ANS-121 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for May 1

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-121

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 Represented at the 2022 CubeSat Developers Workshop
  • FO-29 Now Eclipsing, Upcoming Operations Schedule Posted
  • ARISS News
  • Upcoming Satellite Operations
  • Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
  • Satellite Shorts From All Over

ANS-121 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 1

AMSAT Hamvention Update

The Dayton Hamvention is just three weeks away! It is time to be creating your shopping list and making your travel plans. AMSAT’s presence will be felt 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

In past years, we had 30 people assist with the AMSAT booth at Dayton. We’ve had a good response so far to our call for volunteers, but we could really use another 10-15 people. The 2022 Hamvention is May 20-22 in Xenia, Ohio. Would you consider helping AMSAT at the Hamvention this year?

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’re an experienced operator, great! We can use you and your experience.

If you’ve never operated a satellite before, but want to learn more, that’s OK. We can use your help too.

Whether you’re available for only a couple of hours or if you can spend the entire weekend with us, your help would be greatly appreciated. Please send an e-mail to Phil, (w1eme[at]amsat[dot]org if you can help. Thank you!

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) may be purchased from the AMSAT store. The banquet ticket purchase deadline is Friday, May 13th. Banquet tickets must 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.
Register today at https://www.amsat.org/product/amsat-tapr-joint-hamvention-banquet-registration/

[ANS thanks Phil Smith, W1EME, AMSAT Hamvention Team Leader, 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/
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AMSAT Represented at the 2022 CubeSat Developers Workshop

The 2022 CubeSat Developers Workshop was held in person for the first time since 2019 on the campus of California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California on April 26th-28th. AMSAT hosted an exhibitor booth at the event and was represented by Vice President – Engineering Jerry Buxton, N0JY, and Assistant Vice President – Engineering Jonathan Brandenburg, KF5IDY.

During the event, discussions were held with students and others developing CubeSats about educational partnership opportunities, AMSAT’s LTM-1 linear transponder communications system as an option for their RF, and volunteer opportunities with AMSAT.

AMSAT also met with officials from NASA’s Launch Services Program (LSP) regarding options and possibilities for future GOLF missions above LEO.

Stay tuned for more updates in a future Engineering Update column in The AMSAT Journal.

[ANS thanks AMSAT Vice President – Engineering Jerry Buxton, N0JY, 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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FO-29 Now Eclipsing, Upcoming Operations Schedule Posted

Regarding Fuji 3 (FO-29), we are currently in a situation where continuous operation is not possible as the satellite is eclipsing on every orbit and the condition of the batteries does not permit continuous operation. From now on, we will enter the eclipse period for about 3 months. It will be fully sunlit from August to next spring, so continuous operation will be possible.

This eclipse period is about 3 months, and the maximum eclipse percentage is about 20%.

The operation from the end of April to the end of May will from when the analog transponder is turned on until the transponder is turned off by UVC (undervoltage control).

[Scheduled time to turn on the analog transponder of Fuji 3 (UTC)]

May
1 09:55
7 09:45
8 08:45
14 10:18
21 09:10 22:00
22 09:55
27 23:28
28 09:35

[ANS thanks JARL for the above information]

ARISS News

No contacts currently scheduled

Axiom AX-1 back on earth

Congratulations on a job well done!

Michael López-Alegría
Larry Connor
Mark Pathy KO4WFH
Eytan Stibbe 4Z9SPC

The USOS ARISS station is currently operating in voice cross-band repeater mode

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

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.

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

[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.

+ 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]

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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

+ On April 28th, DO-64 (Delfi-C3) celebrated 14 years of operation in orbit. Although the linear transponder failed several years ago, the satellite continues to transmit telemetry. [ANS thanks DelfiSpace for the information]

+ The Netflix show Yakamoz S-245 features a mission control room. On one of the PC screens, both the FUNcube Dashboard and SatPC32 are visible. [ANS thanks 2M0SQL and PA3WEG for the information]

+ The SpaceX Crew-4 mission arrived at the International Space Station at 23:37 UTC on April 27, 2022 with Kjell Lindgren, KO5MOS, Robert Hines, KI5RQT, Samantha Cristoforetti, IZ0UDF, and Jessica Watkins on board. [ANS thanks NASA for the 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,

Paul Stoetzer, N8HM
n8hm at amsat dot org

ANS-114 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for Apr. 24

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-114

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: anseditor [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
* MIR-SAT 1 (MO112) Has De-orbited
* Ron Parsons, W5RKN SK April 19, 2022
* ARISS News
* Upcoming Satellite Operations
* Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
* Satellite Shorts From All Over

ANS-114 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 Apr 24

AMSAT Hamvention Update

The Dayton Hamvention is four weeks away! It is time to be creating your shopping list and making your travel plans. AMSAT’s presence will be felt 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

In past years, we had 30 people assist with the AMSAT booth at Dayton. We’ve had a good response so far to our call for volunteers, but we could really use another 10-15 people. The 2022 Hamvention is May 20-22 in Xenia, Ohio.  Would you consider helping AMSAT at the Hamvention this year?

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’re an experienced operator, great! We can use you and your experience.

If you’ve never operated a satellite before, but want to learn more, that’s OK. We can use your help too.

