[jamsat-news:2276] ANS-295 AMSAT Weekly Bulletins

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-295

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:

* Japanese HITSAT Designated as HO-59
* AO-27 Still Silent
* OSCAR-11 Heard Again
* Tax Deductible Gifts to AMSAT
* Satellite DX Opportunities for Africa and Asia
* Good News From Ariane 5 Launch
* NASA Offers Challenge to K-12 Students
* ARISS Status for the Week of October 16, 2006

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-295.01
Japanese HITSAT Designated as HO-59

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 295.01
 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
October 22, 2006
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-295.01

AMSAT's OSCAR Designation Coordinator, Bill Tynan, W3XO announced this
week that the Japanese HITSAT satellite has been given an OSCAR number.

Bill wrote to the HITSAT Team at the Hokkaido Institute of Technology,
"By the authority vested in me by the AMSAT-NA President, I am pleased
to issue an OSCAR number for the HIT-SAT amateur radio satellite. From
what I can determine, HIT-SAT complies with all of the requirements for
an OSCAR number.  Therefore, HIT-SAT will henceforth be known as
HIT-SAT-OSCAR-59 or HO-59."

Bill concluded with, "AMSAT-NA and I wish to congratulate you and your
entire team for the successful construction, testing and launching of
HIT-SAT. Your work inspires others to follow your lead."

The CubeSat has the callsign JR8YJT.  At present it is transmitting
CW telemetry on 437.275 MHz with a transmitter power of 100 mW.  The
1200 baud FM Packet downlink on 437.425 MHz is active only when the
satellite is over Japan.

Once it's fully operational, HIT-SAT will permit Earth station opera-
tors to request certain parameters by transmitting DTMF commands on
the 145.980 MHz uplink. The satellite can report back time/date, temp-
erature and power supply voltages and thank the Earth station by call
sign. Only HIT-SAT ground station controllers can access the satellite
at this point, however.

[ANS thanks Bill Tynan, W3XO for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-295.02
AO-27 Still Silent

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 295.02
 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
October 22, 2006
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-295.02

Michael, N3UC, one of AO-27's controllers reported on October 17, "For
the last 5 weeks ground controllers have been trying to contact AO-27.
At this point we have not been able to turn it on. We still have a few
tricks that we are planning on trying but these take time. We are hoping
that we can re-establish communications.  At this time, we don't have an
estimate for when AO-27 will be back on the air.  The satellite is now
in its 14th year on orbit. We will continue to try to recover AO-27
until we run out of ideas."

AO-27 was last heard in May 2006 prior to its entering its eclipse
season. When the satellite's solar cells were not receiving enough
illumination it meanth the batteries are dropping below the watchdog
values and turning off the controller schedule.

The latest AO-27 information can be found on-line at:
http://www.ao27.org.

[ANS thanks Michael, N3UC for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-295.03
OSCAR-11 Heard Again

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 295.03
 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
October 22, 2006
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-295.03

Clive, G3CWV reports that OSCAR-11 is back!  He said, "It was first
heard by Peter ZL3TC, October 18, and later by Paul KB5MU.  It had
been silent since August 26. Many thanks for those reports."

OSCAR-11 requires illumination of its solar panels to work.  Clive
continued, "I heard very strong signals on October 19 07:28 UTC pass.
If the watchdog cycle continues to operate normally, the 145.826 MHz.
beacon should transmit until around 28 October."

More OSCAR-11 information can be found at Clive's website:
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/clivew/

[ANS thanks Clive, G3CWV for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-295.04
Tax Deductible Gifts to AMSAT

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 295.04
 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
October 22, 2006
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-295.04

Gunther, W8GSM, AMSAT Treasurer said this week, "Often AMSAT
members have asked if they can make a contribution to AMSAT via
their local United Way drive?"

According to Leslie J. Talley, Director, Community and Public
Sector Workplace Campaigns at the National U-W office who informed
Gunther that there are NO national agencies within U-W. Every agency
that wishes to be eligible to receive donations must go through that
local U-W campaign office and seek approval.

Gunther continues, "With that in mind, I would encourage anyone who
wishes to make such a gift to call their local U-W director and ask
if they will allow such a gift to AMSAT.  AMSAT does not have the
staff to canvas the country and establish these hundreds of relation-
ships."

One alternative is to just reduce your U-W gift and write a check
to AMSAT. Both are tax deductible as charitable donations. (Check
with your individual tax advisor to review your specific circumstances
and deductibility).

U.S. Federal Employees - Again this year AMSAT is a member of the
Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). The mission of the CFC is to promote
and support philanthropy through a program that is employee focused,
cost-efficient, and effective in providing all federal employees the
opportunity to improve the quality of life for all. As the world's
largest and most successful annual workplace giving campaign, each year,
more than 300 CFC campaigns throughout the country and internationally
help to raise millions of dollars for eligible non-profit organizations.

Gunther Meisse, AMSAT treasurer has announced that any Federal employee
can make a contribution to your Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation when
they complete their pledge for 2006.

