SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-167.01 FCC NPRM on Orbital Debris AMSAT News Service Bulletin 167.01 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. JUNE 16, 2002 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-167.01 The FCC have issued a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM), concerning Orbital Debris which comprise a wide range of objects, as small as paint flakes and as large as dead spacecraft, rocket bodies and break-up debris from exploded spacecraft. In Space, because of the high relative velocities involved, even some of the smaller objects, particularly those greater than 0.1 mm in diameter, are capable of producing significant impact damage. For debris objects larger than 1 mm in diameter, impact damage can include significant structural damage to a satellite. Objects larger than approximately 1 cm in diameter can produce catastrophic damage to other space objects. A group of AMSAT-NA experts is to meet and develop a response to the NPRM after consultation with ARRL and input from our colleagues in other AMSATs. To get a PDF copy (42 pages) of the NPRM go to http://www.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2002/db0318/FCC-02-80A1.pdf ANS thanks FCC and AMSAT for this information. /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-167.02 S-Band frequencies in Danger! AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 167.02 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. JUNE 16 2002 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-167.02 The AMSAT-NA Board of Directors is reviewing the large number of un-licensed systems which are being activated in the 2.4 GHz band. These systems are being used for high speed digital communications. Although these systems are not licensed they are permitted to operate (Under part 15) with low power (100mW or 1W spread spectrum). AMSAT-NA and ARRL are to meet in order to develop a joint strategy about S Band, as both organizations anticipate that interference may become a problem area as more of the unlicensed equipment becomes available, and could start using higher power. Currently there are two Amateur satellites (UO11 and AO-40) operating transmitters in the 2.4 GHz band and both OSCAR-Echo and EAGLE are being designed to have transmitters in S Band. In addition there are various ATV systems and other amateur communication systems around 2.4GHz. If you have experienced interference with your 2.4 GHz reception of AO-40 from one of these digital systems, please send details to VE3FRH@AMSAT.org [ANS Thanks AMSAT-NA President, Robin Haighton VE3FRH for this above information] /EX SB SAT @AMSAT $ANS-167.03 SECOND CALL FOR PAPERS (REPEAT ITEM) AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 167.03 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. JUNE 16, 2002 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-167.03 ANS has announced the 20th Space Symposium and AMSAT-NA annual meeting, scheduled for November 7-11. 2002 in Fort Worth, Texas. The event will chronicle recent and future Amateur Radio satellite technology developments, including an electronic Surplus Stores tour on November 7th; a Field Operations breakfast and a tour of the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company on November 10th; and the AMSAT-NA Board of Directors Meeting on November 10th and 11th. This is the second "Call for Papers" to be Presented during the 2002 Symposium. Papers may be presented by the author during the Symposium, or simply offered for inclusion in the Symposium Proceedings publication. The subject matter should be of general interest to Amateur Radio Operators involved in satellite communications. Suggested topics include; operating techniques, antenna design and construction, spacecraft design and construction, current mission status, proposed satellite missions, telemetry acquisition and relay, satellite microwave projects, etc. A brief abstract of the proposed paper (in outline format) should be submitted as soon as possible. The final date for abstracts is July 8th, 2002. Copy ready papers must be received no later than August 26th 2002. Electronic submittal is preferred. The format must be either MS word compatible or in plain text. Please e-mail your electronic submittals to: Doug Howard at: [ANS thanks Keith Pugh, W5IU, the 2002 event chairman] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-167.04 STS-111 NEWS RELEASE AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 167.04 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, JUNE 09,2002 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-167.04 The information contained in this report is a compilation of the last 24 hours of new updates. Older items are removed daily during the mission. Time Posted News Item 6/15/2002 7:34:59 Following a brief farewell between the crews, hatches were closed between Endeavour and the International Space Station at 7:23 a.m. Central time, marking an end to almost eight days of operations between the ten astronauts and cosmonauts to continue the assembly and maintenance of the complex and to deliver the new Expedition Five crew for the start of its 4 1/2 month stay on board the ISS. Endeavour is scheduled to undock from the ISS at 9:32 a.m. Central time, with landing at the Kennedy Space Center planned for 11:59 a.m. Central time, 12:59 p.m. Eastern time on Monday. 6/15/2002 4:19:38 With all the major objectives of the STS-111 mission accomplished, Endeavour’s astronauts will bid farewell to the new Expedition Five crew and undock from the International Space Station today, leaving ISS Commander Valery Korzun and Flight Engineers Peggy Whitson and Sergei Treschev to begin their 4 ½ month stay on board the complex. After final farewells and the closing of the hatches between the two vehicles, Endeavour will undock from the ISS at 9:32 a.m. Central time as the two craft fly over western Kazakhstan, not far from Russia’s primary launch site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The initial separation will be provided by springs that will gently push the shuttle away from the station. When Endeavour is about two feet away from the station and the docking devices are clear of one another, Pilot Paul Lockhart will fire Endeavour’s steering jets to begin slowly moving away. ANS Thanks A.Z.Rowe and the AMSAT Sarex team for this information. SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS 167.05 ANS IN BRIEF AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 167.05 FROM AMSAT HQ. SILVER SPRING, MD JUNE 16,2002 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-167.04 ANS News in brief this week includes the following: NASA has selected a team led by the University of Arizona, Tucon, to provide the primary near-infrared science camera for the Next Generation Space Telescope (NGST), NASA's sucessor to the Hubble Space Telescope. ANS thanks Space Daily for this information. HB9OAB will be active from Elba Island (JN52) from June 22-July 7, 2002. More details are available at Http://www.wlog2000.com/hb9oab/ao40 ANS thanks Franco HB9OAB for this information. HB9DRD/G4KLX advises that there will be a HB0 (Leichtenstein) expedition on July 13 and 14 2002. He (Jonathan) and his partner Achim (DH2VA) will operate 50KHz below the AO-40 beacon so as to stay out of the way of normal QSOs. Their Uplink will be on U-band and if signals get to weak they may change to CW operation. Call signs may be any permutation of the following HB0/HB9DRD, HB0/DH2VA or HB0/G4KLK. ANS Thanks Jonathan HB9DRD/G4KLX for this information. 2002 AMSAT Field Day Competition rules are presented in detail by Bruce Paige KK5DO, Vice President User Services on the AMSAT Web page. They may be accessed by clicking on AMSAT A-Z and the clicking on the letter "F". Selecting "Field Day" will bring up the information and rules as well as forms for reporting your AMSAT Field Day Score. To directly access the Field Day web page go directly to www.amsat.org/amsat/activities/amsatfd.html ANS Thanks AMSAT-NA and Bruce Paige KK5DO for this information. ANS welcomes Joanne Maenpaa, WB9JEJ and Harrison Faust WW4HF as co-editors of ANS, both Joanne and Harrison have extensive experience as Editors of Technical publications. With the change in Editors, ANS is about to undergo some changes in format. Starting this issue ANS will split the News section from the Satellite Report, for a trial period. Please send your thoughts on this to VE3FRH@amsat.org. Both Sections will be available to all subscribers of ANS. Mike Seguin N1JEZ the Principal satellite Investigator, will continue to supply the satellite information section and all information should be sent directly to N1JEZ@amsat.org. ANS is looking for two more co-editors to take turns in the development of ANS, If you are interested please send an e-mail to VE3FRH@amsat.org ANS thanks Robin Haighton VE3FRH for the above information /EX