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The ARRL Alabama Section Manager, JVann Martin Sr, W4JVM, shared exciting news about our youth involvement in Amateur Radio!

This year, the ARRL Alabama Youth Committee is pleased to announce the 2019 ARRL Alabama Outstanding Youth Ham Award recipient. This particular Amateur Radio operator gazes at and studies the skies almost daily. She has a deep interest in satellite communication and loves sharing that interest with others. Her passion is evident in awards she has received, forums where she has presented, along with the activities in which she participates.

The 2019 Alabama Outstanding Youth Ham Award goes to: Marissa Robledo W4AQT

Marissa is a twelve year old General class license-holder who lives in Montgomery, AL and is devoted to consistently learning and growing in the great hobby of Amateur Radio. She exhibits enthusiasm, knowledge, and rapid growth in many areas of Amateur Radio and we are proud to have her representing our hobby as this year’s Alabama Outstanding Amateur Youth!

Please join us at the 2019 Huntsville Hamfest on August 17th, 2019 at 12:30pm for the formal presentation of this award to a deserving young Amateur Radio operator.

Congratulations Marissa! Keep up the great work and fun you are creating using Amateur Radio. See you in Huntsville.

Alabama Outstanding Youth Committee wishes to thank everyone for your nominations for 2019.

Bryant Rascoll, KG5HVO
Alabama Section Youth Coordinator

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-216

The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT North America, 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 https://amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in space as soon as our volunteers can post it. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor at amsat dot org.  You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see:  https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/ans

In this edition:

• CAS-7B Designated BIT Progress-OSCAR 102 (BO-102)
• AMSAT and ARISS Designing Amateur Radio System for Lunar Gateway
• ARISS SSTV Owen Garriott Event Underway
• AMSAT Member Named Young Ham of the Year
• AMSAT member Wins Alabama Outstanding Youth Ham Award
• ARISS Next Gen System Completes Critical Flight Certification Tests
• Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule
• VUCC Awards-Endorsements for July 2019
• LightSail 2 Successfully Demonstrates Flight by Light
• Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for August 2, 2019
• Upcoming Satellite Operations
• Satellite Shorts From All Over

CAS-7B Designated BIT Progress-OSCAR 102 (BO-102)

On July 25, 2019, the CAS-7B (BP-1B) microsatellite was launched on a Hyperbola-1 launch vehicle from the Jiuquan Space Center, China. CAS-7B (BP-1B) was developed by the Chinese Amateur Satellite Group (CAMSAT), and in cooperation with the Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT). CAMSAT completed the project planning, design, build, and testing, and manages the on-orbit operation of the satellite. BIT provided the satellite environmental testing, launch support, and financial support. Many students from BIT were involved with the project, learning about satellite technology and amateur radio. The satellite carries a CW telemetry beacon and FM repeater that has been active since launch.

At the request of CAMSAT and the BIT team, AMSAT hereby designates CAS-7B (BP-1B) as BIT Progress-OSCAR 102 (BO-102). We congratulate the owners and operators of BO-102, thank them for their contribution to the amateur satellite community, and wish them continued success on this and future projects.

[ANS thanks Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, AMSAT VP Operations and OSCAR  Number Administrator, for the above information]

AMSAT and ARISS Designing Amateur Radio System for Lunar Gateway

As announced at the AMSAT Forun at the Dayton Hamvention, AMSAT and ARISS are working on the design of a ham radio system for NASA’s Lunar Gateway. The Gateway will be a small spaceship in orbit around the Moon that will provide access to more of the lunar surface than ever before with living quarters for astronauts, a lab for science and research, ports for visiting spacecraft, and more. First sections of the Gateway are scheduled for launch in 2022.

To make this happen we are leveraging the work and expertise of the world-wide AMSAT organizations and the international ARISS community in this endeavor. We have an international team working this and are meeting 2x a month to mature the concept. In May we presented our solid concept to NASA and got great, positive feedback. This was followed up a few weeks later at the ARISS-I meeting at the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) in Montreal where we received great feedback from the CSA Gateway Program Manager after he saw our presentation.

The AREx (Amateur Radio Exploration) team have done some really good work. The challenge for amateurs will be on the order of a 30 dB signal path loss as compared to LEO. But the link margins on our design seem to close.

AMSAT NA, UK & DL and ARISS-together — are working this phenomenal ham radio challenge.  Come to the AMSAT-NA Symposium in DC to hear more.

[ANS thanks Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, AMSAT V.P. for Human Spaceflight  Programs, for the above information]

 The 50th Anniversary AMSAT Space Symposium will be held
October 18-20 in Arlington, VA. For details, see:
https://www.amsat.org/amsat-symposium/

ARISS SSTV Owen Garriott Event Underway

ARISS celebrates the life and accomplishments of astronaut, scientist and ham radio pioneer Owen Garriott with a commemorative SSTV event featuring images from Garriott’s work with ham radio during his missions in space.

The event began on August 1 at 09:40 UTC and is scheduled to end at 18:15 UTC on August 4. There are currently twelve separate images being sent at 145.800 MHz FM in the SSTV mode PD-120. As always, activities are subject to change dictated by the crew’s schedule.

Once received, images can be posted and viewed by the public at http://www.spaceflightsoftware.com/ARISS_SSTV/index.php and users can receive a special SSTV ARISS Award for posting images. See https://ariss.pzk.org.pl/sstv/ for details.

