[jamsat-news:2480] ANS-097 AMSAT Weekly Bulletins

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-097

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:
* Dayton Forums Schedule
* AMSAT Booth Volunteers
* DelfiC3 Update
* AMSAT Room Block at Dayton
* AO-51 Update
* ARISS Status - 24 March 2008


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-097.01
Dayton Forums Schedule

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 097.01
   From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
April 6, 2008
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-097.01

AMSAT Forum at Dayton Hamvention  0900-1130 Saturday, May 17
Forum Room 5
We have a great lineup of speakers for the AMSAT Fourm at Dayton this
year.  The forum will concentrate on discussing AMSAT projects and
activites for this year.

Moderator:  Barry A. Baines, WD4ASW  AMSAT Corporate Secretary &
VP-Special Projects

Rick Hambly, W2GPS AMSAT President and Robert Davis, KF4KSS  AMSAT
Director-Spacecraft Integration and Lab Manager, "AMSAT Update".  Rick
will present a status report on the Intelsat Negotiations, a brief
update on Eagle,  and AMSAT-DL's Phase 3-E Project.  Bob will provide an
overview of AMSAT's new Integration Lab in Pocomoke, MD as well as
discuss the HASP (High Altitude Student Payload) and Cubesat Projects
that are under development at the Lab.

Gould Smith, WA4SXM, AMSAT VP-Member & User Services, Andrew
Glasbrenner, KO4MA AMSAT VP-Operations, and Mark Hammond, N8MH AMSAT
Command Station, "AMSAT Satellite Operations Update" which will provide
an overview of AO-51 as well as highlight how AO-16 has been
reconfigured as a voice repeater satellite.

Matt Ettus, N2MJI, ACP System Engineer and Michelle Thompson, W5NYV ACP
Ground Station Development Engineer, "AMSAT's Advanced Communications
Package (ACP)".  Matt and Michelle will provide an overview of the new
communications system currently under development for Eagle and a
potential payload package to be placed on a commercial geostationary
satellite.  ACP is designed to provide emergency communications using
portable ground stations as well as make it possible for amateurs living
in areas with CC&R restrictions to be able to communicate via our next
generation satellite.   They will explain why ACP is being developed and
discuss both the work being done on the payload as well as the ground
station component that is being developed concurrently.

Frank Bauer, KA3HDO  AMSAT Director-Manned Space Programs, "A Ham Radio
Operator's View of ARISS".  Frank will outline several new initiatives
under development for Amateur Radio on the International Space Station
(ARISS) that will interest amateur radio operators as well as provide an
overview of SuitSat-2 currently under development.


[ANS thanks Gould, WA4SXM, for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-097.02
AMSAT Booth Volunteers

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 097.02
   From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
April 6, 2008
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-097.02

AMSAT Booth Volunteers for Dayton 2008

I am looking for volunteers to help in the AMSAT booth during the 2008
Dayton Hamvention, May 16-18.  I would like people to volunteer for 2
hour shifts on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  Multiple shifts are
welcome.  I also need help with booth setup and take down on Thursday
May 15 and Sunday May 18.  With enough people we have been able to setup
and take down the booth in 3 - 4 hours ( or less).  Please volunteer to
Gould, WA4SXM at his callsign@amsat.org.  This is a great opportunity to
give back to AMSAT and to have an enjoyable time talking with other
AMSAT members and future members.

[ANS thanks Gould, WA4SXM, for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-097.03
DelfiC3 Update

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 097.03
   From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
April 6, 2008
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-097.03

DelfiC3 Provisional launch date April 21st

April 4th, 2008
Greetings from the clean room at Sriharikota!

The Delfi-C3 checkout team has safely arrived at the launch site
in India, and we are currently performing all checks on the space-
craft.

So far, everything  goes as planned and we have found no problems.
Unfortunately, photography is not allowed on the base so you'll have
to use your imagination for now. Meanwhile, we will try to keep you
updated by posting text-only blog entries.

