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: [email protected]
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 Ambassadors to Speak at QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo
- Revised QO-100 WB Transponder Bandplan and Operating Guidelines
- Rubins and Noguchi assemble solar array fixtures outside ISS
- VUCC Awards-Endorsements for March 1 2021
- India, Brazil Launch Amazônia-1 On PSLV Rocket
- IARU Region 1 Participates in ITU WRC-23, Prep for 23cm Allocations
- Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for February 4, 2021
- ARISS News
- Upcoming Satellite Operations
- Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
- Satellite Shorts From All Over
ANS-066 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 066
To: All RADIO AMATEURS
From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation
712 H Street NE Suite 1653
Washington, DC 20002
Date: 2021 March 07
AMSAT Ambassadors to Speak at QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo
Several AMSAT Ambassadors are scheduled to speak at the QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo on Saturday, March 13, 2021. The QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo to be held on March 12-14, 2021 features many speakers over a wide range of technical and operating topics. Among the speakers will be two AMSAT Ambassadors presenting in the Space Auditorium on Saturday March 13, 2021:
“Working the Easy FM Amateur Satellites” Clint Bradford, K6LCS 1200-1300 EST
From getting licensed to finding local clubs to working the “easy” FM amateur satellites – with minimal investment! We’ll cover all the basics for you – with plenty of ways to submit any questions you may have afterwards. Let’s get you “working the birds” ASAP!
Clint Bradford has been a ham since 1994, and is also involved in the commercial side of the communications industry. His “How to Work the Amateur Satellites With Your HT” presentation has informed and delighted more than 100 audiences over the past few years – clubs, conventions, and hamfests not only in Southern California, but also clubs across North America and Canada. He is an ARRL educator, AMSAT Ambassador, and member of several AMSAT chapters across the planet.
“Getting on the air with Amateur Radio Satellites” Tom Schuessler, N5HYP 1700-1800 EST
Tom will provide an introduction to what you need to know to become active on FM satellites and beyond.
Tom was licensed in 1985. Although he was aware of Amateur Radio space communications, he thought it was just too far beyond the means of the average ham. In 2009, he caught the bug from the late Keith Pugh, W5IU. The realization that he already had a radio that would work with the then existing FM satellites was all he needed. He now not only actively enjoys communicating through the current fleet of Amateur Radio satellites, but loves to communicate his passion and experience to those who have never yet experienced the thrill. Professionally, Tom Has worked in the broadcast television and video fields as a production and systems engineer.
Also scheduled to present are AMSAT’s Human Space partners at ARISS:
“How to Enjoy Amateur Radio Contacts with the International Space Station” Frank Bauer, KA3HDO & Rosalie White, K1STO 1600-1700 EST
You can enjoy ham radio contacts through the ARISS radios on the International Space Station. We’ll explain how you can have fun trying ARISS packet, SSTV and repeater mode. Intermediate level & even beginners learn how to try off-the-planet hamming.
Frank H. Bauer’s aerospace career spans over 40 years within NASA and private industry. Mr. Bauer’s primary research interests include space borne applications of the Global Positioning System (GPS) and space vehicle formation flying. He was the principal investigator of 4 spaceflight GPS and formation flying experiments including the AMSAT-OSCAR-40 GPS experiment, investigating the use of GPS above the constellation. His hobbies include astronomy, amateur radio, and flying. He’s the founder of ARISS-USA, which enables amateur radio on the ISS.
Rosalie White is an ARISS-US Delegate to the International Space Station (supported by NASA). Her specialties are STEM, Aerospace, NASA, Amateur Radio, and Aviation.
Complete information is available at https://www.qsotodayhamexpo.com
[ANS thanks QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo for the above information.]
Join the 2021 President’s Club!
Score your 2″ 4-Color Accent Commemorative Coin.
This gold finished coin comes with
Full Color Certificate and Embroidered “Remove Before Flight” Key Tag
Donate today at
https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/
You won’t want to miss it!
QO-100 WB Transponder Bandplan and Operating Guidelines
Version 3 February 2021 – The following updated DATV (DVB-S2) bandplan and guidelines are designed to enable the most efficient use of the QO-100 wideband transponder (WB) for all amateur radio satellite users. Please make sure that you understand the guidelines and follow them accordingly. The use of DVB-S2 as the most efficient transmission mode is advised. Additional information and graphics may be found at: https://bit.ly/2NXQYqm
[ANS thanks Peter Gülzow, DB2OS of AMSAT-DL for the above information]
Rubins and Noguchi assemble solar array support fixtures outside ISS
NASA astronaut Kate Rubins and Soichi Noguchi, a Japanese astronaut who last walked in space more than 15 years ago, ventured outside the International Space Station Friday and completed assembly of two solar array support fixtures, part of a $100 million power system upgrade.
