AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-222

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:

• German Satellite Demonstrates Orbit Control on 1U CubeSat
• AMSAT CubeSat Simulator Now Transmits SSTV
• AMSAT-UK OSCAR Satellite QSO Party Ongoing
• Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
• Upcoming Satellite Operations
• Satellite Shorts from All Over

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-222 01 ANS-222 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 208 01 From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD DATE August 9, 2020 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-222 01

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

     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/

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

German Satellite Demonstrates Orbit Control on 1U CubeSat

The University of Wuerzburg Experimental Satellite 4 (UWE-4) success- fully used its propulsion system in order to conduct orbit control The 1-unit (1U) CubeSat is equipped with an electric propulsion system called NanoFEEP, developed by the Technical University in Dresden This marks the first time in CubeSat history that a 1U CubeSat has changed its orbit using an onboard propulsion system Several man- euvers were performed within 11 days, between June 23 and July 3, lowering the CubeSat's altitude by more than 100 meters (328 feet), compared to an average of 21 meters (69 feet) with natural orbital decay

Coincidentally, on July 2, the UWE-4 team received a "conjunction data message" from the US Air Force, indicating a potential safety threat from a non-operational Iridium satellite, although UWE-4 was already below the Iridium satellite at the projected time of conjunction

Lowering the altitude of a spacecraft in low-Earth orbit (LEO) has the negative effect of reducing its lifetime, because low-Earth-orbiting (LEO) satellites usually burn up during re-entry "Thus, this exper- iment is a concept demonstration of a deorbiting maneuver shown at the smallest class of spacecraft in LEO," the university said

While satellites are not yet required to carry propulsion systems to facilitate a planned deorbiting, such an obligation is under serious discussion, due to the vastly increasing number of satellites in mega constellations "The experiment of UWE-4 presents a deorbiting sol- ution for the fraction of space debris of operational, but unused, satellites of today and for the mega constellations of tomorrow," the university said AMSAT notes that US regulations make the ability to deorbit a requirement for high-Earth-orbit amateur satellites in the future

The first activation of the NanoFEEP thruster on UWE-4 took place in early 2019 UWE-4 transmits telemetry on 435 600 MHz

[ANS thanks the ARRL for the above information]

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

       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

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

AMSAT CubeSat Simulator Now Transmits SSTV

Did you have fun receiving SSTV images from the ISS this past week? A new development branch of the AMSAT CubeSat Simulator now transmits SSTV images! See https://github com/alanbjohnston/CubeSatSim/tree/dev for details

A video of FlatSat testing can be found at: https://twitter com/CubeSatSim/status/1291493708488232964

More information about the AMSAT CubeSat Simulator project can be found at http://cubesatsim com/

[ANS thanks Alan Johnston, KU2Y, AMSAT Vice President - Educational Relatioons, for the above information]

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

AMSAT's GOLF Program is about getting back to higher orbits, and it all begins with GOLF-TEE – a technology demonstrator for deployable solar panels, propulsion, and attitude control Come along for the ride The journey will be worth it!

              https://tinyurl
com/ANS-GOLF

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

AMSAT-UK OSCAR Satellite QSO Party Ongoing

The objective of the AMSAT-UK OSCAR Satellite QSO Party is to encourage all radio amateurs around the world to get on the air and make contacts via satellites during northern hemisphere summer We would like to attract both seasoned die-hard operators as well as all newcomers who are just getting involved

While points are given per QSO this isn’t a contest, but we hope it will encourage people to get on the air and enjoy the excitement of making contacts through satellites

The AMSAT-UK OSCAR Satellite QSO Party will be supported by an online leaderboard which will be available from the start of the event which runs from 00:00 GMT on 1st August until 23:59 GMT on 22nd September

Prizes will be awarded to those from first to thirteenth place and are open to both AMSAT-UK and non-members around the world

● First Place £250 Amazon Voucher ● Second Place £150 Amazon Voucher ● Third Place £50 Amazon Voucher ● Fourth to Thirteenth Place One Year AMSAT-UK Membership

Download the rules for the AMSAT-UK OSCAR QSO Party at https://tinyurl com/OSCAR-QSO-Party

