users while accommodating secondary users on a non-interference basis. “These methods work well and remain effective without complaint in other frequency bands, and also should be applied to the 3 GHz band,” he said.

Primary commercial users “would rarely use all of their licensed spectrum throughout their entire licensed service areas,” President Roderick said. In its recent 3 GHz proceeding, however, the FCC “went beyond merely prohibiting amateur operations in areas and at times when primary Commission licensees might use the spectrum,” ruling instead that all amateur operation in the subband being auctioned must terminate within 90 days of the auction’s close. President Roderick told the FCC that it is not logical for the Commission to leave spectrum unused before licensees start using it.

For the complete story go to tinyurl.com/ANS-283-3GHZ.

[ANS thanks the ARRL for the above information.]

Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for October 7, 2021

Four new cubesats have been deployed from the ISS on October 6. CUAVA-1 has been identified as NORAD Cat ID 49275. The other three remain to be identified. Therefore, the following satellites have been added to this
week’s AMSAT TLE Distribution:
OBJECT SR – NORAD Cat ID 49272 (To be identified)
OBJECT SS – NORAD Cat ID 49273 (To be identified)
OBJECT ST – NORAD Cat ID 49274 (To be identified)
CUAVA-1 – NORAD Cat ID 49275
Thanks to Space-Track and Celestrak for the identifications.

Additionally, four additional cubesats are waiting suitable weather conditions to be placed in orbit by JAXA Epsilon rocket in Japan. The next opportunity will be Friday morning. The satellites are TeikyoSat-4, Z-Sat, KOSEN-1, and NanoDragon.

The following satellites have decayed from orbit and have been removed from the AMSAT TLE Distribution:
Raavana-1 – NORAD Cat ID 44329 (Decay Epoch 10-03-2021)
Uguisu – NORAD Cat ID 44330 (Decay Epoch 10-07-2021)
NepliSat-1 – NORAD Cat ID 44331 (Decay Epoch 10-03-2021)

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

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https://tinyurl.com/ANS-GOLF

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ARISS NEWS

+ Upcoming Contacts

Mary Hare School, Newbury, UK, direct via GB4MHN
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS.
The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz.
The scheduled astronaut is Mark Vande Hei KG5GNP.
Contact is go for Tuesday, October 12, 2021 at 11:12:33 UTC.
Watch for a livestream at: https://live.ariss.org

Ecole Louis Armand, Carquefou, France, Institut Universitaire de Technologie, Carquefou, France, Collège Les Sables D’Or, Thouare Sur Loire, France; direct via F5KEQ/P
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be FXØISS.
The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz.
The scheduled astronaut is Thomas Pesquet KG5FYG.
Contact is go for Wednesday, October 13 at 13:39:19 UTC.

+ Completed Contacts
Lycée Pierre Paul Riquet, St Orens De Gameville, France and CSUT University Space Center of Toulouse, Toulouse, France, Multi-point telebridge via IK1SLD
The ISS callsign was FXØISS.
The downlink frequency was 145.800 MHz.
The astronaut was Thomas Pesquet KG5FYG
Contact was successful on Saturday, October 2, 2021 at 12:40:14 UTC.
Congratulations to the Lycée Pierre Paul Riquet and CSUT University Space Center of Toulouse students and Thomas!

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

+ DM33; October 14-18, 2021
WA8ZID hopes to get some passes on FM birds for the 60th Anniversary of the West Valley ARC in DM33. Not a rare grid but it is a rare call with W7V callsign. A certificate is available for those who are interested.

+ Galapagos Islands; October 26-November 7, 2021
Members of the Tifariti Gang/DX Friends will be active as HD8R from Galapagos Islands (SA-004) between October 26 and November 7, 2021. Activity will include low orbit satellites. Check with K9JKM for details.

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

Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events

+ 2021 AMSAT Dr. Tom Clark, K3IO, Memorial Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting

Due to the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, AMSAT has changed plans for its 39th Annual Symposium and General Meeting from an in-person event to a virtual event. Additionally, the 2021 AMSAT 39th Annual Space Symposium and General Meeting has been renamed in honor of Dr. Tom Clark, K3IO (SK), Director Emeritus and President Emeritus of AMSAT and Amateur Radio satellite pioneer. Clark died on September 28, 2021. He was 82.

AMSAT will host the 2021 AMSAT Dr. Tom Clark, K3IO, Memorial Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting on Zoom for its members on Saturday, October 30,2021 from 9:00am CDT – 5:00pm CDT (UTC-5). The event will be a combination of pre-recorded video segments along with live question and answer sessions.

The 2021 AMSAT Dr. Tom Clark, K3IO, Memorial Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting will be available to the general public on AMSAT’s YouTube channel, https://youtu.be/RTvcceM7Tz0 at no cost.

