AMSAT News

Fox-1D to launch with Fox-1C on Spaceflight SHERPA 1Q 2016

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In response to a breaking opportunity, AMSAT and Spaceflight, Inc. have arranged for Fox-1D to accompany Fox-1Cliff on the maiden flight of the SHERPA system on a SpaceX Falcon 9. As a Fox-1 series, Fox-1D is identical to Fox-1Cliff, but with different frequencies and carrying the University of Iowa HERCI (High Energy Radiation CubeSat Instrument) radiation mapping experiment as a hosted payload. Fox-1D will provide additional selectable U/V or L/V repeater capabilities once in orbit, and will be capable of downlinking Earth images from the Virginia Tech camera experiment. Launch is currently planned for the first quarter of 2016. Additional donor support is needed to offset the costs associated with the launch of Fox-1D in addition to Fox-1Cliff. Please visit www.amsat.org to donate support this launch, and help keep amateur radio in space.




Fox1-Cliff LogoFox-1D LogoSHERPA-Q3-2015

RadFXSat/Fox-1B Launch Opportunity Announcement November 2016

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AMSAT has been notified by Scott Higginbotham, Mission Manager for ELaNa-12 (Fox-1A launch) and ELaNa-14 (RadFxSat/Fox-1B launch) in NASA’s Launch Services Program at Kennedy Space Center, “The ELaNa-14 CubeSat complement is scheduled to fly along with NOAA’s JPSS-1 spacecraft on a Delta II that will be launching from VAFB on November 15, 2016. Due to a number of CubeSats recently dropping off of the manifest for this flight, a door has been opened, and it is my pleasure to inform you that your respective CubeSats (RadFXSat, GoldenEagle-1, EagleSat, and MiRaTA) have all been
officially added to the manifest.”

AMSAT will begin working with Tyvak, the CubeSat Dispenser and Dispenser Integration Contractor for this flight. Additional news regarding the schedule milestones toward meeting launch requirements will be released as more information becomes available.

In a message sent to AMSAT Vice President Engineering, Jerry Buxton, N0JY, Higginbotham concluded, “Congratulations and welcome aboard!”

             Planned Frequencies for the Fox-1 FM Series Cubesats

                  Uplink FM (67 Hz tone)      Downlink FM
                ----------------------------    -----------
Fox-1A            435.180 MHz                   145.980 MHz
RadFxSat/Fox-1B * 435.250 MHz                   145.960 MHz
Fox-1C*           435.300 MHz/1267.300 MHz **   145.920 MHz
Fox-1D*           435.350 MHz/1267.350 MHz **   145.880 MHz

* Pending IARU Coordination, Changes will be announced
** Switchable by command station, not operational simultaneously

Download the Fox-1A Operating Guide

AMSAT-NA Board of Directors Election Ballots in the Mail

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Ballots have been mailed to AMSAT-NA members in good standing, and must be received at the AMSAT-NA office by 15 SEP 2015 in order to be counted. Those sent outside North America were sent by air mail. If you have not received your ballot package in a reasonable time for your QTH, please contact the AMSAT-NA office. Your completed ballot should be returned as promptly as possible, and those from outside North American preferably by air mail or other expedited means.

This year there are eight Board candidates:

Barry Baines, WD4ASW
Jerry Buxton, N0JY
Steve Coy, K8UD
Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA
Mark Hammond, N8MH
EMike McCardel, KC8YLD
Bob McGwier, N4HY
Bruce Paige, KK5DO

The four candidates receiving the highest number of votes will be seated as voting Board Members with two year terms. The two candidates receiving the next highest number of votes will serve as non-voting Alternate Board Members with terms of one year. Please vote for no more than four candidates.

Election of Board members is both a responsibility as well as an opportunity by our membership to help shape the future direction of AMSAT-NA. Please take the time to review the candidate statements that accompany the ballot and determine who you wish to see on the Board.