AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-149

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: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/

In this edition:

• Call for Nominations – 2022 AMSAT Board of Directors Election
• March/April 2022 Issue of The AMSAT Journal Now Available
• Second ARISS Interoperable Radio System Installed On-Board ISS
• Changes to the AMSAT TLE Distribution for May 26, 2022
• INSPIRE-Sat 7 Coordinated by the IARU
• ARISS News
• Upcoming Satellite Operations
• Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
• Satellite Shorts From All Over

ANS-149 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

To: All RADIO AMATEURS
From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation
712 H Street NE, Suite 1653
Washington, DC 20002

DATE 2022 May 29

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SAVE THE DATE

The 40th Anniversary AMSAT Space Symposium & Annual General Meeting
is scheduled to be held in Bloomington, MN on Oct 21 – 23, 2022.

More information will follow in future editions of ANS.

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Call for Nominations – 2022 AMSAT Board of Directors Election

AMSAT solicits nominations for the 2022 AMSAT Board of Directors election, to be held in the third quarter of the year. The seats of the following three incumbent Directors expire in 2022 and will be filled by this year’s election:

Mark Hammond, N8MH
Bruce Paige, KK5DO
Paul Stoetzer, N8HM

Further, up to two Alternate Directors may be elected for one-year terms.

A valid nomination for Director must be written and requires either one Member Society or five current individual members in good standing to nominate an AMSAT member. Written nominations, with the nominee’s name, call sign, and contact information, as well as the nominators’ names, call signs, and contact information, should be sent to the Acting AMSAT Secretary:

Paul Stoetzer, N8HM
201 I St SW Apt V336
Washington, DC 20024 USA

E-mail nominations may be sent to pstoetzer at amsat.org.

The AMSAT bylaws require that the nomination be written and in the form specified by the Secretary. The Acting Secretary has elected to accept written nomination materials via mail or in electronic form, including e-mail or electronic image of a paper document. Fax transmissions cannot be accepted.

No matter what means are used, petitions MUST be received by the Acting Secretary no later than June 15th. The Acting Secretary will verify the qualifications of candidates and nominating members or Member Societies as petitions are received, and will notify candidates whether their nominations are in order by the end of June.

[ANS thanks Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, AMSAT Executive Vice President and Acting Secretary for the above information]

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The 2022 AMSAT President’s Club coins have arrived!
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of its launch on
October 15, 1972, this year’s coin features
an image of AMSAT-OSCAR 6.
Join the AMSAT President’s Club today and help
Keep Amateur Radio in Space!
https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/

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March/April 2022 Issue of The AMSAT Journal Now Available

The March/April 2022 issue of The AMSAT Journal is now available to members on AMSAT’s Member Portal at https://launch.amsat.org/The_AMSAT_Journal

The AMSAT Journal is a bi-monthly digital magazine for amateur radio in space enthusiasts, published by the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT). Each issue is your source for hardware and software projects, technical tips, STEM initiatives, operational activities, and news from around the world.

Inside the Current Issue:

• Apogee View – Robert Bankston, KE4AL
• Educational Relations Update – Alan Johnston, KU2Y
• 2022 AMSAT Field Day Rules – Bruce Paige, KK5DO
• President’s Club Recognition – Frank Karnauskas, N1UW
• Progress Report: Curriculum Development to Accompany the AMSAT CubeSat Simulator – Paul Graveline, K1YUB, Alan Johnston, KU2Y, Frederic Raab, KK6NOW, Mark Samis, KD2XS, David White, WD6DRI
• An EZ Lindenblad for UHF – Grant Zehr, AA9LC, Tom Planer, KJ9P
• STEM Presentation to Bear Valley Elementary – Craig Bledsoe, KL7H
• AMSAT-LU WSPR Beacon to Antarctica – AMSAT Argentina, LU7AA

[ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information]

Second ARISS Interoperable Radio System Installed On-Board ISS

On May 25, 2022, Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev installed new amateur radio equipment on the Russian segment of the International Space Station (ISS) — a Kenwood TM-D710GA transceiver. The transceiver was delivered on February 17, 2022 on the Progress MS-19 cargo ship. Artemyev successfully dismantled the old amateur radio equipment and installed the new equipment. Tests are expected in the coming days.

[ANS thanks R4UAB for the above information]

Changes to the AMSAT TLE Distribution for May 26, 2022

The following satellite has been added to this week’s AMSAT-NA TLE distribution:

OreSat0 NORAD Cat ID 52017 (per Space-Track).

The following satellite has decayed from orbit and has been removed from this week’s AMSAT-NA TLE distribution:

GASPACS NORAD Cat ID 51439 (decayed from orbit on 5/22/2022 per Space-Track).

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

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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/

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INSPIRE-Say 7 Coordinated by the IARU

A 2U mission. The INSPIRE-SAT 7 satellite is a University project made by Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin en Yvelines (France) on behalf of LATMOS (UVSQ, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Saclay, CNRS). This satellite is a demonstrator to experiment new technology with a strong involvement of students. This satellite helps to experiment miniaturized remote sensing sensors that could be used in the multi-point observation of Essential Climate Variables (ECV) and ionosphere. The project is used for educational outreach for school. Students (PhD, master, Engineering school, …) contribute directly to the projects at different level. INSPIRESAT 7 provides hands-on experience and training to students in the requirements definition, reliability and quality assurance, cost and risk management, design, construction, spacecraft integration and test, mission operations, and control of complete satellite systems.

