ANS

ANS-225 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

by

In this edition:

* AM1SAT Satellite Contest, September 2023
* Registration Open for 41st Annual AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting
* International AMSAT Conferences Taking Place
* Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution
* SpaceX Crew 8 Mission to Include Three U.S. Radio Amateurs
* ARISS News
* Upcoming Satellite Operations
* Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
* Satellite Shorts From All Over

The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites.

The news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it.

Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor [at] amsat.org

You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/

ANS-225 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

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

DATE 2023 Aug 13

AM1SAT Satellite Contest, September 2023

AMSAT-EA will be on the air on all available satellites with the callsigns AM1SAT and AM2023SAT from September 4th to 17th, 2023 to celebrate the fourth edition of the AM1SAT trophy contest as part of the URE activities within the IberRadio 2023 event, the largest one in the world of amateur radio in Spain and Portugal (http://www.iberradio.es), and which will open its doors during the weekend of 16-17 in Avila, a city near Madrid, capital of Spain.

The AMSAT-EA operators will activate the aforementioned callsigns from the different states and autonomous cities of Spain during the said period of time and with the objective in this edition to promote contacts with the maximum number of them.

As part of this activity and to encourage participation, SILVER and GOLD diplomas will be available for the different modalities of satellites according to their footprint and orbital height, LEO, MEO (IO-117 satellite) and GEO (QO-100 satellite), as well as a trophy for the station that works the greatest number of states in the total number of available satellites and another trophy for the one that contacts the greatest number of states on the satellite with the largest footprint and coverage (in this case, IO-117). These trophies will be physically sent at no cost to the winners.

The third edition of the AM1SAT satellite contest, in 2021, finished with 1327 QSOs including GEO and LEO contacts, with 57 different radio-countries, using 20 satellites and with the participation of 419 different competitors (callsigns).

Full rules can be found here:
https://www.amsat-ea.org/app/download/13570625/AM1SAT+CONTEST+2023+-+RULES.pdf

[ANS thanks Félix Páez, EA4GQS, AMSAT-EA President, for the above information]

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


To commemorate the 40th anniversary of its launch
on June 16, 1983, this year’s coin features
an image of AMSAT-OSCAR 10.
Join the AMSAT President’s Club today and help
Keep Amateur Radio in Space!
https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/
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Registration Open for 41st Annual AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting

The 41st Annual AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting will be held on Friday through Saturday, October 20-21, 2023 at the Sheraton DFW Airport Hotel in Irving, Texas. Highlights of all scheduled events include:

– AMSAT Board of Directors Meeting, October 19-20
– 41st AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting, October 20-21
– Friday Night Social and Auction, October 20
– AMSAT Banquet and Reception, October 21
– AMSAT Member Breakfast, October 22

Prices for the Symposium, the Banquet and the Member Breakfast remain the same as last year:

– Friday and Saturday Symposium and General Meeting $75
– Saturday Evening Banquet $55
– Sunday Morning Member Breakfast $15

EVENT REGISTRATION
You can register online for individual events or all events at: https://launch.amsat.org/event-5363188.

HOTEL ROOM RESERVATIONS
The Sheraton DFW Airport is located adjacent to the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and provides complimentary, scheduled shuttle to and from the airport. Complimentary parking is available for those who drive to the Symposium. The hotel address and phone number is:

Sheraton DFW Airport Hotel
4440 W John Carpenter Fwy.
Irving, TX 75063
972-929-8400

Rooms are available for check-in on Wednesday, October 18 and check out Sunday, October 22.

– Standard room with single King bed is **SOLD OUT** ACT FAST! GET YOUR RESERVATIONS NOW!
– Standard room with two Queen beds is $137.00*

* Rate does not include state and local taxes of 15%

For Phone Hotel Reservations:
Call 972-929-8400. Ask for rate RADIO AMATEUR SATELLITE.

For Online Hotel Reservations click on this link: https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1689956666782&key=GRP&app=resvlink

Please send your Symposium questions or comments to info [at] amsat [dot] com.

We, at AMSAT, are excited to be able to host our 41st annual Symposium this year. We hope that you can join us in celebrating Amateur Radio in Space.

[ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information.]

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

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International AMSAT Conferences Taking Place

+ AMSAT-UK is pleased to announce that the 2023 Colloquium will take place alongside the RSGB Convention at Kents Hill Park Conference Centre, Milton Keynes on the weekend of 14/15th October 2023.

Full details of the Colloquium will be made available nearer the time on the AMSAT-UK website at https://amsat-uk.org As in previous years, the AMSAT-UK Colloquium will run as a separate stream within the RSGB Convention and will include presentations on a variety of satellite and space related topics.

Entrance to the RSGB Convention is managed by the RSGB and you will be required to purchase Day Tickets for the Saturday and/or Sunday to attend the AMSAT-UK Colloquium. These can be booked via the RSGB website at https://rsgb.org/main/rsgb-2023-convention/ Early bird discounts are being offered by the RSGB via their website.

+ AMSAT-DL was founded in 1973, so this year we can look back on 50 years of space exploration. We have taken this as an opportunity to put this year’s symposium in a special setting. Ticket sales are now available at https://shop.amsat-dl.org/. The festive conference and symposium will be held Friday, September 15 to Sunday, September 17, 2023.

With a view to the 50-year history of AMSAT-Germany and its mission of promoting amateur radio via satellites, the celebratory conference “From OSCAR 10 to OSCAR 100: 50 years of AMSAT-DL in service to science, research and education” will take place at the Bochum Observatory radome. Accomodations are limited, and the booking of the overnight stays is only possible via the AMSAT-DL store. See https://amsat-dl.org/en/ticket-sales-festive-conference-50-years-amsat-dl/ for more information.

[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK and AMSAT-DL 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 August 11

Two Line Elements or TLEs, often referred to as Keplerian elements or keps in the amateur community, are the inputs to the SGP4 standard mathematical model of spacecraft orbits used by most amateur tracking programs. Weekly updates are completely adequate for most amateur satellites. Elements in the TLE bulletin files are updated daily. TLE bulletin files are updated to add or remove satellites as necessary Thursday evenings around 2300 UTC, or more frequently if new high interest satellites are launched. More information may be found at https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/

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

ATHENOXAT-1 NORAD Cat ID 41168 decayed from orbit on 8 August 2023

[ANS thanks Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager for the above information]

SpaceX Crew 8 Mission to Include Three U.S. Radio Amateurs

Four crew members now are assigned to launch on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission for a long-duration stay aboard the International Space Station. NASA made the announcement on August 4.

NASA astronauts Commander Matthew Dominick, KC0TOR; Pilot Michael Barratt, KD5MIJ; and Mission Specialist Jeanette Epps, KF5QNU; along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Mission Specialist Alexander Grebenkin, will join Expedition 70 and 71 crew members aboard the station in early 2024 to conduct a wide-ranging set of operational and research activities.

This will be the first spaceflight for Dominick, who became a NASA astronaut in 2017. He is from Wheat Ridge, Colorado, and earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of San Diego, California, and a master’s in systems engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. He is an active-duty U.S. Navy astronaut. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in Patuxent River, Maryland, and then served as a test pilot specializing in testing landing on and catapult launches from U.S. Navy aircraft carriers.

This will be Barratt’s third trip to the space station. In 2009, Barratt served as a flight engineer for Expeditions 19 and 20 as the station transitioned its standard crew complement from three to six, and performed two spacewalks. He flew aboard the space shuttle Discovery in 2011 on STS-133, which delivered the Permanent Multipurpose Module and fourth Express Logistics Carrier. He has spent a total of 212 days in space. Born in Vancouver, Washington, he Considers Camas, Washington, to be his hometown. Barratt earned a bachelor’s in zoology from the University of Washington, Seattle, and a doctor of medicine from Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois. He completed residencies in internal medicine at Northwestern and aerospace medicine along with a master’s degree at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. After nine years as a NASA flight surgeon and project physician, Barratt joined the astronaut corps in 2000.

