AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-273
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
https://aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/223944276656/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.
You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service
Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see:
https://aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/644527385978/list.admin/aus-city.com/In this edition:
* Fox-1Cliff Cubesat Ready for Launch
* Register for the Symposium in the AMSAT Store - New Items Added
* AMSAT President Joe Spier, K6WAO on Ham Nation Episode 369
* International Space Station Astronauts are Calling CQ Students
* Help ARISS Raise Funds for Critical ISS Radio Upgrades
* Mini Space Elevator and Digitalker Deployment From ISS on October 6
* Reminder - Registration Deadlines for 2018 AMSAT Space Symposium
* Reminder - October 15 Deadline for Space Symposium Papers
* AMSAT Rover Awards Update
* Construction Competition Slated for 2018 AMSAT-UK Colloquium
* ESEO Satellite Completes Vibration Tests - Final Testing to Begin
* News From South Africa
* Satellite Shorts From All Over
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-273.01
ANS-273 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 273.01
From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD.
DATE September 30, 2018
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-273.01
Fox-1Cliff Cubesat Ready for Launch
Jerry Buxton, NØJY, AMSAT Vice-President Engineering, delivered
and performed the integration of AMSAT's Fox-1Cliff CubeSat in
preparation for launch.
Unlike AO-85 and AO-91, AMSAT purchased a commercial launch for
Fox-1Cliff. Please consider a donation to help replenish the coffers
for GOLF and other future AMSAT projects!
https://aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/470274453739/list.admin/aus-city.com/https://aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/303676951922/list.admin/aus-city.com/https://aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/754413369241/list.admin/aus-city.com/Uplink: 435.300 MHz FM voice (67.0 Hz CTCSS tone)
1267.300 MHz FM voice (67.0 Hz CTCSS tone)
Downlink: 145.920 MHz FM voice; AFSK digital data up to 9600 bps
Transmit power: 600 mW nominal
Because only one uplink frequency can be active at a time, the use
of the Mode-L uplink will be limited to experimental periods announ-
ced in advance.
Fox-1Cliff carries the flight spare of the AO-85 Vanderbilt University
Low Energy Proton (LEP) radiation experiment, and the standard Fox-1
Penn State University–Erie gyroscope experiment. Virginia Tech pro-
vided a VGA camera which is the same as AO-92 but will provide images
at a higher 640 x 480 resolution. These non-SSTV images will be decoded
in the FoxTelem software.
Fox-1Cliff, unlike the other three Fox-1 FM spacecraft, does not have
an active AFC on the uplinks.
Fox-1Cliff's Subaudible Telemetry (low-speed telemetry) will be the
same as for AO-85, AO-91, and AO-92. It will be supported by the same
FoxTelem software already released.
As with AO-92, a high-speed mode will be used to support the Virginia
Tech VGA camera experiment. This mode will be active for 40 minutes
by ground command, reverting to standard U/v transponder voice operation.
Fox-1Cliff is named in honor of long-time AMSAT member, contributor,
and benefactor Cliff Buttschardt, K7RR (SK), who passed away in 2016.
Cliff’s contributions to AMSAT and other amateur satellite programs,
including serving as an adviser during the initial development of the
CubeSat specification at California Polytechnic State University,
earned him the Lifetime Achievement Award from Project OSCAR in 2006.
[ANS thanks Jerry Buxton, NØJY, AMSAT Vice-President Engineering for
the above information]
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Register for the Symposium in the AMSAT Store - New Items Added
The AMSAT 2018 Symposium store items have been updated. Keep in
mind that registration goes up on Monday, October 1.
We now have the ability for Students to register at 50% off.
You can now pre-order printed copies of the AMSAT Symposium
Proceedings(those attending get digital copies only)
The Sunday tour is available to order. It will be the Marshall
Space Flight Center. Please order early so that we get an accurate
count of how many buses will be needed.
Visit the AMSAT Online store and access the Symposium items at:
https://aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/158035510762/list.admin/aus-city.com/[ANS thanks Bruce Paige, KK5DO for the above information]
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AMSAT President Joe Spier, K6WAO on Ham Nation Episode 369
AMSAT President Joe Spier, K6WAO, appeared on Ham Nation’s
September 26, 2018 episode (#369) with Gordon West, WB6NOA.
Joe discussed the latest news from AMSAT and ARISS. The recorded
episode can be viewed at:
https://aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/182865567889/list.admin/aus-city.com/[ANS thanks Twit.tv and Ham Nation for the above information]
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International Space Station Astronauts are Calling CQ Students
ARISS News Release No. 18-10
Dave Jordan, AA4KN, ARISS PR
International Space Station Astronauts are Calling CQ Students
ARISS-US program's education proposal window is open
Oct. 1 - Nov. 30, 2018
September 26, 2018: The Amateur Radio on the International Space
Station (ARISS) program is seeking proposals beginning October 1,
2018, from US schools, museums, science centers and community youth
organizations (working individually or together) to host radio
contacts with an orbiting crew member aboard the International
Space Station (ISS) between July 1 and December 31, 2019.
