AMSAT Partners with UMaine’s WiSe-Net Lab to Develop Maine’s First Small Satellite

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The University of Maine Wireless Sensing Laboratory (WiSe-Net Lab) and AMSAT have signed an agreement to collaborate on building and operating MESAT1, Maine’s first small satellite, to be launched in space in the next three years.

MESAT1 is Maine’s first CubeSat — one of 18 small research satellites selected by NASA to carry auxiliary payloads into space between 2021–23. It is part of NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative that provides opportunities for nanosatellite science and technology payloads built by universities, schools and nonprofit organizations to ride share on space launches.

UMaine’s WiSe-Net Lab, established in 2005, is involved in aerospace and space research. The lab was founded by Ali Abedi, KB1VJV, assistant vice president for research and director of the Center for Undergraduate Research. Lab researchers have developed the first wireless sensor network for NASA’s lunar habitation project and launched wireless leak-detection to the International Space station.

The MESAT1 initiative will enable K–12 students and teachers in Maine to access space data for educational and research purposes, and encourage students to pursue STEM careers.

AMSAT will provide a Linear Transponder Module (LTM) along with integration and operational support for MESAT1. AMSAT’s LTM incorporates a VHF/UHF telemetry beacon, command receiver, and linear transponder. It will be available for radio amateurs worldwide to use when the satellite is commissioned.

AMSAT President Clayton Coleman, W5PFG, celebrated the announcement. “This is a great day for AMSAT and UMaine’s Wise-Net Lab. This partnership is a true win-win for both education and the amateur radio community. The collaborative effort under AMSAT’s engineering and operations teams has once again succeeded to bring another opportunity to AMSAT.”

 

ANS-201 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for July 19th

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AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-201

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 http://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.

In this edition:

  • AMSAT Board of Directors Election Packages Mailed July 14
  • HO-107 is Back!
  • First Call for Papers – Virtual 2020 AMSAT Annual Meeting and Space Symposium
  • New D-STAR Reflector for AMSAT Use
  • SpaceX to Launch AMSAT-EA EASAT-2 and Hades Satellites
  • DARC Finds Unauthorized Transmissions in 144 MHz Satellite Band
  • 1240-1300 MHz Discussed at CEPT SE-40 Meeting
  • IARU Coordinates Two New Satellites
  • Upcoming Satellite Operations
  • Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
  • ARISS News
  • Satellite Shorts from All Over

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-201.01
ANS-201 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 201.01
From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD.
July 19, 2020
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-202.01

AMSAT Board of Directors Election Packages Mailed July 14

Brennan Price, N4QX, AMSAT Secretary reports that the ballots, candidate statements, and return envelopes for the 2020 AMSAT Board of Directors Election were prepared by Paladin Commercial Printing of Newington, Connecticut. Paladin mailed the packages from Hartford, Connecticut, on Tuesday, July 14, to members of record on July 1.

Non-US addresses were sent first class (the only option for overseas). US addresses were sent pre-sorted standard, which is routine for mail that requires a two-way response time measured in weeks, as this does.

Allowing for postal delivery standards and guard time, the Secretary will not consider a ballot as lost in post any earlier than August 12 (four weeks after the mailing). This timing permits a replacement ballot to be mailed first class in both directions, even internationally, with time to spare under prevailing postal delivery standards.

Paladin has shipped materials for 100 blank election packages to Price.

Price will use these materials to assemble and mail replacement or substitute packages as necessary. These requests and packages will be tracked and accounted against the voter list and returned ballots to guard against duplicates, and will be identifiable against the package mailed by Paladin for further verification and accounting by the tellers. Members desiring a replacement ballot package should contact Price no earlier than August 12.

The package is clearly labeled as election-related and contains:

1) An instruction and ballot sheet, with the ballot perforated,
2) A sheet of candidate statements, and
3) A No 9 return envelope, which bears the address to which ballots should be returned and the member’s name and address for verification against the voter list and any replacement ballot requests.

Secrecy at the time of counting will be maintained by separating the ballot from the envelope without inspection, placing the ballot in a receptacle, and scrutinizing the ballots after all have been separated from the envelopes.

Ballots should be returned in the return envelopes provided to arrive at the designated Post Office Box in Vienna, Virginia, by 5 p.m. Thursday, September 15, 2020. Separation of the ballots from the envelopes and counting will occur as soon thereafter as practicable, and no later than September 30.

Brennan can be reached at [email protected] for a query about membership status at any time or a replacement ballot after August 12.

[ANS thanks Brennan Price, N4QX, AMSAT Secretary for the above information]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the AMSAT office
is closed until further notice. For details, please visit
https://www.amsat.org/amsat-office-closed-until-further-notice/

HO-107 is Back!

