AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-062

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:

• Reminder - AMSAT-DC Meeting on March 15
• 2007 Symposium DVD Now in the AMSAT Store
• AO-51 Schedule Update
• IEEE Student Microwave PA Design Competition
• MicroHAMS Digital Conference 2008 Announcement
• Satellite Activity Planned for Swan Island DXpedition
• WorkedGrids Software Released
• PCSAT Re-Enters Eclipse
• ARISS Status Report for the Week of February 25, 2008

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-062 01 Reminder - AMSAT-DC Meeting on March 15

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 062 01

From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD March 2, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-062 01

2008 AMSAT-DC MEETING AND SPACE SEMINAR

WHO: YOU are invited! Amateur radio operators, students, educators and the public are all invited

WHAT: Talks, demos, tutorials and socializing about amateur satellites and high-altitude balloon experiments in the greater mid-Atlantic USA area A full day of activities!

WHEN: Saturday, March 15, 2008, starting at 11:00 A M local

WHERE: Historical Electronics Museum (HEM) at 1745 West Nursery Road, Linthicum, Maryland 21090 (near BWI airport) In Pioneer Hall HEM directions at http://www hem-usa org/

WHY: Fun, education, public service, training, cool stuff, and more fun

HOW: Talk-in on 146 760 MHz (107 2 Hz PL on some receiver sites)

HOST: Pat Kilroy, n8pk@amsat org or Patrick L Kilroy@nasa gov

WEB: Check the AMSAT-DC page http://patkilroy com/amsat-dc/ for late breaking news

[ANS thanks Pat, N8PK for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-062 02 2007 Symposium DVD Now in the AMSAT Store

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 062 02

From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD March 2, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-062 02

Bruce, KK5DO, AMSAT Store Manager is quite pleased to announce a new item just added to the AMSAT store It is the long awaited 2007 AMSAT Symposium DVD To order yours contact Martha at the AMSAT office, telephone 301 589-6062

This is a must for anyone that was not able to attend the 2007 AMSAT Symposium in Pittsburgh or those that attended who would like the Symposium on DVD

This DVD has all of the 2007 papers, PowerPoints and audio of the presentations Additional features of this DVD are the Symposium papers from 2004 and 2005, ISS Columbus module video and much more

[ANS thanks Bruce, KK5DO for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-062 03 AO-51 Schedule Update

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 062 03

From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD March 2, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-062 03

The March 2008 AO-51 schedule isn't on the web site yet but will be soon The Operations Team has changed the links on the AO-51 page

The AO-51 News and Text Schedule link will give you the most up to date information about the AO-51 schedule

The Control Team Operating Schedule Grid link will take you the operating grid page, but many of the modes we are running can't be programmed into the grid yet and therefore the grid can't be displayed We are working on changing the software to display the new modes in the grid format

[ANS thanks Gould, WA4SXM and the AO-51 Operations Team for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-062 04 IEEE Student Microwave PA Design Competition

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 062 04

From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD March 2, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-062 04

MTT-5 (High Power Amplifier Components) is pleased to announce the Fourth High Efficiency Power Amplifier Competition, which will take place at the IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium (IMS), in 2008

This competition is open to all students and graduate students registered at an educational establishment The competitors are required to design, construct, and measure a high efficiency power amplifier, at a frequency of their choice above 1 GHz but less than 20 GHz, and having an output power level of at least 5 watts, but less than 100 watts The winner will be judged on the design, which demonstrates the highest power added efficiency (PAE)

The power amplifiers must be brought to IMS2008 where they will be tested to verify their performance A representative of the design group must be present at the testing to assist with the evaluation The winner will receive a prize of $1,000, and will be invited to submit a paper describing the design for the MTT Microwaves Magazine

Questions can be sent to Dr Kiki Ikossi at ikossi@ieee org The power amplifier (PA) design may use any type of technology, but must be the result of student effort both in the amplifier design and fabrication

See: http://www ims2008 org/publications/PA-POSTER08-RevA pdf

[ANS thanks Art, W4ART for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-062 05 MicroHAMS Digital Conference 2008 Announcement

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 062 05

From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD March 2, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-062 05

Announcing the second annual MicroHAMS Digital Conference! The event will be held this year on the main Microsoft campus located in Redmond, WA on March 22nd, 2008

The agenda this year will include a wide variety of topics around digital communications and Amateur radio Lunch and snacks are included with the price of the conference and we'll have free Internet access

Because of space limitations and parking requirements on the Microsoft campus, we are strongly suggesting pre-registering for the event Reg- istration is $12 00 if done prior to the event and will be $15 00 at the door Door Prizes include donations from Icom and MicroHAMS

Event Details Date/Time: March 22, 2008 09:00 to 17:00 Location: Redmond, WA (Building 122 on the Microsoft Corporate Campus) Lunch: Sub sandwiches and snacks (included with registration fee) Cost: $12 00 if pre-paid or $15 00 at the door

Registration: http://www microhams com/digitalconference

[ANS thanks Bob, W7LRD for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-062 06 Satellite Activity Planned for Swan Island DXpedition

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 062 06

From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD March 2, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-062 06

Bill, NZ5N says that HQ8R will be operating on the satellites from Swan Island, grid EK87, from March 15-23 See http://www hondurasdx com/

