• [ans] ANS-208 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

    From Paul Stoetzer via ANS@21:1/5 to All on Sat Jul 25 21:23:12 2020
    XPost: rec.radio.info

    AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
    ANS-208

    The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and infor-
    mation 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 commun-
    icating 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: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/ans



    In this edition:

    * AMSAT Partners with UMaine's WiSe-Net Lab to Develop Maine's First
    Small Satellite
    * AMSAT-UK Announces OSCAR Satellite QSO Party
    * JARL Announces FO-29 Operation Schedule for August
    * Christopher Brault, KD8YVJ, Named 2020 Newsline Young Ham of the
    Year
    * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
    * Upcoming Satellite Operations
    * Upcoming ARISS Contacts
    * Satellite Shorts from All Over


    SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-208.01
    ANS-208 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

    AMSAT News Service Bulletin 208.01
    From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD.
    DATE July 26, 2020
    To All RADIO AMATEURS
    BID: $ANS-208.01

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    Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the AMSAT office
    is closed until further notice. For details, please visit
    https://www.amsat.org/amsat-office-closed-until-further-notice/

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    AMSAT Partners with UMaine's WiSe-Net Lab to Develop Maine's First
    Small Satellite

    The University of Maine Wireless Sensing Laboratory (WiSe-Net Lab) and
    AMSAT have signed an agreement to collaborate on building and
    operating MESAT1, Maine’s first small satellite, to be launched in
    space in the next three years.

    MESAT1 is Maine's first CubeSat — one of 18 small research satellites selected by NASA to carry auxiliary payloads into space between 2021–
    23. It is part of NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative that provides opportunities for nanosatellite science and technology payloads built
    by universities, schools and nonprofit organizations to ride share on
    space launches.

    UMaine’s WiSe-Net Lab, established in 2005, is involved in aerospace
    and space research. The lab was founded by Ali Abedi, KB1VJV,
    assistant vice president for research and director of the Center for Undergraduate Research. Lab researchers have developed the first
    wireless sensor network for NASA’s lunar habitation project and
    launched wireless leak-detection to the International Space station.

    The MESAT1 initiative will enable K–12 students and teachers in Maine
    to access space data for educational and research purposes, and
    encourage students to pursue STEM careers.

    AMSAT will provide a Linear Transponder Module (LTM) along with
    integration and operational support for MESAT1. AMSAT's LTM
    incorporates a VHF/UHF telemetry beacon, command receiver, and linear transponder. It will be available for radio amateurs worldwide to use
    when the satellite is commissioned.

    AMSAT President Clayton Coleman, W5PFG, celebrated the announcement.
    "This is a great day for AMSAT and UMaine's Wise-Net Lab. This
    partnership is a true win-win for both education and the amateur radio community. The collaborative effort under AMSAT's engineering and
    operations teams has once again succeeded to bring another opportunity
    to AMSAT."

    [ANS thanks AMSAT and UMaine's WiSe-Net Lab for the above
    information]

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    AMSAT-UK Announces OSCAR Satellite QSO Party

    The objective of the AMSAT-UK OSCAR Satellite QSO Party is to
    encourage all radio amateurs around the world to get on the air and
    make contacts via satellites during northern hemisphere summer. We
    would like to attract both seasoned die-hard operators as well as all
    newcomers who are just getting involved.

    While points are given per QSO this isn’t a contest, but we hope it
    will encourage people to get on the air and enjoy the excitement of
    making contacts through satellites.

    The AMSAT-UK OSCAR Satellite QSO Party will be supported by an online leaderboard which will be available from the start of the event which
    runs from 00:00 GMT on 1st August until 23:59 GMT on 22nd September.

    Prizes will be awarded to those from first to thirteenth place and
    are open to both AMSAT-UK and non-members around the world.

