<div dir="ltr"><div style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:small" class="gmail_default"></div><div class="gmail_default"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"></span></font><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">AMSAT NEWS SERVICE</span></font></div><div class="gmail_default"><font size="4" style="font-family:georgia,serif">ANS-189</font><div class="entry-content">
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">In this edition:</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">* Firefly Delivers New Amateur Satellites to Orbit<br>
* Ariane 6 Maiden Flight With GENESIS-A Module<br>
* Logbook of The World Returns To Service<br>
* LUSAT, Dead or Alive?<br>
* LEGO Bricks Printed out of Space Dust<br>
* Field Day Submissions Now Due<br>
* Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution<br>
* ARISS News<br>
* Upcoming Satellite Operations<br>
* AMSAT Ambassador Activities<br>
* Satellite Shorts From All Over</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and
information service of AMSAT, 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.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The news feed on <a href="http://www.amsat.org">http://www.amsat.org</a> publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor [at] <a href="http://amsat.org">amsat.org</a></strong></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see: <a href="https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/">https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/</a></span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">ANS-189 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">DATE 2024 July 7</span></font></p>
<h2><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Firefly Delivers New Amateur Satellites to Orbit</span></font></h2>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The Firefly Alpha FLTA005/NASA ELaNa 43 mission, nicknamed “Noise of
Summer,” launched successfully at 04:04 UTC on July 4 (Wednesday
evening, July 3 in the U.S.) and deployed eight new cube satellites to
Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Five of these cubesats carry amateur radio
equipment.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The cubesats were placed into a sun-synchronous Earth orbit, meaning
that all locations on earth will see high-elevation passes roughly
between 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. and between 8:00 and 10:00 p.m. local time
daily, with lower elevation passes earlier and later.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Among the newly-deployed satellites, the one of greatest interest to the amateur radio community is <strong>MESAT1</strong>.
Built by the University of Maine, in cooperation with AMSAT, this
satellite carries a 30 kHz wide V/U Transponder plus a 1k2 BPSK
telemetry downlink. Telemetry downlink 435.800 MHz with transponder
downlink 435.810-435.840 MHz, and transponder uplink 145.910-145.940
MHz. Amateurs are encouraged to use AMSAT’s FoxTelem software to collect
telemetry.</span></font></p>
<p style="text-align:center"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><img class="gmail-aligncenter gmail-wp-image-58319 gmail-size-large" src="https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Firefly_FLTA005_IntegrationPhotos_MESAT-01-scaled-1-1024x684.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="684"><br></span></font>
<font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><em>MESAT1 being prepared for integration aboard the Firefly Alpha (Photo credit, University of Maine)</em></span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">MESAT1 involves three missions designed by high school students in
Maine. The science payloads are climate focused and include ALBEDO,
IMAGER, and HAB. These will identify urban heat islands, determine
concentration of phytoplankton in water bodies, and help predict harmful
algal blooms. Four multispectral cameras on board will relay the data
down to University of Maine’s ground station for further processing.
Amateurs are encouraged to use AMSAT’s FoxTelem software to collect
telemetry and assist in these science projects.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Also deployed was <strong>CatSat</strong>, a technology demonstration
of an inflatable antenna for high-speed communications, built by the
University of Arizona. CatSat’s deployable antenna consists of a Mylar
balloon. The front half of the balloon is transparent, allowing
microwaves to pass through. The back half of the balloon is aluminized,
creating a reflecting antenna. After reaching low Earth orbit, CatSat’s
antenna will deploy and inflate to a diameter of just over
one-and-a-half feet CatSat’s demonstration will be to transmit
high-definition Earth photos to 10 GHz, X-band ground stations at ~50
megabits per second.</span></font></p>
<p style="text-align:center"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><img class="gmail-aligncenter gmail-size-full gmail-wp-image-58318" src="https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/CatSat-Full-e1720195693336.png" alt="" width="538" height="360"><br></span></font>
<font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><em>Artist’s rendering of CatSat with 10 GHz balloon antenna deployed. (University of Arizona)</em></span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">In addition to images, data about the structure of the Earth’s
ionosphere will be gathered by listening-in to thousands of beacons from
ground-based ham radio stations. CatSat will relay WSPR and FT8 signals
