Date: August 13th 2006

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-225

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: * Van Allen, an original space explorer * CDROM for NA1ISS * AO-51 Schedule Update * ISS SSTV * ARISS Status

AMSAT 2006 Space Symposium

Online registration and hotel reservation for the 2006 AMSAT Space Symposium has been posted to the AMSAT website, and information about the Symposium has been expanded The 2006 AMSAT Space Symposium will be held October 6, 7 and 8 at the Crowne Plaza in Foster City California in the beautiful San Francisco Bay Area

Please visit http://www amsat org/amsat-new/symposium for additional information and an index to the expanded Symposium web pages

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-225 01 Van Allen, an original space explorer

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 225 01 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD August 13, 2006 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-225 01

IOWA CITY, Iowa - Physicist James A Van Allen, a leader in space exploration who discovered the radiation belts surrounding the Earth that now bear his name, died Wednesday In a career that stretched over more than a half-century, Van Allen designed scientific instruments for dozens of research flights, first with small rockets and balloons, and eventually with space probes that traveled to distant planets and beyond Van Allen gained global attention in the late 1950s when instruments he designed and placed aboard the first U S satellite, Explorer I, discovered the bands of intense radiation that surround the earth, now known as the Van Allen Belts

http://itsnt166 iowa uiowa edu/uns-archives/2006/august/080906van-allen-death html http://www time com/time/covers/0,16641,19590504,00 html

Dan Schultz N8FGV

[ANS thanks Dan Schultz, N8FGV, for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-225 02 CDROM for NA1ISS

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 225 02 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD August 13, 2006 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-225 02

Hello All,

In an earlier posting I had anounced to make a CDROM for Bill McArthur (NA1SS) Astronaut Bill McArthur was much active on hamradio during his 6 months - mission aboard the ISS Space Station (he is already back on earth) Many people have sended audio files (some with pics of the operator THANKS!!!) There are already 121 messages in the McArthur guestbook, these message will be shown on the CDROM!!! In case you did not signed the McArthur guestbook yet, you can do it now on this direct McArthur guestbook link: http://www webguestbook com/cgi-bin/guestbook/viewguestbook pl?user=corholla nd2 Or go to: http://www pd0rkc com (look on the main page!)

In case you have your QSO (with McArthur NA1SS) recorded please send it to: wegaman@gmail com An picture of the operator would be nice so Bill McArthur can see the operator which he spoke in the past!!! Also I like to have more ISS school contact audio files!!!

31 august is the last day that you can send your files (and sign McArthur guestbook) If you want cooporate, please do it right now otherwise you might forget!!!

The CDROM will be delivered to McArthur (via N5VHO Kenneth Ransom JSC NASA)

Please spread this message arround on internet (on forums or websites!)

Thanks!!!

73's Cor PD0RKC http://www pd0rkc com

[ANS thanks Cor, PD0RKC for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-225 03 AO-51 Schedule Update

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 225 03 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD August 13, 2006 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-225 03

AO-51 Schedule Updated

Drew, KO4MA posted AO-51 schedule updates on behalf of the AO-51 Operations Group The full schedule can be seen on-line at: http://www amsat org/amsat-new/echo/ControlTeam php

Please note that the graphic schedule at the top of the page is not the complete story, and users should always consult the text portion in addition for any items that cannot be displayed in the graphic schedule

For the next several weeks there will be a period of testing by AO-51's command stations, cycling through many of the listed modes Whole Orbit Data is also planned to be collected during this period This period is indicated as all off in the graphic schedule This is a periodic checkup as well as a further investigation into some ongoing operational issues

Drew wrote, "I intend to report on the results of the command station's investigation, as well as explain some of the power and PL issues brought up last week on the -bb as soon as the information is collected and analyzed "

Users are welcome to operate whatever mode is active during these tests, but expect frequent mode changes The V/U repeater on 435 300 should be available for hamfest demos on Saturday the 12th and the ever popular mode V/S returns at the end of the month

[ANS thanks the AO-51 Operations Group for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-225 04 ISS SSTV

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 225 04 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD August 13, 2006 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-225 04

Slow Scan TV on ISS Update

NOTE: We all await SSTV to become a regular part of Ham Radio on the ISS

As reported recently, ISS Expedition 13 Commander Pavel Vinogradov activated the SSTV project for few orbits from the International Space Station Pavel sent several manual test images from ISS to Earth to prove that the basic SSTV configuration has been set up correctly The SSTV system was then shut down until the crew can spend more time to finalize the cable connections and configure the system for Slide Show mode

The slide show mode will allow the crew to preload a directory full of images that will be automatically transmitted to Earth The crew will not need to keep pushing a button to send images In theory the system can run for weeks at a time without crew involvement

The SSTV configuration parameters are now ready to be uploaded to the ISS The next phase of testing may use the frequency 145 800 MHz FM for the SSTV down link Radio Amateurs should also check the testing frequency of 144 490 in case it remains active The Slide Show mode will only be testing these downlink frequencies The uplink frequency will not be published

[ANS thanks Miles, WF1F for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-225 05 ISS STATUS

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 225 05 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD August 13, 2006 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-225 05

International Space Station Status Report #06-37 3:30 p m CDT, Friday, Aug 11, 2006 Expedition 13 Crew

This week on the International Space Station crew members refurbished their exercise treadmill, prepared areas inside and out for an imminent expansion of their home and took a couple of special calls to discuss soccer and food in space

Commander Pavel Vinogradov, Flight Engineer Jeff Williams and European Space Agency Astronaut Thomas Reiter are gearing up for the second space shuttle visit to the station during Expedition 13 The shuttle Atlantis, targeted to launch in a window that opens Aug 27, will resume major orbital construction of the complex During its mission, designated STS-115, Atlantis will deliver and install a 17 5-ton, bus-sized segment of the station's girder-like truss that includes another set of solar arrays, batteries and associated electronics

The station crew started out the week with two days of standard maintenance work on the treadmill vibration isolation system, a special exercise treadmill located on the floor of the Zvezda living quarters module Crews perform the maintenance task every six months to inspect the treadmill's components, replace worn items and install new bearings The treadmill is a complex system that uses gyroscopes to stabilize itself and isolates the vibrations created by exercise from being transmitted to the station's structure, where they could disturb sensitive experiments Extensive exercise is a daily regimen for all station crew members as one method of counteracting the effects of long exposure to weightlessness

The crew had time set aside each day this week to pack up and prepare items that will be moved from the station to the shuttle during Atlantis' flight In addition, ground controllers worked with the station's Canadarm2 robotic arm to prepare for the upcoming shuttle flight On Thursday, they moved the arm to position cameras to view markings on the station used for a graphical computer alignment aid when new components are attached That aid, called the space vision system, will be used during Atlantis' flight to help with the attachment of the new truss section

On Friday, controllers moved the arm to perform an early checkout of its systems, ensuring it is ready for the shuttle mission

The station crew greeted special guest calls this week On Tuesday, the coach and players from the FC Barcelona soccer team talked with the crew as they visited NASA's Johnson Space Center prior to an exhibition game in Houston Reiter, a soccer fan, showed the team a space soccer move during the call On Thursday, the crew members spoke with Chef Emeril Lagasse about space food and their mission Lagasse sent NASA several recipes that were prepared and delivered to the station aboard the last shuttle flight The Expedition 13 crew tried the dishes this week

The next station status report will be issued on Friday, Aug 18, or earlier if events warrant For more about the crew's activities and station sighting opportunities, visit:

http://www nasa gov/station

[ANS thanks Arthur, N1ORC 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, Dee Interdonato, NB2F

nb2f at amsat dot org

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