Whether you’re available for only a couple of hours or if you can spend the entire weekend with us, your help would be greatly appreciated. Please send an e-mail to Phil, (w1eme[at]amsat[dot]org if you can help.  Thank you!

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) may be purchased from the AMSAT store. The banquet ticket purchase deadline is Friday, May 13th. Banquet tickets must 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.
Register today at https://www.amsat.org/product/amsat-tapr-joint-hamvention-banquet-registration/

[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/
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MIR-SAT 1 (MO112) Has De-orbited

Jean Marc Momple, 3B8DU reports: “It seems to be confirmed that MIR-SAT 1 re-entered.

The last valid telemetry signals of MIR-SAT 1 (worldwide) was received in Mauritius with the UoM  ground station by YOG-3B8 (Dr Yogesh Beeharry, Lecturer of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering of the University of Mauritius). Yogesh, member of this forum led a team of UoM students who build their own ground station. This was at 01:36 Hrs local time this morning and JA0CAW (Tetsu, an experience Satellite HAM) confirmed to me by mail that no signals was received from MIR-SAT 1 at 05:03 (MRU time). More many other regular reporting HAMs confirmed to me that no signals received from our bird today.

This confirms that MIR-SAT 1 re-entered between 01:36 and 05:03 Hrs and probably burned up around 110Km in a blast of flame, unfortunately the location is not known as mainly over oceans during the time window.
I also confirm that a few minutes before last observation from Yogesh that I received the TLM of MIR-SAT 1 and also made successful Digipeats through it (see attached screenshot), the bird was at about 160km altitude at that time, this was my farewell to MO-112.

Congratulations to Yogesh to be the last recorded person on this planet to have successfully decoded our 3B8 bird.
RIP MIR-SAT 1, you have been a great tool for educational and HAM experiments.

One page turned and the next (better) opens, MIR-SAT 2 ??? why not?, just a question of vision, willingness, motivation and hard work  73, Jean Marc, 3B8DU”

[ANS thanks Jean Marc Momple, 3B8DU 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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Ron Parsons, W5RKN SK April 19, 2022

From Robert Bankston, KE4AL, AMSAT President:

“Ron has been an important part of amateur radio in space and his passion for implementing Flex Radio Systems.  If you are not familiar with his work, please take time to visit his website, http://www.w5rkn.com/.

A memorial service will be held at 3pm on Saturday, April 23rd at the Remembrance Gardens at Riverbend (4214 Capital of TX Hwy, N, Austin, TX 78746).

For those unable to attend in person, you may attend via Zoom (https://austinisd-org.zoom.us/j/83862240962?pwd=NS80SWJTaUFCNGpVdWRteU1MUmlTdz09).

Obituary will be posted here: https://www.centraltexascremation.com/obituaries/

Biography: https://web2.ph.utexas.edu/utphysicshistory/RonGParsons.html

From Rick Lawn K2JAZ:

“I regret to inform the satellite community that our good friend, who many of us relied on for advice, or a new grid square, passed away on Tuesday, April 19th at the age of 84. Not long ago I recall he earned the distinction of Grid Master and had been an active member of AMSAT for decades. He was instrumental in arranging for at least two ARISS contacts with Austin, TX schools and wrote an important paper on Doppler shift that has been referenced on countless occasions. Ron also was a strong advocate for the use of SDR equipment for satellite communications and had recently contributed, along with co-authors, a number of articles on related subjects to the AMSAT Journal. I am sure that he will be greatly missed by many of us. Donations in his name and memory can be made to any charity.”

[ANS thanks Robert Bankston, KE4AL, AMSAT President and Rick Lawn, W2JAZ 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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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.

No school contacts are on the immediate schedule.

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:

+ WL7T: 4/30, DM02 Check twitter for passes.

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

+ 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!

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

Major Roves:

+ Eastern Nevada: AD7DB to visit Eastern Nevada, DM25, DM26, DM27, DM28, DM29, DM36, and maybe DM37 and DM38. April 25 through April 30th 2022. List of passes at https://bit.ly/3OG3jdt

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

Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for April 21, 2022

The following satellites have decayed from orbit and has been removed from this week’s AMSAT-NA TLE distribution.

STARS-EC NORAD Cat ID 47928 (decayed form orbit on 4/15/2022 per Space-Track).
OPUSAT-II NORAD Cat ID 47930 (decayed form orbit on 4/15/2022 per Space-Track).
MO-112 (MIR-SAT 1) NORAD Cat ID 48868 (decayed form orbit on 4/18/2022 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

Scheduled Events with AMSAT involvement:

+ CubeSat Developers Workshop
April 26-28, 2022
San Luis Obispo, CA

+ 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

+ Ax-1. Commanded by Spanish-American Michael Lopez-Alegria on his fifth trip to the ISS, and accompanied by pilot Larry Connor (US) and mission specialists Eytan Stibbe (Israel) and Mark Pathy (Canada), Ax-1 has conducted the first all-commercial crewed mission to the station. Delayed by weather, the team will soon depart the ISS and will splash down off the coast of Florida after spending about 10 days in space and a bit more than a week on the ISS. More at https://bit.ly/3v37PdT [ANS thanks The Orbital Index for the above information]