This also will be Epps’ first trip to the space station. She is from Syracuse, New York, and earned a bachelor’s in physics from LeMoyne College in Syracuse, New York, and a master’s in science and a doctorate in aerospace engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park. Prior to joining NASA, she worked at Ford Motor Company and the Central Intelligence Agency. She was selected as an astronaut in July 2009, and has served on the Generic Joint Operation Panel working on space station crew efficiency, as a crew support astronaut for two expeditions, and as lead capsule communicator in the Mission Control Center at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Epps previously was assigned to NASA’s Boeing Starliner-1 mission. NASA reassigned Epps to allow Boeing time to complete development of Starliner while also continuing plans for astronauts to gain spaceflight experience for future mission needs.

Grebenkin, who graduated from Irkutsk High Military Aviation School, Irkutsk, Russia, majoring in engineering, maintenance, and repair of aircraft radio navigation systems, also is flying on his first mission. He graduated from Moscow Technical University of Communications and Informatics with a degree in radio communications, broadcasting, and television.

This is the eighth rotational mission to the space station under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, which works with the American aerospace industry to provide safe, reliable, and cost-effective transportation to and from the orbital outpost on American-made rockets and spacecraft launching from American soil.

[ANS thanks NASA and ARISS for the above information]

ARISS NEWS

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

No contacts are currently scheduled due to summer school holidays.

The crossband repeater continues to be active (145.990 MHz up {PL 67} & 437.800 MHz down). If any crewmember is so inclined, all they have to do is pick up the microphone, raise the volume up, and talk on the crossband repeater. So give a listen, you just never know.

The packet system is also active (145.825 MHz up & down).

As always, if there is an EVA, a docking, or an undocking; the ARISS radios are turned off as part of the safety protocol.

Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time.

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

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

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

Upcoming Satellite Operations

Lyle, WB7VUF will be in CN73 –and possibly CN83- 12th-13th Aug. Email or DM for skeds.

Phillipe, EA4NF will be QRV as KE4NF from EL94 10th-13th Aug; then EL95 21st-22nd Aug. Pass details as they become available.

Nina, DL2GRC, and family will do a 2 weeks Iceland holiday. Operations can be expected between August 18th to 30th. Please keep in mind, it will be a family holiday and no DX-pedition. Look out for TF/DL4BEN, TF/DL8SCU and TF/DL2GRC.

[ANS thanks Ian Parsons, K5ZM, AMSAT rover page manager, for the above information]

Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events

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

+ Huntsville Hamfest
August 19 & 20, 2023
Von Braun Center South Hall
700 Monroe St SW, Huntsville, AL 35801
More information at: https://hamfest.org/

+ Northeast HamXposition and ARRL New England Division Convention
August 25-27, 2023
Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel
Marlboro, MA
More information at: https://hamxposition.org/

+ 41st AMSAT Space Symposium & Annual General Meeting
October 20-21, 2023
Sheraton DFW Airport Hotel
4440 W John Carpenter Fwy, Irving, TX 75063
More information at: https://launch.amsat.org/event-5363188

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

Satellite Shorts From All Over

+ Crew members who will soon fly aboard NASA’s SpaceX Crew-7 mission will enter quarantine Friday in one of the major milestones before they head to the launch site in Florida to start their mission to the International Space Station. The process of flight crew health stabilization is a routine part of final preparations for all missions to the space station. Spending the final two weeks before liftoff in quarantine will help ensure Crew-7 members are healthy, as well as protect the astronauts already on the space station. Commander Jasmin Moghbeli, KI5WSL; Danish ESA pilot Andreas Mogensen, KG5GCZ; JAXA mission specialist Satoshi Furukawa, KE5DAW; and cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov are now scheduled to launch to the International Space Station on August 25. (ANS thanks NASA for the above information)

+ Two Russian Cosmonauts conducted a spacewalk on August 9 Wednesday to to attach three debris shields to the Rassvet module on the International Space Station. Cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin also tested the sturdiness of a work platform that will be affixed to the end of the European robotic arm attached to the Nauka multipurpose laboratory module. NASA livestreamed the seven hour spacewalk on YouTube, its website and on the NASA app. As always, ARISS amateur radio operations were suspended during the EVA. (ANS thanks Space Daily for the above information)

+ Russia reignited its moon exploration program on August 10, sending a lander toward Earth’s nearest neighbor. The Luna-25 mission lifted off at 23:10 GMT after being delayed for nearly two years. The launch picked up where the former Soviet Union left off in 1976, when Luna-24 successfully delivered about 6.2 ounces (170 grams) of moon samples to Earth. But that was then. Luna-25 is the first domestically produced moon probe in modern Russian history. If all goes according to plan, Luna-25 will spend the next five days journeying to the moon, then circle the natural satellite for another five to seven days. The spacecraft will then set down in the moon’s south polar region, near Boguslawsky Crater. Once down safe and sound, Luna-25 will work on the lunar surface for at least one Earth year. (ANS thanks Space.com for the above information)

+ Also in the race to land on the moon, India’s Chandrayaan-3 lunar lander has returned its first images from the moon after entering orbit around our nearest neighbor. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) released the images on Sunday, August 6, showing that the spacecraft had reached its destination ahead of a lunar landing attempt expected on Aug. 23. If it’s successful, India will join the United States, the former Soviet Union and China as the only nations to perform a soft lunar landing. (ANS thanks Space.com for the above information)

+ Virgin Galactic conducted its second-ever commercial mission on August 10, setting a number of spaceflight records in the process. The company launched its “Galactic 02” flight, sending six people to suborbital space and back. Four of them were women, setting a new mark for most women on a single spaceflight, according to Virgin Galactic. They included the first mother-daughter duo (one of whom became the youngest-ever spaceflyer), as well as the first former Olympian, to reach space. (ANS thanks Space.com for the above information)

 

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

In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to:

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

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

73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space!

This week’s ANS Editor, Mark Johns, KØJM
k0jm [at] amsat.org

ANS-218 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

by

In this edition:

* Registration Open for 41st Annual AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting
* AMSAT at Huntsville Hamfest August 19-20, 2023
* IARU Coordinates Two Digipeating Satellites
* VUCC Satellite Standing August 2023
* Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for August 4, 2023
* ARISS News
* Upcoming Satellite Operations
* Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
* Satellite Shorts From All Over

The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites.

The news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it.

Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor [at] amsat.org

You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/

ANS-218 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

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

DATE 2023 Aug 06

Registration Open for 41st Annual AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting

The 41st Annual AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting will be held on Friday through Saturday, October 20-21, 2023 at the Sheraton DFW Airport Hotel in Irving, Texas. Highlights of all scheduled events include:

– AMSAT Board of Directors Meeting, October 19-20
– 41st AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting, October 20-21
– Friday Night Social and Auction, October 20
– AMSAT Banquet and Reception, October 21
– AMSAT Member Breakfast, October 22

Prices for the Symposium, the Banquet and the Member Breakfast remain the same as last year:

– Friday and Saturday Symposium and General Meeting $75
– Saturday Evening Banquet $55
– Sunday Morning Member Breakfast $15

EVENT REGISTRATION
You can register online for individual events or all events at: https://launch.amsat.org/event-5363188.

HOTEL ROOM RESERVATIONS
The Sheraton DFW Airport is located adjacent to the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and provides complimentary, scheduled shuttle to and from the airport. Complimentary parking is available for those who drive to the Symposium. The hotel address and phone number is:

Sheraton DFW Airport Hotel
4440 W John Carpenter Fwy.
Irving, TX 75063
972-929-8400

Rooms are available for check-in on Wednesday, October 18 and check out Sunday, October 22.

– Standard room with single King bed is $137.00*
– Standard room with two Queen beds is $137.00*

* Rate does not include state and local taxes of 15%

For Phone Hotel Reservations:
Call 972-929-8400. Ask for rate RADIO AMATEUR SATELLITE.

For Online Hotel Reservations click on this link: https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1689956666782&key=GRP&app=resvlink

Please send your Symposium questions or comments to info [at] amsat [dot] com.