Each year, ARISS provides tens of thousands of students with
learning opportunities about space technologies, communications,
and much more through the exploration of Amateur Radio and space.
ARISS has been pleased of late, to be one of many possibilities
of interest to educators during NASA's A Year of Education on
Station, which celebrates an almost 12-month presence of a teacher
aboard the ISS. The ARISS program connects students to astronauts
on the ISS through a partnership between NASA, the Radio Amateur
Satellite Corporation, the American Radio Relay League, other
Amateur Radio global organizations and the worldwide space agencies.
The program's goal is to inspire students to pursue interests and
careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)
and in Amateur Radio.
Educators report regularly that student participation in the ARISS
program stimulates interest in STEM subjects and STEM careers. One
educator wrote, "Many of the middle school students who took part
in and attended the ARISS contact have selected science courses
in high school as a result of that contact." Educators are set-
ting up ham radio clubs in schools and learning centers because of
students' interest.
ARISS is looking for organizations that will draw large numbers
of participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed,
exciting education plan. Students can learn about satellite com-
munications, wireless technology, science research conducted on
the ISS, radio science, and other STEM subjects. Students learn
to use Amateur Radio to talk directly to an astronaut and ask
their STEM-related questions. ARISS will help educational organi-
zations locate Amateur Radio groups who can assist with equipment
for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students.
The proposal window opens October 1, 2018 and the proposal dead-
line is November 30, 2018. For proposal guidelines and forms and
more details, go to:
https://aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/960258817995/list.admin/aus-city.com/Proposal webinars for guidance and getting questions answered will
be offered October 11 and October 23, 2018, both at 8 pm Eastern
Time. Advance registration is necessary. To sign up, go to
https://aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/431776022112/list.admin/aus-city.com/About ARISS
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a
cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and
the space agencies that support the International Space Station
(ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satel-
lite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL),
the Center for the Advancement of Science in space (CASIS) and
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The primary
goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics (STEM) topics by organizing scheduled
contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS
and students in classrooms or public forms. Before and during
these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities
learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more
information, see
www.ariss.org.Also join us on Facebook:
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS)
Follow us on Twitter: ARISS_status
Media Contact:
Dave Jordan, AA4KN
ARISS PR
aa4kn at amsat.org
[ANS thanks Dave Jordan, AA4KN for the above information]
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Help ARISS Raise Funds for Critical ISS Radio Upgrades
AMSAT and ARISS are currently supporting a FundRazr campaign to
raise $150,000 for critical radio infrastructure upgrades on ISS.
The upgrades are necessary to enable students to continue to talk
to astronauts in space via Amateur Radio.
Please help by donating today
https://aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/905364273621/list.admin/aus-city.com/ARISS is in critical need of infrastructure upgrades to ensure
that programs such as talking to astronauts in space using
Amateur Radio can continue. Through your donations ARISS seeks the
following upgrades:
+ Next Generation radio systems that will support easier
transition to enable new, exciting radio modes and capabilities
for hams, students and the general public including:
+ New Amateur Radio communication and experiment capabilities
including an enhanced voice repeater and updated digital
Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS), and Slow Scan TV
(picture up and downlinks) in both US and Russian segments of
the ISS.
+ A new multi voltage power supply that will support present
and future radio capabilities and allow wireless experiments
to be conducted.
ARISS needs to build ten Next Generation radio systems to
support the development of on-orbit operations, training and long
term maintenance. This includes two units for on-orbit use (one unit
each for the US and Russian segments), two units for flight spares,
three units for training, one unit for testing, and two units for
ground-based maintenance and troubleshooting.
AMSAT is a 501(c)(3) organization. Donations are tax deductible to
the extent allowed by law.
[ANS thanks Frank Bauer, KA3HDO for the above information.]
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Mini Space Elevator and Digitalker Deployment From ISS on October 6
Japan’s seventh HTV mission, Kounotori 7, arrived at the ISS this
week and delivered cubesats planned for deployment on October 6:
+ STARS-Me
+ Rymansat Project RSP-00
+ SPATIUM-I
STARS-Me
--------
This mission consists of two 1U CubeSats connected by a tether which
includes a mini space elevator experiment, the climber, by Shizuoka
University. The climber has a Bluetooth connection that will transmit
its data to a ground station via a STARS-Me downlink. Radio amateurs
can monitor the behavior of the climber in the telemetry data.
Additional experiments include radio wave propagation studies, and
flight dynamics including tethered spacecraft position and rotation.
UHF downlinks will transmit CW, 1k2 AFSK and 9k6 GMSK telemetry.
