AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-105

ANS is a free, weekly, news and information service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation ANS 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

Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to:

ans-editor@amsat org

In this edition: * Dnepr/Cubesat Launch 17 April 2007 * Joint Response to EU Commission Galileo Green Paper Filed * AO-51 Software Upgrade Status * RAFT and ANDE Update * Call for Papers--2007 ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference * Satellite Shorts From All Over * ARISS Status - 09 April 2007

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-105 01 Dnepr/Cubesat Launch 17 April 2007

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 105 01 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD April 15, 2007 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-105 01

A Dnepr Cubesat launch is set for April 17, 2007 at 0646:35 UTC The TLEs have been updated on the Cubesat website, www cubesat org There will also be updates from Kosmotras regarding the status of the launch as soon as possible on the website and the discussion boards The discussion board at http://polysat calpoly edu/irc/ will be available to allow satellite trackers to discuss what's been found

Four-of-seven CubeSats will be using Amateur Radio frequencies and modes as follows:

CalPoly PolySat CP3 436 845MHz (1W) 1200bps FM AFSK AX 25 (Part-5 experimental license) http://polysat calpoly edu/

CalPoly PolySat CP4 437 325MHz (1W) 1200bps FM AFSK AX 25 http://polysat calpoly edu/

CP4 will autonomously transmit a sensor snapshot once every two minutes while in orbit This transmission will be on 437 325 MHz, at 1200bps FSK, using AX 25 packetized digital data Please note that it is FSK, not AFSK, which will require you to set your radios to "single side band" (SSB) instead of "FM mode" This sensor snapshot is preceded by a six second CW preamble that can be decoded as the satellite's call sign CP4's autonomous beacon contains sensor data that can be used to determine satellite's health status A program that can make sense of the binary data encoded in the AX 25 packets will be made available to community soon (probably through the PolySat website) The information in this beacon would be useful along with the recorded receive signal strength, should any anomalies occur early in our mission Operators are encouraged to try to capture CP4's downlink and submit files to: polysat@gmail com [or polysat@atl calpoly edu]

University of Louisiana CAPE-1 435 245MHz (1W) 9600bps FM FSK AX 25 and CW telemetry during opposite 30sec intervals using call sign K5USL http://ulcape org/wiki/Main_Page http://ulcape org/wiki/CAPE1_Telemetry Forward received telemetry to jd harrist@gmail com

Universidad Sergio Arboleda  (Colombia) Libertad-1 437 405MHz (400mw) 1200bps FM AFSK AX 25 http://www usergioarboleda edu co/proyecto_espacial/index htm http://www usergioarboleda edu co/proyecto_espacial/english_libertad pdf

Also see http://cubesat atl calpoly edu/ and http://showcase netins net/web/wallio/CubeSat htm for more information

P-POD C (Preliminary) for 17Apr07 launch 1 xxxxxU xxxxxxxx 07107 29311609   00000000  00000-0  00000-0 0 0000x 2 xxxxx 098 0870 182 3615 0084000 198 3918 339 9240 14 51600000    1x

Preliminary First Orbit+ Schedule 17Apr07     06:46:35UT  Launch             07:02       CubeSat separation             07:08       AOS South Africa             07:52       AOS Hawaii USA             07:59       AOS CalPoly  CA USA             08:01       AOS KL7UW  Alaska USA             08:20       AOS Northern Europe             08:25       AOS Central Europe & UK 09:17       AOS ZL1AOX  New Zealand       09:42       AOS KL7UW  Alaska USA       10:53       AOS ZL1AOX  New Zealand       11:16       AOS Japan       11:30       CP3/CP4 start transmitting       12:32       AOS ZL1AOX  New Zealand       15:04       AOS WØRPK  Iowa USA

[ANS thanks Lori Brooks and Ralph, WØRPK, for the above information]

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SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-105 02 Joint Response to EU Commission Galileo Green Paper Filed

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 105 02 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD April 15, 2007 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-105 02

On Friday 6th April a joint response was submitted by RSGB, AMSAT-UK, UK Microwave Group and the British Amateur Television Club to the European Commission Green Paper on Satellite Navigation Applications

The Galileo Global Positioning System, expected to be fully operational between 2010-12, will make use of 1260-1300 MHz This is a key segment of the Amateur 23cm band used for ATV, Repeaters, Satellites, EME and weak signal terrestrial communications