We, at AMSAT, are excited to be able to host our 41st annual Symposium this year. We hope that you can join us in celebrating Amateur Radio in Space.

[ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information.]

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


To commemorate the 40th anniversary of its launch
on June 16, 1983, this year’s coin features
an image of AMSAT-OSCAR 10.
Join the AMSAT President’s Club today and help
Keep Amateur Radio in Space!
https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/
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AMSAT at Huntsville Hamfest August 19-20, 2023

Planning to attend the Huntsville Hamfest later this month? Be sure to find the AMSAT folks and say “Hello!” Attending the Hamfest will be AMSAT President Robert Bankston, KE4AL. Robert will be pleased to share the latest news about the progress on major programs such as the Fox-Plus series of LEO satellites and the GOLF series of HEO satellites.

Robert should have an assortment of antennas and AMSAT bling available. Thinking of joining AMSAT or do you need to renew your membership? You can take care of that at Huntsville, too.

The Huntsville Hamvention will be held August 19-20, 2023 at the Von Braun Center South Hall, 700 Monroe St SW, Huntsville, AL 35801.

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

IARU Coordinates Two Digipeating Satellites

The IARU has recently coordinated frequencies for two European digipeating satellites scheduled for launch later in 2023.

+ Veronika
From the Technical University of Kosice, Veronika is a 1U CubeSat scheduled for launch on a Falcon 9 launcher on the Transporter 9 mission in October 2023. The satellite will be equipped with a 24/7 digipeater on two different bands, as well as experimental SSDV transmissions.

The satellite also has an education and outreach mission in that it is planned to involve Slovak grammar and high schools and to transmit special CW and AX.25 messages on several special occasions. From a platform perspective, the satellite will be equipped with a novel ADCS subsystem, including electromagnetic actuators and a GNSS receiver. This will also help to identify the satellite during the first days and weeks. The satellite will communicate o using Spacemanic’s well-known Murgas transceivers (BDSat-1, BDSat-2, Planetum-1).

Altogether, Veronika will provide: AX.25 telemetry; a CW beacon; a digipeater; AX.25 & CW messages on special occasions for community engagement; Experimental SSDV transmissions; and SATNOGS integration, decoder and dashboard. A downlink on 436.680 MHz has been coordinated and will use 9k6 G3RUH AX.25 and a CW beacon. Planning a SpaceX launch on Transporter 9 mission in Q4 2023 to a 500/600km polar orbit . More info at https://om3ksi.tuke.sk/en/home/.

+ ROM-3
From the Romanian Radioamateur Federation, ROM-3 is a 50 x 50 x100mm picosat with three missions and objectives. Its primary mission is to act as a digital amateur radio repeater. Its secondary mission is to transmit low-resolution SSDV images in a GFSK Mode. The tertiary mission is to transmit a CW beacon that will help amateur radio operators detect the presence of the satellite and measure basic properties of the signals such as its strength, fading due to spin, Doppler to measure speed, etc. A downlink on 436.235 MHz has been coordinated for 20 wpm CW, 500bps GFSK telemetry and 5kbps GFSK SSDV. Planning a SpaceX launch in October or November 2023 into a 500km polar orbit. More info at https://rom-space.ro/.

[ANS thanks the IARU for the above information.]

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

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VUCC Satellite Standing August 2023

VUCC Satellite Award/Endorsement Change Summary for July 01, 2023 to August 01, 2023.

CallsignJulyAugust
AA5PK13241350
N8RO13171323
N0JE950975
PS8ET726925
F4BKV800900
DF2ET752862
KN2K750804
EA2AA756778
KQ4DO710750
WD9EWK (DM43)727734
AF5CC644646
FG8OJ600635
XE1MYO525575
N8MR528557
VE4MM508536
A65BR436455
IK7FMQ304426
AB1OC371400
K8BL297300
PA7RA299300
N3CAL247270
N6PAZ241247
W7BMD100208
ZS2BK176186
JE2UFF158185
KB9DAK164171
AG4WNew161
N9XGNew151
JI1SIENew107

Congratulations to the new VUCC holders.
AG4W is first VUCC Satellite holder from EM64

[ANS thanks Jon Goering, N7AZ, 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

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

Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for August 4, 2023

Two Line Elements or TLEs, often referred to as Keplerian elements or keps in the amateur community, are the inputs to the SGP4 standard mathematical model of spacecraft orbits used by most amateur tracking programs. Weekly updates are completely adequate for most amateur satellites. Elements in the TLE bulletin files are updated daily. TLE bulletin files are updated to add or remove satellites as necessary Thursday evenings around 2300 UTC, or more frequently if new high interest satellites are launched. More information may be found at https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/

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

Shaonian Xing NORAD Cat ID 43199 decayed from orbit on 30 July 2023
FIREBIRD FU3 NORAD Cat ID 40377 decayed from orbit on 31 July 2023
FIREBIRD FU4 NORAD Cat ID 40378 decayed from orbit on 01 August 2023

[ANS thanks Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager for the above information.]

ARISS NEWS

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

+ Completed Contacts
Baltasi airfield school in the Baltasinsky district of the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, direct via RC4P.
The ISS callsign was RSØISS.
The crewmember was Andrei Fedyaev .
The ARISS mentor was RV3DR.
Contact was successful on Sunday, July 30, 2023 at 14:02 UTC.

Mohammad Bin Rashid Space Centre, Dubai, UAE, direct via A68MBR.
The ISS callsign was OR4ISS.
The crewmember was Al Neyadi, KI5VTV.
The ARISS mentor was ON6TI.
Contact was successful on Monday, July 31, 2023 at 08:16 UTC.

Karasuyama Residents Center, Setagaya, Japan, direct via JA1ZSH.
The ISS callsign was OR4ISS.
The crewmember was Sultan Al Neyadi, KI5VTV.
The ARISS mentor was 7M3TJZ.
Contact was successful on Thursday, August 3, 2023 at 09:26 UTC.

The crossband repeater continues to be active (145.990 MHz up {PL 67} & 437.800 MHz down). If any crewmember is so inclined, all they have to do is pick up the microphone, raise the volume up, and talk on the crossband repeater. So give a listen, you just never know.

The packet system is also active (145.825 MHz up & down).

As always, if there is an EVA, a docking, or an undocking; the ARISS radios are turned off as part of the safety protocol.

Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time.

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

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

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

Upcoming Satellite Operations

EN67 & EN56; August 4-12, 2023
N8MR will be in EN57 roving to EN67 and EN56 August 4–12. Mike says to listening for DX. He prefers linear satellites. Skeds posted via
@GridMasterHeat Sked depends on wx, etc. All QSOs to LoTW using N8MR (no /p, /r).

FK87 & FK88; August 6, 2023
FG8OJ, Burt will begin his Caribbean rove of FJ/PJ6/FS and PJ7 on August 6. Additional info will be available on hams.at.

[ANS thanks Ian Parsons, K5ZM, AMSAT Rover Page Manager, for the above information.]

Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events

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

+ Small Satellite Conference
August 5-10, 2023
Utah State University, Logan, UT
More information at: https://smallsat.org/

+ Huntsville Hamfest
August 19 & 20, 2023
Von Braun Center South Hall
700 Monroe St SW, Huntsville, AL 35801
More information at: https://hamfest.org/

+ Northeast HamXposition and ARRL New England Division Convention
August 25-27, 2023
Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel
Marlboro, MA
More information at: https://hamxposition.org/

+ 41st AMSAT Space Symposium & Annual General Meeting
October 20-21, 2023
Sheraton DFW Airport Hotel
4440 W John Carpenter Fwy, Irving, TX 75063
More information at: https://launch.amsat.org/event-5363188

Satellite Shorts From All Over

+ Scott Tilley, VE7TIL, is tracking Chandrayan 3, India’s lunar lander in its highly eccentric orbit. Follow him live at https://www.youtube.com/live/UYJ1x9NUYTU?feature=share [ANS thanks Ashhar Farhan, VU2ESE, for the above information.]

