Paul Stoetzer

AMSAT Announces 50th Anniversary Space Symposium in Washington, DC

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The 2019 AMSAT 50th Anniversary Symposium will be held at The Hilton Arlington in Arlington, VA, in the Washington, DC Metro Area on October 18, 19, and 20, 2019.

The Hilton Arlington is located in the heart of the Ballston neighborhood of Arlington, VA. Connected to the Ballston Metro Station, the hotel offers easy and effortless access to Washington, DC’s top tourist destinations like the National Mall, Smithsonian museums and historic monuments. The hotel is six miles from Reagan National Airport and the National Mall.

The AMSAT Board of Directors Meeting will be held at the hotel on  October 16th and 17th. Tours of the Washington DC / Baltimore area will be held Sunday and Monday, October 20th and 21st. The banquet speakers will celebrate AMSAT’s long history, so please plan on attending the 50th Anniversary Symposium. You will be glad you did!

Keep checking ANS and the AMSAT Website for further updates and information, including hotel reservation details.

Es’hail-2/P4A Designated Qatar-OSCAR 100 (QO-100)

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On November 15, 2018, Es’hail-2/P4A was launched on a Falcon 9 launch vehicle from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 40 in Florida. Es’hail-2/P4A was developed jointly by QARS (Qatar Amateur Radio Society) and Es’hailSat (the Qatar Satellite Company), with AMSAT-DL as the technical lead, and is the first geostationary amateur radio payload. The satellite has reached its final position at 25.9 °E, and the narrow and wideband transponders were successfully tested on December 23rd. The transponders are expected to be opened for general use in February 2019.

At the request of AMSAT Deutschland e.V., QARS, and Es’hailSat, AMSAT hereby designates Es’hail-2/P4A as Qatar-OSCAR 100 (QO-100). May the
100th OSCAR satellite be the guide star to future amateur radio satellites and payloads to geostationary orbit and beyond.

73,

Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA
AMSAT VP Operations / OSCAR Number Administrator

 

AO-85 Status Update

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All,

As you probably know, AO-85 has had issues recently with the batteries dropping precariously low during eclipse. We think it’s likely the batteries suffered degradation due to heat during previous periods of no eclipses. This has made it difficult to keep the satellite available for use without endangering the batteries. Today the nominally 3.6v pack was down to 2.8v at the end of the eclipse. That is dangerously low.

In an effort to extend the usable life of the satellite, this evening we turned both the IHU and the transmitter off. This ceases all transmissions, including the beacons every two minutes in both sunlit and eclipsed parts of the orbit. We will periodically turn the satellite back on for an orbit or two, in order to gather telemetry. If all goes as planned, we will turn the repeater back on during the next period of no eclipses beginning around January 24th. In the meantime, it is important to leave AO-85 tracked in your FoxTelem setups, in order for us to gather telemetry and keep tabs on the situation. If you do happen to hear a Veronica beacon, or either the normal repeater or the COR/no telemetry repeater, please let the AMSAT-BB know, or send me an email or message directly.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we try to make the most of the situation. Please consider supporting the AMSAT GOLF project with your membership, and one-time or recurring donations at
https://www.amsat.org/product-category/amsat-membership/ or https://www.amsat.org/donate/.

73, Drew KO4MA
AMSAT VP Operations

Support AMSAT Using Your IRA

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United States residents over age 70 1/2 may distribute up to $100,000 annually from their Individual Retirement Account (IRA) directly to qualifying charities, like the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), without first having to declare the distribution as income. That means your income will not increase, enabling you potentially to remain in a lower tax bracket for income taxes and possible Medicare premium surcharges. Donating directly from your IRA to AMSAT could have more tax advantages for you than a direct personal donation, depending on your personal tax situation.

To make this kind of donation, first contact the custodian of your IRA plan (e.g., the bank, mutual fund, brokerage, insurance company, etc.) that manages your IRA, and instruct that you wish to make a donation to AMSAT directly from your IRA.

The check from the custodian must be made payable to the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. Your custodian will then send you a 1099 form showing you, as the owner of the IRA, did not receive the income for your personal use. Most custodians will have you complete a direct donation form, and will mail the check directly to AMSAT.

AMSAT greatly appreciates any size donation from your IRA. Please call the AMSAT Office at 301-822-4376 for help with any information or mailing instructions required by your IRA custodian.

AMSAT strongly encourages those interested in supporting AMSAT through an IRA to consult with their attorney, accountant, and tax preparer or financial advisor to determine the implications and impact of such a gift on your personal situation.

Thank you for supporting AMSAT!

The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation is an IRC 501(c)(3) organization (tax identification number 52-0888529).