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AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-086

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/TAPR Banquet To Be Held in Honor of Bob Bruninga, WB4APR
* Artemis I rollout
* FCC $35 Amateur Application Fee Effective Date Announced
* AMSAT-LU WSPR beacon in Antarctica
* ARISS News
* Upcoming Satellite Operations
* Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
* Satellite Shorts From All Over


ANS-086 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

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

DATE 2022 Mar 27

AMSAT/TAPR Banquet To Be Held in Honor of Bob Bruninga, WB4APR

The 13th annual AMSAT/TAPR Banquet will be held at the Kohler Presidential Banquet Center on Friday, May 20th at 18:30 EDT. This dinner is always a highlight of the AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corp.) and TAPR (Tucson
Amateur Packet Radio) activities during the Dayton Hamvention. This year’s banquet will honor the life and accomplishments of long time amateur
satellite and amateur packet pioneer Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, who passed away in February.


The Kohler Presidential Banquet Center is located at 4548 Presidential Way, Kettering, Ohio – about 20 minutes away from the Greene County Fairgrounds.

Tickets ($57 each) may be purchased from the AMSAT store. The banquet ticket purchase deadline is Friday, May 13th. Banquet tickets must be purchased in advance and will not be sold at the AMSAT booth. There will be no tickets to pick up at the AMSAT booth. Tickets purchased on-line will be maintained on a list with check-in at the door at the banquet center. Seating is limited to
the number of meals reserved with the Kohler caterers based on the number of tickets sold by the deadline.


Register today at https://www.amsat.org/product/amsat-tapr-joint-hamvention-banquet-registration/

[ANS thanks AMSAT & TAPR for the above information]

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The 2022 AMSAT President's Club coins have arrived!
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of its launch on
October 15, 1972, this year's coin features
an image of AMSAT-OSCAR 6.
Join the AMSAT President's Club today and help
Keep Amateur Radio in Space!
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Artemis I rollout

Artemis I, the culmination of NASA’s roughly $30B, two-decade-long rocket development effort, is now scheduled for launch no earlier than June 6. This first version of the SLS, which photogenically rolled out to the pad for a fueling and countdown ‘wet dress rehearsal’ last week, is 98 m tall and will generate 4 million kg of thrust, 17% more than the Saturn V. It is based largely on Shuttle-era technology developed in the 60s & 70s—its marvelous RS-25 engines are literally scavenged from Shuttles (they were designed to be reusable, but the SLS throws four of them away with every launch) and its solid-fuel boosters are also based on those used by the Shuttle. For this
first SLS test flight, no crew (beyond Moonikin the mannequin) will ride the Orion capsule around the far side of the Moon and back to Earth, but the mission will test all parts of the system for the crewed Artemis II
(launching in ~2024). After ULA and Boeing’s Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage pushes Orion into a translunar injection, it will separate and later deploy 10 small spacecraft: NEA Scout (asteroid rendezvous using a solar
sail; covered in Issue 126), Lunar IceCube (map lunar water from orbit; Issue 84), LunaH-Map (map hydrogen in high resolution on the Moon’s south pole), BioSentinel (study the effects of deep space radiation on yeast; Issue 14), LunIR (lunar spectroscopy and thermography for surface characterization),
CuSP (space weather observation and early warning), Miles CubeSat (a citizen-science mission that will autonomously travel 96 million kilometers using plasma propulsion), EQUULEUS (JAXA; visiting Earth-Moon L2 to study the plasma environment and watch the Moon for meteor impact flashes), OMOTENASHI (JAXA; attempting a lunar landing with a 12 kg spacecraft; Issue 126), and ArgoMoon (Italian Space Agency; optical communications tests, documentation
and situational awareness of the ICPS, and finally lunar flybys and imaging
in a exceptionally ecliptic geocentric orbit). Three other payloads,
including Lunar Flashlight, were not ready for integration and missed their rides. Related: those 4 RS-25s getting thrown away on every SLS launch cost a staggering $146 million each—here are some other things you could buy for roughly the cost of one SLS engine: two basic Atlas V launches, three Falcon
9 launches, or a fully expendable Falcon Heavy launch, with ⅔ the SLS’s lift capacity at 1/27th the cost. As we mentioned a few weeks ago, the first four Artemis missions are now estimated to cost $4.1 billion per launch.
It’s a pretty rocket though.