The INSPIRE-SAT 7 2U CubeSat embeds the following missions: 1) To provide a flight platform with functionalities open to ham radio community. An amateur radio payload (SPINO), which is a versatile telecommunication solution suitable for CubeSat will be available. Operating in UHF and VHF bands, it features tight integration with amateur radio service and the worldwide amateur radio community. The SPINO board features functions dedicated to the amateur radio community with a versatile digital transponder and a digital mailbox service. SPINO will be available in parallel of other mission according to the power budget. The goal is to make it accessible at least 30% of the time.

SPINO is supported by the joint efforts of two nonprofit organizations: AMSAT-Francophone (http://site.amsat-f.org) and the hackerspace Electrolab (http://electrolab.fr/). SPINO operates in the Amateur Radio service bands, and features two full transceivers: – VHF: TX (+30 dBm) and RX 144—146 MHz, – UHF: TX (+30 dBm) and RX 430—440 MHz. SPINO will only work with VHF TX and UHF RX on this mission. 2) To provide the same FM audio transponder as the one used in the UVSQ-SAT mission, and open to ham radio community. The FM transponder will be available in parallel of other mission according to the power budget. This system will be accessible at least twice a month (UVSQ-SAT feedback). 3) Technology demonstration with miniaturized sensors for Earth, Sun and ionospheric observations. 4) Earth observation for climate purpose, Sun observation for solar physic purpose, Ionospheric observations for space weather and radiocommunication. All transmitted data will be used as open access. They will be used for pedagogic activities (STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), licence pro SIMIS of UVSQ students, Master NewSpace for Paris Saclay students open in 2021, etc.). The satellite will be used for education purpose (hardware/software developments and trainings to satellite operations). Software to capture and performed data interpretation will be provided (aka UVSQ-SAT decoder). Twitter account available: twitter.com/uvsqsat

Proposing a V/U FM transponder with BPSK AX25 telemetry at 9k6bps. Planning a launch from Vandenberg in Dec 2022 into a 550km polar orbit.

**A downlink for telemetry on 437.410 MHz and for the SPINO payload a downlink on 435.200 MHz with uplink on 145.830 MHz have been coordinated**

[ANS thanks the IARU for the above information]

ARISS News

Scheduled ARISS Contacts

Students and employees of SWGU, Kursk, Russia, direct via TBD

The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS
The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz
The scheduled crewmember is Oleg Artemyev

Contact is go for Sun 2022-05-29 15:00 UTC

Amur State University, Blagoveshchensk, Russia, direct via TBD

The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS
The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz
The scheduled crewmember is Oleg Artemyev
Contact is go for Tue 2022-05-31 08:50 UTC

Old St. Mary’s School, Chicago, Illinois, multi-point telebridge via ON4ISS

The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be TBD
The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz
The scheduled crewmember is Bob Hines KI5RQT(***)
Contact is go for: Tue 2022-05-31 16:32:31 UTC 81 deg
Watch for Livestream at https://www.osmschool.com/

Moscow Autonomous Educational Institution “Lyceum – Engineering Center”, Kazan, Russia, direct via TBD

The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS
The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz
The scheduled crewmember is Sergey Korsakov

Contact is go for Thu 2022-06-02 13:30 UTC

Istituto Comprensivo “Losapio–S.F. Neri”, Gioia del Colle, Puglia, Italy, direct via IZ7RTN

The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be IRØISS
The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz
The scheduled crewmember is Samantha Cristoforetti IZØUDF

Contact is go for: Sat 2022-06-04 11:43:46 UTC 64 deg

Matinecock District, Suffolk County NY Boy Scouts, Medford, NY, telebridge via AB1OC

The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be TBD
The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz
The scheduled crewmember is Kjell Lindgren KO5MOS
Contact is go for: Sat 2022-06-04 17:56:25 UTC 53 deg

Bauman Moscow State Technical University, Moscow, Russia, direct via TBD (***)

The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS
The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz
The scheduled crewmember is Denis Matveev
Contact is go for Mon 2022-06-06 13:25 UTC (***)

ARISS Radio Status

Columbus Module radios:

IORS (Kenwood D710GA) – STATUS – Configured. Default mode set for cross band repeater (145.990 MHz up {PL 67} & 437.800 MHz down).
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* Radio to be powered OFF to support COL experiment on May 26. OFF about 08:15, ON about 10:55 UTC
* Radio to be powered OFF to support Progress 79 undocking on June 01. OFF May 31 about 18:15, ON June 01 about 10:40 UTC
* Radio to be powered OFF to support Progress 81 docking on June 03. OFF June 03 about 18:15, ON June 04 about 09:55UTC
* Radio to be powered OFF to support COL experiment on June 07. OFF about 10:45, ON about 14:50 UTC

Capable of supporting USOS scheduled voice contacts, packet and voice repeater ops.

Service Module radios:

IORS (Kenwood D710GA) – STATUS – Not Active. Default mode set for packet operations (145.825 MHz up & down)​

* Radio to be powered OFF to support Progress 79 undocking on June 01.
* Radio to be powered OFF to support Progress 81 docking on June 03.

Capable of supporting ROS scheduled voice contacts, packet, SSTV and voice repeater ops.

The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html

The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html

[ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors, for the above information]

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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/

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Upcoming Satellite Operations

Quick Hits:

W8MTB: Wednesday, June 1, I will be in a few different grids in the UP; operating FM satellites only. I’m planning on being in EN66 for AO-91 and SO-50 in the morning, not sure what grid for PO-101, and EN75 for SO-50 later in the evening. Please DM me if you need one of the grids.

M1DDD/ Activity from IO94 this Sunday 29 May. Probably a couple 2-3 hr sessions (family visit). Might nip out early evening Sat 28th circa 1700GMT too. Play it by ear.

W3IPA: EN81, May 28th & 29th he will be in EN81. He’ll aim for as many FM passes as I can. I’ll attempt some linear. Passes will be posted night before the 28th.