from HF. Downlinks on 437.185 MHz and 10470.00 MHz.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Other satellites with IARU-coordinated amateur frequency downlinks include:</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>Serenity</strong>, which uses a 4k8 FM with AX25 downlink on
437.100 MHz. Serenity was built by Teachers in Space, Inc., a 501(c)(3)
nonprofit educational organization in North America that stimulates
student interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
(STEM). They provide teachers with real space science experiences, space
flight opportunities, and industry connections.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>KUbeSat-1</strong>, revives small satellite research at the
University of Kansas and starts a new KUbeSat program that will offer
space access to student research. The main payload on KUbeSat-1 is the
Primary Cosmic Ray Detector which will use a new method to measure the
energy and species of primary cosmic rays hitting the Earth. The
secondary payload is the High-Altitude Calibration, (HiCalK) that builds
on decades of research surrounding Very High Frequency signals
generated by cosmic ray interactions with the atmosphere. UHF downlink
using 9k6 GMSK. A downlink on 437.085 MHz.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>SOC-i</strong> (Satellite for Optimal Control and Imaging) is
a technology demonstration mission of attitude control technology and a
camera that serves as an instrument to demonstrate SOC-i’s pointing
abilities. Developed at the University of Washington, SOC-i has a UHF
downlink using 4k8 GMSK. downlink 437.125 MHz.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">[ANS thanks NASA, Firefly Aerospace, and Spacflight Now for the above information]</span></font></p>
<hr>
<p style="text-align:center"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>The 2024 AMSAT President’s Club coins are here now!</strong><br></span></font>
<font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>Help Support GOLF and Fox Plus</strong></span></font></p>
<p style="text-align:center"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><img class="gmail-aligncenter gmail-wp-image-57364 gmail-size-medium" src="https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2024-Coin-Lite-300x148.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="148"></span></font></p>
<p style="text-align:center"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>Join the AMSAT President’s Club today and help</strong><br></span></font>
<font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>Keep Amateur Radio in Space!</strong><br></span></font>
<font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><a href="https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/"><strong>https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/</strong></a></span></font></p>
<hr>
<h2><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Ariane 6 Maiden Flight With GENESIS-A Module</span></font></h2>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The maiden flight of the new European launcher, Ariane 6, is
scheduled for July 9, 2024, with a launch window of 3:00 p.m. to 7:00
p.m. local time from the European spaceport in French Guiana (July 9
20:00h to July 10 00:00h CEST). Among many other payloads, it carries
our (inside YPSAT) GENESIS-A module, attached to the second stage of the
launcher. The module will transmit FT8 and live SSTV images in Robot 36
format.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">FT8 transmissions are made every 16 seconds, while SSTV’s are every 5 minutes.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The working frequencies are as follows:</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Downlink 144.175 MHz FT8 Mode:</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">– Callsign AO4ARI HO60 if the antenna has been deployed<br>
– Callsign AO4ARI HO61 if the antenna has not been deployed</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Downlink 144.550 MHz SSTV Robot 36 mode with live image and Hades text</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">A carrier with a frequency of 144.550 MHz (same frequency as SSTV) is left between FT8 tones.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">This information is compiled in PDF in the following document on our web:<br></span></font>
<font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><a href="https://www.amsat-ea.org/app/download/13458580/AMSAT+EA+-+GENESIS-A+transmissions+description.pdf">https://www.amsat-ea.org/app/download/13458580/AMSAT+EA+-+GENESIS-A+transmissions+description.pdf</a></span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The only thing ESA has given us is the trajectory over the ground
while flying over Europe, but we don’t have TLEs or anything that we can
semi-automate. It is available on our website:<br></span></font>
<font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><a href="https://www.amsat-ea.org/s/cc_images/cache_19006006.jpg?t=1720182961">https://www.amsat-ea.org/s/cc_images/cache_19006006.jpg?t=1720182961</a></span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">It will be very difficult to receive it but we thank you all if you
try and if you spread this information to have all possible operators
tuned into FT-8 that day. The module will fall into the sea with the
second stage after a few hours.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">More information about the flight including timings here:<br></span></font>
<font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><a href="https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Ariane/Ariane_6_launch_how_to_watch_and_what_to_look_out_for">https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Ariane/Ariane_6_launch_how_to_watch_and_what_to_look_out_for</a></span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">[ANS thanks Félix Páez, EA4GQS, AMSAT EA, for the above information]</span></font></p>
