• [ans] ANS-257 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

    From Frank Karnauskas via ANS@21:1/5 to All on Sat Sep 12 20:32:38 2020
    XPost: rec.radio.info

    AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
    ANS-257

    The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and

    information 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://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 dot org.

    In this edition:

    * Virtual 2020 AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting on

    October 17, 2020

    * AMSAT Virtual Symposium Call for Papers

    * Preparations Continue for World Radiocommunication Conference 2023

    * Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for September 10, 2020
    * AMSAT-DL Announces Virtual Satellite Symposium September 26, 2020

    * AMSAT-UK Announces Colloquium 2020 October 11, 2020

    * Upcoming Satellite Operations

    * ARISS News

    * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events

    * Satellite Shorts from All Over



    SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-257.01
    ANS-257 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

    AMSAT News Service Bulletin 257.01
    From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD.
    September 13, 2020
    To All RADIO AMATEURS
    BID: $ANS-257.01


    Virtual 2020 AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting on
    October 17, 2020

    The 2020 Virtual AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting

    will be held Saturday, October 17, 2020 from 9:00am CDT - 5:00pm CDT

    (UTC -5). Symposium presentations will be a combination of

    pre-recorded and live video segments along with question and answer

    sessions held via a Zoom meeting. The tentative schedule is:

    9:00am CDT
    Opening Remarks

    9:15am CDT - 12:45pm CDT
    General Presentations

    1:00pm CDT - 2:00pm CDT
    AMSAT Education / CubeSat Simulator

    2:00pm CDT - 3:00pm CDT

    ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station)/

    AREx (Amateur Radio Exploration)

    3:00pm CDT - 4:00pm CDT
    AMSAT Engineering

    4:00pm CDT - 5:00pm CDT

    2020 AMSAT Annual General Meeting

    The Symposium will be streamed free of charge on AMSAT's YouTube

    account. Registered attendees will receive a digital copy of the

    AMSAT Symposium Proceedings and will be entitled to join the Zoom

    meeting and participate in the question and answer sessions.

    Registered attendees will also be entered into prize drawings.

    Registration is free and available only for AMSAT members at

    https://launch.amsat.org/Events.


    Registration will close on Friday, October 16 at 5:00pm CDT.

    [ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information.]

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    AMSAT Virtual Symposium Call for Papers

    Proposals for papers and Symposium presentations are invited on any

    topic of interest to the amateur satellite community. We request a

    tentative title of your presentation as soon as possible.


    Final papers for the Symposium Proceedings must be submitted by

    October 5, 2020 to Dan Schultz, N8FGV at n8fgv@usa.net. Symposium

    presentations should be limited to 15 minutes of pre-recorded video.

    Video presentations must be submitted by October 10, 2020 to

    Paul Stoetzer, N8HM at n8hm@arrl.net. We ask that presenters be

    available to take questions via Zoom following the airing of their

    pre-recorded video.

    [ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information.]

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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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    Preparations Continue for World Radiocommunication Conference 2023

    Preparations for World Radiocommunication Conference 2023

    (WRC-23) go forward, the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU)

    continues its efforts to protect amateur and amateur-satellite

    allocations. The international conference, which generally takes

    place every 4 years, is sponsored by the International

    Telecommunication Union (ITU).

    IARU participated in the first online meeting of Project Team A

    (PTA) of the WRC-23 CEPT Conference Preparatory Group (CPG),

    reporting this week that “a good start was made on items of interest

    to the amateur and amateur-satellite services.”

    Agenda Item 1.12 addresses studies stemming from WRC-19 that are now

    underway to consider a new secondary allocation to the Earth

    exploration-satellite (active) service (EESS active) for spaceborne

    radar sounders in the 40 – 50 MHz range, taking into account the

    protection of incumbent services (including in adjacent bands),

    which would include 6 meters. A handful of countries have also

    allocated secondary amateur bands in the vicinity of 40 MHz.


