[jamsat-news:2832] ANS-257 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-157

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

**********************************************************************
*            NOTICE: BoD Nominations Due June 15                     *
* It is time to submit nominations for the upcoming open seats on    *
* the AMSAT-NA Board of Directors. A nomination requires either      *
* one Member Society or five current individual members to nominate  *
* an AMSAT member for the position. Three director's terms expire    *
* this year: Tom Clark, K3IO, Lou McFadin, W5DID and Gould Smith,    *
* WA4SXM. Nominations must be in writing and mailed to: AMSAT,       *
* 850 Sligo Ave #600, Silver Spring MD 20910. They can arrive no     *
* later than June 15th.                                              *
**********************************************************************

In this edition:

* AMSAT-NA 2010 Symposium Announcement
* China President Hu Jintao Visits HO-68 Operation
* AO-51 Operations Team Says New Power Control Settings
* AMSAT-OH Reports P3E S/X Band Transponder Prototype Operational
* Canberran Students Enjoy ARISS Ham Radio Contact
* AMSAT-India Announces Re-Organization
* AMSAT Awards
* New Items at the AMSAT Online Store
* AO-51 Operations Team Announces Field Day Schedule

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-157.01
AMSAT-NA 2010 Symposium Announcement

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 157.01
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
June 6, 2010
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-157.01

AMSAT announces the 2010 AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual Meeting 
will be held on Friday, October 8 through Sunday, October 10. This 
year we have selected the Chicago/Elk Grove Holiday Inn which is 
near O'Hare Airport for the event. This is the same hotel that 
recently has hosted the Central States VHF Conference, Digital 
Communications Conference and NIDXCC events.

All Amateur Radio Operators interested in space communications are
invited to participate in the Symposium offerings including:

+ Space Symposium with Amateur Satellite Presentations 
+ Operating Techniques, News, & Plans from the Amateur Satellite World 
+ Board of Directors Meeting open to AMSAT members 
+ Meet Board Members and Officers 
+ Annual General Membership Meeting 
+ Annual Banquet-Keynote Speaker and Door Prizes
+ President's Club Reception
+ Area Coordinator's Breakfast

The Chicago/Elk Grove Holiday Inn is located at 1000 Busse Road,
Elk Grove, IL (near O'Hare Airport with free hourly shuttles). 
The room rate and reservation information will be announced shortly.

Also with the 2010 Symposium Announcement please keep in mind the
Call For Papers:

This is the first call for papers for the 2010 AMSAT Space Symposium
and Annual Meeting. The Symposium Committee invites proposals for:

+ Papers for publication in the Proceedings
+ Symposium Presentations 
+ Poster Presentations 
+ Equipment and Operating Demonstrations

These can be on any topic of interest to the amateur satellite 
community. We request a tentative title of your presentation as 
soon as possible, with final copy submitted by September 1, 2010 
for inclusion in the printed proceedings. 

Abstracts and papers should be sent to JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM at 
k9jkm@comcast.net. Dan Schultz, N8FGV will assist as Co-Editor of
the Proceedings.

Watch http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/symposium/2010/index.php
for more news as it becomes available.

[ANS thanks the 2010 Symposium Committee for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-157.02
China President Hu Jintao Visits HO-68 Operation

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 157.02
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
June 6, 2010
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-157.02

Michael Chen, BD5RV/1 reported that on May 31 he, along with BA1DU, 
BG1TTA, BA1EO, BG1HOB accompanied Chinese President Hu Jintao as he
visited the amateur satellite station set up in the China Science 
and Technology Museum in Beijing. Several children was operating 
HO68 while the president was watching. Michael reported, "He encour-
aged them for further activities and confirmed the positive effects 
of amateur satellites."

AMSAT-China Web Page: http://www.camsat.cn

[ANS thanks Michael Chen, BD5RV/1 for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-157.03
AO-51 Operations Team Says New Power Control Settings

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 157.03
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
June 6, 2010
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-157.03

AMSAT-NA VP Operations, Drew KO4MA reported on the current status 
of AO-51. The satellite is currently operational with the main V/U 
repeater, 67 Hz PL enabled.

