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[jamsat-news:3157] ANS-097 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins


AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-097

The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and infor-
mation service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite
Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space
including 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.

The news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur
Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it.

Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to:
ans-editor at amsat.org.

In this edition:

* AMSAT-NA Working on Coordination Issues with Experimental Satellites
* AMSAT YouTube Channel
* 2013 AMSAT Field Day Rules Posted On-Line
* ARRL Seeks Comments on 5 and 10 GHz National Band Plans
* Final IARU-R1 Vienna 2013 Papers Released
* First Satellite Contact Between Cuba and Ireland on FO-29
* NASA Seeks Academic Partners For Smallsat Technology Collaboration
* Upcoming ARISS Contacts


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-097.01 ANS-076 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 097.01
 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
April 7, 2013
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-097.01


***************************************************************** * Volunteers are needed to help at the AMSAT booth at Dayton. * * Steve Belter N9IP, is looking for volunteers to help man the * * AMSAT booth during the 2013 Hamvention. If you are willing * * to help at the Hamvention, please send an e-mail by April 30 * * to Steve Belter, n9ip@amsat.org. * * * * Monitor the 'AMSAT at Dayton Hamvention 2013' link on the new * * AMSAT Web Site http://www.amsat.org for the latest AMSAT at * * Dayton news and developments * *****************************************************************


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AMSAT-NA Working on Coordination Issues with Experimental Satellites


Over the past several months events have caused the Federal Communications
Commission's (FCC) to more closely evaluate whether many of the small satellite
projects proposed for launch should continue to be operated as stations in the
Amateur-Satellite Service or instead be licensed as experimental stations.
Based on the FCC's review, they determined that many do not really fit as
Amateur projects and instead are requiring that the satellite developers obtain
experimental licenses while still allowing them to operate in bands allocated to
the Amateur-Satellite Service.


This has generated concern by the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) with
regard to whether it is appropriate for their Satellite Advisory Panel to take
on the duty of coordinating what the FCC now views as non-amateur satellites.

The IARU Satellite Adviser and his panel will coordinate frequencies for
satellites to be licensed as experimental on an adhoc basis. The IARU Satellite
Adviser is working closely with the FCC to prioritize the coordination of
experimental satellites manifested on launches for the next few month.
Satellites licensed as amateur will not be affected and will be coordinated as
before.  The IARU is urging administrations to take series steps to find
alternative allocations for experimental satellites and prioritize their
participation of preparation for agneda item at WRC-18 if not at WRC-15. "AMSAT
groups around the world are urged to work with their national societies and
regulators to resolve the situation", the IARU Satellite Adviser said.

AMSAT-NA is working with the ARRL to investigate long-term solutions
to this situation while also addressing the short-term need for satellites
already in the pipeline nearing launch.

AMSAT-NA recognizes the significant positive impact that the university cubesat
programs have provided to the amateur radio satellite community, including:

   * Affordable launch opportunities as NASA and other government policies
     encourage development of university  satellite programs

   * Encouraging students and staff to embrace amateur radio through obtaining
     amateur radio licensees and establishing amateur radio ground stations

* Providing the potential for more amateur radio communications satellites as
the Fox-1 design is made operational, allowing both experimental payloads
and amateur radio operations to be supported through a robust and
dependable RF design


AMSAT-NA is committed to continue working with the FCC, IARU and ARRL to develop
plans and processes that will address the needs and concerns of the small
satellite community both short and long term.



[ANS thanks AMSAT President Barry Baines, WD4ASW, and Hans van de Groenendaal, ZS6AKV, for the above information]


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AMSAT YouTube Channel


AMSAT-NA is pleased to announce a dedicated YouTube channel for videos on
and about amateur satellite operations. These will include demonstration
videos as well as presentations at the AMSAT-NA Dayton Hamvention Forum and
yearly General Membership Meeting and Symposium. It also links to the
AMSAT-UK and AMSAT-DL channels for additional views and perspectives. The
AMSAT-NA channel may be reached through the www.amsat.org web site, or
directly via www.youtube.com/AMSATNA

[ANS thanks Alan, W4SCA, for the above information]


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2013 AMSAT Field Day Rules Posted On-Line


AMSAT Director Contests and Awards, Bruce Paige, KK5DO reminds
you that time of year is once again approaching - Field Day!

Each year the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) sponsors Field
Day as an emergency preparedness exercise. This year Field Day
is June 22-23, 2013.

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.

With SO-50 being the only active FM satellite, Field Day this year
will be challenging. If you are considering ONLY the FM voice sat-
ellites for your primary AMSAT Field Day focus: Don't, unless you
are simply hoping to make one contact for the ARRL rules bonus
points.