On the evening of July 17, 2020, Vlad Chorney, EU1SAT, tweeted “Husky-1 ACTIVE!” with a screenshot from FoxTelem showing that he had received telemetry from HO-107 (HuskySat-1) which had been silent for nearly two months. About an hour after EU1SAT’s tweet, the satellite passed over the eastern United States and AMSAT command stations KO4MA and N8MH copied telemetry. On subsequent passes, the satellite was successfully commanded.

Please continue to copy telemetry in FoxTelem. If you have removed HO-107 from your tracked satellites during its period of inactivity, please add it back. The transponder remains disabled while AMSAT Operations evaluates the telemetry from the satellite.

[ANS thanks AMSAT Operations for the above information]

First Call for Papers – Virtual 2020 AMSAT Annual Meeting and Space Symposium

This is the first call for papers for the Virtual 2020 AMSAT Annual Meeting and Space Symposium to be held on October 17, 2020. Proposals for papers and symposium presentations are invited on any topic of interest to the amateur satellite community. Further details regarding the virtual event will be announced shortly. We request a tentative title of your presentation as soon as possible, with the final copy to be submitted by October 5, 2020 for inclusion in the Symposium Proceedings. Abstracts and papers should be sent to Dan Schultz at n8fgv(at)amsat.org.

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

AMSAT’s GOLF Program is about getting back to higher orbits, and it
all begins with GOLF-TEE – a technology demonstrator for deployable
solar panels, propulsion, and attitude control. Come along for the
ride. The journey will be worth it!

https://tinyurl.com/ANS-GOLF

New D-STAR Reflector for AMSAT Use

It has been nearly two years since Walter Holmes, K5WH and friends created the AMSAT DMR Talkgroup 98006 and has been working with great success. About one year ago they created a YSF US AMSAT Reflector 11689 to pull in others using Yaesu System Fusion digital radios. As these were working so well, they decided to bridge the two systems together so it would longer matter which of these digital technologies users had. Users could cross communicate between all users of both systems.

After success with the DMR talkgroup and the YSF reflector for more than a year, there was plenty of interest in adding D-STAR capability to the same system.

Walter is happy to announce the creation of a new D-STAR reflector for that purpose.  It supports four different reflector names such as XLXSAT, XRFSAT, DCSSAT, and REFSAT that are all linked together so that all of these work the same. As most people that are familiar with D-STAR reflectors know, they usually have numbers for the reflectors, but it seemed more appropriate to switch from the number system to the Alpha name like SAT to make it easier to find in the list.

For those using hotspots, they will need to refresh or update their Pistar or BlueDV host files to see these entries before they will see this one in the pull-down list.

Walter adds, “We recommend that users use module C for the AMSAT conversations but several other modules are available if we find a need to stretch out a bit. But, the C module is the one also linked to a few other repeaters.

“The D-STAR SAT reflector is not currently bridged into the system as are the DMR and YSF reflectors, but we hope to have that linked invery soon after a little more testing.

“If you have D-STAR capability, we invite you to give it a try and see how  it works for you.”

[ANS thanks Walter Holmes, K5WH for the above information]

SpaceX to Launch AMSAT-EA EASAT-2 and Hades Satellites

Spain’s national amateur radio society URE says SpaceX expect to launch the EASAT-2 and Hades satellites in December 2020.

AMSAT-EA, the URE satellite group, is building the satellites together with the European University of Madrid. The launch has been managed through the space broker Alba Orbital based in Glasgow.

EASAT-2 and Hades will be launched into a sun-synchronous orbit between 500 km and 600 km and their main function is to act as analog and digital repeaters for radio amateurs. There is also a camera for SSTV transmissions provided by the Czech Republic that has already flown on the United States Naval Academy PSAT-2 satellite, and has now been adapted to fit into the PocketQube satellites.

Both satellites are based on the PocketQube 1.5P (7.5 x 5 x 5 cm) architecture and represent an evolution of the previous GENESIS platform, whose GENESIS-L and GENESIS-N satellites are expected to fly before the end of the year with Firefly, in a joint collaboration with Fossa Systems and LibreSpace, which also launch their own satellites, all of them within the Picobus dispenser, developed bythe latter.

IARU has coordinated these frequencies:
– Hades – uplink 145.925 MHz, downlink 436.888 MHz
– EASAT-2 – uplink 145.875 MHz, downlink 436.666 MHz

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

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/

DARC Finds Unauthorized Transmissions in 144 MHz Satellite Band

The DARC reports unauthorized transmissions are taking place in the 144 MHz satellite segment of the 2M amateur radio primary allocation.