Tentative Schedule

Questions regarding the Symposium can be directed to info at amsat dot org.

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

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Satellite Shorts From All Over

+ UoSAT-OSCAR-9 (UoSAT-1), developed at the University of Surrey by Martin Sweeting G3YJO and his team, was launched into orbit 40 years ago on October 6, 1981. UoSAT-1 was the first modern microsatellite with in-orbit re-programmable computers and its signals were decoded and analyzed by thousands of radio amateurs, schools & universities around the world. Find out about the audacious favors Sir Martin Sweeting G3YJO called in to get UoSAT-1 off the ground in 1981, and the ingenious hack he used to vibration test it using a car and Guildford High Street! Read the UoSAT-1 story at:
https://www.sstl.co.uk/media-hub/latest-news/2021/the-story-of-uosat-1-ingenuity-teamwork-and-lots-o
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information.]

+ In June this year (2021) the antenna control of the 20-meter antenna at the observatory Bochum was damaged by a heavy lightning strike and had to be repaired. The system was successfully recommissioned at the end of August, including a new fine calibration. On behalf of DLR, the Bochum Observatory and AMSAT-DL are now again supplying space weather data from the STEREO-A spacecraft to NASA and the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC). The successful repair is also due to the team of volunteers of AMSAT-DL and Observatory Bochum. Especially mentioned are Mario DL5MLO, James G3RUH, Thilo DJ5YM, Jens DH6BB, Ralf Höhinghaus and Peter DB2OS.
[ANS thanks AMSAT-DL for the above information.]

+ Satellite swarms are threatening the night sky. Is low-Earth orbit the next great crucible of environmental conflict? Almost overnight, a new arena of environmental conflict has opened up. Astronomers aren’t the only ones who see an existential threat. Environmentalists, amateur stargazers, and Indigenous leaders are working to revive astronomical traditions and see an affront to the planet’s dwindling dark skies, an act as vandalistic as carving initials into a tree trunk—in front of the whole world. Read the entire article, The Fault in Our Stars in Science magazine at tinyurl.com/ANS-283-Stars
[ANS thanks Science.org for the above information.]

+ NOAA announced the appointment of 15 non-government members to the new Space Weather Advisory Group (SWAG). The SWAG was established by Public Law 116-181, the Promoting Research and Observations of Space Weather to Improve the Forecasting of Tomorrow Act of 2020, also known as the PROSWIFT Act. The members were chosen to provide a range of views that represent the span of the space weather community and end-user sectors. The SWAG will receive advice from the academic community, the commercial space weather sector, and nongovernmental space weather end-users to inform the National Science and Technology Council’s Space Weather Operations, Research, and Mitigation (SWORM) Interagency Working Group (IWG). Read the entire article at tinyurl.com/ANS-283-Space-Weather.
[ANS thanks NASA and QRZ.com for the above information.]

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

In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to:

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-276 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for Oct. 3

October 3, 2021 by Paul Stoetzer

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-276

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:

Past AMSAT President and Director, and Amateur Satellite Pioneer Tom Clark, K3IO, SK
2021 AMSAT Space Symposium to Honor the Late Dr. Tom Clark, K3IO
VUCC Awards-Endorsements for October 1, 2021
Call for Papers for the AMSAT Space Symposium
October 1st JAXA Epsilon Launch Carrying Amateur Radio Payloads Scrubbed, Launch Now October 3rd
Apogee View – From the July/August 2021 AMSAT Journal
Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for September 30, 2021
ARISS News
Upcoming Satellite Operations
Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
Satellite Shorts From All Over

ANS-276 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 Oct 3

Past AMSAT President and Director, and Amateur Satellite Pioneer Tom Clark, K3IO, SK

AMSAT-NA Past President and ham radio satellite and digital pioneer Tom Clark, K3IO (ex-W3IWI), of Columbia, Maryland, died on September 28 after a short illness and hospital stay. An ARRL Life Member, he was 82. Clark’s accomplishments are legendary, and he left a lasting footprint in the worlds of amateur radio satellites and digital techniques.

“His long-time technical achievements, mentoring to others, and technical leadership will be missed by his many peers and friends the world over,” said Bob McGwier, N4HY.

To honor Clark, AMSAT has rebranded its upcoming annual gathering as the 2021 AMSAT Dr. Tom Clark, K3IO, Memorial Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting. It will take place on October 30 via Zoom. (AMSAT members may register to attend via AMSAT’s Membership and Event portal.) The event will be livestreamed on AMSAT’s YouTube channel.

