———- Forwarded message ———-
From: JoAnne Maenpaa <k9jkm@comcast.net>
Date: 2017-09-24 8:31 GMT+08:00
Subject: [ans] ANS-267 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
To: ans@amsat.org
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-267
The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and infor-
mation 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://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.
In this edition:
* Falconsat-3 is Now Open for Amateur Radio Use
* Get Ready for the 2017 AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual Meeting
Everything you need to know and get done today
* International Space Station Astronauts are Calling CQ Students –
ARISS-US program education proposal deadline is November 15, 2017
* KB1RVT and UX0FF QSO via AO-7
* Polish Amateur Radio Union Award for ARISS SSTV Reception
* W5PFG Awarded Grid Master Award #5
* October Russian Arctic DXpedition Includes Satellite Operation
* November Satellite Activity Planned for HC8 Galapagos DXpedition
* Balloon Flight with Radio BLT-49 South Texas September 30
* Satellite Shorts From All Over
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-267.01
ANS-267 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 267.01
From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD.
DATE September 24, 2017
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-267.01
Falconsat-3 is Now Open for Amateur Radio Use
The Air Force Academy satellite Falconsat-3 is now open for amateur
radio use as a digital store-and-forward system. FalconSAT-3 was
built in 2005 and 2006 by cadets and faculty in the Space Systems
Research Center at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO,
and launched in 2007 on an Atlas V.
After serving in scientific and training roles, the Academy has
now made the satellite available for Amateur radio use.
The satellite is in a 35.4 degree inclination orbit, with an
approximate altitude of 465 to 476 km. The Packet Bulletin Board
System is operating at 9600 baud with a 145.840 uplink, and
435.103 downlink. Output power is 1 watt, and the downlink is con-
tinuously on. Digipeating is enabled for live QSOs, but unattended
digipeating operations is not authorized at this time. Current
Keplerian elements can be found in the AMSAT distributed Keplerian
elements.
More information can be found at https://www.amsat.org/
and further operational inquiries should be directed to AMSAT Vice
President Operations, Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA (ko4ma@amsat.org).
[ANS thanks AMSAT Vice President Operations, Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA for the
above information]
——————————
Get Ready for the 2017 AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual Meeting
Everything you need to know and get done today
Here is a summary of what you need to do to get ready for the
2017 AMSAT-NA Space Symposium and Annual Meeting, October 27-29,
2017 at the Silver Legacy Resort Hotel, Reno, NV.
Complete Your Symposium Registration in the AMSAT Store
——————————
You can register for the 2017 Space Symposium, the Saturday Evening
Banquet, and the Sunday Morning Area Coordinators breakfast in the
AMSAT store: https://www.amsat.org/shop/
Symposium Registration (including a copy of the Proceedings)
+ Starting September 15 — $50
+ At the door — $55
Make Your Reservations for the Symposium Hotel in Reno
——————————
You must make your hotel reservations at the Silver Legacy at this
link: https://www.amsat.org/
The hotel phone number is 1-800-687-8733.
TO GUARANTEE OUR RATES PLEASE MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS BEFORE
OCTOBER 12, 2017.
The Silver Legacy is a 4-star Resort/Hotel/Casino which is an iconic
42-story hotel with its massive round dome and spires centered in
downtown Reno.
2017 AMSAT-NA Space Symposium Preliminary Schedule Announced
——————————
Preliminary Schedule for the 2017 AMSAT-NA Space Symposium and
Annual Meeting, October 27-29, 2017 at the Silver Legacy Resort
Hotel, Reno, NV.
Check the Symposium Web Page for updates and new information as it
becomes available: https://www.amsat.org/
2017 AMSAT-NA Space Symposium Tours Announced
——————————
The 2017 AMSAT Space Symposium will be held Friday, Saturday, and
Sunday, Oct 27-29 in Reno. There will be two tours of the sights
around Reno offered after the Symposium ends on Sunday morning.
The first tour is offered on Sunday October 29, 10:00AM to 4:00PM
This tour will visit Historical Virginia City. Tour cost is $46 per
person. Lunch will be on your own.