<hr>
<h2><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Logbook of The World Returns To Service</span></font></h2>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Effective 12:00pm ET / 16:00 UTC on July 1, Logbook of The World® (LoTW®) has been to service.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">As work progressed on the network, some users encountered LoTW
opening briefly during which some 6600 logs were uploaded. The logs were
not processed until this weekend as we tested that the interfaces to
LoTW were functioning properly.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">We are taking steps to help manage what will likely be a huge influx
of logs. We are requesting that if you have large uploads, perhaps from
contests or from a DXpedition, please wait a week or two before
uploading to give LoTW a chance to catch up. We have also implemented a
process to reject logs with excessive duplicates. Please do not upload
your entire log to “ensure” your contacts are in LoTW as they will be
rejected. Lastly, please do not call ARRL Headquarters to report issues
you are having with LoTW. You can contact support at <a href="mailto:LoTW-help@arrl.org">LoTW-help@arrl.org</a>.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Through the end of the year, you may experience planned times when
LoTW will be unavailable. We have been using this time to evaluate
operational and infrastructure improvements we would like to make to
LoTW. Those times will be announced.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">We appreciate your patience as we worked through the challenges
keeping LoTW from returning to service. We know the importance of LoTW
to our members, and to the tens of thousands of LoTW users who are not
ARRL members. LoTW, just behind QST, is our second most popular ARRL
benefit.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">[ANS thanks ARRL for the above information]</span></font></p>
<hr>
<h2><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">LUSAT, Dead or Alive?</span></font></h2>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">LO-19, co-ordinated by AMSAT Argentina, the LUSAT (named after the LU
amateur designation for Argentina) microsatellite was launched on the
first ARIANE ASAP flight V35 with SPOT 2, on the 22 January 1990
(01:35:27 GMT) into an 780 km sun-synchronous, 98 degree inclined orbit.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">It carried a Digital Store and Forward packet communications
transponder similar to AO-16. Downlink was AX.25 at 437.125 MHz SSB 1200
bps RC-BPSK. It is box shaped with dimensions of 213 × 230 × 230 mm,
with four solar panels and weighs 13.76 kg.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Long past its expected useful life, in recent years LUSAT has only been transmitting an unmodulated carrier signal.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">On June 29, Gustavo Carpignano, LW2DTZ, reported that recent
observers had failed to detect the carrier. Gustavo declared LO-19 dead.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">However, on July 1, Nico Janssen, PAØDLO, reported receiving the
carrier, but at a signal strength much weaker than over previous years.
Nico suggested that, perhaps, the onboard power amplifier has failed.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Well-equipped ground stations may wish to give a listen to test what they can hear.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">[ANS thanks Gustavo Carpignano, LW2DTZ, Nico Janssen, PAØDLO, and Gunter’s Space Page, for the above information]</span></font></p>
<hr>
<p style="text-align:center"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>Need new satellite antennas?</strong><br></span></font>
<font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>Purchase M2 LEO-Packs from the AMSAT Store.</strong></span></font></p>
<p style="text-align:center"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><img class="gmail-aligncenter gmail-size-medium gmail-wp-image-17345" src="https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/cm/LEO-Pack1-300x298.png" alt="" width="300" height="298"><br></span></font>
<font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>When you purchase through AMSAT, a portion of the proceeds goes towards</strong><br></span></font>
<font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>Keeping Amateur Radio in Space.</strong><br></span></font>
<font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><a href="https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/"><strong>https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/</strong></a></span></font></p>
<hr>
<h2><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">LEGO Bricks Printed out of Space Dust</span></font></h2>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">There have been many proposals for building structures on the Moon
out of lunar regolith. But here’s an idea sure to resonate with
creators, mechanical tinkerers, model builders and the kid inside us
all.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">What about using actual LEGO bricks?</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Researchers ground up a 4.5-billion-year-old meteorite and used the
dust to 3D print LEGO-style space bricks. They actually click together
like the plastic variety, with so far only one downside: they only come
in one color, grey.<br>