At this very moment, the team is building up the satellite into launch
configuration, which means attaching the solar panels, the wireless
sun sensors, and applying the final pieces of thermal tape and locking
glue. All major health checks have been successfully completed up to
this point so we know the spacecraft is in good health.

The linear transponder was tested for the last time before launch, and
it worked just fine.
Frequencies:
*   Primary telemetry downlink: 145.870 MHz 1200 Baud BPSK AX.25 400mW
*   Backup telemetry downlink: 145.930 MHz 1200 Baud BPSK AX.25 400mW
*   Linear transponder passband downlink: 145.880 - 145.920 MHz (inverting)
400mW PEP
*   Linear transponder passband uplink: 435.570 - 435.530 MHz
*   Transponder mode beacon: 145.870 MHz CW (10dB below transponder PEP)

Monitor http://www.delfic3.nl/photoblog/ for updates!

[ANS thanks Wouter Jan Ubbels VU/PE4WJ for the above information]


/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-097.04
AMSAT Room Block at Dayton

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 097.04
   From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
April 6, 2008
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-097.04

Once again, Dayton is about 6 weeks away.  If you plan to attend,
we have a block of rooms reseved every year for our group.
Please call Martha with C/C info and the days you plan to be there
and she will make the reservations for you.

[ANS thanks Martha for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-097.05
AO-51 Update

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 097.05
   From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
April 6, 2008
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-097.05

AO-51 is running less power than last week.

Gould, WA4SXM, AO-51 Command station reported that the transmitter
power levels on AO-51 have been reduced.

1) The SQRX receiver is on for L band uplink for the bulletin board
2) We are starting to enter a new eclipse cycle this week.

TX B (analog)  is 700 mW  (was 820 mW)
TX A (digital) is 550 mW  (was 550 mW)

We will reduce power slowly until mid June (eclipse length maximum),
then slowly increase it until early Sept when we will again enter a
no eclipse period for a number of months.

[ANS thanks Gould, WA4SXM for the above information]


/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-097.06
ARISS Status - April 3, 2008

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 097.06
   From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
April 6, 2008
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-097.06

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Status Report


1.	Upcoming School Contacts


An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact has
been scheduled with Osnovna skola Pazin in Pazin, Croatia on Monday,
April 7 at 14:52 UTC. Eight hundred students are enrolled at the school
which has offered technical classes in robotics, electronics and
computer science for the past ten years. Students from PazinÃÔ two high
schools are also expected to attend this event. The schools hope to
pique the studentsinterest in space and electronics through this
educational activity.

2.	Kodomo Contact Successful

Youth from the Kodomo Support Project in Kyoto, Japan participated in a
successful Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS)
contact on Wednesday, March 26. One hundred thirty parents and community
members watched as eighteen children asked astronaut Garrett Reisman,
KE5HAE, twenty questions before the ISS went over the horizon.  Three
television stations, including NHK, the Japan Broadcasting Corporation,
and seven newspapers covered the event. To view a video of the contact,
go to: http://www.ariss.jp/kyoto/Kyoto.wmv

3.	Shukor Crew Debrief Held

An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) crew debrief
was held on Tuesday, March 25. Spaceflight participant Sheikh Muszaphar
Shukor, 9W2MUS provided the team with feedback on his experience with
ARISS contacts while onboard the ISS.

4.	Articles Cover Upcoming Garriott Activities

Articles have been posted covering the educational activities that
Richard Garriott, W5KWQ, has planned while onboard the International
Space Station. These activities include contacting children at the
Challenger Learning Centers and taking part in amateur radio contacts.
Prior to flight, children can take part in a contest creating a design
for a patch. Spaceref.com and the Challenger Center articles may be
viewed here: http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=25010
http://www.challenger.org/programs/garriottdownlinks.cfm

5.	Astronaut Training Status

An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) training
session has been planned for astronauts Bob Thirsk, VA3CSA, and Chris
Hadfield, KC5RNJ/VA3OOG, on Thursday, April 17. Thirsk is a scheduled
crew member on Expedition 19; Hadfield is his back-up.


[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,
Dee Interdonato, NB2F
nb2f at amsat dot org











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