AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-138
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.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/770022799695/list.admin/aus-city.com/ 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:
* ARISS to the MAX
* The LituanicaSAT-1 team operational during the weekend of May 17-18
* Island of Miquelon Activation on Satellites: July 5-15 FP/KV1J
* From Holiday Inn to Outer Space
* FUNcube-1 AO-73 satellite SSB signal test
* BBC: ‘Pocket spacecrafts’ to become a reality
* 2015 NASA Aeronautics Scholarships
* NASA History Program Office Fall 2014 Internships
* ARISS News
* Satellite Shorts From All Over
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-138.01
ANS-138 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 138.01
From AMSAT HQ Kensington, MD.
DATE May 18, 2014
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-138.01
ARISS to the MAX
Gary Pearce out does himself in his coverage of ARISS school contact
with Dixon Elementary School held April 21, 2014. Episode 144 of Ham
Radio Now, titled, ARISS to The Max, was published May 14. The
episode is broken into four parts as he covers several aspects of the
ARISs contact and ends with a bonus of a 1992 Sarex Contact.
Each part is viewable now on YouTube.
Part One ARISS to the MAX - the CONTACT!
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/472612668978/list.admin/aus-city.com/Part Two Part TWO - ARISS to the MAX - the Students, the Teachers
and the Ham
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/284011429920/list.admin/aus-city.com/Part Three - PIOs and the Media
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/712187781989/list.admin/aus-city.com/Part Four - A 1992 SAREX Contact
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/907837442786/list.admin/aus-city.com/[ANS thanks HamRadioNow and Amateur radio News for the above
information]
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The LituanicaSAT-1 team operational during the weekend of May 17-18,
2014
Laurynas Maciulis LY1LM, LY5N reported that A long term testing of
LituanicaSAT-1 FM transponder began May 17, 04:30 UT. The transponder
will remain active for the whole weekend provided that battery
voltage does not reach unsafe levels. As always your reports are very
welcome. Please send them and any questions you may have to ly5n (at)
qrz (dot) lt.
Frequency is approximately 435.1755 MHz (+/- 10 kHz Doppler shift)
for the downlink and 145.950 MHz for the uplink with 67 Hz CTCSS.
The tiny satellite is just 10x10x10 cm with a mass of 1.090 kg yet
it has a VGA camera and a 145/435 MHz FM voice transponder, designed
and built by Lithuanian radio amateurs.
The prototype of the FM repeater has been operating in the home of
its designer Žilvinas Batisa LY3H in Elektrenai, Lithuania. Further
information at
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/190241284797/list.admin/aus-city.com/FM transponder operating techniques
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/472665179774/list.admin/aus-city.com/LituanicaSAT-1 CubeSat
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/355338428524/list.admin/aus-city.com/cubesat/
[ANS thanks Laurynas LY1LM, LY5N and AMSAT-UK for the above
information]
[ANS thanks for the above information]
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Island of Miquelon Activation on Satellites: July 5-15 FP/KV1J
Previously, from FP-land, I have been on the FM sats mostly AO-51
when it was alive. Last year it was tough on SO-50 and I did not log
very many Qs. So I decided to take the plunge and try the analog
sats. My challenge up there is that I am outside and the WX is often
bad. Also I did not want to risk my primary laptop by taking it
outside. I have an FT-817 and an Arrow 2m/70cm antenna already.
I configured a netbook and built one of WA8SME’s PIC chip CAT
controllers. I got it all working on the bench over the winter but
have been waiting for the New England winter to finally break. I
have access to a second FT-817 when I am on the island so I borrowed
one here to first try it with two radios. The one radio
configuration with the PIC controlled will be the backup. I have
been monitoring this list and picked up some helpful tips.
I listened during the past week to a couple passes of several birds.
Today there was a nice high pass for AO-07 so I gave it a go. I
could not hear myself come back but down the band I heard N8HM nice
and strong. So I gave him a call and presto! I could hear myself
calling him. We had a good contact although I was busy fiddling the
RIT.
I’ll get on some more and get more proficient. Thanks Paul for the
icebreaker!
I’ll be on the island of Miquelon this July 5-15 from grid GN17. I
am sometimes, but rarely in grid GN16. I cannot do schedules since I
am primarily on HF or involved in other activities on the island. I
get on the sats when the WX is good, there is a reasonable good
altitude and I have a break from my other activities. More
information is at -
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/344135037114/list.admin/aus-city.com/[ANS thanks Eric KV1J FP/KV1J for the above information]
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From Holiday Inn to Outer Space
On Friday, July 4, the Whitton Amateur Radio Group (WARG) will be
hosting a presentation by David Bowman G0MRF on the subject of the
FUNcube satellite.
David is a member of the AMSAT-UK team behind the successful
development and launch of the amateur radio FUNcube-1 CubeSat which
transmits telemetry for Educational outreach (STEM) and carries a
435/145MHz SSB/CW transponder. The presentation will have a live
reception of the satellite as it passes over Europe.
The meeting is open to all, the doors open at 7 pm and the talk
commences at 8:15 pm. Whitton Community Centre has good car parking
and disabled access as well as the use of the bar. A small charge of
£1.50 per person will be asked to cover room hire.