A founding member of Tucson Amateur Packet Radio (TAPR), Clark was a co-founder of the TAPR/AMSAT DSP Project, which led to software-defined radio (SDR). He was a leader in the development of the AX.25 packet radio protocol. Clark served as AMSAT’s second President, from 1980 until 1987. He also served on the AMSAT and TAPR Boards.

In concert with McGwier, Clark developed the first amateur Digital Signal Processing (DSP) hardware, including a number of modems. He developed the uplink receivers and the spacecraft LAN (local area network) architecture used on all the Microsats (AMSAT-OSCAR 16, Dove-OSCAR 17, WEBERSAT-OSCAR 18, LUSAT-OSCAR 19, Italy-OSCAR 26, AMRAD-OSCAR 27, and TMSAT-OSCAR 31). McGwier said it was Clark who convinced him in 1985 that the future lay in DSP.

“We started the TAPR/AMSAT DSP [digital signal processing] project, and it was announced in 1987,” McGwier recounted. “We showed in our efforts that small stations with small antennas could bounce signals off the moon, and, using the power of DSP, we could see the signals in our computer displays.” This led to the software-defined transponder (SDX) for satellite work, including ARISSat and AMSAT’s Phase 3E.

Clark received a doctorate in astrogeophysics from the University of Colorado. He went on to serve as Chief of the Astronomy Branch at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center and was a Senior Scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, where he was principal investigator for the Space Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) activity there.

In 2005, Clark became the first non-Russian to be awarded a Gold Medal of the Russian Academy of Sciences for his contributions to the international VLBI network. He is a member of the 2001 class of CQ magazine’s Amateur Radio Hall of Fame.

In 2016, ARRL awarded Clark with its President’s Award, to recognize his 60 years of advancing amateur radio technology. On that occasion, McGwier said, “There would be no AMSAT to inspire all of this work without Tom Clark. Tom…saved the organization and inspired all of us to look to the future and aim for the stars.”

Clark was a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union and the International Association of Geodesy.

[ANS thanks the ARRL for the above information]

2021 AMSAT Space Symposium to Honor the Late Dr. Tom Clark, K3IO

The 2021 AMSAT 39th Annual Space Symposium and General Meeting has been renamed in honor of Dr. Tom Clark, K3IO (SK), Director Emeritus and President Emeritus of AMSAT and Amateur Radio satellite pioneer. Clark died on September 28th. He was 82.

The 2021 AMSAT Dr. Tom Clark, K3IO, Memorial Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting will be held virtually on Zoom on October 30th. AMSAT members may register to attend via AMSAT’s Member Portal, https://launch.amsat.org.

The 2021 AMSAT Dr. Tom Clark, K3IO, Memorial Space Symposium will also be available to the general public as a livestream event on AMSAT’s YouTube channel, https://youtu.be/RTvcceM7Tz0.

Please join us to celebrate the many contributions of Dr. Tom Clark, K3IO, and the exciting opportunities of Amateur Radio in space.

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

VUCC Awards-Endorsements for October 1,2021

Here are the endorsements and new VUCC Satellite Awards issued by the ARRL for the period September 1, 2021 through October 1, 2021. Congratulations to all those who made the list this month!

Congratulations to Douglas Tabor N6UA on achieving the AMSAT GridMaster

CALL Sept. October

K8DP 1262 1275 ex-KD8CAO
N8RO 1105 1111
N0JE 675 681
ND0C 531 555
KF6JOQ 503 553
N4DCW 476 525
VE1VOX 507 510
WA4HFN 454 505
K5TA 479 500
W8LR 479 500
KX9X 302 420
DF2ET 300 400
VE4MM 361 376
EA2AA 346 375
KX9X (EN50) 250 363
KQ4DO 306 353
KA9P 259 301
AD5JK 102 263
KD0ZW New 216
XE2YWH 187 205
VE3KY 182 201
XE1MYO 100 200
N8MR 154 175
DG7RO New 172
KN4ZUJ 100 170
KC1MEB 102 168
N8URE (EL95) 134 163
N0RC 104 151
N1DM New 151
WD9EWK (DM25) New 120
XE2YWH (DL82) New 110
OE7BJT New 107
XE2YWH (DL82) New 105
9M2CQC New 104
JH0BBE New 100
W3VHF New 100
XE2HWB New 100

If you find errors or omissions. please contact me off-list at <mycall>@<mycall>.com and I’ll revise the announcement.This list was developed by comparing the ARRL .pdf listings for the two months. It’s a visual comparison so omissions are possible. 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!

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

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Call for Papers for the AMSAT Space Symposium Proceedings

This is a call for papers for the 2021 AMSAT Dr. Tom Clark, K3IO, Memorial Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting to be held virtually on the weekend of October 29-31, 2021.

