AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-328
The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and infor- mation 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 commun- icating 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
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In this edition:
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-328 01 ANS-328 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 328 01 From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD DATE 2019-Nov-24 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-328 01
AMSAT Auction Celebrating the 45th Birthday of AO-7 Now Live
As announced in ANS-321, AMSAT is auctioning off a set of gold-plated AO-7 cufflinks and a 50th Anniversary AMSAT lab coat (size 42R) The auctions are now live on eBay and will conclude shortly after 02:00 UTC on November 26, 2019
Please bid today at https://www ebay com/usr/amsat-na
100% of the proceeds of this auction will go towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space
Looking ahead to the future AMSAT tweeted a quick summary of projects at: https://twitter com/AMSAT/status/1197528119806169091
The University of Washington's HuskySat-1 carrying an AMSAT VHF/ UHF linear transponder was launched to the ISS on Cygnus on Nov 2 After leaving the ISS, Cygnus is expected to deploy HuskySat-1 on or about Jan 13
After completing its science mission, HuskySat-1 will be turned over to AMSAT and the transponder will be made available for ama- teur use AMSAT is also working with other CubeSat builders on similar arrangements
RadFxSat-2 (Fox-1E), carrying a VHF/UHF linear transponder and radiation experiments for Vanderbilt University, is complete and awaiting launch on the first commercial flight of Virgin Orbit's LauncherOne no earlier than 1Q 2020
The GOLF program is progressing nicely The target delivery/inte- gration date of GOLF-TEE is 3Q 2020 More details about the GOLF program are available in the AMSAT Engineering Report from the 2019 Space Symposium https://youtube com/watch?v=WWwvhuIaiBA
The ARISS next generation InterOperable Radio System is planned for launch to the ISS on the SpaceX CRS-20 mission, scheduled for March 2020
The AMSAT CubeSat Simulator project led by Alan Johnston, KU2Y and Pat Kilroy, N8PK, is generating much interest Simulators are avail- able for loan for classrooms or events and work is underway to dev- elop CubeSat Simulator kits http://cubesatsim com
How can you help these projects succeed? Please consider volunteer- ing, joining, donating, and/or purchasing items from the AMSAT store today
[ANS thanks Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, for the above information]
November 18 Marked 2nd Anniversary On Orbit for AMSAT-OSCAR 91
Happy 2nd Anniversary, AMSAT-OSCAR 91! At 09:47:36 UTC on Novem- ber 18, 2017, RadFxSat (Fox-1B) launched on a Delta II rocket from SLC-2W at Vandenberg Air Force Base and became AMSAT-OSCAR 91
RadFxSat (Fox-1B), a 1U CubeSat, is a joint mission of AMSAT and the Institute for Space and Defense Electronics at Vanderbilt Uni- versity The Vanderbilt package is intended to measure the effects of radiation on electronic components, including demonstration of an on-orbit platform for space qualification of components as well as to validate and improve computer models for predicting radiation tolerance of semiconductors
AMSAT constructed the remainder of the satellite including the space frame, on-board computer and power system The amateur radio package is similar to that currently on orbit on AO-85
RadFxSat (Fox-1B) was sent aloft as a secondary payload on the Unit- ed Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta II rocket with the Joint Polar Satel- lite System (JPSS)-1 satellite RadFxSat (Fox-1B) is one of five CubeSats making up this NASA Educational Launch of Nanosatellites (ELaNa) XIV mission, riding as secondary payloads aboard the JPSS-1 mission
Uplink: 435 250 MHz FM (67 0 Hz CTCSS) Downlink: 145 960 MHz FM
Satellite health and experiment telemetry are downlinked via the Data-Under-Voice (DUV) subaudible telemetry stream, which can be de- coded using the FoxTelem software
Visit the AMSAT-OSCAR 91 web page at: https://tinyurl com/ANS-328-AO-91 Make sure you have the latest AMSAT frequencies using the page at: https://www amsat org/two-way-satellites/
[ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information]
November 21 Marked 6th Anniverary of AMSAT-UK's AO-73 FUNcube-1
This week AMSAT-UK and the FUNcube team recalled the events on launch day A very short time after the launch from Yasny in Russia and with- in a few minutes from deployment, the very first frame of data from the low power transmitter on board, was detected and decoded by ZS1LS in South Africa He was able to relay the data over the internet from his Dashboard to the Data Warehouse and the numbers, appeared, as if by magic, at the launch party being held at the RSGB National Radio Centre at Bletchley Park
After a very brief check out, the FUNcube team were able to switch the transmitter to full power, again at the very first attempt, and were quite amazed at the strength of the signal from the 300mW trans- mitter on 145 935 MHz The transponder was then switched on and suc- cessfully tested
The team finished the day with a request to AMSAT-NA for an Oscar number and were delighted to receive the AO73 Oscar 73 designation!