June 1 - June 21 FM Repeater, V/U
Uplink:   145.920 Mhz FM, PL 67Hz
Downlink: 435.300 Mhz FM

The power management routine adjusts the power output in three stages 
based on illumination state and battery voltage. The high setting is 
1.57 watts. The mid-setting is at 290 mw, and the low setting is off. 

During passes over the eastern US, especially in the morning, the Op-
erations Team has been collecting telemetry on the 435.150 transmitter, 
so users may have heard the power levels toggle on 435.300. The rest 
of the time outside of eclipse it should be pretty steadily at the high 
setting. Soon after entering eclipse, if in use, the transmitter will 
shut off. Please do not use AO-51 when it is in eclipse.

Eclipses continue to lengthen until about July 1, then drop back to 
zero by the third week of August. This last period of continuous 
illumination will last until January 2011. AO-51 will likely only be 
operational while illuminated after this date.

Drew thanks Mark Hammond N8MH, Kevin Schuchmann WA6FWF, and Jim White 
WD0E for their help with the satellite during this period of rearrang-
ing our operational plan, and learning new tricks to keep AO-51 
available as much as possible. We are approaching 6 years in orbit!

[ANS thanks AMSAT-NA VP Operations, Drew KO4MA for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-157.04
AMSAT-OH Reports P3E S/X Band Transponder Prototype Operational

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 157.04
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
June 6, 2010
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-157.04

Michael, OH2AUE has written the latest news of the AMSAT-OH S/X band 
coherent/linear transponder for P3E project. The Coherent mode is a 
fully functional testbed for the P5A ranging transponder.

The Finnish team meets on a regular basis every 4 - 6 weeks for 
testing and to followup on the work of each individual. The team has
assembled the linear transponder prototype and verified it with over-
the-air tests and laboratory tests. Flight versions of the submodules
are being produced at this time with the goal of integrating them and
cabling the S/X transponder.

Full verification of the Coherent Mode is awaiting a fully functional 
command station AND a functional IHU + CAN environment. Preliminary 
testing and evaluation of the Coherent Processor have shown proper oper-
ation of the design and circuitry (e.g. locking onto a "modulated" 
uplink carrier, tracking this etc.).

The general design, block diagrams, and photos can be found on-line at:
http://www.rats.fi/rats/amsat-oh/  It is currently in Finnish but the
team hopes you will enjoy it.

This transponder is especially complex as you can see from these key 
on figures on the web page:

     * 9 different local oscillators
     * All local oscillators locked to the common 10 MHz USO
     * 21 different frequency mixers
     * 13 different intermediate frequencies
     * Linear Mode output power on 10 GHz: 3 W PEP
     * P5A Mode output power on 10 GHz:  1 mW PEP
     * 38 control lines on the CAN interfaces
     * 2 CAN interfaces, one in multiplexed mode
     * 4 dedicated direct control lines interfacing with the IHU
     * 14 analogue telemetry lines to the CAN bus
     * Coherent Mode Uplink/Downlink ratio is fixed at 30:7

Michael concludes, "Our team sincerely hopes funding will eventually be 
found for P3E/P5A - this is the only thing that keeps us motivated to 
continue our work. On the other hand we are clearly behind schedule, so 
the delays are welcome. But then again, any news of progress would boost 
our production rate phenomenally!"

[ANS thanks Michael, OH2AUE for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-157.05
Canberran Students Enjoy ARISS Ham Radio Contact

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 157.05
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
June 6, 2010
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-157.05

A very successful Amateur Radio on the International Space Station 
(ARISS) was completed this week. Jim Linton, VK3PC provided this
information to the SouthGate ARC News site; the story is reprinted
below:

Ten students from the Trinity Christian School at Wanniassa in the 
Australian Capital Territory made history at the weekend with the 
first Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) pro-
gram contact to be held in Canberra.