KE0PBR: EN46, I will be in EN46 on Saturday 5/28, will be on Sats holiday style. But you can DM me for a sched and I can get it done. @KE0PBR

KC1MEB & Nu1U: FN33. We have not come out with a Schedule or exact dates, somewhere between the 27th and 29th of May.

Adrian (AA5UK) is heading back to the Cayman Islands after several years now that COVID travel restrictions have been lifted. He will be operating as ZF2AE/ZF8 from Little Cayman May 29 – June 2 (EK99WP) and from Grand Cayman as ZF2AE from June 2-June 3 (EK99HI). These locations favor the west and any contacts with EU will be a challenge. Gear will be FT-1634 with Alaskan Arrow antenna. I may be able to rent a car on Little Cayman (very $$$) for an afternoon and operate from FK09. This is TBD due to holiday style schedule and not guaranteed. Please follow me on Twitter @ZF2AE and @AA5UK for latest updates. QSL Direct (SASE for US, $2 for International QSL, and/or LOTW preferred. eQSL no longer accepted)

WL7T: EL84, June 24-27

Wl7T: I locked EL58 in for June 29, 30, and July 1. I plan to work 6 meters for the majority of the time with sat passes as requested. I am going to operate from a boat from around ~9 AM – 5 PM each day.

W3IPA: DM42 vacation planned for Jul 30- Aug 6th will be on FM passes vacation style. I will be close to DM41 so might be able to work a gridline. Will post more updates closer to that week!

N8MR: EN 57,67,56 8/6 through 8/13. More to come as date gets closer.

Major Roves:

AD0HJ Eastern Iowa Rove: Time for Mitch to activate several new satellite grid squares and green up some more #GridMaster maps. Next trip is planned for grids EN30/31/32/33/40/41/42/43 between June 2nd and June 5th. More information soon

[ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT rover page manager, for the above information]

Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events

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

Upcoming “How to Work the “Easy” Satellites” talks are scheduled …

WARA – Orange County CA – June 11

Think a 90-minute lively, informative, and fun “How to Work the Easy Satellites” Zoom presentation would be appropriate for your convention or club? Always included are overviews of the ARRL, AMSAT, and ARISS. And pre-presentation questions are solicited and welcome.

Send an email or call Clint Bradford, K6LCS.

Conventions

+ HamXposition
August 27-28, 2022
Marlborough, MA
https://hamxposition.org/

+ 2022 Rocky Mountain ARRL Division Convention
October 7, 2022 – October 9, 2022
Event Center at Archer
3921 Archer Pkwy
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82007
https://wyhamcon.org/site

[ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT Events page manager, for the above information]

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Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition?
Get your AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff
from our Zazzle store!
25% of the purchase price of each product goes
towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space
https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear

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Satellite Shorts From All Over

+ Congratulations to Paul, N1PEB, on earning AMSAT GridMaster Award #44!

+ An M17 digital voice signal was successfully transmitted through the QO-100 wideband transponder on May 25, 2022. A video of the transmission can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSBgDoIGMGM (Thanks to G4GUO)

+ QO-100’s narrowband transponder now has a new multimedia beacon using fast data transmission in a 2.7 khZ passband. See http://dd1us.de/Downloads/Manual%20HSModem%20rev%202.03.pdf for details (Thanks to AMSAT-DL)

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

In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to:

* Societies (a recognized group, clubs or organization).
* 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.
* Memberships are available for annual and lifetime terms.

Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional 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

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: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/

In this edition:

• ARISS Looks Forward to Installation of Additional Radio
• AMSAT/TAPR Banquet Honors Bob Bruninga, WB4APR (SK)
• AMSAT Member Melissa Pore, KM4CZN, is 2022 AFA Virginia Teacher of the Year
• No Changes to TLEs This Week
• ARISS News
• Upcoming Satellite Operations
• Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
• Satellite Shorts From All Over

ANS-142 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

To: All RADIO AMATEURS
From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation
712 H Street NE, Suite 1653
Washington, DC 20002

DATE 2022 May 21

ARISS Looks Forward to Installation of Additional Radio

An additional amateur radio system has been delivered to the International Space Station, and it is expected that astronauts will install it in the next few weeks. The installation will mean that the Amateur Radio on the ISS (ARISS) will no longer have to switch periodically between FM voice cross band repeater mode and APRS packet mode. Rather, both operating modes will be able to be activated simultaneously.

ARISS International Chair Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, made the announcement during the ARISS Forum at the Hamvention in Xenia, Ohio yesterday.

The additional equipment was delivered to the space station about six weeks ago, Bauer said. However, the demands on the astronauts’ time are such that the installation can only take place when their schedule allows. The ARISS team is hopeful that the installation can be completed in the next week or two, barring any complications.

Digital APRS messages and cross band voice contacts via the ISS are both very popular modes of operation among earthbound operators. Signals from the ISS are quite loud and easily heard with very simple equipment.

ARISS has been scheduling a switch of modes approximately once each month, so that the ARISS system is in packet mode for one month, followed by a month of FM voice repeater operation. The new capability will allow both of these popular modes to be constantly available.

[ANS thanks Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, Chair, ARISS International and Executive Director, ARISS-USA, for the above information]

AMSAT/TAPR Banquet Honors Bob Bruninga, WB4APR (SK)

The 13th annual AMSAT/TAPR Banquet was held at the Kohler Presidential Banquet Center in Kettering, Ohio on Friday, May 20. This dinner, always a highlight of the AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corp.) and TAPR (Tucson Amateur Packet Radio) activities during the Dayton Hamvention, was dedicated to honoring the life and accomplishments of long time amateur satellite and amateur packet pioneer Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, who passed away in February.