Also for simplicity, a new information tab for SSTV events has been added to the ARISS website, under the General Contacts pulldown menu at www.ariss.org. The latest updates can also be found at the ARISS Facebook site Amateur Radio On The International Space Station (ARISS) and on Twitter @ ARISS_status.

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

AMSAT Member Named Young Ham of the Year

Dhruv Rebba, KC9ZJX, of Normal, Illinois, has been selected as the 2019 Bill Pasternak WA6ITF Memorial Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year. Dhruv, 15, is the son of Hari Rebba, VU2SPZ, and Shailaja Panyam. He is entering his sophomore year at the Normal Community High School this fall.

He is a member of the Central Illinois Radio Club. Dhruv earned his Technician Class license in 2013 when he was only 9 years old. He followed it up by passing the test for a General Class license a year later. Dhruv says his interest in amateur radio was sparked by a 2013 visit to the Dayton Hamvention(R) with his father, a long-time amateur radio operator from India who settled in the U.S.

“He was going to the Hamvention and so I wanted to tag along,” Dhruv recalls. “There I got to see all the cool stuff like the Morse-Code keyers and all the radios and everything and I decided to start studying for my Technician class.”

After getting his license, Dhruv became involved in Field Days and public service events with the Central Illinois Radio Club, including the “We Care Twin Cities Marathon” and the “Hop on for Hope Bike Ride/Walk.” Dhruv says he found a way to combine his interest in space and engineering with his new hobby. He joined AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) and pursued his dream of a school contact with an astronaut aboard the International Space Station.

In October 2017, he served as the lead control operator for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with students at his school – the Chiddix Junior High School in Normal, IL – with astronaut Joe Acaba, KE5DAR. In late July of this year, Dhruv helped to facilitate another ARISS contact with international Scouts attending the World Jamboree in West Virginia and monitored the contact from his home.

ARISS presentations at Dayton and Huntsville, his selection as an ARISS mentor and networking with those putting together the ARISS contact for the World Jamboree led to his role in the July 2019 contact. In 2018, Dhruv was selected for the Dave Kalter Memorial Youth DX Adventure. He traveled to Curacao Island in July 2018 where the PJ2Y team made a record 6,262 contacts with 135 countries over five days. Dhruv says he enjoyed operating his favorite mode, SSB. Dhruv has earned many accolades for his amateur radio pursuits including the “Young Ham Lends A Hand” award at the 2019 Dayton Hamvention Youth Forum; “Presidential Award” from AMSAT; and the “Young Achievers Award” from the Radio Club of America.

He also has traveled to India to promote amateur radio awareness and spoke at the ZPH School, NP Kunta, India in January 2018. He discussed the importance of wireless communications and their role during disasters.  Dhruv started the “Universal Help Foundation” to help underprivileged students on a global scale. Among his first projects was a digital project at a girls’ high school in NP Kunta, India this past January.   Dhruv also has an interest in robotics and has worked as a mentor helping elementary school students build robots. This past April, Dhruv’s “MetalCow Robotics” team finished fourth overall in the international competition sponsored by NASA in Detroit.

Dhruv says a visit to the AMSAT booth at the 2019 Dayton Hamvention prompted him to sign on for the “Amateur Radio Exploration on the Moon” project.   “We’re designing an amateur radio system to be on the Gateway Space Station and the Moon,” he says.   Dhruv will be recognized during the Huntsville Hamfest on Aug. 17 in the Von Braun Center, Huntsville AL.

The Young Ham of the Year was inaugurated by William Pasternak, WA6ITF, in 1986. Upon his passing in 2015, Bill’s name was added to the award as a memorial to his commitment to recognizing the accomplishments of young people to the amateur radio service. Amateur Radio Newsline, CQ Magazine and Yaesu USA are primary sponsors of the award, along with Heil Sound Ltd. and Radiowavz Antenna Company.

[ANS thanks CQ Communications, Inc. for the above information]

AMSAT member Wins Alabama Outstanding Youth Ham Award

The 2019 Alabama Outstanding Youth Ham Award goes to Marissa Robledo, W4AQT. This particular Amateur Radio operator gazes at and studies the skies almost daily. She has a deep interest in satellite communication and loves sharing that interest with others. Her passion is evident in awards she has received, forums where she has presented, along with the activities in which she participates.

Marissa is a twelve year old General class license-holder who lives in Montgomery, AL and is devoted to consistently learning and growing in the great hobby of Amateur Radio. She exhibits enthusiasm, knowledge, and rapid growth in many areas of Amateur Radio.

The formal presentation of this award will take place at the 2019 Huntsville Hamfest on August 17th, 2019 at 12:30 p.m.

[ANS thanks Bryant Rascoll, KG5HVO, Alabama Section Youth Coordinator, for the above information]

ARISS Next Gen System Completes Critical Flight Certification Tests

The Interoperable Radio System (IORS), ARISS’ next generation radio system successfully completed a battery of stressful tests required as part of the final certification of the hardware for launch to and operation on the International Space Station.