    The WRC-19 Resolution (Res. 656), which ordered the studies, noted

    that spaceborne-active RF sensors can provide unique information on

    physical properties of the Earth, and that spaceborne-active remote

    sensing requires specific frequency ranges depending on the physical

    phenomena to be observed. Spaceborne radars are intended to operate

    only in uninhabited or sparsely populated areas with particular

    focus on deserts and polar ice fields, between the hours of 3 AM

    and 6 AM local time.


    Agenda Item 1.14 addresses the Earth Exploration Satellite service

    (passive) (EESS passive) in the range 231.5 - 250 GHz. The Amateur

    and Amateur-satellite services have a primary allocation at

    248?–?250 GHz, and a secondary allocation at 241?–?248 GHz.


    Agenda Item 9.1 will consider and approve the Report of the Director

    of the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau on the activities of the

    Radiocommunication Sector since WRC-19. This includes a review of

    the amateur service and the amateur-satellite service allocations

    in the frequency band 1.240 – 1.300 GHz to determine if additional

    measures are required to ensure protection of the radionavigation-

    satellite (space-to-Earth) service (RNSS) operating in the same

    band.

    The 1.240 – 1.300 GHz band is allocated worldwide to the amateur

    service on a secondary basis, and the amateur-satellite service

    (Earth-to-space) may operate in the band 1.260 – 1.270 GHz. The

    primary concern is the potential for interference to the Galileo

    Global Navigation Satellite System (GPS) in ITU Region 1 (Europe,

    the Middle East, and Africa). Instances of interference to one of

    the RNSS channels from amateur operations have been reported. IARU

    has said it’s prepared to fully cooperate in any studies.


    The IARU participated in the initial meeting of Project Team C of

    the WRC-23 CEPT CPG, where the preliminary CEPT position on

    international studies on coexistence between the amateur service

    and RNSS was discussed.


    Agenda Item 9.1A concerns spaceweather sensors, which must be

    protected by regulation without placing constraints on incumbent

    services. “The scope of this topic is wide and could cover HF to

    EHF spectrum,” IARU said. “Until studies are progressed, it is not

    certain how the amateur and amateur-satellite services might be

    impacted.”

    Agenda Item 9.1C was proposed by a few countries interested in

    the possible use of mobile technologies in frequency bands allocated

    to the fixed service. “In practice, amateur service allocations in

    the range 430 MHz to 250 GHz could be affected where there is a

    primary allocation to the fixed service and a secondary allocation

    to the amateur service,” IARU said, citing 2.3 GHz and 3.4 GHz as

    examples.

    Last summer, France raised a proposal to consider 144 – 146 MHz as a

    primary allocation to the Aeronautical mobile service, as part of a

    broader consideration of spectrum allocated to that service.


    IARU pledged to continue “to represent the amateur and Amateur-
    satellite services throughout the electromagnetic spectrum

    at meetings of regulatory bodies during the coming months.”


    [ANS thanks the ARRL for the above information.]

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    Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for September 10, 2020


    As noted last week, Arianespace launched of 53 new satellites on

    September 3, 2020. This also placed three new satellites carrying

    Amateur Radio transmitters into orbit. They are Amicalsat, TTU-100

    and UPMSAT 2. So far, only UPMSAT 2 has been identified as Object

    46276 (See below).

    Based on observations this past week, Nico Janseen has refined his

    identification of UPMSat 2 to be Object 46276, not Object 46277 as

    it seemed last week. Also, OBJECT D (Cat ID 46275) and OBJECT F

    (Cat ID 46277) have been added this week in hope that they may be

    Amicalsat and TTU-100. Watch for further information.

    Therefore, the following satellites have been and added to this week's
    AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution:

    OBJECT D - Cat ID 46275

    UPMSat 2 - Cat ID 46276

    OBJECT F - Cat ID 46277


    Thanks to Nico Janssen, PA0DLO, for verfying Cat ID 46276 is in fact

    UPMSat2.

    The following satellite has decayed from orbit and has been removed

    from this week's AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution:

    Tanusha-3 - NORAD Cat ID 43597 (Decayed on August 5, 2020 per

    Space-Track).