Reminiscenses of Bob and his career as a professor of engineering at the U.S. Naval Academy were offered by Bob McGwier, N4HY, and by Frank Bauer, KA3HDO. Following these presentations, a number of attendees offered anecdotes about Bob’s work — often behind the scenes — to facilitate amateur satellites and to develop enhanced modes of digital communication. Stories about Bob’s enthusiasm for creative projects and his generosity in sharing his time as teacher and mentor, were central to the memories of those who had met him and who benefited from his work.

Lively table conversations covered a broad variety of topics, including the celebration of some new amateurs who had just passed their Technician exams earlier in the day.

[ANS thanks Mark Johns, K0JM, for the above information]

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AMSAT Member Melissa Pore, KM4CZN, is 2022 AFA Virginia Teacher of the Year

Melissa Pore, KM4CZN, has been named by the Air and Space Force Association to be their Virginia State Teacher of the Year. The presentation was made May 17 at Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington, VA, where Pore teaches. the award was presented by Linda McMahon, AFA Virginia State President.

Pore is a member of AMSAT, an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Education Committee member, and an ambassador for the ARISS program. Melissa is an educational leader in aerospace working with groups like NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN), NASA Intern Program, Space Center Houston SEEC Crew, and the Center for Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) through the International Space Station National Lab. She currently focuses her space passion as an engineering teacher.

In addition to teaching engineering and computer science, she is involved in the school’s amateur radio and engineering clubs. While she was a teacher at St. Thomas More Elementary School, Pore was associated with the STMSAT-1 project. The Earth-observation CubeSat, built entirely by students at the school, was launched in 2015 but failed to transmit any images. It was the first satellite constructed by elementary schoolers.

Pore wrote, “I’m so proud to have been selected by the Air and Space Force Association to be the Virginia State Teacher of the Year. I look forward to representing the AFA Steele Chapter and the state of Virginia in expanding aerospace opportunities for all. Thank you Linda McMahon and Mike Maxwell for presenting the award in front of my students snd colleagues with such powerful words and sentiments. Thank you especially to Dr. Vorbach and all the DJO Administration for providing this special day. And most importantly, thank you students and fellow teachers-we excel together. I was overwhelmed with emotions and excitement as I listened to Megan Good Tucker talk about the significance of the award in the midst of such great challenges all around us. It definitely takes passion and fortitude. Thank you for this incredible honor. I can’t wait to pay it forward! I feel like I just got rocket fuel in my jet engines!”

[ANS thanks Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, AMSAT VP Operations, ARRL, and Georgetown University Space Initiative for the above information]

No Changes to TLEs This Week

Two Line Elements or TLEs, often referred to as Keplerian elements or keps in the amateur community, are the inputs to the SGP4 standard mathematical model of spacecraft orbits used by most amateur tracking programs. Weekly updates are completely adequate for most amateur satellites. TLE bulletin files are updated Thursday evenings around 2300 UTC, or more frequently if new high interest satellites are launched. More information may be found at https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/

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

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ARISS NEWS

Amateurs and others around the world may listen in on contacts between amateurs operating in schools and allowing students to interact with astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station. The downlink frequency on which to listen is 145.800 MHz worldwide.

Recent successful contacts:

Forum Accademico Italiano e.V., Köln, Germany, telebridge via ZS6JON in contact with ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti IZØUDF, operating as NA1SS. Contact took place Fri 2022-05-20 12:14:10 UTC 89 deg.

2nd All-Russian Festival “Russian Traveler”, Lipetsk, Russia, direct contact with cosmonaut Sergey Korsakov operating as RSØISS. Contact took place 2022-05-21 18:10 UTC.

Upcoming contacts:

Aznakayevo (Republic of Tatarstan), Russia, direct contact with cosmonaut Sergey Korsakov operating as RSØISS. Contact is go for Fri 2022-05-27 15:05 UTC.

MINDSHUB APS with I.C. AVIO, Ala, Trento, Italy, telebridge via ZS6JON in contact with ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti IZØUDF, operating as NA1SS. Contact is go for Sat 2022-05-28 09:03:47 UTC 80 deg.

2nd All-Russian Festival “Russian Traveler”, Lipetsk, Russia, direct contact with cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev operating as RSØISS. Contact is go for Sat 2022-28 14:15 UTC.

Children’s center in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia,  direct contact with cosmonaut Denis Matveev operating as RSØISS. Contact is go for Sat 2022-05-28 15:50 UTC.

Students and employees of SWGU, Kursk, Russia, direct contact with cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev operating as RSØISS. Contact is go for Sun 2022-05-29 15:00 UTC.

The latest information on the operation mode can be found at  https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html

The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html

[ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors for the above information]

Upcoming Satellite Operations

Hawaii!: K5ZM is heading to HI on May 16-26

KC1MEB & NU1U: FN33. We have not come out with a Schedule or exact dates, somewhere between the 27th and 29th of May.

Adrian (AA5UK) is heading back to the Cayman Islands after several years now that COVID travel restrictions have been lifted. He will be operating as ZF2AE/ZF8 from Little Cayman May 29 – June 2 (EK99WP) and from Grand Cayman as ZF2AE from June 2-June 3 (EK99HI).  These locations favor the west and any contacts with EU will be a challenge. Gear will be FT-1634 with Alaskan Arrow antenna.  I may be able to rent a car on Little Cayman (very $$$) for an afternoon and operate from FK09.  This is TBD due to holiday style schedule and not guaranteed.  Please follow me on Twitter @ZF2AE and @AA5UK for latest updates. QSL Direct (SASE for US, $2 for International QSL, and/or LOTW preferred. eQSL no longer accepted)

WL7T: EL84, June 24-27

W3IPA: DM42 vacation planned for Jul 30- Aug 6th will be on FM passes vacation style. I will be close to DM41 so might be able to work a gridline. Will post more updates closer to that week!

