AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-337
In this edition:
The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information 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 communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites.
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ANS-337 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
To: All RADIO AMATEURS From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation 712 H Street NE, Suite 1653 Washington, DC 20002
DATE 2023 DEC 03
Update on AMSAT's Participation in ESA Geostationary Project
Following the recent AMSAT Symposium where David Bowman, G0MRF, presented information on the ESA Geostationary payload investigation, an offer was extended to AMSAT to participate with AMSAT-UK in developing a proposal for submittal to ESA. AMSAT Director and Vice President - Operations Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, volunteered on short notice to represent AMSAT in these initial discussions. An additional Canadian AMSAT representative is desired and welcome to participate in future meetings and discussions.
After a meeting on November 26th, an initial proposal to ESA was being finalized for submittal on December 4th. More information will be forthcoming soon.
[ANS thanks AMSAT Director and Vice President - Operations Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, for the above information.]
September/October 2023 Edition of The AMSAT Journal Available
AMSAT members can now go to the member portal (https://launch.amsat.org/) and download the latest edition on The AMSAT Journal. The AMSAT Journal is published online in full-color. This edition is 38 pages jam-packed with the latest updates on key AMSAT projects. Topics in this issue include:
Attention AMSAT members: You should receive an email alert that a new edition of The AMSAT Journal is available. If you are not receiving that email, it means your email is not on file in out membership system. You can add or update your email information by logging in the member portal (https://launch.amsat.org/) and updating your profile. If you have trouble doing this, please write info[at]amsat[dot]org and we will assist you.
[ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information.]
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ LAST CALL for 2023 AMSAT President's Club Coins!
The year is almost over and, when it is, the 2023 coins will no longer be available.
To commemorate the 40th anniversary of its launch on June 16, 1983, this year's coin features an image of AMSAT-OSCAR 10. Join the AMSAT President's Club today and help Keep Amateur Radio in Space! https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
ISS Resupply Will Interrupt ARISS Activity
NASA will provide live launch and docking coverage of the Roscosmos Progress 86 cargo spacecraft carrying about three tons of food, fuel, and supplies for the Expedition 70 crew aboard the International Space Station.
The unpiloted spacecraft is scheduled to launch on Friday, December 1,2023 at 09:25 UTC (4:25 A.M. EST) on a Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
NASA coverage will begin at 4 A.M. on the NASA+ streaming service via the web https://plus.nasa.gov/ or the NASA app https://www.nasa.gov/connect/apps.html.
The Progress spacecraft will be placed into a two-day, 34-orbit journey to the station, leading to an automatic docking to the Poisk module at 6:14 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 3. Coverage of rendezvous and docking will begin at 5:30 a.m. on NASA Television and the agency's website. As always, all amateur radio activity aboard the ISS is suspended during docking maneuvers.
The spacecraft will remain at the orbiting laboratory for approximately six months, then undock for a destructive but safe re-entry into Earth's atmosphere to dispose of trash loaded by the crew.
[ANS thanks NASA for the above information.]
Russian cosmonauts on the International Space Station (ISS) are planning to transmit Slow Scan TV (SSTV) images on 145.800 MHz FM probably using the SSTV mode PD-120.
The transmissions are part of the Moscow Aviation Institute SSTV experiment (MAI-75) and will be made from the amateur radio station RS0ISS in the Russian ISS Service module (Zvezda) using a Kenwood TM-D710E transceiver. It appears the theme for this session will highlight one of MAI's cosmonaut graduates - Yuri Usachov. Currently scheduled days and times are:
Thu 2023-12-07 08:55 UTC to 14:25 UTC Fri 2023-12-08 08:15 UTC to 14:10 UTC
Days and times are subject to change due to the operational requirements of the ISS.
Reminder - No ARISS award will be available for this session since it is not transmitted globally.
[ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors for the above information.]