+ SpaceX launched the world’s heaviest commercial communications satellite atop a Falcon Heavy rocket on Friday. The triple-core rocket lifted off from Kennedy Space Center’s pad 39A with the Jupiter 3/EchoStar 24 satellite at 11:04 p.m. EDT. The booster carried EchoStar’s Jupiter-3 (EchoStar-24) communications satellite, which weighs in at over 9,000 kg (198,416 lb.). It is the largest communication satellite ever launched to geostationary orbit. Jupiter-3, which was built by Maxar Technologies, will support Internet connectivity across North and South America, in-flight Wi-Fi, community Wi-Fi services, maritime connections, enterprise networks, and backhaul for mobile network operators. [ANS thanks parabolicarc.com for the above information.]

+ Voyager 2 has reestablished communication with Earth and is operating normally. NASA’s long-running Voyager 2 mission, which launched from Earth in 1977 and is currently about 12.4 billion miles from Earth, lost contact with our planet after a set of commands accidentally moved Voyager 2’s antenna two degrees away from Earth on July 28. A “heartbeat” signal was picked up on Tuesday, August 1. according to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), letting mission controllers know the probe was still healthy despite being unable to communicate fully with it. Voyager 2 is programmed to automatically reset its orientation a few times a year in case of troubles like this, but the next window would have been in October. On Friday, August 4, JPL announced in a mission update that NASA’s Deep Space Network facility in Canberra, Australia was able to send a command into interstellar space that reoriented the spacecraft and pointed its antenna back towards Earth. Mission controllers had to wait 37 hours to learn if the command was successful. And it was. “The spacecraft began returning science and telemetry data, indicating it is operating normally and that it remains on its expected trajectory,” JPL said in the statement. [ANS thanks space.com for the above information.]

+ The ISS briefly lost communication with ground control due to a power outage at Johnson Space Center and had to use its backup control systems for the first time. A power outage at NASA’s building in Houston disrupted communication between mission control and the International Space Station (ISS) on Tuesday, July 25. Space station program manager Joel Montalbano said neither the astronauts nor station were ever in any danger and that backup control systems took over to restore normal communications within 90 minutes. “It wasn’t an issue on board. That was purely a ground problem,” he said. “At no time was the crew or the vehicle in any danger.” [ANS thanks The Orbital Index and The Guardian for the above information.]

+ The U.S. House of Representatives rejected a satellite spectrum licensing reform bill after House Science Committee leadership did not want to grant the FCC authority to regulate space debris/traffic management, since, in their opinion, doing so would divert from its primary responsibility of spectrum allocation. [ANS thanks The Orbital Index for the above information.]

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

In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to:

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

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

73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space!

This week’s ANS Editor, Frank Karnauskas, N1UW
n1uw [at] amsat [dot] org

ANS-204 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for Jul. 23

by
In this edition:
* AMSAT 41st Annual Symposium & Annual Meeting Rooms Now Available
* EO-88 (Nayif-1) Reenters
* URESAT-1 Update
* May/June 2023 Edition of The AMSAT Journal Now Available
* Special ARISS SSTV Experiment Scheduled for ARRL Teacher’s Institute
* Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for July 20, 2023
* ARISS News
* Upcoming Satellite Operations
* Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
* Satellite Shorts From All Over
The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites.
The news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it.
Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor [at] amsat.org
You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/
ANS-204 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
To: All RADIO AMATEURS
From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation
712 H Street NE, Suite 1653
Washington, DC 20002
DATE 2023 July 23

AMSAT 41st Annual Symposium & Annual Meeting Rooms Now Available

Planning on attending the AMSAT 41st Annual Symposium and General Meeting in Dallas/Ft. Worth on October 20-21?  Of course you are! Rooms at the discounted group rate are now available.  We suggest you make your reservations right away because only a limited number of rooms are available. The hotel and room rate information is as follows:
Sheraton DFW Airport Hotel
4440 W John Carpenter Fwy.
Irving, TX 75063
972-929-8400
Rooms are available for check-in on Wednesday, October 18 and check out Sunday, October 22.
Standard room with single King bed is $137.00*
Standard room with two Queen beds is $137.00*
* Rate does not include state and local taxes of 15%
For Phone Reservations:
972-929-8400
Ask for rate RADIO AMATEUR SATELLITE.
For Online Reservations:
(Make sure you enter the dates you want before clicking on the “Check Availability” button.
The hotel is conveniently located at the DFW International Airport for those flying to the event.  The hotel offers free parking for those driving.
If you have questions or comments, please send your email to info [at] amsat [dot] org.
[ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information]
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
   
   The 2023 AMSAT President’s Club coins are here now! 
    To commemorate the 40th anniversary of its launch 
on June 16, 1983, this year’s coin features 
an image of AMSAT-OSCAR 10. 
  Join the AMSAT President’s Club today and help 
Keep Amateur Radio in Space! 
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EO-88 (Nayif-1) Reenters

EO-88, with its 70cm to 2m linear transponder, having spent a trouble free 6 years and 5 months in space, finally re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere and burned up on Tuesday, 18th July. Having originally been launched into a 500km orbit, EO-88 has reduced in altitude rapidly over the past year due to the increased level of solar activity.
Remarkably, some of the last frames of telemetry were captured as the 1U CubeSat passed over the South Western United States. The final 90 seconds show a rapid rise in temperature across all the satellites sub systems. The last frame of data was captured by David WB0IZO in New Mexico at 18:18:54 UTC showing the antenna temperatures operating about 40 degrees above normal.
During the past 2 weeks, 86 stations have contributed EO-88 telemetry to the FUNcube Data Warehouse and this has given us the opportunity to study the behaviour of a functioning CubeSat as it makes its return from Space. Thank you all for your support.
Having provided the last frame of data, David WB0IZO, wins the telemetry section of the AMSAT-UK re-entry competition and will receive a framed certificate of achievement.
The prediction for the date and time of re-entry was very close with Paul N8HM predicting the 17th July and Larry N1MIW calculating the 21st. However, the winning entry was made by Thomas HB9SKA who correctly predicted the 18th July. Thomas also wins a framed certificate.
RIP EO-88. GOODBYE AND THANKS FOR THE FUN!
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information]

URESAT-1 Update

This is an update about our satellite URESAT-1, launched with SpaceX on June 12th (Transporter-8 mission from Vanderberg) and using Alba Orbital as our space broker. First of all, URESAT-1 is a small pocketQube 1.5P (8x5x5 cm), much smaller than a Cubesat.
The satellite was expelled from the D-Orbit Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV) ION ten days after the launch, on June 22th at 12.10 UTC, along with MRC-100 and ROM-2 satellites. Soon after, using the OTV TLE available for pointing, signals from MRC-100 and ROM-2 were received but not ours… This made us think we again had a problem with the deployment of the antennas.
Fortunately Daniel EA4GPZ could receive the URESAT-1 on June 26th using the ATA radio telescope at 22.03 UTC. The pattern of the transmissions matched and, using the IQs from the two antennas used, with two polarities, we could decodify telemetry, showing that the satellite was performing well with no resets or events. The battery was almost fully charged but the antennas were not deployed, as it was shown in the status packet received. We worked hard to improve the deployment system from our previous satellites but something hasn’t gone well again. Satellite seems to be cold even in sunlight but we performed tests using temperatures as low as 20 C below zero so this should not be a problem…
Doing a lot of analysis (after the ATA observation we found that our satellite was 20-30 seconds ahead of MRC-100)  and with a lot of help from the Satnogs thread regarding that launch, we managed to conclude that our satellite should be NORAD object 56992.
The team at Dwingeloo radio telescope on Netherlands has confirmed this with several observations these days
Using the IQs of these recordings (available here https://data.camras.nl/satnogs/) we have been able to decode new telemetry, CW and even a SSTV image from the satellite image bank. After more than three weeks in orbit the satellite is performing well and we hope that the antennas will deploy at some moment.
The plan now is sending the satellite commands to try to deploy the antennas, although we are going to need a lot of power because the received signal without a proper antenna will be low. If you have a powerful station for transmitting on VHF and want to help us, please let me know.
We want to thank Daniel EA4GPZ, the ATA radio telescope, PE0SAT, the Dwingeloo staff, especially Tammo Jan, and Satnogs staff for their kind help in identifying the URESAT and the reception of their signals. It has provided very valuable data on the status of the satellite.
Decoded telemetry, CW and the SSTV image is available in our web (sorry, it is in spanish) and also in the Satnogs thread about the Transporter-8 mission:
[ANS thanks Félix Páez, EA4GQS, AMSAT-EA President for the above information]
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        Need new satellite antennas? Purchase an M2 LEO-Pack
        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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May/June 2023 Edition of The AMSAT Journal Now Available