During the week of July 8, the IORS, consisting of the JVC Kenwood D-710GA Radio and the AMSAT developed Multi-Voltage Power Supply, successfully completed a series of Electromagnetic Interference (EMI)/ Electro-Magnetic Compatibility (EMC) tests to ensure that the ARISS hardware will not interfere with the ISS systems or other payloads. Testing continued into the following week, where the IORS successfully passed power quality and acoustics testing. These tests verified that the ARISS IORS will not introduce harmful signals back into the ISS power system and is quiet enough to meet ISS acoustic requirements. ARISS Hardware Team members Lou McFadin, W5DID and Kerry Banke, N6IZW were at the NASA Johnson Space Center supporting this two week battery of tests in concert with the NASA test and certification team.

Kerry Banke states, “Since the IORS is being qualified to operate on 120VDC, 28VDC and Russian 28VDC as well as transmitting on VHF or UHF, a lot of test combinations were required to cover all cases. Each input voltage type was also tested at low, medium and high line voltage. Moreover, additional permutations were required to test the IORS under no load, medium load and full load at each voltage level. So it should not be surprising why the tests took two weeks to complete.”

Successful completion of these tests represents a key milestone in preparing the IORS for launch. ARISS can now begin final assembly of the flight safety certification in preparation for launch. ARISS is working towards launch ready status by the end of the year.

[ANS thanks ARISS for the above information]

AMSAT and ARISS are currently supporting a FundRazr campaign to raise
$150,000 for critical radio infrastructure upgrades on ISS. The upgrades are
necessary to enable students to continue to talk to astronauts in space via
Amateur Radio. We have reached a great milestone with $33,250 raised or about
17% towards our goal. This would not have been possible without your
outstanding generosity!!
For more information and to DONATE TODAY visit:
https://fundrazr.com/arissnextgen?ref=ab_e7Htwa_ab_47IcJ9

 Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule

Quick list of scheduled contacts and events as of 2019-07-30 03:00 UTC:

Kyoto Tachibana Junior & Senior High School, Kyoto, Japan, direct via 8N3KT. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS. The scheduled astronaut is Nick Hague KG5TMV. Contact is go for: Thu 2019-08-08 at 10:36:37 UTC 56 degrees maximum elevation.

[ANS thanks ARISS for the above information]

VUCC Awards-Endorsements for July 2019

Here are the endorsements and new VUCC Satellite Awards issued by the ARRL for the period July 1, 2019 through August 1, 2019. Congratulations to all those who made the list this month!

Call	July 1	August 1
AA8CH	550	584
WD9EWK	567	575
NS3L	475	505
AE5B	---	442
K9UO	400	425
W5TD	381	384
KE8FZT	325	350
K5IX	300	325
PS8ET	211	275
WW8W	201	228
AB1OC	184	215
KJ4EU	151	206
AA4QE	102	204
N7EGY	169	200
ND0C	151	200
PR8KW	New	200
LW2DAF	125	130
KC9VGG	102	127
KC9UQR	New	113
XE2YWH	New	102
K5ZM	New	101
N4QX	New	100

If you find errors or omissions. please contact W5RKN. 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 omitted. Thanks to all those who are roving to grids that are rarely on the birds. They are doing most of the work!

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

LightSail 2 Successfully Demonstrates Flight by Light

The Planetary Society’s crowdfunded LightSail 2 spacecraft is successfully raising its orbit solely on the power of sunlight.

Since unfurling the spacecraft’s silver solar sail last week, mission managers have been optimizing the way the spacecraft orients itself during solar sailing. After a few tweaks, LightSail 2 began raising its orbit around the Earth. In the past 4 days, the spacecraft has raised its orbital high point, or apogee, by about 2 kilometers. The mission team has confirmed the apogee increase can only be attributed to solar sailing, meaning LightSail 2 has successfully completed its primary goal of demonstrating flight by light for CubeSats.

On Monday, July 29, LightSail 2 sent home a new full-resolution image captured by its camera during solar sail deployment. The perspective is opposite to last week’s full-resolution image and shows the sail more fully deployed. LightSail 2’s aluminized Mylar sail shines against the blackness of space, with the Sun peeking through near a sail boom.

LightSail 2 uses the callsign WM9XPA and transmits its beacon on 437.025 MHz, AX.25, FSK, 9600 bps. Beacon parameters and more information on the spacecraft may be found at: https://tinyurl.com/y5r6758v

[ANS thanks The Planetary Society for the above information]

Purchase AMSAT gear on our Zazzle storefront. 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 2, 2019

    The following Amateur Radio satellite has decayed from orbit and has been removed from this week’s TLE distribution.

TANYUSHA 1 – NORAD CAT ID 42911 – Decayed 07/30/2019 (per Space-Track)

The following Amateur Radio satellites have been added to this week’s TLE distribution.
PSAT 2     – NORAD CAT ID 44354 (per Space-Track)
BRICsat 2  – NORAD CAT ID 44355 (per Space-Track)
Oculus-ASR – NORAD CAT ID 44356 (per Space-Track)
CP9        – NORAD CAT ID 44360 (per Space-Track)
Move-IIb   – NORAD CAT ID 44398 (per Nico Janssen, PA0DLO) SONATE     – NORAD CAT ID 44400 (per Nico Janssen, PA0DLO)

The following Amateur Radio satellites have a name change in this week’s TLE distribution.

