[jamsat-news:2029] ANS-107 AMSAT Weekly Bulletins

ANS-107

ANS is a free, weekly, news and information service of AMSAT North
America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS 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.

Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to:

ans-editor@amsat.org

In this edition:
* ARISS Chairman Presentation at Dayton
* AMSAT Awards Issued
* PCSAT2 One Step Closer to Launch
* ARISS Status - 11 April 2005


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-107.01
ARISS Chairman Presentation at Dayton

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 107.01
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
April 17, 2005
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-107.01

ARISS Chairman Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, will speak at the Dayton Hamvention
2005, which is being held in Dayton, Ohio on May 20 - 22. He will
present, "Human Spaceflight Update (ARISS & Future Exploration
Initiatives)," at the AMSAT Forum.  To view the schedule of AMSAT events
at the Dayton Hamvention, see:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/articles/Dayton2005/

[ANS thanks Carol, KB3LKI for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-107.02
AMSAT Awards Issued

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 107.02
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
April 17, 2005
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-107.02

This week, congratulations go out to all of the following. 

Shawn Rullens, KA3DQD, Satellite Communicators Club
Sonoran Sky Elementary School, KA7SKY, Satellite Communicators Club

Howard Merritt, KD7ZLF, Satellite Communication Achievement Award #414

Perry Yantis, WB8OTH, 51 on 51 Award #20
Pedro Cruz, CU2JX, 51 on 51 Award #21

[ANS thanks Bruce, KK5DO for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-107.03
PCSAT2 One Step Closer to Launch

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 107.03
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
April 17, 2005
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-107.03

With the Space Shuttle Discovery and PCSAT2 now at the launch pad,
workers at Kennedy Space Center in Florida successfully completed the
next crucial step in the Space Shuttle's Return to Flight -- a tanking
test of Discovery's redesigned External Tank.

On Thursday, 14 April 2005, the launch team successfully performed an
11-hour External Tank integrated tanking test. The test also readied
Discovery's main propulsion system; allowed technicians operating the
hardware to gain first-hand experience on the redesigned tank; and
allowed crews to evaluate the overall operation of ground systems in
preparation for launch of Discovery's Return to Flight mission (STS-114)
planned for next month.

For more information and pictures about PCSAT2 visit 
http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/pcsat2.html

[ANS thanks NASA for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-107.04
ARISS Status - 11 April 2005

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 107.04
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
April 17, 2005
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-107.04

1. NASA Explorer School Contact Successful

On April 8, a NASA Explorer School, Flory Academy, in Moorpark,
California, experienced a successful contact with the ISS via the
telebridge station, NN1SS, in Greenbelt, Maryland.  A phone line,
donated by MCI, made the contact possible.  Leroy Chiao, KE5BRW,
answered 15 questions posed by twelve students, as an audience of
approximately 700 students, teachers, parents and others assembled in
Flory's auditorium. The Aerospace Education Specialist (AESP) Ota Lutz
coordinated the radio contact, and Flory teacher Pat Bachamp reported
that all grades K- 5 participated in many space activities prior to the
event.   Media coverage included television, radio stations and
newspapers. The Ventura County Star ran a web story on the event. To
view the article, you must first register with their site. "Students,
astronaut converse through space," can be found at:
http://www.venturacountystar.com/vcs/mo/article/0,1375,VCS_167_3687880,00.html


2. ARRL Article on Science Discovery Center Contact

An ARISS contact was scheduled for Pecan Creek Elementary School through
the Science Discovery Center in Denton, Texas. Students spoke to
astronaut Leroy Chiao, asking him 17 questions about life in space. ARRL
ran an article covering the March 29 contact entitled, "Texas Youngsters
Log 170th ARISS School Group QSO."  See:
http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2005/04/06/1/?nc=1 


3. New Russian QSL Card

The Russians have printed a limited number of new radio contact
confirmation (QSL) cards which have pictures of each of the 10
Expedition crews on one side and a list of the callsigns on the other.
Once Expedition 11 is safely on board the ISS, a new batch will be
printed, which will include the photo of the new crew, as well.  To view
the card, see: http://qsl.ru/portfolio/rs0iss.htm

[ANS thanks Carol, KB3LKI for the above information]

/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 additional
benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office.

73,
This weeks ANS Editor,
Lee McLamb, KU4OS
ku4os at amsat dot org
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