[jamsat-news:2845] Re: ANS-192 AMSAT Weekly Bulletins

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-192

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.

This is your chance to join in the ranks of AMSAT.  There is still an 
opening (or two) for someone to step in and assist with the ANS editing 
process.  If you are interested, please drop a line to Gould Smith,
WA4SXM@amsat.org.  There are many other volunteer slots and you can 
find them in the advertisement in the AMSAT Journal.  It takes many 
helpful hands to keep our group well oiled[lubricated]. (ed.)


Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to:

ans-editor@amsat.org

In this edition:
* NASA Releases Videogame Moonbase Alpha
* Phase-3E News
* Amateur satellite to investigate power line interference
* GO-32 Non-operational
* SO-67 Operation Temporally Suspended
* July 2010 AO-51 Schedule
* July 12-16 ARRL Teacher's Institute on the Satellites
* STudSat Launch
* ARISS Status - July 5, 2010


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-192.01
NASA Releases Videogame Moonbase Alpha

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 192.01
  From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
July 11, 2010
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-192.01

NASA Releases Videogame Moonbase Alpha

This week the MoonBaseAlphaGame.com and the MoonDaily.com web 
sites report that a free new online game, "Moonbase Alpha" has 
been released by NASA.

"Moonbase Alpha" allows players to join an exploration team in a futur-
istic 3D settlement on the south pole of the Moon where you assume the 
exciting role of an astronaut working to further human expansion and 
research," NASA said in an explanation of the game.

"Returning from a research expedition, you witness a meteorite impact 
that cripples the life support capability of the settlement. With pre-
cious minutes ticking away, you and your team must repair and replace 
equipment in order to restore the oxygen production to the settlement.
To accomplish their mission, players use an interactive command center, 
lunar rover and mobile robotic repair units", NASA said.

Moonbase Alpha can be played by one or up to six players. NASA said it 
is a precursor to a planned NASA-based "multiplayer online game project."
The game is available from the MoonbaseAlphaGame.com web page.

[ANS thanks MoonDaily.com and NASA for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-192.02
Phase-3E News

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 192.02
  From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
July 11, 2010
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-192.02

AMSAT-DL Meets With Germany's Space Agency

An earlier report by Achim Vollhardt, DH2VA, from the AMSAT-DL 
Annual General Meeting 2010 discussed the joint feasibility study 
by AMSAT-DL and DLR for lunar and Mars missions. DLR is Germany's 
national research center for aeronautics and space.

AMSAT-DL board members spent two weeks in the CEF (Concurrent 
Engineering Facility) of DLR in Bremen. Despite different views 
on the technical project management Dr. Achim Vollhardt described 
cooperation with the staff of the DLR as very constructive and 
mutually very useful.

The results of the study were presented in early May 2010 in a 
final presentation at the DLR in Cologne. Attendees included repre-
sentatives of the DLR program Directorate, Peter Guelzow, DB2OS, 
and Hartmut Paesler, DL1YDD. The results were received by all parti-
cipants as very positive and leading to further cooperation with the 
DLR. AMSAT-DL noted this was the first time the technical feasibility 
of their P5E Mars mission was confirmed by an independent team of 
experts.

Peter Guelzow sees the results of the study and the dialogue with 
politicians as an important foundation to the completion of P3E and 
as a strong argument for future negotiations with potential donors 
and launch operators.

[ANS thanks the SouthgateARC web site for the above information]


/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-192.03
Amateur satellite to investigate power line interference

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 192.03
  From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
July 11, 2010
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-192.03

Amateur satellite to investigate power line interference
Hans van de Groenendaal ZS6AKV will be giving a presentation on 
South Africa's first CubeSat at the 
AMSAT-UK Colloquium in Guildford, England, 
July 31- Aug 1

The world has experienced a long solar minimum which means that 
ionospheric communication had been very limited and for a few years 
was almost exclusively the domain of the commercial broadcasters 
running Megawatts.

HF radio communication is very susceptible to noise levels that are 
created by power lines, electrical installations and overhead lines 
used by trains and busses and power line telecommunication systems. 
If fact today there are many installation that do not necessarily 
comply with internationally agreed emission standards. With increasing 
solar activity interference signals are propagated over large areas 
and will interfere with HF communication.

The important mission of the SA AMSAT CubeSat is to measure the High 
Frequency noise levels over South Africa and report these measurement 
back to a ground station for analysis and action to reduce these 
unwanted signals. The information from the tiny satellite will identify 
the areas where the HF frequency polluters are situated and will help 
in reducing or eliminating the source.