The May/June 2023 edition of The AMSAT Journal is now available to AMSAT members on the AMSAT Member Portal (https://launch.amsat.org/The_AMSAT_Journal).
The AMSAT Journal is a bi-monthly digital magazine for amateur radio in space enthusiasts, published by the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT). Each issue is your source for hardware and software projects, technical tips, STEM initiatives, operational activities, and news from around the world. Join AMSAT today at launch.amsat.org to get immediate access to the latest issue and archived issues of The AMSAT Journal.
Inside this issue:
* Apogee View – Robert Bankston, KE4AL
* Educational Relations Update – Alan Johnston, KU2Y
* Engineering Update – Jerry Buxton, N0JY
* 2023 AMSAT Board of Directors Election
* Interview with CubeSatSim Builder Bruce Semple, WA3SWJ – Paul Graveline, K1YUB
* A Satellite Etiquette Primer – Keith Baker, KB1SF/VA3KSF
* IO-117 Antenna Testing – Dave Fisher, KG0D

[ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information]

Special ARISS SSTV Experiment Scheduled for ARRL Teacher’s Institute

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) in collaboration with the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), plan to carry out a special Slow Scan TV (SSTV) experiment from the ISS on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. During the event, the Columbus Module Repeater, transmitting at 437.800 MHz, will carry a message to be received by teachers attending the ARRL Teacher’s Institute class. The pass will be over the Mid-Atlantic / New England area with transmissions scheduled to begin at 20:05 UTC (16:05 ET) and ending at 20:20 UTC (16:20 ET). If necessary, a backup window will be 21:40 UTC (17:40 ET) to 21:55 UTC (17:55 ET).
Radio enthusiasts are welcome to download the message and follow along with the event, but we ask that all hams please refrain from using the repeater for voice contacts during the event.
Please understand this is a special experiment conducted through ARISS and the ARRL. All regular operation of the repeater should continue to take place in voice mode only.
Check ARISS Social Media for any updates.
[ANS thanks ARISS 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
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Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for July 20, 2023

Two Line Elements or TLEs, often referred to as Keplerian elements or keps in the amateur community, are the inputs to the SGP4 standard mathematical model of spacecraft orbits used by most amateur tracking programs. Weekly updates are completely adequate for most amateur satellites. TLE bulletin files are updated Thursday evenings around 2300 UTC, or more frequently if new high interest satellites are launched. More information may be found at https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/
The following satellites have been added to this week’s AMSAT-NA TLE distribution:
CUbeBel 2 (EU11S) NORAD Cat ID 57175 IARU Coordinated Frequency: 436.99 MHz.
(Thanks to Nico Janssen, PA0DLO for identification)
URESAT-1 NORAD Cat ID 56992 IARU Coodinated Frequency: 436.888 MHz
(Thanks to Felix Paez, EA4GQS AMSAT EA President for identification)
The follwing satellite has decayed from orbit and has been removed from this week’s AMSAT-NA TLE distribution:
EO-88 (Nayif 1)  NORAD Cat ID 42017 “[R]e entered over North America.    The last frame of data was provided by WB0IZO in NM” according to David Bowman G0MRF AMSAT-UK
[ANS thanks Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager, for the above information] 

ARISS News

Amateurs and others around the world may listen in on contacts between amateurs operating in schools and allowing students to interact with astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station. The downlink frequency on which to listen is 145.800 MHz worldwide.
Quick list of scheduled contacts and events:
Mohammad Bin Rashid Space Centre, Dubai, UAE, direct via A68MBR
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS
The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz
The scheduled crewmember is Sultan Al Neyadi KI5VTV
The ARISS mentor is ON6TI
Contact is go for: Thu 2023-07-27 09:57:42 UTC 88 deg
The crossband repeater continues to be active.  If any crewmember is so inclined, all they have to do is pick up the microphone, raise the volume up, and talk on the crossband repeater.  So give a listen, you just never know.
Comments on making general contacts
I have been seeing a lot of traffic on Facebook and I suspect on other social media sites with people asking why they are not hearing the crew make general contacts.  First off the crew is very busy on the ISS and they simply may not have the time to just pick up the microphone and talk.  Also, one needs to be aware of their normal daily schedule.  I have listed below the constraints that we at ARISS have to follow in order to schedule the school contacts.  Hopefully this will help you better schedule your opportunities.
Typical daily schedule
Wakeup to Workday start= 1.5 hours
Workday start to Workday end=12 hours
Workday end to Sleep= 2 hours
Sleep to wakeup= 8.5 hours
The crew’s usual waking period is 0730 – 1930 UTC. The most common times to find a crew member making casual periods are about one hour after waking and before sleeping, when they have personal time. They’re usually free most of the weekend, as well.
SSTV events are not that often.  So please check out https://www.ariss.org/ for the latest information or watch for the ARISS announcements.
And don’t forget that the packet system is active.
As always, if there is an EVA, a docking, or an undocking; the ARISS radios are turned off as part of the safety protocol.
ARISS Radio Status
Columbus Module radios:
IORS (Kenwood D710GA) – STATUS – Configured. Default mode is for cross band repeater (145.990 MHz up {PL 67} & 437.800 MHz down).
* SPECIAL SSTV experiment July 26, 2023. Transmissions are scheduled to begin at 20:05 UTC (16:05 ET) and ending at 20:20 UTC (16:20 ET). If necessary, a backup window will be 21:40 UTC (17:40 ET) to 21:55 UTC (17:55 ET). Requesting a clear uplink during this time frame.
* Powering off for Russian EVA on Aug. 09.
* Capable of supporting USOS scheduled voice contacts, packet and voice repeater ops.
Service Module radios:
IORS (Kenwood D710GA) – STATUS – Configured. Default mode is fo packet operations (145.825 MHz up & down)
* Powering off for Russian EVA on Aug. 09. OFF TBD . ON TBD.
* Capable of supporting ROS scheduled voice contacts, packet, SSTV and voice repeater ops.
The latest information on the operation mode can be found at  https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html
The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html
[ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors for the above information]

Upcoming Satellite Operations

From David, N9KT:
I’ll be at the Philmont Scout Ranch activating DM76 on all the satellites from July 19-28 using voice and digital. I’ll be doing demonstrations and training for Radio Merit Badge and hope to be very active on the birds every day. (Ed: David doesn’t appear to be active on Twitter. I’ve suggested hams.at as an outlet for more detailed info as the date(s) draw closer.)
I’ll also be trying to activate some grids on the trip out (July 17-18) and back (July 29-30) between Indianapolis and the Philmont Scout Ranch.
BI1NJI will be QRV as BI1NJI/3 from ON83 24th through 27th July. FM and IO-117. This is all I know at the moment. He does do Twitter (@YankaiP) and has said that details will follow.
[ANS thanks Ian Parsons, K5ZM, AMSAT rover page manager, for the above information]

Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events

AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events.
+ Small Satellite Conference
August 5-10, 2023
Utah State University, Logan, UT
More information at: https://smallsat.org/
+Northeast HamXposition and ARRL New England Division Convention
August 25-27, 2023
Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel
Marlboro, MA
+ 41st AMSAT Space Symposium & Annual General Meeting
October 20-21, 2023
Sheraton DFW Airport Hotel
4440 W John Carpenter Fwy, Irving, TX 75063
AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events.
AMSAT Ambassador Clint Bradford, K6LCS, says,
“Think a 75-minute presentation on “working the easy satellites” would be appropriate for your club or event? Let me know by emailing me at k6lcsclint (at) gmail (dot) com or calling me at 909-999-SATS (7287)!”
Clint has NEVER given the exact same show twice: EACH of the 150+ presentations so far has been customized/tailored to their audiences.
[ANS thanks Clint Bradford, K6LCS, and AMSAT for the above information]