+ SLS Wet Dress Rehearsal update. After three attempts, each ending in an abort, unexpectedly high lox temperatures, a helium check valve failure on the SLS’s second stage, and a hydrogen leak on the mobile platform’s service mast umbilical. NASA is now rolling the fully stacked SLS back to the VAB to fix some of these issues and upgrade the mobile launcher’s gaseous nitrogen (GN2) supply. What was optimistically supposed to be a two-day test took three weeks, and Artemis I is probably not launching before the end of the summer (although NASA said Monday that they are currently hoping to make a beginning of July launch window). We definitely want to see Artemis I go well (especially for those 10 plucky little rideshare science missions), and these growing pains are better worked out now than on a future crewed mission, but the whole thing just feels kind of arduous. More at https://bit.ly/3v37PdT [ANS thanks The Orbital Index for the above information]

+ The Great Solar Eclipse of 2024. Perhaps we’re getting ahead of ourselves, but it pays to start planning early. Where will you be in approximately two years? Andrew had the chance to watch 2017’s total solar eclipse from Idaho and was blown away by how visceral the experience was, complete with a storm of moths that materialized out of nowhere as if through transient solar abiogenesis. For those of us in North America, the next (and last until 2044) opportunity for a total solar eclipse is on April 8th, 2024. You don’t want to miss this! More at https://bit.ly/3v37PdT [ANS thanks The Orbital Index for the above information]

+ ULA begins stacking Atlas 5 rocket for Boeing’s Starliner test flight. Final assembly of a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket began Wednesday with the hoisting of a first stage booster onto a mobile launch platform at Cape Canaveral, kicking off a campaign to prepare for liftoff May 19 on a delayed unpiloted test flight of Boeing’s Starliner crew capsule. ULA’s ground team raised the Atlas first stage off its trailer transporter, and a crane lifted the rocket into the Vertical Integration Facility Wednesday morning. The 107-foot-tall (33-meter) rocket stage was then lowered onto the Atlas 5’s mobile launch platform inside the integration building just south of ULA’s launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41. The milestone event Wednesday, known as Launch Vehicle On Stand, will be followed in the coming days by the addition of two strap-on AJ-60A solid rocket boosters made by Aerojet Rocketdyne. Then a dual-engine Centaur upper stage will be raised on top of the Atlas first stage to complete the initial build-up of the launcher. In early May, Boeing and ULA will move the Starliner spacecraft from its hangar at the Kennedy Space Center to the VIF for stacking atop the Atlas 5. The launch preparations will culminate in rollout of the Atlas 5 rocket and Starliner spacecraft to pad 41 on May 18. Liftoff to begin Boeing’s Orbital Flight Test 2 mission to the International Space Station is scheduled for 6:54 p.m. EDT (2254 GMT). More at https://bit.ly/3vCZkpe [ANS thanks Stephen Clark, Spaceflight Now 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

ANS-107 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for April 17

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 Gearing Up for Hamvention
  • 2022 President’s Club Members Recognized
  • IARU Coordinates Two Amateur Radio Satellites
  • IARU-R1 Studies 23cm Band Amateur/RNSS Coexistence
  • Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for April 14, 2022
  • ARISS News
  • Upcoming Satellite Operations
  • Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
  • Satellite Shorts From All Over

ANS-107 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 Apr 17

AMSAT Gearing Up for Hamvention

With barely one month to go, AMSAT volunteers are busy getting ready to return to the Dayton Amateur Radio Club Hamvention. Running from May 20 to 22, 2022, this will be the 70th Anniversary of the legendary Amateur Radio get-together. After a two-year hiatus caused by the COVID pandemic, everyone is anxious to return to examine the latest in technology and to visit with old friends. As before, Hamvention will be held at the Greene County Fairgrounds and Expo Center in Xenia, Ohio.

AMSAT’s presence will be felt 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

Everyone is also invited to two special evening events:

– The annual “Dinner at Tickets will be held on Thursday evening at 6:00 PM at Tickets restaurant located at 7 W Main St, Fairborn, Ohio.
– The AMSAT/TAPR Annual Banquet will be held Friday night at 6:30 PM at the Kohler Presidential Banquet Center located at 4548 Presidential Way, Kettering, Ohio. Tickets are $57 and must be ordered in advance at the AMSAT Store no later than May 13, 2022.

Additionally AMSAT will also host its annual member forum at Hamvention. (Day, time and forum room to be announced.)

Phil Smith, W1EME, AMSAT Hamvention Coordinator, and his team have been working feverishly to make sure everything falls into place for Hamvention. There is still a need for volunteers to help staff the exhibit. With over 800 square feet of booth space and 20 hours of exhibit time, there is plenty of opportunity for members to spend a few hours to meet their fellow members and to help those new to the world of amateur satellites. Anyone willing to help for an hour or two should send Phil an email via w1eme [at] amsat [dot]org.

[ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information.]