ND9M/MM: “I’m on my merchant marine ship anchored just off Saipan and expect to be here a few weeks. I’m on from the ship as ND9M/MM in QK25, but I’ll try to be QRV as ND9M/KHØ from the island itself over the next few weekends, probably Fridays in the afternoon and evening, possibly Saturday evenings as well. I’ll post my island activities on Twitter (@ND9M) as they firm up.”

N8MR: EN 57,67,56 8/6 through 8/13. More to come as date gets closer.

[ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT rover page manager, for the above information]

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Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events

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

AMSAT Ambassador Schedules

Clint Bradford, K6CLS: Upcoming “How to Work the “Easy” Satellites” talks are scheduled:

Cal Poly Pomona – TBD
WARA – Orange County CA – June 11

Notes: “And it “feels” like lives are improving here in So California, as that meeting for WARA in June will be (hopefully) an IN-PERSON show! (Have to tune up my projector and dust off the DaLite projection screen!)

Think a 90-minute lively, informative, and fun “How to Work the Easy Satellites” Zoom presentation  would be appropriate for your convention or club? Always included are overviews of the ARRL, AMSAT, and ARISS. And  pre-presentation questions are solicited and welcome.”

Send an email or call!

Clint Bradford K6LCS
AMSAT Ambassador; ARRL Affiliated Club Coordinator, instructor
http://www.work-sat.com
909-999-SATS (7287)

Jack Spitznagel, KD4IZ: SDR applications – Ways to use the RF “Swiss Army Knife” An intro to the AMSAT Fox-In-A-Box Image

Scheduled (tentatively live) July 18, 2022 the Frederick Amateur Radio Club, Frederick, MD

For information on this presentation and availability, contact Jack Spitznagel, KD4IZ (kd4iz at arrl dot org)

Scheduled Events with AMSAT involvement:

Hamfests and Conventions

+ 2022 Rocky Mountain ARRL Division Convention
October 7, 2022 – October 9, 2022
Event Center at Archer
3921 Archer Pkwy
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82007
https://wyhamcon.org/site.

[ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT Events page manager, for the above information]

---

Satellite Shorts From All Over

+ NASA’s InSight Mars lander mission will likely conclude by the end of the year as power levels for the spacecraft continue to decline, project officials confirmed May 17. Project leaders said science operations will likely end in July as the output of the spacecraft’s two solar panels, coated with dust, drops below critical levels. (ANS thanks SpaceNews.com for the above information)

+ The rumors are flying after satellite operator Globalstar announced an agreement this week with “a large, global customer” to build out a new communications network, just months after announcing that an unidentified “potential customer” had put up more than $300 million to finance the purchase of 13 new satellites. The scuttlebutt is that Apple is behind these deals, with the goal of using Globalstar to provide satellite connectivity to a future iPhone. (ANS thanks qz.com for the above information)

+ U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) introduced a bill to create a Space National Guard, which may be a way for the Space Force to retain personnel as they leave active duty. (ANS thanks The Orbital Index for the above information)

+ An orbital launch attempt by Chinese startup iSpace suffered failure early Friday, May 13, following on from two failures last year. The fourth Hyperbola-1, a four-stage solid rocket, lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert at 3:09 a.m. Eastern May 13. Apparent launch footage appeared on a Chinese social media site shortly after launch but a period of silence followed, extending well past the time at which a similar launch could have been declared successful.  (ANS thanks SpaceNews.com for the above information)

+ The aging shuttle-era spacesuits aboard the International Space Station have been declared “no-go” for operational, normally planned spacewalks pending analysis to determine what led to excess water getting into an astronaut’s helmet during a March excursion, officials confirmed on May 17. But the bulky spacesuits — “extra-vehicular mobility units,” or EMUs — can still be used for emergency repairs or to resolve other unexpected issues if agency managers agree after assessing the overall risk. (ANS thanks SpaceflightNow for the above information)

+ A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft launched from Space Launch Complex 41, Thursday, May 19, 2022, at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Boeing’s Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2) is Starliner’s second uncrewed flight test and will dock to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. OFT-2 launched at 6:54 p.m. ET, and will serve as an end-to-end test of the system’s capabilities. (ANS thanks NASA for the above information)

---

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

In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to:
* Societies (a recognized group, clubs or organization).
* 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.
* Memberships are available for annual and lifetime terms.

Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional membership information.

73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space!

This week’s ANS Editor, Mark Johns, K0JM
k0jm at amsat dot org

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-135

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: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/

In this edition:

• AMSAT Hamvention Update
• AMSAT-UK Space Colloquium October 8-9
• Amateur Radio and AMSAT-UK at EMFcamp 2022
• Paper Published: Deep space reception of Tianwen-1 by AMSAT-DL using GNU radio
• Franklin Antonio, N6NKF, SK
• ARISS News
• Upcoming Satellite Operations
• Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for May 12, 2022
• Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
• Satellite Shorts From All Over

ANS-135 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

To: All RADIO AMATEURS
From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation
712 H Street NE, Suite 1653
Washington, DC 20002

DATE 2022 May 15

AMSAT Hamvention Update

The Dayton Hamvention is coming next weekend! AMSAT’s presence with several events throughout the weekend and in with eight adjoining booths in Building 1. Highlighting the exhibit will be:

– CubeSat Simulator hardware and software demonstrations
– SatPC software demonstrations
– AMSAT Engineering staff question and answer table
– AMSAT Youth Initiative (KidzSat) introduction
– OSCAR ground station for live satellite operations
– Annual Membership sign-up and renewals
– AMSAT President’s Club recognition
– AMSAT Board of Directors and Senior Officers Meet and Greet
– AMSAT Store offering AMSAT trinkets, books and Arrow Antennas

The interaction with AMSAT members, satellite operators, designers, and builders makes the whole experience a lot of fun. Meet or renew acquaintances, exchange operating tips, and find out what antennas, software and equipment other AMSAT members use. We currently expect the AMSAT senior officers and board members to be there too.