The second tour is offered on Monday October 30, 8:30AM to 5:30PM
This tour will Discover Truckee, the Donner Party, Lake Tahoe &
Genoa. The tour cost is $80 per person. There is an optional Lake
Tahoe Cruise on a paddle-wheel ship available. The tour cost with the
Lake Tahoe Cruise is $147 per person. Lunch is provided with either
tour option.
A description of the tours has been posted at
https://www.amsat.org/
Complete tour information is available by paging through each tour
description and a link to purchase the tour through the AMSAT Store
is provided below the description. You may also purchase all
Symposium events at the AMSAT Store.
https://www.amsat.org/product-
Introducing Banquet Keynote Speaker Garrett L. Skrobot, NASA
Cubesat Launch Initiative Program, Kennedy Space Center
——————————
Garrett was born in Myrtle Beach, S.C., but moved to West Cocoa,
Florida at the age of six months. Immediately after graduating
from Cocoa High School in 1980, Garrett began a four-year tour
of duty in the United States Marine Corp that took him around
the world.
In 1988 Garrett earned a Bachelor of Science in electrical
engineering from the University of Tennessee; he later received
his master’s degree in space systems from the Florida Institute
of Technology in 1992.
Garrett joined the NASA team at Kennedy Space Center in 2000 as
an Integration Engineer for the Launch Services Program. Prior
to his work with NASA, Garrett was employed by General Dynamics
as a System Engineer for the Atlas/Centaur booster program. Dur-
ing his tenure with General Dynamics, Garret participated in more
than 50 launches while working in the Electrical, Ground Instru-
mentation, Payload Mission Integration, Telemetry and Project
Management divisions.
Garrett continues to live in Cocoa with his wife and their three
daughters. In his free time, Garrett enjoys nature photography,
fishing, and actively supporting his daughters in their sports.
Garrett himself is also an accomplished athlete, having earned
a black belt in karate.
[ANS thanks the 2017 AMSAT-NA Symposium Committee for the above information]
——————————
October 6 Deadline for 2017 AMSAT Space Symposium Papers
This is the second call for papers for the 2017 AMSAT Annual Meeting
and Space Symposium to be held on the weekend of October 27, 28, 29,
2017 at the Silver Legacy Resort, Reno, Nevada.
Proposals for papers, symposium presentations and poster presentations
are invited on any topic of interest to the amateur satellite community.
We request a tentative title of your presentation as soon as possible,
with final copy to be submitted by October 6 for inclusion in the printed
proceedings. Abstracts and papers should be sent to Dan Schultz N8FGV at
n8fgv at amsat.org
[ANS thanks Dan, N8FGV, for the above information]
——————————
International Space Station Astronauts are Calling CQ Students
ARISS-US program education proposal deadline is November 15, 2017
September 18, 2017: The Amateur Radio on the International Space
Station (ARISS) program is seeking proposals from U.S. schools,
museums, science centers and community youth organizations to host
radio contacts with an orbiting crew member aboard the International
Space Station (ISS) between July 1 and December 31, 2018.
Each year, ARISS provides tens of thousands of students with oppor-
tunities to learn about space technologies and space communications
through the exploration of Amateur Radio. The program provides
learning opportunities by connecting students to astronauts aboard
the International Space Station (ISS) through a partnership between
NASA, the American Radio Relay League, the Radio Amateur Satellite
Corporation and other Amateur Radio organizations and worldwide
space agencies. The program’s goal is to inspire students worldwide,
to pursue interests and careers in science, technology, engineering
and mathematics (STEM) through Amateur Radio.
Educators overwhelmingly report that student participation in the
ARISS program inspires an interest in STEM subjects and in STEM
careers. Ninety-two percent of educators who have participated in
the program have indicated that ARISS provided ideas for encourag-
ing student exploration, discussion, and participation, and 78
percent said that ARISS was effective in stimulating student
interest in STEM.
