ANS-345 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for Dec. 11

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-345

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:

  • CAMSAT’s CAS-5A Satellite Launched, Transponders Active
  • AMSAT-DL Erminaz Mission Announced
  • VUCC Satellite Standings December 2022
  • Changes to the AMSAT TLE Distribution for December 8, 2022
  • ARISS News
  • Upcoming Satellite Operations
  • Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
  • Satellite Shorts From All Over

ANS-345 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 Dec 11

CAMSAT’s CAS-5A Satellite Launched, Transponders Active

CAMSAT’s CAS-5A satellite was launched at 06:35 UTC on December 9, 2022 into a 554 km x 543 km orbit with an inclination of 97.5 degrees. The satellite was launched on the inaugural flight of the Smart Dragon-3 Y1 launch vehicle. This vehicle launches from a sea launch platform in the Yellow Sea.

CAS-5A carries two linear transponders and an FM transponder, which are all continuously active assuming the power budget permits. The frequencies are:

V/u Linear Transponder: Uplink 145.805 MHz – 145.835 MHz, Downlink 435.525 MHz – 435.555 MHz (Inverting)
V/u FM Transponder: Uplink 145.925 MHz, Downlink 435.600 MHz
H/u Linear Transponder: Uplink 21.4275 MHz – 21.4425 MHz, Downlink 435.4975 MHz – 435.5125 MHz (Non-Inverting)
CW Beacon: 435.570 MHz (22 wpm)
Telemetry: 435.650 MHz (4800 bps GMSK)

QSOs have been reported via all three of the transponders as of this writing. Reports indicate that the downlink is strong and the transponders are sensitive.

Nico Janssen, PA0DLO, reports that Doppler measurements show CAS-5A to be object 54682 (2022-167A). However, he cautions that not all objects from the launch have been cataloged yet, so this identification is subject to change.

Doppler.sqf entries for SatPC32 courtesy of Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA:

CAS-5A,435540.0,145820.0,USB,LSB,REV,0,0,VUTransponder
CAS-5A,435600.0,145925.0,FM,FM,REV,0,0,VURepeater
CAS-5A,435505.0,21435.0,USB,USB,NOR,0,0,HUTransponder
CAS-5A,435570.0,145790.0,USB,LSB,REV,0,0,CW Beacon
CAS-5A,435650.0,145820.0,FM,LSB,REV,0,0,4k8 GMSK

TLEs from Space-Track:

CAS-5A
1 54682U 22167A 22343.39869083 -.00000063 00000-0 00000+0 0 9992
2 54682 97.5461 118.4205 0013131 254.7121 186.9755 15.08519392 16

[ANS thanks Alan Kung, BA1DU, and Michael Chen, BD5RV, CAMSAT, Nico Janssen, PA0DLO, Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, Peter Goodhall, 2M0SQL, and various amateur satellite operators in Europe for the above information]

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

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/

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

AMSAT-DL Erminaz Mission Announced

Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) announced the winners of their microlauncher payload competition at an event in Berlin on December 6th. Among the missions selected was a multi-satellite mission from AMSAT-DL and international partners.

The mission proposed is a syndicated, multi-PocketQube mission (1x 2P + 2x 1.5P + 3x 1P, total of 6 PQs), involving several EU countries, the amateur radio community, AMSAT-DL, AMSAT-EA (Spain), ESERO-Deutschland (Bochum Observatory), Libre Space Foundation (Greece) and other EU non-profit organizations or institutions. They work to create open-source space technologies for educational purposes and to promote, advance and develop knowledge for space. Using PocketQube technology will allow them to maximize the mission impact, involving several institutions, universities, and teams.

[ANS thanks Rocket Factory Augsburg for the above information]

VUCC Satellite Standings December 2022

VUCC Satellite Award/Endorsement Change Summary
November 01, 2022 to December 01, 2022.

CALLNOVDEC
K8YSE21642200
WI7P859882
AA8CH835855
WD9EWK(DM43)710715
W8LR623643
EA2AA611626
ND0C561605
K5TA575600
KQ4DO555579
NM3B553566
N6UTC503525
XE1MYO451525
HB9AOFNew500
KJ7DZNew500
VE4MM459476
KB1HY395427
N8URE(FM19)375389
KE0WPA355383
K3HPA250258
PA7RA160224
EA3TANew200
WD9EWK(DM23)185192
WD9EWK(DM31)177187
PU5DDC100151
F5VMJNew110
DL1BMNew100
EA1GGXNew100
IK3ITBNew100

Congratulations to the new VUCC holders.

EA1GGX is first VUCC Satellite holder from IN52
EA3TA is first VUCC Satellite holder from JN11
F5VMJ is first VUCC Satellite holder from JN18
IK3ITB is first VUCC Satellite holder from JN55

[ANS thanks Jon Goering, N7AZ, for the above information]

Changes to the AMSAT TLE Distribution for December 8, 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 satellites have been added to this week’s AMSAT TLE distribution:

Tevel-1 NORAD Cat ID 51013.
Tevel-2 NORAD Cat ID 51069.
Tevel-3 NORAD Cat ID 50988.
Tevel-4 NORAD Cat ID 51063.
Tevel-5 NORAD Cat ID 50998.
Tevel-6 NORAD Cat ID 50999.
Tevel-7 NORAD Cat ID 51062.
Tevel-8 NORAD Cat ID 50989.
(Thanks to N2YO for providing the NORAD Cat Id for the Tevel series of satellites.)

The Israeli team operating these satellites is going to keep at least one of these eight satellites active all the time, so we will need TLE available for all eight of them. Tevel-3 was activated briefly last weekend.

Thanks to Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, for the “heads up” on the status of the Tevel series of satellites.

Note: The object named Tevel (NORAD Cat ID 50999) in past TLE data was simply a place marker for the Tevel series until the identity of this series of satellites was sorted out. Tevel-6 is the new name for the object NORAD Cat ID 50999.

[ANS thanks Ray Hoad, WA5QGD, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager 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/

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

ARISS News

Scheduled ARISS Contacts

Stella Maris College, Gzira, Malta, direct via 9H1MRL

The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS
The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz
The scheduled crewmember is Koichi Wakata KI5TMN
Contact has been postponed by the ISS planners due to unforeseen circumstances and will need to be rescheduled. (***)
Watch for Livestream at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fk-Onkbr6PY

School TBD, Republic of Mordovia, Russia, direct via TBD

The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS
The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz
The scheduled crewmember is Sergey Prokopyev
Contact is go for Sat 2022-12-10 11:10 UTC

Maitland Air Cadet Association, Goderich, ON, Canada, direct via VA3SQN

The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS
The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz
The scheduled crewmember is Josh Cassada KI5CRH
Contact is go for: Fri 2022-12-16 17:25:07 UTC 32 deg

ARISS Radio Status

Columbus Module radios:
IORS (Kenwood D710GA) – STATUS – Configured. Default mode set for cross band repeater (145.990 MHz up {PL 67} & 437.800 MHz down).

