• [ANS] ANS-241 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

    From kd4iz@frawg.org@21:1/5 to All on Sat Aug 28 19:39:52 2021
    XPost: rec.radio.info

    AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
    ANS-241
    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.


    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


    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://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/


    In this edition:

    * AMSAT-EA GENESIS satellites may launch September
    * Registration Now Open for AMSAT Space Symposium (Repost)
    * 2021 AMSAT Board of Directors Election Being Held (Repost)
    * Satellite Contact Acheivements and Records
    * ARISS News
    * Upcoming Satellite Operations
    * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
    * Satellite Shorts From All Over


    ANS-241 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

    To: All RADIO AMATEURS
    From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation
    712 H Street NE, Suite 1653
    Washington, DC 20002

    DATE 2021 Aug 29


    AMSAT-EA GENESIS satellites may launch September

    Spain’s national amateur radio society, the URE, report two AMSAT-EA
    GENESIS satellites are expected to be launched on September 2, 2021.


    A translation of the URE post reads:

    The GENESIS-L and GENESIS-N satellites, designed and built by AMSAT-EA in collaboration with students from the European University and ICAI, will be launched, in a first attempt, on September 2, once the American company
    Firefly has carried out the static test of the Alpha launcher, this being the last step before its launch. The vehicle is ready for takeoff on its platform from Vanderberg Air Force Base in California and carries, for this inaugural flight, many other satellites from various organizations and universities.


    The GENESIS are digital repeating satellites of ASK and CW and also carry Applied Ion Systems’ AIS-gPPT3-1C experimental ion thrusters.


    The working frequencies of the satellites are as follows:

    GENESIS-L
    145.875 MHz uplink, Modes: CW, ASK 50 bps
    436.875 MHz downlink CW, ASK 50 bps, am2sat callsign

    GENESIS-N
    145.888 MHz uplink, Modes: CW and ASK 50 bps
    436.888 MHz downlink CW ASK 50 bps, am3sat callsign
    The description of the telemetry and the mode of operation of its repeaters
    can be found in the following links:


    Link to telemetry transmissions description (in English) https://www.amsat-ea.org/app/download/12293076/AMSAT+EA+-+GENESIS+transmissions+description.pdf

    Source URE https://www.ure.es/satelites-genesis-de-amsat-ea-2/

    [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information and the translation]

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    Join the 2021 President's Club!
    Score your 2" 4-Color Accent Commemorative Coin.
    This gold finished coin comes with
    Full Color Certificate and Embroidered "Remove Before Flight" Key Tag
    Donate today at
    https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/
    You won't want to miss it! +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

    Registration Now Open for AMSAT Space Symposium (Repost)

    The 39th AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting will be held Friday through Sunday, October 29-31, 2021, at the Crowne Plaza AiRE in Bloomington, Minnesota.


    Registration is now open for the event at https://launch.amsat.org/Events Student registrations are available at $40, and General registration is at
    $75. Registration for the Saturday evening Symposium Banquet is an additional $55. Full details are available at the registration website.


    The Crowne Plaza AiRE is located at 3 Appletree Square, Bloomington, MN
    55245, adjacent to the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and only steps away from the METRO Blue Line’s American Blvd. stop. Nearby shopping and tourist attractions include Mall of America, SEA LIFE at Mall of America, Nickelodeon Universe, and the Minnesota Zoo.


    The Symposium includes presentations, exhibit space, and the AMSAT Annual General Meeting. The preliminary schedule is presented at https://launch.amsat.org/event-4414716


    The AMSAT Board of Directors Meeting will be held before the Symposium,
    October 28-29, at the same hotel.


    Those attending may make hotel reservations by calling the hotel directly at (952) 854-9000 or (877) 424-4188 (toll free) or online by visiting crowneplazaaire.com. The group name is Amateur Satellite Group.


    Platinum and Titanium members of the AMSAT President's Club receive free admission to the Symposium and receive a complimentary lunch with the
    President on Saturday afternoon. Please email members@amsat.org to arrange registration.


    Presenters are invited to participate at the Symposium and/or submit a paper
    to the Symposium Proceedings. Read the Call for Papers at https://www.amsat.org/2021-amsat-symposium-proceedings-call-for-papers/ for more information.


    [ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information]

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    Need new satellite antennas? Purchase Arrows, Alaskan Arrows,
    and 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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    2021 AMSAT Board of Directors Election Being Held

    The nomination period for the 2021 Board of Directors Election ended on June 15, 2021. The following candidates have been duly nominated and their
    candidate statements can be found at link that follows:

    Joseph Armbruster, KJ4JIO
    Robert Bankston, KE4AL
    Jerry Buxton, N0JY
    Zach Metzinger, N0ZGO

    In accordance with our Bylaws, AMSAT must hold an election, even though we
    have four nominations for four open Director positions. As such, we will
    host electronic voting on our Member Portal this year, at no cost to the organization. Voting is now open and will close on September 15, 2021.