Universe Today</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Want to see some of these lunar LEGOs? LEGO will showcase the space bricks at some of its stores.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Creating building materials on the Moon or Mars from the material on
hand means construction materials don’t have to be transported from
Earth. This would be a huge savings in launch costs because less weight
would have to be boosted from Earth.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">A group of scientists from ESA (European Space Agency) were inspired
by LEGO bricks, and with the advances in 3D printing, had the idea to
print space bricks and test how they would work for construction.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The only problem was that except for the Moon rocks brought back by
the Apollo astronauts – which are highly guarded for scientific study
only — there’s not any lunar regolith available on Earth to experiment
with.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">But meteorite dust is a close cousin to lunar regolith. The ESA team
was able to get a meteorite that was discovered in Northwest Africa in
2000 and is about 4.5 billion years old. It is made of metal grains and
chondrules, similar to Moon dust.</span></font></p>
<p style="text-align:center"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><img class="gmail-aligncenter gmail-size-large gmail-wp-image-58320" src="https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/LEGO_SpaceBrick_Packshot-1-black-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683"><br></span></font>
<font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><em>Inspired by LEGO, ESA scientists have used dust from a meteorite to 3D-print LEGO-style ‘space bricks’<br>
to test out construction ideas for a future Moon base. Credit: The LEGO Group</em></span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">They mixed the meteorite dust with some other things, like a
polymer called polylactide and regolith simulant and 3D printed bricks
that mimic and behave just like LEGO bricks. While they aren’t smooth
like regular LEGO bricks, ESA said the space bricks gave ESA’s space
engineers the flexibility to build and test a variety of structures
using this new material.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">“It’s no secret that real-world scientists and engineers sometimes
try out ideas with LEGO bricks,” said Emmet Fletcher, Head of ESA’s
Branding and Partnerships Office. “ESA’s space bricks are a great way to
inspire young people and show them how play and the power of the
imagination have an important role in space science, too.”</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">“Nobody has built a structure on the Moon, so it was great to have
the flexibility to try out all kinds of designs and building techniques
with our space bricks,” said . ESA Science Officer Aidan Cowley. “It was
both fun and useful in scientifically understanding the boundaries of
these techniques.”</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">For a list of where the lunar LEGOs will be on display worldwide, see <a href="https://www.universetoday.com/167675/lego-bricks-printed-out-of-space-dust/#more-167675">https://www.universetoday.com/167675/lego-bricks-printed-out-of-space-dust/#more-167675</a></span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The LEGO website has additional details at <a href="https://www.lego.com/en-us/aboutus/news/2024/june/lego-bricks-scientists-build-astronaut-shelters-on-the-moon">https://www.lego.com/en-us/aboutus/news/2024/june/lego-bricks-scientists-build-astronaut-shelters-on-the-moon </a></span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Hopefully the lunar LEGOs will inspire both children and adults about
space and to encourage them to build their own LEGO Moon bases.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">[ANS thanks Universe Today for the above information]</span></font></p>
<hr>
<h2><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Field Day Submissions Now Due</span></font></h2>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Field Day is behind us and it is time to tally your contacts and submit the for AMSAT Field Day.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The Satellite Summary Sheet should be used for submission of the
AMSAT Field Day competition and be received by KK5DO (e-mail) by 11:59
P.M. CDT, Monday, July 23, 2024. This year, we are using the same due
date as the ARRL. The only method for submitting your log is via e-mail
to <a href="mailto:kk5do@amsat.org">kk5do@amsat.org</a> or <a href="mailto:kk5do@arrl.net">kk5do@arrl.net</a>. I have not had a mail-in entry in a very long time.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">If you need to download a summary sheet, it can be found at <a href="https://www.amsat.org/field-day/">https://www.amsat.org/field-day/</a><br>
or directly from my website <a href="https://www.amsatnet.com/2024fd.docx">https://www.amsatnet.com/2024fd.docx</a></span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">[ANS thanks Bruce Paige, KK5DO, AMSAT Director Contests and Awards, for the above information]</span></font></p>
<hr>
<p style="text-align:center"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition?</strong><br></span></font>
<font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>Get your AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff from our Zazzle store!</strong></span></font></p>
<p style="text-align:center"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><img class="gmail-aligncenter gmail-size-medium gmail-wp-image-56929" src="https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/AMSAT-Car-Flag-e1705691761784-300x235.png" alt="" width="300" height="235"><br></span></font>