CAS-7B has now been designated as BIT Progress-OSCAR 102 (BO-102) by AMSAT per the request of CAMSAT and the BIT team. Also the temporary CAT ID 99999 has been replaced by the NORAD CAT ID 44443. Note that this is the current best guess CAT ID for BO-102. Also the TLE drag number for BO-102 has been rapidly increasing and is now at 0.01093482. BO-102 is expected to decay from orbit in about eight days.

Object A (NORAD CAT ID 44339) is now identified as Prox-1.

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

Upcoming Satellite Operations

CY9 St. Paul Island (FN97) – July 31 to August 8, 2019
CY9C will be on St. Paul Island July 31st through August 8th. This is an all bands/mode dxpedition, with EME and Sats as well.  More info available at http://cy9c.com/index.html.

Florida Keys (EL95) August 4-11, 2019
Philippe, EA4NF will be operating from EL95 (Key Largo and Brickell Key) as KC3NSG, from August 4 to 11, 2019.  FM and Linears.  QSL via LOTW. LoTW.  Keep an eye on Philippe’s Twitter feed for further updates: https://twitter.com/EA4NF_SAT.

Washington Invasion (CN96/96 & DN06/07/17/17) – August 9-10, 2019
Casey, KI7UNJ, will be heading North to invade the State of Washington, August 9th and 10th. Keep an eye on Casey’s Twitter feed for specific pass announcements: https://twitter.com/KI7UNJ

St Pierre et Miquelon (GN16) – August 10-18, 2019
A DXpedition is planned to St Pierre et Miquelon, August 10th through the 18th. The team will operate as T05M will from Ile aux Marins on 6-160m, but there is a possibility of some FM Satellites. Keep an eye on their website for updates: http://fp2019.net/

Santa Rosa Island, CA (CM93) – August 12-14, 2019
Ron, AD0DX, is heading back to Santa Rosa Island, August 12th -14th. When not distracted by the feathered-birds, Ron will be on FM and linear satellites as W6R.  Keep an eye on Ron’s Twitter feed for updates at the dates get closer.  https://twitter.com/ad0dx

Goose Bay, Labrador (FO93) August 12-14, 2019
Chris, VE3FU, will be visiting family / friends and maintenance of his HF remote station in FO93, but he should be on the FM sats as VO2AC. Chris will try to post here before each pass, so keep an eye on his Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/ChrisVE3FU

6Y – Jamaica (FK18) August 12-19, 2019
Philippe, EA4NF will be operating from JAMAICA (IOTA NA-097 – Grid FK18) in Satellite with the special call 6Y4NF from August 12 to 19, 2019.  QRV Satellite in FM and SSB.  QSL via LoTW.  Keep an eye on Philippe’s Twitter feed for further updates : https://twitter.com/EA4NF_SAT.

Please submit any additions or corrections to ke4al (at) amsat.org

Remember to check out W3ZM On the Road for additional upcoming activations! https://www.amsat.org/events/was-w3zm/

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

Satellite Shorts From All Over

The Space Communicator Club of Las Flores, Calif. provide a public   website for monitoring Satellite APRS Packets received in the most   recent 24 hour period: http://spaceCommunicator.club/aprs   (ANS thanks Robert MacHale, KE6BLR, for the above information)

The Federal Communications Commission voted on August 1 to create a new licensing category for small satellite companies that will   dramatically reduce launch fees. Full story at: https://tinyurl.com/y4k588ko   (ANS thanks Texas Public Radio for the above information)

SpaceX’s robotic Dragon cargo capsule arrived at the International Space Station on July 27, setting a new record for SpaceX’s reusable spacecraft. The Dragon, which launched July 25 from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Air Force Station atop a two-stage Falcon 9 rocket, was on its third mission to space.   (ANS thanks Space.com for the above information)

W3XO, the call sign held by former AMSAT President Bill Tynan (SK) has been issued to the Hill Country Amateur Radio Club of Kerrville, Texas, as a memorial. Bill was a leading member and past president of that club, as well as of AMSAT.   (ANS thanks Ray Soifer, W2RS, for the above information)

Ballots for the 2019 AMSAT Board of Directors election have been   mailed. Candidate statements may be found at https://www.amsat.org/2019-board-statements/

Hackaday, an online journal for technical experimenters, published   an article about the history of the AO-7 satellite on August 2. It   can be read at:   https://tinyurl.com/yyy5oapn   (ANS thanks hackaday.com for the above information)

In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President’s Club. Members of the President’s Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT office.

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 six post-secondary years in this status. Contact Martha at the AMSAT office for additional student membership information.

73 and Remember to help keep amateur radio in space,
This week’s ANS Editor,
K0JM at amsat dot org

Dhruv Rebba, KC9ZJX, of Normal, Illinois, has been selected as the 2019 Bill Pasternak WA6ITF Memorial Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year. Dhruv, 15, is the son of Hari Rebba, VU2SPZ, and Shailaja Panyam. He is entering his sophomore year at the Normal Community High School this fall.

He is a member of the Central Illinois Radio Club. Dhruv earned his Technician Class license in 2013 when he was only 9 years old. He followed it up by passing the test for a General Class license a year later. Dhruv says his interest in amateur radio was sparked by a 2013 visit to the Dayton Hamvention(R) with his father, a long-time amateur radio operator from India who settled in the U.S.