* Powered OFF for RS EVA on December 15. OFF Dec 14 about 19:00 UTC. ON Dec 15 about 13:15 UTC.
* Powered OFF for US EVA on December 19. OFF Dec 18 about 19:20 UTC. ON Dec 20 about 10:15 UTC.
* Powered OFF for RS EVA on December 21. OFF Dec 21 about 09:05 UTC. ON Dec 22 about 08:00 UTC.
* Capable of supporting USOS scheduled voice contacts, packet and voice repeater ops.

Service Module radios:
IORS (Kenwood D710GA) – STATUS – Configured. Default mode is for packet operations (145.825 MHz up & down).

* Powered OFF for RS EVA on December 15. OFF Dec 13 about 19:00 UTC. ON Dec 16 about 08:15 UTC
* Powered OFF for US EVA on December 19. OFF Dec 18 about 19:20 UTC.
Powered OFF for RS EVA on December 21. ON Dec 22 about 08:00 UTC.
* Capable of supporting ROS scheduled voice contacts, packet, SSTV and voice repeater ops.

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]

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

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

N5UC is heading to Hawaii!
BL11 potential schedule:
RS-44 Dec 10 2155z Dec 11 2215z Dec 12 0201z, 2237z Dec 13 0227z
IO-117 Dec 10 ~1030z, 1425z Dec 11 1232z Dec 12 1030z, 1503z

KG4AKV: I’ll be activating grid FM15 on Dec 17th or 18th. Carlos W7QL needs it for his last 2-3 grids for GM. Specific passes will be posted later.

[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.

AMSAT Ambassador Clint Bradford K6LCS has a few satellite presentations scheduled …

-The PAPA System in Southern California
-Greenville, North Carolina
-Ontario, Canada
-Thames Valley, England

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 ncluded are overviews of the ARRL, AMSAT, and ARISS. And pre-presentation questions are welcome. Contact K6LCS for more information.

[ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT Events page 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

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

Satellite Shorts From All Over

+ FO-99’s operation schedule for December is available at https://www.jamsat.or.jp/?p=2052

+ Tevel-3’s FM transponder was activated for 24 hours on December 4th. The Tevel Mission consists of 8 identical CubeSats, all containing an FM transponder with an uplink of 145.970 MHz and a downlink 436.400 MHz. Stay tuned for further updates.

+ AMSAT has been in contact with the ARRL regarding the addition of IO-117 and TEVEL1-TEVEL8 to LoTW. These satellites should be added soon. AMSAT will also request the addition of CAS-5A after the expected request and issuance of an OSCAR number to the satellite.

+ IO-117 has entered a period of full sunlight through February. (ANS thanks Doug Papay, K8DP, for the information)

+ As of December 8th, the IO-117 Digipeater Club now stands at 348 ham radio operators who have been successful in digipeating a message. These stations represent 222 unique grid squares and at least 56 DXCCs. (ANS thanks Doug Papay, K8DP, 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-338 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for Dec. 4

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:

* GreenCube is now designated Italy-OSCAR 117 (IO-117)
* The IO-117 (GreenCube) Club continues to grow
* Release Candidate WSJT-X 2.6.0-rc5 now available
* Dhruva Space- Thybolt Mission (Amateur Radio Payload)
* ARISS News
* Upcoming Satellite Operations
* Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for December 2, 2022
* Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
* Satellite Shorts From All Over

ANS-338 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 December 4

GreenCube is Now Designated Italy-OSCAR 117 (IO-117)

On July 13, 2022, the GreenCube satellite was launched on a Vega-C launch vehicle from the Centre Spatial Guyanais in Kourou, French Guiana. The satellite project is managed by the S5Lab research team at Sapienza University of Rome, and involves ENEA (the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development) and University of Naples. The satellite carries environmental and thruster payloads and as well as a 70cm digipeater for amateur radio use.

At the request of the GreenCube teams, AMSAT hereby designates the satellite as Italy-OSCAR 117 (IO-117). We congratulate all the involved teams, thank them for their contribution to the amateur satellite community, and wish them continued success on this and future projects.

[ANS thanks Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, OSCAR Number Administrator, for the above information]


The IO-117 (GreenCube) Club Continues to Grow

Because of the increasing interest and the quick appearance of instructional material on making digipeated contacts through IO-117, the “GreenCube User Club” has rapidly grown to more than 300 as reported by Doug Papay, K8DP. Several individuals have blogs describing their operational set up that enables them to take advantage of the great DXCC and VUCC opportunity:

Burt DeMarcq, FG8OJ, offers some nicely detailed instructions and good advice on his blog at: https://bit.ly/3FjqM1f.

Fabio Roccatagliata, F5VKV, writes on the AMSAT-BB mailing group that the UZ7HO Soundmodem is very useful for IO-117 but one must download http://uz7.ho.ua/greentnc.zip for success as the tone spacing is shifted from those normal for APRS. He continues: “Use the ssb modem, 1600 main frequency in the spectrum. (Put the) Radio in USB, AGC off if possible (or fast), no noise blanker/reduction. You should receive the packet when the signal is within the bandwidth bar you see in the sound modem spectrum. Adapt the DCD threshold accordingly, usually by the half. In the green cube GUI window you should see the decoded packets, in the sound modem the data.” Editor Note: The link to the zipped file is listed directly because it does not yet appear on Andrey Kopanchuk’s website).

Joe Pereira, VK5EI, suggested on the AMSAT-BB mailing group that the summary by Tom Van den Bon, ZR6TG, is particularly helpful for newcomers. It may be found in a blog post on Tom’s website: https://bit.ly/3Uqpm9B.

Doug Papay sent a Friday update (which is growing rapidly) on the number and DXCC distribution of contacts made on the bird:

As of 1400Z 2/Dec/2022 there have been 303 stations active on IO-117 since 31/Oct/2022. Congratulations to ZL3TKZ for contact #300!

There have been 154 stations heard in the last 24 hours. There have been 194 unique grid squares and 51 DXCC entities activated. Here is the DXCC list including number of stations heard from each country:

United States of America 87
Italy 45
Japan 29
Spain 25
Federal Republic of Germany 12
Australia 10
England 7
Argentina 6
Canada 6
Brazil 5
France 5
China 4
Mexico 4
Netherlands 3
New Zealand 3
South Africa 3
Switzerland 3
United Arab Emirates 3
Azores 2
Bulgaria 2
Finland 2
Indonisia 2
Northern Ireland 2
Poland 2
Puerto Rico 2
Scotland 2
Sweden 2
Venezuela 2
Alaska 1
Belgium 1
Curacao 1
Czech Republic 1
Denmark 1
Ecuador 1
Estonia 1
Georgia 1
Guadeloupe 1
India 1
Ireland 1
Isle of Man 1
Israel 1
Luxemburg 1
Mauritius 1
Philippines 1
Portugal 1
Romania 1
Russia 1
Slovenia 1
Sudan 1
Uruguay 1
Wales 1

[ANS thanks Doug Papay, K8DP and the listed blog and email authors for the above information.]