The venue is the Whitton Community Centre, Percy Road, Whitton,
Middx, TW2 6JL
Directions can be found on the Whitton Amateur Radio Group site
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/033138465299/list.admin/aus-city.com/[ANS thanks the Whitton Amateur Radio Group (WARG) and AMSAT-UK for
the above information]
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FUNcube-1 AO-73 satellite SSB signal test
A resent video shows Simon 2E0HTS carrying out a signal test on the
FUNcube-1 AO-73 CubeSat, he gets a good signal back from the
satellite
During weekday daylight hours the satellite is in Educational Mode
transmitting a strong telemetry signal with science data for schools
to receive. On Weekday evenings, when the satellite is in darkness,
and throughout the weekend the FUNcube SSB/CW transponder is
activated. SSB contacts can be made with as little as 5 watts.
To minimize Doppler shift the satellite uses what is known as an
Inverting Transponder, this means you transmit lower sideband (LSB)
in the 435 MHz band and receives upper sideband (USB) in 145 MHz.
Watch Ham Radio - FUNcube AO 73 signal check
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/811885921332/list.admin/aus-city.com/[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information]
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BBC: ‘Pocket spacecrafts’ to become a reality
On Thursday, May 15, the BBC Radio 4 Today show featured an item on
the recently launched 437 MHz Sprite satellites and the new Pocket
Spacecraft being developed by a UK radio amateur.
UK radio amateur Michael Johnson M0MJJ has developed Pocket
Spacecraft known as ‘Scouts’. A ‘Scout’ is a wafer thin disk with
flexible electronics, smaller than a CD, containing a transceiver,
antenna and solar cells. It is hoped to carry them in a CubeSat which
would deploy them in Lunar orbit. It is understood that frequencies
in the 435 MHz and 2400 MHz bands may be used.
Listen to the BBC Radio 4 clip ‘Pocket spacecrafts’ to become a
reality in which BBC Click’s Spencer Kelly discusses the development
of pocket spacecrafts
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/962167506654/list.admin/aus-city.com/It is expected that Pocket Spacecraft will feature in the BBC TV
technology show ‘Click’ due to be released online on Saturday, May 17
at
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/212092790752/list.admin/aus-city.com/KickSat-1 launch
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/577649156670/list.admin/aus-city.com/kicksat-carrying-104-sprite-satellites/
British Interplanetary Society: Sprite Technical Summary
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/036565456884/list.admin/aus-city.com/UK radio amateur plans Lunar Pocket Spacecraft
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/684522583946/list.admin/aus-city.com/uk.org/2013/08/26/uk-radio-hams-lunar-cubesat-to-go-ahead/
Pocket Spacecraft
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/334496664798/list.admin/aus-city.com/[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information]
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2015 NASA Aeronautics Scholarships
Applications are now being accepted for 2015 NASA Aeronautics
Scholarships. The program awards scholarships focused on aeronautical
research and related degree programs at both the undergraduate and
graduate levels. NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate
sponsors the program.
Undergraduate students with at least two years of study remaining will
receive up to $15,000 per year for two years and the opportunity to
receive a $10,000 stipend by interning at a NASA research center
during the summer. Graduate students receive up to $46,000 per year
for up to three years, with an opportunity to receive a $10,000
stipend interning at a NASA research center for up to two consecutive
summers. Applicants must be citizens or nationals of the United
States.
Due to the One Stop Shopping Initiative maintenance, the scholarship
application deadline has been extended to June 2, 2014.
Applications should be submitted through the NASA One Stop Shopping
Initiative at
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dad...T/755371471301/list.admin/aus-city.com/. Applicants should be sure to
select "scholarships" for the type of application.
[ANS thanks the NASA Education Express Message for May 15, 2014 for
the above information]
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NASA History Program Office Fall 2014 Internships
The NASA History Program Office is seeking undergraduate and graduate
students for fall 2014 internships. The History Program Office
maintains archival materials to answer research questions from NASA
personnel, journalists, scholars, students at all levels and others
from around the world. The division also edits and publishes several
books and monographs each year. It maintains a large number of
websites on NASA history.
Students of all majors are welcome to apply. While detailed prior
knowledge of the aeronautics and space fields is not necessary, a keen
interest and some basic familiarity with these topics are needed.
Strong research, writing and editing skills are essential. Experience
with social media is a plus.
Intern projects are flexible. Typical projects include handling a
variety of information requests, writing posts for the NASA history
twitter and Facebook pages, editing historical manuscripts, doing
research and writing biographical sketches, and identifying and
captioning photos.
Fall 2014 internship applications are due June 1, 2014.
For more information, visit
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dad...T/026222236436/list.admin/aus-city.com/.If you have questions about this opportunity, please contact Bill
Barry at bill.barry@nasa.gov.
[ANS thanks the NASA Education Express Message for May 15, 2014]
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ARISS News
From 2014-05-12 to 2014-06-15, ARISS will be going into a period of
no contacts as there will be no hams onboard.
Do to increased work load beginning 2014-03-11, ARISS has had to
move 3 schools back to our long term waiting list. We hope to get to
them in the fall of 2014. There are also several other schools that
are on the list for possible postponement to the fall.
[ANS thanks ARISS, Charlie AJ9N and David AA4KN for the above
information]
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Satellite Shorts From All Over
+ Generate an Azimuth Map from Any Location
Here is a cool tool to generate an azimuth map from any location:
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/674398716323/list.admin/aus-city.com/ It includes an option to
display grid squares on your map.
+ May 2014 MilsatMagazine Now Online
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/997148927131/list.admin/aus-city.com/+ May 2104 Sat Magazine Now Online
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/337470148398/list.admin/aus-city.com/---------------------------------------------------------------------
/EX
