Date: January 11th 2009

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-011

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:

Launch Alert for Seven Small Satellites on January 21
VE3NPC and G3VZV Complete Transatlantic AO-51 Mode V/S Contact
AMSAT-DC Spring Satellite Workshop Seeks Members for Mission Teams
ARISS logo items at CafePress
Satellite Shorts From All Over
ARISS Status Report for the Week of January 5, 2009

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-011 01 Launch Alert for Seven Small Satellites on January 21

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 011 01

From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD January 11, 2009 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-011 01

Mineo Wakita, JE9PEL sent a Cubesat launch alert for seven amateur radio satellites planned as secondary payloads when Japan launches its GOSAT IBUKI satellite on January 21, 2009 at 03 54 UTC

GOSAT - Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite is an environmental monitoring satellite which will be launched from Japan's Tanegashima Space Center aboard the H-IIA F15 booster

Information about the primary mission can be found on-line at: http://www jaxa jp/countdown/f15/overview/ibuki_e html http://www jaxa jp/projects/sat/gosat/index_e html

Information about the launch vehicle can be found on-line at: http://www jaxa jp/countdown/f15/overview/h2a_e html

The small satellite palyload will consist of:

Satellite Downlink Beacon Mode Callsign --------- ----------- ----------- -------- -------------- KAGAYAKI 437 375 437 375 FSK9k6/CW STARS 437 485/465 437 305/275 FM/CW JR5YBN/JR5YBO KKS-1 437 445 437 385 AFSK/CW JQ1YYY PRISM 437 425 437 250 AFSK/GMSK/CW JQ1YCX SOHLA-1 437 505 437 505 AFSK/CW SPRITE Scientific observation satellite SDS-1 Small demonstration satellite

(Ed note - this table and all links can also be found on the main AMSAT web page http://www amsat org - see the bottom story )

Masa, JN1GKZ reported that the small satellites are technically not CubeSats since they are larger in size and each platform is a unique design He provided the following links to provide more information about each satellite

Kagayaki 31x31x35cm, 28kg http://www sorun co jp/kagayaki/top html (sorry, Japanese only)

STARS - Space Tethered Autonomous Robotic Satellite KU (Mother Satellite) 16x16x25cm KAI (Daughter Satellite) 16x16x15cm http://stars1 eng kagawa-u ac jp/english/index html

KKS-1 Kouku-Kousen-Satellite-1 15x15x15cm, 3kg http://www kouku-k ac jp/~kks-1 (sorry, Japanese only)

PRISM Pico-satellite for Remote-sensing and Innovative Space Missions 20x20x40cm, 8kg http://www space t u-tokyo ac jp/prism/main-e html

SOHLA-1 http://www sohla com/docs/index php

They will be launched into a sun synchronous orbit to an altitude of 660km with an inclination of 98 1 degrees The orbital period is estimated to be 98 minutes

[ANS thanks Mineo Wakita, JE9PEL and Masa, JN1GKZ for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-011 02 VE3NPC and G3VZV Complete Transatlantic AO-51 Mode V/S Contact

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 011 02

From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD January 11, 2009 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-011 02

Clare, VE3NPC and Graham, G3VZV completed a transatlantic contact via AO-51 running an uplink of 145 880 MHz FM and downlink of 2401 200 MHz FM at 10:11 UTC on January 9, 2009 Clare reported the elevation at 5 degrees and a range of 2700 km The two stations completed a short QSO with clear signals

Clare says his equipment consists of a 52 turn helix with reflector cup into a DEM preamp and downconverter into SatPC32 controlled FT-736 for 13cm receiving on 2401 200 MHz He used an FT-847 with 2 watts into 2 x 6 el quagis for 2m for his uplink Complete infor- mation on the 52 turn helix was published in the September/October 2008 AMSAT Journal

At the other end of the contact Graham, G3VZV says he was operating with an IC910 barefoot The antennas included WIMO circular polarised VHF (10 dBd) and UHF (12 dBd) crossed quad antennas and the famous G3RUH 600mm/2 foot dish and patchfeed with a Kuhne DB6NT preamp at the feed left over from AO40 operating The antennas are all at about 40 feet The satellite reached around 3 degrees elevation Graham says he did all doppler tuning correction by hand

