Date: September 28th 2008

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-272

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

* 2008 AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting October 24-26 in Atlanta, Georgia http://www amsat org/amsat-new/symposium/2008/index php *

In this edition:

AMSAT Symposium Presentations Posted
ARISS Confirms Amateur Radio Hardware Deliveries
Richard Garriott Operations Call for Support
Call For AMSAT Journal Articles
AMSAT-Italy Announces Joint VERTA-1 Satellite Project With AMSAT-UK
Satellite Shorts From All Over
ARISS Status Report for the Week of September 22, 2008

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-272 01 AMSAT Symposium Presentations Posted

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 272 01

From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD September 28, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-272 01

The list of presentations for the 2008 AMSAT Symposium Oct 24-26 is now posted on the AMSAT web site There is a link on the front page and also on the Symposium information page We have a great line up of speakers, so make your plans to attend the Symposium in Atlanta The AMSAT board meeting Oct 23-24 preceeds the Symposium at the same hotel Please make your reservations soon and join us to get the latest news and information about the organization, plans for future satellites and technical information

Follow this link for the latest Symposium information: http://www amsat org/amsat-new/symposium/2008/index php

We are about to lose our room block at the Buckhead Doubletree in Atlanta If you are planning to attend the 2008 AMSAT Symposium, you need to make your room reservations ASAP Their direct phone number is 404-231-1234 The room rate is $125 per night and the Group Code is ASG

[ANS thanks the 2008 Symposium Committee for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-272 02 ARISS Confirms Amateur Radio Hardware Deliveries

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 272 02

From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD September 28, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-272 02

The ARISS team received confirmation from Sergey, RV3DR, that the recent Progress flight delivered the flight backup D-700, a David Clark Headset for the Ericsson system, and an additional VOX box and cables to support the computer-operated SSTV system The D700 may be installed as early as late this week, depending on crew availability The flight backup will not provide a significant change in ARISS operations, making it easier for the crew to change program modes

Richard Garriott plans to take a Kenwood VC-H1 SSTV communicator with him on-board the Soyuz for his flight and leave it aboard the ISS for future ARISS use The VC-H1 has completed all hardware certification on the US and Russian sides The final test, an EMI radiated emissions test, was performed last week and the test data was delivered to Sergey Samburov, RV3DR in Russia this week The VC-H1 provides a very simple interface for ISS crew members and does not require the use of a computer Computer usage has been a real challenge for ARISS, so the VC-H1 represents a lesson learned to improve ARISS operations

[ANS thanks ARISS International Chairman Frank Bauer, KA3HDO for the above information]

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SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-272 03 Richard Garriott Operations Call for Support

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 272 03

From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD September 28, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-272 03

Early during Richard Garriott's flight, he expects to setup the VC-H1 SSTV system and autonomously transmit a new Earth image every 3 minutes He hopes to have this system on a great deal of his flight We encourage the ham community to bring SSTV equipment into schools and download these images in real-time

The ARISS team also plans to display images from hams around the world on a special on a web/blog site A beta site has been de- veloped and will be rolled out to the ham community in the near future

To successfully implement the on-line SSTV picture site and support it 24/7 during Richard's flight, we will need some savvy individuals that can sort through the many SSTV photos that ARISS will receive and keep the SSTV site up to date in near real time Some computer skills will be required We are looking for global support from a few individuals in each international region to make this happen
That way we will not be asking individuals to volunteer all-night to realize this project If you are interested in helping on this, please e-mail Frank Bauer, KA3HDO directly via ka3hdo@amsat org

[ANS thanks ARISS International Chairman Frank Bauer, KA3HDO for the above information]

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SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-272 04 Call For AMSAT Journal Articles

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 272 04

From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD September 28, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-272 04

AMSAT Journal Editor Ed, WA4SWJ said this week, "If you have articles for the Journal I need them now! Please, if you have an article to contribute to the Journal, get it to me right away Do not delay I want to get the Journal back on schedule "

The deadline for contributions to the Journal is the 15th of the ODD numbered months (1-3-5-7-9-11) throughout the year The intent is to get the Journal released to the printer the first week of each EVEN numbered month

[ANS thanks Ed, WA4SWJ for the above information]

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SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-272 05 AMSAT-Italy Announces Joint VERTA-1 Satellite Project With AMSAT-UK

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 272 05

From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD September 28, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-272 05

