SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-044.01
AMSAT Financial Reporting Improvements

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 044.01
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
February 13, 2005
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-044.01

AMSAT treasurer Gunther Meisse, W8GSM was pleased to announce the
closing of the 2004 books and the commencement of the formal Audit this
week. Meisse said new procedures implemented by our business Manager,
Martha Saragovitz in our Maryland office have lead to this more timely
year end closure. Donors, members, and the Board look forward to the
more timely information which is vital to good planning. When the audit
is complete it will immediately be posted on the AMSAT web site for all
our members to view.

We have also instituted new budgeting & accounting procedures which make
future planning, cost control, and project progress analysis much
easier. Hopefully within the next 12 to 18 months we will select and
implement new accounting software which will still further assist us
with the management of our organization.

[ANS thanks Gunther, W8GSM for the above information]

/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-044.02
Miami Hamfest Report

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 044.02
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
February 13, 2005
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-044.02

Drew, KO4MA reports that the Miami hamfest was the best he has seen in
the last 4 years.  Bill, KD4FRB manned the booth where interest in AMSAT
materials was brisk and several people either joined as new members or
renewed their AMSAT memberships.  In addition to having a booth, live
demonstrations where conducted on FO-29, SO-51 and AO-51.

Drew added, "I expect Orlando to be gangbusters based on how Miami went,
and the absence of the Melbourne hamfest last September."

[ANS thanks Drew, KO4MA for the above information]

/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-044.03
Fairview School ARISS Contact Successful

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 044.05
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
February 13, 2005
To All RADIO AMATEURS 
BID: $ANS-044.05

Leroy Chiao KE5BRW operating NA1SS on the ISS had a successful contact
with Fairview School in Mount Prospect, IL. Charlie, AJ9N, was operating
the station at the school and provided the following account.

The kids and Leroy did an absolutely outstanding job and everyone should
be commended.  We were able to go through all students twice and had
time for a few extra questions.  A total of 23 questions were asked.  My
crew did an outstanding job.

We acquired Leroy's signal about 90 seconds after the predicted AOS. 
Signoff occurred a few seconds before LOS with the students and parents
saying 73.

The contact was simulcast to the World Wide Web and there were over 50
hits.  The contact was also simulcast via the IRLP system using a radio
link to the N9EP repeater on an experimental basis.

[ANS thanks Charlie, AJ9N for the above information]

/EX   
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-044.04
ARISS Status - 07 Feb 2005

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 044.04
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
February 13, 2005
To All RADIO AMATEURS 
BID: $ANS-044.04


1.Air Training Corps Contact Successful

On February 2, cadets from the Air Training Corps 1132 Squadron of
Stalham High School in Norfolk, England spoke with Leroy Chiao, KE5BRW
Twenty questions were asked and answered as fifty students witnessed the
contact. Two newspapers were in attendance, as was BBC television, which
covered the event and broadcast it on the South England BBC TV program
to an audience of millions.


2.Upcoming School Contacts

Rockland District High School in Rockland, ME has been scheduled for an
ARISS contact on Monday, February 14 at 15:06 UTC.


3.ARRL Article on Pinion School Contact 

ARRL ran a story on the Pinion Elementary School contact. “New Mexico
Youngsters Finally Get Chance to Talk to ISS,” can be found at:
http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2005/02/02/6/?nc=1


4.ARRL Article on Packet Tests

On February 2, ARRL ran a story about the Kenwood TM700 transceiver
which wwas switched to the PC-Sat frequency for a few days to conduct
some tests. To view the article, “ISS, PC-Sat set up for joint packet
tests,” see:
http://www.arrl.org/


5.Astronaut Receives Callsign

Expedition 11 astronaut John Phillips passed his technician’s exam on
January 28. He has been issued the callsign KE5DRY.


6.SuitSat Meeting to be Held 

A Technical Interchange Meeting (TIM) will be held on Monday, February
14 through Friday, February 18, in Houston, to design SuitSat, and to
prepare the associated documents for this project. 

[ANS thanks Carol, KB3LKI for the above information]

/EX