ARISS is looking for organizations that will draw large numbers
of participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed
education plan. Students can learn about satellite communications,
wireless technology, science research conducted on the space
station, what it is like to work in space, radio science, and any
related STEM subject. Students learn to use Amateur Radio to talk
directly to an astronaut and ask their STEM-related questions.
ARISS will help educational organizations locate Amateur Radio
groups who can assist with equipment for this once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity for students.
The proposal deadline for 2018 contacts is November 15, 2017.
One proposal webinar opportunity remains for guidance and answers
to proposal questions is offered for September 25 at 4 PM EDT
(2000 UTC). Advance registration is necessary which can be done
at the eventbrite.com website:
https://tinyurl.com/ANS-267-
The ARISS website has additional details on expectations, proposal
guidelines, and the proposal form. See:
http://www.ariss.org/hosting-
—
About ARISS
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a coop-
erative venture of international amateur radio societies and the
space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS).
In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite
Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the
Center for the Advancement of Science in space (CASIS) and National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The primary goal of
ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering,
and mathematics (STEM) topics by organizing scheduled contacts via
amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students in
classrooms or public forms. Before and during these radio contacts,
students, educators, parents, and communities learn about space,
space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see
www.ariss.org.
Also join us on Facebook: Amateur Radio on the International Space
Station (ARISS). Follow us on Twitter: ARISS_status
[ANS thanks ARISS for the above information]
——————————
KB1RVT and UX0FF QSO via AO-7
John Papay, K8YSE, sent advice to amateur satellite operators in
the northeastern section of North America that Nikolay, UX0FF,
is looking skeds via AO-7. John wrote, “He is an accomplished
operator and worked satellites years ago. He is an active EME
operator and has WAS on 2M. His grid square is KN45kj.”
Skeds can be arranged via e-mail using the address listed on
Nicolay’s QRZ.com page.
On September 17 KB1RVT and UX0FF completed a QSO on AO-7. This
was Nikolay’s first satellite contact with the USA. Nikolay is
still looking for others to work in North America.
Paul, N8HM offers additional pointers in regard to operating via
AO-7 that the satellite has been observed to have been reliably
in Mode B for the past several days.
For the past several months, AO-7 has had a tendency to flip from
Mode B to Mode A even in the presence of only modest uplink sig-
nals, likely due to poor illumination on the solar panels. As
the seasons have progressed, it appears that the illumination
situation has improved. Get on and make some QSOs! This would
be a particularly good time to set up skeds for extreme range
QSOs.
According to DK3WN’s illum software, from October 15th through
November 21st, AO-7 will be in constant sunlight. During this
period, the 24 hour timer will function and the satellite will
spend 24 hours in Mode B then 24 hours in Mode A. Get those 10
meter antennas ready!
[ANS thanks John Papay, K8YSE and Paul Stoetzer, N8HM for the above
information]
——————————
Polish Amateur Radio Union Award for ARISS SSTV Reception
Armand, SP3QFE reported the Polish Amateur Radio Union (PZK),
in cooperation with ARISS and S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space
Corporation ENERGIA, offer an electronic Award to Amateurs who
received and decoded at least one SSTV series 7 image during
the 20th Anniversary of ARISS commemorative 2017 a Slow Scan
Television (SSTV) event from the ISS between July20 and July 24.
The SSTV pictures transmitted during this event were series #7
of 12 of images covering the history of Amateur Radio on the
International Space Station (ARISS) over the last 20 years.
To apply for the award first upload your image(s) to the ARISS
SSTV Gallery at:
http://www.
The Award rules and a link to the on-line application form are
on-line at: http://ariss.pzk.org.pl/sstv/ The deadline to apply
is September 30, 2017 at 23:59 UTC.
Note: If you have already uploaded images to the ARISS SSTV
Gallery you do not need to re-submit the image and only need to
complete the application form.
[ANS thanks Armand, SP3QFE for the above information]
——————————
W5PFG Awarded Grid Master Award #5
The Grid Master Award is sponsored by WA4HFN and WA4NVM to encourage
amateur radio operators to get on the air and make contacts. To
qualify for the Grid Master Award you must make confirmed satellite
contact with all 488 grids in the U.S.