After handling multiple struts and bolts, Rubins reported a small pin-prick “hole” in one of her gloves and while there was no leakage and no emergency, she expressed concern about moving too far from Noguchi for additional work.
“There’s a hole in my right index finger through the RTV (insulation),” she told astronaut Frank Rubio in mission control. “It’s unchanged in appearance. And we have a middle finger peeling, my right middle finger, and … gaps in the RTV on my left middle finger.”
With installation of the solar array support fixtures complete, Rubio asked how she felt about leaving Noguchi, moving back to the space station airlock to drop off tools and then heading out to the European Columbus laboratory module to complete electrical connections for a recently installed experiment platform.
“This is kind of a pinprick hole versus RTV peeling,” Rubins replied. “So I’m mildly concerned about going real far from Soichi.”
Rubins’ suit maintained the proper pressure throughout, but given time lost earlier assembling the solar array supports, flight controllers opted to call it a day without pressing ahead with work to finish wiring up the experiment platform. Additional Information at: https://bit.ly/3bmvUmf
[ANS thanks William Harwood of SpaceflightNow.com for the above information]
VUCC Awards-Endorsements for March 1 2021
Here are the endorsements and new VUCC Satellite Awards issued by the ARRL for the period February 1, 2021 through March 1, 2021. Congratulations to all those who made the list this month!
| CALLSIGN | Feb | Mar |
|---|---|---|
| XE2AT | 899 | 946 |
| W5RKN | 739 | 740 |
| N3GS | 679 | 687 |
| NS3L | 625 | 650 |
| N1AIA | 494 | 604 |
| PS8ET | 450 | 550 |
| N5BO | 500 | 525 |
| AF5CC | 461 | 477 |
| N4DCW | 450 | 476 |
| AK7DD | 390 | 400 |
| VE1VOX | 170 | 400 |
| W8LR | 328 | 353 |
| KE0WPA | 229 | 345 |
| N6RFM | 276 | 302 |
| VE4MM | 263 | 279 |
| K8BL | 274 | 278 |
| AB1OC | 264 | 267 |
| DF2ET | 129 | 250 |
| F6GLJ | 103 | 220 |
| N8URE (FM19) | 186 | 214 |
| F4BKV | 100 | 200 |
| WD9EWK(DM23) | 152 | 166 |
| KN2K | New | 155 |
| N8URE (EL95) | 113 | 134 |
| DL6KBG | 111 | 125 |
| M0SKN | New | 108 |
| KC5TT | New | 100 |
| N2CJ | New | 100 |
If you find errors or omissions. please contact me off-list at<mycall>@<mycall>.com and I’ll revise the announcement. This list was developed by comparing the ARRL .pdf listings for the two months. It’s a visual comparison so omissions are possible. Apologies if your call was not mentioned. Thanks to all those who are roving to grids that are rarely on the birds. They are doing most of the work! Ron W5RKN
[ANS thanks Ron Parsons, W5RKN for the above information]
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/
India, Brazil Launch Amazônia-1 On PSLV Rocket
The Indian Space Research Organization has launched their first mission of 2021 with a flight of their Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) to deliver Brazil’s Amazônia-1 satellite, along with 18 co-passengers, into Sun-synchronous orbit.
Liftoff from First Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, India, occurred Sunday, 28 February at 10:24 IST at the launch site — which is 04:54 UTC, or Saturday, 27 February at 23:54 EST.
Amazônia-1 is the first Earth observation satellite designed, built, tested, and operated completely by Brazil and is the first of three such satellites planned by the National Institute of Space Research (INPE), a Brazil’s space research and exploration company.
The 18 co-passengers, included 12 SpaceBEEs, SAI-1 Nanoconnect-2, Sindhu Netra, UNITYsat, and SDSat.
The SpaceBEEs satellites, developed by Swarm Technologies Inc., will be used for two-way satellite communication and data relay while the SAI-1 Nanoconnect-2 satellite, developed and funded by the Space Instrumentation Laboratory of the National University of Mexico, will examine the use of the GlobalStar satellite phone network as a secondary communication channel for nano-satellites.
Sindhu Netra is an Indian-developed AIS-based (automatic identification system) marine traffic monitoring satellite built by students at the People’s Education Society University’s Crucible for Research and Innovation wing. Funding was provided by the Defense Research and Development Organization of India.