A translation of the DARC post reads:

“In the 144.010 MHz to 144.020 MHz range, illegally operated transmitters are increasingly being operated as “water vitalizers” or “water energizers”. The manufacturer specifies 144.015 MHz as the transmission frequency in its product description.

“The DARC EMC department asks for further information with location information about conspicuous signals in this frequency range, in preparation for collective complaints.

“The devices apparently generate fields with considerable field strength and a long range. The signals appear increasingly in the morning or in the evening. The illegal transmitters are typically in operation for 5 to 60 minutes (integer multiples of 5 minutes). The signal is generally very stable in frequency, but occasionally shows short-term fluctuations of up to a few 100 Hz. Otherwise the carrier is not further modulated.

The frequency range 144.000 MHz to 146.000 MHz is assigned to the Amateur Radio service in Germany as the primary exclusive user.”

A video of the interference caused by these devices and a map showing some of the cases so far detected in Germany can be seen at https://www.darc.de/der-club/referate/emv/

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

1240-1300 MHz Discussed at CEPT SE-40 Meeting

The 69th meeting of CEPT ECC Working Group SE-40, held June 23-25, discussed the Amateur Radio 1240-1300 MHz band, the meeting documents are now available.

Several contributions were received for the ECC Report dealing with the coexistence between the radionavigation-satellite service and the amateur service in the frequency band 1240 – 1300 MHz. The contributions were incorporated in the draft ECC Report. The CPG arrangements for the preparation of WRC-23 for AI 9.1 topic b) was noted.

The Russian Federation noted:
– 1240-1260 MHz is by the GLONASS system
– 1260-1300 MHz are used by EU’s Galileo, Beijing’s Beidou, Japan’s
QZSS and is planned to be used by Korea’s KPS.

Among the documents available in Input, Info and Minutes are:
– SE40(20)052 Amateur Repeaters – IARU-R1
– SE40(20)051 Section 2 update WI_39 – IARU-R1
– SE40(20)050 Annex Draft report RNSS Amateur – Russian Federation
– SE40(20)049 Suggestions for RNSS and Amateur Service Compatibility, Russian Federation
– Info 1 Amateur repeaters 23 cm – IARU-R1
– Info 3 Letter to SE40 chairman on updated of ITU-R M.1092 – European Commission
– Minutes
– SE40(20)56A3 (1) Draft Report Amateur vs RNSS

Download the meeting documents from https://tinyurl.com/ANS-201-CEPT.

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

IARU Coordinates Two New Satellites

– HIAPO
HIAPO is a 1U CubeSat mission that is a unique platform being used to provide engaging meaningful hands-on STEM curriculum for Hawaii students K-12. Part of this curriculum involves obtaining data about solar flares solar particle events and the disturbances of the Earth’s magnetic field. The students can also collect data on solar events with relation to the propagation of radio waves reflected or refracted back towards the Earth from the ionosphere. During the lifespan of this mission that data will be available for amateur operators to download directly from the satellite.

The Hawaii Science & Technology Museum was awarded a no-cost flight of the launch and a limited resources will not allow the development of an Amateur Radio digipeater. However if the launch date slips they plan to work with resources at AMSAT to develop a digipeater. Proposing a UHF downlink using 9k6 FSK with AX25. Planning a Firefly launch from Vandenberg in July 2020 into a 300 km orbit with 137 degree inclination together with Serenity and Spinnaker 3. A downlink on 437.225 MHz has been coordinated.

– VZLUSAT-2
VZLUSAT-2 is 3U CubeSat project of the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen and Czech Aerospace Research Centre. Students from four Czech technical universities are involved along with members of an Amateur Radio community from The Czech Republic.

The primary payload is the experimental Earth observation camera with an expected resolution around 30 to 50 m GSD. Secondary payloads of the mission are Radiation Orbital Monitor, Gama Ray Burst detector, X-ray detector and other sensors. This mission is fully open to Radio Amateurs who were also involved in the development of the satellite.

The space segment uses two Amateur bands for communication: An S-band for payload data downlink (DVBS2 ETSI EN 302 307 standard, 2 MBd, QPSK), and UHF downlink beacon (GMSK 1200 Bd), telecommand uplink (GMSK, 1200 Bd – 9600 Bd) and telemetry downlink (GMSK 4800, 9600 Bd). All the information is in an open format and everything needed for decoding is or will be published at: https://www.pilsencube.zcu.cz/vzlusat2/transmission.pdf.

Planning a launch from Cape Canaveral in the time window from December 2020 to March 2021 into SSO 500-600 km. A downlink on 437.325 MHz has been coordinated.

[ANS thanks the IARU 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/

Upcoming Satellite Operations

Quick Hits:

– Need Hawaii? On AO-7 Most days. NH7WN for a schedule.