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

Only a Small Handful of 2022 Coins are left! Don’t Miss Out!
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/
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

Release Candidate WSJT-X 2.6.0-rc5 Now Available

From: Joe Taylor <jo…@pr…> – 2022-11-29 16:16:47

Dear WSJT-X Users,

We are pleased to announce that Release Candidate WSJT-X 2.6.0-rc5 is ready for download by beta testers. The list of changes since Release Candidate 4 is extensive. Be sure to read the Release Notes: https://physics.princeton.edu//pulsar/k1jt/Release_Notes.txt

Links for downloading WSJT-X 2.6.0-rc5 can be found on the WSJT-X Home Page, https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx.html Scroll down to find “Candidate release: WSJT-X 2.6.0-rc5”.

Installation files for Raspberry Pi are not yet available, but will be posted as soon as possible.

We hope you will enjoy using this beta release of WSJT-X 2.6.0. As a beta tester you should report on your experiences using one of the relevant WSJT forums. Bugs should be reported by following instructions found here in the User Guide: https://www.physics.princeton.edu//pulsar/K1JT/wsjtx-doc/wsjtx-main-2.6.0-rc5.html#_bug_reports

WSJT-X and MAP65 are licensed under the terms of Version 3 of the GNU General Public License (GPLv3). Development of this software is a cooperative project to which many amateur radio operators have contributed. If you use our code, please have the courtesy to let us know about it. If you find bugs or make improvements to the code, please report them to us in a timely fashion. Additional licensing details can be found here: https://physics.princeton.edu//pulsar/k1jt/devel.html

73 from the WSJT Core Development Team
Joe, K1JT; Steve, K9AN; Nico, IV3NWV; Uwe, DG2YCB;

[ANS thanks Joe Taylor K1JT, and the WSJT-X Development Team 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/

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

Dhruva Space- Thybolt Mission, Amateur Radio Payload Information

Dhruva Space launched the Thybolt Mission On 26 November, 2022, at 11:56 am, onboard ISRO PSLV-C54. The Thybolt Mission consists of two 0.5U nano satellites. These nanosatellites are built on the 0.5U P-DoT satellite platform which is designed, built and tested by Dhruva Space for use in the amateur communications, disaster management, and low bit-rate applications of STEM and strategic importance. The qualification of this 0.5U platform with its sub-systems will enable many more amateurs across India to learn, build, launch and operate experiments on amateur satellite missions.

Information regarding the system and the the data modes they use may be found at the Dhruva Space website: https://bit.ly/3FgYNz8 While it is not clear whether the satellites will be active throughout their entire orbital pathThe website states: “Please note that S&F Messaging will be available after conclusion of launch & early phase and commissioning operations tentatively on 20 December, 2022.”

Nico Janssen, PA0DLO writes on the AMSAT-BB list:
“Doppler measurements show that Thybolt 1 and 2 are the objects 54363 and 54364. Current separation: 1 s, so it is not yet possible to determine which is which.
CW beacon frequencies: Thybolt 1: 435.35447 MHz and Thybolt 2: 435.3522 MHz.
Nothing received on the telemetry frequency 436.175 MHz, but that downlink is probably only active when in range of India.”

[ANS thanks Dhruva Space and Nico Janssen, PA0DLO 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

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.

[School TBD], Aznakayevo, Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, direct via TBD. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS. The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz. The scheduled crewmember is Dimitri Petelin. Contact is go for Sun 2022-12-04 11:20 UTC.

British School in the Netherlands (Junior School Leidschenveen), The Hague, The Netherlands, direct via PE1RXJ. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be TBD. The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz. The scheduled crewmember is Josh Cassada KI5CRH. Contact is go for: Thu 2022-12-08 11:09:54 UTC 36 deg.

Stella Maris College, Gzira, Malta, direct via 9H1MRL. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS. The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz. The scheduled crewmember is Koichi Wakata KI5TMN. Contact is go for: Sat 2022-12-10 07:55:55 UTC 55 deg.

[School TBD], Republic of Mordovia, Russia, direct via TBD. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS. The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz. The scheduled crewmember is Sergey Prokopye. Contact is go for Sat 2022-12-10 11:10 UTC.

The crossband repeater continues to be active. If any crewmember is so inclined, all they have to do is pick up the microphone, raise the volume up, and talk on the crossband repeater. So give a listen, you just never know.

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 and NASA News 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:
N5UC is heading to Hawaii!: BL11 potential schedule:

RS-44: Dec 10 2155z / Dec 11 2215z / Dec 12 0201z, 2237z / Dec 13 0227z,

GreenCube: Dec 10 ~1030z, 1425z / Dec 11 1232z / Dec 12 1030z, 1503z

Major Roves: None listed currently.

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


Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for December 4, 2022

On November 28, 2022, at the request of the GreenCube satellite teams, AMSAT has designated the GreenCube satellite as Italy-OSCAR 117 (IO-117). See AMSAT News Service Bulletin 332.01 dated November 28, 2022 for details. The GreenCube satellite designation in the AMSAT TLE distribution is now as follows:

IO-117 NORAD Cat ID 53106

[ANS thanks Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, OSCAR Number Administrator and 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.

Don’t forget to check in to the AMSAT-Twitter Meetup Net on DMR BrandMeister Talkgroup #98006 | D-STAR Reflector REFSAT | YSF Reflector #11689 | Wednesday Nights @ 21:00 CST.

AMSAT Ambassador Clint Bradford K6LCS has a few satellite presentations scheduled:
-The PAPA System in Southern California
-Greenville, North Carolina
-Ontario, Canada
-Thames Valley, England

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 included are overviews of the ARRL, AMSAT, and ARISS. And pre-presentation questions are welcome.
Send an email or call!
Clint Bradford K6LCS
AMSAT Ambassador; ARRL instructor, Affiliated Club Coordinator
http://www.work-sat.com
909-999-SATS (7287)

[ANS thanks Clint Bradford, K6LCS, for the above information]


Satellite Shorts From All Over

+ A new AMSAT distance record has been claimed on FO-29. KE9AJ in DM79IQ48UR worked EB1AO in IN52PE28F at a distance of 7,642 km on 23-Nov-2022 at 20:46 UTC, edging out the previous record held by KG5CCI and F4DXV by 8 km. See https://www.amsat.org/satellite-distance-records/ for all records. [ANS thanks Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, AMSAT Executive Vice President & Ambassador for the above information.]

+ Artemis I’s launch tower and deluge systems performed as designed. The tower sustained some minor damage, particularly to the elevator (blew the doors off), which will be repaired before the next launch.[ANS thanks The Orbital Index for the above information.]

+ OMOTENASHI indeed was unable to be commanded to perform a landing burn. Its operators hope that it has a stable spin axis and that enough sunlight will reach it in the spring to establish comms and undertake secondary mission objectives. [ANS thanks The Orbital Index for the above information.]

+ Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) (Paris:ETL) has selected Thales Alenia Space (Thales 67 % and Leonardo 33 %) to build a next-generation highly flexible, software-defined satellite (SDS). The Flexsat (for flexible satellite) will be based on Thales Alenia Space’s cutting-edge ‘Space Inspire’ (INstant SPace In-orbit REconfiguration) product line, enabling seamless reconfiguration and instant in-orbit adjustment to offer an optimum level of customer service, maximising the effective use of the satellite resources. [ANS thanks SpaceDaily.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, Jack Spitznagel, KD4IZ
kd4iz at arrl dot org

Categories ANS

ANS-331 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for Nov. 27

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:

  • Apogee View
  • September/October 2022 AMSAT Journal Now Available
  • SatPC32ISS Updated for Better GREENCUBE Performance
  • FUNcube-1 (AO73) Now Celebrating Nine Years in Orbit
  • OMOTENASHI – Amateur Radio Mission to the Moon is Lost
  • Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for November 24, 2022
  • ARISS News
  • Upcoming Satellite Operations
  • Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
  • Satellite Shorts From All Over

ANS-331 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 Nov 27

Apogee View

The AMSAT 40th Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting has come and gone. All I can say is WOW! It was nice to finally meet in person again, and the Crowne Plaza AiRE in Bloomington, Minnesota, located right between the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and Mall of America was the perfect venue.

Our Board of Directors met on Thursday, October 20th, and the first half of Friday, October 21st. It was a very informative and productive meeting. First, our engineering, operations, education, youth initiative, ANS, Journal, information technology, contest & awards, and web store teams provided updates on what they have been working on during the year, what they have accomplished, and what they are working on in the coming year. Then, as we moved to new business, our directors approved a new Reserve Policy and an Export Control and Economic Sanctions Policy, as well as discussed the use of the Fox Plus program as a test flight platform to quickly test newly developed satellite systems in space and the impact of the new FCC pronouncement on orbital debris mitigation.

On Friday afternoon and Saturday, we were treated to some fantastic presentations:

– Stefan Wagener, VE4SW, shared with us “Building a Portable Station for QO-100, the Geostationary Satellite Es’hail-2 Carrying Amateur Radio.”

– Randy Berger, WA0D, ARISS Director of Engineering, provided us with an update on “What’s New, ARISS on ISS and mission to the moon with Lunar Gateway.”

– Next, Heimir Thor Sverrisson, W1ANT, presented an interesting proposal on “OTA Software Update for LEO satellites,” using multiple ground stations to reprogram or apply software updates in coordinated segments.

– Nick Pugh, K5QXJ, then filled us in on the work being done at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Nick’s first presentation covered the university’s approach to its education initiative. The second presentation provided an update on their Cape IV mission.

– Paul Graveline, K1YUB, updated us on AMSAT’s CubeSat Simulator program.

– Kip Moravec, AE5IB, provided the current development status of AMSAT GOLF-TEE’s electrical power system.

– Burns Fisher, WB1FJ, shared improvements made to AMSAT’s Linear Transponder Module (LTM) power amplifier and the upcoming use of it in the University of Maine’s MESAT-1 3U CubeSat mission.

– Next up was a fascinating presentation by AMSAT’s Assistant V.P. of Engineering, Jonathan Brandenburg, KF5IDY, on his work, “Building a Helmholtz Cage for Dynamic Magnetic Field Generation and CubeSat Attitude Control Testing.”

– An update on AMSAT’s reaction wheel assembly open project update, was presented by Zach Metzinger, N0ZGO, and Jonathan Brandenburg, KF5IDY.

– The AMSAT 40th Space Symposium culminated with an AMSAT Engineering Update, provided by Jerry Buxton, N0JY, V.P. of Engineering.

You could tell our presenters put a lot of time and effort into preparing these, for which we are truly thankful.

New FCC Ruling Presents a New Set of Challenges

What goes up must come down, and that applies to satellites. Until now, all spacecraft had to either deorbit or move to a disposal orbit no later than 25 years after the end of their mission. With the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) new ruling, they must come down sooner.

The FCC’s new orbital debris mitigation ruling, FCC 22-74, requires non-geostationary satellite operators that terminate satellite operations in or passing through the low Earth orbit region (below 2,000-kilometer altitude) complete disposal as soon as practicable following the end of mission, and no later than five years after the end of its primary mission. The goal is to minimize the risk of collisions that would create debris.

The FCC defines “end of mission” to be “the time at which the individual spacecraft is no longer capable of conducting collision avoidance maneuvers,” and, for spacecraft without collision avoidance capabilities, end of mission is defined as the point at which the individual spacecraft has completed its primary mission.

Furthermore, the FCC requires a demonstration that the probability of success of the chosen disposal method will be 90 percent or greater. This new rule-making will have a significant effect on AMSAT’s future satellite operations and, as such, was a serious topic of discussion at our recent board of directors meeting. That discussion generated many questions.

– What does the FCC mean by disposal demonstration, and what constitutes a 90 percent or greater probability rate?

– What are licensable disposal methods, other than through natural decay?

– Will the FCC accept the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) orbit analysis report for naturally decaying orbits to meet the probability threshold?

Unfortunately, the FCC did not supply much implementation guidance in meeting these new requirements, so our next step will be to reach out to the FCC to define our requirements better and how we can meet those standards. We will keep you informed.

Export Control and Economic Sanctions Policy

One of the most exciting things to come out of this year’s AMSAT Symposium, at least to me, was our Export Control and Economic Sanctions Policy approved by our Board of Directors.

Some of AMSAT’s greatest achievements have come from working with our international AMSAT partners. Unfortunately, changes in International Traffic in Arms Regulations(ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and the enforcement thereof caused a self-imposed limit to our international participation.

The desire to return to the international development of satellites and related systems served as the impetus for our new policy.

This policy states, “The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT) will comply with all U.S. export control and economic sanctions laws and regulations.” While this, in and of itself, is no different than how we have been operating, specific provisions of the policy create an essential path to our return to international cooperation through the use of the public domain (ITAR) and publicly available (EAR) exclusions.

It is important to note that ITAR and EAR exclusions only apply to information related to the development of our satellites but not to the actual building of satellites. Exporting materials to non-U.S. persons, be it hardware or software, will still require an export license. On the other hand, importing materials to the U.S. is not restricted by ITAR or EAR.

Creating this policy was only the first step. We still need to develop and put in place the prescribed controls to ensure our compliance and establish a training program for our volunteers, all of which we hope to have accomplished in the next couple of months.

I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead with being able to collaborate with our fellow AMSAT organizations around the world once again.

Please read our new Export Control and Economic Sanctions Policy, available on our website, along with our other organizational documents, policies, and financial disclosures, at www.amsat.org/about-amsat/. This is your organization, and together, we can accomplish great things.

Until the next time, Onward & Upward!