Proposals for symposium presentations are invited on any topic of interest to the amateur satellite community. We request a tentative title of your presentation as soon as possible, with final copy submitted by October 18 for inclusion in the symposium proceedings. Abstracts and papers should be sent to Dan Schultz, N8FGV at n8fgv at amsat.org.

[ANS thanks Dan Schultz, N8FGV, for the above information]

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https://tinyurl.com/ANS-GOLF

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October 1st JAXA Epsilon Launch Carrying Amateur Radio Payloads Scrubbed, Launch Now October 3rd

The fifth launch of JAXA’s Epsilon rocket was scheduled to take place on October 1st at 00:51 UTC. Due to ground equipment problems, the launch was scrubbed. The launch is now scheduled to occur at the time of release of this bulletin (00:00 UTC on October 3rd)

This launch carries four amateur radio satellites: TeikyoSat-4(TS-4), Z-Sat, KOSEN-1, and NanoDragon.

Information about these satellites can be found at the links that follow:

TeikyoSat-4(TS-4)
Freq: 437.450 CW
https://spacesystemsociety.jimdofree.com/projects/teikyosat-project/teikyosat-4-info/

Z-Sat
Freq: 145.875MHz CW
https://twitter.com/KOMAKI_AMSATCOM/status/1443125922010308608

Komaki Amateur SATCOM Club has an amateur radio station in Komaki City, Japan.

The 50 kg class infrared observation microsatellite “Z-Sat” developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will be launched by the Epsilon rocket on October 1st.

After satellite separation, Z-Sat will start transmitting CW beacon of VHF band. The beacon signal is in Morse code and contains information such as satellite battery voltage. This information is very important as survival information immediately after the satellite is put into orbit.

Therefore, if you can receive the beacon signal from the satellite immediately after the satellite launch, we would appreciate it if you could report it.

Komaki Amateur SATCOM Club’s twitter is open at the following address: https://twitter.com/KOMAKI_AMSATCOM

Information on Z-Sat transmission frequency, data format, orbit TLE, etc. will be released in the future.

KOSEN-1
Freq: 435.525MHz CW
http://space.kochi-ct.jp/kosen-1

NanoDragon
Freq: 437.365MHz 1.2k BPSK
https://vnsc.org.vn/en/news-events/nanodragon-public-announcement/

[ANS thanks Akira Kaneko, JA1OGZ, and Yasutaka Narusawa, JR2XEA, for the above information]

Apogee View – From the July/August 2021 AMSAT Journal

A Sustained FM Presence in LEO

While our volunteer engineers focus their efforts on GOLF, developing the systems and technologies necessary for our path upward to HEO, we must not forget our responsibility to promote amateur radio satellites and encourage the next generation of operators and builders.

Advancing the art and science is not enough. We also need to provide an easy entry point to amateur radio satellite communications to support of our space education and outreach activities.

The Importance of EasySats

AMSAT’s Echo (AO-51) and Fox-1 (AO-85, AO-91, and AO-92) satellites, as well as SaudiSat-1C (SO-50) have been the most widely used amateur satellites. What makes them so popular is their ability to provide basic radio communications, with very simple ground station equipment, and their ease of use. An FM repeater, even in a low Earth orbit (LEO), allows amateur radio operators to communicate over substantial distances using just a handheld transceiver (an HT) and a small handheld directional antenna. Cross-continental and, if you are lucky enough to live near the coast, transcontinental communications are possible.

These so called “EasySats” have provided countless hours of enjoyment to thousands and thousands of amateur radio satellite operators around the world, making QSOs, chasing grids, and even just a chance to send out a casual hello to an old friend. More importantly, FM satellites are extremely valuable in providing an introduction to satellite communications and often used for demonstrations given at schools and public events.

With AO-85’s battery failure and AO-91 and AO-92 on borrowed time, AMSAT will soon find itself without an FM satellite in space. The time to act is now.

The Proposal

AMSAT’s Strategic Plan, Objective 4.1, FM Operations gives us fairly specific guidance: Develop, deploy, and support a series of 1u spacecraft to support continued FM amateur satellite operations in low Earth orbit. As such, any proposal must include a sustained FM presence in LEO.

The Fox-1 CubeSat series taught us some valuable lessons. First, batteries in in a 1U CubeSat are more likely to have a three-year life span, rather than the expected five years. Keeping battery levels above the minimal voltage rating is critical. The popularity of AMSAT’s FOX-1 series, especially at night, when the satellite was in eclipse, was the primary cause of their shortened battery life. Any proposal must include both battery management and battery failsafe. The design must include provisions that automatically switch the satellite to Low Power Mode (beacon and telemetry only), when the battery voltage drops to a cautionary level, and then automatically return to normal operations, when sufficient battery power is restored. In addition, the satellite must be designed so that when the battery fails, the transponder can continue to operate when the satellite is in sunlight. Similarly, the design should include an autonomous capability so that the FM repeater can operate without relying on ground control or a functioning processor in the command, control, and telemetry module. These safeguards and failsafes should extend the usable life of our satellites.