– EN85, 86 and maybe 75 and 76, July 11-25. @AA8CH for a schedule.

– FN44/54, 7/22 – 7/31, KQ2RP: Just like last time, FM only.

– FN11+21 then 12+22 grid lines, 7/25, @NS3L Steve is heading out to these lines. Schedule to come.

– EN20/30 Line, July 28-31, @KX9X Sean is moving quickly towards his VUCC/R award by heading out again for two more grids. Watch his Twitter for details.

– DM97/98 & EM08/09: Super Rover @AD0DX is heading out for the Kansas QSO party and N0E. More to come.

Major Roves:

– @WY7AA is heading out again!
Mon 7/20 DN67/68. All SSB and FM passes from about 1600-0400.
Tue 7/21 DN57/58. All SSB and FM passes from about 1600-0400.
Wed 7/22 Travel day no sats.
Thu 7/23 DN55/56. All SSB and FM passes from about 1600-0400.
Fri 7/24 DN65/66. All SSB and FM passes from about 1600-0400.
Watch his QRZ page for details and updates.

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

Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events

No events posted.

ARISS News

No pending school operations.

[ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N  for the above information.]

Shorts from All Over

– Sean Kutzko, KX9X To Present “Working Satellites” at DXE Virtual Hamfest and DX Academy July 25, 2020

Join Sean on Saturday, July 25, 2020 at 10:15 EDT for his thirty-minute presentation on Amateur Radio satellites.  Sean’s presentation is part of the DX Engineering Virtual Hamfest and DX Academy. The event is free and open to all. Register at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-201-Sean

– Behind Scenes SpaceX Crew Dragon Mission You Haven’t Seen

NASA has just released a new video. It starts with “You saw history made with the first crewed launch and docking of the SpaceX Crew Dragon, but you didn’t see the flurry of activity on board the International Space Station…until now.

“Join Expedition 63 Commander Chris Cassidy and his crew mates as they prepare their cameras to document the DM-2 launch, and look over their shoulders to witness the new American spacecraft dock to the station and deliver their new crew mates.”

Watch the twelve minute video at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-201-Dragon.

[ANS thanks http://spaceref.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,

This week’s ANS Editor,

Frank Karnauskas, N1UW
n1uw at amsat dot org

 

ANS-194 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for July 12th

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AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-194

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: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/ans

In this edition:

  • AMSAT Leadership Explains 2018-2020 Legal Expenses
  • Update on HO-107 (HuskySat-1)
  • AMSAT-DL Proposes LunART – Luna Amateur Radio Transponder
  • Buffalo Soldiers Special Event on the Satellites
  • Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
  • Upcoming Satellite Operations
  • Upcoming ARISS Contacts
  • Satellite Shorts from All Over

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-194.01
ANS-194 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 194.01
From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD.
DATE July 12, 2020
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-194.01

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the AMSAT office
is closed until further notice. For details, please visit
https://www.amsat.org/amsat-office-closed-until-further-notice/

AMSAT Leadership Explains 2018-2020 Legal Expenses

On July 10, 2020, AMSAT President Clayton Coleman, W5PFG, sent the following letter to AMSAT members regarding legal expenses incurred during the 2018-2020 timeframe. The letter was co-signed by Dr. Tom Clark, K3IO, Martha Saragovitz, Keith Baker, KB1SF, Robert Bankston, CPA, KE4AL, Jerry Buxton, N0JY, Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, Dr. Mark Hammond, N8MH, Bruce Paige, KK5DO, and Paul Stoetzer, N8HM.

https://tinyurl.com/ANS-194-Letter

[ANS thanks the AMSAT Office for the above information]

Update on HO-107 (HuskySat-1)

AMSAT Vice President – Engineering Jerry Buxton, N0JY, posted the following update on HO-107 (HuskySat-1) on the AMSAT-BB:

While it is disappointing that the transponder did not see a longer period of use following the science missions, the overall HuskySat-1/HO-107 project and mission were quite beneficial for our
partner and for AMSAT. The HuskySat-1 team were able to command their satellite and experiments and receive the telemetry they sought, and AMSAT was able to work through the extensive process of making a new design for a “black box” radio module that can be integrated into a non-AMSAT spacecraft and fly in the space environment.

The LTM (Linear Transponder Module) on HO-107 worked for over three months after HuskySat-1 came alive following its deployment. The failure of the LTM came during or just after a period of full sun where LTM temperatures reached over 80 degrees Celsius.

While licensed and operated as an amateur radio satellite by AMSAT during the transponder use, there are some facts that set HO-107 apart from our Fox-1 CubeSats and other AMSAT satellites.