[ANS thanks Robert Bankston, KE4AL, AMSAT President for the above information]

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
Only a Small Handful of 2022 Coins are left! Don’t Miss Out!
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/
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

September/October 2022 AMSAT Journal Now Available

The AMSAT Journal is AMSAT’s bi-monthly digital magazine for amateur radio in space enthusiasts. Each issue is your source for hardware and software projects, technical tips, STEM initiatives, operational activities, and news from around the world.

The September/October 2022 issue, just released includes the following top articles:

– Educational Relations Update – Alan Johnston, KU2Y
– Education and CubeSat Simulator Project Update – Alan Johnston, KU2Y
– President’s Club 2022 Members
– SatNOGS Ground Station at the School of Telematics – Omar Álvarez-Cárdenas, XE1AO, et al.
– Tips for Starting ISS Satellite Operations – Shavrika Pendyala, KQ4CUS
– A Helmholtz Cage: Developing a “Time Machine” – Jonathan Brandenburg, KF5IDY
– Expediting the Deorbit of CubeSats – Bob Stricklin, N5BRG
– AMSAT-NA 40th Annual Space Symposium and Annual Meeting Photos

Members can access the latest issue of The AMSAT Journal as well as archived editions (going back to 2014) on the membership portal. Not an AMSAT member yet? Join AMSAT today to start receiving your bi-monthly issue of The AMSAT Journal at https://launch.amsat.org/.

[ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information.]


SatPC32ISS Updated for Better GREENCUBE Performance

Erich Eichmann, DK1TB, has uploaded a revised SatPC32ISS.exe, which hopefully fixes the SatPC32ISS problems with GREENCUBE such as frequency drift etc. Also, the update now  supports USB-D/LSB-D.

Erich says, “Simply copy the file into the SatPC32 program folder (usually C:\Program Files (x86)\SatPC32). Because of the different name, it will not overwrite your current SatPC32ISS. Start the program with the Windows Explorer. It will switch the radio into SPLIT mode (unless the radio is already in Satellite mode).
In menu CAT specify the CAT interval and save the change (the file does no longer share its CAT interval with the FM interval of the normal SatPC32 as it did previously).  Don’t set the interval too low!

“In  Non-Satellite mode the radios (at least most as far as I know) go mute for the fraction of a second, when the frequencies are updated via CAT command. SatPC32ISS has to do that for Doppler correction.   That can cause data losses, if packet data is received at that time. The pre-set 50 Hz interval seems to be a good value.

“The new file supports also FM-D. The entry in Doppler.SQF has to be FMD, the entries for USB-D an LSB-D) have to be USB-D and LSB-D.

If everything works, I will upload new setup files.”

The file can be downloaded at www.dk1tb.de/SatPC32ISS_2.exe, or as zip file at www.dk1tb.de/SatPC32ISS_2.zip.

[ANS thanks Erich Eichmann, DK1TB for the above information.]


FUNcube-1 (AO73) Now celebrating nine years in orbit!

Another year has passed and FUNcube 1 has continued to operate from its orbit around 600km above the earth. To start with some statistics. The spacecraft creates and downlinks data in frames that run for two minute periods. It has now transmitted more that 16 million of these frames or “Sequence Numbers”. Another big statistic is that more than 10 million data packets have been received by stations that have forwarded them to FUNcube Data Warehouse.

You can see the leading ground stations at http://warehouse.funcube.org.uk/ui/fc1-fm/satellite_ranking – special congratulations to those at the top scorers…many of them have individually forwarded more than 1 million packets. Thanks to all contributors around the world. Having this network of ground stations has enabled the FUNcube team to easily monitor the status of the spacecraft easily.

Back here on earth, as mentioned, AMSAT-UK has continued to monitor the health of the spacecraft as these illumination levels and spin/tumble rates have changed over the months.

After some time in full sun, the spacecraft is now experiencing “normal” eclipse periods of around 25 minutes each orbit. This will reduce the on board temperatures and may influence the tumble rate which has been between 2 and 5 seconds for some time. This is quite fast and is not helping telemetry reception with its 5 second data frame mentioned above.

The present operational schedule is for high power telemetry when in sunlight and receive only when in eclipse. This seems to suit the EPS quite well and the battery bus voltages have been quite stable.

At least that was correct until early morning on Friday November 11 when the indicated bus voltage appeared to “drop off a cliff” over the period of just four orbits. Further analysis showed that the 3.3V bus consumption had suddenly jumped four times normal. As can be seen by the graph above this problem then disappeared just as suddenly and the bus voltage recovered quite quickly. Investigations are continuing!

Please keep the telemetry reports coming in and let the FUNcube team know if you would like a Fitter message uploaded for any educational or outreach events.

[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK 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/

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

OMOTENASHI – Amateur Radio Mission to the Moon is Lost

OMOTENASHI, a project of the JAXA Ham Radio Club, was a secondary payload aboard NASA’s Artemis 1 mission, launched on November 16. It was planned to land on the surface of the moon, and to transmit a beacon in the amateur 70cm band.

Unfortunately, controllers were unable to receive radio communication from OMOTENASHI as of November 21, 2022. Thus, the lunar landing experiment could not be carried out.

Engineers will investigate the cause of the incident and proceed with the future possible operation plans while consulting with mission managers.

JAXA Ham Radio Club reports, “We were very encouraged by the warm support we received as a team. It’s such a shame that it can’t live up to expectations. Although we were not able to land on the moon, the opportunity to travel beyond the moon is valuable, so we would like to continue working on recovery and realize some of our mission.”

Amateurs wanting to continue listening for the orbiting module downlink should use the following information.

Frequency: 437.31 MHz
Antenna: SRR antenna
Polarization: Linear
Modulation: beacon, PSK31 Sync Word C1 (ASCII code)
Power: 30dBm

Project updates are periodically posted at https://www.isas.jaxa.jp/home/omotenashi/JHRCweb/jhrc.html.

[ANS thanks the JAXA Ham Radio Club and paralink.com 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

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for November 24, 2022

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

Lightsail-2 NORAD Cat ID 44420 (decayed from orbit on 11/19/22 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.

+ Upcoming Contacts

West Ferris Intermediate Secondary School, North Bay, ON, Canada, telebridge via ON4ISS.
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be TBD.
The scheduled crewmember is Koichi Wakata, KI5TMN.
Contact is go for: Monday, November 28, 2022 at 15:58:45 UTC.

Escola Naval (Brazil Navy Academy), Ilha de Villegagnon – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, direct via PY1AX.
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS.
The scheduled crewmember is Josh Cassada, KI5CRH.
Contact is go for: Monday, November 28, 2022 at 12:23:41 UTC.

Amur State University, Blagoveshchensk, Russia, direct via TBD.
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RS0ISS.
The scheduled crewmember is Sergey Prokopyev.
Contact is go for Monday, November 28, 2022 at 08:20 UTC.

School TBD, Saint Petersburg, Russia, direct via TBD.
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RS0ISS.
The scheduled crewmember is Anna Kikina.
Contact is go for Wednesday, November 30, 2022 at 14:25 UTC.