Mother satellite - 437.245 MHz CW Beacon; 437.405 MHz telemetry
Daughter satellite - 437.255 MHz CW Beacon; 437.425 MHz telemetry
Rymansat Project RSP-00
-----------------------
The mission of RSP-00, a 1U cubesat, includes:
+ Send messages collected from the public back to Earth via a
digitalker and CW for reception by radio amateurs and school
children.
+ Image capture with on-board camera and transmit image data
with high-speed telemetry on 38k4 π/4QPSK downlink on UHF.
The downlink frequency for the digitalker, CW beacon and AFSK 1k2
packet is 145.890 MHz. The UHF downlink frequency has not been
published.
SPATIUM-I
---------
SPATIUM 1 is scientific (non-amateur radio) cubesat to demonstrate
a new technique for ionosphere mapping using a constellation of
CubeSats equipped with Chip Scale Atomic Clock (CSAC) to provide
real-time three-dimensional mapping of ionosphere plasma density
at the altitudes of electron density peak (200 to 400 km above the
Earth).
[ANS thanks the satellite teams for the above information]
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Reminder - Registration Deadlines for 2018 AMSAT Space Symposium
Make Your Hotel Reservations by October 10!
Hotel accommodations will be next door at the Marriott at the Space
& Rocket Center, 5 Tranquility Base, Huntsville, Alabama USA. Hotel
reservations for the Symposium may be made by individual attendees
directly with Marriott reservations at:
+ 1-(800) 228-9290 or
+ (256) 830-2222 or
+ On-line at
https://aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/226213489986/list.admin/aus-city.com/.Please mention the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT)
reference number M-BIHHXTA for the group rate of $104 per night.
+ The AMSAT group rate is available 10/31/18 to 11/04/18.
+ Book by 10/10/18.
+ Marriott perks include free parking for attendees and
complimentary Wi-Fi.
Symposium Early Registration Rate Expires September 30!
Registration for the Symposium can be ordered on-line at:
https://aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/158035510762/list.admin/aus-city.com/. + $60 Early Registration is through September 30, 2018.
+ $65 Registration is October 01, 2018 - October 26, 2018.
+ $70 Registration at the Door
AMSAT Annual Saturday Night Banquet Reservations Are Due October 20!
+ Dinner reservations are $50 per person and should be made by
October 20th to ensure accommodation.
+ Register online at:
https://aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/158035510762/list.admin/aus-city.com/.[ANS thanks the 2018 Symposium Committee for the above information.]
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Reminder - October 15 Deadline for Space Symposium Papers
AMSAT has issued the second call for papers for the 2018 AMSAT-NA
Annual Meeting and Space Symposium. The symposium will be held at
the US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL on the weekend of
November 2-4. Proposals for papers, symposium presentations, and
poster presentations are invited on any topic of interest to the
amateur satellite community. Prospects should send a tentative title
of their presentation as soon as possible. The final copy must be
submitted by October 15th for inclusion in the printed proceedings.
Abstracts and papers should be sent to Dan Schultz at
n8fgv at amsat dot org.
[ANS thanks Dan Schultz, N8FGV for the above information.]
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AMSAT Rover Awards Update
The AMSAT Rover award is granted to stations who achieve a combined
25 points using any combination of the defined criteria posted at:
https://aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/481185525314/list.admin/aus-city.com/.Bruce says congratulations are in order to Dave, AD7DB for earning
AMSAT Rover Award 35.
Number Callsign Award Date
------ -------- ----------
035 AD7DB 26 Sep 2018
[ANS thanks AMSAT Director Contests and Awards, Bruce Paige,
KK5DO, for the above information.]
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Construction Competition Slated for 2018 AMSAT-UK Colloquium
AMSAT-UK will be hosting a Construction Competition at our 2108
Colloquium on October 13-14.
The rules are simple:
1. Entries must be built from Kits or Home Constructed
2. The judging will take place during in the presentation room
during the Lunch breaks on Saturday and Sunday. The entries
need only be present for one of these sessions.
3. Three judges, nominated by the AMSAT-UK Chairman, will judge
each entry on:
+ External Appearance and Ergonomics
+ Mechanical Construction
+ Standard of Internal Wiring
+ Standard of PCBs or internal circuitry
+ Originality
4. The winners will be announced at the end of the Colloquium on
Sunday afternoon. Prizes will be forwarded if the winner is
not present.
5. A £50 Amazon Voucher will be awarded to the winner with a £25
Amazon Voucher for the runner-up.
6. The decisions of the Judges are final, and their marking will
remain confidential!