<font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>25% of the purchase price of each product goes towards</strong><br></span></font>
<font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>Keeping Amateur Radio in Space</strong><br></span></font>
<font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong><a href="https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear">https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear</a></strong></span></font></p>
<hr>
<h2><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for July 5</span></font></h2>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Two Line Elements or TLEs, often referred to as Keplerian elements or
keps in the amateur community, are the inputs to the SGP4 standard
mathematical model of spacecraft orbits used by most amateur tracking
programs. Weekly updates are completely adequate for most amateur
satellites. TLE bulletin files are updated daily in the first hour of
the UTC day. New bulletin files will be posted immediately after
reliable elements become available for new amateur satellites. More
information may be found at <a href="https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/">https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/</a>.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The following satellites from last week’s Firefly Alpha FLTA005/NASA
ELaNa 43 launch have been added. They are listed as OBJECT A-H, with the
exception of object G which is likely MESAT1. As is the case with
most cubesat launches,<a id="m_-4371139729139949823OWA2bb37fcd-9ef3-a39b-184b-b41a1439d1c5" title="https://www.amsat.org/why-is-there-so-much-tle-confusion-when-new-cubesats-are-launched/" href="https://www.amsat.org/why-is-there-so-much-tle-confusion-when-new-cubesats-are-launched/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> it will take a while to figure out which object is which</a>.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">OBJECT A 60203<br>
OBJECT B 60204<br>
OBJECT C 60205<br>
OBJECT D 60206<br>
OBJECT E 60207<br>
OBJECT F 60208<br>
MESAT1 60209<br>
OBJECT H 60210<br>
OBJECT J 60211<br>
OBJECT K 60212</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">[ANS thanks AMSAT Orbital Elements page for the above information]</span></font></p>
<hr>
<h2><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">ARISS NEWS</span></font></h2>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Amateurs and others around the world may listen in on contacts
between amateurs operating in schools and allowing students to interact
with astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station.
The downlink frequency on which to listen is 145.800 MHz worldwide.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>UPCOMING CONTACTS:</strong><br>
Youth On the Air 2024, Mount Saint Vincent University, NS, Canada, Telebridge via ZS6JON<br>
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS<br>
The scheduled crewmember is Jeanette Epps, KF5QNU<br>
The ARISS mentor is VE3TBD<br>
Contact is go for: Tue 2024-07-09 15:06:38 UTC 65 degrees maximum elevation</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Houjoudu Elementary School, Imizu, Japan, direct via JA9YQJ<br>
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS<br>
The scheduled crewmember is Mike Barratt, KD5MIJ<br>
The ARISS mentor is 7M3TJZ<br>
Contact is go for: Thu 2024-07-11 10:48:03 UTC 83 degrees</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The crossband repeater continues to be active (145.990 MHz up {PL 67}
& 437.800 MHz down). If any crewmember is so inclined, all they
have to do is pick up the microphone, raise the volume up, and talk on
the crossband repeater. So give a listen, you just never know.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The packet system is also active (145.825 MHz up & down). HamTV (2.395 GHz) and SSTV (145.80 MHz) are both stowed.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">As always, if there is an EVA, a docking, or an undocking; the ARISS radios are turned off as part of the safety protocol.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your
own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the
listed time.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The latest information on the operation mode can be found at <a href="https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html">https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html</a></span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at <a href="https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html">https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html</a></span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">[ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors for the above information]</span></font></p>
<hr>
<h2><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Upcoming Satellite Operations</span></font></h2>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">NDØC and family will be on another family camping vacation from 24
June thru 7 July, this time through Wisconsin to Michigan and back thru
Illinois and Iowa. No super rare grids but several that may be needed by
many. The grids and passes will depend on where/when we happen to be
while on the road or camping. This will be all LEO sats: FM & SSB.
As always, they will try for EU passes on RS-44 when possible. Randy is
looking forward to pushing past the 100 grids-roved milestone.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">A growing number of satellite rovers are currently engaged in sharing their grid square activations on <a href="https://hams.at">https://hams.at</a>.