    When members click on the poll link, they will see their ballot (poll question). After choosing from the possible options, click the Submit button
    to cast your vote. Unlike many online polls, the results of all votes cast,
    up to the point of your vote, will not be displayed. AMSAT members can only vote once. If you click the poll link again after already voting, a vote submitted message will be displayed. As four seats on the Board of Directors are up for election this year, all four candidates will be seated on the
    Board when the voting period concludes on September 15, 2021.

    To read candidate biographies see:
    https://launch.amsat.org/2021-BoD-Election

    AMSAT members may access their ballots at: https://launch.amsat.org/Sys/Poll/25943

    [ANS thanks Jeff Davis, KE9V, AMSAT Secretary, for the above information]

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    AMSAT's GOLF Program is about getting back to higher orbits, and it all
    begins with GOLF-TEE – a technology demonstrator for deployable solar
    panels, propulsion, and attitude control, now manifested for launch on
    NASA's ELaNa 46 mission. Come along for the ride. The journey will be
    worth it!

    https://tinyurl.com/ANS-GOLF

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    Satellite Contact Acheivements

    Congratulations Toshio Arai, JM1LRA, and Junta Ohsone, 7L1ETP, on receiving
    the 55th and 56th 73 on 73 Awards by AMSAT-UK issued for working 73 unique stations on AO-73 (FUNcubeUK). Both operators completed the requirements for the award exclusively using CW. (posted via Twitter)


    A new distance record has also been claimed on AO-73 (FUNcubeUK). A65GC (@farangov) worked F4DXV at 02:37 UTC on 20-Aug-2021 - a distance of 5,313
    km. https://amsat.org/satellite-distance-records/


    A new distance record has been claimed on AO-27. @N5LEX in FN11nq65 worked @F4DXV in JN04it22 on 18-Aug-2021 at 20:46 UTC. https://amsat.org/satellite-distance-records/

    Image

    [ANS thanks Paul Stoetzer, N8HM AMSAT Director & Executive Vice President 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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    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.


    As of 08/26/2021 the next scheduled contact is yet to be determined. Current Status of ISS Stations:


    Columbus Module radios:
    IORS (Kenwood D710GA) – STATUS - Configured. Supporting cross band repeater (145.990 MHz up {PL 67} & 437.800 MHz down). Next mode change is to packet operation (145.825 MHz up & down) in late September.​

    Power down for upcoming RS EVA on Sep. 03. OFF Sep. 02 about 18:10 UTC. Back
    ON Sep. 04 about 13:45 UTC.

    Power down for upcoming RS EVA on Sep. 09.
    Power down for upcoming US EVA on Sep. 12.
    Supporting USOS scheduled voice contacts, packet and voice repeater ops.

    Service Module radios:
    Kenwood D710E – STATUS - Radio usually off.​ ​
    Power down for upcoming RS EVA on Sep. 03. Off Sep 02 about 18:10 UTC.
    Power down for upcoming RS EVA on Sep. 09.
    Power down for upcoming US EVA on Sep. 12.
    Supporting ROS scheduled voice contacts and SSTV.

    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]


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    AMSAT, along with our ARISS partners, is developing an Amateur
    Radio package, including two-way communication capability, to
    be carried on-board Gateway in lunar orbit.

    Support AMSAT's projects today at https://www.amsat.org/donate/

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    Upcoming Satellite Operations

    KX9X: Time to rove again! @Nancy_N9NCY & I are heading back up to
    Minneapolis for a few days. Will activate the EN36/46 grid line on Sunday
    8/29 on linear & FM sats. Pop ups while driving up 8/28 & back 9/2 possible. More info soon!


    KB3IAI will be in FM26 on the coast from August 29th – Sept 5th. No set schedule, FM and SSB.


    VE7KPM: CN78, upcoming. 9/2 approx.

    [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT rover page manager, for the above information]


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    Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events

    The 2021 HamXposition is taking place September the 11th and 12th, in Marlborough, Massachusetts. The convention has a new home at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel & Trade Center. If you would like to volunteer at the booth contact Phil Smith w1eme at amsat.org.


    REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN for the 39th AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual
    General Meeting

    October 29-31, 2021
    Crowne Plaza AiRE
    3 Appletree Square, Bloomington, MN 55245.
    Complete information and registration at tinyurl.com/ANS-227-SYMPOSIUM.