It is also hoped to include a 30 kHz linear transponder and an 
Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS) in the CubeSat.


AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium, 
Guildford July 31 - Aug 1
http://www.uk.amsat.org/colloquium/


[ANS thanks Southgate for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-192.04
GO-32 Non-operational

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 192.04
  From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
July 11, 2010
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-192.04

Hi All,
I have received the UK copy of Oscar news and there is an article 
stating that GO-32 is now non-operational and has completed its 
11 year mission successful. However, due to the degraded state of 
the solar panels it cannot keep the software in a stable condition.

The ground operating station has asked that we mark this satellite as 
no longer able to support any continued operation.

It's a shame to hear as this was a great strong satellite for 
operating APRS on.

[ANS thanks Chris, M0DQO, for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-192.05
SO-67 Operation Temporally Suspended

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 192.05
  From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
July 11, 2010
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-192.05

Sumbandilasat SO-67 Operation Temporally Suspended

News posted on the SA-AMSAT web page (http://www.amsatsa.org.za/) 
reports, "Due to the erratic operation of the onboard computer, 
SO67 operations have been suspended while the ground station inves-
tigates the problem. It is expected that recent changes in the soft-
ware that operates the amateur payload could be the cause."

SA AMSAT will advise the amateur world when operation will be resumed.

SA AMSAT requested, "Once the green light is given, requests for opera-
tion over your area should be sent to saamsat@intekom.co.za by Mondays 
for possible inclusion in the schedule published on Thursday night/Fri-
day morning covering the following week. It may not always be possible 
to accede to every request. The weekly schedule will be published on 
the SA AMSAT web page at http://www.amsatsa.org.za/.

With recent changes in software please note the following operating 
procedure.

The PTT of the transmitter now STAYS ON for the duration of the payload 
activation (i.e. 15 min), regardless of a valid “transponder” tone rece-
ived. Note that this does not get rid of the “cut-off” problem, nor of 
the requirement to embed a valid tone when you want to use the payload – 
see detailed explanation below. 

The following example depicts the ideal usage scenario of the payload:

1. As the satellite comes over the horizon, an unmodulated carrier 
   (“quieting”) will be received by all on UHF.

2. Person A starts to transmit on VHF (with valid “transponding” tone 
   embedded in the transmission) and the transmission is relayed on UHF.

3. When Person A releases his/her PTT, the satellite will continue to 
   transmit what it is receiving (usually this will be “noise”) for a 
   further ±3s.  Nobody should start to transmit during this time!

4. At the end of the ±3s period, everybody will again hear the unmodul-
   ated carrier.

5. NB: only when this unmodulated carrier is heard should Person B start 
  to transmit.

In simple repeater operation terms, leave a 3 second gap between overs.

[ANS thanks SA AMSAT for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-192.06
July 2010 AO-51 Schedule

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 192.06
  From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
July 11, 2010
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-192.06

Command Team and Operations Group AO-51 News 
July 2010 AO-51 Schedule 

Due to poor battery condition, AO-51 will be off during 
eclipses. Until further notice the schedule will remain:

FM Repeater, V/U
Uplink: 145.920 Mhz FM, PL 67Hz
Downlink: 435.300 Mhz FM

The 67Hz PL tone is required to activate the repeater, 
which will run unsquelched for two minutes after hearing 
a valid tone. Within that two minute period, 
no tone is required.

73, Drew KO4MA 


AMSAT-NA VP Operations 

AO-51 Echo Mode Suggestion Email Address 

mailto:ao51-modes@amsat.org?subject=AO51%20web%20page%20request
The AO-51 Operations Group is made up of Amsat Members who are also 
AO-51 users. The Operations Group works with the Command Team to 
create the monthly schedule for the satellite. The AO-51 Operations 
Group is  OZ1MY, VK5HI, N8BBQ, KD8CAO. The Command Stations are 
KO4MA, WA4SXM, WA6FWF, and N8MH.
__________

[ANS thanks Mark, N8MH, for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-192.07
July 12-16 ARRL Teacher's Institute on the Satellites

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 192.07
  From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
July 11, 2010
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-192.07

July 12-16 ARRL Teacher's Institute on the Satellites

ARRL Education and Technology Program Coordinator, Mark Spencer, 
WA8SME will conduct the Dayton Amateur Radio Association sponsored 
ARRL TI-2 Teacher's Institute - Space next week in Dayton from July 
12 through 15.  

The purpose of this teacher's institute is to instruct teachers on 
how to access satellites for use in their classrooms.  The four day 
institute will involve a lot of on-the-air activity on the birds.  