Leaderboard https://leaderboard amsat-uk org/

[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information]

---

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 meetings, 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

QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo - August 9, 2020 Tom Schuessler, N5HYP, will present "Getting Started with Amateur Radio Satellites" at 22:45 UTC Details on accessing this presentation at https://www qsotodayhamexpo com/

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

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

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/

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

Upcoming Satellite Operations

Misc Items: Do you need Hawaii? NH7WN on AO-7 Most days Reach out for a schedule

Quick Hits: EM50, EM51 8/8 – 8/9 @KB5FHK is heading home to MS! DM59, 8/8 – 8/10, @Ledger (Sorry AK7DD): FM and Linear Maybe even the 58/59 gridline EM22, EM23, 8/10/20 @W4IPA, heading out for a mint rove! DM97/98 & EM08/09, 8/29 & 8/30: Super Rover @AD0DX is heading out for the Kansas QSO party and N0E More to come

Major Roves: @AD0HJ, is heading out again for the South Dakota Super Rove Part II Grids DN73, DN82, DN83, DN92, DN93, EN02, EN03, EN12, EN24, and EN25 August 17th through August 21st

EA8, CANARY ISLANDS (Reminder/Satellite Op/Rare Grid) Philippe, EA4NF, will be operating on the satellites from Lanzarote Island, Canary Islands (AF-004, WW Loc IL38 & IL39), as EA8/EA4NF between August 10-17th A special focus will be from the very rare IL39 Grid Portable activation will be with a FT818 and a FT817ND operating in full Duplex with an Alaskan Arrow Antenna Activity will be on the FM and Linear Satellites QSL via LoTW as EA8/EA4NF Keep an eye on Philippe's Twitter feed for further updates and passes at: https://twitter com/EA4NF_SAT

(Via the Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin #1475)

Please submit any additions or corrections to ke0pbr at gmail com

[ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, for the above information]

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

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/

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

Satellite Shorts From All Over

• AMSAT Vice President - Engineering Jerry Buxton, N0JY, was the keynote speaker at the IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society's International Microwave Symposium's Amateur Radio Social on August 4 If video from the event is made public, it will be shared via AMSAT social media and ANS

• Burns Fisher, WB1FJ, AMSAT Engineering, will deliver two presentations at the AMSAT South Africa Symposium on August 22, 2020 The virtual event will take place between 08:00 - 13:00 UTC Attendees may register at http://www amsatsa org za/

• Several new products are available on the AMSAT Zazzle store, including a set of coasters, a watch, a t-shirt featuring the AMSAT round logo, and more Check out the new items! 25% of the purchase price goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space

• AMSAT Remove Before Flight keychains are again available on the AMSAT store Purchases help Keep Amateur Radio in Space! https://www amsat org/product/amsat-remove-before-flight-keychain/

• Ballots for the 2020 AMSAT Board of Directors election were mailed on July 14th via presorted standard mail to US addresses and via first class mail to overseas addresses to all members in good standing as of July 1st Members desiring a replacement ballot package should contact AMSAT Secretary Brennan Price, N4QX, at brennanprice@verizon net no earlier than August 12th AMSAT members may log on to the membership portal at launch amsat org to verify that their address was correct as of July 1st (via N4QX)

• All issues of The AMSAT Journal dating back to 2014 are now available to AMSAT members on AMSAT's new membership portal The 1969-2013 archive will be added at a later date All editions of AMSAT's Symposium Proceedings are also available for members If you're a current AMSAT member, get logged on today If you are not yet a member, consider joining today at https://launch amsat org/

• The 2020 edition of AMSAT’s Getting Started with Amateur Satellites is now available on the AMSAT store A perennial favorite, Getting Started is updated every year with the latest amateur satellite information, and is the premier primer of satellite operation The book is presented in DRM-free PDF format, in full color, and covers all aspects of making your first contacts on a ham radio satellite The digital download is available for $15 at https://tinyurl com/2020GettingStarted

---

/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 addi- tional benefits President's Club donations may be made at https://tinyurl com/ANS-PresClub

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

Join AMSAT today at https://launch amsat org/

73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space,

This week's ANS Editor,

Paul Stoetzer, N8HM n8hm at amsat dot org

---

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