Date: March 11th 2007

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-070

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:

Falconsat-3 Launch Successful
AMSAT-UK Key Contributor to OfCom Microwave Spectrum Comments
P3E Project Articles Available On-line
Its Time to Submit Your Articles For the Next AMSAT Journal
Satellite Shorts From All Over
ARISS Status Report for the Week of March 5, 2007

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-070 01 Falconsat-3 Launch Successful

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 070 01

From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD March 11, 2007 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-070 01

Reports have been received that the Atlas launch carrying Falconsat-3 into orbit was successful on March 8, 2007 Drew, KO4MA wrote, "We had a great view of the launch tonight The Atlas is dimmer than the Shuttle or Delta launches, but a nice crimson color We talked about the launch on the Florida AMSAT net at 1930, and had several guys outside for both the 88 degree pass of AO-51 at 2030 and watching the launch at 2210 while discussing it on the local repeater system "

CelesTrak now has KEPS available at: http://www celestrak com/NORAD/elements/tle-new txt

Likely candidates this early into the mission include 2007-006D, 2007-006E and 2007-006F

When Falconsat-3 completes its primary mission an amateur radio payload is planned to be activated More details on this feature will become available at that time

[ANS thanks Drew, KO4MA for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-070 02 AMSAT-UK Key Contributor to OfCom Microwave Spectrum Comments

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 070 02

From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD March 11, 2007 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-070 02

AMSAT-UK, participating in a joint response with the Radio Society of Great Britain, UK Microwave Group, and the British Amateur Television Club, commented on the British OfCom's Spectrum Packaging and Auction of the 10GHz, 28GHz, 32GHz and 40GHz Bands

Presenting their credentials, the RSGB noted they are recognised as one of the leading organisations in the world in the field of amateur radio Also acknowledged were contributions on Amateur Satellite data from international AMSAT Societies as part of a broad team effort

In respect of the 10GHz band the Amateur Radio comments noted, "We remain profoundly disappointed that this band is on offer Whilst the document is a useful insight into OfcomÃ‚Â’s latest thinking, it in no way answers our fundamental concerns which in particular threaten leading edge international 10GHz Amateur Satellite developments We look forward to a fuller response in respect of our original consultation input "

The full versions of the documents, including the Amateur Radio comments can be seen at: http://www ofcom org uk/consult/condocs/10-40GHz/responses/

The original OfCom Consultation document can be seen at: http://www ofcom org uk/consult/condocs/10-40GHz/10-40ghz pdf

[ANS thanks Trevor, M5AKA for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-070 03 P3E Project Articles Available On-line

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 070 03

From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD March 11, 2007 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-070 03

AMSAT-DL reminded radio amateurs that they post the latest information about the P3E satellite at: http://www amsat-dl org//index php?option=com_content&task=category&sectioni d=23&id=35&Itemid=99

For those who cannot read the German page Google provides a web page translation tool at http://www google com/language_tools?hl=en Enter the URL above in the http:// block and select German to English to give you a good translation It provides a completely readable translation which anyone can follow

[ANS thanks Peter, DB2OS and Bob, N4HY for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-070 04 Its Time to Submit Your Articles For the Next AMSAT Journal

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 070 04

From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD March 11, 2007 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-070 04

Ed, WA4SWJ, Editor of The AMSAT Journal reminds everyone, "It's actually past time to submit articles for the next issue of the Journal I have a few articles already but, as always, I need more I'm just back from a fairly long business trip out of the country so I haven't had any time to issue calls for papers So, if you have anything please forward it right away I'll be working on the next issue next week "

[ANS thanks Ed, WA4SWJ for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-070 05 Satellite Shorts From All Over

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 070 05

From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD March 11, 2007 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-070 05

ISS Status Report SS07-12 reported that US and Russian officials plan to reboost the station on March 15, using the Progress 23 engines to place the station at the correct altitude for the Soyuz TMA-10 capsule, scheduled to launch April 7 and dock to Zarya on April 9 You will need to update your ISS keps after this manuever
The ARISS School QSO that can be copied in North America direct on the ISS 145 800 MHz downlink is with the University School, Shaker Heights, OH, on Fri 2007-03-16 16:14 UTC
Reports indicate that GO-32 is once again operational Its frequencies include 145 890 uplink, and downlink on 435 225, 9600bps, FSK, KISS

[ANS thanks everyone for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-070 06 ARISS Status Report for the Week of March 5, 2007

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 070 06

From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD March 11, 2007 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-070 06

Portuguese School Contact Successful

On Monday, February 26, students from Escola Camilo Castelo Branco in Carnaxide, Portugal participated in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact via the telebridge station, VK5ZAI, in Australia Sunita Williams, KD5PLB, answered 15 questions posed to her by 15 students, as two other schools from the Oeiras regional council also listened in The event reached 95 students at Manuel Vaz in Barcarena and 420 students at Jorge Mineiro in Queluz de Baixo, as well as the 750 stu- dents at Camilo Castelo Branco The media covering the contact included 4 national magazines, 4 local newspapers, and three television networks, with a total audience of approximately 11 million The audio was fed into the EchoLink AMSAT (101 377), JK1ZRW (277 208) and CHANG servers, receiving 30 connections from 11 countries including one repeater Audio was also fed into the IRLP Discovery Reflector 9010 IRLP received 5 connections from 3 countries and the Discovery ReflectorÃ‚Â’s companion website had 8 connections The event was also webcast by Verizon Conferencing

Virginia Run Elementary School Contact Successful

On Friday, March 2, the 800 students enrolled at Virginia Run Elementary School in Centreville, Virginia experienced an Amateur Radio on the Inter- national Space Station (ARISS) contact Thirteen children each asked one question of Sunita Williams, KD5PLB Two local newspapers and the NBC Channel 4 affiliate in Washington, DC covered the event Senior Meteor- ologist Bob Ryan featured the contact on Monday, March 5 during the evening news The Fairfax County Public Schools cable channel - Red Apple Channel 21- recorded the event and will replay it everyday from April 9 - 29 at 1:00 and 6:00 pm ET

Astronaut Carl Walz, KC5TIE, who was active in the ARISS program during Expedition 4, provided a 25 minute presentation to the students He was accompanied by astronaut and Expedition 3 Commander Frank Culbertson, KD5OPQ, who also took part in many ARISS school contacts and special events

A DVD of the contact is being produced The video may be viewed on: http://www wherry com/photos/2007-03-02-ARISS-VWS-VRES/ariss-vws-vres-video- small mov (Requires Quicktime player) An audio-only file is available at the following URL: http://www wherry com/photos/2007-03-02-ARISS-VWS-VRES/ariss-vws-vres-audio mp3

Other School Contacts

Boulder Hill Elementary School in Montgomery, Illinois had an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Tuesday, March 6 The school integrated the contact into its curriculum through nonfiction reading of topics including space and space exploration, radio and radio waves, and technology and communications They will also write expositions on these related topics Students will track and calculate the ISS distance from Earth Older classes will partner with younger students to teach science and social studies and hands on activities are planned, such as the use of walkie talkies The community has been invited to attend and participate in the event and local newspapers are expected to cover the activities

An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact was completed with Mission Viejo High School in Mission Viejo, California on Friday, March 9

Vasant Valley School Contact Update

Vasant Valley School in New Delhi, India, experienced an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Saturday, February 24 Three hundred students, parents and teachers attended the event and 14 other schools also tied in Among the media outlets that covered the event were four television stations and 3 newspapers Vasant Valley School has posted video of the event on its website See: http://www vasantvalley org/vasantvalley/currentzone/events/sunitawilliams s html

[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

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

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