Second, it is impossible to keep a strict schedule, when relying on a “free ride” under NASA’s Educational Launch of Nanosatellites (ElaNa) initiative. Once accepted into the program and manifested on a launch, you are at the mercy of the launch provider, and things don’t always go as scheduled. Case in point, Fox-1D (AO-92) launched before Fox-1C (AO-95). To ensure the launch of one satellite every three years, we will need to purchase launches. In addition, we need to have a “flight spare” on standby in case there is an integration inspection issue with the primary satellite or a subsequent launch failure.

The Challenges

Every satellite project requires both people and funding. As mentioned already, all of our engineers are consumed by our GOLF program. This leaves us with either open-sourcing the project or purchasing a commercial, off-the-shelf satellite. Open-sourcing would work for the initial design process; however, there is no current precedent to allow the open-source building of a satellite under U.S. Export Administration Regulations (EAR).

While there are many commercial companies that offer complete off-the-shelf 1U CubeSat platforms, only one includes an FM repeater that meets our mission requirements. Purchasing a ready-to-fly CubeSat seems to be our best course of action, given AMSAT engineers’ focus on GOLF, but it comes at a cost.

Two 1U FM CubeSats (flight model and flight spare), a 1U FM CubeSat engineering model (without solar panels) and a 500 KM, Sun-synchronous orbit launch will cost just over $283,000. Each additional launch, one every three years, will cost approximately $138,000, as we would only need to purchase one CubeSat and the launch.

So that leaves us with the big question – How are we going to pay for it? An FM satellite provides a world-wide benefit. Therefore, we need to conduct an international fundraising campaign, partner with other AMSAT organizations, and request funding from other organizations.

The benefits of providing a sustained FM presence in LEO to promote and support amateur radio in space far outweighs the costs, especially when we implement a plan that allows our AMSAT engineers to continue their efforts on our path Onward & Upward.

If approved by our Board of Directors, I hope you will support us.

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

Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for September 30, 2021

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

CUTE – NORAD Cat ID 49263 (Thanks to Nico Janssen, PA0DLO for the identification. Downlink frequencies of 437.24997 MHz and 2402.000 MHz have been IARU coordinated.)

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

ARISS News

Lycée Pierre Paul Riquet, St Orens De Gameville, France and CSUT University Space Center of Toulouse, Toulouse, France, Multi-point telebridge via IK1SLD

The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be FXØISS
The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz
The scheduled astronaut is Thomas Pesquet KG5FYG

Contact is go for: Sat 2021-10-02 12:40:14 UTC 34 deg

Watch for Livestream at www.ariotti.com and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sgl8lELDcgA

Columbus Module radios:
IORS (Kenwood D710GA) – STATUS – Configured. Supporting cross band repeater (145.990 MHz up {PL 67} & 437.800 MHz down). Next mode change is to packet operation (145.825 MHz up & down) after the school contact on October 2.
Power down for upcoming Soyuz docking on Oct. 05. Turning OFF Oct. 05 about 07:45 UTC. Back ON Oct. 05 about 18:50 UTC
Power down for upcoming Soyuz undocking on Oct. 17.
Power down for upcoming Progress relocate on Oct. 22-23.
Supporting USOS scheduled voice contacts, packet and voice repeater ops.

Service Module radios:
Kenwood D710E – STATUS – Radio usually off.
Power down for upcoming Soyuz docking on Oct. 05. Turning OFF Oct. 05 about 07:45 UTC.
Power down for upcoming Soyuz undocking on Oct. 17.
Power down for upcoming Progress relocate on Oct. 22-23.
Supporting ROS scheduled voice contacts and SSTV.

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

K8BL: I’ll be going back to FN01, 02 & EN92 soon. Looking to do FN14 this Fall.

N4DCW: Looking like I’ll be in EM90 all next week 10/3-10

N4DCW: Sunday, Oct 3, 2021 – EM85 Sat passes 1230Z-1400Z W4C/CM-036, Max Patch Mountain (8 pts) *Little/No cell coverage*

VY0ERC in Nunavut (ER60) will be returning to the air between October 12, 2021 and November 22, 2021, weather permitting.

[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.