“He was going to the Hamvention and so I wanted to tag along,” Dhruv recalls. “There I got to see all the cool stuff like the Morse-Code keyers and all the radios and everything and I decided to start studying for my Technician class.”

After getting his license, Dhruv became involved in Field Days and public service events with the Central Illinois Radio Club, including the “We Care Twin Cities Marathon” and the “Hop on for Hope Bike Ride/Walk.” Dhruv says he found a way to combine his interest in space and engineering with his new hobby. He joined AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) and pursued his dream of a school contact with an astronaut aboard the International Space Station.

In October 2017, he served as the lead control operator for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with students at his school – the Chiddix Junior High School in Normal, IL – with astronaut Joe Acaba, KE5DAR. In late July of this year, Dhruv helped to facilitate another ARISS contact with international Scouts attending the World Jamboree in West Virginia and monitored the contact from his home.

ARISS presentations at Dayton and Huntsville, his selection as an ARISS mentor and networking with those putting together the ARISS contact for the World Jamboree led to his role in the July 2019 contact. In 2018, Dhruv was selected for the Dave Kalter Memorial Youth DX Adventure. He traveled to Curacao Island in July 2018 where the PJ2Y team made a record 6,262 contacts with 135 countries over five days. Dhruv says he enjoyed operating his favorite mode, SSB. Dhruv has earned many accolades for his amateur radio pursuits including the “Young Ham Lends A Hand” award at the 2019 Dayton Hamvention Youth Forum; “Presidential Award” from AMSAT; and the “Young Achievers Award” from the Radio Club of America.

He also has traveled to India to promote amateur radio awareness and spoke at the ZPH School, NP Kunta, India in January 2018. He discussed the importance of wireless communications and their role during disasters.  Dhruv started the “Universal Help Foundation” to help underprivileged students on a global scale. Among his first projects was a digital project at a girls’ high school in NP Kunta, India this past January.   Dhruv also has an interest in robotics and has worked as a mentor helping elementary school students build robots. This past April, Dhruv’s “MetalCow Robotics” team finished fourth overall in the international competition sponsored by NASA in Detroit.

Dhruv says a visit to the AMSAT booth at the 2019 Dayton Hamvention prompted him to sign on for the “Amateur Radio Exploration on the Moon” project.   “We’re designing an amateur radio system to be on the Gateway Space Station and the Moon,” he says.   Dhruv will be recognized during the Huntsville Hamfest on Aug. 17 in the Von Braun Center, Huntsville AL.

The Young Ham of the Year was inaugurated by William Pasternak, WA6ITF, in 1986. Upon his passing in 2015, Bill’s name was added to the award as a memorial to his commitment to recognizing the accomplishments of young people to the amateur radio service. Amateur Radio Newsline, CQ Magazine and Yaesu USA are primary sponsors of the award, along with Heil Sound Ltd. and Radiowavz Antenna Company.

[Thanks to CQ Communications, Inc. for the above information]

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-209

The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT North America, 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 https://amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in space as soon as our volunteers can post it. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor at amsat dot org.  You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see:  https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/ans

In this edition:

• CAS-7B Launched and Operational
• Upcoming ARISS SSTV Events
• AMSAT-Chile developing CESAR-1 FM / digital satellite
• FO-99 Transponder Activated over North America, Other Activations Scheduled
• LO-94 Lunar Impact Expected on July 31st
• Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for July 26, 2019
• How to Support AMSAT
• Upcoming Satellite Operations
• Satellite Shorts from All Over

The 50th Anniversary AMSAT Space Symposium will be held
October 18-20 in Arlington, VA. For details, see:
https://www.amsat.org/amsat-symposium/

CAS-7B Launched and Operational

On July 25, 2019, CAMSAT’s CAS-7B satellite was successfully launched on the first orbital launch of iSpace’s Hyperbola-1 rocket.

CAS-7B is in a very low earth orbit with an apogee of 296 km and a perigee of 278 km. The inclination is 42.7 degrees. At this altitude, decay is expected by August 11th.

CAS-7B carries a 100 mW CW telemetry beacon at 435.715 MHz and an FM transponder with an uplink of 145.900 MHz (16 kHz bandwidth, no tone required) and a downlink of 435.690 MHz (100 mW).

Many QSOs around the world have been reported via the FM transponder. Reports indicate the transponder requires a considerable amount of EIRP to access and that the satellite is spinning fast causing rapid fading of signals.

More information about CAS-7B can be found at: https://www.amsat.org/camsat-cas-7b-is-ready-for-june-launch/

[ANS thanks CAMSAT and JA0CAW for the above information.]

Upcoming ARISS SSTV Events

ARISS Russia plans to activate the MAI-75 SSTV experiment on July 29 with images starting at 13:15 UTC ending at 21:25 UTC, then again starting July 30 at 13:50 UTC ending 19:30 UTC. Downlink frequency is 145.800 MHz FM using the PD-120 SSTV mode.

ARISS plans to commemorate Owen Garriott’s outstanding accomplishments with ham radio in space during an ISS SSTV event starting 09:40 UTC on August 1 and ending 18:15 UTC on Aug 4. Downlink freq will be 145.800 MHz FM using the PD-120 SSTV mode.