    [ANS thanks the Ray Hoad 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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    AMSAT-DL Announces Virtual Satellite Symposium September 26, 2020

    Unfortunately, the AMSAT-DL Symposium planned for September 26-27,

    2020 cannot take place this year in the usual manner. Since the

    health of everyone is very close to our hearts and the legal

    framework currently leaves no other option, AMSAT-DL has decided not

    to hold a meeting on site in Bochum this year. A social meeting with

    dinner is not possible, nor is a flea market or other activities such

    as the QO-100 User Meeting which happened for the first time during

    the HAM Radio Fair in Friedrichshafen in 2019.

    Instead, AMSAT-DL will broadcast the symposium as an online meeting

    in DATV via the broadband transponder of QO-100 and on the internet

    on the AMSAT-DL YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/amsatdl.


    Due to the international audience, most of the lectures will be held

    in English. The current schedule can be found on the AMSAT-DL

    homepage at https://amsat-dl.org.

    AMSAT-DL and its board invites everyone to this year's AMSAT-DL

    online conference and the virtual QO-100 user meeting.

    [ANS thanks the AMSAT-DL for the above information.]

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    AMSAT-UK Announces Colloquium 2020 October 11, 2020


    There will not be an in-person AMSAT-UK International Space

    Colloquium this year instead they will be holding an Online Event on

    Sunday, October 11, 2020. This is the day after the RSGB’s Radio

    Convention which is also an on-line event.


    The AMSAT-UK Convention will run from 11:00am to approximately

    5:00pm, with a break for lunch and several short breaks during the

    day. (Times are British Summer Time, or UTC/GMT + 1.) Membership in

    AMSAT-UK is not required to attend and the event is free of charge.

    The event will be in the form of a Zoom Webinar. Register at

    http://tinyurl.com/amsatukreg2020 and follow the instructions which

    will arrive by email. No special software is installed since a

    browser plug in is used by Zoom.

    Those who are registered before the start of the Colloquium will be

    entered for a number of free raffles which will take place during the

    event. The event will be hosted by Graham Shirville, G3VZV and

    Jim Heck, G3WGM and formally opened by our Chairman, Martin Sweeting,

    G3YJO. For those registered it will be possible to pose questions to

    the speakers during Q and A sessions. Informal on-line discussions

    after the official close of the Colloquium, are also planned.

    The Colloquium will be live streamed to the AMSAT-UK YouTube channel

    at https://www.youtube.com/user/AMSATUK.

    Complete information is available at https://amsat-uk.org/colloquium/.

    [ANS thanks the AMSAT-UK for the above information.]

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    Upcoming Satellite Operations

    CN86; 9/19 & 9/20
    John Van Dalen, @N7AME hopes to access the FM satellites AO-91, and

    AO-92 on most passes on September 19 and 20 during the WWDXC Salmon

    Run. If they count, John will be at Lewis and Clark State Park

    (K-3221) in Washington and in Lewis County which will be Grid CN96.

    Check Twitter @N7AME for updates.

    JM08; 9/17 - 9/21

    Philippe Chateau, EA4NF will be @EA6/EA4NF on Formentera Island. This

    counts as DXCC EA6, Grid JM08, and IOTA EU-004. Philippe will be on

    LEO FM & Linear birds. QSL via LoTW as EA6/EA4NF. For this new

    satellite portable activation, Philippe will bring with him his

    Yaesu FT-818ND and a FT-817ND operating in full duplex with an

    Alaskan Arrow Antenna.

    DM06, DM07, DM08, DM16, DM17 and DM18; 9/11 and 9/13
    David Bartholomew, AD7DB is heading out to activate DM06, DM07, DM08,

    DM16, DM17 and DM18 on Friday, 9/11/20 and Sunday 9/13. Taking FM

    gear only. Click @AD7DB for details.

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

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    ARISS News

    + Completed Contacts

    College Raymond Sirot, Gueux, France, telebridge via VK5ZAI

    The ISS callsign was NA1SS.

    The astronaut was Chris Cassidy, KF5KDR.

    The contact was successful on Thursday, 9-10-2020 at 08:17:01 UTC.

    + Upcoming Contacts

    Avellaneda Ikastetxea, Sodupe, Spain, telebridge via ZS6JON
    The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS.