School TBD, Kaliningrad, Russia, direct via TBD.
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RS0ISS.
The scheduled crewmember is Anna Kikina.
Contact is go for Wednesday, November 30, 2022 at 16:00 UTC.

School TBD, Aznakayevo, Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, direct via.
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RS0ISS.
The scheduled crewmember is Anna Kikina.
Contact is go for Thursday, December 1, 2022 at 08:20 UTC.

School TBD, Vologda, Russia, direct via TBD.
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RS0ISS.
The scheduled crewmember is Anna Kikina.
Contact is go for Thursday, December 1, 2022 at 08:20 UTC.

School TBD, Aznakayevo, Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, direct via TBD.
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RS0ISS.
The scheduled crewmember is Dimitri Petelin.
Contact is go for Sunday, December 4, 2022 at 11:20 UTC.

+ Completed Contacts
All-Russian Youth Space Festival “Vostochny Cosmofest”, Amur State University, Blagoveshchensk, Russia, direct via RK0J.
The ISS callsign was RS0ISS.
The crewmember was Dimitri Petelin.
Contact was successful on Friday November 18, 2022 at 11:32 UTC.

Ural State University of Railway Engineering, Yekaterinburg, Russia, direct via RK9C.
The ISS callsign was RS0ISS.
The crewmember was Sergey Prokopyev.
Contact was successful Monday, November 21, 2022 at 15:20 UTC.

St. Joseph´s Convent Secondary School, Castries, St Lucia, multi-point telebridge via IK1SLD.
The ISS callsign was OR4ISS.
The crewmember was Josh Cassada, KI5CRH.
Contact was successful on Tuesday, November 22, 2022 at 17:40:36 UTC.

Five Bridges Junior High School, Stillwater Lake, NS, Canada, telebridge via IK1SLD.
The ISS callsign was OR4ISS.
The crewmember was Josh Cassada, KI5CRH.
Contact was successful on Wednesday, November 23, 2022 at 16:52:06 UTC.

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.]

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

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

+ No operations listed.


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.

+ No events listed.

+ 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 included are overviews of the ARRL, AMSAT, and ARISS. And pre-presentation questions are welcome.

Send an email or call to:
Clint Bradford K6LCS
AMSAT Ambassador; ARRL instructor, Affiliated Club Coordinator
http://www.work-sat.com
909-999-SATS (7287)


Satellite Shorts From All Over

+ The newly renovated west wing of the National Air and Space Museum at the downtown Mall recently opened to the public. The new “One World Connected” exhibit shows how aviation and spaceflight transformed how Earth came to be viewed and understood as an interconnected world. “One World Connected” tells the story of how taking to the skies and stars fostered two momentous changes in everyday life: the ease in making connections across vast distances and a new perspective of Earth as humanity’s home. Featuring an array of satellites and other tools that have increased human connection, the exhibition asks visitors to consider how global interconnection touches their lives and to imagine how advances in technology might impact our near-future. Scale models of OSCAR 1 and MICROSAT are on display in the exhibit. Read more at: https://www.si.edu/exhibitions/one-world-connected:event-exhib-6304.

[ANS thanks Perry Klein, W3PK, for the above information.]

+ Want to see the 2022 AMSAT Symposium Proceedings? No need to purchase them at the AMSAT Store if you’re an AMSAT member!  AMSAT members have free access to all Symposium proceedings going back to 1986. Simply log into the member portal at https://launch.amsat.org/ then click on the “Member Resources” tab. While you’re there, download the 2022 Amateur Satellite Frequency Guide – also free to AMSAT members!

[ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information.]

+ NASA and the Government of Japan on Thursday announced further contributions by Japan to Gateway, a key component of the agency’s Artemis missions for long-term lunar exploration. In addition to the Gateway arrangement, Minister Nagaoka announced Japan’s commitment to participate in the International Space Station Program through 2030, the first international partner to join the United States in formally committing to space station operations through 2030. NASA welcomed Japan’s announcement of its continuation of space station operations through 2030. NASA and its international partners conduct critical science, research, and technology demonstrations aboard the orbiting laboratory that make long-duration missions to the Gateway and the Moon possible. Read the full story at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-331-JAXA.

[ANS thanks SpaceRef.com for the above information.]

+ During September 26 – 30 GNU Radio Conference 2022 was held in Washington DC. GNU Radio Conference (aka GRCon) is an annual conference centered around the GNU Radio Project and community, and is one of the premier software defined radio industry events. GNU Radio is an open source digital signals processing (DSP) tool which is used often with SDRs. A few days ago videos of all the presentations were released on their YouTube channels. The videos contain a mix of in person and remote talks. A schedule of all talks can be found on the GNU Radio website, https://events.gnuradio.org/event/8/timetable/#20210920

[ANS thanks RTL-SDR.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

Categories ANS

ANS-324 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for Nov. 20

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:

  • OMOTENASHI is Struggling to Carry Amateur Radio to the Moon
  • Amateur Radio Operators and More Will Track NASA’s Artemis 1
  • New Groundstation Software Available for GreenCube
  • Release Date of CAS-10/XW-4
  • U.S. High School CubeSat to be APRS Relay
  • CAPSTONE Arrives to Orbit at the Moon
  • Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution
  • ARISS News
  • Upcoming Satellite Operations
  • Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
  • Satellite Shorts From All Over

ANS-324 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 NOV 20

OMOTENASHI is Struggling to Carry Amateur Radio to the Moon

OMOTENASHI, a project of the JAXA Ham Radio Club, was a secondary payload aboard NASA’s Artemis 1 mission, launched on November 16. It plans to land on the surface of the moon, and to transmit a beacon in the amateur 70cm band.

Controllers have reported OMOTENASHI is tumbling, making it difficult for the spacecraft to charge its batteries and communicate with the ground. Of the ten cubesats flown as secondary payloads, seven are operation, two have not been heard from, and OMOTENASHI is struggling. Controllers are continuing recovery attempts.

OMOTENASHI is derived from Outstanding MOon exploration TEchnologies demonstrated by NAno Semi-Hard Impactor. Omotenashi is also a Japanese word for hospitality.

JAXA Ham Radio Club planned to utilize the flight demonstration opportunity of the OMOTENASHI mission to conduct the following amateur radio missions:
(i) To conduct technological research with respect to receiving ultra-weak UHF signal from a space probe toward the moon
(ii) To conduct an outreach activity providing amateur radio operators all over the world with an opportunity to try to receive signals from moon region.

OMOTENASHI is a 6U-CubeSat with external dimensions of 239 x 366 x 113mm and an approximate mass of 14 kg.

OMOTENASHI consists of three modules: orbiting module, retro motor module, and surface probe. During the moon transfer orbit, these modules are integrated. When OMOTENASHI arrives at the moon, the surface probe will be separated and conduct semi-hard landing.