The response document can now be seen on the web at http://www g3psm net/07_04_06_RSGB_Response_to_Galileo_Green_Paper pdf

Galileo green paper on satellite navigation applications http://www southgatearc org/news/december2006/galileo_green_paper htm

Potential Interference To Galileo From 23cm Band Operations http://www southgatearc org/articles/galileo htm

[ANS thanks Trevor, M5AKA, for the above information]

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SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-105 03 AO-51 Software Upgrade Status

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 105 03 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD April 15, 2007 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-105 03

AMSAT Vice President of Operations, Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, provides the following update on the on-going software upgrade and testing efforts for AO-51

During the last round of testing and upgrades on AO-51,  the Command Team discovered a problem with the BBS receiver interfering with the command system with either UHF transmitter above a certain power level This problem had gone unsolved since launch until the relationship to the receiver was found The good news is the problem goes away when that receiver is shut off The bad news is that particular receiver is the only user receiver the operating system allows to access the BBS A rewrite of the core operating software is required to work around this issue, and there is exactly one person who can do this For the mean time AO-51 will primarily be an analog mode satellite, until the fix is coded and tested thoroughly on the ground

Sometime soon there will be a test of the new automatic scheduling software The command stations will set up a series of about 10 mode changes over a few weeks, with the schedule announced in advance When this happens we'll appreciate reports via the amsat-bb and ao51-modes lists We may also run some power output tests, setting the downlink transmitters to different levels and asking for quantitative reception reports including a detailed description of the receiving station

I would like to mention my support and appreciation for the http://oscar dcarr org/ website It is near real time information, and updates whenever a new report is added I absolutely LOVE this tool, and would like to thank the creator, and encourage it's continued use If you noticed last week there were a few reports of AO-51 "not heard" In fact the satellite was transmitting, but the auto battery protection had tripped, reducing the downlink to 100 mw that morning in lieu of the normal ~500 mw Later that day the auto protection tripped again, shutting TXb off I noticed the reports and immediately called one of the command stations, who was already aware of the problem I bring this up because it is a great tool for users that we in Operations also use, and it seems to have several regular international contributors

[ANS thanks Drew, KO4MA, for the above information]

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SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-105 04 RAFT and ANDE Update

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 105 04 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD April 15, 2007 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-105 04

RAFT and ANDE are now coming over in the prime eveining hours  

In fact, if you look at RAFT you will see it is nearly sun synchronous, in that it is coming over nearly the same time every evening  That is about 7:45, 9:15 and 10:45 PM local sun daylight time at mid (40 deg) N latitudes

PA3GUO reloaded RAFT settings and the packet-to-voice synthesizer is enabled  Anyone can turn it on, and then anyone can send APRS messages to "TALK" and it will speak the message See how on the page below:

http://www ew usna edu/~bruninga/ande-raft-ops html

Also, we need stations with good beams in the southern USA states from AZ to Georgia as volunteer command stations so that we can check out RAFT's radar receiver too

RAFT is halfway through its life and will de-orbit by late July Also, RAFT is only useable in the dark, so we don't have many more operating periods to operate this unique transponder

Also, if anyone has lots of power on 10 meters and will use it to TX CW, we would like to activate the PSK-31 transponder and try again at hearing some signals

[ANS thanks Bob, WB4APR, for the above information]

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SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-105 05 Call for Papers--2007 ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 105 05 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD April 15, 2007 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-105 05

Technical papers are solicited for presentation at the 26th Annual ARRL and TAPR Digital Communications Conference to be held September 28-30, 2007 in Hartford, Connecticut These papers will also be published in the Conference Proceedings (you do NOT need to attend the conference to have your paper included in the Proceedings) The submission deadline is July 31, 2007 Please send papers to:

Maty Weinberg ARRL 225 Main St Newington, CT 06111

or you can make your submission via e-mail to: maty@arrl org

Papers will be published exactly as submitted and authors will retain all rights

[ANS thanks Steve, WB8IMY, for the above information]

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SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-105 06 Satellite Shorts From All Over

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 105 06 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD April 15, 2007 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-105 06

• Clint, K6LCS has posted his 4 page "How to Work AO-51 with an HT"   tutorial at: http://homepage mac com/clintbradford