Prior Grid Master Award winners include:
+ #1 — John Papay, K8YSE
+ #2 — Doug Papay, KD8CAO
+ #3 — Rick Tillman, WA4NVM
+ #4 — Glenn Miller, AA5PK
This week Damon Runion, WA4HFN, announced that Grid Master Award #5
has been awarded to Clayton Coleman, W5PFG.
For more information Damon requests you send an e-mail to him at
the address listed on QRZ.com or visit his web site at:
https://sites.google.com/view/
These awards are free, Damon and Rick only ask that you make a
donation to AMSAT NA.
[ANS thanks Damon Runion, WA4HFN for the above information]
——————————
October Russian Arctic DXpedition Includes Satellite Operation
Members of the Russian Robinson Club (RRC) continue planning for
their next Arctic operation. Look for RI1F to be active from
Victoriya Island (EU-190). They plan to leave Murmansk around
September, 27. They are expected to operate between October 1-7.
This island group has never been activated before. These islands
also count for DXCC purposes as Franz Josef Land.
Activity will be on 160-10 meters, including the WARC bands,
VHF and UHF. Operations will be on CW, SSB, the Digital modes,
EME (dates are October 3-7) and the satellites.
They plan to operate from two different sites (one HF and EME;
one VHF/UHF). The complete break down can be see on QRZ.com.
Currently, 12 operators have been named: Igor/UA9KDF (Team leader),
Yury/ UA9OBA (RRC President), Andrey/UA9LDD (CW op), Valery/UA0ZC
(CW/SSB op), Vladimir/R9LR (SSB/CW op), Sergey/UA9KB (CW op),
Artemy/UA9KAM (Photo, video, SSB op), Andrey/RT9K (Mechanic,
cook, SSB op), Victor/RW0BG (CW/SSB op), Mikhail/UA1QV (CW/SSB op),
Valery/RA9J (CW/SSB op) and Vladimir, son of UA9LDD; CW/SSB op).
The Pilot station is Igor, RA3CQ. QSL via ClubLog’s OQRS or by
the Bureau. QSL Manager is Alexandr, RX9KM. Watch QRZ.com for updates.
Their Web page is still under construction at: http://legendsarctic.com
[ANS thanks Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 1328 for the above information]
——————————
November Satellite Activity Planned for HC8 Galapagos DXpedition
HC8, GALAPAGOS ISLANDS. An Argentinian group will be active as
HC8LU from San Cristobal Island in the Galapagos Islands between
November 29 to December 8, 2017.
Operators include Alejandro/LU8YD, Alejandro/LU9VEA, Mario/LU7VB,
and Patricio/LU3YK. Pilot stations are Sergio/LU7YS and Javier/
LU5FF.
Activity will be on 160-10 meters using mainly SSB and Digital modes
(WSPR, JT65, FT8, PSK31). Also operations on the satellites (LEO, FM
and SSB). QSL via IK2DUW.
Visit their Blog page for updates, at: https://hc8lu.blogspot.com.ar
[ANS thanks the Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 1331 for the above information]
——————————
Balloon Flight with Radio BLT-49 South Texas September 30
The South Texas Balloon Launch Team says they plan to fly a
multiple radio mission from their Wharton Intergalactic
Spaceport in Wharton, TX on September 30, 2017 at 10AM CDT.
The BLT-49 website is http://www.w5acm.net/b49.html
Contact: John Maca ab5ss@swbell.net
QRZ.com: KG5FQX
Coords: 29.2543, -96.1544 Grid: EL19WG
Tracking specific information:
+ APRS.FI: KG5FQX-11, W5ACM-11
+ Telemetry: APRS: 144.390Mhz
Current Payload Manifest includes:
+ NEW Payload is a DMR Repeater on 446.5 MHz Up / 441.000 Down
(Color Code 1, Timeslot 1, Talkgroup 99 – Standard DMR
Simplex settings)
+ Crossband FM Repeater on 446.000 Up / 147.435 Down
+ Live DVB-T Digital ATV on 434 MHz
+ Digital Camera with a picture every 15 seconds
+ Balloon Burst Video Camera and several GoPro’s
+ SmartBeacon sending temp in CW on 28.322 MHz
+ WSPR beacon on 20M
Check the BLT-49 website or contact Andy MacAllister,
W5ACM@amsat.org for the latest flight/payload information.