In other AO-51 news, AMSAT-NA VP Operations, Drew KO4MA provided updates to the AO-51 Operating Mode Schedule to better support a hamfest operation, and a DXpedition to Namibia

January 12 - January 18

FM Repeater, V/U Uplink: 145 920 MHz FM Downlink: 435 300 MHz FM

FM Repeater, L/U Uplink: 1268 700 MHz FM Downlink: 435 150 MHz FM

January 19 - January 25

FM Repeater, V/U Uplink: 145 920 MHz FM Downlink: 435 300 MHz FM

9k6 BBS, L/U Uplink: 1268 700 MHz 9k6 FM Downlink: 435 150 MHz 9k6 FM

January 26 - February 1

FM Repeater, L/S Uplink: 1268 700 MHz FM Downlink: 2401 200 MHz FM

SSTV Repeater, V/U Uplink: 145 860 MHz FM SSTV Downlink: 435 150 MHz FM SSTV

The full AO-51 schedule and Command Team News can be found on-line at: http://www amsat org/amsat-new/echo/ControlTeam php The AMSAT main web page will also provide a quick status update when the infor- mation changes Operating mode requests can be sent via e-mail to ao51-modes@amsat org

[ANS thanks Drew, KO4MA, and congratulates Clare, VE3NPC, and Graham, G3VZV for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-011 03 AMSAT-DC Spring Satellite Workshop Seeks Members for Mission Teams

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 011 03

From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD January 11, 2009 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-011 03

If you find yourself in the Baltimore-Washington DC area this spring you may be interested in learning more and participating in an AMSAT-DC workshop which simulates building, testing, launch- ing, and receiving signals from an Amateur Radio satellite

AMSAT Area Coordinator for the Maryland-DC area, Pat Kilroy, N8PK is proposing such a workshop for the 2009 AMSAT-DC Meeting and Space Seminar This meeting is historically held in early spring at or near the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland

Pat is proposing individuals and groups of Amateur Radio operators form teams who compete at this AMSAT-DC workshop to create and operate a satellite mission

The first groups will build a PICetSat II flight module from a kit of electronic parts on a small printed circuit board You can see an example of the original PICetSat module at: http://patkilroy com/simsat/3/

The second groups will set up simple satellite ground stations to operate on 433 920 MHz SSB These team members need to provide a radio, antenna, and feedline for the 70 cm band

The third groups will be in charge of setting up and loading soft- ware in the computers at the ground stations to decode the telemetry and to analyze it according to a set of instructions

This event will be perfect for beginners and advanced satellite users alike, all ultimately working together to "launch" the flight module, receive the downlink, and decode the telemetry Instructions will be provided in advance of the event to enhance preparation

Pat notes he needs volunteer help to plan and organize this event A couple of dedicated individuals are needed immediately to start the plans to lock in the workshop meeting space, advertise the event, to do the footwork needed to process participant applications, and to assure one set of radio and computer stations are on hand and ready at the start of the workshop To volunteer contact Pat at his e-mail address: n8pk@amsat org as soon as possible Pat will convene a conference call for all interested participants to finalize the Workshop details with the volunteers

Pat requests that interested amateur radio operators RSVP to him via e-mail n8pk@amsat org and indicate which group you will be most inter- ested in working with The cost of the Workshop is still "TBD" to cover the materials and meeting space Those choosing the PICetSat II will keep their completed project

[ANS thanks Pat, N8PK for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-011 04 ARISS logo items at CafePress

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 011 04

From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD January 11, 2009 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-011 04

Will, KC6ROL says, "The ARISS team is pleased to announce the availability of ARISS logo items through the online store at: http://www cafepress com/ariss "

The ARISS logo is being made available as a courtesy to the members of the amateur radio community for personal use Persons wishing to market items with the ARISS logo need to contact the ARISS Secretary Treasurer, Rosalie White, at k1sto@arrl org to receive permission