1. It’s not our satellite. We have no control and may not have any insight into how a partner actually uses the LTM. While we see the LTM temperatures and many of the other typical data fields that we downlink to FoxTelem regarding LTM health, data such as temperature of the host environment as well as other specific information like power and the state of the other systems in a host satellite may or may not be available to us. Whether LTM is operated within design limits is entirely up to the host.

The University of Washington HuskySat Labs team was very cooperative with us on this mission, however there are things regarding their mission that we do not know because they are processing and studying their data for use in their thesis and classes and preparing it for release in a specific way typical of such an institution today. AMSAT is generally more forthcoming with information about our missions but what we can and have said about this mission is determined by UW. That is really no different to certain aspects of our own missions. Most members are likely familiar with the vague wording I provide for some of our launch timelines and that is the result of the same thing, in the owner of the launch vehicle or LSP/APIC determining what we can say to the public and when.

2. HO-107 was the first ever use of a new product, the AMSAT LTM. The LTM idea was first put forth at the AMSAT leadership strategic planning meeting in 2017 and is now coming into availability for other non-AMSAT CubeSats to fly amateur radio on their mission.

HO-107 is the pilot production of LTM and was developed in partnership with UW HuskySat-1. It was the first CubeSat radio module designed and built by AMSAT for use in other host CubeSats, and UW was key in working with us through the design and processes needed to provide such a module. They did not buy it as, nor did we give it to them as an “off the shelf” product as we plan to for future LTM production. LTM was developed from the Fox-1E linear transponder design, and provided in a partnership with UW that started in November 2014 when we made an agreement with University of Washington to fly an amateur radio on their CubeSat mission. Overall, the HuskySat-1 team were quite happy with the telemetry and command performance even with the LTM anomalies showing up toward the end of their experiments. In the process of getting HuskySat-1 to orbit several students became interested in amateur radio, and we have already had preliminary
discussions of future joint mission plans.

The ability to provide more LTM to new and future partners will increase the number of orbiting satellites carrying amateur radio, at a low cost to AMSAT and the partner, keeping amateur radio in space even as we develop newer and more capable satellites. There is no doubt that HO-107 was a success in many ways beyond the operational life of the transponder.

As usual, the AMSAT Engineering team of volunteers deserve the praise for putting yet another amateur radio in space be it in our own satellite, or in a partner satellite!

[ANS thanks Jerry Buxton, N0JY, AMSAT Vice President – Engineering, for the above information]

AMSAT’s GOLF Program is about getting back to higher orbits, and it
all begins with GOLF-TEE – a technology demonstrator for deployable
solar panels, propulsion, and attitude control. Come along for the
ride. The journey will be worth it!

https://tinyurl.com/ANS-GOLF

AMSAT-DL Proposes LunART – Luna Amateur Radio Transponder

AMSAT-DL has submitted a proposal to the European Space Agency to place an amateur radio communications link on the Large European Lander. This system would support direct communication with earth through amateur radio frequencies in the microwave bands, support University and Student Payloads with direct access to their experiments, allow Radio Science for a huge community of radio amateur operators and scientists worldwide. It would also provide an important back-up communication capability and capacity during emergency or when the ESA network is busy.

More details can be found at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-LunART

AMSAT wishes our friends at AMSAT-DL the best of luck on their proposal. This would be a great resource for amateur radio should it come to fruition.

[ANS thanks AMSAT-DL for the above information]

Buffalo Soldiers Special Event on the Satellites

In honor of Buffalo Soldiers Month and to commemorate the formation of the United States Army 9th and 10th Calvary Buffalo Soldiers Regiments the Texas Parks and Wildlife will take part of a worldwide amateur radio special event on July 25th – 26th, 2020. Transmissions will begin transmitting at 8am CST Saturday morning July 25 and will end 8pm CST Sunday July 26. Commemorative QSL cards and Certificates will be available (see the callsign W5W or W5B at the QRZ.com web site for QSL information).

Operations will be held on:

Voice 10, 15, 20, 40 and 80 meters
Digital FT8 on 20, 40 and 80 meters
CW on 20, 40 meters
Satellite

Listen for the FCC assigned callsigns: W5W or W5B

Shortwave Listeners (SWL) are encouraged to participate.

For those without amateur radio privileges to transmit or listen in, please join us Saturday July 25 at 1pm CST on Facebook Live, look for Buffalo Soldiers Program – Texas Parks and Wildlife, for participation and a chance at a special QSL Card and Commemorative Certificate.

For additional information about the Buffalo Soldiers legacy and an excellent video history about the Buffalo Soldiers with commentary from Judge Joe Green please visit www.qrz.com and enter W5W or W5B into the search box.