    The scheduled astronaut is Chris Cassidy, KF5KDR.

    The contact is go for Friday, 9-18-2020 at 12:56:34 UTC.

    [ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N 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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    Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events


    + Clint Bradford K6LCS has booked his “Work the FM Voice Satellites

    With Minimal Equipment” presentation for the for the following clubs:


    09/14/2020 – North Agusta Belevedere Radio Club
    10/27/2020 – Cherryland ARC / Traverse Bay ARC
    TBD – Antelope Valley (CA) ARC
    TBD – A private presentation for a Boy Scout troop in Danville, PA

    These will be Zoom presentations. Everyone is asked to update their

    copies of the Zoom application by directly visiting Zoom.us.

    [ANS thanks Robert Bankston, KE4AL for the above information.]

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    Shorts from All Over

    + UPMSAT-2 Recordings Wanted

    The UPMSAT-2 team would appreciate receiving recordings of their

    satellite. They are especially interested in recordings made from

    outside Spain. UPMSAT-2 transmits on 437.405 MHz using USB, not FM.

    Recordings can be send to contacto@amsat-ea.org

    [ANS thanks Felix Paez EA4GQS for the above information.]


    + Route 66 On-the-Air from W6D

    Christy Hunter, KB6LTY is happy to report that the COVID-19 pandemic

    is not keeping the 2020 Route 66 On-the Air event off the air. This

    year the event starts September 12 and goes through September 20.

    Christy will be representing W6D on the FM and SSB birds from her

    home not far from Route 66 in DM14. Only paper QSL cards will be

    issued for W6D contacts(no LoTW). Look for W6D on QRZ.com for her

    mailing address. Complete information on the event can be found at

    http://w6jbt.org/.

    [ANS thanks Christy Hunter, KB6LTY for the above information.]


    + Reminder: Annual GNU Radio Conference Begins September 14, 2020

    GRCon20 will be held starting September 14, 2020 online as a virtual

    event. Keynote speakers include: Becky Schoenfeld W1BXY, Managing

    Editor of QST magazine, Oona Räisänen [windytan] hacker of signals

    and computer programmer, and Jim St. Leger, Director Open Source,

    Intel. Full registrations are sold out but free registration

    for all virtual GRCon20 technical talks, keynotes, and lightning

    talks is still available at https://tickets.gnuradio.org/grcon20/.

    [ANS thanks GNU Radio for the above information.]


    + NASA, NOAA to Discuss Solar Cycle Prediction

    NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

    will discuss predictions for the upcoming solar cycle during a media

    teleconference at 1 p.m. EDT Tuesday, Sept. 15. Tracking the solar

    cycle is a key part of better understanding the Sun and mitigating

    its impacts on human technology and infrastructure.


    During the teleconference, experts on the Solar Cycle 25 Prediction

    Panel will discuss recent updates in solar cycle progress, and the

    forecast for the upcoming cycle, Solar Cycle 25. Complete information

    and registration information can be found at

    https://tinyurl.com/ANS-257-NASA-Live.

    [ANS thanks NASA Radio for the above information.]


    + AT&T Seeking Buyers For DirecTV

    Well-heeled Amateurs wanting a geosynchronous ham radio satellite of

    their own now have their chance. AT&T purchased DirecTV in 2015 and

    paid some $67 billion overall. With declining viewership and

    increased competition, ATT&T wants to unload the company and decrease

    its debt load. Most observers suggest the price might be a

    flea-market bargain at about $20 billion. The catch? ATT&T would

    retain 50% ownership.

    [ANS thanks Satnews for the above information.]

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    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

    additional 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

    student rate for a maximum of six post-secondary years in this

    status.

    Contact Martha at the AMSAT office for additional student

    membership information.

    73,
    This week's ANS Editor,
    Frank Karnauskas, N1UW
    n1uw at amsat dot org

    Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum

    available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring

    membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author

    and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA.

    Not an AMSAT member? Join now to support the amateur satellite

    program!

    Subscription settings:

    http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb




    _______________________________________________
    Via the ANS mailing list courtesy of AMSAT-NA https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/ans

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