AMSAT-NA receives 10% from sales through this store These funds will be used to support the ARISS team activities Neither ARISS nor AMSAT have any control over items ordered, or returns, through CafÃƒÂ© Press

[ANS thanks Will, KC6ROL for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-011 05 Satellite Shorts From All Over

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 011 05

From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD January 11, 2009 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-011 05

CQ Magazine announced a new e-mail list has been established to notify readers of the availability of each new issue of WorldRadio magazine, which is converting to a free online-only publication You may sign up for the list at: http://mailman sunserver com/mailman/listinfo/WorldRadio-L Direct links to this signup page will be posted on both the CQ magazine website at http://www cq-amateur-radio com and the old WorldRadio website at http://www wr6wr com
SatMagazine, a free web based magazine is available on-line at: http://www satmagazine com/cgi-bin/display_edition cgi This month's issue is dedicated to Cubesats AMSAT and Amateur Radio are mentioned
If you participated in OSCAR SKN, please nominate someone you worked for Best Fist now, while you're thinking of it Remember, your nominee need not have the best fist you heard, just the best of those you worked Send your nomination to w2rs@amsat org
The first English issue of the free electronic Amateur Radio magazine Ham-Mag is now available and features an article on working satellites with your HT by K6LCS The first issue can be downloaded from the maga- zine's website at http://www ham-mag com/ and if you subscribe (free) the magazine will be emailed to you each month
Information about the Southeastern VHF Society Conference April 24-25 in Charlotte, NC can be found at: http://www w4dex com/svhfs_2009 htm
An upgrade to the RASCAL software to decode DO-64 telemetry is avail- able at http://www delfic3 nl/rascal - this page also includes the upgrading instructions if you are moving up from a previous version

[ANS thanks everyone for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-011 06 ARISS Status Report for the Week of January 5, 2009

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 011 06

From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD January 11, 2009 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-011 06

School Contacts

Axam Jatiya Vidyalaya in Guwahati, India had a successful ARISS contact on Wednesday, January 7 at 08:01 UTC via telebridge station W6SRJ in California Approximately 1300 students are enrolled at the school All students are taught in Assamese with English taught as a compulsory second language

Tongfu Road No 1 Primary School in Guangzhou, Guangdong, P R China has been scheduled for an ARISS contact on Saturday, January 17 at 10:23 UTC The school is over 70 years old with an enrollment of over 1000 students An amateur radio club was established at the school in 2007 and during the same year a team from this school won the national youngster's amateur radio contest Elective courses on amateur radio, space technology and ARISS are offered to the students All grades have participated in essay and cartoon contests to prepare for the contact Students have written letters to the astronauts and determined the questions to ask Media coverage is planned with newspapers, tele- vision and the internet

Technopolis Contact Successful

On Saturday, January 3, students visiting Technopolis in Mechelen, Belgium experienced an ARISS contact via telebridge station VK4KHZ in Australia The students asked Mike Fincke, KE5AIT, 16 questions with time left over to exchange Season's Greetings Approximately 100 students, parents and ham radio operators attended the event Three television stations and two newspapers reported on the contact
The audio was fed into the EchoLink AMSAT and JK1ZRW servers and received 29 connections from ten different countries including the Ukraine and Romania More information on the contact may be found on the ARISS-Europe Web site: http://www ariss-eu org/2009_01_03 htm

ARISS 25th Anniversary Special Event Update

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of ham radio in space, an ARISS commemorative event will be held during the month of December through mid January A special certificate is being developed for those who communicate with the ISS, either 2-way direct (with the ISS crew, the digipeater, or cross band repeater), or 1-way reception of SSTV or voice downlink For more information and an update on this event, see: http://www rac ca/ariss/oindex htm under "Latest News "

[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 With that recall the time two silk worms had a race which ended in a tie

73, This week's ANS Editor, JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM K9JKM at amsat dot org

Via the ANS mailing list courtesy of AMSAT-NA http://amsat org/mailman/listinfo/ans

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