[ANS thanks Rudy Hardy, W5HRH, 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

Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events

Want to see AMSAT in action or learn more about amateur radio in space?

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

Due to COVID-19, many hamfest and events around the United States have been canceled or postponed. While we make every effort to ensure the information contained below is correct, there may be some that we missed.

No events are currently scheduled. We wish all of you safekeeping and hope to be at a hamfest near you soon.

[ANS thanks Robert Bankston, KE4AL, AMSAT Vice President – User Services, for the above information]

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/

Upcoming Satellite Operations

Quick Hits:

EM57 & EM67 (Saturday 7/11 & 7/12) N4DCW may also stop in EM58, passes posted on his QRZ page.
FN45 & FN46, VE2FUA, 7/12 & 7/13: Chris is heading out to a little known (to rovers at least) called Maine. Might want to get him while he is there.
DN44, 7/13 – 7/17, @N7AGF FM for sure may bring linear gear if it fits.
FM13 & FM03, 7/12 & 7/13, Wz4M is heading out Holiday Style
EN20/30 Line, July 28-31, KX9X : Sean is moving quickly towards his VUCC/R award by heading out again for two more grids. Watch his Twitter for details.
DM97/98 & EM08/09: Super Rover @ADoDX is heading out for the Kansas QSO party and N0E. More to come.

@WY7AA is heading out again!!!

Mon. 7/13 Drive day possible FM passes from DN63
Tues – Sat. 7/14 – 7/18 SSB and FM passes from DN64 Burgess Junction, WY. Some HF POTA K-4534 Big Horn National Forest
Sun. 7/19 Travel day no sats, but internet updates
Mon 7/20 SSB and FM passes from DN67/68. Every pass from about 16:00 – 04:00
Tues 7/21 SSB and FM passes from DN57/58. Every pass from about 16:00 – 04:00
Wed. 7/22 Travel day no sats
Thurs 7/23 SSB and FM passes from DN55/56. Every pass from about 16:00 – 04:00
Fri 7/24 SSB and FM passes from DN65/66. Every pass from about 16:00 – 04:00
Watch his QRZ page for details and updates.

Please submit any additions or corrections to [email protected]

[ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, for the above information]

Upcoming ARISS Contacts

Quick list of scheduled contacts and events:

Don Bosco Haacht Technisch en Beroepsonderwijs, Haacht, Belgium, Multi-point telebridge via AB1OC

The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS
The scheduled astronaut is Chris Cassidy KF5KDR
Contact was successful: Fri 2020-07-10 10:49:51 UTC 27 deg (***)

International Aerospace School, Ufa, Russia, direct via TBD

The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS
The scheduled astronaut is Ivan Vagner
Contact is go for Fri 2020-07-17 19:10 UTC

[ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, ARISS Operations, 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

+Congratulations to Kevin Manzer, N4UFO, on earning AMSAT GridMaster Award #12 for working all 488 continental US grids. Kevin notes that it took him just over five years, from 2013-2018, to accomplish this goal. More information regarding the GridMaster Award can be found at https://www.amsat.org/gridmaster/ (via KK5DO and N4UFO)

+F4DXV and R9LR have set another new satellite distance record – this time on LilacSat-2. The 4,561 km QSO occured on 10-Jul-2020 at 04:23 UTC. Records are listed at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-SatDist (via F4DXV and N8HM)

+An article about the first amateur radio communication system in lunar orbit, aboard LO-94, has been published at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-194-LO-94 (via BG2BHC on Twitter).

+Congratulations to KP4RV for being the first station in Puerto Rico to receive the VUCC Award on amateur satellites (via KF7R on Twitter).

+The European Space Agency recently published a how-to video regarding reception of ISS SSTV pictures. An ISS SSTV transmission is expected within the next few weeks in commemoration of the 45th anniversary of Apollo/Soyuz: https://youtu.be/HtC-BPcMruA

+All issues of The AMSAT Journal dating back to 2014 are now available to AMSAT members on AMSAT’s new membership portal. The 1969-2013 archive will be added at a later date. All editions of AMSAT’s Symposium Proceedings are also available for members If you’re a current AMSAT member, get logged on today. If you are not yet a member, consider joining today at https://launch.amsat.org/

+The 2020 edition of AMSAT’s Getting Started with Amateur Satellites is now available on the AMSAT store. A perennial favorite, Getting Started is updated every year with the latest amateur satellite information, and is the premier primer of satellite operation. The book is presented in DRM-free PDF format, in full color, and covers all aspects of making your first contacts on a ham radio satellite. The digital download is available for $15 at https://tinyurl.com/2020GettingStarted

+ The AMSAT Folding at home team continues to climb the rankings. Now in the top 900 of all teams at the time of this writing, the team has grown to 48 members with 67 active CPUs within the past 50 days and includes 12 members in the top 100,000 of all users. Alex Free, N7AGF, is our top contributor with over 159,000,000 points credited to AMSAT’s team. For more information about the Folding at home project and how you can contribute to scientific research, including the fight against COVID-19, see https://foldingathome.org/. AMSAT’s team number is 69710: https://stats.foldingathome.org/team/69710

/EX

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. President’s Club donations may be made at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-PresClub.