If control is regained, OMOTENASHI will be actively controlled by ultra-small attitude control system including star tracker, sun sensor, IMU, reaction wheel, and cold gas jet thruster. During the moon transfer orbit, OMOTENASHI may be spin-stabilized due to the strict resources. For further details, please see: https://www.isas.jaxa.jp/home/omotenashi/JHRCweb/jhrc.html

There will be UHF CM/PSK/PM/PSK31 beacons, with 1 watt RF, on both the orbiting module and the surface probe. CisLunar explorer, MIT KitCube and Lunar IceCube are expected to share the same launch.

Orbiting Module DOWNLINK

Frequency: 437.31 MHz
Antenna: SRR antenna
Polarization: Linear
Modulation: beacon, PSK31 Sync Word C1 (ASCII code)
Power: 30dBm

Surface Probe DOWNLINK

Frequency: 437.41 MHz
Antenna: invert-F antennax4
Polarization: LHCP(, RHCP)
Modulation: FM, PSK31, PCM-PSK/PM Sync Word C1 (ASCII code)
Power: 30dBm

JAXA Ham Radio Club had announced prior to launch that amateurs can constantly access the newest TLE from https://bit.ly/3wyopTr  This file is to be overwritten when the next TLEs are calculated. However, the site appears to still display pre-launch keps at this time.

The JAXA Club posts updates at https://www.isas.jaxa.jp/home/omotenashi/JHRCweb/jhrc.html

[ANS thanks JAXA Ham Radio Club and parabolicarc.com for the above information]

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+


There’s still time to join the 2022 AMSAT President’s Club!
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/
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

Amateur Radio Operators and More Will Track NASA’s Artemis 1

Amateur radio operators will join a powerful international network tracking NASA’s Orion spacecraft.

NASA officials announced that a network of 18 volunteers, organizations and space agencies will assist with tracking Artemis 1, which will send an uncrewed Orion spacecraft to orbit around the moon after blasting off from Earth atop a Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. Launch occurred on Nov. 16.

The selected volunteers, including two individuals in the amateur radio community, will “demonstrate whether they can receive Orion’s signal, and use their respective ground antennas to passively track and measure changes in the radio waves transmitted by Orion,” NASA officials said in a statement Oct. 31.

NASA collected the proposals in a Request for Information released in August. Data the participants pick up will be sent to the agency’s Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program. The goal is to improve tracking information for future deep-space missions, NASA officials stated. NASA, of course, will also gather its own tracking data on Orion.

Selected volunteers from the amateur radio community include:
Non-profit: CAMRAS, Netherlands
Academic institutions: Space Systems Design Laboratory, Georgia Tech Research Institute, U.S.
Private citizens: Scott Chapman, K4KDR (U.S.) and Scott Tilley, VE7TIL (Canada)

[ANS thanks space.com for the above information]


New Groundstation Software Available for GreenCube

As of Nov. 18, a total of 135 stations digipeated via the Italian GreenCube satellite. These stations represent 31 DXCC entities. Stations now report using various combinations of software to operated through the satellite. One constant is using SatPC32ISS for antenna tracking and doppler correction.

The S5Lab GreenCube team software is a bit more complicated and at the beginning that was all that was available. It used three programs, including GNURadio, GreenCubeTNC and GreenCubeDigi.

However, UZ7HO quickly created the digi app and custom soundmodem after the S5Lab release, most everyone has migrated to UZ7HO now. Note: UZ7HO has updated the program from time to time, so download it again once in a while to get the updates. It is available at: https://uz7.ho.ua/greentnc.zip (There are both FM and SSB soundmodems included in the package, but the FM one can ignored, as all are using USB-D for both uplink and downlink.) Note matching the rig bandpass filter with the Soundmodem one (900-2100 Hz) helps to have a better S/N particularly if you have local QRM.

The radio will interface with soundmodem via a soundcard or virtual audio cable. Soundmodem.exe is located in the \greentnc\usb directory, and is a separate program. This program needs to be configured to connect with your radio’s audio interface. The digipeater software is in the client directory, called GreenCubeDigi.exe. GreenCubeDigi automatically connects to soundmodem via TCP. So you should have two programs running, one the TNC and the other the digi “terminal.”

Ops may add GetKISS+ software, by Mike Rupprecht, DK3WN, in order to upload received packets to SatNOGS. This isn’t necessary, but it does help add coverage for telemetry. This software is a bit tricky to get working, but once you have one of Mike’s programs running other programs will work without any issues. Mike’s software can be found here: https://www.satblog.info/software/

Doug Papay, K8DP, recommends installing GetKISS+ v1.4.1 (he could not get v1.4.2 to work). It requires VB6 runtime, which should already be installed, and the ActiveX OCX controls need to be registered. See: https://www.pe0sat.vgnet.nl/decoding/tlm-decoding-software/dk3wn/ for instructions on how to do this. Make sure to run the command prompt as Administrator when performing the regsrv32.exe commands. Also, do not delete or move the OCX files after registering them. (The OCX files should be placed in C:\Libraries\OCX folder)

Mike also has a GreenCube Telemetry Decoder that you can download—it is a nice program that graphically displays the telemetry. He has also added a digipeater message display and list of unique callsigns heard—a nice feature.

The config.ini files will need to be updated to reflect your station details. These files are located in the folder where you keep GetKISS+ and GreenCube Telemetry Decoder.

GetKISS+ and GreenCube Telemetry Decoder connect via TCP to the soundmodem all using the same IP (localhost) and port number.

Some have been confused by the lack of an ACK message after transmitting a packet to the satellite. It is sent only if the Tx delay is used. However, it is better to use Tx delay 0 for real-time QSOs to avoid unnecessary transmission by the bird (saving on-board power). With Tx delay 0 you will receive your own message as an acknowledgement.

[ANS thanks Doup Papay, K8DP, and Jean Marc Momple, 3B8DU, 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/

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

Release Date of CAS-10/XW-4

AMSAT-China, or CAMSAT, http://www.camsat.cn, has announced December 18 as the release date for CAS-10/XW-4. Photos of this satellite may be seen at:
https://twitter.com/bd5rv/status/1592978613204586496 and
https://twitter.com/bd5rv/status/1593693879798497285

As previously reported by ANS, CAMSAT’s CAS-10/XW-4 satellite was launched on November 12, 2022, carried on the Tianzhou 5 cargo spacecraft to the Chinese Space Station. The satellite will be active immediately upon deployment into its own 400 km orbit with an inclination of 42.9 degrees. CAS-10 carries a VHF uplink and UHF downlink linear transponder with a bandwidth of 30kHz. Downlink frequencies for VHF/UHF linear transponder 435.180 MHz, for UHF CW telemetry beacon 435.575 MHz and for GMSK telemetry 435.725 MHz. Also an uplink for the transponder 145.870 MHz have been coordinated.

[ANS thanks Michael Chen, BD5RV/4, for the above information]


U.S. High School CubeSat to be APRS Relay

TJREVERB, a 2U CubeSat built by Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology, has been frequency coordinated to operate as an APRS relay on 145.825 MHz. It is scheduled for launch on the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft set to deliver additional science, crew supplies, and hardware to the International Space Station next week. The satellite will be released from ISS at a later time.