• Several reports have been received that Charles Simonyi, KE7KDP   is on the air from the International Space Station and is making   general QSOs with the ham radio community  On one pass Charles   said, "I think amateur radio was the begining of  the internet!   And its still alive, I never thought I would do neither amateur   radio or Space flights but both of them are lot of fun Well I just   want to congratulate the community for the great job they are doing   in performing the charter as we learned about it, and thank everbody   for helping me along Its not easy for me and I do the best I can,   so thanks a lot guys and I hope I can talk as many people as possible

  An audio recording of Charles is available on Cor's website:   http://pd0rkc ontwikkel nl

• Plan ahead for JOTA weekend "Around the World in 50 Hours will be   the theme of this year's Scouting Jamboree On The Air  JOTA as it   is better known, is an annual event in which about 500,000 Scouts   and Scout Guides all over the world make contacts with each other by   means of Amateur Radio  AMSAT supports this scouting activity each   year by making its satellites available for JOTA contacts  This   year's 50th JOTA will run from October 19th at 22:00 hours to   October 21st at 24:00 hours your local time

[ANS thanks everyone for the above information]

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SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-105 07 ARISS Status - 09 April 2007

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 105 07 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD April 15, 2007 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-105 07

1. St Michael’s Primary School Contact Successful

On Monday, April 2, students from St Michaels Primary School in Daceyville, New South Wales, Australia participated in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact Sixteen students asked Michael Lopez-Alegria, KE5GTK, one question each as approximately 180 children in grades K-6 looked on National television and newspapers covered the event

1. Successful Contact with Glenden State School

Glenden State School in Queensland, Australia experienced a successful Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Wednesday, April 4, 2007 Astronaut Sunita Williams, KD5PLB, answered questions from sixteen students and was answering the seventeenth question as the ISS went over the horizon Approximately 400 teachers, students and others attended the event A local news crew was there to film the event, and two radio interviews were held, one before the contact and one immediately after Another local radio station publicized the event during the week prior to the contact The audio from this contact was fed into the EchoLink AMSAT (101 377) and JK1ZRW (277 208) servers Among the eight countries that connected (a total of fifteen were made) were Macedonia, India and Ireland

1. Upcoming School Contacts

Students from Redmond High School in Redmond, Washington, Charles Simonyi’s home town, plan to experience an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Monday, April 16 at 21:17 UTC via the telebridge station ON4ISS in Belgium The ARISS EchoLink and IRLP teams will feed the audio from this contact into the EchoLink AMSAT (101 377) and JK1ZRW (277 208) servers, and into the IRLP Discovery Reflector 9010   The contact will also be webcast courtesy of Verizon Conferencing

An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact has been slated for Tuesday, April 17 at 18:35 UTC, between the Kursk Technical University in Kursk, Russia and Commander Fyodor N Yurchikhin, RN3FI The school’s radio club, RW3WWW, was founded in 1965 and is a member of SPORADIC – the Kursk amateur radio regional club and of the International Amateur Radio Union Region 1 Soyuz Radiolyubitelei Rossii (SRR)

An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact has been planned for Cedar Point Elementary School in Bristow, Virginia on Tuesday, April 17 at19:05 UTC via the telebridge station VK5ZAI in Australia A science encore program will be employed to teach amateur radio and communication technology to students in grades K-5 This contact will be held in conjunction with Space Week activities which will include a visit from an astronaut, science and technology of hot air ballooning, a Starlab Planetarium, and a Space Traveler trailer with 20 hands on activities related to traveling and living in space and space exploration This contact is planned for flight participant Charles Simonyi, KE7KDP The audio from this contact will be fed into the EchoLink AMSAT (101 377) and JK1ZRW (277 208) servers, and into the IRLP Discovery Reflector 9010 The contact will also be webcast courtesy of Verizon Conferencing

1. NA1SS Awarded JARL Award

On Monday, April 2, the Japan Amateur Radio Relay League (JARL) issued the All Japan Districts Award to the International Space Station, NA1SS Astronauts using the station’s callsign NA1SS have contacted a school in all ten of Japan’s amateur radio call areas

1. ARRL Article on Expedition 15 Crew

The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) ran an article on the new ISS crew “Fourth US Civilian Space Traveler, Expedition 15 ISS Crew Launch April 7” may be viewed on: http://www arrl org/news/stories/2007/04/03/100/?nc=1

[ANS thanks Carol, KB3LKI, for the above information]

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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 Office

73, This week's ANS Editor, Lee McLamb, KU4OS ku4os at amsat dot org

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