AMSAT News Service

May 26, 2002

• UNSW BlueSat Project Update
• ANS in Brief
• Weekly Satellite Report

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UNSW BlueSat Project Update

Darran Siu, Electrical Systems Manager for the University of New South Wales BlueSat Satellite project provided ANS with some current information about the project.

BlueSat is currently a student project managed and run entirely by students at The University of New South Wales. It is part of the UNSW Laboratory for Students Space Development program, a student-led umbrella body whose purpose is to foster the development of space related projects at UNSW.

The program aims to create an awareness for space science developments within the UNSW community, to get students involved in space related projects using real-world with hands on experience.

The BlueSat project has be helped by the AMSAT-NA Microsat design, which was kindly supplied by the Australia Space Research Institute (who received the information originally from AMSAT-NA).

The project has also been helped with the expertise of several AMSAT-NA members, chief among them AO-40 Team member Dick Jansson, WD4FAB.

Currently, the design of the satellite it set to support a digital amateur radio communication scheme, however, an FM bent-pipe repeater may also be included in the final launch design. Frequencies have not yet been decided.

Stay tuned to ANS for further update.

[ANS thanks the BlueSat Satellite team for this information]

ANS in Brief

ANS news in brief this week includes the following:

• Ham radio is poised yet again to be part of a movie tentatively titled Phenomenon II. Phenomenon debuted in 1996 and featured John Travolta and his ham operator friend Forest Whitaker.
  -ARRL
• NASA and JPL are sending rats to Mars to work as field geologists. A 'rat' is not quite a furry little friend, but rather a high-tech robot with diamond teeth, called a Rock Abrasion Tool (RAT).
  -SpaceDaily
• A new version of the CCD Display software (CCD Display 2000) is now available from Colin, VK5HI. This freeware is available at http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ftp/software/win95/display.
  -Colin VK5HI
• By using an ultra-powerful laser to set off energy bursts lasting a tiny fraction of a second, scientists may finally be able to see -- and perhaps control -- what happens in the heart of an atom. The system could also briefly produce a massive magnetic field resembling that of a white dwarf star, opening the door to important new experiments in astrophysics.
  -SpaceDaily
• The 2001 AMSAT Symposium awards included presentations to Thomas Maier, Jay Ramdas, Martin Reihle and Heike Straube for their generous contributions of time and effort during the Phase 3D launch campaign. Their willingness to sacrifice personal time for this endeavor is greatly appreciated by hams the world over.
  -ANS
• NASA-funded research using satellite data has shown large icebergs that have broken off from Antarctica's Ross Ice Shelf are dramatically affecting the growth of minute plant life in the ocean around the region; plant life vital to the local food chain.
  -SpaceDaily
• The ARRL is reporting the FCC has agreed to a request for a new secondary HF allocation at 5.25 to 5.4 MHz. The FCC also is ready to permit operation on 136 kHz in the low-frequency region. In addition, the Commission has proposed elevating amateur radio to primary status at 2400 to 2402 MHz. The new 5 MHz band (if authorized) would be a few years before it actually became available.
  -ARRL
• Research vehicles in remote outback areas of Australia will soon be tracked via satellite (and over the Internet) using (new) Vehicle Tracking Equipment technology that was originally developed to track animals.
  -SpaceDaily
• Living underwater parallels living in space in many ways according to NASA. The time frame for missions involves long periods of time away from normal environments and families. Communication with others is not always immediate. NASA is working with experimental underwater methods that will help future long term space missions.
  -SpaceDaily
• A bill introduced in Congress recently could provide relief to amateurs prevented by private deed covenants, conditions and restrictions. The bill has been designated H.R. 4720.
  -ARRL
• Iridium Satellite has signed a service partner agreement with Australia's largest telephone provider to market and sell Iridium services. The multi-year deal will enable both companies to retail Iridium services and equipment to strengthen rural and remote communications throughout Australia.
  -SpaceDaily

Weekly Satellite Report

Link to the weekly report on satellite ...

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ISS . RS-12 . RS-13 . RS-15 . AO-10 . UO-11 . UO-14 . AO-16 . DO-17 . WO-18 . LO-19 . FO-20 . UO-22 . KO-23 . KO-25 . IO-26 . AO-27 . FO-29 . TO-31 . GO-32 . SO-33 . PO-34 . SO-35 . UO-36 . AO-40 . SO-41 . SO-42 . NO-44 . NO-45 . MO-46

Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to the ANS Editors at ans-editor@amsat.org, or to ANS Editor Dan James, NN0DJ, at nn0dj@amsat.org.

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This week's AMSAT News Service bulletins were edited by AMSAT  News Service editor Dan James, NN0DJ.