Joining its other co-passengers is the UNITYSat mission — which itself contains the JITsat, GHRCESat, and SriShakthiSat satellites. The trio of satellites will form an amateur radio and IoT (Internet of Things) service satellite. The mission was developed by the Jeppiaar Institute of Technology, G. H. Raisoni College of Engineering, and the Sri Shakthi Institute of Engineering and Technology. [No amateur frequency coordination records appear in the IARU satellite database for these satellites — Ed.]
SDSat (Satish Dhawan Satellite), named after the Chairman and founding father of the Indian Space Program, was developed by SpaceKidz India to measure magnetic fields and space radiation. The satellite also carries 25,000 names designed to create awareness and educate the general public about space sciences.
This was the 53rd mission for the PSLV rocket and marks the first dedicated PSLV commercial mission for New Space India Limited, an Indian government company under the Department of Space and the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organization.
[ANS thanks Spaceflight.com for the above information]
IARU Region 1 Participates in ITU WRC-23 Preparation for 23cm Allocations
The Chair of IARU Region 1 Spectrum Affairs, Barry Lewis, G4SJH reports a meeting of the ITU-R Working Party 4C (WP4C) was held between February 15 and 19 which discussed the amateur radio allocation at 1240 – 1300 MHz.
During the week 15 to 19 February, the preparatory work for WRC-23 agenda item 9.1b continued in ITU-R Working Party 4C (WP4C). The WRC agenda item has initiated technical studies on coexistence between the radio navigation satellite service (RNSS) and the amateur services in the 23 cm band. As usual, the IARU participated in the meeting and delivered key information on amateur activities in this important microwave band. This information is vital to ensure the amateur services are realistically represented in the studies as they move forward.
To assist with this the IARU Region 1 is developing supporting material that Member Societies can refer to when addressing the topic with their National Regulator. The work on this topic will continue throughout the year and beyond, both in ITU-R and in the regional telecommunications organisations, and the IARU is committed to ensure every organisation understands the amateur position on this important microwave band.
[ANS thanks JoAnne Maenpaa and the South African Radio League SARL News 28 February 2021 for the above information]
JAMSAT Symposium 2021 Information Posted: March 2, 2021
From Google Translate: JAMSAT will hold the annual meeting and JAMSAT Symposium 2021 as follows. This year, due to the influence of the new corona, it will be held online. The annual general meeting is for members only, and the symposium and the social gathering after the symposium are open to anyone who is interested in satellite communications. We posted the “Symposium 2021 Holding Information” earlier, but we will post it again, including the social gathering.
Date and time:
Saturday, March 20th, General Assembly (members only)
Saturday, March 20th, 9: 00-9: 45 (Reception: Posted in newsletter)
Symposium: Saturday, March 20th, 10:00 ~ 17: 45 Social gathering:
Saturday, March 20th, 18: 00 ~
Venue: ZOOM, ZOOM, free of charge, symposium
More information in Japanese available at: https://bit.ly/3uUlXEf
[ANS thanks Nao Goto of JAMSAT for the above information]
AMSAT’s GOLF Program is about getting back to higher orbits, and it all
begins with GOLF-TEE – a technology demonstrator for deployable solar
panels, propulsion, and attitude control. Come along for the ride.
The journey will be worth it!
Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for March 4, 2021
The following satellite has decayed from orbit and has been removed from this week’s AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution:
TW-1C – NORAD Cat ID 40926 (Decayed 2-27-2021 per Space-Track).
[ANS thanks Ray Hoad, WA5QGD, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager, for the above information]
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
ARISS NEWS: Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2021-03-01 22:00 UTC
Sterling MS, Ashburn, VA, multi-point telebridge via ON4ISS
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS.
The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz.
The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html. The scheduled astronaut is Shannon Walker KD5DXB.
Contact is go for: Tue 2021-02-09 14:44:48 UTC 66 deg
Watch for live stream at https://youtu.be/qVhBweqjCo4
Red Hill Lutheran, Tustin, CA, telebridge via NA7V
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS
The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz.
The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html.
The scheduled astronaut is Mike Hopkins KF5LJG.
Contact is go for: Wed 2021-02-10 18:26:15 UTC 65 deg.
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.
[ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors for the above information]
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/
Upcoming Satellite Operations
Quick Hits:
Spring Training Rove! KX9X will be heading down to Ft Myers, FL the week of March 7 for some sun and baseball. Will activate EL86 & 96 holiday style for sure, possibly a couple other grids as well. Linear/FM. Details soon.
@K8BL will be in EM54 3/4 – 3/7.
@AK7DD and Ledger: We will be headed to DN41 on the 14th of March. My plan is to hit DN30 on the way up. Our plans are to be in the area there until around the 24th of March, and we will hit a few of our normal activation grids on the way home, DN30, DM39 & DM49, etc. Anyhow, once we have landed in DN41, we will be doing a handful of roves in Utah and Idaho as time allows.