Satellite Shorts From All Over

+ From Bruce Paige, KK5DO, (kk5do at arrl.net) “July 25 at 11:59pm is the deadline to get your summary sheets to be scored for this years AMSAT Field Day. I have received very few scores and even fewer pictures this year. Even if you have already submitted your entry, drop me a picture or two with a description.”
+ Philippine cubesats May-5 and Maya-6 have been deployed. The satellites were launched to the International Space Station on June 5 aboard the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) Small Satellite Orbital Deployer-26, and were released from the ISS on July 19. The primary mission of Maya-5 and Maya-6 CubeSats is to provide digital message relay service to the amateur radio community by means of an APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System) digipeater onboard. The APRS digipeater onboard the CubeSats will use 145.825 MHz for both receive and transmit. Another mission of the cubesats is to demonstrate a data/message store-and-forward (S&F) system in line with the Universal Amateur Radio Text and E-mail messaging. The CubeSats will also carry Commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) cameras which will take images of the participating countries from space for promotional and educational awareness. A downlink on 437.375 MHz and APRS activities on 145.825 MHz have been coordinated. (ANS thanks The Philippine Daily Inquirer and IARU for the above information)
+ The Order of Malta’s Italian Relief Corps (CISOM) Amateur Radio Station – 1A0C will be activated from July 26th to August 2nd at the Magistral Villa on the Aventine (Rome). The Sovereign Military Order of Malta is a separate DXCC entity. Satellite operations are expected on LEO satellites and QO-100. Details to follow (ANS thanks the 1A0C team for the above information)
+ The Sun’s activity is defying forecasts and highlighting how difficult it is to predict the machinations of Earth’s nearest star. Space weather can shorten the lifespans of satellites, cause radio blackouts and, in extreme solar storms, bring down power grids. Predictions from 2020 suggested the Sun would reach the peak of its 11-year solar cycle in 2025, and its intensity would be on par with the last cycle. But current observations show its activity could now peak as early as 2024. The current cycle is also on track to be more extreme, with more solar flares, sunspots and activity than the previous one, though not as big as others on record. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is planning to fly two new instruments to space that should help them keep an eye on the Sun in the coming years. A Sun-focused instrument is slated to launch on the GOES-U weather satellite next year, and another instrument will fly in 2025. (ANS thanks Axios Space for the above information)
+ Congratulations to Joel Weiner, VE6WQ, the 60th recipient of the AMSAT GridMaster Award.
The AMSAT GridMaster is awarded to those operators who confirm QSOs with all 488 maidenhead grid squares located within the continental United States. https://www.amsat.org/gridmaster/ (ANS thanks Bruce Paige, KK5DO, AMSAT Director of Contests and Awards 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, 
Paul Stoetzer, N8HM
n8hm [at] amsat.org

ANS-197 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

by

In this edition:

* AMSAT Board of Directors Voting Has Begun
* Youth on the Air Camp 2023 To Be On Satellites
* HABGab and StratoScience Balloon Launch
* Space Shuttle Remembered
* Historical Space Tour Before Orlando Hamcation
* Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution
* ARISS-USA Seeks for Director of Education
* ARISS News
* Upcoming Satellite Operations
* Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
* Satellite Shorts From All Over

The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites.

The news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it.

Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor [at] amsat.org

You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/

ANS-197 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

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

DATE 2023 July 16

AMSAT Board of Directors Voting Has Begun

AMSAT members may access the 2023 Board of Directors election information and balloting now. Candidate statements can be reviewed by voting members via AMSAT’s Wild Apricot membership portal. An email with a link to the electronic ballot was sent to all AMSAT members when the voting opened on July 15th.

The nomination period for the 2023 Board of Directors Election ended on June 15, 2023. The following candidates have been duly nominated:

Barry Baines, WD4ASW
Jerry Buxton, N0JY
Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA
Zach Metzinger, N0ZGO
Frank Karnauskas, N1UW

As four seats on the Board of Directors are up for election this year, four of these candidates will be seated on the Board, along with one alternate when the voting period concludes on September 15th.

To view the candidate statements members may go to https://launch.amsat.org/ and log in using their usual member credentials. Those who need assistance with the login should see the document at https://bit.ly/44LOXPV

[ANS thanks Jeff Davis, KE9V, AMSAT Secretary, for the above information]

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


To commemorate the 40th anniversary of its launch
on June 16, 1983, this year’s coin features
an image of AMSAT-OSCAR 10.
Join the AMSAT President’s Club today and help
Keep Amateur Radio in Space!
https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/
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Youth on the Air Camp 2023 To Be On Satellites

Youth on the Air (YOTA), the camp for young amateur radio operators in North, Central and South America, will operate special event station VE3YOTA while camp is in session from July 16-21, 2023. The camp will also have a contact with an astronaut aboard the International Space Station, and complete a Parks on the Air (POTA) activation. The camp’s opening and closing ceremonies will also be streamed on YouTube.

Campers will be operating special event station VE3YOTA from the camp at Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and the Diefenbunker Cold War Museum in Carp, Ontario, Canada. Additionally, campers will activate a two-for-one POTA location.

Activation of the VE3YOTA callsign will begin on Sunday, July 16 and conclude at 2 p.m. on Friday, July 21. Youth will operate the station as they finish projects, between sessions, and during free time.

In addition, dedicated HF station operating times will be: Monday, July 17 through Wednesday, July 19 from 2300Z to 0230Z (7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. EDT). Dedicated satellite station operating time will be: Wednesday, July 19 from 1400Z to 1700Z (10 a.m. to 1 p.m. EDT).

Fifteen QRP stations will activate a two-for-one POTA location, Central Experimental Farm National Historic Site (VE-5095) and Rideau Canal National Historic Site (VE-4882) on 40m, 20m, 15m, and 10m. Weather permitting, the activation will be on the air on Tuesday, July 18 from 1900Z to 2100Z (3 p.m. to 5 p.m. EDT) and Thursday, July 20 from 1300Z to 1600Z (9 a.m. to noon EDT).

The opening and closing ceremonies and the International Space Station contact will be streamed live on the Youth on the Air YouTube channel. The opening ceremony is Sunday, July 16 from 2100Z to 2315Z, and will feature keynote speaker Phil McBride, VA3QR, the president of Radio Amateurs of Canada. The ARISS contact is currently scheduled to take place on Tuesday, July 18 at 1842Z (2:42 p.m. EDT). The closing ceremony is Friday, July 21 from 1500Z to 1600Z (11 a.m. to noon EDT). The channel will also feature a daily highlight video spotlighting the activities of the previous day.

For details about the camp, visit http://YouthOnTheAir.org

For additional information, please contact Camp Director Neil Rapp, WB9VPG at [email protected].

[ANS thanks Frank Karnauskas, N1UW, and YOTA for the above information]

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HABGab and StratoScience Balloon Launch

HABGab 2023 is a special event for the ham radio community in New England taking place in the Summer of 2023. Attached to a 2000g weather balloon will be suspended three payloads:

+ One will contain a crossband UHF/VHF repeater, built from two linked Baofeng BF-F8HP HTs. This repeater will act as a 2-3 hr. one-time event for hams around New England. Anyone with a ham radio license is invited to try calling into the repeater during the flight.

+ To make it even more exciting, the second payload will transmit live video of the flight from two cameras. The camera feed and repeater audio will be streamed live on YouTube from New England Sci-Tech.

+ The third payload will contain a number of science and engineering experiments from middle school students at New England Sci-Tech and Franklin’s BFCCPS school as part of a new program called StratoScience Lab.

Each weekend starting in July will be a new potential opportunity for flight, however, much depends on good weather and wind patterns. Current launch date set for Sunday, July 16. Please check https://nescitech.org/clubs/newbs/habgab-launch/ regularly as the launch date approaches to get an up to date countdown. High altitude balloon flights can be frequently scrubbed many times before finally launching.