2021 Wyoming ARRL Section Convention – Saturday, October 9, 2021

Event Center at Archer
3921 Archer Pkwy
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82007

https://wyhamcon.org/site

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

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Satellite Shorts From All Over

+ JARL has released the FO-29 operation schedule for September. It can be found at https://www.jarl.org/Japanese/3_Fuji/fuji3-202108.htm

+ JAMSAT has released the FO-99 operation schedule for October. It can be found at https://www.jamsat.or.jp/?p=1627

+ Congratulations to Doug Tabor, N6UA, on receiving the 34th AMSAT GridMaster Award. The GridMaster Award is issued to amateurs who work and confirm QSOs via satellite with all 488 grid squares in the continental United States. More information at https://www.amsat.org/gridmaster/ (Thanks Bruce Paige, KK5DO, AMSAT Director of Contests and Awards)

+ An acrylic GridMaster desk plaque is now available on the AMSAT store for GridMaster Award recipients. https://www.amsat.org/product/amsat-gridmaster-acrylic-desk-plaque/

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

In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to:

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

ANS-269 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for Sep. 26

September 26, 2021 by Mark Johns

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:

Virtual AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting – Oct. 30, 2021
UVSQ-SAT FM repeater ON September 26
Temporary Shutdown of AO-92 and FalconSat-3
ARISS Seeks Hosts for Ham Radio Contacts with Space Station Crew
Proposal to Ban All 300-2000 MHz Transmissions on Far Side of the Moon
FO-29 Operation Schedule for October 2021
Space Station Crew to Relocate Soyuz
ARISS News
Upcoming Satellite Operations
Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
Satellite Shorts From All Over

ANS-269 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 Sept 26

Virtual AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting – Oct. 30, 2021

Due to the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, AMSAT has changed plans for its 39th Annual Symposium and General Meeting from an in-person event to a virtual event.

The 2021 AMSAT Virtual Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting will be available to the general public on AMSAT’s YouTube channel, https://youtu.be/RTvcceM7Tz0 at no cost.

Tentative Schedule

Questions regarding the Symposium can be directed to info at amsat dot org.

[ANS thanks the Symposium organizers for the above information]

UVSQ-SAT FM repeater ON September 26

The LATMOS team has programmed the UVSQ-SAT satellite to go into transponder mode on Sunday, September 26, 2021 starting at 12:00 UTC. The transponder will be active for 11 consecutive hours.

From September 25th 12:00 UTC, an ASCII message will be broadcast to announce that the transponder mode will be activated. To decode the message, you can use the UVSQ-SAT Decoder software: ApplicationUVSQsatDecoder/src/site/markdown/UserManual.md · 21-ecr-uvsqsat · xtof / JOSAST · GitLab (electrolab.fr)

Frequencies used :

Telemetry :
437.020 MHz – BPSK – GR3UH 9k6
FM Transponder :
Uplink frequency: 145.905 MHz
Downlink frequency: 437.020 MHz

More information on the satellite: UVSQsat (amsat-f.org) and project : UVSQ-SAT (ipsl.fr)

[ANS thanks Christophe Mercier, Président AMSAT-Francophone, for the above information]

Temporary Shutdown of AO-92 and FalconSat-3

AO-92 has started to change its behavior after a number of weeks powered on. In particular, the IHU has come back on and switched to safe mode. This is likely due to low voltage during eclipse when it should be drawing very little if no one uses it.

N8MH also reports that he is turning off FalconSat’s transmitter for a while due to low voltage.

The AMSAT Ops team is going to shut both down for a while in hopes they will recover.

AO-91 still seems to be ok!

[ANS thanks Burns Fisher, WB1FJ, AMSAT Engineering Team, for the above information]

ARISS Seeks Hosts for Ham Radio Contacts with Space Station Crew

Starting on October 1, Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) will accept applications from US schools, museums, science centers, and community youth organizations — individually or working together — interested in hosting amateur radio contacts with crew members on the International Space Station (ISS). Contacts will be scheduled between July 1 and December 31, 2022. Crew scheduling and ISS orbits will determine the exact contact dates. ARISS is looking for organizations that will draw a sizeable number of participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed education plan.

The deadline to submit is November 24. Proposal information and more details, including expectations, proposal guidelines, and a proposal form are on the ARISS-US website. An ARISS introductory webinar session will be on October 7 at 8 PM ET (2400 UTC). Sign up via Eventbrite.

Each year, ARISS provides tens of thousands of students with opportunities to learn about space technologies and communications through amateur radio. Crew members aboard the International Space Station (ISS) will participate in scheduled amateur radio contacts. These contacts are approximately 10 minutes long and allow students to interact with the astronaut through a question-and-answer session.

The program offers learning opportunities by connecting students to orbiting astronauts through a partnership that includes ARRL, AMSAT, and NASA, as well as other amateur radio organizations, and space agencies in Russia, Canada, Japan, and Europe. The program’s goal is to inspire students to pursue interests and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and Amateur Radio.