    ● First Place £250 Amazon Voucher
    ● Second Place £150 Amazon Voucher
    ● Third Place £50 Amazon Voucher
    ● Fourth to Thirteenth Place One Year AMSAT-UK Membership

    Download the rules for the AMSAT-UK OSCAR QSO Party at https://tinyurl.com/OSCAR-QSO-Party

    Leaderboard https://leaderboard.amsat-uk.org/

    [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK 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. Come along for the
    ride. The journey will be worth it!

    https://tinyurl.com/ANS-GOLF

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    JARL Announces FO-29 Operation Schedule for August

    FO-29 will be activated by ground command at the following times in
    August 2020. The satellite will remain active after each command
    until the undervoltage controller shuts the satellite off to prevent overdischarge of the now-24 year old NiCd batteries.

    1 03:40 05:25 13:55
    2 02:45 04:30
    8 02:30 04:15 14:30
    9 03:25 05:05 13:35
    10 02:25 04:10
    15 03:05 04:50
    16 02:10 03:55 14:10
    22 01:55 03:40 13:55
    23 02:45 04:30 13:00
    29 02:30 04:15 14:30
    30 03:20 05:05

    [ANS thanks JARL and JA1OGZ for the above information]

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    Purchase AMSAT Gear on our Zazzle storefront.
    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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    Christopher Brault, KD8YVJ, Named 2020 Newsline Young Ham of the Year

    Christopher Brault, KD8YVJ, of suburban Cincinnati, has been selected
    as the 2020 Bill Pasternak WA6ITF Memorial Amateur Radio Newsline
    Young Ham of the Year.

    Chris, 18, is the son of Jocelyn Brault, KD8VRX, and Kimberly Brault,
    of Liberty Township, Ohio. Chris earned his Technician class license
    in 2014 and passed his General ticket about a year later. He said his
    father was his guide into amateur radio. Chris recalled car trips,
    watching and listening to his father operating mobile. "We would be on
    a road trip somewhere," Chris said. "We'd be talking to people along
    the way, it seemed like fun." Chris is a member of the Dayton Amateur
    Radio Association, the West Chester Amateur Radio Association, and the
    Ohio Valley Experimenters Club.

    An honor student entering his senior year at St. Xavier High School, Cincinnati, Chris helped restart the school's amateur radio club
    (W8GYH). He has earned recognition for his many achievements in
    promoting amateur radio including the Hiram Percy Maxim Award (2015);
    the Ohio Section Special Recognition Award (2016); and the Great Lakes
    Division Young Amateur of the Year (2017). In 2017, Chris was invited
    to join the Dave Kalter Youth DX Adventure to Costa Rica where he
    worked the stations with Bryant Rascoll, KG5HVO, the 2018 YHOTY award
    winner, and Austin Harris, WA8CCS, in making more than 3,100 contacts.

    Chris also helped in the planning of an Amateur Radio on the
    International Space Station (ARISS) contact in 2016 and spoke with
    Astronaut Kate Rubins KG5FYJ while she flew overhead. Chris is social
    media director for the Youth on the Air organization and is a
    contesting mentor for youth who are involved in its programs. He is
    also a tour guide for the National Voice of America Museum of
    Broadcasting in West Chester, Ohio, and actively assists in mentoring
    young operators at its amateur radio station, WC8VOA. Chris also works
    annually with his father on putting youth on the air in the annual
    Jamboree on the Air in October. He has also been a presenter at the
    Dayton Youth Forum (2017) and Orlando Hamcation (2017). Chris recently
    started working a part-time job at the Butler County Regional Airport
    near his home and was invited to take flying lessons. He is pursuing
    his private pilot's license and is exploring a career in aviation as a commercial pilot.

    The YHOTY award is traditionally presented during the Huntsville
    Hamfest in August in the Von Braun Center, Huntsville AL. However,
    because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the hamfest was cancelled. Chris
    recently received a certificate of recognition presented in West
    Chester, Ohio by Amateur Radio Newsline's Don Wilbanks, AE5DW. The
    Young Ham of the Year Award was inaugurated by William Pasternak,
    WA6ITF, in 1986. Upon his passing in 2015, Bill's name was added to
    the award as a memorial to his commitment to recognizing the
    accomplishments of young people to the amateur radio service.

    Amateur Radio Newsline, CQ Magazine, and Yaesu USA are primary
    sponsors of the award, along with Heil Sound Ltd. and Radiowavz
    Antenna Company.