During the flight, the balloon’s real-time position will be available online at https://amateur.sondehub.org under the callsign W1U. The repeater’s frequencies are currently set to:
Uplink (your transmit): 146.55 MHz
Downlink (your receive): 446.05 MHz
When calling in, listen for the W1U station operator then try to making a contact! Please have your four character Maidenhead grid location for the contact exchange. If your contact is confirmed, you will receive a special event QSL card for HABGab 2023!

The HABGab and StratoScience payloads will have several ham radio trackers aboard, which provide live position and altitude data to ground stations. These ground stations post this data to the internet in real time. This means you can view the position of the payload at any time during the flight by visiting this website, https://amateur.sondehub.org/, navigating to Massachusetts, and looking for these callsigns:
W1U – Main payload (transmitted by repurposed RS-41 radiosonde)
W1U-15 – Main payload (transmitted by custom-built APRS transmitter)
W0MXX-15 – Autorotation device. A small, unpowered helicopter that will separate from main payload at 81,000 feet and descend to the ground using autorotation. Tracker is a LightAPRS module.
KC1SFR-11 – Glider that will separate from main payload at 80,000 feet and glide back to the ground. It will also deploy a parachute at roughly 3,000 feet.

Also onboard will be a U4B Pico tracker being tested by KC1OAV in preparation for a circumnavigation flight to happen at a later date. This can be tracked separately at http://qrp-labs.com/tracking.html under the name NESciTech1.

HABGab 2023 has been made possible thanks to a grant from the Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL).

[ANS thanks Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, and New England Sci-Tech for the above information]

Space Shuttle Remembered

Saturday, July 8 marked the 12th anniversary of the last Space Shuttle mission. Ham astronauts operated amateur radio in space on a number of shuttle missions, providing many with their first opportunity to contact an astronaut in space — an opportunity still actively pursued today through Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS).

Over three decades, the five NASA space shuttles were launched on 135 flights to orbit. The shuttles collectively traveled more than 537 million miles and spent more than three and half years in orbit.

* 355 people flew aboard the shuttles, including Sally Ride, the first American woman to fly to space. Her first mission was aboard the Challenger in 1983.

* Missions averaged about 10 days, with the shortest at 2 days, 6 hours and the longest 17 days, 15 hours.

* Mission objective included building the International Space Station, carrying large satellites to space and maintaining equipment like the Hubble Space Telescope. Ten missions remain classified, with little to no information publicly available.

Ultimately, the fatalities on Challenger in 1986 and Columbia in 2003 helped bring about the end of the Shuttle program. The investigation in the loss of Columbia concluded that safety improvements would be costly. The program was shut down after construction on the ISS was complete.

[ANS thanks Axios Space for the above information]

Historical Space Tour Before Orlando Hamcation

Sadly, the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Center, a few years ago, stopped offering historical tours of Cape Canaveral and the sites of the Mercury launches and early uncrewed missions.

However, Bruce Perens, K6BP, has arranged for a Canaveral tour on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024 (the day before the Orlando Hamcation) at 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Only 9 people can be accomodated, U.S. Citizens only, and there will be a _required_ ID process before the tour. Cost will be about $60 each, and lunch or snacks will be offered between the sites.

We will go to:
* LC-26, LC-5, and LC-6: the (adjacent) launch sites for much early space exploration including the first crewed flights of Alan Shepard and Gus Grissom. Besides walking around the pads and seeing a number of historical space exhibits there, you will be able to access the firing room and the Space Force Missile Museum.

* Hangar C, where there are many restored historical space vehicles and missiles, and the Canaveral lighthouse.

We will NOT have access to the Mercury Memorial, LC-14 (restored uncrewed flights firing room), and LC-34 (mostly-torn-down site of the Apollo 1 fire), which were (at times) on the old Rise to Space tour.

Activity on the base can force us to cancel or can change or curtail the itinerary.

Reserve your spot now via email to [email protected]

[ANS thanks Bruce Perens, K6BP, for the above information]

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Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for July 14

Two Line Elements or TLEs, often referred to as Keplerian elements or keps in the amateur community, are the inputs to the SGP4 standard mathematical model of spacecraft orbits used by most amateur tracking programs. Weekly updates are completely adequate for most amateur satellites. Elements in the TLE bulletin files are updated daily. TLE bulletin files are updated to add or remove satellites as necessary Thursday evenings around 2300 UTC, or more frequently if new high interest satellites are launched. More information may be found at https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/

The following satellite has been added to this week’s AMSAT-NA TLE distribution:

UmKA 1 (RS40S) NORAD Cat ID 57172 IARU coordinated frequencies 437.625 MHz, 435.825 MHz and 2402.400 MHz (Thanks to Nico Janssen, PA0DLO for identification).

[ANS thanks Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, and the AMSAT Orbital Elements page for the above information]

ARISS-USA Seeks for Director of Education

ARISS-USA, a 501(c)(3) educational and scientific non-profit organization, is seeking an experienced educator with extensive leadership experience to serve as our Director of Education. This is a part-time, remote position in the USA which includes a one-year probationary period.

ARISS provides and operates Amateur Radio systems on International Space Station (ISS) and elsewhere to inspire, educate, and engage youth and communities in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) and to support ISS backup communications. For more detailed information on ARISS, see the About ARISS-USA section, below, or visit the ARISS web sites: www.ariss.org and www.ariss-usa.org.

Responsibilities

+ ARISS Education Senior Leadership: As the Director of Education, work with the ARISS team to develop strategies and a vision to maintain and expand the educational outcomes of youth that participate in the ARISS experience.

+ Education Engagement Volunteer Team (EEVT) Leadership: Serve as the leader of the ARISS education engagement volunteer team, fostering passion within the team, recruiting new team members, and ensuring each radio contact opportunity meets ARISS’ objectives of inspiring, engaging, and educating youth in STEAM/STEM and encouraging youth to pursue careers in these fields.

+ Host Organization Contact Competitive Selection: Coordinate the semi-annual request for proposal (RFP) process to solicit and select host organizations (e.g., schools and informal education organizations) for ARISS astronaut radio contacts. Staff the proposal selection team, maintain RFP selection rubric and RFP process, conduct host organization information sessions, serve as the selection official, and coordinate with the ARISS executive team on endorsement of final selections and on ensuring host organizations and external media are promptly and accurately informed of the results.

+ ARISS Education Ambassadors (AEA): Recruit, train and guide AEAs, selected from the EEVT ranks. AEAs track their appointed ARISS contact host organizations to gather details and insight into how these contact teams are following their educational objectives as outlined in their proposals. AEAs also gather data to document ARISS contact educational outcomes, including photos, parent permission slips, student engagement descriptions, metrics and post-survey compliance.

+ Diversity and Inclusion: Develop team strategies that explicitly target improvements in ARISS’ engagement with diverse and underrepresented youth and provide opportunities for these youth that motivate them to pursue STEAM careers.

+ ARISS Lesson Plans: Create or coordinate the development of lesson plans and educational kits that support the educational outcomes of ARISS host organizations. Compile external lessons that can serve ARISS host organizations, including lessons developed by our NASA and ISS National Lab sponsors. Maintain dedicated areas on the ARISS web site for posting these lessons for distribution.

+ National Science Standards Alignment: Ensure ARISS education initiatives—including the contact experience, lesson plans, and educational kits—align with National Science Standards.

+ Metric Collection: Work with the education volunteer team to ensure contact metrics and post-contact surveys are submitted. Conduct post-contact surveys and track survey performance over the course of the program. Present metrics and survey results to ARISS executive team and prepare materials and present results of educational outcomes to sponsors, stakeholders and prospective new partners.

+ Networking: Participate in meetings, conferences, workshops and other opportunities to convey the educational breadth and depth of the ARISS Experience to space agencies, educators, sponsors, stakeholders, education departments, and federal and state governments.

+ International Coordination: Work with ARISS educators in other countries to develop best practices and to convey the activities and methods employed by the ARISS-USA educator team.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

+ Demonstrated leadership in a formal or informal education setting.