Major Roves:
W7LT: DN04/05/14/15/24/25/27/28/34/35/37/38/47/48 schedule … subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances. Will try to stick to it as best I can. Click here for details: https://bit.ly/3q783ew
CM93 Possibility: N6DNM Very long shot, but might want to put it on your calendar for May 15th, if you can figure out where it is and for #SOTA folks, that would be W6/SC-336, Santa Rosa Island, activated only once before.
Please submit any additions or corrections to Ke0pbr (at) gmail.com Updated 03/3/2021
[ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT rover page manager, and JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM for the above information]
Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
Want to see AMSAT in action or learn more about amateur radio in space? 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 and registered ARRL instructor Clint Bradford K6LCS AMSAT Ambassador and ARRL registered instructor Clint Bradford, K6LCS, is certainly keeping busy!
Think a 90-minute lively, informative, and fun “How to Work the Easy Satellites” Zoom presentation would be appropriate for your convention or club? Always includes are overviews of the ARRL, AMSAT, and ARISS … and pre-presentation questions are solicited and welcome.
Cliff reports these upcoming satellite presentation dates:
03/10 – Trenton, New Jersey
03/11 – Clearwater, Florida
03/13 – QSO TODAY 2021 Virtual Convention. See: https://bit.ly/2OkDRiV
03/16 – Palm Springs, CA
03/20 – Bonham, Texas
04/01 – Orem, Utah
06/15 – East Massachusetts
Send Clint an email message, and book a date! Contact: Clint Bradford K6LCS k6lcs at ham-sat dot info 909-999-SATS (7287)
[ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT Events page manager, for the above information]
Satellite Shorts From All Over
+Getting It Right: JAGSAT CubeSat Sponsor
Last week’s ANS-059 AMSAT Weekly Bulletin incorrectly reported that the 2U Cubesat JAGSAT was a project of the University of Alabama. Everyone who knows the difference between Southern grits and Minnesota lutefisk can tell you that the University of Alabama’s mascot is an elephant named “Big Al.” JAGSAT is a project of the University of Southern Alabama whose mascot is, of course, a Jaguar named Southpaw. ANS-059 Rotating Editor Frank Karnauskas, N1UW apologizes for the error.
[ ANS thanks John Klingelhoeffer, WB4LNM for catching this error.]
+ Humor and News…
+ Rocket Labs CEO eats his hat because he once said he would not fly a reusable rocket. Then came Neutron… Watch on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3c2ErtA
[ANS thanks Orbital Index and Rocket Lab for the above information]
+ SpaceX ends 3rd Starship landing attempt in flaming success before exploding minutes later
Third time’s a charm? Not so for SpaceX, whose unmanned rocket exploded on the ground Wednesday after carrying out what had seemed to be a successful flight and landing — fresh on the heels of two fiery crashes. It was yet another flub involving a prototype of the Starship rocket, which SpaceX hopes one day to send to Mars. “A beautiful soft landing,” a SpaceX commentator said on a live broadcast of the test flight, although flames were coming out at the bottom and crews were trying to put them out. The rocket exploded a few minutes later, lurching into the air and crashing back to the ground. More information may be found at: https://bit.ly/3v0x4vJ
[ANS thanks to the SpaceDaily.com staff writers for the above information]
+SpaceX sticks 75th Falcon rocket landing after launching 60 more Starlink satellites March 4, 2021
Launching through a blanket of low-hanging clouds and light mist, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket thundered into the sky over Florida’s Space Coast early Thursday and delivered 60 more Starlink internet satellites to orbit. The rocket’s first stage touched down on SpaceX’s floating landing platform in the Atlantic Ocean to complete its eighth trip to space and back. Additional information at: https://bit.ly/3uTFSmX
[ANS thanks to Stephen Clark of SpaceFlightNow.com for the above information]
+ AMSAT Thanks AmazonSmile Shoppers
AmazonSmile shoppers who designated Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation as their charity have made a difference during the past holiday shopping season. AmazonSmile reports that it has deposited a total of $498.31 to the AMSAT coffers for purchases made between October 1 and December 31, 2020.
You can join the crowd and help AMSAT earn even more. Go to https://smile.amazon.com to create your account and designate “Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation” as your charity. Just remember, when you go shopping start with AmazonSmile so your purchases are credited to AMSAT. Thank you, shoppers!
[ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information.]
In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President’s Club. Members of the President’s Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Store.
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. Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional student membership information.
73 and Remember to help keep amateur radio in space,
This week’s ANS Editor, Jack Spitznagel, KD4IZ
kd4iz at frawg dot org