    [ANS thanks the CQ Newsroom and Amateur Radio Newsline for the above information]

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    Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events

    Want to see AMSAT in action or learn more about amateur radio in
    space?

    AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating
    through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club
    meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events.

    Due to COVID-19, many hamfest and events around the United States have
    been canceled or postponed. While we make every effort to ensure the information contained below is correct, there may be some that we
    missed.

    No events are currently scheduled. We wish all of you safekeeping and
    hope to be at a hamfest near you soon.

    [ANS thanks Robert Bankston, KE4AL, AMSAT Vice President - User
    Services, 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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    Upcoming Satellite Operations

    Note: all @ signs refer to Twitter usernames.

    Quick Hits:

    Do you need Hawaii? NH7WN on AO-7 Most days. Reach out for a schedule

    How about IL38 + IL39 Lanzarote, Canary Islands? Check out @EA4NF for
    details.

    FN44/54, 7/22 – 7/31, KQ2RP: Just like last time, FM only.

    EN20/30 Line, July 28-31, @KX9X : Sean is moving quickly towards his
    VUCC/R award by heading out again for two more grids. Watch his
    Twitter for details.

    DM97/98 & EM08/09: Super Rover @AD0DX is heading out for the Kansas
    QSO party and N0E. More to come.

    Schedule to come: FN11+21 then 12+22 grid lines, @NS3L Steve is
    heading out to these lines. Schedule to come.

    @WY7AA is heading out again!!!

    Mon 7/20 SSB and FM passes from DN67/68
    Every pass from about 16:00 – 04:00

    Tues 7/21 SSB and FM passes from DN57/58.
    Every pass from about 16:00 – 04:00

    Wed. 7/22 Travel day no sats

    Thurs 7/23 SSB and FM passes from DN55/56.
    Every pass from about 16:00 – 04:00

    Fri 7/24 SSB and FM passes from DN65/66.
    Every pass from about 16:00 – 04:00

    Watch his QRZ page for details and updates.

    @Kx9x is heading out on an EN rove to end all EN roves!!!!! The KX9X #MidwestMegaRove is ON!

    Itinerary for the #KX9X #MidwestMegaRove:

    7/28 EN40, 41 (Casual)
    7/29 EN32/42 grid line (IA)
    7/30 EN20/21/30/31 intersection. If turned away, 20/30 & 21/31 lines
    7/31 EM38/39 (MO)
    8/1 EM48/49 (IL, QRT 1700z) QRT by 2200z daily.

    @AD0HJ, is heading out again for the South Dakota Super Rove Part I
    Rove Map: Grids DN74, DN75, DN84, DN85, DN94, DN95, EN04, EN05, EN14,
    EN15, EN16, and EN17. July 31st through August 7th. Pass times at https://twitter.com/AD0HJ/status/1284669314637930499

    Then as if that isn’t enough, there is more: South Dakota Super Rove
    Part II Rove Map: Grids DN73, DN82, DN83, DN92, DN93, EN02, EN03,
    EN12, EN24, and EN25. August 17th through August 21st.

    Then Mitch is going for Part 2 of the South Dakota Super Rove: EN24/EN25,DN73/DN83, DN82/DN92, DN93/EN03, EN02/EN12. Part 2 details
    at https://twitter.com/AD0HJ/status/1285747202367852544

    Please submit any additions or corrections to ke0pbr at gmail.com

    [ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, for the above information]

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    Upcoming ARISS Contacts

    Quick list of scheduled contacts and events:

    American School of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Multi-point telebridge via ON4ISS

    The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS
    The scheduled astronaut is Chris Cassidy KF5KDR
    Contact is go for: Thu 2020-07-30 16:41:42 UTC 78 deg

    Watch for live simulcast starting about 10 minutes before AOS at: https://youtu.be/MSyfzEHYwrE

    [ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, ARISS Operations, 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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    Satellite Shorts From All Over