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Join the 2022 President’s Club!
Score your 2″ 4-Color Accent Commemorative Coin.
This gold finished coin comes with
Full Color Certificate and Embroidered Iron-on AMSAT Logo Patch
Donate today at
https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/
You won’t want to miss it!
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2022 President’s Club Members Recognized

AMSAT wishes to recognize these generous donors who have become members of the AMSAT 2022 President’s Club during the first quarter of this year. Collectively, they have contributed over $46,000 toward AMSAT’s commitment to Keeping Amateur Radio in Space!

+ Titanium ($4,800+)
Barry A. Baines, WD4ASW
Alan P. Biddle, WA4SCA
John D. Botti, KC8OKB
William G. Brown, K9LF

+ Platinum ($2,400+)
Ronald Parsons, W5RKN

+ Gold ($1,200+)
Burns Fisher, WB1FT
John R. Kludt, K7SYS
Joseph Lynch, N6CL
Douglas B. Tabor, N6UA

+ Silver ($600+)
Bruce Paige, KK5DO
David A. Vine, WA1EAW

+ Bronze ($300+)
Thomas Talley, K0CFI
Dave Taylor, W8AAS

+ Core ($120+)
Steve Bachhuber, K9SJB
Robert Brennan, KC3CKV
George Carr, WA5KBH
Richard Dittmer, KB7SAT
David Grebe, WA4LM
Nels E. Knutzen, W0PEC
David Hartrum, WA3YDZ
Stephen Howard, AB0XE
Gailen Marshall, N5GDM
Brendan McNeill, ZL3BAM
Ottawa Valley Mobile Radio Club
Maxwell Rathbone, W3POI
Alton Simpson, WA5TJB
Carl Starnes, W4EAT
Paul Stoetzer, N8HM
Christopher Wachs, WA2KDL
Stefan Wagener, VE4SW

More information about the President’s Club is available at https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/.

[ANS thanks Frank Karnauskas, N1UW, AMSAT VP, Development for the above information.]


IARU Coordinates Two Amateur Radio Satellites

The IARU coordinated two upcoming satellites containing Amateur Radio payloads on April 4, 2022.

URESAT
URESAT (HADES-B ITU designation) is a 1.5 P Pocketqube mission sponsored by AMSAT-EA. It will offer licensed radio amateurs around the world the opportunity to relay FM voice and AX.25/APRS 300/1200 bps communications. This will be achieved by implementing a SDR based FM and FSK repeater. A SSTV camera module by Brno University is expected to fly depending on time restrictions. Images would be taken randomly but the SSTV module would contain some ROM coded images to be transmitted as well. URESAT hardware and software subsystems are enhanced versions of the previous AMSAT-EA HADES satellite mission launched on a SpaceX Transporter-3 mission on January 3, 2022. A downlink on 436.888 MHz and an uplink on 145.975 MHz have been coordinated for a V/U FM voice repeater, a beacon with FSK, AFSK and APRS telemetry plus a CW beacon. The launch is planned for a 525km polar orbit with SpaceX in October 2022 managed by Exolaunch/Alba Orbital. More info at https://www.amsat-ea.org.

LightCube
LightCube is a 1U CubeSat educational mission sponsored by Arizona State University. Its aim is to inspire and provide a learning experience to people across the planet by producing a light visible to the naked eye. The flash, expected to be as bright as the International Space Station, will be produced by two Xenon flash tubes. The spacecraft will be triggered by Amateur Radio operators. This mission with its outreach goal of increasing the accessibility of satellites will inspire more people to become Amateur Radio licensees and to continue interacting with more CubeSats. In addition to triggering the LightCube flash, radio amateurs can also download and decode the telemetry information. A downlink on 437.175 MHz using 1k2 AFSK with AX25.has been coordinated. Planning a deployment from the ISS NET October 2022. More information at: https://lightcube.space.

[ANS thanks the IARU 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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IARU-R1 Studies 23cm Band Amateur/RNSS Coexistence

CEPT SE40 meeting #76 being held April 11-13, 2022 is studying the issue of coexistence between Amateur Radio operation in 1240-1300 MHz and RNSS systems such as Galileo.

One of the agenda items for the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC23) is AI-9.1b “Measures to be applied in the frequency band 1240-1300 MHz to ensure the protection of the radionavigation-satellite service (RNSS) in accordance with Resolution-774.”

SE40 is the CEPT ECC working group that looks at Space Service compatibility issues.

IARU Region 1 has submitted these documents to the April meeting:

  • Amateur density numbers
  • Amateur density numbers Background
  • Updated Proposals for WI_39 report

These papers and other meeting input documents can be downloaded from
https://cept.org/ecc/groups/ecc/wg-se/se-40/client/meeting-documents/?flid=30061

[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information]


Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for April 14, 2022

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/

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

BOBCAT-1 NORAD Cat ID 51081 (decayed form orbit on 4/9/2022 per Space-Track).

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


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.

Completed Contacts

– About Gagarin From Space, Southwestern State University of Kursk, Kursk, Russia, direct via UB3WCL
The ISS callsign was RSØISS.
The downlink frequency was 145.800 MHz.
The crewmember was Oleg Artemyev.
Contact was successful on Friday, April 15, 2022 at 09:27 UTC.