Since then, FUNcube-1, with a launch mass of less than 1kg, has oper- ated continuously with only a very few interruptions In excess of 32000 orbits, 750 million miles travelled, and with more than 7 mil- lion data packets downloaded and stored in the Data Warehouse
The spacecraft is presently in continuous sunlight and to convert as much of the sun’s thermal energy into RF (to help keep it cool), it remains in continuous high power telemetry mode We anticipate this situation will continue until early May next after which the team expect to have 3 months with some eclipse periods
Of course, EO88 – Nayif 1 continues to operate autonomously with the transponder active when in eclipse and JO99 – JY1Sat, which includes image downloads, and which was launched just under a year ago, also remain active on a 24/7 basis
The FUNcube team still receive many requests for Fitter message up- loads for school events…please contact us by email to operations@funcube org uk giving us at least two weeks notice
The FUNcube team continue to be very grateful to all the many stations around the world that continue to upload the telemetry that they re- ceive to our Data Warehouse They really need this data to provide a continuous resource for educational outreach
Dave Johnson, G4DPZ, network administrator for the FUNcube Data Ware- house provided this update for users of the FUNcube Dashboard Soft- ware, "The server addresses warehouse funcube org uk and data funcube org uk are no longer operational If you have FUNcube Dashboard(s) using the URL data funcube org uk, please change it to data amsat-uk org as forwarding will no longer take place "
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information]
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The digital download version of the 2019 edition of Getting Started with Amateur Satellites is now available as a DRM-free PDF from the AMSAT Store Get yours today! https://tinyurl com/ANS-237-Getting-Started
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Proposed FCC Auction of C-Band Increases Competition for Allocations
In an IARU News Release by Dave Sumner, K1ZZ and posted by Rick Lind- quist, WW1ME on November 18 via the ARRL-IARU@groups arrl org list he reports that the Plenary session to approve texts to be included in the Final Acts was scheduled to end at noon Thursday, November 21 and delegates at WRC-19 faced a daunting workload as the conferees try to reach consensus on several remaining issues including the agenda for the next WRC
Small Satellites which are increasingly commercial have been granted access to the space operations bands at 137/149MHz away from amateur allocations
The amateur secondary allocation at 5725-5850 MHz, which includes an amateur-satellite C-band downlink at 5830-5850 MHz, is the subject of an unresolved conflict over parameters for wireless access systems including radio local area networks 5 GHz Wi-Fi will see most expan- sion below amateur radio in the 5150-5250 band reducing it impact on our 5725-5850 range
An article published by CNBC, also on November 18, a news item by Michael Sheetz, "Satellite stock Intelsat drops 40% after FCC 5G dec- ision", discusses increasing pressure in the United States due to a proposed public auction of 280 megahertz of the C-band spectrum This article can be accessed in entirety at: https://tinyurl com/ANS-328-CNBC-5G-Article
Sheetz reports that FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said in a tweet that his agency “must free up significant spectrum” for 5G telecommunications The FCC said it expects to begin a public auction of C-band to happen before the end of 2020, a blow to satellite operators using the valu- able spectrum
The FCC Chairman's tweet on the subject can be accessed at: https://twitter com/AjitPaiFCC/status/1196468857025835009
Four commercial satellite operators, including Intelsat, provide C-band services in the U S to about 120 million households The FCC wants to repurpose the C-band spectrum for 5G and an auction is ex- pected to raise tens of billions of dollars But a public auction would see the proceeds go to the government The commercial C-band satellite operators have organized as the 'C-Band Alliance' to oppose a public auction of these frequencies The C-Band Alliance has been pushing for a private auction The group has given a proposal to the FCC where the satellite operators would keep some of the proceeds while paying taxes on the sale, as well as contributing at least $8 billion to the U S Treasury and possible helping fund a rural 5G network
[ANS thanks Dave Sumner, K1ZZ, Rick Lindquist, WW1ME, the IARU and CNBC for the above information]
Satellite Operations From the Queen Mary on December 14
AMSAT will be supporting the "Ham Radio Day Aboard the Queen Mary", an on-air event which will include satellite operations from the RMS Queen Mary, on Saturday, 14 December 2019 The Queen Mary is at the Port of Long Beach in California, grid DM03vs The satellite opera- tions will take place from the Queen Mary's Sports Deck, next to the W6RO Wireless Room
Visitors are welcome, and hams with a copy of their valid amateur license can board the ship for free on 14 December - a $40 value!
