AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-207

The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and infor- mation service of AMSAT North America, 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 communicating 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

In this edition:

• AMSAT-NA, AMSAT-DL, and Virginia Tech Announce Potential Phase-3E Opportunity
• AMSAT Awards Update
• Request for help with SPROUT Telemetry Collection
• QIKCOM-2 Satellite messages
• NEON - Upcoming NASA Education Events For Your Attention
• 73 on 73 Awards #21-#26
• ARISS News
• Satellite Shorts From All Over

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-207 ANS-207 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 207 From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD July 26, 2015 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-207

AMSAT-NA, AMSAT-DL, and Virginia Tech Announce Potential Phase-3E Opportunity

Virginia Tech has approached the US Government to fly the Phase 3-E space frame into High Earth Orbit (HEO) in order to support scientific payloads as well as serve as an amateur radio satellite During the AMSAT-DL Annual Meeting on 4 JUL 15, the AMSAT-DL membership approved the concept, agreeing to allow the Phase 3-E space frame that is currently stored in Germany to be shipped to Virginia Tech in the USA for further construction, testing and preparation for eventual launch to HEO should the US Government formally agree to fund such a mission

Should the project move forward, AMSAT-NA will apply for frequency coordination from the IARU Satellite Advisor and satellite licensing from the FCC as the satellite's initial operator

Stay tuned to the AMSAT-DL Journal, the AMSAT-NA Journal, and the AMSAT-NA News Service for further developments and details as they become known

[ANS thanks AMSAT-NA, AMSAT-DL, and Virginia Tech for the above information]

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AMSAT Awards Update

Here are our newest award recipients and quite a good batch we have this time

The following have entered into the Satellite Communicators Club for making their first satellite QSO

Andrew Chaloupka, KB9WHV Lesley Swann, KM4BKO Joseph Kornowski, KB6IGK Bill Dillon, KG5FQX

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AMSAT Communication Achievement Award

Toralf Renkwitz, DJ8MS #563 Steve Kristoff, AI9IN #564

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AMSAT Sexagesimal Award

Toralf Renkwitz, DJ8MS #167 David Webb, KB1VPH #168

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AMSAT Century Award

David Webb, KB1PVH #43 Paul Stoetzer, N8HM #44

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AMSAT South Africa Communication Achievement Award

Toralf Renkwitz, DJ8MS #US191 Steve Kristoff, AI9IN #US192

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AMSAT Robert W Barbee Jr , W4AMI Satellite Operator Achievement Award for 1000 contacts

Michael McCoy, KC9ELU #83 with 2000, 3000, 4000 endorsements

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AMSAT Robert W Barbee Jr , W4AMI Satellite Operator Achievement Award for 5000 contacts

Michael McCoy, KC9ELU #32

Bruce Paige, KK5DO AMSAT Director Contests and Awards

To see all the awards visit http://www amsat org or http://www amsatnet com/awards html

[ANS thanks Bruce KK5DO for the above information]

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Request for help with SPROUT Telemetry Collection

Students from Japan's Nihon University are requesting help gathering telemetry from the SPROUT satellite

SPROUT was launched at May 24, 2014 from Tanegashima Space Center in Japan

There are 3 main missions in SPROUT

·Deployment demonstration of inflatable membrane structure ·Demonstration of attitude determination and control technology for several kilogram class nano-satellite ·Upbringing of human resources of a space sector

For more information http://sat aero cst nihon-u ac jp/sprout-e/

An English document describing SPROUT's FM Telemetry Data Format can be found at http://tinyurl com/ANS207-SPROUT

The students at Nihon University have deployed the demonstration of inflatable membrane structure They find it necessary to collect as much data as possible to get information on the satellite They are requesting reception cooperation from anyone who has the means of colecting the data, specifically mebers of AMSAT and amateur radio satellite enthusiasts

If you would like to assist contact, cssu12036 (at) g nihon-u ac jp for more information

[ANS thanks Nihon University Students for the above information]

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QIKCOM-2 Satellite messages

In a message to the AMSAT-BB on July 22 Bob Bruninga WB4APR, invites proposed standard messages for the next APRS Satellite:

Bob writes, "Our next QIKCOM-2 APRS satellite will accept 2 digit uplink DTMF messages to be spoken on the downlink We have already programmed all of the ARRL standard radio grams and emergency messages

But there is room for more So think What kind of message would you want to send (that is not included in the existing ones) from your HT out in the wilderness At a hamfest? or any other HAM Radio event or opportunity Keep them simple and of the same order of length as the existing ones

The existing ones are listed here: http://nts ema arrl org/node/30

But the implementation cannot include blanks for fill-in like the regular ones But any sentence that stands alone can work