However, there is a possible switch out in images for SSTV event scheduled for August 1-4. This may result in planning an additional SSTV event for the end of August that would feature the Owen Garriott commemorative images at that time. We expect an update on this after July 26th

[ANS thanks ARISS for the above information.]

AMSAT-Chile developing CESAR-1 FM / digital satellites

AMSAT-CE is designing and building five satellites, to be used by radio amateurs around the world, which will allow a series of scientific experiments in the field of digital communications, as well as gravimetric and orbitgraphic studies.

Of these five satellites, one will be the engineering prototype, three will be flight units, and the remaining one will be used to check or replicate on the ground the operation of the units that are in space.

AMSAT-CE has also promoted the installation of three earth stations, in Iquique, Temuco and Pto. Montt.

Technical characteristics

• CESAR-1 is of microsat technology (cube shape, 23 cm per edge).
• The satellite reception frequencies will be in the 145 MHz band (5 channels) and 1,575 MHz (GPS).
• The satellite transmission frequencies will be in the 436 MHz band (2 channels).
• The modulation will be FSK (AX.25 9.6 kbps) or narrowband FM.
• The magnetic stabilization will be by permanent magnets.
• It will have a magnetic brake (the rotation due to the photonic spin will be stopped by seven bars of hydrogen steel, which will cut lines of force from the earth’s magnetic field).
• The estimated useful life is 10 years.
• The mass will be approximately 12 kg
• The period will be 100 minutes (that’s about 14 revolutions a day).
• The satellite platform consists of 5 modules made of space aluminum AL6061-T6.
• The electrical energy will be stored in a Saft NiCd battery, made up of 8 batteries of 7 Ah each.
• The solar cells will be Spectrolab, triple junction (GalnP2-GaAs-Ge), or the like.

Contributions of the CESAR-1 Project to the Country

AMSAT-CE satellites will be added to the projects already undertaken by the Chilean Air Force (FASAT) and the University of Chile (SUCHAI), but they have as their main characteristic that they are the first ones that are being designed and built entirely in the country, which constitutes a huge challenge, and a scientific and technological contribution.

Among the benefits that the country and the amateur radio can obtain from AMSAT-CE satellites are:

1. Education (interest young people in space radiocommunications)
2. Support in emergency situations
3. Scientific experimentation (in the frame for experiments)
4. Boosting a national aerospace industry
5. Experimentation with the Internet
6. National Amateur Radio Unit, and
7. International recognition for the country.

Experiments

The CESAR-1 satellite will have five main (E) experiments:

E1 A digital transponder between two earth stations, to be used in real time, during the period in which both are being illuminated by the satellite (radio-packets in AX.25 at 9,600 kbps).

E2 A digital transponder between two earth stations, to be used in deferred time, as an electronic message box (Store & forward with radio-packets in AX.25 at 9.6 kbps).

E3 An analog repeater that will allow two earth stations that are being illuminated by the satellite to be linked, to broadcast audio (voice) in real time, in FM mode.

E4 Communication between two terrestrial repeaters, with link to the satellite, which will allow long distance, but temporary, calls to low-power portable stations (voice, FM, 147 MHz access), and

E5 An on-board GPS receiver, which will collect information for gravimetric and orbitgraphic research.

The orbit of CESAR-1 will be low, polar and heliosynchronous (about 800 km high). In any case, given the time elapsed, it is possible that both the experiments and the electronic part considered for them must be modernized.

Cost of the Project and its Financing

The cost of the project, in money, amounts to about USD 700,000 (necessary for the construction of five satellites, launch of one, implementation of two command and control stations, and three terrestrial repeaters). Of that amount, around USD 300,000 have already been contributed by external sponsors, and by members of the AMSAT-CE Foundation. However, we have not yet been able to obtain the financing of the remaining USD 400,000.

Additionally, and conservatively, we estimate that the project requires some 36,000 man-hours of managers and specialists. Much of those 36,000 hours have already been or are being voluntarily contributed by the AMSAT-CE partners.

Essentially, the monetary resources that are still missing are needed to finance the solar cells of CESAR-1, hire professional services to finish the construction of what is pending, and cover the costs of the tests and the first launch.

Project status

Although it is a radio amateur project, it does not cease to correspond to a professional and complex project. But the more than 20 years we have been working – without reaching the goal – have exhausted some of our partners, and this has generated a shortage of volunteers. It has not been easy to finish the first satellite – which should have flown in the late 1990s – because in Chile there is still not enough awareness about the possibilities offered by space activity to the country. Despite this, the construction of CESAR-1 is quite advanced (more than 70%):

• 5 mechanical satellite structures are built.
• 8 UHF transmitters are finished, and aligned in their working frequencies.
• The sources of power are finished.
• The receivers have an advance of 90%.
• The GPS experiment has an advance of 70%.
• In the OBC with its EDAC and RAM disk, the software needs to be refined.
• The international coordination of frequencies in the ITU was concluded, but today it would have to be reactivated, for the time elapsed.
• There are, yes, the photovoltaic cells, the assembly in Chile and the final tests (which will probably be done in Brazil).
• It is also necessary to reactivate the obtaining of the pitcher.

