AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-117

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

You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see: http://www amsat org/mailman/listinfo/ans

In this edition:

• March/April 2020 Edition of Apogee View Posted
• Long-Lost U S Military Satellite Found By Amateur Radio Operator
• Let's Take Some Pictures
• Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution
• The W4AMI Award and How to Obtain One
• New OSCAR T-Shirt Available from AMSAT Zazzle Store
• Upcoming Satellite Operations
• ARISS News
• Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
• Satellite Shorts From All Over

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-117 01 ANS-117 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 117 01

From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD DATE 2020 April 26 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-117 01

March/April 2020 Edition of Apogee View Posted

The March/April 2020 edition of Apogee View, a comprehensive update on AMSAT's activities from AMSAT President Clayton Coleman, W5PFG, has been posted to the AMSAT website

https://www amsat org/apogeeview/

[ANS thanks AMSAT the above information]

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Long-Lost U S Military Satellite Found By Amateur Radio Operator

Scott Tilley, VE7TIL, has made the news once again for tracking down yet another "zombie" satellite Scott was the subject of a report broadcast on National Public Radio on Friday, April 24

This time, he managed to identify signals from LES-5, an experimental military UHF communications satellite built by the Massachusetts Insti- tute of Technology's Lincoln Laboratory and launched in 1967 Even though the satellite was supposed to shut down in 1972, it's still go- ing As long as the solar panels are in the sun, the satellite's radio continues to operate

In 2018, Tilly found a signal from a NASA probe called IMAGE that the space agency had lost track of in 2005 With Tilley's help, NASA was able to reestablish contact He has rediscovered several other long- forgotten birds, including Transit 5B-5, a nuclear-powered U S Navy navigation satellite launched in 1965

Scott announced his findings on LES-5 through his Twitter account, @coastal8049, on March 24 The full NPR story may be found at: https://n pr/2x64aAZ

[ANS thanks NPR org for the above information]

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     Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the AMSAT office
is closed until further notice
 For details, please visit

https://www amsat org/amsat-office-closed-until-further-notice/

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Let's Take Some Pictures

The command team has had a few requests for camera mode on AO-92 over the last few weeks, and it’s been a while, so let’s take some pictures next week

Next Tuesday morning, April 28th, we’ll attempt to command the camera on at approximately 1440Z and 1612Z We’ll also try the 1750Z pass If we can’t command on the 1750Z pass, we’ll find a suitable pass later in the week for the west coast

Take a look at https://www amsat org/foxtelem-software-for-windows-mac-linux/ for a guide on how to set up FoxTelem, and https://www amsat org/tlm/showImages php?id=4 for near-live images as we go Remember, the more stations submitting telemetry during the event, the better the chance of complete images!

[ANS thanks Andrew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, AMSAT VP Operations, 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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Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution

Last week's AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletin (ANS-110 01) contained a news item entitled "Receiving SMOG-P and ATL-1 Nano Satellites With an RTL-SDR" from Zoltan Doczi, HA7DCD

Please note that on December 19, 2019 AMSAT designated SMOG-P as Magyar-OSCAR 105 (MO-105) and ATL-1 as Magyar-OSCAR 106 (MO-106)

In the AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution, the TLEs for these two Hungarian satellites are shown as follows:

MO-105 is NORAD Cat ID 44832 (SMOG-P) MO-106 is NORAD Cat ID 44830 (ATL-1)

[ANS thanks Ray Hoad, WA5QGD, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager, for the above information]

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The W4AMI Award and How to Obtain One

Just a little history, Robert W Barbee Jr , W4AMI, was a very prolific operator and in his honor this certificate was created and the first certificate was issued to him on June 27, 1994 He has since become an SK and his local club has taken over his call sign The award was originally the W4AMI Satellite Operator Achievement Award The local club asked me not to use their call sign for the award I changed the award to The Robert W Barbee, Jr W4AMI Satellite Operator Achievement Award And here we are today, finally having issued over 100 certificates and over 30 of the 5,000 certificates

This award is for making 1,000 contacts with any station any time You can say hello to your friend on every satellite on every pass every day and count those contacts That being said, any contact you log counts The award has endorsements for making 1,000 more contacts up to 4,000 Another 1,000 contacts will earn a special W4AMI 5,000 certificate

To submit for the award, please email me an extract from your log either in Microsoft Excel XLS(X) format or ADI(F) format Either will work just fine Then wait for me to get back to you notifying you to go online and make your payment I need nothing from LoTW, confirmed contacts are not an issue, this award is for simply making a contact

https://www amsat org/amsat-robert-w-barbee-jr-w4ami-award/

[ANS thanks Bruce Paige, KK5DO, AMSAT Director Contests and Awards, for the above information]

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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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New OSCAR T-Shirt Available from AMSAT Zazzle Store

Thanks to an post on Twitter from Michael Styne, K2MTS, AMSAT is pleased to offer a new t-shirt on the AMSAT Zazzle Store This t- shirt design is available in variants suitable for printing on either dark or lightly colored shirts

The shirt features a representation of AMSAT-OSCAR 7 in orbit with the tagline "OSCAR - Adventure and Excitement in Space Age Communication" This image was used in advertisements for the 1978 ARRL book "Getting to Know OSCAR " The ARRL has granted AMSAT permission to republish this classic image as a t-shirt

Get yours today! 25% of the purchase price goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space

https://www zazzle com/oscar_t_shirt_dark-235643945481104970

https://www zazzle com/oscar_t_shirt_light-235449229998854129

[ANS thanks Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, AMSAT Executive VP, for the above information]

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Upcoming Satellite Operations