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Need new satellite antennas? Purchase 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/
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VUCC & DXCC Satellite Standing December 2023
KO4MA 1933 2000 K8DP 1575 1581 AA5PK 1382 1404 N8RO 1368 1384 DL2GRC 1004 1108 DF2ET 1000 1102 KF7R 1050 1075 PS8ET 925 1000 K9UO 926 950 KE8RJU 905 950 OZ9AAR 800 900 EA2AA 825 856 KQ4DO 808 827 W8LR 818 825 FG8OJ 639 737 HB9AOF 604 725 KS1G 655 703 WA6DNR 457 605 JL1SAM 511 601 W0NBC 437 563 JG6CDH 515 553 A65BR 513 532 XE1UYS 327 505 IK3ITB 400 500 IK7FMQ 453 500 N3CAL 435 471 N6RVI 100 380 SA0UNX 205 362 JR0GAS 250 360 AD2DD 261 356 KG4AKV 254 355 HC2FG 276 350 N6PAZ 326 342 DK3ZL New 319 KB8CR New 301 AL7ID New 261 K6VHF 201 250 N7GR 179 205 K9JKM 114 201 JF3MKC 175 200 JI5RPT/1 101 200 K9AQ 109 200 WD9EWK (DM45) 160 165 N4QX 152 157 AA0DW New 141 N6UTC (DM15) New 126 JF1CDX New 105 KT6CA New 103 W3TI 101 103 NJ2DX New 100
Congratulations to the new VUCC holders. AL7ID is first VUCC Satellite holder from BP64
OE9DGV 208 210 F6BKI 203 207 YO2CMI 169 173 ZS1LS 153 160 EA2AA 152 154 DL6GBM 125 152 HB9RYZ 137 139 LA6OP 123 136 SP3AU 130 136 DL9RAN 100 125 FG8OJ 111 114 SM2OAN 100 109 CT1ETE New 104 TF1A 100 102 JA0FSB New 101 K9UO 100 101 EA5RM New 100 KB9STR New 100 KN2K New 100 LA0FA New 100 N0JE New 100
Congratulations to the new DXCC Satellite holders. KN2K is first DXCC Satellite holder from VA
[ANS thanks Jon Goering, N7AZ, for the above information.]
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Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition?
Get your AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff
from our Zazzle store!
25% of the purchase price of each product goes
towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space
https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear
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Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for December 1, 2023
The following satellite has been removed from this week's AMSAT-NA TLE distribution:
NEUDOSE NORAD Cat ID 56315 Decayed from orbit on or about 28 November 2023
The following satellites have been added to this week's AMSAT-NA TLE distribution:
HADES-D NORAD Cat ID 58294 IARU coordinated downlink on 436.666 MHz VERONIKA NORAD Cat ID 58261 IARU coordinated downlink on 436.680 MHz KAFASAT NORAD Cat ID 58317 IARU coordinated downlinks 435.835 MHz and 2404.400 MHz
AMSAT thanks Nico Janssen for positively identifying these spacecraft and associating them with object numbers.
Two Line Elements or TLEs, often referred to as Keplerian elements or keps in the amateur community, are the inputs to the SGP4 standard mathematical model of spacecraft orbits used by most amateur tracking programs. Weekly updates are completely adequate for most amateur satellites. Elements in the TLE bulletin files are updated daily. TLE bulletin files are updated to add or remove satellites as necessary Thursday evenings around 2300 UTC, or more frequently if new high interest satellites are launched. More information may be found at https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/
[ANS thanks Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager for the above information.]
ARISS NEWS
Amateurs and others around the world may listen in on contacts between amateurs operating in schools and allowing students to interact with astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station. The downlink frequency on which to listen is 145.800 MHz worldwide.
Carl-Maria-von-Weber-Schule Eutin, Eutin, Germany, direct via DKÃOH/Telebridge and Gymnasium in Loekamp, Marl, Germany, telebridge via DKÃOH. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS. The scheduled crewmember is Andreas Mogensen, KG5GCZ. The ARISS mentor is IN3GH. Contact is go for Monday, December 4, 2023 at 11:36 UTC.
Orangeburg Christian Academy, Orangeburg, SC, direct via N7GZT. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS. The scheduled crewmember is Jasmin Moghbeli, KI5WSL. The ARISS mentor is KD8COJ. Contact is go for Tuesday, December 5, 2023 at 15:19 UTC. Watch for Livestream at https://www.facebook.com/orangeburgchristianacademy
Obninsk, Russia, direct via TBD. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSÃISS. The scheduled crewmember is Konstantin Borisov. The ARISS mentor is RV3DR. Contact is go for Wednesday, December 13, 2023 at 09:15 UTC.