[ANS thanks Andy MacAllister, W5ACM and the BALLOON_SKED group
on yahoogroups.com for the above information]
——————————
Satellite Shorts From All Over
+ Congratulations to AMSAT-SM (Sweden) on their 35th anniversary.
Lars Thunberg SM0TGU, wrote, “AMSAT-SM was founded April 24, 1982
by a group of swedish hams. The first AMSAT-SM president was Thomas
Johansson, SM5IXE. Today AMSAT-SM has aprox. 200 members and we
have an active news feed via web, Twitter and Youtube”.
http://www.amsat.se/english-
https://twitter.com/amsat_sm
https://www.youtube.com/
(via Lars Thunberg SM0TGU)
+ Following the recent ARISS-Europe Board elections, four candidates
were elected unopposed for a term of two years. Oliver, DG6BCE is
chairman, Emanuele, I0ELE is technical director, Bertus, PE1KEH
and Jean Pierre, F6DZP are counsellors. They take office on the
1st of October. (via RSGB)
+ At the IARU Region 1 Conference, in recognition of his outstanding
and ongoing contributions, Graham Shirville, G3VZV, was awarded the
IARU Region 1 Medal for his work on Satellite Coordination.
(via RSGB)
+ Peter Franklin, NX2X reported working 5J0YKF on San Andres Island
(EK92)via AO-7) via AO-7 on 9/17/17. Peter commented, “Hot dog!
She’s an oldie but a goodie!”
+ Free (hams like free!) access to electronics and radio magazines
from the past. Something to read while waiting for that next AO-85
pass … go to http://americanradiohistory.
searched for genre or titles can be found in the alphabetical index
(i.e.: Popular Electronics, Popular Communications, etc.) The
archived issues download as PDF files.
+ It is possible to search the Amsat-BB archives by using the “site:”
command in Google. For example, to find all mentions of the word
“Diplexer” in amsat-BB, type this line into Google:
Diplexer site:http://amsat.org/
To restrict the search to a particular year, type
Diplexer site:http://amsat.org/
(via Dan Schultz N8FGV)
+ A video commemorating the 2 year anniversary of IO-86 can be
found at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
(via AMSAT-NA facebook group)
+ This week also marks the 2nd anniversary of LilacSat-2 (CAS-3H)
which was launched along with eight other XW-2/CAS-3 amateur
radio satellites on Saturday, September 19, 2015.
https://amsat-uk.org/
+ The September edition of Weather Satellite magazine GEO Quarterly
produced by the Group for Earth Observation is now available.
Download the PDF from http://www.geo-web.org.uk/
GEO has changed from paid subscription to an optional sign-up to
GEO-Subscribers Yahoo group, see http://www.geo-web.org.uk/
(via AMSAT-UK)
+ On those evenings when the ISS is not visible in the night sky try
spotting geosynchronous satellites. This article from Sky & Telescope
magazine tells you how to do it …
http://tinyurl.com/ANS-267-
+ Information about the Open Source Cubesat Workshop which will be
held at ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany on November 23-24, 2017 can be
found at https://oscw.space/
——————————
/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 addi-
tional 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 stu-
dent rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status.
Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership
information. And, with that ponder the question, How many tenors
does it take to change a light bulb? Two … one to get up on the
ladder and the other to ask, “Isn’t that a little high for you?”
73,
This week’s ANS Editor,
JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM
k9jkm at amsat dot org
______________________________
Via the ANS mailing list courtesy of AMSAT-NA
http://www.amsat.org/mailman/