[ANS thanks The Orbital Index 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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FCC $35 Amateur Application Fee Effective Date Announced

The FCC released a Public Notice on March 23, 2022, stating that the amateur radio application fees, including those associated with Form 605 application filings, would become effective on April 19, 2022. The Federal Communications Commission's authority to impose and collect fees is mandated by Congress.

The $35 application fee, when it becomes effective on April 19, will apply to new, modification (upgrade and sequential call sign change), renewal, and vanity call sign applications. The fee will be per application.

Administrative updates, such as a change of name, mailing or email address, will be exempt from fees.

VECs and Volunteer Examiner (VE) teams will not have to collect the $35 fee
at exam sessions. Once the FCC application fee takes effect, new and upgrade applicants will pay the $15 exam session fee to the ARRL VE team as usual,
and pay the $35 application fee directly to the FCC by using the CORES FRN Registration system (CORES - Login).

When the FCC receives the examination information from the VEC, it will email
a link with payment instructions to each successful candidate who then will have 10 calendar days from the date of the email to pay. After the fee is
paid and the FCC has processed an application, examinees will receive a
second email from the FCC with a link to their official license. The link
will be good for 30 days.

Additionally, the FCC stated that applications processed and dismissed will
not be entitled to a refund. This includes vanity requests where the
applicant does not receive the requested call sign.

The FCC published the notice in the Federal Register on March 23, 2022,
stating that the amateur radio application fees, including those associated with Form 605 application filings, would become effective on April 19, 2022.

[ANS thanks ARRL for the above information]

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AMSAT-LU WSPR beacon in Antarctica

AMSAT Argentina has prepared and donated to Cocoantar (Antarctic Joint Command), a beacon in WSPR mode (WSPR = emission of signals of minimum power 200mW and long range) On March 22, 2022, when the winter south hemisphere solstice occurred (passage of the sun over the equator to the north), this beacon was installed and began its operation at 40, 20, 15 and 10m from the Esperanza (Hope) Antarctic base, emitting with his Call Sign LU1ZV. In just
one day, this permanent beacon has already been received and confirmed by multiple stations, allowing real-time viewing of propagation and range conditions in the bands that are broadcasted. This reaffirms and makes known
to the world the will and commitment of Argentina of its permanent presence
in Antarctica together with the Argentine Amateur Radio in the white
continent by the hand of AMSAT-LU.

To track, maps, graph and details see http://lu7aa.org/dx.asp?call=LU1ZV or
by radio. AMSAT Argentina, LU7AA, thanks Cocoantar and AMSAT Argentina
members and friends for being part and driving force of this special event, including its President LU4BMG, the President of CETRA LU8YY/Q, members of
its Board of Directors and its 2,500 members for accompany this adventure.


[ANS thanks JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM and AMSAT Argentina 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.


No Educational Contacts have been announced for the dates 27 March to 2
April, 2022.


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

+ KE0PBR: DN88/97 corner. 4/1 around 22:00-03:00. Weather dependent. #GetMitchTheGrids


+ KB2YSI: FN22, 3/26. CVARA Hamfest in Norwich NY (FN22) this Saturday
morning. The passes will be mainly overheads as there are a few buildings
that will block lower passes


+ Antonio Gonzalez, EA5RM, will once again be active as CP1XRM from Bolivia between March 31st and April 22nd, working as Solidaridad Medica España NGO (http://www.solidaridadmedica.org/) and Radioamateurs Without Frontiers NGO (https://www.rsf-rwf.org/) volunteer. Activity will be limited to his spare time on 160-10 meters using SSB and the Digital modes (FT8). He will also be
on the LEO satellites from FH64pn and FH75ea grids. QSL via EA8RM.