Just thought I'd open it up Plenty of RAM and only 1 week before delivery

Serious considerations only "

To clarify some thought processess Bob added in a subsequent follow- up,

"Well, took a few moments and here are some of my ideas I just realized I can allow a single digit modifier, so the digit can go from 0 to 8

Demonstrating APRStt at Hamfest Demonstrating APRStt to friends I am on schedule I may be delayed N hours I may be delayed N days I may be early N hours I May be early N days I may quit early N stops I may go farther N stops We are camping and enjoying it greatly We are hiking and enjoying it greatly We are sailing and enjoying it greatly Call me on my cell Call my cell on the hour

Or there can maybe be 1-to-8 different whole word modifiers too Like: Please Send _ (Money, food, water, supplies, shoes, sleeping bag, blanket,fuel)

We are operating on _ power (Solar, wind, battery, generator, emergency) We are staying with (Mom, dad, sister, brother, uncle, aunt,friends) Please pass to __ (Mom, dad, sister, brother, uncle, aunt,friends)

Just thinkin "

[ANS thanks Bob, WB4APR, for the above information]

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NEON - Upcoming NASA Education Events For Your Attention

NEON - NASA Educators Online Network

Free NASA STEM Education Webinars -- NASA Educator Professional Development

Audience: In-service, Pre-service, Home School and Informal Educators

• July 27, 2015, at 4:00 p m EDT: Exploring Strange New Worlds Series: Exoplanets and Kepler Mission (Grades 4-8) - Celebrate The centuries-old quest for other worlds like our Earth has been rejuvenated by the intense excitement and popular interest surrounding the discovery of hundreds of planets orbiting other stars There is now clear evidence for substantial numbers of the three types of exoplanets; gas giants, hot super-Earths in short period orbits, and ice giants During this webinar, teachers will learn to use tools scientists use to determine planet characteristics, learn about the mission and explore and interpret data from the mission Register online to participate https://www etouches com/133574

• July 28, 2015, at 6:00 p m EDT: ISS Across the Curriculum: Social Studies and Geography in Space (Grades 4-8) - The International Space Station (ISS) is not just a science and math mission It is a unique, orbiting laboratory that travels around the world and across your curriculum This webinar will explore how the ISS can also be integrated into your social studies and geography curriculum with NASA inquiry lessons, online resources and teaching strategies Let the ISS bring space and the world around us together in your classroom Register online to participate https://www etouches com/129777

• July 29, 2015, at 6:30 p m EDT: Art and the Cosmic Connection (Grades K-16) - Celebrate New Horizons arrival at Geology meets art! Let you inner geologist use art to recreate craters, mountains, rivers, wind driven landscapes and more Learn to read planetary images as well as Earth images Meets NGSS for Earth Place in the Universe, Earth Systems, and with Social Studies integrations Register online to participate https://www etouches com/134190

• July 30, 2015, at 4:00 p m EDT: Rockets 2 Racecars: Session 4 - Educators Go Green (Grades 3-9) - Get your students revved up about science, technology, engineering and mathematics with NASA's Rockets 2 Racecars (R2R) STEM Education webinar series! In this webinar you will have access to various solar and engineering activities for the classroom and will discover various solar energy uses in space as well as on planet Earth Join NASA Specialists to discuss how NASA utilizes the power of the Sun in our missions, such as the International Space Station and Mars Exploration Rovers, as well as how Pocono Raceway uses solar energy at the Pocono Raceway track! This webinar is guaranteed to brighten your day! Register online to participate https://www etouches com/133233

For the NASA STEM Educator Professional Development webinar schedule, go to: http://www txstate-epdc net/events/

[ANS thanks NEON - NASA Educators Online Network for the above information]

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73 on 73 Awards #21-#26

Several 73 on 73 Awards have been recently issued Congratulations to all!

21 - Kiyosi Hasegawa, JA3FWT

22 - Mariusz Kocot, SQ9MES

23 - Hector Luis Martinez, W5CBF

24 - George Carr, WA5KBH

25 - Michel Ribot, F6GLJ

26 - Paul Stoetzer, N8HM (application reviewed and award issued by

  W5PFG)

For more information on the award see http://amsat-uk org/funcube/73-on-73-award/

[ANS thanks Paul N8HM for the above information]

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ARISS News

• A Successful contact was made between [Entity, City, State, Country] and Astronaut [NAME, CALLSIGN] using Callsign [CALLSIGNE The contact began [YEAR, Month, Date Time] UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes Contact was[direct/telebridge] via K6DUE ARISS Mentor was KA3HDO