“Educators overwhelmingly report that student participation in the ARISS program stimulates interest in STEM subjects and in STEM careers,” ARISS said in announcing the contact opportunities. ARISS says enthusiasm sparked by a school contact also may lead to an interest in ham radio among students and to the creation of ham radio clubs in schools. Some educators have even become radio amateurs after experiencing a contact with an ISS crew member.

ARISS is celebrating 20 years of continuous amateur radio operations on the ISS. Contact ARISS-US for additional information.

[ANS thanks ARISS and ARRL for the above information]

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Proposal to Ban All 300-2000 MHz Transmissions on Far Side of the Moon

Discussions about spectrum allocation, familiar to amateurs and to Global Navigation Satellite Systems designers and manufacturers on Earth, are now taking place regarding the lunar environment.

The online journal, “Inside GNSS” reports on the proposal to ban all radio transmissions between 300 MHz and 2000 MHz in the area designated the Shielded Zone of the Moon (SZM), this would also be applicable to Mars.

The spectrum would instead be used for radio astronomy operations, this would mean the Amateur Satellite Service allocations at 435 MHz and 1260 MHz would no longer be available to spacecraft in Lunar orbit such as Lunar-OSCAR 93 and Lunar-OSCAR 94 (Longjiang-1 and 2), see https://amsat-uk.org/2018/05/19/dslwp-satellites-lunar-orbit/

The Inside GNSS story says: The Space Frequency Coordination Group (SFCG) also has defined frequency bands allocated in the lunar region. These Radio Regulation and Recommendations therefore apply to the lunar GNSS frequencies, since a GNSS system made of lunar orbiters will cover all the far side of the Moon, and therefore must not create harmful interference on future radio astronomy observations in that zone.

The ITU Radio Regulation defines the SZM as follows: “The shielded zone of the Moon comprises the area of the Moon’s surface and an adjacent volume of space which are shielded from emissions originating within a distance of 100,000 km from the center of the Earth”. Because Mars is regularly in the SZM, the specific Radio Regulation protecting radio astronomy in the SZM is therefore also applicable to Mars.

Read the full story at https://insidegnss.com/the-shielded-zone-of-the-moon-protecting-radio-astronomy-from-rf-interference/

[ANS thanks Southgate ARC for the above information]

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https://tinyurl.com/ANS-GOLF

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FO-29 Operation Schedule for October 2021

JAMSAT has announced the following FO-29 operation schedule for October 2021. The satellite will be switched on while over Japan on the following dates and times (UTC). The transponder will remain on until the satellite’s low voltage safety trigger shuts it down. Thus, the transponder may or may not be active by the time the satellite is over North America or other areas of the globe.

2 00:40- 10:58- 12:42- 23:45-
3 10:00- 11:45-
8 23:30-
9 09:48- 11:33-
10 00:20- 10:38- 12:23-
16 00:05- 10:23- 12:07- 23:10-
17 11:14- 12:57-
23 00:41- 10:58- 23:45-
24 10:03- 11:48-
29 23:31-
30 09:47- 11:33-

Source: https://www.jarl.org/Japanese/3_Fuji/fuji3-202108.htm

[ANS thanks Hideo Kambayashi, JH3XCU, for the above information]

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Space Station Crew to Relocate Soyuz

Three residents of the International Space Station will take a short ride aboard a Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft Tuesday, Sept. 28, relocating the spacecraft to prepare for the arrival of the next set of station crew members. [Amateurs should be aware that all amateur radio operations aboard the ISS are switched off during docking and space walk operations — Ed.]

Expedition 65 flight engineers Mark Vande Hei, KG5GNP, of NASA and Oleg Novitskiy and Pyotr Dubrov of the Russian Space Agency Roscosmos will undock from the station’s Earth-facing Rassvet module at 1221z. They will dock again at the Nauka Multipurpose Laboratory Module at 1300z This will be the first time a spacecraft has attached to the new Nauka module, which arrived at the station in July.

Live coverage of the maneuver will begin at 1200z on NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency’s website.

The relocation will free the Rassvet port for the docking of another Soyuz spacecraft, designated Soyuz MS-19, which will carry three Russian crew members to the station in October. Soyuz commander and cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos and spaceflight participants Klim Shipenko and Yulia Peresild are scheduled to launch to the station Tuesday, Oct. 5, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

This will be the 20th Soyuz port relocation in station history and the first since March 2021.

Vande Hei and Dubrov are scheduled to remain aboard the station until March 2022. At the time of his return, Vande Hei will have set the record for the longest single spaceflight for an American. Novitskiy, Shipenko, and Peresild are scheduled to return to Earth in October aboard the Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft.