AMSAT is listed as Agency Number CFC 2944

Your contribution directly supports AMSAT's educational outreach and
satellite construction projects including work on AMSAT-Eagle. Pledges
may be made by Federal civilian, postal and military donors during the
campaign season. 

The campaign runs from September 1st to December 15th, 2006.

To learn more about CFC visit the CFC website at:
http://www.opm.gov/cfc/


[ANS thanks Gunther, W8GSM for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-295.05
Satellite DX Opportunities for Africa and Asia

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 295.05
 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
October 22, 2006
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-295.05

Nicolas F4EGX announced he will be active on satellites during his
travel to the Archipelago of Crozet from Possession Island between
mid-November to early December 2006.  During his spare time, he will
operate FT1WM on the amateur radio satellites.

South Africa, Madagascar, Mauritius and the Antarctic will be within
range for contacts from Crozet via AO-51, SO-50, and the ISS reapeter if
it is active.  Possible digital activity via ISS or PCSAT-1 will be
attempted.

More information is available at:
http://f4avi.homelinux.net/f4egx/cro2006.html.

A satellite DX opportunity for Asian satellite operators was received
this week.  The TAMSAT Group and Siam DX Group have announced a trip to
Cambodia during November 20-26, 2006.  The group will use an XU7
callsign from Seehanuview or Kumpongsom. QSOs are planned for the FO-29,
SO-50, AO-51, and VO-52 in CW, SSB, FM modes, as appropriate.
Additional information will be available on the group's website at:
http://www.tamsat.org/bb.

[ANS thanks Nicolas, F4EGX for the Crozet information and Tanan, HS1JAN
for the Cambodia information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-295.06
Good News From Ariane 5 Launch

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 295.06
 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
October 22, 2006
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-295.06

The fourth Ariane 5 launch Of 2006 performed flawlessly. On 13 October
2006, an Ariane 5 ECA launcher lifted off from Europe's Spaceport in
French Guiana on its mission to place two satellites into geostationary
transfer orbits and deploy a demonstration antenna. The satellites were
accurately injected into the correct transfer orbits about 30 minutes
later.

The payload satellites were DIRECTV 9S, which will supply television
broadcast services to the contiguous United States of America, Alaska
and Hawaii, and Optus D1, which will provide fixed communications and
satellite broadcast services over Australia and New Zealand.

The mission also carried an additional passenger, mounted on the Ariane
Structure for Auxiliary Payloads (ASAP) platform at the base of the
payload stack. The Japanese Space Agency's LDREX-2, a 1/25th scale
version of an antenna that will be used on the ETS-8 engineering test
satellite, was flown to validate the deployment process of the
lightweight reflector.

[ANS thanks SpaceDaily.com for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-295.07
NASA Offers Challenge to K-12 Students

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 295.07
 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
October 22, 2006
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-295.07

The International Space Station is growing, and NASA's Node 2
is the next U.S. pressurized module scheduled for installation
on the orbiting laboratory. The node will provide more room for
station crews to live and work, but it needs a name.

Students in kindergarten through grade 12 attending U.S. schools
and children of American personnel overseas are being asked to
help NASA name the module and become part of the history of the
station. The module is at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., and
is targeted for launch in late 2007. The node will be a connecting
port and passageway to additional international science labs and
space supply vehicles. It also will be a work platform for the
station's robotic arm.

Name the International Space Station Node 2 Challenge requires
students to work together as a class or school to create their
own Node 2 model. Students will name their node, write a brief
description explaining the choice and take digital pictures to
send to NASA.

The submitted image of the model will not be judged, but it will
be the ticket to enter the name challenge. Submissions will be
reviewed by a panel of NASA scientists, engineers and educators.
The deadline to submit model images and names is Dec. 1. The winning
entry will be announced in early 2007. To register a school or
class, teachers or administrators should send an email to:
NASA-ESC@nasa.gov.

For information about Node 2, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/elements/node2.html

For additional information about the Space Station Node 2 Challenge,
visit: http://esc.nasa.gov

[ANS thanks NASA for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-295.08
ARISS Status for the Week of October 16, 2006

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 295.08
 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
October 22, 2006
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-295.08

1. Upcoming School Contacts

The school contact that was tentatively planned for the end of October
was not approved due to the Progress 23P docking and related activities.
ARISS continues to work on scheduling school contacts for Expedition 14.

2. ARISS International Meeting Held

The ARISS International Team meeting was held in San Francisco on Monday
and Tuesday, October 9 10 and a SuitSat-2 technical discussion took
place on October 8. Presentations given included delegate reports from
each region, onboard radio systems, and slow scan television (SSTV).
Minutes and presentations will be posted to the AMSAT and ARISS websites
in the near future.

3. Expedition 13 Crew Debrief

The ARISS-U.S. team has compiled questions for the crew debrief with
Jeff Williams, KD5TVQ.  ARISS-Russia expects to speak with the crew this
week.

[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 week's ANS Editor,
JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM
K9JKM at amsat dot org





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