– Rakia – Herzliya Science Center, Herzliya, Israel, direct via 4X4HSC
The ISS callsign was 4Z9SPC.
The downlink frequency was 145.800 MHz.
The crewmember was Eytan Stibbe, 4Z9SPC.
Contact was successful on Thursday, April 14, 2022 at 13:32:09 UTC.

– École Marie Poburan, St. Albert, AB, Canada, telebridge via VK5ZAI
The ISS callsign was NA1SS.
The downlink frequency was 145.800 MHz.
The crewmember was Mark Pathy, KO4WFH.
Contact was successful on Thursday, April 14, 2022 at 17:20:49 UTC.

– DLR_School_Lab TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany, direct via DLØTSD
The ISS was DPØISS.
The downlink frequency was 145.800 MHz.
The crewmember was Matthias Maurer, KI5KFH.
Contact was successful on Monday, April 11, 2022 at 14:14:21 UTC.

– École Secondaire St. Albert Catholic High School, St. Albert, AB, Canada, telebridge via IK1SLD
The ISS callsign was OR4ISS.
The downlink frequency was 145.800 MHz.
The crewmember was Mark Pathy, KO4WFH.
Contact was successful on Monday, April 11, 2022 at 15:50:31 UTC.

Upcoming Contacts

– Bellefontaine High School, Bellefontaine, OH, direct via W8BCS
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS.
The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz.
The scheduled crewmember is Kayla Barron KI5LAL.
Contact is go for Thursday, April 21, 2022 at 17:13:09 UTC.
Watch for Livestream at https://youtu.be/6t5ZQOw2j68.

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

DM02 – April 30, 2022
WL7T: Check twitter for passes.

DM42 – July 30 – August 6, 2022
W3IPA will be on FM passes vacation style. Timothy will be close to DM41 so he might be able to work a gridline. Watch for more updates closer to that week.

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


Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events

+ Xenia, OH – May 20-22, 2022
Hamvention
Greene County Fairgrounds, Xenia, OH.

The Dayton Amateur Radio Club will hold the 70th annual Hamvention. AMSAT personnel will be present at its large eight-booth exhibit. More info available at: https://hamvention.org/

+ Xenia, OH – May 20, 2022
AMSAT/TAPR Joint Banquet
Kohler Presidential Banquet Center, 4548 Presidential Way, Kettering, Ohio

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 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.

Tickets ($57 each) may be purchased from the AMSAT store. The banquet ticket purchase deadline is Friday, May 13th. Banquet tickets must 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.
Tickets available at the AMSAT Store: https://www.amsat.org/product/amsat-tapr-joint-hamvention-banquet-registration/.

[ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information.]


Satellite Shorts From All Over

+ Replacing Satellite Components With SDRs
Traditional satellite RF communication systems can often have drawbacks. Software-defined radio can be used in satellite systems as a replacement for these traditional platforms, and have numerous benefits. SDRs can also be configured to various form factors for different payloads, for instance in cubesats. In addition to all these, SDRs are extremely rugged and radiation-resistant and area able to withstand the harsh conditions of space. Considering that satellites function in space for decades without any maintenance, this characteristic is particularly of benefit. Read the complete article at: http://satmagazine.com/story.php?number=1467842844. [ANS thanks SatMagazine.com for the above information.]

+ Commercial Crew Adapting to Life on the ISS
One crewmember comments, “I think we underestimated just how hard the adaptation would be and sort of how long it would take,” Lopez-Alegra said. “You know, we have this phenomenon that astronauts call ‘space brain,’ when you get up here, things just take about 33 to 50 percent longer than they normally do. And that’s even more true for people who’ve never been exposed to this environment before.” Read the complete article at: https://tinyurl.com/ANS-107-Crew. [ANS thanks SpaceFlightNow.com 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, Frank Karnauskas, N1UW
n1uw at amsat dot org

ANS-100 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for April 10

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:

  • Axiom Private Astronauts Headed to International Space Station
  • NASA Astronaut-Ham Colonel Douglas Wheelock Speaks in Pennsylvania
  • AMSAT Discord Server Open to All
  • AMSAT at the Dayton Hamvention — Call for Volunteers
  • New FCC Application Fee Will Not Apply to Amateur License Upgrades
  • ARISS News
  • Upcoming Satellite Operations
  • Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
  • AMSAT Ambassador Activity Report
  • Satellite Shorts From All Over

ANS-100 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 April 10

Axiom Private Astronauts Headed to International Space Station

Four private astronauts are in orbit following the successful launch of Axiom Mission 1 (Ax-1), the first all private astronaut mission to the International Space Station. Axiom Space astronauts lifted off at 15:17 UTC on Friday, April 8, from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket propelled the Dragon Endeavour spacecraft carrying Ax-1 crew members Michael López-Alegría, KE5GTK, Larry Connor, Mark Pathy, KO4WFH, and Eytan Stibbe, 4Z9SPC, into orbit. The crew will spend more than a week conducting scientific research, outreach, and commercial activities on the space station.

[Outreach activities for the Axiom crew include a flurry of ARISS school contacts in the coming week. See ARISS News, below.]

Once aboard the station, the Axiom crew will be welcomed by Expedition 67 crew members, including NASA astronauts Thomas Marshburn, KE5HOC, Raja Chari, KI5LIU, and Kayla Barron, KI5LAL, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer, KI5KFH, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Artemyev, Sergey Korsokov, and Denis Matveev.