QSL cards will be available from the Associated Radio Amateurs of Long Beach (ARALB), using the process detailed at:
http://www qrz com/db/W6RO
Satellite contacts do not require the QSO number mentioned on this page W6RO does not use Logbook of the World
Additional information about the event posted by The Associated Radio Amateurs of Long Beach and the Queen Mary:
The Associated Radio Amateurs of Long Beach and the Queen Mary invite you aboard the legendary ocean liner for Ham Radio Day Aboard the Queen Mary on Saturday December 14th Our world-famous station W6RO will be fully staffed all day Come visit the station, take a turn as a guest operator, or work us on the air and earn our special 40th Anniversary QSL card In addition, we will have the following special activities:
Basic admission to board the ship is FREE for licensed radio amateurs this day Simply show your current amateur radio license at the Hotel entrance and come aboard! The free boarding offer is subject to the following restrictions:
We're looking forward to seeing YOU on board! 73
[ANS thanks Patrick Stoddard, WD9EWK/VA7EWK, and the Associated Radio Amateurs of Long Beach and the Queen Mary]
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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/
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Donate to AMSAT Tax-Free From Your IRA
Are you over 70-1/2 years of age and need to meet your IRA's Required Minimum Distribution for 2019? Consider making a donation to AMSAT!
Under the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015, individuals over 70-1/2 years of age may make direct transfers of up to $100,000 per year from a traditional IRA to an eligible charity without increasing their taxable income Consult your tax advisor or accountant to make certain you are eligible
AMSAT is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational and scientific organization whose purpose is to design, construct, launch, and operate satellites in space and to provide the support needed to encourage amateurs to utilize these resources AMSAT's federal tax ID is 52-0888529
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Open Source 'APRS to Discord' Bridge Project Begins Testing
Harold Giddings, KR0SIV, reports on an on-going open source project called the 'APRS to Discord bridge' The Discord network supports text and voice chat, project documentation and source code for dev- elopers, gamers, and makers in an open source environment For more information about the Discord network see https://discordapp com/
The APRS to Discord bridge, by Alexandre Rouma (@WhatsTheGeekYT on twitter), is designed to connect APRS traffic from terrestrial and spacecraft sources with user's servers on the Discord network The software, still under development, is pretty simple at the moment but will be open source (Node js) The design will allow amateur radio groups to set up their own node for bridging an APRS callsign/message to their discord server It is written in a way that requires the bot operator to validate amateur operators with a special role in Discord preventing illicit use by non-licensed operators
Source code can be found here: https://github com/AlexandreRouma/aprs_bridge https://github com/AlexandreRouma/npm-aprs-parser
Harold also hosts the SDR-centric 'Signals Everywhere' channel on YouTube: https://www youtube com/signalseverywhere
[ANS thanks Harold Giddings, KR0SIV, for the above information]
ARISS Activities
Lakeside Elementary School, West Point, UT, telebridge via IK1SLD Contact was successful: Mon 2019-11-18
Istituto San Paolo delle Suore Angeliche, Milano, Italy and Istituto Comprensivo Di Merone – Mons A Pirovano, Merone, Italy, telebridge via W6SRJ Contact was successful: Thu 2019-11-21
MAOU Lyceum No 39, Nizhny Tagil, Russia, direct via TBD The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS The scheduled astronaut is Alexander Skvortsov Contact is go for 2011-11-30 14:15 UTC
A reminder that the deadline to submit proposals for ARISS contacts to be scheduled between July 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020 is coming up on November 30, 2019 For more information visit https://www ariss org/
Possible RSØISS - Inter MAI-75 SSTV activity is tentatively planned for Dec 14 – 15, 2019 Details will follow later, the organization of this SSTV event depends on the necessary EVA activities No SSTV can take place during EVA activities
[ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, and David Jordan, AA4KN, ARISS opera- tion team members, for the above information]