Website: https://www.amsat-ce.org/proyecto-cesar

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

New 2019 AMSAT Apparel Now Available on the Web
Didn’t make it to Hamvention but you want the latest in AMSAT haberdashery?
The new 2019 tee-shirts, polo shirts and hats are now available in the AMSAT online store.
Browse the styles and sizes online and put your order in today at
https://www.amsat.org/product-category/amsat-apparel/

FO-99 Transponder Activated over North America, Other Activations  Scheduled

On July 25, 2019, the V/u linear transponder on FO-99 (NEXUS) was activated over North America for the first time. Stations heard include W5CBF, KB4PML, N4QX, AA5PK, KX9X, N8HM, K0FFY, and N2ACQ.

FO-99 is active on a schedule. The power budget does not permit full-time transponder operations. Schedule updates can be found on Twitter at https://twitter.com/GsNihonuniv

Upcoming North American FO-99 operations:

Location	Operation	Date	AOS	LOS
Victoria, Canada	Transponder	August 17	04:28:33 UTC	04:40:01 UTC
Denver, US	SSTV	August 24	03:30:20 UTC	03:41:50 UTC
Topeka, US	Transponder	August 31	02:34:47 UTC	02:45:45 UTC

Operations are performed from about 5 minutes before the listed AOS to 5 minutes after LOS.

Transponder frequencies are 145.900 MHz – 145.930 MHz up and 435.880 MHz – 435.910 MHz down, inverting. The SSTV / digitalker downlink is 437.075 MHz.

The Nihon University Ground Station asks that stations completing QSOs via FO-99 upload their audio to Twitter or the NEXUS website. http://sat.aero.cst.nihon-u.ac.jp/nexus/E0_Top.html

[ANS thanks the Nihon University Ground Station and Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, for the above information.]

2019 marks AMSAT’s 50th Anniversary of Keeping Amateur Radio in Space.
To help celebrate, we are sponsoring the AMSAT 50th Anniversary Awards Program.
Full details are available at https://www.amsat.org/amsat-50th-anniversary-awards-program/

LO-94 Lunar Impact Expected on July 31st

Here is the LO-94 (DSLWP-B) UHF plan for the following days:

• 29 Jul 00:15 to 02:15
• 29 Jul 04:30 to 06:30
• 29 Jul 20:00 to 22:00
• 30 Jul 05:30 to 07:30
• 30 Jul 16:20 to 18:20
• 31 Jul 06:30 to 08:30
• 31 Jul 13:24 to 15.24
• 1 Aug 05:30 to 07:30

All time in UTC. GMSK on both freq & JT4G on 435.4. JT4G repeater message on 436.4 TBD. Lunar impact expected to be at about 31 Jul 14:20. Later windows for backup.

SSDV album: http://lilacsat.hit.edu.cn/dashboard/pages_en/pics-b.html 

Online JT4G telemetry forwarder: http://lilacsat.hit.edu.cn/dashboard/pages_en/jt4g_forwarder.html

JT4G telemetry display: http://lilacsat.hit.edu.cn/dashboard/pages_en/jt4g.html

GMSK telemetry: http://lilacsat.hit.edu.cn/dashboard/pages_en/telemetry-b.html

[ANS thanks Wei Mingchaun, BG2BHC, Harbin Institute of Technology, for the above information]

Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for July 25, 2019

The following Amateur Radio satellites have decayed from orbit and have been removed from this week’s TLE distribution.

• NJUST-1   – NORAD CAT ID 42722 – Decayed 07/20/2019 (per Space-Track)
• AOXIANG-1 – NORAD CAT ID 42735 – Decayed 06/26/2019 (per Space-Track)

The following Amateur Radio satellite has been added to this week’s TLE distribution.

• CAS-7B – TEMPORARY CAT ID 99999 (This CAT ID will be changed to a permanent ID later.) The initial TLE supplied by Alan Kung, BA1DU on July 25, 2019 on AMSAT-BB.

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

Purchase AMSAT gear on our Zazzle storefront. 25% of the purchase
price of each product goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space
https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear

How to Support AMSAT

AMSAT relies on the support of our members and the amateur radio community to Keep Amateur Radio in Space. How can you help?

1. Join AMSAT 
   Both you and AMSAT will benefit when you join. You get the AMSAT Journal bimonthly and support from AMSAT Ambassadors. Member dues and donations provide AMSAT’s primary support. Join today at https://www.amsat.org/product-category/amsat-membership/
2. Become a Life Member 
   Becoming a Life Member has never been easier. Now you can become a Life Member with 12 monthly payments of $74 through our online store. See https://www.amsat.org/product/lifetime-membership/ for details.
3. Donate to AMSAT 
   Make a one time or recurring donation to AMSAT today. Even as little as one dollar a month can make a difference! Donate today at https://www.amsat.org/donate/
4. Purchase AMSAT gear on our Zazzle storefront.
   AMSAT receives 25% of the price of each sale on AMSAT logo merchandise from our Zazzle storefront located at  https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear
5. Support AMSAT when you make purchases from Amazon!
   So far, AMSAT has received $3,913.29 from AmazonSmile. Search for “Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation” https://smile.amazon.com/ref=smi_ext_twt_dshb_smi
6. Volunteer for AMSAT 
   AMSAT relies on volunteers for nearly all of our activities. If you have an idea for how to help, please let us know, Details on
   volunteering can be found at https://www.amsat.org/volunteer-for-amsat/

[ANS thanks the AMSAT office for the above information.]