By visiting the website, you gain easy access to comprehensive
information about the operators responsible for activating specific grid
squares. Additionally, you have the ability to assess the match score
between yourself and a particular rover for a given pass, while also
being able to identify the upcoming satellite passes that are accessible
from your location.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">[ANS thanks Ian Parsons, K5ZM, AMSAT rover page manager, for the above information]</span></font></p>
<hr>
<h2><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">AMSAT Ambassador Activities</span></font></h2>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating
through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club
meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">July 20, 2024<br>
“Moon Day” Frontiers of Flight Museum<br>
Love Field in Dallas, Texas<br>
AMSAT volunteers needed! Contact tschuessler(at) <a href="http://amsat.org">amsat.org</a> for more information.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">August 17-18, 2024<br>
Huntsville Hamfest<br>
Huntsville, AL<br>
AMSAT Booth and Forum<br>
N8DEU and W4FCL</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">September 7, 2024<br>
Greater Louisville Hamfest<br>
Shepherdsville, KY<br>
AMSAT Forum and Information Table<br>
W4FCL</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">October 5, 2024<br>
Central Kentucky Hamfest<br>
Lexington, KY<br>
AMSAT and Educational Satellites Forum and Information Table<br>
AI4SR and W4FCL</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">October 5, 2024<br>
North Star Radio Convention<br>
Hennepin Technical College (North Campus)<br>
Brooklyn Park, Minn.<br>
AMSAT Forum and Information Table<br>
KØJM and ADØHJ</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">AMSAT Ambassador Clint Bradford, K6LCS, says,<br>
“Think a 75-minute presentation on “working the easy satellites” would
be appropriate for your club or event? Let me know by emailing me at
k6lcsclint (at) gmail (dot) com or calling me at 909-999-SATS (7287)!”</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Clint has NEVER given the exact same show twice: EACH of the 150+
presentations so far has been customized/tailored to their audiences.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">[ANS thanks the AMSAT Events page for the above information]</span></font></p>
<hr>
<h2><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Satellite Shorts From All Over</span></font></h2>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">+ <strong>What GOES up …</strong> NOAA’s latest Geostationary
Operational Environmental Satellite, GOES-U, launched on the first
Falcon Heavy of the year on June 25 from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy
Space Center. The mission, the last of the GOES-R series of
geostationary weather satellites, continuously monitors weather systems
over the Western Hemisphere. Assuming that next week’s planned burn to
lift the satellite to geosynchronous orbit is successful, this satellite
will be re-designated as GOES-19 and will, in coming months, take over
the GOES-East duties from the aging GOES-16. (See <a href="https://www.amsat.org/ans-182-amsat-news-service-weekly-bulletins/">ANS 182</a> last week for more details.)</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">+ <strong>Musk come down …</strong> Elon Musk’s SpaceX has won a
contract valued at up to $843 million to build a vehicle capable of
safely deorbiting the International Space Station once the station is
decommissioned in 2030. While many people have suggested raising the
ISS’s orbit and turning it into a museum, the amount of fuel needed to
move the approximately 420-ton station to a high enough orbit to remain
stable for long durations is prohibitive.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">+ <strong>Blow up …</strong> Russian Resurs-P1, an almost-six-ton
defunct Earth observation satellite that stopped orbit maintenance in
2017 but continued operations until 2022, unexpectedly exploded last
week into hundreds of fragments. Expected to reenter later this year,
Resurs-P1 was orbiting at ~350 km, close enough to the ISS’s orbital
altitude that the event forced ISS astronauts into shelter for an hour
while debris was tracked.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">+ <strong>Or go up, come down, and blow up (unexpectedly) …</strong>
during a static fire test of the first stage of China’s
close-to-finished Tianlong-3 rocket, the hold-down hardware failed to do
its singular job: hold down the rocket. Moments after ignition, the
rocket shot 1.5 km into the sky above the city of Gongyi, China. With no
guidance system, gravity took over, resulting in a massive fireball on
impact. Very fortunately, there were no casualties as the rocket mostly
went straight up and straight back down.<br>
(ANS thanks The Orbital Index for all of the above items.)</span></font></p>
<hr>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Join AMSAT today at <a href="https://launch.amsat.org/">https://launch.amsat.org/</a></span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to:</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">* Societies (a recognized group, clubs or organization).<br>
* Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate.<br>
* Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status
shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary
years in this status.<br>
* Memberships are available for annual and lifetime terms.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">Contact info [at] <a href="http://amsat.org">amsat.org</a> for additional membership information.</strong></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space!</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">This week’s ANS Editor, Mark Johns, KØJM<br>
k0jm [at] <a href="http://amsat.org">amsat.org</a></span></font></p>
</div>
</div><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><br></span></font></div>