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Purchase AMSAT Gear on our Zazzle storefront 25% of the purchase price of each product goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space https://www zazzle com/amsat_gear
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Upcoming Satellite Operations
Nunavut, Canada (ER60) November 11 - December 6, 2019 The Eureka Amateur Radio Club, VY0ERC, will be on station, the Polar Environment Atmospheric Research Laboratory, November 6th through Dec- ember 11th They have some house keeping duties to perform on arrival and just before they leave, not to mention that it's wicked cold up there (-25 to -35C not counting windchill), so keep an eye on the VY0ERC twitter feed for announcements on when they plan to step out- side: https://twitter com/vy0erc
Key West (EL94) December 3-6, 2019 Tanner, W9TWJ, will be vacationing in Key West December 3rd - 6th Key word is vacation, but he will jump on some FM satellite passes to act- ivate EL94 for those that need it or just want to chat Watch Tanner's Twitter feed for further announcements: https://twitter com/twjones85
Hawaii (BK19, BK28, BK29, BL20) December 21-28, 2019 Alex, N7AGF, is heading back to Hawaii over Christmas This will be a holiday-style activation, with special empahasis on the grid that got away - BK28 Keep an eye on Alex's Twitter feed for further announce- ments: https://twitter com/N7AGF
Please submit any additions or corrections to ke4al (at) amsat org
[ANS thanks Robert Bankston, KE4AL, AMSAT VP - User Services, for the above information]
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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/
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The Voyage Home: Japan's Hayabusa-2 Probe Heads Back to Earth By Kyoko Hasegawa - Tokyo
Japan's Hayabusa-2 mission to the asteroid Ryugu received its orders to head for home on Wednesday, November 13 Next, on November 18 it broke free of the asteroid's gravity It will fire its main engines early next month en route to Earth, JAXA said
Hayabusa-2 is carrying samples that could shed light on the origins of the Solar System It took the probe three-and-a-half years to get to the asteroid but the return journey should be significantly short- er because Earth and Ryugu will be much closer due to their current positions
Ryugu's orbit ranges from 96 AU to 1 41 AU with a period of 474 days, coming within just 95,400 km of Earth at its closest (just 1/4 LD), but is currently 1 7 AU away Hayabusa will spend the next year clos- ing that distance to Earth and will eject its sample capsule into the atmosphere in December 2020 After the departure burn Hayabusa-2 had changed it's orbit to a 0 96 x 1 41 AU x 5 9 deg heliocentric orbit
Hayabusa-2 is expected to drop the samples off in the South Austral- ian desert Under the current plan, Hayabusa-2 will boldly continue its journey in space after dropping off its capsule to Earth, and might "carry out another asteroid exploration," according to JAXA
Access the full article (and photo) at: https://tinyurl com/ANS-328-Hyabusa-Coming-Home
[ANS thanks SpaceDaily com for the above information]
Satellite Shorts From All Over
AMSAT has received the sad news on the passing of Brian Kantor, WB6CYT (SK) Brian was one of the co-founders (with Phil Karn, KA9Q) of AMPRnet, the TCP/IP over amateur radio network Brian continued to manage it until his passing Brian recently creat- ed and served as chair and CEO of Amateur Radio Digital Commun- ications (ARDC), a charitable foundation funded by the sale of unused AMPRnet IPv4 addresses ARDC promotes STEM education and amateur radio digital development through scholarships and by funding the development of open source hardware and software Brian will be sorely missed and impossible to replace Memorial arrangements will be announced when known via Phil Karn, KA9Q)
UniverseToday com notes the contribution of Daniel Estévez, EA4GPZ, with the location of the impact site of China's Longjiang-2 satel- lite on the moon: https://tinyurl com/ANS-328-EA4GPZ-LunarImpact The article notes, "Among amateur astronomists and citizen scient- ists, Daniel Estévez is a well-known figure In addition to being an amateur radio operator with a PhD in Mathematics and a BSc in Computer Science, Estévez is also an amateur spacecraft tracker " (via UniverseToday com)
Roland Hesmondhalg spoke on public radio station WFIT with FL Tech Professor Ken Ernandes, N2WWD, and two senior students Luiz Fernando Leal and Antonio Masturzo about the amateur radio project on the ISS Did you know you can use amateur radio to talk to astronauts in space? Ken Ernandes is part of the team building the next upgraded communi- cation station to be flown on the ISS this coming year The program is primarily intended by NASA to promote STEAM in schools There is an application process to get a scheduled school contact and he would be happy to work with any body on the application process Listen on the link at: https://tinyurl com/ANS-328-WFIT-Interview