Mark invites you to listen up for the teachers who will be working 
the birds for the first time and help participate in the TI by making 
contacts with them.  They will be novice satellite operators so he 
hopes you will forgive mistakes as they learn the ropes. It will be 
interesting to see how 8 ground stations operate from one location! 
(The stations consist of FT817s, ARROWS and computer controlled G5500
rotors.)

If anyone needs a contact with W1AW/8, Mark will be using that call 
sign periodically while doing some demonstrations during the TI. 
If you have a specific request, let Mark know via e-mail and he'll 
listen for your call specifically. Mark's address is mspencer@arrl.org.

[ANS thanks Mark, WA8SME for the above information]
\EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-192.08
STudSat Launch 

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 192.08
  From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
July 11, 2010
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-192.08

'StudSat' is to be launched aboard the Indian PSLV C 15 on 
12th July 2010. The lift off is at 03:52 Z and the StudSat 
is to be injected into orbit around 04:12 Z. The CW beacon 
would be 'ON' at 04:42 Z, ie 30 minutes after separation 
from the launcher.
Beacon Frequency is 437.861 Mhz (10 mW).
      During its first pass, around 04:50 Z, stations around 
west and North Mexico, Western Coast of US, Canada, Alaska, 
and North Asia would be able to receive the beacon signal.

      We request stations over these regions to kindly listen 
on to the beacon frequency and provide us with their valuable 
reports. These initial reports are the only means for us to 
confirm on the 'Beacon ON' until it is visible over VU land. 
This help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.


Mani, VU2WMY
Secretary & Station-In-Charge
Upagrah Amateur Radio Club VU2URC
ISRO Satellite Centre

A L S O...
The 51-hour countdown for the 17th flight launch of Indian space agency's 
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C 15 from Sriharikota spaceport is 
expected to begin on Saturday morning. 

Preparations were in full swing for the launch of the PSLV-C-15 on July 
12. All the parameters for the launch were doing well and the 51-hour 
countdown was expected to start at 6 am tomorrow.

TIsat-1:  Swiss CubeSat
Uplink:   145.980MHz FM, AFSK
Downlink: 437.305MHz FM, AFSK
Beacon:   437.305MHz CW
Callsign: HB9DE
http://www.spacelab.dti.supsi.ch/tiSat1.html

StudSat : India CubeSat
Uplink:   437.505MHz, 9600bps FSK
Downlink: 437.505MHz, 9600bps FSK
Beacon  : 437.505MHz,   20bps ASK
http://www.teamstudsat.com/

http://www.indianexpress.com/section/technology/698/
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/51hour-countdown-for-pslvc15-launch-starts
-tomorrow/644288/
http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/suitsfun.htm

JE9PEL, Mineo Wakita

[ANS Thanks Mani, VU2WMY, & Mineo, JE9PEL, for the above info]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-192.09
ARISS Status July 5, 2010

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 192.09
  From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
July 5, 2010
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-192.09

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Status Report
July 5, 2010

1.	Upcoming School Contact

Cavett Kids Foundation’s Camp Cavett, based out of OU Medical Center 
in Kingston, Oklahoma, was scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the 
International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Thursday, July 8 at 
20:35 UTC. The mission of the Cavett Kids Foundation is to provide a 
forum of support through various camps, events, and programs for 
children with life-threatening and chronic illnesses while promoting 
character, coping skills, and connection.  Using ARRL (American Radio 
Relay League) lesson plans, children were introduced to the basics 
of radio wave propagation and local radio clubs assisted with 
demonstrations and hands on activities.

2.	Astronaut Speaks with Summer Camp via ARISS

Expedition 24 astronaut Doug Wheelock, KF5BOC participated in an Amateur 
Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with summer camp 
"Astronauts in Forest," in Perugia, Italy on Friday, July 2. The connection 
was provided by telebridge station ON4ISS in Belgium. Wheelock managed 
eight questions put to him by the camp which was attended by twenty 
children and four staff members. The camp, which is based on 
astronomy and space education, provides a program of space activities 
for children, ages 11 to 14. 
	
3.	ARISS Included in Brazilian Space Agency Videos 

Brazilian Space Agency AEB has produced two videos about the International 
Space Station. The videos were recorded by astronaut Marcos Pontes and are 
the first videos showing ARISS activities in Portuguese. See:

Part 1     http://www.youtube.com/user/PY1KCF#p/a/u/1/vilmCC7RRQ0

Part 2     http://www.youtube.com/user/PY1KCF#p/a/u/0/GJll0WZfYmg

 

[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


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