The first U.S. high school to send a CubeSat to space back in 2013, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology’s Research and Education Vehicle for Evaluating Radio Broadcasts satellite aims to study the use of iridium as a primary radio communication method. Additionally, the satellite will demonstrate using a passive magnet onboard and the Earth’s magnetic field for stabilization rather than using an attitude determination and control system for pointing accuracy and stabilization for iridium. What makes this satellite even more notable is that it was a system’s engineering project. The students selected space-grade parts, wired the electronics for the satellite, wrote the drivers to control the different systems, and coded the flight software.

“What’s special about TJREVERB isn’t necessarily the mission, it’s what we did. These kids literally built a satellite the way the industry would build a satellite; we selected parts from vendors and got those parts to work together,” said Kristen Kucko, robotics lab director and the school’s space faculty advisor. “This is an engineering feat.”

[ANS thanks NASA Blogs and IARU for the above information]


CAPSTONE Arrives to Orbit at the Moon

The CAPSTONE mission operations team confirmed that NASA’s CAPSTONE spacecraft arrived at its orbit at the Moon Sunday evening. The CubeSat completed an initial orbit insertion maneuver, firing its thrusters to put the spacecraft into orbit, at 12:39 UTC on Nov. 13.

CAPSTONE is now in a near-rectilinear halo orbit, or NRHO. This particular NRHO is the same orbit that will be used by Gateway, the Moon-orbiting space station that will support NASA’s Artemis missions. CAPSTONE is the first spacecraft to fly an NRHO, and the first CubeSat to operate at the Moon.

In the next five days, CAPSTONE will perform two additional clean-up maneuvers to refine its orbit. After these maneuvers, the team will review data to confirm that CAPSTONE remains on track in the NRHO.

CAPSTONE – short for Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment – is a precursor to the Gateway project to establish a crewed space station in orbit around the moon. 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.

[ANS thanks NASA 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

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution

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/

No changes for this week.

[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.

Ural State University, Yekaterinburg, Russia, direct via TBD. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS. The scheduled crewmember is Sergey Prokopyev. Contact is go for Mon 2022-11-21 15:20 UTC

St. Joseph´s Convent Secondary School, Castries, St Lucia, multi-point telebridge via IK1SLD. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS. The scheduled crewmember is Josh Cassada, KI5CRH. Contact is go for: Tue 2022-11-22 17:40:36 UTC 42 degrees maximum elevation. Watch for Livestream at: https://www.ariotti.com/

Five Bridges Junior High School, Stillwater Lake, NS, Canada, telebridge via IK1SLD. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS. The scheduled crewmember is Josh Cassada, KI5CRH. Contact is go for: Wed 2022-11-23 16:52:06 UTC 58 degrees. Watch for Livestream at https://www.youtube.com/c/ARISSlive and https://nslive.tv/five-bridges-ariss and https://www.ariotti.com/

Amur State University, Blagoveshchensk, Russia, direct via TBD. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS. The scheduled crewmember is Sergey Prokopyev. Contact is go for Mon 2022-11-28 08:20 UTC

School TBD, Saint Petersburg, Russia, direct via TBD. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS. The scheduled crewmember is Anna Kikina. Contact is go for Wed 2022-11-30 14:25 UTC.

School TBD, Kaliningrad, Russia, Russia, direct via TBD. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS. The scheduled crewmember is Anna Kikina. Contact is go for Wed 2022-11-30 16:00 UTC

School TBD, Aznakayevo, Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, direct via TBD. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS. The scheduled crewmember is Anna Kikina. Contact is go for Thu 2022-12-01 08:20 UTC.

School TBD, Vologda, Russia, direct via TBD. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS. The scheduled crewmember is Anna Kikina. Contact is go for Thu 2022-12-01 08:20 UTC

The crossband repeater continues to be active. If any crewmember is so inclined, all they have to do is pick up the microphone, raise the volume up, and talk on the crossband repeater. So give a listen, you just never know.

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]

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

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

KX9X Will be in EM47 with Ward N0AX the weekend of November 19 for the @arrl Phone Sweeptakes. He’ll take some satellite gear and do a few passes. Sats aren’t the priority this trip but he will hand out the grid.

KC1MEB: Rove trip vacation style. FN53 Nov. 18 into 19, FN56 Nov. 19 into 20, FN57 Nov. 20 through 22.

W7WGC Snow-bird rove from 11-02-2022 thru 11-22-2022-ish. In travel order:
Oregon grids: CN82 and DN02
Nevada grids: DN01, DN10, DN21, DN20, DM29 & 19, DM28 & 18, DM27, DM26.
Arizona grids: DM36, DM46, DM45, DM35, DM44, DM34, DM33, DM32.
Email (QRZ) with desired grid in subject line for updates. Wayne – W7WGC

[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.

None currently scheduled.

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


Satellite Shorts From All Over

+ The latest episode of the ARRL On the Air podcast features details from avid satellite operator Sean Kutzko, KX9X, about how to get started on the amateur satellites — an activity that’s available to hams of all license classes. Sean’s article, “Ham Radio Satellites: Reliable, Accessible, and Enjoyable” is also the cover piece of the November/December issue of ARRL’s “On the Air” magazine. (ANS thanks ARRL Letter for the above information)

+ A cargo spacecraft successfully docked with the International Space Station Nov. 9, despite making its two-day trek through space with only one functioning solar panel. The Cygnus spacecraft, which was carrying 8,200 pounds of science experiments and supplies for the astronauts on board the ISS, lifted off from NASA’s launch site in Wallops Island, Virginia, atop an Antares rocket on Nov. 7. A few hours after Cygnus reached orbit, one of the spacecraft’s two solar arrays failed to deploy, NASA announced. NASA and Northrop Grumman, which designed and built the Cygnus capsule, opted to abandon efforts to open the array in order to focus on carrying out a safe rendezvous with the ISS, noting that the spacecraft already had sufficient power to finish its journey. (ANS thanks CNN Space & Science for the above information)

+ SpaceX launched one of its reusable Falcon 9 rocket boosters for the last time Saturday on a rare expendable mission for Intelsat, devoting all of the launcher’s propellant toward placing a pair of television broadcasting satellites into orbit. Intelsat says it paid SpaceX an additional fee for the expendable mission. The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 11:06 a.m. EST (1606 GMT) Saturday after a four-day delay caused by Hurricane Nicole. The booster debuted March 2, 2019, with the first unpiloted test flight of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule. The booster was not fitted with SpaceX’s recovery hardware, such as titanium grid fins or landing legs. And SpaceX did not deploy one of its drone ships for the expendable mission. (ANS thanks SpaceflightNow for the above information)

+ AROW, the Artemis Real-Time Orbit Website, is a fun, interactive display of the Orion capsule and the Artemis 1 mission is provided by NASA at: https://www.nasa.gov/specials/trackartemis/ (ANS thanks NASA 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