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.

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

73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space,

This week’s ANS Editor,

Paul Stoetzer, N8HM
n8hm at amsat dot org

AMSAT Leadership Explains 2018-2020 Legal Expenses

by

Dear AMSAT Member:

After fifty years of AMSAT providing amateur radio with a presence in space, the organization has recently become under attack by two of its own Directors. These two Directors, Thompson and Stoddard, began their attack on the organization with a series of accusations and threats starting in 2018.  In response, the President of AMSAT under the authority of the Board of Directors, sought legal counsel to protect the organization and receive guidance. As a result of those authorized legal services, AMSAT adopted one new policy and modernized another. There were several other legal expenditures related to the continued threats along with some operational legal expenditures including trademark renewal and space policy development. By alleging that some of the legal expenditures driven by their own actions were “unauthorized,” both Directors Thompson and Stoddard have attempted to disrupt and possibly defame the organization to which they were elected to serve. To publicly attack the integrity and honor of all those who previously served as Officers and Directors of AMSAT while making egregious claims is shameful. Throughout this entire saga, AMSAT acted in an appropriate manner consistent with what is required of a corporation.

The AMSAT Board of Directors and Senior Officers were advised by President Joe Spier in March 2018 that Michelle Thompson had made complaints of discrimination and harassment against several Officers and Directors. The President was concerned about a possible lawsuit against AMSAT and was especially concerned that the fact that AMSAT did not have a policy against discrimination or harassment could lead to a default judgment against the Corporation in any lawsuit. With full knowledge and consent of the Board, the President retained an attorney both to develop a non-discrimination and non-harassment policy and to advise him while handling the complaints under the new policy. In April 2018, the Board unanimously passed the attorney-developed policy. An investigation was then conducted, with the President reporting the results to the Board in May 2018. With no credible accusations found to be in violation of AMSAT’s policies, the complaints were closed. 

In the Spring of 2019, after months of public personal attacks by Patrick Stoddard against an AMSAT Director related to his duties as Vice President – Operations, the President decided to act. With the full knowledge and consent of the Board, the President sought legal counsel to advise him on proposed sanctions against Patrick Stoddard. The extent of the sanctions was a temporary moderation of his posting status on the AMSAT-BB email reflector and revocation of his IT system access. This situation resulted in an attorney-developed revision to the AMSAT Acceptable Use Policy that the Board unanimously passed in June 2019.

In July 2019, Patrick Stoddard complained that the Secretary’s execution of the Board of Directors Election was contrary to our bylaws. It was mirrored by online claims that the Secretary was inept, and that the election would be conducted illegally. The President and Secretary, again with the full knowledge and consent of the Board, sought legal advice on the conduct of the election under our bylaws.

Following the 2019 election, the President continued to work with an attorney on a conflict of interest policy related to a newly elected AMSAT Director for a potentially competing organization. Specifically, Director Thompson is a Director of Open Research Institute which solicits funding for amateur radio satellite service projects. Current AMSAT governing documents are not equipped to handle these potential conflicts. Being that Open Research Institute sent a campaign mailing in 2019’s Board of Directors election, there is at minimum the appearance of conflict with regards to Director Thompson. AMSAT did not provide a copy of its membership mailing addresses to Open Research Institute.

The 2019 Board Meeting held on October 16-17 in Arlington, VA was the first face-to-face meeting that included Directors Thompson and Stoddard as voting members. During that meeting, it was discovered that Director Stoddard was secretly recording the meeting without the knowledge or permission of other Board Members, AMSAT officers, or others that were sitting as observers. Often, privacy laws require that any recordings be done with the consent of those being recorded.  In the past, the AMSAT Secretary may record the meeting to assist in the development of meeting minutes, but such recording was done with the full knowledge and acceptance of the Board.  When Director Stoddard was asked about his recording, he stated that it was for personal use only.  The Board, well aware of the ’sensitivities’ between Board members, made the reluctant decision to allow Director Stoddard to continue his personal recording following his assurance that nothing from the recording would be shared with others outside the Board. Following the Symposium, Director Stoddard did not offer to share his recording with other Board members. He then used the recording to publicly quote others without their permission with intent to take things out of context which means he broke his commitment to keep the recordings ‘personal’. This of course has further eroded trust within the Board and reduces Director Stoddard’s reputation for keeping promises made to his Board colleagues.  