If you’ve never operated a satellite before, but want to learn more, this is the place.

Kick-Off Hamvention with Dinner at Tickets

The annual AMSAT “Dinner at Tickets” party will be held at Tickets Pub & Eatery on Thursday, May 19 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM EDT. There is no program or speaker – just good conversation. Everyone is invited regardless of whether or not they helped with setup or plan to work in the booth. Tickets has a great selection of Greek and American food and great company!  Food can be ordered from the menu; drinks (beer, wine, sodas and iced tea) are available at the bar. Come as you are; no reservations required. Bring some friends and have a great time the night before Hamvention. Tickets Pub & Eatery is located at 7 W. Main St, Fairborn, OH 45324. (Telephone (937) 878-9022)

AMSAT/TAPR Banquet will honor the life of Bob Bruninga, WB4APR

The 13th annual AMSAT/TAPR Banquet will be held at the Kohler Presidential Banquet Center on Friday, May 20th at 18:30 EDT. This dinner is always a highlight of the AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corp.) and TAPR (Tucson Amateur Packet Radio) activities during the Dayton Hamvention. This year’s banquet will honor the life and accomplishments of long time amateur satellite and amateur packet pioneer Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, who passed away in February.

The Kohler Presidential Banquet Center is located at 4548 Presidential Way, Kettering, Ohio. That is about 20 minutes away from the Greene County Fairgrounds.

Tickets ($57 each) purchase deadline was Friday, May 13th. Banquet tickets had to be purchased in advance and will not be sold at the AMSAT booth. There will be no tickets to pick up at the AMSAT booth. Tickets purchased on-line will be maintained on a list with check-in at the door at the banquet center. Seating is limited to the number of meals reserved with the Kohler caterers based on the number of tickets sold by the deadline.

AMSAT Forum Scheduled for Saturday, May 21, 2022

The AMSAT Forum will be in Room #2 on Saturday May 21, 2022 from 12:10 PM to 1:40 PM EDT. The forum may be live streamed on the DARA website at https://hamvention.org/media-news/live-streaming/
– 2022 AMSAT Status Report: Robert Bankston KE4AL, AMSAT President, will highlight recent activities within AMSAT and discuss some of our challenges, accomplishments, projects, and any late breaking news.
– AMSAT Engineering Program: Jerry Buxton, N0JY, AMSAT Vice President – Engineering, will talk about current and upcoming satellite missions.
– AMSAT Education: Alan Johnston, KU2Y, AMSAT Vice President – Education Relations will talk about the AMSAT CubeSat Simulator.
– AMSAT Development: Frank Karnauskas, N1UW, AMSAT Vice President – Development, will report on AMSAT Youth Initiative and its features.
So, arrive early, grab a seat, take in some air conditioning and catch up on the latest AMSAT happenings!

[ANS thanks Phil Smith, W1EME, AMSAT Hamvention Exhibit organizer, AMSAT News & TAPR for the above information]

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      The 2022 AMSAT President’s Club coins have arrived!
 To commemorate the 50th anniversary of its launch on
October 15, 1972, this year’s coin features
    an image of AMSAT-OSCAR 6.
                  Join the AMSAT President’s Club today and help
           Keep Amateur Radio in Space!
             https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

AMSAT-UK Space Colloquium October 8-9, Kents Hill Park Conference Centre Milton Keynes MK7 6BZ

AMSAT-UK is very happy to announce the 2022 AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium will be held as part of the RSGB Convention on October 8-9 at the Kents Hill Park Conference Centre, Timbold Drive, Milton Keynes, MK7 6BZ.

The weekend event attracts an international audience that ranges from those involved in building and operating amateur radio satellites to beginners who wish to find out more about this fascinating branch of the hobby.

Booking for the RSGB Convention is at https://rsgb.org/main/about-us/rsgb-convention/

Booking for the AMSAT-UK dinner on the Saturday evening at the nearby Hilton Hotel is here

Details of the event can be found at https://amsat-uk.org/colloquium/

[ANS thanks Trevor Essex, M5AKA of AMSAT-UK for the above information]

Amateur Radio and AMSAT-UK at EMFcamp 2022

The popular Electromagnetic Field event takes place June 2-5, 2022 at the Eastnor Castle Deer Park, Herefordshire, UK.

Imagine a camping festival with a power grid and high-speed internet access; a temporary village of geeks, crafters, and technology enthusiasts that’s lit up by night, and buzzing with activity during the day. Thousands of curious people will descend on the friendly open space to learn, share, and talk about what they love.

AMSAT-UK Village at EMF Camp

EMF camp will feature a full program of talks and workshops and there will be both an Amateur Radio Village GX1EMF and an AMSAT-UK Village GB4EMF.