Gagarin From Space Performance Of An Amateur Radio Communication Session With Pupils Of Schools Of Aznakaevsky District Of The Republic Of Kazakhstan. Tatarstan, Russia, direct via RC4P. The ISS callsign was RSÃISS. The crewmember was Konstantin Borisov. The ARISS mentor was RV3DR. Contact was successful on November 25, 2023 at 14:08 UTC.
The crossband repeater continues to be active (145.990 MHz up {PL 67} & 437.800 MHz down). If any crewmember is so inclined, all they have to do is pick up the microphone, raise the volume up, and talk on the crossband repeater. So give a listen, you just never know.
As always, if there is an EVA, a docking, or an undocking; the ARISS radios are turned off as part of the safety protocol.
Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time.
The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html
The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html
[ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors for the above information.]
Upcoming Satellite Operations
None scheduled at this time.
A growing number of satellite rovers are currently engaged in sharing their grid square activations on https://hams.at. By visiting the website, you gain easy access to comprehensive information about the operators responsible for activating specific grid squares. Additionally, you have the ability to assess the match score between yourself and a particular rover for a given pass, while also being able to identify the upcoming satellite passes that are accessible from your location.
[ANS thanks Ian Parsons, K5ZM, AMSAT Rover Page Manager, for the above information.]
Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events.
AMSAT Ambassador Clint Bradford, K6LCS, says, âThink a 75-minute presentation on âworking the easy satellitesâ would be appropriate for your club or event? Let me know by emailing me at k6lcsclint (at) gmail (dot) com or calling me at 909-999-SATS (7287)!â Clint has NEVER given the exact same show twice: EACH of the 150+ presentations so far has been customized/tailored to their audiences.
Satellite Shorts From All Over
Eirsat-11 was successfully launched on Friday, December 1, 2023 from Florida aboard a Space X ride. On the first pass over Europe EIRSAT-1 was almost 10 minutes late on the preliminary TLE set and almost 4 minutes early on the projected TLE set. The launch team will try to develop better parameters. Since this was a classified launch, TLEs may not be published by he usual sources, so the team will have to develop its own TLE set. [ANS thanks Nico Janssen, PA0DLO, for the above information.]
A fascinating article describes the development of the CubeSat standard by AMSAT member Bob Twiggs, KE6QMD, and co-inventor Jordi Puig-Suari, an aerospace engineering professor at California Polytechnic State University. Searching for a way to simplify the projectsâand cut out build time â Twiggs thought, âWhat if we made [the satellite] a cube and put solar cells on all sides so no matter which way it rotated, it was going to get charged?â With some spare solar cells from NASAâs Jet Propulsion Laboratory, he went down to a local shop and found a 4 X 4 X 4-in. transparent box. It was also around that timeâin 1999âthat an infamous error caught Twiggsâ attention. That year a mix-up between Imperial and metric units by a Lockheed Martin engineering team caused NASAâs Mars Climate Orbiter to burn up in the red planetâs atmosphere, ending the mission early. âI said, âItâs about time students learn metric,ââ he says. âI wonder what this [4-in. box] is in metric? Well, it turned out to be just almost 10 cm.â Read the entire article at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-337-Twiggs. [ANS thanks Aviation Week Network for the above information.]
An innovative experiment flying aboard NASAâs Psyche mission just hit its first major milestone by successfully carrying out the most distant demonstration of laser communications. The tech demo could one day help NASA missions probe deeper into space and uncover more discoveries about the origin of the universe. The experiment beamed a laser encoded with data from far beyond the moon for the first time. The test data was sent from nearly 10 million miles (16 million kilometers) away and reached the Hale Telescope at the California Institute of Technologyâs Palomar Observatory in Pasadena, California. Read the entire article at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-337-Laser. [ANS thanks CNN.com for the above information.]
Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/
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Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional membership information.
73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space!
This week's ANS Editor, Frank Karnauskas, N1UW n1uw [at] amsat [dot] org
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