The event was part of the Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) 
centenary dinner attended by 200 people including international 
guests, Australian Communications and Media Authority Chairman Chris 
Chapman, and WIA Centenary Patron Dick Smith VK2DIK.

A telebridge ON4ISS in Belgium (operator Philippe Van houte, ON5PV) 
made the contact with ARISS Asia-Pacific Coordinator, Tony Hutchison 
VK5ZAI at the controls in Canberra for the contact on Saturday, 29 May.

The audience remained quiet and listened intently as the Year 12 stu-
dents asked Astronaut and Flight Engineer Tracy Caldwell-Dyson KF5DBF, 
on her assignment on the space station, a series of questions.

The session began with a brief speech by Tracy who congratulated the 
WIA on its centenary and commented briefly on amateur radio's history 
and amateur satellites.

Student William Shaw, asked: When you are in space, are you "above" 
the law? If there was a legal issue that arose on the space station 
which nation's law would apply?

Tracy replied that she did not foresee that there would be a legal 
problem on the space station and added that there were controls on 
what could occur in space.

Another student, Elizabeth Shen, asked about living is space with 
zero gravity, its effects on the body and whether there were changes 
to the normal blood pressure and pulse rate.

It was learnt in Tracy's response that the crew are constantly moni-
tored, there are effects and rehabilitation on return to earth can 
take up to three months.

In other questions the topics of sleeping in an environment with 16 
sunrises and sunsets a day, space walking - Tracy is to have that 
experience soon - and the potential for collision with solid matter 
in space.

After the ARISS contact Elizabeth Shen and William Shaw said they were 
both extremely impressed by the efforts made by astronauts to qualify 
and fly in space, giving them encouragement to strive in their chosen 
careers.

Elizabeth, aged 17 added: 'The opportunity to speak to someone above 
the space station was one of the best experiences in her life.'

While William, aged 18, said 'It was really cool to be able to talk to 
someone who is in a completely different situation - with the zero grav-
ity and what not.'

Trinity Christian School Principal, Carl Palmer VK2TP/VK1TP was justi-
fiably very proud of his students.

WIA President Michael Owen VK3KI presented each with a participation 
certificate. WIA Centenary Patron Dick Smith VK2DIK - aviator, advent-
urer and entrepreneur - shook their hands, spoke to them about their 
experience and had his photograph taken with them.

Originally posted at: SouthGateARC http://tinyurl.com/22lxg2d

Wireless Institute of Australia posting, including contact audio:
http://tinyurl.com/2dubf7a

[ANS thanks Jim Linton, VK3PC; Richard Brunton, G4TUT; and the 
 Southgate ARC for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-157.06
AMSAT-India Announces Re-Organization

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 157.06
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
June 6, 2010
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-157.06

Nitin, VU3TYG, Secretary, AMSAT-India reported on a May 26 reorgan-
ization of the post of President and Vice-President for AMSAT-India
Organization update for post of President and Vice President.

Current president Air Commodore Suby, VU2UV stepped down from the
post citing health reasons. As a result, Ramesh, VU2RMS has taken
the role of President, AMSAT-India.

Dr. Ved Prakash Sandlas, VU2VP was elected Vice-President, AMSAT-India.

AMSAT-India thanked Suby, VU2UV for his guidance to AMSAT-India during
his tenure. Suby will continue to hold a seat on the core committee.

[ANS thanks Nitin, VU3TYG, Secretary, AMSAT-India for the above 
 information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-157.07
AMSAT Awards

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 157.07
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
June 6, 2010
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-157.07

AMSAT Director Contests and Awards, Bruce Paige, KK5DO says congrat-
ulations are in order for these Amateur Radio Operators:

The following have entered into the Satellite Communicators Club for 
making their first satellite QSO:

Brennan Price, N4QX
John Neeley, W6ZKH
Ed Empey, WA7ETH
Jennifer Melfi, KC2TMA

The following have earned the AMSAT Communications Achievement Award:

Larry Teran, KI6YAA, #512
John Neeley, W6KZH, #513
Gerry Krebs, N0JE, #514
Hugh Empey, W7ETH, #515

The following have earned the W4AMI Achievement Award for 1000 
contacts:
Evangelos Kafetzopoulos, SV1EEK, endorsement from 3000 to 4000

The following have earned the W4AMI Achievement Award for 5000 
contacts:
Evangelos Kafetzopoulos, SV1EEK, #23

The following have earned the South Africa AMSAT Communications 
Achievement Award

Larry Teran, KI6YAA, #US145
Gerry Krebs, N0JE, #US146
Hugh Empey, WA7ETH, #US147

To see all the awards visit http://www.amsat.org.

[ANS thanks AMSAT Director Contests and Awards, Bruce Paige, KK5DO 
 for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-157.08
New Items at the AMSAT Online Store

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 157.08
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
June 6, 2010
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-157.08

Wearing his AMSAT On-line Store Manager hat, Bruce Paige, KK5DO 
says he has added the following items to the AMSAT online store:

2010 Red Baseball Cap with AMSAT logo
2010 Gold ARISSat-1 Tee Shirt
2010 Tan AMSAT Golf Shirt
2010 Getting Started with Amateur Satellites
AMSAT - The First Forty Years
2010 Laminated Frequency Guide

If you are interested in any of the limited supply items, now is 
the time to order. Visit the AMSAT Online Store at: 
http://www.amsat-na.com/store/categories.php

[ANS thanks Bruce, KK5DO for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-157.09
AO-51 Operations Team Announces Field Day Schedule

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 157.09
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
June 6, 2010
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-157.09

It's that time of year again; summer and Field Day! Each year 
the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) sponsors Field Day as an 
emergency preparedness exercise.  The event takes place during 
a 24-hour period on the fourth weekend of June. 

For 2010 the event takes place during a 27-hour period from 1800 UTC 
on Saturday June 26, 2010 through 2100 UTC on Sunday June 27, 2010. 
Those who set up prior to 1800 UTC on June 26 can operate only 24 
hours.  

The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT) promotes its own 
version of Field Day for operation via the amateur satellites, 
held concurrently with the ARRL event.

AMSAT Field Day Rules are available on-line at:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/awards/amsatfd.php
This page also includes instructions on how to report your score.

AMSAT-NA VP Operations, Drew KO4MA says the AO-51 Command Team and 
Operations Group has announced the AO-51 configuration for Field Day:

June 21 10:40Z - June 24 09:35Z FM Repeater, V/S to allow testing
of V/S station equipment prior to Field Day:
  Uplink:    145.880 Mhz FM
  Downlink: 2401.200 Mhz FM

June 24 09:35Z - June 27 06:40Z FM Repeater, V/U
Please observe the 1 QSO per repeater Field Day rule
  Uplink:   145.920 Mhz FM, PL 67Hz
  Downlink: 435.300 Mhz FM

June 27 06:40 - June 27 22:00Z FM Repeater, V/S
Please observe the 1 QSO per repeater Field Day rule
  Uplink:    145.880 Mhz FM
  Downlink: 2401.200 Mhz FM

June 27 22:00Z - July 5 FM Repeater, V/U
Post-Field Day Configuration
  Uplink:   145.920 Mhz FM, PL 67Hz
  Downlink: 435.300 Mhz FM

AO-51 Echo Mode Suggestion Email Address is: ao51-modes@amsat.org

The latest AO-51 Command Team and Operations Group News can be found
on-line at: http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/echo/CTNews.php


[ANS thanks the UNITEC-1 Team, AMSAT-DL, AMSAT-UK, and the SouthGate
 site 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. And with that,
please keep in mind this advice to a student pilot, "A thunderstorm is 
never as bad on the inside as it appears on the outside. It's worse!
If you push the stick forward, the houses get bigger, if you pull the 
stick back they get smaller. Try to keep the number of your landings 
equal to the number of your takeoffs."


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