The congestion on FM LEO satellites was so intense in prior years
that we must continue to limit their use to one-QSO-per-FM-satel-
lite. This includes the International Space Station if it is oper-
ational. You will be allowed one QSO if the ISS is operating Voice.
You will also be allowed one digital QSO with the ISS or any other
digital, non-store-and-forward, packet satellite (if operational).

If you have worked the satellites on Field Day in recent years, you
may have noticed a lot of good contacts can be made on the linear
transponder satellites including VUsat OSCAR 52, Fuji OSCAR 29, and
AMSAT OSCAR 7. During Field Day the transponders come alive like 20
meters on a weekend. The transponders on these satellites will sup-
port multiple simultaneous SSB or CW contacts.

The AMSAT Field Day 2013 event is open to all Amateur Radio opera-
tors. Amateurs are to use the exchange as specified in ARRL rules
for Field Day. The AMSAT competition is to encourage the use of all
amateur satellites, both analog and digital.

For the complete listing of the AMSAT Field Day Rules please refer
to the documents posted on-line at:

http://www.amsatnet.com/2013fd.docx
http://www.amsatnet.com/2013fd.pdf

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


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ARRL Seeks Comments on 5 and 10 GHz National Band Plans


Chairman, ARRL UHF/Microwave Band Plan Committee, Rick Roderick,
K5UR reports that a the draft documents of the 5 and 10 GHz band
plans has been released for review.

The Committee, charted by the ARRL Board of Directors, has pre-
pared draft band plans for 5 centimeters (5.650-5.925 GHz) and 3
centimeters (10-10.500 GHz).

Amateur Satellite allocations in the draft band plans include:
+ Amateur Satellite; Up-Link Only       5650.000 -  5670.000 MHz
+ Amateur Satellite; Down-Link Only     5830.000 -  5850.000 MHz
+ Space, Earth & Telecommand Stations  10450.000 - 10500.000 MHz

The band plan committee is requesting user comments via e-mail to
microwave-band-plan@arrl.org by April 30, 2013.

The ARRL announcement, including links to the PDF copies of the pro-
posed band plan documents can be accessed on-line at:
http://tinyurl.com/ARRL-5-10GHZ-BandPlans (www.arrl.org)

[ANS thanks the ARRL UHF/Microwave Band Plan Committee for the above
 information]


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Final IARU-R1 Vienna 2013 Papers Released


AMSAT-UK_Bevelled_LogoThe final set of VHF/UHF/uW papers for the IARU
Region 1 Interim meeting in Vienna, April 20-21, have been released.

They include a number of papers related to Amateur-Satellite Service
allocations:
* VIE13_C5_03 Increased Amateur-Satellite Service 144MHz Usage
* VIE13_C5_05 Recommendations for DATV Transmission
* VIE13_C5_24 Region 1 Satellite Coordinator Report
* VIE13_C5_27 New Narrow-Band working frequencies in the 2300-2450
MHz band
* VIE13_C5_32 2400MHz Amateur Satellites

Download the papers here:
http://ukamsat.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/2013_vienna_documents_final
.pdf

Discussion on the papers can be found on the RSGB C5 Yahoo Group at
http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/ukc5discussion/

Article originally published at:
http://amsat-uk.org/2013/04/02/final-iaru-r1-vienna-2013-papers-releas
ed/

[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information]



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First Satellite Contact Between Cuba and Ireland on FO-29


Congratulations to Hector Martinez, CO6CBF and Joe Murphy, EI5EV for
completing the first satellite contact between Cuba and Ireland on
April 3, 2013 on FO-29.

The distance between CO6CBF and EI5EV is 6955.1 km. Both stations
had a 66 second window within the FO-29 footprint. Hector wrote,
"Doppler is always in play. We did the calculations based on the
great feature implemented on SatPC32 V12.8b using the option of see-
ing the frequency you are at the satellite receiver. This was our
common reference point. I was very satisfied when I heard Joe exact-
ly on the frequency I was expecting!"

Hector operated from on top of a tall building which improved his
horizon visibility toward Europe. He used a Yaesu FT-817ND trans-
ceiver, 30 watt power amplifier, and a homebrew Arrow with a home-
brew mast mounted amplifier. Everything was powered by two 12 volt,
7 amp gel cell batteries.

FO-29 is at apogee which has increased the size of its footprint
and improved chances for satellite DX contacts. Another example is
Bob, W7LRD (grid CN87) reported a successful contact with Boris,
UA0QJ (grid PP42) via FO-29 on March 26. The range between the two
stations is 6268 km.