ZW8, BRAZIL (Special Event) Operators Freddy/PY3YD, Joselito/PS8BR, Fernando/PS8CW, Raimundo/PS8DX, Jose/PS8ET, Milton/PS8HF, Nelson/PS8NF, Pirajah/PS8RF, Dalton/PS8TV and Andre/PT9AL are using the special event callsign ZW8THANKS as a tribute to health care professionals fighting COVID-19 Activity will be on all bands and modes including the satel- lites QSL via direct, eQSL or LoTW (ANS thanks the Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin #1461 for the above information)

Due to COVID-19, there are no other announced satellite operations at this moment Any roving activity of which AMSAT becomes aware will be posted at: https://www amsat org/satellite-info/upcoming-satellite-operations/

Until then, stay safe and keep making contacts from home

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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ARISS News

ARISS lets students worldwide experience the excitement of talking directly with crew members of the International Space Station, inspir- ing them to pursue interests in careers in science, technology, engineering and math, and engaging them with radio science technology through amateur radio

Northern Virginia Schools Group, Woodbridge VA, Multi-point telebridge contact via AB1OC is scheduled for Thursday, April 30 The ISS call- sign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS, and the scheduled astronaut is Chris Cassidy, KF5KDR The contact is go for 13:35:00 UTC at a max- imum elevation of 62 degrees Stations in the eastern U S should be able to listen in on this contact on 145 80 MHz FM A multi-point tele- bridge contact means that each student will be on the telebridge from their own home

The ARISS team continues to test and firm up a plan to transform ARISS contacts and how ARISS interacts with youth and education institutions ARISS will provide distance learning with every student and staff mem- ber in their own homes (even quarantined)

[ANS thanks ARISS for the above information]

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Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events

Want to see AMSAT in action or learn more about amateur radio in space? AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meet- ings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events

Due to COVID-19, many hamfest and events around the United States have been canceled or postponed While we make every effort to ensure the information contained below is correct, there may be some that we missed We wish all of you safekeeping and hope to be at a hamfest near you soon

Current schedule: June 12-13, 2020, Ham-Com, Plano, TX September 26, 2020 Arrowhead Radio Amateurs Club Hamfest, Superior, WI

The following events scheduled to have an AMSAT presence have been CANCELED: May 2, 2020, Cochise Amateur Radio Association Hamfest, Sierra Vista, AZ May 8-9, 2020 Prescott Hamfest, Prescott, AZ May 15-17, Hamvention, Xenia, OH

A copy of the AMSAT hamfest brochure is available for download from: https://bit ly/2ygVFmV This color brochure is designed to be printed double-sided and folded into a tri-fold handout

To include your upcoming AMSAT presentation and/or demonstration, please send an email to ambassadors (at) amsat (dot) org

[ANS thanks Robert Bankston, KE4AL, AMSAT VP-User Services for the above information]

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Satellite Shorts From All Over

• Diwata-2 (PO-101) has been active daily to provide emergency access during Covid-19 pandemic Check https://twitter com/Diwata2PH For Daily activation schedule (ANS thanks DIWATA-2 Ground Team for the above information)

• On this 50th anniversary of the flight of Apollo 13, the BBC has pro- duced a documentary video series, "13 Minutes to the Moon," along with associated web resources and podcasts The documentary can be accessed worldwide at: https://www bbc co uk/programmes/w13xttx2 (ANS thanks Peter Green, G0ABI, for the above information)

• Happy 30th anniversary, Hubble! The Hubble Space Telescope was laun- ched into LEO on April 24th, 1990 aboard Space Shuttle Discovery STS-31 launch video) Featuring a 2 4 m mirror and optics that are smooth to 10 nanometers (but were in the wrong shape until corrected by the first of five servicing missions in 1993), Hubble takes images of the Universe with never-before-seen quality The telescope may work into the 2040s, hopefully being joined by its more-advanced sib- ling, the JWST, next year Take a moment to browse some of Hubble’s most stunning snapshots of the Universe at: https://www spacetelescope org/images/ (ANS thanks The Orbital Index for the above information)

• Astronauts onboard the International Space Station have gotten a first good look at the controversial Starlink satellites On April 13th, they photographed a train of 16 Starlinks cutting through Southern Lights over the Antarctic Learn more about their unique photo + corresponding ground-based sightings on Spaceweather com (ANS thanks Southgate ARC for the above information)

• SpaceX launched 60 more spacecraft Wednesday to join the Starlink fleet The successful launch Wednesday marked the 84th flight of a Falcon 9 rocket since June 2010 That makes SpaceX’s Falcon 9 the most-flown orbital-class U S launcher currently in operation, ex- ceeding the 83 missions performed by the Atlas 5 rocket built by rival United Launch Alliance With Wednesday’s launch, SpaceX has delivered 422 Starlink satellites to space The company is seeking regulatory approval to fly 4,400 of the satellites in the project's first phase SpaceX’s next Starlink launch after Wednesday could happen as soon as early May on another Falcon 9 rocket mission That will be followed by SpaceX’s first launch with astronauts on-board — scheduled for May 27 — to begin a test flight of the company’s Crew Dragon spaceship to the International Space Station (ANS thanks spaceflightnow com for the above information)

• A series of unusually severe spring storms parading across the south- eastern USA had residents taking shelter this week from hail and tor- nadoes High above the maelstrom, sprites were dancing Sprites are a form of electricity in powerful storm clouds While regular light- ning lances down, sprites leap up They can reach all the way to the edge of space 90 km or more above Earth’s surface (ANS thanks Southgate ARC and spaceweatherarchive com 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 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 help keep amateur radio in space, This week's ANS Editor, Casey Tucker, KI7UNJ

ki7unj at amsat dot org

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