Bill will be taking his FT-817 and an Arrow antenna Time permitting, he will also try to make a few contacts before and after the expedition from the Honduran mainland (Grids: EK55, EK65 and EK75) Weather permitting, he may also try to give out EK76 from the boat on the way to and from the island

[ANS thanks Bill, NZ5N for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-062 07 WorkedGrids Software Released

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 062 07

From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD March 2, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-062 07

Bert, VE2ZAZ released WorkedGrids, ham log grid square mapping software this week It is freeware and it runs under Windows The program displays a map showing the amateur radio grid squares con- tacted and logged in using third-party logging program

WorkedGrids uses colors to display information on a per-band basis Up to four bands can be displayed concurrently on the map The pro- gram reads plain-text (ASCII) log files generated by most logging programs

The software is directed towards the VHF and above operators who collect grid squares for contesting or award purposes It is designed to supplement a logging program and it replaces the pen and paper technique for marking worked grid squares

Please visit http://ve2zaz net for more details Your input is welcome!

[ANS thanks Bert, VE2ZAZ for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-062 08 PCSAT Re-Enters Eclipse

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 062 08

From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD March 2, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-062 08

PCSAT-1 was fully operational from 8 to about 23 Feb 2008 during full sun oribts PCSAT has re-entered eclipses which marks the end February's Satellite Simulated Emergency Test Bob, WB4APR received 31 reports of AMSAT users sending their SSET Email and receiving it

When the 145 825 MHz RS0ISS-4 packet digipeater is active aboard the ISS users can continue to send SSET test e-mail messages PCSAT does work for a few lucky packets during mid-day passes The next full sun operating period will not occur until the Fall

See: http://www ew usna edu/~bruninga/sset html for more information on how you can participate in SSET

[ANS thanks Bob, WB4APR for the above information]

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SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-062 09 ARISS Status Report for the Week of February 25, 2008

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 062 09

From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD March 2, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-062 09

1. School Contacts

An ARISS contact took place with College Reydellet in Saint-Denis, Ile de La Réunion on Monday, February 25 Approximately 550 students, ages 10-17, attend the school ESA astronaut Léopold Eyharts, FX0STD /KE5FNO, participated in this contact which was conducted in French

An ARISS contact has been scheduled for Lycée de la Borde Basse in Castres, France on Wednesday, March 5 In preparation for the contact, teachers will focus on science applications and the ISS Activities planned include a visit to the Cité de l’espace in Toulouse and a meeting with a scientist residing in Castres, founder of the “Terre et Espace” association (Earth & Space), who has volunteered to give a presentation to the students on work in space and astronaut training techniques Students will be divided into different study groups accord- ing to personal interest in various related subjects such as the imple- mentation and launch of ISS space modules, re-supply missions, life in micro-gravitational environments and experiments carried out onboard the ISS Students will prepare questions in French and English on various subjects ESA astronaut Léopold Eyharts, FX0STD/KE5FNO, plans to participate in this contact

1. Robspierre School Contact Successful

On Thursday, February 21, students at Robespierre Elementary School in Rueil Malmaison, France experienced an ARISS contact Sixteen students asked one question each of ESA astronaut Léopold Eyharts, FX0STD/KE5FNO
Approximately two hundred students, teachers, parents and others in the community attended Prior to the contact, talks were given to the stu- dents about space, the Columbus module, amateur radio, AMSAT-France and ARISS The national newspapers France Soir, le Parisien and Espace Magazine, and radio and television stations France Inter, RTL, Europe 1 covered the news

1. ESA Press Release on Eyharts - ARISS Contacts

The European Space Agency (ESA) announced the ARISS contacts that ESA astronaut Leopold Eyharts will participate in The notice was posted on its Web site See: http://www esa int/SPECIALS/Columbus_Blog/SEM1JYVHJCF_0 html

1. ARISS International Team Meeting Held

On February 19, the monthly ARISS Team teleconference was held Topics of discussion included the upcoming ARISS Face to Face Meeting, the Amateur Radio Working Group (ARWG) and SuitSat-2 Minutes have been posted to the ARISS Web site See: http://www rac ca/ariss/arisstel2008-02-19 htm

1. ARISS Presentation at Embedded Systems Conference ARISS member Steve Bible, N7HPR, will present the amateur radio satellite SuitSat-1 as a “teardown” subject for the Embedded Systems Conference in San Jose, California on April 16, 2008 He will also speak on the current development of SuitSat-2 See: http://www cmp-egevents com/web/esv/event-highlights/teardowns?cid=ESCWK8

2. ARISS – One Reason to Love the ISS

On February 14, Universe Today published an article, “I Heart the ISS: Ten Reasons to Love the International Space Station ” Reason number 6 cites ARISS and EarthKAM as educational programs that the general public can participate in See: http://www universetoday com/2008/02/14/i-heart-the-iss-ten-reasons-to-love- the-international-space-station/

1. Crew Debrief Sessions

Two ISS crewmembers will participate in ARISS debrief sessions during the upcoming week Space visitor Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, 9W2MUS, is scheduled for Tuesday, February 26, and astronaut Dan Tani will participate in a short session on February 29

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

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