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
------
AMSAT Communication Achievement Award
Toralf Renkwitz, DJ8MS #563
Steve Kristoff, AI9IN #564
------
AMSAT Sexagesimal Award
Toralf Renkwitz, DJ8MS #167
David Webb, KB1VPH #168
------
AMSAT Century Award
David Webb, KB1PVH #43
Paul Stoetzer, N8HM #44
------
AMSAT South Africa Communication Achievement Award
Toralf Renkwitz, DJ8MS #US191
Steve Kristoff, AI9IN #US192
------
AMSAT Robert W. Barbee Jr., W4AMI Satellite Operator Achievement Award
for 1000 contacts
Michael McCoy, KC9ELU #83 with 2000, 3000, 4000 endorsements
------
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?
10. 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?
11. What do you think the biggest challenge to the space industry
today, besides budget?
12. In terms of hardware, if you could have one thing installed on
the ISS, what would it be?
13. What went through your mind while listening to the final
countdown before lift-off?
14. How does the ISS keep away from space junk?
15. What are the first effects that you feel in zero gravity?
16. What was a favorite experience of yours while in space school?
17. How many meals do you eat in a day, and has your appetite
changed at all?
18. Is moving around in microgravity conditions always fun, or does
it get uncomfortable and annoying?
19. What do you think the most important decision you made that put
you on the path to becoming an astronaut?
20. Have you ever seen anything weird in space you couldn't explain?
21. 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 or .
[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
_______________________________________________
Via the ANS mailing list courtesy of AMSAT-NA
http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/ans