Axiom Space astronauts are expected to spend about 10 days in orbit before a return to Earth and splashdown at one of seven landing sites off the coast of Florida. NASA and Axiom will release separate advisories to preview the Ax-1 farewell event and return coverage.

Learn more about how NASA is supporting a space economy in low-Earth orbit: https://www.nasa.gov/leo-economy

[ANS thanks spaceref.com and NASA 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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NASA Astronaut-Ham Colonel Douglas Wheelock Speaks in Pennsylvania

The Murgas Amateur Radio Club (MARC), K3YTL, an ARRL-affiliated club in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, presented two appearances by NASA Astronaut Colonel Douglas Wheelock on April 6, 2022. The events were held in cooperation with NASA, the University of Scranton, and Misericordia University.

Colonel Wheelock, now retired, was selected by NASA in 1998 and has accumulated more than 178 days in space. He is a radio amateur, and his call sign is KF5BOC. During his time in space, Wheelock made many ham radio contacts from the space shuttle and International Space Station (ISS) with radio amateurs and student groups.

Wheelock flew on Shuttle Mission STS-120 in 2007, and in 2010, he began a long-duration stay aboard the ISS as a flight engineer for Expedition 24 and as a commander for Expedition 25. During this mission, Wheelock conducted three unplanned spacewalks to replace a faulty ammonia pump module. While on board the ISS, both Wheelock and fellow Astronaut Shannon Walker, KD5DXB, participated in the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program. They made 22 ISS-to-school and ISS-to-camp ham radio contacts. In addition, Wheelock averaged about two dozen casual contacts with radio amateurs around the world each week while on board the ISS.

The Binghamton, New York native holds a Bachelor of Science in Applied Science and Engineering from the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, and a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Georgia Tech in Atlanta, Georgia.

Wheelock’s first appearance was to be at 2 p.m. local time on Wednesday, April 6 at the University of Scranton DeNaples Center-Moskovitz Theater. The second appearance was scheduled for 7 p.m. at Misericordia University’s Frank M. and Dorothea Henry Science Center in Dallas, Pennsylvania.

[ANS thanks ARRL for the above information]


AMSAT Discord Server Open to All

AMSAT is pleased to announce the availability of a Discord server for the amateur satellite community. Discord is a text, voice, and video client that has become very popular in recent years. Discord will provide the amateur satellite community with an additional option to communicate amongst each other, in real-time.

Discord provides several neat features, including the following:

* Ability to create channels, to organize different conversation topics
* Hosting of events, that can include voice and or video chat
* For satellite launch parties!
* Use of bots to automate useful actions
-Try typing /tle AO-92
-More commands are in development!
* Notification of Twitter posts of interest
-Currently only following @AMSAT Twitter account

A special section of the server is reserved for AMSAT members. If you are a current member, please send a message in the #request-roles channel once you join the server, indicating whether you are a member or life member. Once the member role is granted, you will be able to post in the “Members Only” category. If you are not yet an AMSAT member, join today at https://launch.amsat.org/.

The link below can be used to join the server. See you in Discord!

https://discord.gg/xbTXcPJHyt

[ANS thanks AMSAT 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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AMSAT at the Dayton Hamvention — Call for Volunteers

In 2019, we had about 40 people assist with the AMSAT booth at the Hamvention. It was the efforts of those volunteers that made the 2019 Dayton Hamvention a success for AMSAT.

The interaction with AMSAT members, satellite operators, designers, and builders makes the whole experience a lot of fun.

The 2022 Hamvention is May 20-22: At the Greene County Fairgrounds in Xenia, Ohio. Would you consider helping AMSAT at the Hamvention this year?

Whether you’re available for only a couple of hours or if you can spend the entire weekend with us, your help would be greatly appreciated.

Please send an e-mail to Phil, w1eme [at] amsat.org if you can help.

[ANS thanks Phil Smith, W1EME, Dayton Team Lead, for the above information]


New FCC Application Fee Will Not Apply to Amateur License Upgrades

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) staff has clarified in response to an ARRL request that the new $35 application fee will not apply to most license modifications, including those to upgrade amateur radio licensee’s operator class and changes to club station trustees. The FCC staff explained that the new fees will apply only to applications for a new license, renewal, rule waiver, or a new vanity call sign. As previously announced, the new fees take effect on April 19, 2022.

“We are pleased that the FCC will not charge licensees the FCC application fee for license upgrade applications,” said ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC) Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM. “While applicants for a new license will need to pay the $35 FCC application fee, there will be no FCC charge for future upgrades and administrative updates, such as a change of mailing or email address. Most current licensees, therefore, will not be charged the new FCC application fee until they renew their license or apply for a new vanity call sign.”

ARRL previously reported that the new $35 application fee for amateur radio licenses will become effective on April 19, 2022. Further information and instructions about the FCC Application Fee are available from the ARRL VEC page at, https://www.arrl.org/fcc-application-fee

[ANS thanks ARRL News for the above information]


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, unless otherwise noted.