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule

United Space School, Seabrook, TX 12:52 UTC July 28

An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at United Space School, Seabrook, TX on 28 July The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 12:52 UTC It is recommended that you start listening approximately 10 minutes before this time The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds The contact will be a telebridge between NA1SS and W6SRJ The scheduled astronaut is Kimiya Yui KG5BPH The contact should be audible over the west coast of the U S Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145 80 MHz downlink The contact is expected to be conducted in English

The United Space School is the premier educational program hosted by the Foundation for International Space Education (FISE) For two weeks each summer, FISE invites approximately 50 students from 23 different countries to the Clear Lake, Texas area to introduce them to aspects of working in the space sciences During their stay, the students work together in teams to assemble a manned mission to Mars, utilizing knowledge gained from guest lecturers and interactive field trips The Foundation for International Space Education Board of Directors has two head teachers and five team mentors to assist the students in their day-to-day activities United Space School culminates in a project presentation, in which the students present their final project to a panel of industry experts and the public Upon successful completion of their final project presentation, the students are awarded a graduation certificate

Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows:

1. How has your understanding of the universe changed now that you are seeing it from space?
2. What do you think about the plans of some multi-billion dollar investors to mine raw materials on asteroids and satellites?
3. If you were in an emergency situation inside the ISS where an ammonia leak is quite high and the hatches don't work, what would you propose as escape route to save you and your team, and why?
4. What is the most interesting experiment to perform, and why?
5. Do you see the speed of space travel progressing much further than the point it's at now (within our own solar system)?
6. When you return to Earth what do you think you will miss most about the Space Station?
7. What are your expectations of the manned trip to Mars?
8. Isn't the NanoRacks deployer a cool temperature when it's actually working?
9. How do you maintain a natural sleep pattern aboard the ISS?
   1. What were the steps you took to become an astronaut? Do you have any advice for those of us who wish to go into space?
   2. What do you think the biggest challenge to the space industry today, besides budget?
   3. In terms of hardware, if you could have one thing installed on the ISS, what would it be?
   4. What went through your mind while listening to the final countdown before lift-off?
   5. How does the ISS keep away from space junk?
   6. What are the first effects that you feel in zero gravity?
   7. What was a favorite experience of yours while in space school?
   8. How many meals do you eat in a day, and has your appetite changed at all?
   9. Is moving around in microgravity conditions always fun, or does it get uncomfortable and annoying?
   10. What do you think the most important decision you made that put you on the path to becoming an astronaut?
   11. Have you ever seen anything weird in space you couldn't explain?
   12. What planet would you like to investigate more, aside from Mars?

Next planned event:

23rd World Scout Jamboree Nippon Boy Scout Amateur Radio Club, Bunkyo-ku, Japan, direct via 8N23WSJ The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Kjell Lindgren KO5MOS Contact is a go for: Fri 2015-07-31 11:26 UTC

PLEASE CHECK THE FOLLOWING FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ARISS UPDATES:

Visit ARISS on Facebook We can be found at Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS)

To receive our Twitter updates, follow @ARISS_status

Exp 44 is now on orbit Welcome aboard! Oleg Kononenko RN3DX Kimiya Yui KG5BPH Kjell Lindgren KO5MOS

From 2015-12-20 to 2016-01-04, there will be no US Operational Segment (USOS) hams on board ISS So any schools contacts during this period will be conducted by the ARISS Russia team

ARISS is always glad to receive listener reports for the above contacts ARISS thanks everyone in advance for their assistance Feel free to send your reports to aj9n@amsat org or aj9n@aol com

[ANS thanks ARISS, Charlie AJ9N and David AA4KN for the above information]

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Satellite Shorts From All Over

• On July 22, 1962 the first live public trans-Atlantic TV broadcast was relayed by Telstar 1, a communications satellite that had been launched two weeks earlier The broadcast featured CBS's Walter Cronkite and NBC's Chet Huntley in New York and the BBC's Richard Dimbleby in Brussels Later that same day the satellite relayed the first telephone call to be transmitted through space Although it is no longer fully functional, Telstar 1 is still in orbit around Earth

  https://youtu be/xdaHYAReYkg

• What does it take to test, build and launch a compact (yet highly sophisticated) satellite into orbit? U-M students explain in this behind-the-scenes look at U-M's latest CubSat:

  http://tinyurl com/UMich-Cubesat

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/EX

AMSAT User Services and the Editors of the AMSAT New Service pass on our condolences to ANS Weekly Co-Editor Joe Spier K6WAO and his family on the death of Joe's mother this week

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, This week's ANS Editor, EMike McCardel, KC8YLD kc8yld at amsat dot org

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