SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-225.01
Van Allen, an original space explorer.

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 225.01
 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
August 13, 2006
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-225.01

IOWA CITY, Iowa - Physicist James A. Van Allen, a leader in space
exploration who discovered the radiation belts surrounding the
Earth that now bear his name, died Wednesday. In a career that
stretched over more than a half-century, Van Allen designed
scientific instruments for dozens of research flights, first with
small rockets and balloons, and eventually with space probes that
traveled to distant planets and beyond. Van Allen gained global
attention in the late 1950s when instruments he designed and placed
aboard the first U.S. satellite, Explorer I, discovered the bands
of intense radiation that surround the earth, now known as the
Van Allen Belts.

http://itsnt166.iowa.uiowa.edu/uns-archives/2006/august/080906van-allen-death.html
http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19590504,00.html


Dan Schultz N8FGV

[ANS thanks Dan Schultz, N8FGV, for the above information]

/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-225.02
CDROM for NA1ISS

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 225.02
 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
August 13, 2006
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-225.02

Hello All,

In an earlier posting I had anounced to make a CDROM for Bill McArthur
(NA1SS). Astronaut Bill McArthur was much active on hamradio during his
6 months - mission aboard the ISS Space Station (he is already back on
earth). Many people have sended audio files (some with pics of the
operator THANKS!!!).
There are already 121 messages in the McArthur guestbook, these message
will be shown on the CDROM!!! In case you did not signed the McArthur
guestbook yet, you can do it now on this direct McArthur guestbook link:
http://www.webguestbook.com/cgi-bin/guestbook/viewguestbook.pl?user=corholla
nd2 Or go to: http://www.pd0rkc.com (look on the main page!).

In case you have your QSO (with McArthur NA1SS) recorded please send it
to: wegaman@gmail.com An picture of the operator would be nice so Bill
McArthur can see the operator which
he spoke in the past!!!  Also I like to have more ISS school contact
audio files!!!

31 august is the last day that you can send your files (and sign
McArthur guestbook). If you want cooporate, please do it right now
otherwise you might forget!!!

The CDROM will be delivered to McArthur (via N5VHO Kenneth Ransom JSC NASA).

Please spread this message arround on internet (on forums or websites!).

Thanks!!!

73's Cor PD0RKC
http://www.pd0rkc.com

[ANS thanks Cor, PD0RKC for the above information]

/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-225.03
AO-51 Schedule Update

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 225.03
 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
August 13, 2006
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-225.03

AO-51 Schedule Updated

Drew, KO4MA posted AO-51 schedule updates on behalf of the AO-51
Operations Group.  The full schedule can be seen on-line at:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/echo/ControlTeam.php.

Please note that the graphic schedule at the top of the page is
not the complete story, and users should always consult the text
portion in addition for any items that cannot be displayed in the
graphic schedule.

For the next several weeks there will be a period of testing by
AO-51's command stations, cycling through many of the listed modes.
Whole Orbit Data is also planned to be collected during this period.
This period is indicated as all off in the graphic schedule. This
is a periodic checkup as well as a further investigation into some
ongoing operational issues.

Drew wrote, "I intend to report on the results of the command station's
investigation, as well as explain some of the power and PL issues
brought up last week on the -bb as soon as the information is collected
and analyzed."

Users are welcome to operate whatever mode is active during these tests,
but expect frequent mode changes. The V/U repeater on 435.300 should
be available for hamfest demos on Saturday the 12th and the ever popular
mode V/S returns at the end of the month.

[ANS thanks the AO-51 Operations Group for the above information]


/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-225.04
ISS SSTV

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 225.04
 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
August 13, 2006
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-225.04

Slow Scan TV on ISS Update

NOTE: We all await SSTV to become a regular part of Ham Radio on the ISS.

As reported recently, ISS Expedition 13 Commander Pavel Vinogradov
activated the SSTV project for few orbits from the International
Space Station.  Pavel sent several manual test images from ISS to
Earth to prove that the basic SSTV configuration has been set up
correctly.  The SSTV system was then shut down until the crew can
spend more time to finalize the cable connections and configure the
system for Slide Show mode.

The slide show mode will allow the crew to preload a directory full
of images that will be automatically transmitted to Earth.  The
crew will not need to keep pushing a button to send images.  In theory
the system can run for weeks at a time without crew involvement.

The SSTV configuration parameters are now ready to be uploaded to the
ISS.  The next phase of testing may use the frequency 145.800 MHz FM
for the SSTV down link.  Radio Amateurs should also check the testing
frequency of 144.490 in case it remains active.  The Slide Show mode
will only be testing these downlink frequencies.  The uplink frequency
will not be published.

[ANS thanks Miles, WF1F for the above information]


/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-225.05
ISS STATUS

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 225.05
 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
August 13, 2006
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-225.05

International Space Station Status Report #06-37
3:30 p.m. CDT, Friday, Aug. 11, 2006
Expedition 13 Crew

This week on the International Space Station crew members refurbished
their exercise treadmill, prepared areas inside and out for an imminent
expansion of their home and took a couple of special calls to discuss
soccer and food in space.

Commander Pavel Vinogradov, Flight Engineer Jeff Williams and European
Space Agency Astronaut Thomas Reiter are gearing up for the second space
shuttle visit to the station during Expedition 13. The shuttle Atlantis,
targeted to launch in a window that opens Aug. 27, will resume major
orbital construction of the complex. During its mission, designated
STS-115, Atlantis will deliver and install a 17.5-ton, bus-sized segment
of the station's girder-like truss that includes another set of solar
arrays, batteries and associated electronics.

The station crew started out the week with two days of standard
maintenance work on the treadmill vibration isolation system, a special
exercise treadmill located on the floor of the Zvezda living quarters
module. Crews perform the maintenance task every six months to inspect
the treadmill's components, replace worn items and install new bearings.
The treadmill is a complex system that uses gyroscopes to stabilize
itself and isolates the vibrations created by exercise from being
transmitted to the station's structure, where they could disturb
sensitive experiments. Extensive exercise is a daily regimen for all
station crew members as one method of counteracting the effects of long
exposure to weightlessness.

The crew had time set aside each day this week to pack up and prepare
items that will be moved from the station to the shuttle during
Atlantis' flight. In addition, ground controllers worked with the
station's Canadarm2 robotic arm to prepare for the upcoming shuttle
flight. On Thursday, they moved the arm to position cameras to view
markings on the station used for a graphical computer alignment aid when
new components are attached. That aid, called the space vision system,
will be used during Atlantis' flight to help with the attachment of the
new truss section.

On Friday, controllers moved the arm to perform an early checkout of its
systems, ensuring it is ready for the shuttle mission.

The station crew greeted special guest calls this week. On Tuesday, the
coach and players from the FC Barcelona soccer team talked with the crew
as they visited NASA's Johnson Space Center prior to an exhibition game
in Houston. Reiter, a soccer fan, showed the team a space soccer move
during the call. On Thursday, the crew members spoke with Chef Emeril
Lagasse about space food and their mission. Lagasse sent NASA several
recipes that were prepared and delivered to the station aboard the last
shuttle flight. The Expedition 13 crew tried the dishes this week.

The next station status report will be issued on Friday, Aug. 18, or
earlier if events warrant. For more about the crew's activities and
station sighting opportunities, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station

[ANS thanks Arthur, N1ORC for the above information]

/EX