NASA ELaNa-4 Cubesats Set to Launch Nov 19 with ORS-3 Minotaur from Wallops, VA

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NASA ELaNa-4
NASA ELaNa-4

LAUNCHED!

Eleven cubesats from NASA’s ELaNa Educational Launch of Nanosatellites program are set to launch on the ORS-3 mission on a US Air Force Minotaur-1 from Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Launch is currently scheduled for 2330 UTC on November 19, 2013, with a target orbit of 500km circular, and 40.5 degree inclination.

Cubesat.org recently published a list of those satellites in the amateur service, or those using amateur frequencies under an experimental license. The list includes frequencies, modulation, beacon periods, and links to the individual project web pages, and can be found at http://cubesat.org/index.php/missions/upcoming-launches/135-ors3-launch-alert

Up to the minute launch data can be found at Spaceflight Now’s web site at http://www.spaceflightnow.com/minotaur/ors3/status.html

Real time discussion regarding the launch can be found via IRC, with details posted at http://www.cubesat.org/index.php/collaborate/ground-operators

UPDATE

Preliminary Keplerian elements have been released; refer to http://cubesat.org/index.php/missions/upcoming-launches/135-ors3-launch-alert for P-POD order assignments.

ORS3-2.2A
1 99900U 00000 13324.06792882 0.00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 0005
2 99900 40.5215 249.9769 0002852 187.8940 351.5057 15.19723466000006
ORS3-2.3A
1 99901U 00000 13324.06827604 0.00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 0007
2 99901 40.5215 249.9769 0002954 196.7779 344.5267 15.19722048000009
ORS3-2.3B
1 99902U 00000 13324.06827604 0.00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 0008
2 99902 40.5215 249.9769 0002954 196.7779 344.5267 15.19722048000000
ORS3-2.3C
1 99903U 00000 13324.06827604 0.00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 0009
2 99903 40.5215 249.9769 0002954 196.7779 344.5267 15.19722048000001
ORS3-2.5A
1 99904U 00000 13324.06862326 0.00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 0000
2 99904 40.5214 249.9768 0003075 205.2431 337.9664 15.19728651000009
ORS3-2.5B
1 99905U 00000 13324.06862326 0.00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 0001
2 99905 40.5214 249.9768 0003075 205.2431 337.9664 15.19728651000000
ORS3-2.5C
1 99906U 00000 13324.06862326 0.00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 0002
2 99906 40.5214 249.9768 0003075 205.2431 337.9664 15.19728651000001
ORS3-2.6A
1 99907U 00000 13324.06827604 0.00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 0003
2 99907 40.5215 249.9769 0002954 196.7779 344.5267 15.19722048000005
ORS3-2.6B
1 99908U 00000 13324.06827604 0.00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 0004
2 99908 40.5215 249.9769 0002954 196.7779 344.5267 15.19722048000006
ORS3-2.6C
1 99909U 00000 13324.06827604 0.00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 0005
2 99909 40.5215 249.9769 0002954 196.7779 344.5267 15.19722048000007
ORS3-2.7A
1 99910U 00000 13324.06792882 0.00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 0006
2 99910 40.5215 249.9769 0002852 187.8940 351.5057 15.19723466000007
ORS3-2.7B
1 99911U 00000 13324.06792882 0.00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 0007
2 99911 40.5215 249.9769 0002852 187.8940 351.5057 15.19723466000008
ORS3-2.7C
1 99912U 00000 13324.06792882 0.00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 0008
2 99912 40.5215 249.9769 0002852 187.8940 351.5057 15.19723466000009

AMSAT Board Elects Senior Officers for 2013-2014

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BoD_Photo
Board of directors meeting 2013

Election of AMSAT’s Senior Officers was one of the first orders of business at the AMSAT Board of Directors meeting on October 31 in Houston, Texas.

The following positions were voted upon and filled:

  •  Barry Baines, WD4ASW – President
  • Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA – Vice-President Operations
  • Gould Smith, WA4SXM – Vice President User Services
  • Tony Monteiro, AA2TX – Vice-President Engineering
  • Frank Bauer, KA3HDO – Vice-President Human Spaceflight
  • EMike McCardel, KC8YLD – Vice-President Educational Relations
  • Alan Biddle, WA4SCA – Secretary
  • Keith Baker, KB1SF/VA3KSF- Treasurer
  • Martha Saragovitz – Manager

The following Senior Officer positions remained open at this time awaiting appointments:

  • Executive Vice President
  • Vice-President Marketing

Cutoff Dates for AMSAT Space Symposium Registration/Tour Signups Are Quickly Approaching!

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symposium-finalWith the resumption of US Government activities, the upcoming tour of Johnson Space Center as part of 31st AMSAT Space Symposium is back on schedule.  JSC was closed to visitors during the recently concluded partial federal government shutdown and if the US Congress had not acted to pass a Continuing Resolution, the JSC Tour was threatened.  The tour is scheduled for Monday morning, 4 NOV 13 and we are once again accepting reservations for individuals to participate in the JSC tour. However, given the maximum number of participants that JSC can handle, there are only four slots that are currently open.  Anyone signing up for the tour once those slots are filled will be placed on a waiting list in the event an existing participant cancels.

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AMSAT Celebrates 30th Anniversary of Amateur Radio Involvement in Human Spaceflight, Owen Garriott, W5LFL to Speak

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The 31st Annual AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual Meeting takes place 1-3 NOV 2013 at the Houston Marriott South at Hobby Airport.  Deadline for reserving rooms under the AMSAT Block is Wednesday, 16 OCT 2013.  Time is running out;  reserve your room directly with the hotel and register for the Symposium, the banquet, and special tours on the AMSAT Store!  Note: the special tour of Johnson Space Center scheduled for Monday, 4 NOV 2013 is booked and reservations are closed.  All Symposium activities online reservations will close 25 OCT 2013.

A special highlight of this year’s Symposium is the celebration of the 30th anniversary of amateur radio involvement in human space flight and the evolution of amateur radio into a successful program on board the International Space Station. ARISS (Amateur Radio on the ISS) is an international program that supports educational outreach as well as provides an opportunity for informal contacts between astronauts/cosmonauts and amateur radio operators around the world.  The recent delivery of “Ham TV” equipment to the Columbus module by the European Space Agency is a reflection of the continued support that amateur radio holds for communicating with students.

Dr. Owen K. GarriottAstronaut Owen Garriott, W5LFL on STS-9 in November 1983 was the first astronaut to utilize amateur radio to communicate with personnel on the ground, allowing the general public to speak with US astronauts from space, outside the communication channels of NASA’s Mission Control.  In recognition of the 30th anniversary of this historic event, a multi-media panel featuring Owen and other key individuals who initiated this amazing program will take place on Saturday evening as part of the banquet, moderated by AMSAT VP-Human Space Flight Frank Bauer, KA3HDO.  The presentation includes not only remarks by Owen and others in response to Frank’s questions, but video highlights of amateur radio participation in STS-9 and other Shuttle flights will be shown.  Having such a celebration take place in Houston makes it more special as it allows us to have non-AMSAT personnel involved with placing amateur radio on the Shuttle and ISS participate in our special program.

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