These contacts were recently completed successfully:

Leonardo-Da-Vinci Campus Nauen, Nauen, Germany, direct via DC1RSN in contact with ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer, KI5KFH, operating as DPØISS. The contact was completed on Wednesday, 2022-04-06 at 11:48:08 UTC on a 26 degree pass. Congratulations to the Leonardo-Da-Vinci Campus Nauen students and Matthias!

Space Hardware Club, Huntsville, Alabama, direct via K4UAH in contact with astronaut Thomas Marshburn, KE5HOC, operating as NA1SS. The contact was completed on Thursday 2022-04-07 at 17:07:39 UTC on a 36 degree pass. Congratulations to Space Hardware Club and Thomas!

These contacts are scheduled for the coming week:

DLR_School_Lab TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany, direct via DLØTSD in contact with ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer, KI5KFH, operating as DPØISS. Contact is go for: Mon 2022-04-11 14:14:21 UTC 44 degrees. Watch for Livestream at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LKjD2QlisM

École Secondaire St. Albert Catholic High School, St. Albert, AB, Canada, telebridge via IK1SLD in contact with Axiom astronaut Mark Pathy, KO4WFH, operating as OR4ISS. Contact is go for: Mon 2022-04-11 15:50:31 UTC 33 degrees. Watch for Livestream starting about 15 minutes before AOS: www.ariotti.com and https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA55YJg_jvRtoEBPKK-p__A

Dr. David R. William School, Oakville, ON, Canada, Telebridge via K6DUE in contact with Axiom astronaut Mark Pathy, KO4WFH, operating as NA1SS. Contact is go for: Wed 2022-04-13 13:57:41 UTC 86 degrees.

École Secondaire Sainte Marguerite d’Youville, St. Albert, AB, Canada, telebridge via AB1OC in contact with Axiom astronaut Mark Pathy, KO4WFH, operating as NA1SS. Contact is go for: Wed 2022-04-13 15:36:27 UTC 24 degrees.

Rakia – Herzliya Science Center, Herzliya, Israel, direct via 4X4HSC in contact with Axiom astronaut Eytan Stibbe, 4Z9SPC. Contact is go for: Thu 2022-04-14 13:32:09 UTC 89 degrees. Watch for Livestream at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1gJRBkNXyv5tbMZkmjzi4g and ARISS YouTube channel.

École Elementaire Ste. Jean D’Arc, London, ON, Canada, Telebridge via AB1OC in contact with Axiom astronaut Mark Pathy, KO4WFH, operating as NA1SS. Contact is go for: Thu 2022-04-14 14:47:54 UTC 31 degrees.

École Marie Poburan, St. Albert, AB, Canada, telebridge via VK5ZAI in contact with Axiom astronaut Mark Pathy, KO4WFH, operating as NA1SS. Contact is go for: Thu 2022-04-14 17:20:49 UTC 35 degrees.

SSTV Event

Watch for SSTV event honoring Cosmonautics Day and Women in Space starting 2022-04-11 at 16:30 UTC and ending 2022-04-13 at 12: 00 UTC. The mode will be PD120.

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

KX9X and N9NCY: April 8-10: EM57 + EM66 (IL/TN): EM57 will only be on April 8 and April 10 while en route to EM66; EM66 will be April 9. Linear and FM, holiday style. Passes to be determined based on travel schedule. Log/Upload as KX9X/R and N9NCY/R. Follow them at @SeanKutzko and @Nancy_N9NCY on Twitter for real-time info on what passes they will be on.

WL7T: 4/30, DM02 Check twitter for passes. LoTW: WL7T/P

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!

IN51/61 – Portugal: EA4NF is heading to Portugal April 13-16, FM & Linears. LoTW: CT7/EA4NF

FK78 British Virgin Islands: VP2V/N2IEN – N2IEN, WW2DX, WW1X, W2RE and KB2HZI holiday style to FK78pj April 10-16, 2022. 6M-160M with focus on higher bands. Possibly some #amsat passes. No EME this trip. QSL to EB7DX @david_lianez @DAILYDX @DX_World @dxcoffee (from Twitter)

[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.

N4HF is heading out to the NC Hamfest! NC Hamfest, Saturday April 16, there will be a forum (presented by Ernie, N4AEW), demos (by John KG4AKV), and an info table (manned by me, N4HF) Jim Graham Building – NC State Fairgrounds 4285 Trinity Rd, Raleigh, NC 27607 https://www.rarsfest.org/

Brainerd Area Hamfest: Brainerd National Guard Armory: 4/23/22 https://brainerdham.org/

Hamvention (see call for volunteers, above)
May 20-22, 2022
Greene County Fairgrounds & Expo Center
120 Fairgrounds Road
Xenia, OH 45385
https://www.hamvention.org

2022 Rocky Mountain ARRL Division Convention
Friday, October 7th, 2022 to Sunday, October 9th, 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]


AMSAT Ambassador Activity Report

Jack Spitznagel, KD4IZ, gave a virtual presentation on March 26, on general SDR usage and the Fox-In-A-Box Raspberry Pi image, to the Dallas Amateur Radio Club “Lecture and Lab” special interest group organized by Bill Brady, KF5ZBL. It was well received and many of the participants had their RTL-SDR and RPi SBC’s ready to go. They experimented with the software during the lab portion while Jack reviewed the slides on configuration and answered questions.