NASA released their latest software catalog offering FREE NASA Technology software packages that are applicable to academic research, engineering development, business applications & more! NASA Press Release: https://tinyurl com/ANS-328-NASA-Software-Press Access the software at: http://software nasa gov
Explore student STEM opportunities, downloads, mission information and Artemis Student Challenges on NASA's STEM Engagement pages at: https://www nasa gov/stem/artemis html - then - try your hand at driving a Mars rover: https://spaceplace nasa gov/explore-mars/en/
John Brier, KG4AKV, wrote, "A woman in Israel recently contacted me about including some of my videos in a video she was going to make about how to view the ISS Well, she just uploaded that video and I have to say, it is pretty good: https://www youtube com/watch?v=laQ9VEJJmpU (To turn on English subtitles while viewing YouTube on the web/ desktop, click the CC button in the bottom right corner of the video On mobile, tap the three dots in the top right and then tap captions) - via John Brier, KG4AKV
Paul Wade, W1GHZ, author of the W1GHZ Microwave Antenna Book says he has added an update of Chapter 7, Slot Antennas, and included an improved 32-bit version of the HDL_ANT program for Windows 7 and 10 Access the book at: http://w1ghz org/antbook/preface htm Click on the 'Table of Contents' link to continue (Paul Wade, W1GHZ via the microwave list)
Scott Manley posted a video showing the effect if all satellites in orbit were visible There are over ten thousand satellites in orbit, but only the largest ones in low earth orbit are visible in the hours just after sunset and before sunrise What would the sky look like if you could see everything in space? He took satel- lite data and rendered a view of the night sky for an 'average' viewer in North America View the satellites at: https://youtu be/dJNGi-bt9NM (via Scott Manley's YouTube channel https://www youtube com/channel/UCxzC4EngIsMrPmbm6Nxvb-A )
Voyager's transmitters use just 23 watts, roughly the same as an incandescent refrigerator bulb, yet we are able to interpret the 0 1 billion-billionth of a Watt that makes it to earth from 11 billion kilometers away An article at wired com explains: https://www wired com/2013/09/vintage-voyager-probes/
AMSAT-LU (Argentina) plans to operate their WSPR buoy when it is deployed between November 25 through December 12, weather condi- tion permitting The WSPR beacon will transmit on 14 095,6 MHz with 900 mW, callsign LU7AA The beacon will be active for 2 min- utes ON followed with 8 minutes of standby They appreciate WSPR reception reports to wsprnet org which will qualify you for an award certificate: http://lu7aa org ar/wspr asp AMSAT-LU Buoy Project page can be found at: http://amsat org ar/?f=boya APRS tracking can be found at: http://aprs fi?call=lu7aa-8
Versions 1 46 and 1 47 (to address a bug fix) of the Magic-Eye Plugin for SDRSharp has been released: https://github com/BlackApple62/SDRSharp-Magic-Eye-Plugin/releases This plug-in adds an old-style "Magic Eye", or "Cat's Eye" to SDR# software (available via www airspy com) This release adds an analog- style SNR Meter This Plugin, is compiled for 32bit platform, with NET Framework version 4 6 It may not run on SDR# versions older than r1362 (14 Sept 2015) - via airspy com and GitHub
If you've been kept up at night trying to find a solution to the chaotic three-body problem access a paper, "Newton vs the machine: solving the chaotic three-body problem using deep neural networks" from: https://arxiv org/abs/1910 07291 - and if you're not sure what is the significance of this check out an explanation posted at: https://en wikipedia org/wiki/Three-body_problem
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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 addi- tional benefits Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office
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 stu- dent rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership information
73 and remember to behave and to help keep amateur radio in space, This week's ANS Editor, JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM k9jkm at amsat dot org
Via the ANS mailing list courtesy of AMSAT-NA https://www amsat org/mailman/listinfo/ans
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