    RRRA Hamfest & ARRL Dakota Division Convention
    Saturday, September 25, 2021, RRV Fairgrounds Hartl AG Building, 1805 Main
    Ave West, West Fargo, ND 58078

    https://rrra.org/cal/2021/09/25/rrra-hamfest-arrl-dakota-division-convention 2021 Wyoming ARRL Section Convention, Saturday, October 9, 2021, Event Center at Archer, 3921 Archer Pkwy, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82007

    https://wyhamcon.org/site

    Updates may be found at: https://www.amsat.org/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.


    Ambassador Clint Bradford, K6LCS, has online presentations scheduled for the following clubs:

    Sonoma (CA) ARC
    STARS - Easy Coast
    Fairlawn NJ
    Portland OR
    Longmont CO
    SW Florida
    Contact Clint at http://www.work-sat.com or by phone at 909-999-SATS (7287)
    to arrange a presentation.


    [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT Events page manager, and Clint
    Bradford, K6CLS for the above information]


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    Satellite Shorts From All Over

    + At Space Symposium (https://www.spacesymposium.org/), Aerospace Corp
    proposed a new form factor alternative to CubeSats: DiskSats. These disks
    could be 1 m in diameter and 2.5 cm thick, allowing enough surface area for
    200 watts of solar panels. On a CubeSat, this would require deployables.
    “The point of DiskSat is that it complements cubesats for missions that consist primarily of electronics that need higher power.” A stack of 20 plates is also easier to launch on a small launch vehicle than 20 CubeSats.
    It feels like this borrows a lot from Starlink’s form factor, and potentially, its deployment mechanism. (ANS thanks The Orbital Index for the above information.)


    + At SmallSat (https://smallsat.org/), Florence Tan from NASA mentioned that NASA’s SMD has been shifting from very small CubeSats to 6U+ CubeSats, ESPA-class spacecraft, and constellations. Roger Walker from ESA mentioned a similar trend of moving from 3U to 6U and then 12U CubeSats for operational science missions, facilitated by accurate COTS pointing and propulsion.(ANS thanks The Orbital Index for the above information.)


    + BryceTech just released their very thorough Smallsats by the Numbers
    Report, which they define as satellites under 600kg. 1,282 spacecraft
    launched in 2020, of which 94% were smallsats, representing 43% of the total upmass—of these, 937 were Starlink or OneWeb. A whopping 40% of all
    smallsats launched in the last 10 years launched in 2020. See also this interesting Tableau report on the uses, locations, and life-spans of satellites. (ANS thanks The Orbital Index for the above information.)


    + Space station spacewalk postponed by astronaut medical issue: A planned spacewalk outside the International Space Station Tuesday was postponed after NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei was diagnosed with a pinched nerve, which NASA described as a “minor medical issue.” Vande Hei planned to head outside
    the space station Tuesday with Japanese crewmade Akihiko Hoshide for a nearly seven-hour spacewalk to install a support bracket and modification kit that will enable the attachment of upgraded solar arrays set to arrive on a future cargo mission. The astronauts also planned to replace a floating point measurement unit, a device that measures the electrical charging potential of the space station solar arrays. NASA announced the postponement of the spacewalk Monday, describing Vande Hei’s condition as a “minor medical issue” and not a medical emergency. Additional detail at: https://bit.ly/3mCJSXc (ANS thanks Stephen Clark, Spaceflight Now for the
    above information.)


    + Launch of lunar CubeSat moved from Virginia to New Zealand: The launch of
    a miniature trailblazer probe for NASA’s planned Gateway lunar space
    station has been moved from Rocket Lab’s new launch pad in Virginia to the company’s spaceport in New Zealand, officials recently announced. NASA’s Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment, or CAPSTONE, mission will test deep space navigation and communications technology in the vicinity of the moon. CAPSTONE will also demonstrate maneuvers to enter and operate in a near rectilinear halo orbit,
    an elliptical orbit around the moon that will be home to the Gateway, a critical piece of NASA’s architecture to return humans to the lunar
    surface. The Gateway is a mini-space station NASA intends to use as a staging point for crewed lunar landings later in the 2020s. Additional info at:https://bit.ly/3BjP8mP

    (ANS thanks Stephen Clark, Spaceflight Now for the above information.)


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    Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/

    In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to:

    * Societies (a recognized group, clubs or organization).
    * 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 student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status.

    * Memberships are available for annual and lifetime terms.

    Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional membership information.

    73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space!

    This week's ANS Editor, Jack Spitznagel, KD4IZ
    kd4iz at frawg dot org



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