Among the talks are:
• Hacking the Radio Spectrum with GNU Radio by Dave Rowntree M0IEG
• Receiving amateur radio satellite beacons by Damian Bevan G4WPO
• Launching a Rocket, Suspended by a Balloon by Dave Johnson G4DPZ
• Inside Datatrak: resurrecting a radio navigation network by Phil Pemberton M0OFX
• 2500 nerds, one pathetic robot by Chris Stubbs M6EDF
• Astro Pi Mark II – how to send a Raspberry Pi from a factory in Wales to the International Space Station by Richard Hayler

The talk schedule is at https://www.emfcamp.org/schedule/2022

Amateur Radio Village https://wiki.emfcamp.org/wiki/Village:Amateur_Radio

AMSAT-UK Village https://wiki.emfcamp.org/wiki/Village:AMSAT-UK

Information on EMF Camp is at
https://www.emfcamp.org/
https://twitter.com/emfcamp

[ANS thanks Trevor Essex, M5AKA of AMSAT-UK for the above information]

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     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/

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

Paper Published: Deep space reception of Tianwen-1 by AMSAT-DL using GNU radio

This paper by Daniel Estévez EA4GPZ, Mario Lorenz DL5MLO and Peter Gülzow DB2OS describes the reception of the Tianwen-1 Chinese Mars mission carried out by AMSAT-DL with the 20 meter antenna at Bochum Observatory (Germany). A real-time GNU Radio decoder has been used to receive and store telemetry almost every day over the course of 10 months. Some of the telemetry variables, such as the trajectory information, have been successfully interpreted and used to track the progress of the mission.

A PDF-Download: Deep Space reception of Tianwen-1 by AMSAT-DL using GNU radio is available from AMSAT-DL. Link: https://bit.ly/3l392Mv

The paper was published in the proceedings for GNU Radio Conference 2021 and recently published together with other papers in the area of radar, signal detection/classification, high rate processing, and sensing.

[ANS thanks Peter Gülzow, DB2OS, President, AMSAT-DL for the above information]

Franklin Antonio, N6NKF, SK

Phil Karn, KA9Q writes: “Last night I got the sad news that Franklin Antonio, N6NKF, one of the founders of Qualcomm and my boss for most of my 20 years there, has passed away.

In recent years he’d turned to philanthropy, giving $30M to the University of California San Diego (UCSD) for a building named after him. The dedication was just two days ago, and he didn’t show up.

He’d also donated $3M to the Allen Telescope Array for a new broadband antenna feed, but more importantly he had provided them with a lot of engineering management and guidance that will be impossible to replace.

AMSAT members probably know him best as the author of the Instant Track orbital tracking software that AMSAT sold for many years.”

Bob McGwier, N4HY writes: Franklin and Mike Valentine donated money to AMSAT GEO P4B development that got us all the way to yes from the USAF and NASA. He was always after me to do more for SETI Institute and the Allen Telescope Array.   He was instrumental in support of first four Microsats.  When we got the flight computers,  they arrived “some assembly required”. He ordered the Qualcomm microelectronics lab to help fix the assembly issues with the first ever 8 layer boards flown to orbit.  When we had things to discuss, we would ride around in his big white Cadillac convertible. The back seat was loaded with empty soda cans.  He was infamous at Qualcomm for occasionally dumping many of the cans near his parking spot. The grounds crew was prepared and cleaned them up quickly.

Whenever I visited in the newer building that contained his office, he encouraged me to ride his Segway around the floor, where all the C suite offices were located.

I will miss this brilliant eccentric engineer. RIP Franklin.

RIP to a friend of AMSAT.

[ANS thanks Phil Karn, KA9Q, for the above information]

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

    Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition?
            Get your AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff
                    from our Zazzle store!
        25% of the purchase price of each product goes
            towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space
              https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear

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ARISS News

Amateurs and others around the world may listen in on contacts between amateurs operating in schools and allowing students to interact with astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station. The downlink frequency on which to listen is 145.800 MHz worldwide.

Forum Accademico Italiano e.V., Köln, Germany, telebridge via ZS6JON. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS. The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz. The scheduled crewmember is Samantha Cristoforetti IZØUDF. Contact is go for: Fri 2022-05-20 12:14:10 UTC 89 deg.

2nd All-Russian Festival “Russian Traveler”, Lipetsk, Russia, direct via TBD. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS. The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz. The scheduled crewmember is Sergey Korsakov. Contact is go for 2022-05-21 18:10 UTC.

The latest information on the operation mode can be found at  https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html

The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html

[ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors for the above information]

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    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/

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Upcoming Satellite Operations

Quick Hits:
+ Hawaii!: K5ZM is heading to HI on May 16-26.

+ KC1MEB & NU1U: FN33. We have not come out with a Schedule or exact dates, somewhere between the 27th and 29th of May.

+ Adrian (AA5UK) is heading back to the Cayman Islands after several years now that COVID travel restrictions have been lifted. He will be operating as ZF2AE/ZF8 from Little Cayman May 29 – June 2 (EK99WP) and from Grand Cayman as ZF2AE from June 2-June 3 (EK99HI).  These locations favor the west and any contacts with EU will be a challenge. Gear will be FT-1634 with Alaskan Arrow antenna. Notes: “I may be able to rent a car on Little Cayman (very $$$) for an afternoon and operate from FK09.  This is TBD due to holiday style schedule and not guaranteed.  Please follow me on Twitter @ZF2AE and @AA5UK for latest updates. QSL Direct (SASE for US, $2 for International QSL, and/or LOTW preferred. eQSL no longer accepted)”

+ WL7T: EL84, June 24-27.

+ W3IPA: DM42 vacation planned for Jul 30- Aug 6th will be on FM passes vacation style. I will be close to DM41 so might be able to work a gridline. Will post more updates closer to that week!

+ ND9M/MM: I’m on my merchant marine ship anchored just off Saipan and expect to be here a few weeks. I’m on from the ship as ND9M/MM in QK25, but I’ll try to be QRV as ND9M/KHØ from the island itself over the next few weekends, probably Fridays in the afternoon and evening, possibly Saturday evenings as well. I’ll post my island activities on Twitter (@ND9M) as they firm up

+ N8MR: EN 57,67,56 8/6 through 8/13. More to come as date gets closer.