+ W3IPA: DM42 vacation planned for Jul 30- Aug 6th will be on FM passes vacation style. I will be close to DM41 so might be able to work a gridline. Will post more updates closer to that week!


[ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT rover page manager, and JoAnne Maenpaa, K9KJM for the above information]


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Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and 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.


AMSAT Ambassador Schedules

+Raleigh NC Hamfest April 16
(AMSAT Ambassador Phillip Jenkins, N4HF)
(info table and demos; possible forum, but not likely at this point)
Jim Graham Building – NC State Fairgrounds
4285 Trinity Rd, Raleigh, NC 27607
https://www.rarsfest.org/

Scheduled Events with AMSAT involvement:

+ Brainerd Area Hamfest
April 23, 2022
Brainerd National Guard Armory
Brainerd, MN https://brainerdham.org/

+ CubeSat Developers Workshop
April 26–28, 2022
San Luis Obispo, CA

+ Hamvention 2022
May 20, 2022 to May 22, 2022
Greene County Fairgrounds and Expo Center
210 Fairground Road
Xenia, Ohio 45385
https://www.hamvention.org

+ 2022 Rocky Mountain ARRL Division Convention
October 7, 2022 - October 9, 2022
Event Center at Archer
3921 Archer Pkwy
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82007
https://wyhamcon.org/site.

[ANS thanks Phillip Jenkins, N4HF and Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT Events Page Manager, for the above information]


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Satellite Shorts From All Over

+ Satellite snoopers pick up surprising tv broadcast: While Internet based streaming services appear to be the future of television, there are still plenty of places where it comes into the home via a cable, satellite, or antenna connection. For most satellite transmissions this now means a digital multiplex carrying a host of channels from a geostationary satellite, for
which a set-top box or other decoder is required. Imagine the surprise of satellite-watchers than when the Russian polar communications satellite Meridian 9 which has a highly elliptical orbit was seen transmitting
old-style terrestrial analogue TV (ThreadReader Link). What on earth was happening? See https://bit.ly/3D3ELFH for details. [ANS thanks Stephen
Walters and Southgate Amateur Radio News for the above information]


+ The count of confirmed exoplanets just ticked past the 5,000 mark, representing a 30-year journey of discovery led by NASA space telescopes. Not so long ago, we lived in a universe with only a small number of known
planets, all of them orbiting our Sun. But a new raft of discoveries marks a scientific high point: More than 5,000 planets are now confirmed to exist beyond our solar system. More at https://go.nasa.gov/3Iy7KTd [ANS thanks NASA for the above information]


+ Following the completion of critical mirror alignment steps, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope team expects that Webb’s optical performance will be able to meet or exceed the science goals the observatory was built to
achieve. On March 11, the Webb team completed the stage of alignment known as “fine phasing.” At this key stage in the commissioning of Webb’s
Optical Telescope Element, every optical parameter that has been checked and tested is performing at, or above, expectations. The team also found no critical issues and no measurable contamination or blockages to Webb’s optical path. The observatory is able to successfully gather light from
distant objects and deliver it to its instruments without issue. While the purpose of this image was to focus on the bright star at the center for alignment evaluation, Webb's optics and NIRCam are so sensitive that the galaxies and stars seen in the background show up. While the purpose of this image was to focus on the bright star at the center for alignment evaluation, Webb's optics and NIRCam are so sensitive that the galaxies and stars seen in the background show up. Although there are months to go before Webb
ultimately delivers its new view of the cosmos, achieving this milestone
means the team is confident that Webb’s first-of-its-kind optical system is working as well as possible. More at https://go.nasa.gov/3NfKP2v [ANS thanks NASA and STScI 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 arrl dot org



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