+ 3+ years of teaching experience in a formal or informal education environment

+ Graduation from an accredited college or university with a degree in education, education administration or a related field.

+ Proficient in the use of virtual technology, including Zoom, and ability to learn other virtual tools, such as Google Meet, Teams, Webex, Dropbox, Google docs and Office 365 products.

+ Enthusiasm in providing education experiences in the STEAM field.

+ Enthusiasm learning about amateur radio and wireless technologies and to enthusiastically convey these to educators and youth.

+ Must be a U.S. citizen.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

+ Basic understanding of amateur radio; possessing an amateur radio license preferred; obtaining an amateur radio license required post-hire. License training will be provided upon hiring.

+ Educator that has previously conducted an ARISS contact.

+ Experience and/or ability to work and lead a virtual, distributed, nationwide team.

+ Experience in coordinating experiences, lessons learned and best practices with ARISS international colleagues.

+ Experience in coordinating with partners, stakeholders and sponsors.

+ Experience interfacing with space agencies or space organizations.

Location

Remote, within the USA.

Anticipated Salary

Part time, 20-hour per week salary range is $23,000-$34,500 per year, depending upon experience.

Hours worked per week and during the day are flexible, as long as the candidate supports meeting engagements, meets deliverable times, and works an average of about 20 hours per week.

Other Position Information

Candidates accepted into this position will be required to first serve a one-year probationary period. All candidates must be U.S. citizens.

To Apply

If you are interested in making a difference as an ARISS-USA team member, please send your resume or CV to [email protected]. Include a cover letter explaining your interest in the position and why you are the optimal candidate for this position.

All position applications are due no later than midnight (Eastern Daylight Time) July 31, 2023

[ANS thanks ARISS for the above information]

ARISS NEWS

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

UPCOMING:
YOTA 2023, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada, telebridge via IK1SLD. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS and the scheduled crewmember is Steve Bowen, KI5BKB. The ARISS mentor is VE3TBD. Contact is go for: Tue 2023-07-18 18:42:54 UTC, 76 degrees maximum elevation.
Watch for Livestream at:
YOTA will be using https://youtube.com/live/A5bXZUGifYY?feature=share
IK1SLD will start about 15 minutes before AOS at http://www.ariotti.com/

Camp William B. Snyder, Haymarket, VA, telebridge via IK1SLD. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS and the scheduled crewmember is Sultan Al Neyadi, KI5VTV. The ARISS mentor is AJ9N. Contact is go for: Fri 2023-07-21 17:54:29 UTC, 54 degrees maximum elevation.
Watch for Livestream at:
The Camp will using: https://www.facebook.com/NCACSTEM/
IK1SLD will start about 15 minutes before AOS at http://www.ariotti.com/

The crossband repeater continues to be active (145.990 MHz up {PL 67} & 437.800 MHz down). If any crewmember is so inclined, all they have to do is pick up the microphone, raise the volume up, and talk on the crossband repeater. So give a listen, you just never know.

The packet system is also active (145.825 MHz up & down).

As always, if there is an EVA, a docking, or an undocking; the ARISS radios are turned off as part of the safety protocol.

Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time.

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

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

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

Upcoming Satellite Operations

Bruce, VE7PTN, is planning to operate from the CO50/CO60 gridline during July 20 to 22. FM / linear LEO, and Greencube MEO. Posible POTA activation on July 22 from VE-0711. New area for me so not sure what I will find when I get there. Will post more information closer to the date.

BI1NJI will be QRV as BI1NJI/3 from ON83, 24 through 27 July, FM and IO-117. Twitter @YankaiP and has said that details will follow.

[ANS thanks Ian Parsons, K5ZM, AMSAT rover page manager, for the above information]

Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events

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

+ Small Satellite Conference
August 5-10, 2023
Utah State University, Logan, UT
More information at: https://smallsat.org/

+ 41st AMSAT Space Symposium & Annual General Meeting
October 20-21, 2023
Sheraton DFW Airport Hotel
4440 W John Carpenter Fwy, Irving, TX 75063

AMSAT Ambassador Clint Bradford, K6LCS, says,
“Think a 75-minute presentation on “working the easy satellites” would be appropriate for your club or event? Let me know by emailing me at k6lcsclint (at) gmail (dot) com or calling me at 909-999-SATS (7287)!”

Clint has NEVER given the exact same show twice: EACH of the 150+ presentations so far has been customized/tailored to their audiences.

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

Satellite Shorts From All Over

+ Condolences to the family and friends of well-known satellite enthusiast, rover, and POTA operator Sara R. “Bean” Lefebvre, KC1MEB, who became a Silent Key on July 7 at age 40 after a battle with Auto-Brewery Syndrome. (ANS thanks Ant Lefebvre, NU1U, for the above information)

+ Volunteer amateur satellite enthusiasts in the Dallas-Fort Worth area are needed to help talk Amateur Radio in space to a mostly non-ham audience of all ages at the 2023 edition of an event called “Moon Day” at the Frontiers of Flight Museum, Love Field, Dallas, TX on Saturday, July 22. The event is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with Setup at 8 a.m. Mostly indoor, but we will have a number of satellite passes to work, cubesat simulators to show off, The FOX Engineering model, and other cool things to show off. If you can help/participate, contact Tom Schuessler, N5HYP, via email, [email protected] immediately. For more information see https://www.flightmuseum.com/moon-day/ (ANS thanks Tom Schuessler, N5HYP, for the above information)

+ AMSAT-DL was founded in 1973, so with a view to the 50-year history of AMSAT-Germany and its mission of promoting amateur radio via satellites, a celebratory conference “From OSCAR 10 to OSCAR 100: 50 years of AMSAT-DL in service to science, research and education” is planned for September 15-17, 2023, at the Bochum Observatory, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. For more information, see https://bit.ly/44rhPNE (ANS thanks AMSAT-DL for the above information)

+ NASA has marked the first anniversary of the James Webb Space Telescope’s scientific debut this week with the release of a new image, demonstrating the telescope’s ability to re-envision the universe. The dramatic, somewhat hallucinatory image captures the dynamism of the Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex, the closest star-forming region to Earth, where planetary systems like our own could be in the initial stages of forming: http://bit.ly/3PX0ZSb “The telescope is working better than we could have possibly hoped for,” said NASA astrophysicist Jane Rigby, who earlier this month became the senior project scientist for the JWST. (ANS thanks The Washington Post for the above information)

+ The Mars Sample Return mission — a joint project between NASA and the European Space Agency — is currently under a major review. The cost of the mission may have increased from $4 billion or $5 billion to $8 billion or $9 billion, according to one estimate. NASA confirmed that one estimate in the review of the program was in that cost range, but added, “all scenarios are highly speculative.” If the sample return mission does come with a higher price tag, it could impact NASA’s entire planetary science portfolio, as other missions are also experiencing technical delays and schedule problems. (ANS thanks Axios Space for the above information)

+ Chinese private rocket firm Landspace achieved a global first late Tuesday, July 11 by reaching orbit with a methane-fueled rocket. Zhuque-2 beats a range of other methalox rockets, including SpaceX’s Starship, the ULA Vulcan, Blue Origin’s New Glenn, Rocket Lab’s Neutron and Terran R from Relativity Space, in reaching orbit. These other launch vehicles will be much larger and feature much greater payload capacity. A methane-liquid oxygen propellant mix offers advantages in performance and reduces issues of soot formation and coking for purposes of reusability. (ANS thanks SpaceNews for the above information)

+ India’s second attempt to land on the Moon, Chandrayaan-3, launched on July 14. The mission is a replacement for Chandrayaan-2, which crashed while descending to the lunar surface in September 2019. Chandrayaan-3 is scheduled for an August 23 or August 24 arrival. The lander and rover are scheduled to operate for one lunar day, which is about 14 Earth days. (ANS thanks The Parabolic Arc for the above information)

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

In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to:

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

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

73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space!

This week’s ANS Editor, Mark Johns, KØJM
k0jm [at] amsat.org