7. Multiple entries for individuals are allowed and encouraged.
[ANS thanks Graham Shirville, G3VZV, and AMSAT-UK for the above information]
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ESEO Satellite Completes Vibration Tests - Final Testing to Begin
On September 28, 2018 the European Space Agency reported that the
European Student Earth Orbiter (ESEO), a student-built project is
about to enter its exciting final test phase, after having just
concluded the vibration tests, that demonstrated that the satellite
is able to withstand the harsh vibrations of launch.
ESEO is a 45kg micro-satellite mission to Low Earth Orbit developed,
integrated, and tested by European university students. The student
experiments on board ESEO include:
+ FUNcube-4 1260 MHz to 145 MHz amateur FM transponder together
with FUNcube compatible telemetry for educational outreach
+ Taking pictures of the Earth
+ Measuring radiation levels
+ Test technologies that can be used for future education
satellite missions.
ESEO reports several key milestones were attained by the student
teams to reach the final phase of testing:
+ August 28 - the assembly integration of the ESEO spacecraft was
declared complete. In this phase all the satellite’s physical
parts were assembled together, and all functional interconnections
were checked to confirm they work as required.
+ September 27 - ESEO reached another key milestone, when it
successfully completed the vibrations test campaign to demon-
strate that the design is solid enough to safely withstand the
launch.
In the next couple of weeks ESEO will undergo the thermal vacuum
and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) tests to confirm that ESEO
is capable of coping with the thermal environment that it will
experience in orbit, and the electromagnetic conditions generated
during launch preparation, during the launch itself and in orbit.
FUNcube-4 is the amateur radio payload on the ESEO mission. This
payload will provide similar FUNcube telemetry to its predecessors
but will have a more powerful transmitter and thus be even easier
to hear. For amateurs, this payload will also provide a single
channel L/V transponder for FM.
Uplink: 1263.500 MHz FM voice with 67Hz CTCSS tone
Downlink: 145.895 MHz FM voice and telemetry
https://aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/956198567473/list.admin/aus-city.com/https://aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/799248477979/list.admin/aus-city.com/https://aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/146793578587/list.admin/aus-city.com/[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information]
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News From South Africa
AMSAT SA Co-sponsors VHF/UHF Workshop
-------------------------------------
The first in the series of VHF/UHF workshops will be held at the
SARL National Amateur Radio Centre on Saturday, October 20. The
programme and booking form are now available for download. Follow
the link from the SARL homepage or go to
www.amsatsa.org.za. The
workshop includes topics such as beacon coordination, build a
simple 3 cm transmitter, Aircraft scatter on 23 cm, Linear ampli-
fiers for VHF and UHF, and the RSGB Video on meteor and tropo
scatter.
First Call for Papers to the 2019 Space Symposium
--------------------------------------------------
AMSAT SA has issued the first call for papers to be presented at
the 2019 AMSAT SA Space Symposium to be held on 16 March 2019 in
Gauteng. Prospective authors are invited to submit a short synopsis
of what they intend to present to admin@amsatsa.org.za. For more
details visit
www.amsatsa.org.za.[ANS thanks SARL weekly news in English 2018-9-29 for the above information]
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Satellite Shorts From All Over
+ Congratulations to 11 year old Marissa, W4AQT for earning her
VUCC Satellite #393. Her dad, Jeff, WE4B, wrote, "AO-92 is an
amazing FM satellite. I remember when I thought AO-27 was
incredible. Thanks to AO-92 (and AO-85, AO-91 and SO-50), W4AQT
was able to get her VUCC award and almost has enough additional
grids for an endorsement. (via Jeff, WE4B)
+ NASA STEM Engagement, @NASAedu, tweeted: "For the past year,
we’ve had a #TeacherOnBoard the @Space_Station! Join us on
Tuesday, October 2 at 11am ET, for a special Facebook Live
Education Downlink Event with @astro_ricky and help us cele-
brate the “Year of Education on Stationâ€!
https://aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/099006650775/list.admin/aus-city.com/ #STEMonStation
+ Ireland's first satellite EIRSAT1 was presented at the Frontiers
of Physics 2018 Conference in Deblin. EIRSAT has a website for
students and teachers to find more and a forum for asking
questions
https://aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/838197738650/list.admin/aus-city.com/ + Meet the Amateur Rocketeer Building Self-Landing Replicas
of SpaceX Rockets. Joe Barnard has spent the last three years
pioneering DIY landing technologies for amateur rockets and
now the aerospace industry is paying attention:
https://aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/622482467125/list.admin/aus-city.com/ + Photos and a blog entry describe the experience at the Open
Source Cubesat Workshop held this week at the European Space
Agency campus at the European Space Astronomy Centre just
outside Madrid, Spain:
https://aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/201767716105/list.admin/aus-city.com/ + Visit the cool website dashboard of Hayabusa2 real-time data
display at:
https://aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/054835628127/list.admin/aus-city.com/ (via Zach, N0ZGO)
[ANS thanks everyone for the above information]
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/EX