AMSAT and ARISS are currently supporting a FundRazr campaign to raise
$150,000 for critical radio infrastructure upgrades on ISS. The upgrades are
necessary to enable students to continue to talk to astronauts in space via
Amateur Radio. We have reached a great milestone with $33,250 raised or about
17% towards our goal. This would not have been possible without your
outstanding generosity!!
For more information and to DONATE TODAY visit:
https://fundrazr.com/arissnextgen?ref=ab_e7Htwa_ab_47IcJ9

Upcoming Satellite Operations

• J6 St Lucia, (FK94) July 21 – August 3, 2019 
  Frank, K3TRM, will be operating as J6/K3TRM from Gros Islet, St. Lucia (FK94mb) between July 21 – August 3, 2019. Activity will be on 40-6M using SSB, CW, and Digital (RTTY & FT8) and satellite. More info available on Frank’s QRZ page: https://www.qrz.com/db/J6/K3TRM and Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/k3trm
• CY9 St. Paul Island (FN97) – July 31 to August 8, 2019 
  CY9C will be on St. Paul Island July 31st through August 8th. This is an all bands/mode dxpedition, with EME and Sats as well.  More info available at http://cy9c.com/index.html.
• West Yellowstone (DN44) August 2-3, 2019 
  Dennis, N7EGY, will be attending a family reunion August 2-3, and should be able to sneak away for a few FM passes.  Keep an eye on Dennis’ Twitter feed for further updates:  https://twitter.com/n7egy1
• AZ NV UT (DN25-DN28, DM37-DM38, DM46-DM47)  August 3-10, 2019 
  Ian, K5ZM, will be wandering through the Southwest August 3rd – 10th, mostly operating as W3ZM/7:
  Aug 03: NV DM25/DM26 line
  Aug 04: AZ DM36
  Aug 06: NV and UT DM27/DM28/DM37/DM38
  Aug 07: AZ DM46 + UT DM47 Aug 10: NV DM25/DM26 line
  Aug 05 & 08: non ham stuff = K5ZM
  Aug 09: TBD!
  Watch for updates on Ian’s Twitter feed:  https://twitter.com/k5zm_
• Florida Keys (EL95) August 4-11, 2019
  Philippe, EA4NF will be operating from EL95 (Key Largo and Brickell Key) as KC3NSG, from August 4 to 11, 2019.  FM and Linears.  QSL via LoTW.  Keep an eye on Philippe’s Twitter feed for further updates: https://twitter.com/EA4NF_SAT
• Washington Invasion (CN96/96 & DN06/07/17/17) – August 9-10, 2019 
  Casey, KI7UNJ, will be heading North to invade the State of Washington, August 9th and 10th. Keep an eye on Casey’s Twitter feed for specific pass announcements: https://twitter.com/KI7UNJ
• FP – St Pierre et Miquelon (GN16) – August 10-18, 2019 
  A DXpedition is planned to St Pierre et Miquelon, August 10th through the 18th. The team will operate as T05M will from Ile aux Marins on 6-160m, but there is a possibility of some FM Satellites. Keep an eye on their website for updates: http://fp2019.net/
• Santa Rosa Island, CA (CM93) – August 12-14, 2019 
  Ron, AD0DX, is heading back to Santa Rosa Island, August 12th -14th. When not distracted by the feathered-birds, Ron will be on FM and linear satellites as W6R.  Keep an eye on Ron’s Twitter feed for updates at the dates get closer.  https://twitter.com/ad0dx
• Goose Bay, Labrador (FO93) August 12-14, 2019 
  Chris, VE3FU, will be visiting family / friends and maintenance of his HF remote station in FO93, but he should be on the FM sats as VO2AC. Chris will try to post here before each pass, so keep an eye on his Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/ChrisVE3FU
• 6Y – Jamaica (FK18) August 12-19, 2019 
  Philippe, EA4NF will be operating from JAMAICA (IOTA NA-097 – Grid FK18) in Satellite with the special call 6Y4NF from August 12 to 19, QRV Satellite in FM and SSB. QSL via LoTW.  Keep an eye on Philippe’s Twitter feed for further updates: https://twitter.com/EA4NF_SAT.

Remember to check out W3ZM On the Road for additional upcoming activations! https://www.amsat.org/events/was-w3zm/

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

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/

Satellite Shorts from All Over

• Ballots for the 2019 AMSAT Board of Directors election have been mailed. Candidate statements may be found at
  https://www.amsat.org/2019-board-statements/
• AMSAT’s RadFxSat-2 / Fox-1E satellite is now expected to launch this fall. RadFxSat-2 will fly on the ELaNa XX mission on the second flight of Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne.
• With the newest FM satellite, CAS-7B, now in orbit, we take a look back at the first satellite configured as an FM relay, AO-21 / RS-14, for #ThrowbackThursday #AMSAT50th: https://twitter.com/AMSAT/status/1154373271023947777
• Robert Bankston, KE4AL, tweeted about the first “walkie-talkie satellite terminal” used by KB4CRT to work stations through AO-10. See: https://twitter.com/KE4ALabama/status/1154240267706339331

In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President’s Club. Members of the President’s Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT office.

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 six post-secondary years in this status. Contact Martha at the AMSAT office for additional student 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