    + Congratulations to Hector Martinez, W5CBF, on earning AMSAT
    GridMaster Award #13. The AMSAT GridMaster Award is available for
    amateur radio operators who confirm two-way QSOs with all 488 grids
    in the continental United States. Hector's last needed grid was DL98.
    AMSAT President Clayton Coleman, W5PFG, made the 12 hour round-trip
    drive to activate the grid for Hector. (via KK5DO and W5CBF)

    + Ballots for the 2020 AMSAT Board of Directors election were mailed
    on July 14th via presorted standard mail to US addresses and via first
    class mail to overseas addresses to all members in good standing as of
    July 1st. Members desiring a replacement ballot package should contact
    AMSAT Secretary Brennan Price, N4QX, at brennanprice@verizon.net no
    earlier than August 12th. AMSAT members may log on to the membership
    portal at launch.amsat.org to verify that their address was correct as
    of July 1st. (via N4QX)

    + The La Mesa Courier has published an article about Kerry Banke,
    N6IZW, and his involvement in developing the ARISS Multi-Voltage Power
    Supply. https://lamesacourier.com/space-radio/

    + The IARU has coordinated a frequency for AMSAT Nepal's SanoSat-1
    PocketQube. The satellite is planned for launch Q4 2020. http://www.amsatuk.me.uk/iaru/finished_detail.php?serialnum=732


    + The IARU has also completed coordination for the Tevel Mission.
    This series of 8 identical CubeSats will be able to be commanded to
    operate as V/u FM transponders with a downlink of 436.400 MHz and an
    uplink of 145.970 MHz. http://www.amsatuk.me.uk/iaru/finished_detail.php?serialnum=744


    + Peter Goodhall, 2M0SQL, has released Pass Recorder 2.0. This
    software is designed to automate the recording of satellite passes
    and interfaces with SatPC32. Changes in version 2.0 include support
    for SatPC32ISS, improved memory usage, and slight UI improvements.
    Download the software at https://www.2m0sql.com/pass-recorder/

    + JARL reluctantly announced the cancellation of Tokyo Ham Fair 2020
    scheduled on October 31st and November 1st, as JARL cannot guarantee
    the safety and perfect prevention from COVID-19 infection, even if we
    take all possible preventive measures. The schedule of Tokyo Ham Fair
    2021 is yet to be fixed, but we will announce it when we fix the venue
    and dates. (via JARL and JAMSAT)

    + After HO-107's return last week, the satellite has again gone silent
    with the last telemetry received on July 20th at 00:00:22 UTC. Please
    continue to track the satellite in FoxTelem so additional telemetry
    can be gathered if the satellite begins transmitting again.

    + All issues of The AMSAT Journal dating back to 2014 are now
    available to AMSAT members on AMSAT's new membership portal. The
    1969-2013 archive will be added at a later date. All editions of
    AMSAT's Symposium Proceedings are also available for members. If
    you're a current AMSAT member, get logged on today. If you are not yet
    a member, consider joining today at https://launch.amsat.org/

    + The 2020 edition of AMSAT’s Getting Started with Amateur Satellites
    is now available on the AMSAT store. A perennial favorite, Getting
    Started is updated every year with the latest amateur satellite
    information, and is the premier primer of satellite operation. The
    book is presented in DRM-free PDF format, in full color, and covers
    all aspects of making your first contacts on a ham radio satellite.
    The digital download is available for $15 at https://tinyurl.com/2020GettingStarted

    + The AMSAT Folding at home team continues to climb the rankings. Now
    in the top 800 of all teams at the time of this writing, the team has
    grown to 48 members with 67 active CPUs within the past 50 days and
    includes 14 members in the top 100,000 of all users. Alex Free,
    N7AGF, is our top contributor with nearly 170,000,000 points credited
    to AMSAT's team. For more information about the Folding at home
    project and how you can contribute to scientific research, including
    the fight against COVID-19, see https://foldingathome.org/. AMSAT's
    team number is 69710: https://stats.foldingathome.org/team/69710

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    /EX

    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. President's Club donations may be made at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-PresClub.

    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.

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

    73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space,

    This week's ANS Editor,

    Paul Stoetzer, N8HM
    n8hm at amsat dot org
    _______________________________________________
    Via the ANS mailing list courtesy of AMSAT-NA https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/ans

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