Hector would like to set up schedules with satellite operators in
the FO-29 footprint. Please e-mail him at co6cbf[at]frcuba.co.cu.

[ANS thanks Hector Martinez, CO6CBF for the above information]


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NASA Seeks Academic Partners For Smallsat Technology Collaboration


[Credit: This article was first published on the Microcom Space
Newsfeed on April 2. This article can be accessed at:
http://tinyurl.com/Microcom-NASA-Collaboration (spacenewsfeed.co.uk)]

NASA is seeking small spacecraft technology project proposals from
U.S. colleges and universities that would like to collaborate with
agency researchers.

Small spacecraft, or smallsats, represent a growing field of space
research and operations in which universities often have led the
way in technology development. Smallsats, some of which are as small
as a four-inch cube, are not expected to replace conventional space-
craft, but sometimes can provide an alternative to larger, more
costly spacecraft. Smallsats can serve as platforms for rapid tech-
nology testing or specialized scientific research and exploration
not otherwise possible. Smallsats also can be developed relatively
quickly and inexpensively, and can share a ride to orbit with larger
spacecraft.

"This new opportunity will engage university students and graduate
researchers in advancing technology of value to NASA and the nation,
and help strengthen our high-tech work force," said Andrew Petro,
program executive for the Small Spacecraft Technology Program at
NASA Headquarters in Washington. "There is a vibrant small space-
craft community emerging within America's universities and NASA is
taking steps to increase our collaboration with that community. The
universities will benefit from the deep experience NASA has in
space research and technology, while NASA will benefit from fresh
ideas and cost-conscious innovation at the universities."

NASA expects to competitively select approximately 10 proposals.
Each team will form proposal partnerships with researchers from
any of NASA's field centers. Awards for each project will include
as much as $100,000 ($150,000 for teams of more than one school).
Proposals submitted in response to this NASA cooperative agreement
notice are due June 5.

In addition, NASA will fund the time for NASA employees to work
with each selected team. Project funding is for one year with the
potential to continue for a second year. Proposed projects could
include anything from laboratory work to advance a particular
spacecraft technology to flight testing of a new smallsat. For
example, projects might focus on a technology area such as propul-
sion, power or communications, or on a smallsat capability, such
as formation flight or satellite rendezvous.

The Small Spacecraft Technology Program is part of NASA's Space
Technology Mission Directorate, which is innovating, developing,
testing and flying hardware for use in NASA's future missions.

For additional news see:
http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=43721

[ANS thanks the Microcom Space Newsfeed for the above information]


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Upcoming ARISS Contacts


An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants
at Sir George Simpson Jr. High, Albert, AB, Canada on 09 April. The event is
scheduled to begin at approximately 20:00 UTC. The duration of the contact is
approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be a telebridge between
OR4ISS and IK1SLD. The contact should be audible over portions of Italy.
Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The
contact is expected to be conducted in English and French.


Sir George Simpson Public School is a junior high located in St. Albert,
Alberta.  Currently, with approximately 540 students enrolled in a variety of
programs.



An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants
at Innalik School, Inukjuak, Nunavut, Canada on 12 April. The event is scheduled
to begin at approximately 17:30 UTC. The duration of the contact is
approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be a telebridge between
OR4ISS and IK1SLD. The contact should be audible over portions of Italy.
Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The
contact is expected to be conducted in English, French, and Inuktitut.


Inukjuak is a remote, fly-in Inuit community located on the Hudson Bay in
Northern Quebec. Its population is approximately 1600. The Inuit of Inukjuak
still partake in many cultural practices, for example; constructing sleds or
harpoons, sewing traditional garments, training dogsled teams, hunting, fishing
and berry picking. However, they also have a window into the modern world and
are current on fashion trends, popular music, and breakout phenomena like
"Gangnam Style". The primary language in the school and in the village is
Inuktitut; English and French are secondary languages.


ARISS is an international educational outreach program partnering the participating space agencies, NASA, Russian Space Agency, ESA, CNES, JAXA, and CSA, with the AMSAT and IARU organizations from participating countries.

ARISS offers an opportunity for students to experience the excitement of Amateur
Radio by talking directly with crew-members on-board the International Space
Station. Teachers, parents and communities see, first hand, how Amateur Radio
and crew-members on ISS can energize youngsters' interest in science, technology,
and learning. Further information on the ARISS program is available on the
website http://www.ariss.org/ (graciously hosted by the Radio Amateurs of
Canada).


[ANS thanks David, AA4KN, 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 addi- tional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office.

Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership
at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students
enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the stu-
dent rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status.
Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership
information.

73,
This week's ANS Editor,
Lee McLamb, KU4OS
ku4os at amsat dot org

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