[ANS thanks NASA for the above information]

ARISS NEWS

A contact was successfully completed on Tuesday, Sept. 21 at 18:05z between astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, KE5DNI, and Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC, via a multi-point telebridge through IK1SLD. Congratulations to the Children’s National Hospital students and Akihiko!

Another contact was successfully completed on Friday, Sept. 24 at 10:43z between astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, KE5DNI, and SPDW Voortrekker Movement, Oranjeville, South Africa, direct via ZS9SPD. Congratulations to the SPDW Voortrekker Movement students and Akihiko!

A contact is scheduled for Monday, 2021-09-27 at 08:55z with Amur State University, Blagoveshchensk, Russia, direct via TBD. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS, and the scheduled Cosmonaut is Pyotr Dubrov.

A contact is scheduled for Saturday, 2021-10-02 at 12:40z with Lycée Pierre Paul Riquet, St Orens De Gameville, France and CSUT University Space Center of Toulouse, Toulouse, France. This will be a multi-point telebridge via IK1SLD. The ISS callsign is presently TBD, and the scheduled astronaut is Thomas Pesquet, KG5FYG.

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

K8BL will be going back to FN01, 02 & EN92 soon. He is looking to do FN14 this Fall.

2M0SQL will be operating as GB2KDR at the Keith and Dufftown Heritage Railway at Dufftown Railway Station (IO87) as part of Railways on the Air (https://rota.barac.org.uk/) on Saturday and Sunday, September 25 & 26. He expects to be on LEO Linear and FM sats throughout the weekend will try to announce pass info on Twitter @2m0sql

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

[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 will host its 2021 AMSAT Virtual Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting on Zoom for its members on Saturday, October 30 from 9:00am CDT – 5:00pm CDT (UTC-5). [See complete article above.]

AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events.

AMSAT Exhibit at 2021 Radio Expo
Sunday, September 26, 2021
Boone County Fairgrounds
Belvidere, Illinois
http://www.chicagofmclub.org/

2021 Wyoming ARRL Section Convention
Saturday, October 9, 2021
Event Center at Archer
3921 Archer Pkwy
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82007
https://wyhamcon.org/site

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

Satellite Shorts From All Over

+ Peter Goodhall, 2M0SQL, in IO87jp, and Dana Rushton, VE1VOX, in FN85ii set a new QSO Distance Record for UVSQ-SAT of 4,224 km Sept. 12, 2021 at 13:22z. Also, Bernd Scholer, DL6IAN, in JN49gb90, and Joe Werth, KE9AJ, in EN50fn57, set a new AO-7 Mode A QSO Distance Record of 7,248 km on Sept. 17, 2021 at 17:44z. Congratulations! (ANS thanks Dana Rushton, VE1VOX, and Peter Goodhall, 2M0SQL, for the above information)

+ NASA invites learners of all ages, including students and teachers who recently returned to the classroom environment, to register for a special event ahead of the upcoming launch of the James Webb Space Telescope. Webb STEAM Day: A Learning Journey Together is a virtual, interactive event that will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EDT on Thursday, Sept. 30. Register at: https://go.nasa.gov/WebbSTEAMDay (ANS thanks NASA for the above information)

+ Three Chinese astronauts safely returned to Earth on Friday, Sept. 17 after completing the first crewed mission aboard the Tianhe space station module. Commander Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo touched down inside the designated landing zone near Dongfeng in the Gobi Desert, Inner Mongolia, at around 05:34z. The Beijing Aerospace Flight Control Center declared the Shenzhou-12 a “complete success.” (ANS thanks SpaceNews.com for the above information)

+ UK stations must have Electromagnetic Field (EMF) assessments in place for operation above 110 MHz from 18th November 2021. Some RSGB guidance on EMF is here: https://rsgb.org/main/technical/emc/emf-exposure/ (ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information)

+ The head of NASA’s space operations division said this week an unpiloted test flight of Boeing’s Starliner crew capsule to the International Space Station, delayed from August by valve problems, will likely not launch until next year. Boeing’s Starliner test flight was supposed to launch last month to the International Space Station on a final demonstration of the crew capsule before it flies with astronauts. But managers scrubbed a launch attempt Aug. 3 after some of the valves inside the Starliner service module failed to open during a pre-flight checkout. (ANS thanks SpaceFlightNow.com for the above information)

+ A SpaceX Dragon cargo resupply spacecraft filled with more than 4,600 pounds of supplies and valuable scientific experiments bound for NASA’s Space Station Processing Facility is set to leave the International Space Station on Thursday, Sept. 30. NASA Television, the agency’s website, and the NASA app will broadcast the spacecraft’s departure live, beginning at 12:45z (8:45 a.m. EDT). (ANS thanks NASA for the above information)

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

In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to:

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