The Club also expressed interest in having a live demonstration of the CubeSat Simulator and building one of the simple L.B. Cebik turnstyle antenna designs that was presented. Jack reached out to Dallas area AMSAT Ambassador Tom Scheussler, N5HYP, who will follow up.

On April 2, a second live presentation was made to a local club to the K3AE/South Pennsylvania Communications Group based in Shrewsbury and York County, Penn., of which Jack is a member. Again the presentation was well received and many questions came up. This time he added a live demonstration of the CubeSat Simulator Mini prototype and had participants bring their 434 MHz capable HT’s to monitor the sound of the various telemetry streams.

This club has become increasingly interested in Satellite and Balloon ops. Their balloon team recently launched the W3UAV-7 APRS balloon which is now on the second circumnavigation pass around the globe. They plan to have Jack bring the full size simulator to the summer township Fireman’s fair where the club will have a booth demonstrating all of their activities, from HF and VHF contesting to fast scan TV and satellite ops. Among our exhibits, they will have a complete satellite ground station on display and we will attempt some contacts from FM19ps. Stay tuned for the “rove” announcement.

The PDF of the presentation (which may be shared) is at:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/h8o63ok1ccjc6ze/SDR%20applications%20ver3.pdf?dl=0
It lacks the A/V screen grabs that the PowerPoint uses.

[ANS thanks Jack Spitznagel, KD4IZ, AMSAT Ambassador, for the above information]


Satellite Shorts From All Over

+ Morazán is a project for Central American integration through cooperation in space. Its objective is to put into orbit the first Honduran satellite developed by the National Autonomous University of Honduras with the cooperation of the University of Costa Rica and the University of San Carlos of Guatemala. The project is led by the Secretariat of the Central American Integration System and has the support of the Radio Clubs of Honduras and Costa Rica, as well as the Federated College of Engineers and Architects of Costa Rica. (ANS thanks https://ti0rc.org/amsat-ti for the above information)

+ The Portland State University publication, PSU Vanguard, published a feature story about the Portland State Aerospace Society and the successful launch of their OreSat0 satellite. The launch took place on March 15, 2022, and the satellite downlinks on 436.500 MHz and 2425.00 MHz using 9k6 G3RUH AX25/APRS packet beacons. Amateur radio is mentioned briefly in the article, which may be found at https://bit.ly/3766ZUB (ANS thanks PSU Vanguard for the above information)

+ NASA officials said on Tuesday, April 5, that they are standing down from a cryogenic loading test on the agency’s Space Launch System moon rocket until after the launch of a commercial crew mission from a neighboring pad at the Kennedy Space Center. [That launch took place on April 8.] A countdown test Monday, April 4, was delayed by what NASA managers characterized as minor issues. The countdown dress rehearsal is a key test before NASA completes final preparations on the Space Launch System and Orion crew capsule. The giant rocket is set to launch no earlier than June on the unpiloted Artemis 1 test flight around the moon, laying the groundwork for future lunar missions with astronauts on-board. (ANS thanks SpaceFlightNow for the above information)

+ Amazon announced the largest commercial launch deal in history April 5, revealing agreements for up to 83 missions to deploy thousands of internet satellites on United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur rocket, Arianespace’s Ariane 6, and Blue Origin’s New Glenn vehicle. The agreements solidify the commercial business cases for all three rockets, more than doubling the backlogs for Vulcan Centaur, Ariane 6, and New Glenn rockets before any of them have ever flown. Amazon’s Kuiper network, similar in concept to SpaceX’s Starlink constellation and the OneWeb satellite fleet, will provide low-latency Ka-band broadband internet connectivity to customers between 56 degrees north and 56 degrees south latitude. (ANS thanks SpaceFlightNow for the above information)

+ SpaceX has lost the right to provide Starlink broadband services in France after the country’s highest administrative court revoked its spectrum license. France’s Conseil d’État ruled April 5 that French telecoms regulator ARCEP should have launched a public consultation before authorizing Starlink in February 2021. The ruling came after Priartem and Agir Pour L’Environnement, two French environmental activist organizations, submitted an appeal to challenge ARCEP’s decision to award Starlink frequency rights. Agir pour l’Environnement (Acting for the Environment), has called for stronger regulations on megaconstellations to protect views of the night sky and reduce space debris risks. (ANS thanks SpaceNews for the above information)

+ On April Fools Day, SpaceX launched their fourth dedicated SSO rideshare mission with 40 spacecraft onboard. The largest payload was the German hyperspectral Environmental Mapping and Analysis Program satellite at 980 kg. Other payloads included 5 ÑuSat visible + IR Earth observation sats, 12 Swarm 1/4U (400g) Spacebees, GNOMES-3 (radio occultation weather forecasting), Albania’s first satellite (Albania-1), amateur radio BDSat, and D-Orbit’s ION SCV orbital transfer vehicle that will host or later release “four Kleos Space CubeSats, three CubeSats from the University of Chile, and a passive payload for Spacelust called Upmosphere.” SpaceX’s Transporter-5 is scheduled for June. (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, Mark Johns, K0JM
k0jm at amsat dot org