ISS Status:
+ ISS Status as of May 12, 2022
​Columbus Module radios:
IORS (Kenwood D710GA) – STATUS – Configured. Current mode set to cross band repeater (145.990 MHz up {PL 67} & 437.800 MHz down).  ​​​
Radio to be powered OFF to support Progress 79 undocking on June 01.
Capable of supporting USOS scheduled voice contacts, packet and voice repeater ops.

Service Module radios:
Kenwood D710E – STATUS – Radio usually off.​ ​​ ​​​ ​
Radio to be powered OFF to support Progress 79 undocking on June 01.
Capable of supporting ROS scheduled voice contacts and SSTV.
Kenwood D710GA for SM delivered on 80P. Installation TBD in early part of Increment 67. Planned to support packet operation (145.825 MHz up & down).

[ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT rover page manager for the above information]

Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for May 12, 2022

The following satellite has decayed from orbit and has been removed from this week’s AMSAT-NA TLE distribution:
TAUSAT-1 NORAD Cat ID 47926 (decayed form orbit on 5/3/2022 per Space-Track).

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

Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events

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

AMSAT Ambassador Schedules

Clint Bradford, K6CLS: Upcoming “How to Work the “Easy” Satellites” talks are scheduled:

Orange County ARA CA – May 20
Cal Poly Pomona – TBD
WARA – Orange County CA – June 11

Notes: “And it “feels” like lives are improving here in So California, as that meeting for WARA in June will be (hopefully) an IN-PERSON show! (Have to tune up my projector and dust off the DaLite projection screen!)
Think a 90-minute lively, informative, and fun “How to Work the Easy Satellites” Zoom presentation  would be appropriate for your convention or club? Always included are overviews of the ARRL, AMSAT, and ARISS. And  pre-presentation questions are solicited and welcome.”

Send an email or call!
Clint Bradford K6LCS
AMSAT Ambassador; ARRL Affiliated Club Coordinator, instructor
http://www.work-sat.com
909-999-SATS (7287)

Jack Spitznagel, KD4IZ: SDR applications – Ways to use the RF “Swiss Army Knife” An intro to the AMSAT Fox-In-A-Box Image
Scheduled (tentatively live) July 18, 2022 the Frederick Amateur Radio Club, Frederick, MD
For information on this presentation and availability, contact Jack Spitznagel, KD4IZ (kd4iz at arrl dot org)

Scheduled Events with AMSAT involvement:

Hamfests and Conventions

+ Hamvention 2022
May 20, 2022 to May 22, 2022
Greene County Fairgrounds and Expo Center
210 Fairground Road
Xenia, Ohio 45385
https://www.hamvention.org

+ 2022 Rocky Mountain ARRL Division Convention
October 7, 2022 – October 9, 2022
Event Center at Archer
3921 Archer Pkwy
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82007
https://wyhamcon.org/site.

[ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT Events Page Manager, for the above information]

Satellite Shorts From All Over

+ Meet some of the oldest “undead” spacecraft that are still going strong. Not all the dead stuff in space is junk; some are true gems. Believe it or not, according to the Index of Objects Launched into Outer Space maintained by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, there were 7,389 individual satellites orbiting our little planet at the end of April 2021 (others place the number closer to 6,500). This number is only set to increase over time, with some estimates coming in at around 990 satellites being added to the mix every single year. More on this interesting read at https://bit.ly/3FEDNkm [ANS thanks Christopher McFadden and Interesting Engineering for the above information]

+ 18-year-old exploring the depths of space with radio: Interesting Engineering have published an article about 18-year-old radio amateur Dhruv Rebba KC9ZJX who hopes to develop a program that will enable youth to build and program microsatellites. When Rebba was nine, he received his ham radio technician license – becoming the youngest person of Indian origin, until then, to receive the same. That earned him a spot in the Limca Book of Records. The same year, he attained the General Class License. Now a senior specializing in Computer Science at Normal Community High School in Bloomington, Rebba firmly believes that getting into amateur radio was a stepping stone to various other fields. More information at https://bit.ly/3PePQcB [ANS thanks Southgate Amateur Radio News for the above information]

+ Tianzhou-4. China successfully launched Tianzhou-4 on a Long March 7 to resupply the Tiangong space station (which is increasingly being referred to as the CSS) ahead of the crewed Shenzhou-14 next month (NET June 5). Tianzhou automated resupply spacecraft are built on a core module design derived from the Tiangong station itself. At 4.2 m in diameter and 18 m long, they can deliver up to 6.8 tons of cargo to the station and are also used to refuel the station’s electric propulsion system. Shenzhou-14’s crew will prepare the station for its second and third modules: Wentian and Mengtian. These modules are on-orbit labs hosting Chinese and international experiments—over 1,000(!) have already been approved. More at https://bit.ly/3PkTQbx [ANS thanks The Orbital Index for the above information

+ Weird News in Space: Not to be outdone by Oxford University’s analysis of a planet made out of blueberries (cf. Issue 158), University of Sussex researchers have published a detailed paper answering the critical related question: could a planetoid consisting entirely of cows support a methane atmosphere? Yes, but at 1019 incompressible cows, “the cost, necessary rearing area, and required nutrition are impossible to meet at the current time.”  Astrobites followed up with a critical analysis of this paper and other recent cow-culations. Links may be found in the news bite at bottom of page: https://bit.ly/3PkTQbx [ANS thanks The Orbital Index for the above information]

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

In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to:

* Societies (a recognized group, clubs or organization).
* 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.
* Memberships are available for annual and lifetime terms.

Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional membership information.

73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space!

This week’s ANS Editor,

Jack Spitznagel, KD4IZ
kd4iz at arrl dot org