AMSAT-Italy President Florio LX2DV/IW2NMB said this week, "AMSAT-Italia along with AMSAT-UK has the great pleasure of announcing our joint application to launch the proposed "EuroDAST" micro-satellite onboard the Arianespace VEGA launcher, with its VERTA-1 flight opportunity "

Florio continues, "Although it be launched with a European Launcher and is based on an AMSAT-Italia mission concept, the development of such micro-satellite is open to worldwide contributions in hardware and soft- ware " Any individuals or groups of interested amateurs, universities, research centers having space based hardware or software concepts are invited to submit their ideas by e-mail to: cd@amsat it

More information about the Arianespace VEGA mission can be seen at: http://www arianespace com/launch-services-vega/vega_overview asp

[ANS thanks AMSAT-Italy for the above information]

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SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-272 06 Satellite Shorts From All Over

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 272 06

From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD September 28, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-272 06

Information about a Google Earth plug-in plotting orbiting earth satellites can be found at:

http://www universetoday com/2008/09/05/explore-earths-satellites-with-googl e-earth/ (watch line wrap - this URL is a single line)

Howard, G6LVB has posted video of the successful ARISS School Contact with the Michael Sobell Sinai School, Harrow, United Kingdom at: http://www g6lvb com/images/MichaelSobellSinaiSchoolHi wmv 147Mb http://www g6lvb com/images/MichaelSobellSinaiSchoolMed wmv 45Mb Howard recommends you download them first then play them, rather than attempting to stream An MP4 format of the video is available at: http://www uk amsat org/content/view/669/68/
Congratulations to F3ZD on your 5000th contact via AO-7 Bob, W7LRD reports AO-7 contacts with OH8MBN and AL1F in Alaska
The AO-27 command team will post updates on getting this satellite back on at http://www ao27 org
An interesting photo tour of the Baikonur Cosmodrome is at:

http://www boston com/bigpicture/2008/09/the_baikonur_cosmodrome html#photo6 (watch line wrap - this URL is a single line)

Watch http://spaceweather com/flybys/ & http://www heavens-above com for visual sighting opportunites of the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft, ISS, Jules Verne, and the Early Ammonia Service jettisoned from the ISS
Have you forgotten your AMSAT Store account name or password? If you have forgotten or misplaced your account name or password for the AMSAT Store, simply create a new one We hope to have someone working on new software to give your password in the future Until then go ahead and make your reservations or purchases with a new account

[ANS thanks everyone for the above information]

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SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-272 07 ARISS Status Report for the Week of September 22, 2008

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 272 07

From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD September 28, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-272 07

Upcoming School Contacts - Status

The ARISS team continues its work on scheduling the next school radio contacts Johnson Space Center was closed the week of September 15 due to Hurricane Ike, delaying contact approvals Scheduling is expected to resume this week

Richard Garriott - ISS Flight

Richard Garriott, W5KWQ, will fly with the Expedition 18 crew to the ISS on Soyuz TMA-13 which is scheduled to launch on October 12, 2008 He plans to participate in several ARISS contacts during his mission A press release has been posted
See: http://www rac ca/ariss/Garriott%20PR%20Final doc

GSFC LaunchFest Update

On Saturday, September 13, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in Greenbelt, Maryland held a LaunchFest event, during which the Center's personnel manned exhibits and provided space related demonstrations for the public ARISS supported LaunchFest with its own exhibit booth, providing information, distributing lithographs and generating much interest in the program Approximately 13,000 attended the event See: http://www nasa gov/centers/goddard/news/topstory/2008/launchfest_recap html

ASTC - ARISS Presentation

The Association of Science - Technology Centers (ASTC) will hold its 2008 annual conference on October 18-21 in Philadelphia, Penn- sylvania Ten presenters from NASA will describe NASA's education and outreach programs and NASA resources ARISS Deputy Program Manager Mark Steiner, K3MS, will give an ARISS overview For more information on this event, see: http://www astc org/conference/index htm

ARISS Volunteer Receives Award

Nancy Rabel Hall, a Research Scientist working at NASA Glenn Research Center and the current president of the NASA Glenn Amateur Radio Club, was the 15th recipient of the Allan Severson, AB8P memorial award The Ohio ARRL (American Radio Relay League) Section Manager presents this award each year Hall has assisted three local schools with ARISS contacts For more information, see: http://www arrlohio org/arrl_allan_severson htm

[ANS thanks Carol, KB3LKI for the above information]

/EX

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, JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM K9JKM at amsat dot org

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