In January 2020, a demand letter arrived at AMSAT from an attorney representing Directors Thompson and Stoddard. The demand letter alleged AMSAT was preventing the Directors from performing their duties by denying access to corporate record, specifically an archive of the previous Board of Directors’ email discussions. After enduring months of demands by Directors Thompson and Stoddard, President Spier resigned the next day after receiving the demand letter. The Executive Vice President of AMSAT contacted the attorney for guidance to deal with the issue. Shortly thereafter, a new President was elected and continued to work through this issue with the attorney. The new President made a decision quickly to ensure no corporate records would be denied access to any Director, ensured the email archives were restored to visible status, and made a public statement affirming the position of transparency and equal access to corporate records.

None of this was kept secret from the Board. AMSAT never sought legal advice to harass or intimidate members or candidates as alleged by Directors Thompson and Stoddard. Legal services were retained to provide guidance to the organization on the handling of unique situations that AMSAT had never faced before.

While these legal expenses were an unfortunate use of funds that could have been used for AMSAT projects, the Board and Senior Officers believed it to be necessary to protect the Corporation. Additionally, AMSAT gained a firm policy on handling allegations of discrimination and harassment as well as a modernized Acceptable Use Policy for our email message boards.

Allegations have been made that other “unauthorized” legal expenses were incurred to another attorney. These “unauthorized” expenses relate directly to AMSAT’s mission – our trademark attorney that has been renewing AMSAT’s trademarks for many years. This is a standard, periodic administrative expense of the Corporation. Allegations have also been made that the officers exceeded a cap that the Board imposed on expenses to another firm. The Board capped expenses related to the development of an ITAR/EAR policy. A few thousand dollars of the total disbursements to that firm were related to legal advice concerning the exportation of Linear Transponder Modules to Canada under our partnership with the Radio Amateurs of Canada. This was an Engineering project expense related to, but distinct from the eventual development and adoption of an ITAR/EAR policy. These expenses were, as before, undertaken with the full knowledge and consent of the Board.

It is absurd for two newly elected board members to make accusations of unauthorized expenditures when it was in part the actions of Directors Thompson and Stoddard prior to their election that forced the Board at that time to take appropriate action to seek legal counsel to protect the corporation.

The only power that Directors have is when the Board is in session and Board members make their vote.  Individual Directors do not dictate day-to-day management of the Corporation but instead have oversight as a Board. Likewise, the President is elected by the Board and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Corporation, keeping the Board informed of events and actions that have a significant impact on AMSAT. When appropriate, the Board votes on key decisions and strategic direction. At other times, the President when informing the Board of key concerns, provides the Board an opportunity to provide feedback and consensus. Unless the Board provides guidance to modify the President’s intended actions, the President has done due diligence in keeping the Board apprised of actions that will be taken.

The effectiveness of a Director is based on how well that individual can work with their colleagues and create an atmosphere of collaboration and common purpose.  Threats, innuendo, and public shaming via Internet blogs do not create an atmosphere for honest and respectful discussion. A poisonous atmosphere makes it impossible for good ideas to be heard.  Such an environment causes further mistrust when an accuser does not ask questions in a nonthreatening manner to better understand how the Board takes actions or how it functions before making judgements or public accusations.

Despite these unfortunate distractions by Directors Thompson and Stoddard, many dedicated volunteers work every day fulfilling AMSAT’s promise to Keep Amateur Radio in Space. Thank you for being a member and supporting AMSAT.

Signed on behalf of AMSAT,

Clayton Coleman, W5PFG
President 2020-Present
Director 2017-2019
Secretary 2017-2019

Co-signed by:

Dr. Tom Clark, K3IO
Director 1974-Present
President Emeritus  		Martha Saragovitz
Manager 1977-Present  
Keith Baker, KB1SF
Treasurer 2010-2019
Director 1994-2003
Past President  		Robert Bankston, CPA, KE4AL
Treasurer 2019-Present  
Jerry Buxton, N0JY
Director 2014-Present
Vice President – Engineering 2014-Present  		Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA
Director 2007-2013, 2014-Present
Vice President – Operations 2006-Present  
Dr. Mark Hammond, N8MH
Director 2013-2015, 2016-Present  		Bruce Paige, KK5DO
Director 2002-2004, 2016-Present  
Paul Stoetzer, N8HM
Executive Vice President 2017-Present
Director 2017-2019  		 

Referenced policies are available at https://www.amsat.org/about-amsat/

A PDF copy of this letter may be downloaded at https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/20200710_AMSAT_Leadership_Explains_Legal_Expenses.pdf